Airalo and Ubigi are leading the eSIM race — but depending on how much you travel and how much dat...
Planning a trip in 2025 and want to stay connected without hassle? If you're trying to decide between Airalo eSIM and Nomad eSIM, this guide is here to help. It compares their prices, features, and what makes each provider unique, so that you can pick the best fit for your travels.
Both Airalo and Nomad offer competitive pricing options, making them attractive choices for travelers looking for cost-effective data plans. They provide a range of plans that cater to different needs, whether it's short-term trips, frequent travel, or extended stays.
Here's a quick comparison of popular destinations, highlighting the cheapest eSIM plans available from both providers.
| Destination | Airalo | Nomad |
| Canada | $6.00 for 1 GB of data | $5.00 for 1 GB of data |
| Italy | $4.50 for 1 GB of data | $4.50 for 1 GB of data |
| Australia | $4.50 for 1 GB of data | $6.00 for 1 GB of data |
| Japan | $4.50 for 1 GB of data | $6.00 for 1 GB of data |
| U.K. | $5.00 for 1 GB of data | $4.50 for 1 GB of data |
As you can see, the prices from both providers are pretty much on par across different popular destinations, showing how similar they really are when it comes to affordability.
Airalo provides a range of data plans, from as little as 1 GB to 20+ GB, depending on the destination. Some countries also feature unlimited plans, but these are not available everywhere.
Nomad, on the other hand, offers two types of plans: regular plans, which typically include up to 50 GB of data, and daily unlimited plans. The daily plans range from 1 to 7 or 10 days and offer a high-speed data limit of 500 MB, 1 GB, 2 GB, or 3 GB per day, after which unlimited data at 512 kbps is available for the rest of the day.
See the full comparison of Airalo and Nomad's data offerings in the below table.
| Destination | Airalo data plans | Nomad data plans |
| Canada | 1 GB, 2 GB, 3 GB, 5 GB, 10 GB, 20 GB | 1 GB, 3 GB, 5 GB, 10 GB, 20 GB + daily unlimited plans |
| Italy | 1 GB, 2 GB, 3 GB, 5 GB, 10 GB, 20 GB | 1 GB, 3 GB, 5 GB, 10 GB, 20 GB, 50 GB |
| Australia | 1 GB, 2 GB, 3 GB, 5 GB, 10 GB, 20 GB, unlimited plan valid for 10 days | 1 GB, 3 GB, 5 GB, 10 GB, 20 GB, 50 GB, unlimited plans (5 or 10 days) + daily unlimited plans |
| Japan | 1 GB, 2 GB, 3 GB, 5 GB, 10 GB, 20 GB | 1 GB, 3 GB, 5 GB, 10 GB, 20 GB, 50 GB + daily unlimited plans |
| U.K. | 1 GB, 2 GB, 3 GB, 5 GB, 10 GB, 20 GB | 1 GB, 3 GB, 5 GB, 10 GB, 20 GB, 50 GB + daily unlimited plans |
Both Airalo and Nomad cover over 200 countries and regions, making it easy for travelers to stay connected no matter where they go. They also have a variety of regional and global plans, so you can pick the one that best fits either a multi-country trip or a stay in just one place.
This section provides an overview of the compatible devices for both providers, organized by device type. It’s designed to help you decide which service works best for your specific device setup, ensuring a seamless experience.
Airalo & Nomad:
iPhone SE (2020, 2022), XR, XS, XS Max, 11–16 series
Samsung:
Airalo:
Nomad:
Xiaomi:
Airalo:
Nomad:
Google Pixel:
Airalo:
Nomad:
Airalo:
iPad 7+, Air 3+, Pro 11"/12.9" (3+), Mini 5+
Compatible Android tablets with eSIM
Nomad:
iPad 7+, Air 3+, Pro 11"/12.9" (3+), Mini 5+
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 models
Airalo:
Windows 10 / 11 laptops with eSIM support
Nomad:
Selected models from Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Panasonic, Samsung, and Microsoft Surface
Note: The list of compatible devices comes from each providers’ compatible devices page. To see the full list of additional devices for Airalo and Nomad, explore their respective compatible devices’ page.
Customer reviews highlight what each provider does well and where they can improve. On Trustpilot, Airalo has a score of 2.6, while Nomad’s rating is much higher at 4.4.
Many users appreciate Airalo for its affordability and simple setup, especially highlighting its reliable performance in certain countries and major cities. When it works as expected, they see it as a useful and convenient solution for international travel, with easy options for recharging.
However, many reviews point out that connectivity can be unreliable outside urban areas or in certain countries, leading to occasional disconnections. Customer support is often mentioned as slow or unhelpful, and refund processes can be tricky. While security issues are rarely reported, there have been a few mentions, adding to the overall variety of feedback.
Nomad customers generally find the service to be reliable, easy to use, and offering good value for money. Many travelers appreciate the wide coverage and strong signals they experience in various countries. The setup process is often described as straightforward, making it suitable for frequent travelers.
Some users, though, have experienced issues with Nomad, particularly with unreliable connectivity in certain locations like Italy and China. They mention difficulties in getting the eSIM to work consistently, with slow internet speeds and poor overall performance. Some users also found the setup process challenging, especially if they're not tech-savvy.
Both Airalo and Nomad offer a range of convenient payment options to suit their customers. They accept common methods such as credit and debit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. Additionally, Airalo provides its own reward currency, AirMoney, which can be used for future transactions.
Here's a quick rundown of the payment options they offer:
| Payment method | Airalo | Nomad |
| Credit/debit cards | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Pay | Yes | Yes |
| Google Pay | Yes | Yes |
| AirMoney | Yes (Airalo's own reward currency, app only) | No |
| Alipay | Yes (only via Airalo mobile app) | Yes |
Understanding the refund policies of Airalo and Nomad can give you a clearer idea of what to expect if your plans change or if you run into any issues. Below, there's a comparison of their eligibility criteria and how their refund processes work.
You are eligible for a refund from Airalo if:
You’re not eligible for a refund if:
To initiate a refund request, contact Airalo's support team via their in-app chat or the website's live chat. You'll need to provide evidence of the problem, like screenshots or device settings, if requested.
Once your request is reviewed and approved, the refund is processed to your original payment method or provided as Airalo credits (Airmoney). Note that the entire process may take up to 30 business days.
You are eligible for a refund from Nomad if:
You’re not eligible for a refund if:
To request a refund from Nomad, contact their customer support either through the website chat or the in-app chat. Provide all relevant details, such as your order number, activation status, and any evidence of technical issues or other concerns. Be clear and specific about your reason for the refund request.
Once your request is approved, Nomad processes the refund back to your original payment method. The entire process can take up to 10 business days, as Nomad first attempts to resolve any issues within this period before issuing a refund.
Both Nomad and Airalo are strong options for travelers in 2025, offering wide coverage, flexible plans, and easy setups. If you’re looking for affordable options for short trips or lighter use, Airalo is a good choice. But if you need larger data plans, reliable connectivity, and a hassle-free experience, then Nomad is the better option.
The best global eSIM provider
From $2.3/week
A reliable eSIM provider for budget travelers
From $2.4/week
The best global eSIM provider
From $2.3/week
A reliable eSIM provider for budget travelers
From $2.4/week
Our mission is simple: to make sure you never have to ask, “What’s the WiFi password?” again. All our tips come straight from personal experience — because we’d never recommend something we haven’t put to the test ourselves.
Reviews