Airalo vs Nomad (2026): prices in 8 countries compared
By the NomadGB team · Updated · Prices checked 2026-11-13
Nomad is cheaper than Airalo for about 10GB in 6 of the 8 destinations we checked, and its 10GB plans last 30 days while Airalo's cheapest 10GB plans last 7. Airalo wins in Italy, and its "unlimited" plans give more full-speed data per day (3GB to 5GB, against Nomad's 2GB). Nomad's unlimited plans are cheaper per week in most places, but they are non-refundable.
A note on names: "Nomad" on this page is Nomad eSIM (nomadesim.com, also getnomad.app), run by LotusFlare in California. It is not NomadGB, the brand that publishes this page. We sell eSIMs too, and we include our own prices at the end so you can compare.
How we compared: we read prices on Airalo's and Nomad's own websites on 13 November 2026 for 8 popular destinations. For each we took the plan closest to 10GB and the cheapest "unlimited" plan around a week. We then read each company's refund policy, features and Trustpilot rating on the same day.
Airalo vs Nomad: prices in 8 countries (November 2026)
| Destination | Airalo ~10GB | Nomad ~10GB | Airalo unlimited/daily | Nomad unlimited/daily |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | $17.00 (10GB, 7d) | $16.00 (10GB, 30d) | $26.50 / 7 days (3GB a day at full speed, then 1 Mbps) | $25.00 / 7 days (2GB a day at full speed, then 1 Mbps) |
| Europe | $26.00 (10GB, 7d) | $23.00 (10GB, 30d) | $27.00 / 7 days (5GB a day at full speed, then 1 Mbps) | $19.00 / 5 days (2GB a day at full speed, then 1 Mbps) |
| USA | $21.50 (10GB, 7d) | $10.40 (10GB, 30d) | $25.00 / 7 days (5GB a day at full speed, then 1 Mbps) | $19.00 / 7 days (2GB a day at full speed, then 1 Mbps) |
| Thailand | $10.00 (10GB, 7d) | $10.00 (10GB, 30d) | $21.00 / 7 days (5GB a day at full speed, then 1 Mbps) | $15.00 / 7 days (2GB a day at full speed, then 1 Mbps) |
| Mexico | $17.00 (10GB, 7d) | $15.50 (10GB, 30d) | $23.50 / 7 days (3GB a day at full speed, then 1 Mbps) | $22.00 / 7 days (2GB a day at full speed, then 1 Mbps) |
| Italy | $17.00 (10GB, 7d) | $18.50 (10GB, 30d) | $23.00 / 7 days (5GB a day at full speed, then 1 Mbps) | $25.00 / 7 days (2GB a day at full speed, then 1 Mbps) |
| UK | $18.00 (10GB, 7d) | $17.50 (10GB, 30d) | $27.00 / 7 days (3GB a day at full speed, then 1 Mbps) | $25.00 / 7 days (2GB a day at full speed, then 1 Mbps) |
| Turkey | $14.50 (10GB, 7d) | $13.00 (10GB, 30d) | $24.50 / 7 days (3GB a day at full speed, then 1 Mbps) | $17.00 / 5 days (2GB a day at full speed, then 1 Mbps) |
Neither company's "unlimited" plan is truly unlimited. Both slow you to 1 Mbps once you pass the daily full-speed amount shown above. In Europe and Turkey, Nomad's shortest unlimited plan is 5 days, so the prices are not for the same length.
Features side by side
| Airalo | Nomad | |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Airalo, Singapore | Nomad eSIM, a LotusFlare business, Santa Clara, California (since 2020) |
| Typical 10GB validity | 7, 15 or 30 days (you choose) | 30 days |
| Unlimited plans | Yes, 3GB or 5GB a day at full speed | Yes in some countries, 2GB a day at full speed |
| Calls and texts | Some plans include minutes and texts (for example "Discover+" global plans) | Only Thailand, UK and Maldives plans |
| Hotspot | We could not confirm a general rule | Supported, per Nomad's help center |
| Refunds | In-app "Request Refund" for eligible orders; expired or used eSIMs are not eligible; app refunds go to Airmoney credit | Within 30 days of purchase; full refund if not installed or activated; to card or Nomad Points; all unlimited plans non-refundable |
| Trustpilot (13 Nov 2026) | 4.2 from 50,800 reviews | 4.3 from 48,541 reviews |
| Support | Help center and in-app chat | 24/7 live chat in app and website |
Where Airalo wins
- More fast data on unlimited plans. Airalo gives 3GB or 5GB a day at full speed; Nomad gives 2GB. If you stream or tether, Airalo's unlimited is more usable.
