Nomad eSIM review: how it works and who it suits
Key facts
- Nomad's "Unlimited" plans carry about 2 GB/day of high-speed data on most packages, then slow to roughly 1-2 Mbps.
- VoaSim's eSIM is truly unlimited: no data cap, no throttling, no hidden fair-use policy, across 160+ destinations.
- VoaSim sets the price by destination and trip length: from USD 16.90 for 5 days up to USD 112.90 for 60 days, or USD 1.88/day.
- Nomad is the better pick for light data users, very short trips, or islands in the Caribbean where VoaSim has no coverage.
- VoaSim does not allow hotspot; each traveler needs their own eSIM, with 10% extra off on a second eSIM in the same order.
See the exact price for your dates
Nomad is one of the best-known travel eSIM apps. It sells data packages by GB and also "Unlimited" plans, and plenty of travelers use it without a problem. But the word "unlimited" means different things in this market, and that is where most of the confusion starts.
This page is a model comparison, not a lab speed test. We explain how Nomad's product works based on what Nomad publishes, who it fits best, and how VoaSim's truly unlimited eSIM differs. Check the current catalog on nomadesim.com before you buy.
How Nomad eSIM works
Nomad (nomadesim.com) sells travel eSIMs through its app and website. You pick a destination or a regional plan, choose a data amount and a validity window, pay, and install the eSIM by QR code or directly in the app. The eSIM connects to local partner networks at your destination; it is data only, like almost every travel eSIM.
Two families of plans exist:
- By GB: you buy a bucket (for example a set number of gigabytes for a set number of days). When the data runs out, you top up.
- "Unlimited": most of these plans include about 2 GB/day of high-speed data, after which speed drops to roughly 1-2 Mbps until the next day. Nomad's own help center states these plans "do not offer unrestricted high-speed data".
Neither approach is wrong. It simply means you need to read the daily allowance line before you compare prices with anything else. Caps, validity rules and tethering terms can change by package and country.
Who Nomad suits best
Be fair about it: Nomad is a solid pick for some trips.
- Light users. If you mostly need maps, messaging and the occasional ride-hail app, a small GB package can be cheaper than any unlimited plan.
- App lovers. Buying, topping up and checking usage inside one app is convenient, and you can see your remaining data in real time.
- Short layovers or backup lines. A 1 GB plan for a 24-hour stop is hard to beat on price.
- Destinations we do not cover. VoaSim has no coverage in the island Caribbean right now (Dominican Republic, Cuba, Jamaica, Bahamas, Aruba, Curaçao). Puerto Rico works on US networks. If your trip is to an island we do not serve, another provider is the right answer.
Where Nomad is a weaker fit: heavy video, long remote-work trips, hotspot-dependent setups, or anyone who hates watching a daily counter. For those, a plan with no daily ceiling removes the problem entirely. Compare models on our comparison hub.
Truly unlimited vs. daily high-speed cap
The industry mixes two very different products under one word. Here is the honest split:
| Model | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Unlimited with a daily high-speed cap | Full speed up to a set amount per day (Nomad publishes about 2 GB/day on most Unlimited plans), then a reduced speed near 1-2 Mbps until midnight. |
| Truly unlimited (VoaSim) | No data cap, no speed throttling, no hidden "fair use" clause. The last day works like the first. |
Reduced speed is not useless — WhatsApp and maps still work. It is uncomfortable when you want to upload photos, join a video call or stream on the hotel Wi-Fi-free evening.
We publish the VoaSim eSIM Price Index, a daily public comparison of unlimited eSIMs from VoaSim, Holafly, Airalo and Nomad that separates plans with and without a daily high-speed cap, with an open method. Check your destination there and judge for yourself.
VoaSim prices: by destination and trip length
VoaSim does not price by country. Price set by destination and trip length, across all 160+ destinations we cover, including Brazil and the 39-country Europe plan (Switzerland, the UK, Turkey, Norway and Iceland included). Today's promo price:
| Duration | Price | Per day |
|---|---|---|
| 5 days | USD 16.90 | USD 3.38 |
| 7 days | USD 23.90 | USD 3.41 |
| 10 days | USD 30.90 | USD 3.09 |
| 15 days | USD 42.90 | USD 2.86 |
| 20 days | USD 51.90 | USD 2.60 |
| 25 days | USD 58.90 | USD 2.36 |
| 30 days | USD 62.90 | USD 2.10 |
| 60 days | USD 112.90 | USD 1.88 |
Trips of 1-4 days pay the 5-day package. Maximum 90 days per eSIM. A second eSIM in the same order gets an extra 10% off. Run your dates in the price simulator for the exact total.
Buying, installing and support
With VoaSim you pay by international credit or debit card in USD through Stripe, with no hidden fees, and you get an invoice by email. The QR code arrives by email within minutes — plus a WhatsApp heads-up if you left a number. Install before you fly, following the step-by-step guide for iPhone and Android.
Your days start counting at the eSIM's first connection to a network at the destination, so install at home and keep the eSIM line off until you land (on Android, do not switch its data on before the trip). Your physical SIM and your number keep working — WhatsApp stays on your number. Just turn off your home carrier's data roaming.
If anything goes wrong, humans answer at hola@voasim.com and on chat. We also run a free eSIM Rescue tool that diagnoses an eSIM of any brand with no signal — Nomad included. And if the eSIM will not connect and support cannot fix it, you get a 100% refund. More on how we operate at Trust.
Decision checklist before you buy
Run through these six questions with any brand, Nomad or VoaSim:
- Is there a daily high-speed cap? If yes, how many GB and what speed comes after.
- When does the clock start? On purchase, on activation or on first connection at the destination.
- Is tethering allowed? VoaSim does not allow hotspot — if you share the connection, the local carrier may block the line. Each traveler uses their own eSIM (two or more in the same order get 10% extra off).
- Is your phone compatible? iPhone XR or newer, Galaxy S20 or newer, Pixel 3 or newer, most phones from 2020 on. Dial *#06#: if an EID shows, you have eSIM. Carrier-locked phones must be unlocked.
- Does the destination work? Check coverage on the destination list. Cruises: works on land at ports, not at sea.
- Who answers when it fails? App-only chat or real humans with a refund guarantee.
Why trust VoaSim?
Registered company with an invoice on every purchase, USD payment via Stripe with no hidden fees, 24/7 human support and a guarantee: if the eSIM will not connect and support cannot fix it, you get 100% back.