VoaSim vs Nomad: truly unlimited vs by-GB
Key facts
- Nomad sells data by the gigabyte through its app; VoaSim sells truly unlimited data by the day.
- VoaSim charges one price for every destination: USD 18.90 for 5 days up to USD 106.90 for 60 days (USD 1.78/day).
- A small GB package can be cheaper for a light-use short trip; unlimited wins for streaming, maps and remote work.
- VoaSim has no coverage in the island Caribbean, so choose another brand for Cuba, Jamaica or the Bahamas.
- Install the QR before you fly: days start counting at the first connection at the destination.
See the exact price for your dates
This is a comparison of two business models, not a lab speed test. Nomad is a well-known eSIM brand that sells data packages by GB, mostly through its app. VoaSim sells travel eSIMs with truly unlimited data, priced by the number of days you travel, with the same price for every destination.
Below you get how each model works, the VoaSim price table, a side-by-side checklist and an honest note on when Nomad is the better pick for you.
How each model works
Nomad (an eSIM brand available in local, regional and global flavors) sells data in gigabytes. You choose a destination, a GB amount and a validity period in its app. If you finish the GB before the trip ends, you buy a top-up. Check the exact caps, validity and tethering rules in Nomad's own terms and app, since they change by plan and country.
VoaSim removes the GB math. You buy days, not gigabytes: no data cap, no speed throttling, no hidden fair-use clause. The same price applies whether you fly to Japan, Brazil, Mexico or Portugal. Coverage reaches 170 destinations on every continent, and the Europe plan covers 50 countries with a single eSIM, including Switzerland, the UK, Turkey, Norway and Iceland.
Both are data-only products. You keep your own number and WhatsApp on your physical SIM; calls and maps run over data. Neither gives you a local phone number.
VoaSim prices: one table, every destination
There is one price list and it does not change by country. Today's prices already include the 15% promo:
| Duration | Price | Per day |
|---|---|---|
| 5 days | USD 18.90 | USD 3.78 |
| 7 days | USD 23.90 | USD 3.41 |
| 10 days | USD 30.90 | USD 3.09 |
| 15 days | USD 42.90 | USD 2.86 |
| 30 days | USD 61.90 | USD 2.06 |
| 60 days | USD 106.90 | USD 1.78 |
Trips of 1 to 4 days pay the 5-day package. A second eSIM in the same order gets 10% extra off. Maximum 90 days per eSIM. Payment is by international credit or debit card in USD through Stripe, with no hidden fees and an invoice by email. Run your dates in the price simulator to see the exact total.
Side-by-side checklist
| Item | VoaSim | By-GB eSIM (Nomad model) |
|---|---|---|
| How you buy | By days | By gigabytes + validity |
| Data limit | Truly unlimited, no throttling | Package cap; top-up when it ends |
| Price by country | Same for all destinations | Varies by country and region |
| Where you buy | Website, QR by email | Usually app-first |
| Hotspot | Depends on plan — confirm with support first | Check the brand's terms |
| Support | Human, email and chat | Check the brand's channels |
| Refund | 100% if it will not connect and support cannot fix it | See brand policy |
More brand-by-brand context in our comparisons and best eSIM picks.
When Nomad is the better pick
Being fair matters more than winning the argument. A by-GB eSIM can be the smarter buy when:
- You barely use data. A two-day layover with hotel Wi-Fi and a couple of map checks may cost less as a 1 GB package than as a 5-day unlimited plan.
- You want a global multi-region package that stretches across several trips inside a long validity window.
- You are going to the island Caribbean — Dominican Republic, Cuba, Jamaica, Bahamas, Aruba, Curaçao. VoaSim has no coverage there right now. Puerto Rico does work, because it runs on US networks.
- You want an app-managed balance and like watching your GB counter.
VoaSim wins when you stream, upload video, use maps all day, work remotely or travel as a family and do not want anyone rationing data. Unlimited also removes the worst travel surprise: running dry in a taxi line at 11 pm.
Setup, activation and support
After checkout the QR code lands in your email within minutes, plus a WhatsApp heads-up if you left a number. Install it 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, not at purchase. So install at home and keep the eSIM line switched off until you land — on Android, do not turn on the eSIM's data before the trip. Your physical SIM and your number keep working; just turn off your home carrier's data roaming.
Compatibility: iPhone XR or newer, Samsung Galaxy S20 or newer, Google Pixel 3 or newer, and most phones released from 2020 on. Dial *#06#: if an EID appears, your phone supports eSIM. Carrier-locked phones must be unlocked first. VoaSim does not sell physical SIM cards.
Stuck with no signal — on any brand? The free eSIM Rescue tool runs a diagnosis. Human support answers at hola@voasim.com and on chat.
What neither eSIM does
Both are data-only. No traditional voice line, no SMS number of your own. WhatsApp, Telegram, FaceTime and app calls work fine over data, on your existing number.
Cruises: a travel eSIM connects on land at ports, not at sea. Onboard satellite Wi-Fi is a separate purchase from the cruise line.
Hotspot and tethering: do not build your trip around it. With VoaSim it depends on the plan — ask support before you rely on it. With Nomad, read the plan terms in the app.
Also worth comparing against your own carrier's roaming pass before you decide. Daily passes from T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, EE, Vodafone or Telstra can be convenient for a weekend, but they usually bill per day of use with a daily data allowance and reduced speeds afterwards, and often need enabling before departure. Rates change by country — check the current one in your carrier app, and see our roaming guide.
Why trust VoaSim?
Registered company with an invoice on every purchase, USD payment via Stripe with no hidden fees, human support and a guarantee: if the eSIM will not connect and support cannot fix it, you get 100% back.