- Italy. Airalo's 10GB ($17) and unlimited week ($23) are both cheaper than Nomad's.
- Choice of plan length. You can buy short 3 or 7-day plans and pay less for a quick trip.
- Calls and texts. More Airalo plans include minutes and texts, which helps if you need to receive a code.
- Refunds on unlimited plans. Airalo does not exclude unlimited plans from refunds in the pages we read. Nomad does.
Where Nomad wins
- Price for about 10GB. Nomad is cheaper in Japan, Europe, the USA, Mexico, the UK and Turkey, and ties in Thailand. The USA gap is the biggest: $10.40 against $21.50.
- 30-day validity by default. For a 2 to 4-week trip you do not need to pay for a longer plan.
- Cheaper unlimited weeks in the USA, Thailand, Japan, Mexico and the UK, if 2GB a day at full speed is enough for you.
- Clear refund window of 30 days, with the option to get money back to your card rather than only credit.
App and reviews
Both apps let you buy, install and top up in a few taps. On Trustpilot, reviewers praise easy setup for both. Common complaints on Airalo's page are activation problems and no service on arrival; on Nomad's page, coverage gaps in some countries and confusion when switching plans. Nomad's own help center reports 4.8 on the App Store and 4.7 on Google Play, which we did not verify separately.
A third option: NomadGB
We sell 30-day plans too. For 10GB valid 30 days, we charge $7.49 in Japan, $9.49 in the USA, $7.49 in Thailand, $6.49 in Italy, $6.49 in the UK and $4.99 in Turkey, which is less than both Airalo and Nomad in those six places. We are not the cheapest everywhere: in Mexico our 10GB is $18.49, above Nomad's $15.50, and in Europe our $23.49 is just above Nomad's $23. Our daily "unlimited" plans are capped too (for example 3GB a day, then 1 Mbps in the UK). See our Japan eSIM or UK eSIM as examples.
Which one should you pick?
- 2 to 4 weeks, 10GB to 20GB: Nomad over Airalo in most places, for the 30-day validity.
- Short trip under a week: Airalo, for its short cheap plans.
- Heavy use or hotspot on an unlimited plan: Airalo, for 3GB to 5GB a day at full speed.
- Italy: Airalo.
- Need texts or a code by SMS: Airalo plans with minutes and texts.
- Want the option of a card refund: Nomad, within 30 days, if the plan is not unlimited.
Sources: Airalo Japan (13 Nov 2026), Nomad Japan (13 Nov 2026), Airalo refund help page (13 Nov 2026), Nomad refund policy (13 Nov 2026), Nomad company facts (13 Nov 2026), Airalo on Trustpilot (13 Nov 2026), Nomad on Trustpilot (13 Nov 2026). Other country prices from each provider's country pages. Prices checked 13 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is Airalo or Nomad cheaper?+
For about 10GB, Nomad was cheaper in 6 of 8 popular destinations on 13 November 2026 and tied in Thailand. Airalo was cheaper in Italy. Nomad's 10GB plans also last 30 days, against 7 days for Airalo's cheapest 10GB.
Which has better unlimited plans, Airalo or Nomad?+
Airalo gives 3GB to 5GB a day at full speed; Nomad gives 2GB. Nomad's unlimited weeks are often cheaper, but they are non-refundable under Nomad's policy.
Is Nomad the same as NomadGB?+
No. Nomad (nomadesim.com, getnomad.app) is run by LotusFlare in California. NomadGB is a separate brand that publishes this page and sells its own eSIMs.
Which has the better refund policy?+
Nomad gives a clear 30-day window and can refund to your card if the eSIM was not installed or activated, but excludes unlimited plans. Airalo refunds eligible orders through the app, mostly as Airmoney credit; expired or used eSIMs are not eligible.
Can I get a phone number with Airalo or Nomad?+
Not a full local number in most countries. Some Airalo plans include minutes and texts, and Nomad offers calls and texts only on its Thailand, UK and Maldives plans.