Nomad eSIM Review 2025: Independent Speed Test, Pricing & Provider Comparison

Introduction

Nomad eSIM is a popular provider of data eSIMs for travel with coverage in more than 200 countries worldwide. If you're planning a trip abroad and looking for a way to stay online without high roaming fees, a virtual SIM card from Nomad might be the ideal solution.

Nomad focuses on providing quality connectivity with 4G/5G speeds in destinations around the world. As a business division of LotusFlare, Inc., they concentrate on simplifying digital commerce and monetization, which is reflected in their user-friendly approach to eSIM technology.

In this review, we'll look at practical experiences with Nomad - from purchase through installation to real-world usage. For quick comparison of all available eSIMs for your destination, we recommend using our eSIM comparison tool on vefru.com, where you can filter by required data size, validity period, and country - even multiple countries at once.

eSIM Offering at a Glance

Purchase Process

When testing the Nomad eSIM purchase process, we found that on mobile devices we were redirected from the website directly to the Play Store. It's not possible to purchase an eSIM directly on the website from a mobile phone, which may be a drawback for some users.

After downloading the Nomad app, however, the purchase process runs very smoothly:

• The app offers quick registration via Google or Facebook account
• It supports several payment methods - Google Pay, PayPal, and credit cards
• Payment was completed quickly and without issues, especially when using Google Pay
   

Overall, the purchase process is simple and user-friendly, although the need to download the app may represent an additional step. The advantage is that after completing the purchase, you can immediately proceed to install the eSIM.

For easy comparison of prices and offers from various eSIM providers, we recommend using our eSIM comparison tool on vefru.com, which helps you find the most advantageous solution for your destination.

App

The Nomad app is one of this provider's strongest assets. It's a native application (not just a wrapped website) that runs quickly and smoothly with a pleasant design.

Main advantages of the Nomad app:

• Clear focus exclusively on eSIMs for various countries and regions
• Absence of annoying up-selling and irrelevant offers
• Unique widget for tracking remaining data that can be added to your Android home screen
• Intuitive navigation and fast loading

The app has received excellent ratings from users - 4.8 out of 5 stars on iOS (12,000+ reviews) and 4.4 on Android (10,000+ reviews, 1 million downloads). These high scores reflect the overall quality of the user experience.

The only significant drawback is the missing option to install eSIM from the app after closing the initial dialog. If you skip the initial installation screen, you'll need to install the eSIM later using a QR code sent by email, which is less convenient than competitors like Airalo or Saily.

To compare different eSIM providers and their apps, we recommend using our eSIM comparison tool, which allows you to find the best solution for your needs.

eSIM Installation

Installing a Nomad eSIM is a fairly straightforward process that offers several useful features. After purchasing a plan, the app shows that you have two months to install and activate your eSIM, which is very practical for those planning trips in advance.

Positive aspects of the installation process:

• Long activation period (up to 2 months)
• Clear instructions in the initial dialog
• Option to install from QR code sent by email
• Immediate connection after enabling data roaming

The main drawback of the installation process is that if you skip the initial dialog with eSIM installation because you want to explore the app first, there's no way in the app to return to the installation. You must use the QR code from the email, which is less intuitive than competing services like Airalo, where the installation button is always available in the eSIM details.

Despite this shortcoming, we were able to successfully install the eSIM using the QR code from the email without problems. It's important not to forget to enable data roaming for the connection to work properly.

If you need more detailed instructions for installing an eSIM on a specific device, check out our guides on how to add an eSIM to iPhone or how to add an eSIM to Samsung. To check your device compatibility, visit our list of phones with eSIM support.

Customer Support

Customer support is unfortunately the weakest link in the Nomad eSIM service. Although the company states they offer 24/7 support via live chat and email, our experiences were very problematic.

Main issues with customer support:

• Access to support is somewhat hidden (either in profile or plan details)
• Communication begins with an AI chatbot that's unable to solve more complex problems
• The chatbot requests technical information like APN without explaining how to obtain it
• There's no direct path to a human operator - the chatbot ends the conversation after a short time
• After ending the chat, you must start the whole process again from the beginning
   

When we tried to get help with settings, the chatbot asked us for information about APN but didn't offer any of the options we had available. The conversation was terminated after just a few seconds of inactivity when we were checking our device settings.

About 10 minutes after leaving the app, we received an email from customer support with a link to our request, suggesting that human support is available but access to it is difficult and time-consuming.

Speed Tests

When testing Nomad eSIM connection speed, we measured excellent results. Download speed reached 144 Mbps and upload 56 Mbps, which corresponds to full 4G technology speed. These values are more than sufficient for everyday use, including high-definition video streaming or video calls.

However, we discovered several important aspects regarding data limits and usage measurement:

• Internet stopped working exactly after reaching 1.07 GB of data
• The Nomad app doesn't work after data depletion - it doesn't have so-called zero-rate traffic
• The app and widget displayed incorrect information about remaining data even 10 minutes after reaching the limit
• After several app refreshes, the figure changed to 0.65 GB remaining, despite data already being depleted
   

This inaccurate display of data usage is problematic because users may be confused about why their connection isn't working when the app still shows available data. For accurate data usage tracking, we recommend using native data measurement in your phone's operating system settings.

It's also important to know that Nomad's unlimited plans actually have a limit of 2 GB per day at full speed, after which the speed is limited to 512 kbps according to the terms of service.

For more information about mobile technologies and connection speeds, check out our articles on 4G vs. LTE or 4G vs. 5G.

Prices

Nomad eSIM offers competitive prices for its data packages, which is one of the main reasons for their popularity. Their pricing policy is particularly attractive for larger data packages, where they often outperform competitors like Airalo.

Nomad's pricing advantages include:

• Local eSIM plans for more than 200 destinations
• Regional eSIM covering multiple countries in a given area
• Global eSIM valid in more than 100 countries
• Option to purchase additional data if you run out of credit
• Special offers such as a free 1GB trial eSIM for new users
   

Nomad also offers a referral program where both you and your friend receive a $5 discount on selected plans. This option can be interesting for groups of travelers or families.

It's important to mention that so-called "unlimited" Nomad plans actually have a limit of 2 GB per day at full speed, after which the speed is reduced to 512 kbps. This limitation is stated in the terms of service and should be considered when selecting a plan.

To find the best price for your destination, we recommend using our eSIM comparison tool on vefru.com, which allows you to compare offers from various providers including Nomad and find the optimal solution for your needs.

Customer Feedback

Customer feedback on Nomad eSIM is predominantly positive, as confirmed by high ratings on various platforms:

• Trustpilot: 4.4/5 stars from 22,000+ reviews
• App Store (iOS): 4.8/5 stars from 12,000+ reviews
• Google Play Store: 4.4/5 stars from 10,000+ reviews, 1 million downloads

Users often praise:

• Simplicity of eSIM installation and use
• Reliable and fast connection in most destinations
• Quality app with a clear user interface
• Competitive prices, especially for larger data packages
• Wide coverage of countries and regions

Negative reviews most commonly concern:

• Issues with customer support and difficulty contacting a human operator
• Inaccurate display of data usage in the app
• Inconsistent connection quality in some countries (e.g., South Korea, China)
• Sudden termination of connection after reaching the data limit without prior warning

These feedbacks correspond to our own findings during testing. Nomad eSIM is generally a reliable choice for travelers who don't need frequent customer support and are technically savvy enough to handle potential problems on their own.

For more information about alternative providers, check out our reviews of Airalo or Saily.

Result (Summary)

Nomad eSIM is a quality provider of data plans for travel that excels in several key areas but also has its shortcomings. Its main advantages include:

• Excellent app with intuitive interface and widget for data tracking
• Fast and stable connection with great speeds (144 Mbps download)
• Simple purchase process with Google Pay and PayPal support
• Wide coverage in more than 200 countries
• Competitive prices, especially for larger data packages

On the other hand, Nomad has several significant drawbacks:

• Very problematic customer support with AI chatbot without easy access to a human operator
• Absence of "zero-rating" - the app doesn't work without internet after data depletion
• Inaccurate display of data usage in app and widget
• Inability to install eSIM from the app after closing the initial dialog

We would recommend Nomad eSIM to more experienced users who are able to solve potential problems themselves and don't need frequent customer support. For these users, Nomad offers excellent value for money, especially for longer trips or when needing larger amounts of data.

To find the best eSIM for your specific needs, we recommend using our eSIM comparison tool on vefru.com, which allows you to filter offers by required data size, validity period, and destination - even for multiple countries at once.

Overview of Nomad Data Plans by Country