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We’ve used a lot of different ways to get online during our years of travelling around Europe, from local SIM cards and portable WiFi devices to a growing number of travel eSIMs.
For this updated Nomad eSIM review, we’ve spent the past week testing two of Nomad’s current eSIM options in Spain: a Spain-specific eSIM and a regional Europe eSIM.
And we’ve tested them somewhere that mobile coverage can be challenging. We’re currently staying in a dip between two mobile towers, where our usual provider regularly struggles to maintain a decent connection.
Both Nomad eSIMs have performed really well. We’ve uploaded and downloaded video, worked online, created content, streamed TV and used hotspotting without a problem. We couldn’t detect any meaningful difference in performance between the Spain and Europe plans.
The whole process was straightforward too. Buying the eSIM, managing it through the Nomad eSIM app and installing it directly onto an iPhone was intuitive, with none of the messing around with QR codes and second devices that we remember from some of our earlier eSIM experiences.
So, would we use Nomad eSIM again? Yes. The connectivity has been excellent during our test, the plans are flexible and the pricing is competitive.
Nomad eSIM Review Key Facts
First-hand experience: The Gap Decaders tested both Nomad eSIM Spain and Europe eSIMs while travelling in Spain, with reliable data for working online, streaming, video uploads and hotspotting.
Coverage: 200+ destinations, with country, regional and global plans available.
Best for: Travellers looking for flexible, competitively priced mobile data without buying a local SIM.
Our verdict: Easy to buy and install, good connectivity and flexible plan options. We would use Nomad eSIM again.
Discount: Get 15% off Nomad eSIM plans with our exclusive code GAPDECADERS15.
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Our Nomad eSIM Review
We tested two Nomad eSIMs while travelling in Spain: a country-specific Spain plan and a regional Europe plan. We used both over the course of a week, switching between them to see if there was any noticeable difference in connectivity or performance.
Our location provided a pretty good test. We were staying in a dip between two mobile towers, where our usual mobile provider had been struggling to maintain a reliable connection.
Both Nomad eSIMs worked extremely well. We couldn’t detect any meaningful difference between the Spain and Europe plans, and both gave us a reliable enough connection to work online, upload and download video, create content and stream TV.
We also tested hotspotting, which worked without any problems. That’s important for us because we regularly use our phones as hotspots when we’re working on the road.
The other thing that impressed us was how straightforward everything was. Buying the eSIM, using the Nomad eSIM app and installing the eSIM directly onto an iPhone was intuitive. There was no need to display a QR code on a second device and scan it with the phone, which is something we’ve had to do with eSIMs in the past.
We also liked the choice of plans. You can opt for a fixed amount of data with different validity periods or, in many destinations, choose unlimited data for a set number of days. That makes it easier to buy for the way you actually travel rather than ending up with far more data or validity than you need.
Price-wise, we found Nomad eSIM competitive with the other travel eSIM providers we’ve used. It won’t necessarily be the cheapest option for every country or every amount of data, so it’s still worth comparing plans for your destination before buying.
After our latest test, we’d happily use Nomad eSIM again.
What We Liked About Nomad eSIM
Pros
Cons
What is Nomad eSIM?
Nomad eSIM is a travel eSIM provider offering prepaid mobile data in more than 200 destinations worldwide. Instead of replacing your physical SIM when you travel, you buy and install a Nomad eSIM digitally and use it for mobile data while keeping your usual SIM and phone number in place.
Plans are available for individual countries, regions such as Europe, and wider global coverage. Nomad eSIM also offers Nomad Pass, a monthly subscription aimed at frequent travellers who want ongoing data coverage without buying a new eSIM for every trip.
There’s also plenty of flexibility in how you buy your data. Depending on the destination, Nomad eSIM offers fixed-data packages with different validity periods as well as unlimited options for a set number of days.
One thing to understand about those unlimited plans is that unlimited doesn’t necessarily mean unlimited full-speed data. Many include a daily high-speed allowance, after which the connection is slowed until the allowance resets. For most of Nomad eSIM’s current unlimited plans, that high-speed allowance is 2GB per day, although the exact terms depend on the plan you buy.
You can buy and manage your eSIM through the Nomad eSIM website or app, where you can also monitor your plan and buy additional data.
How Does Nomad eSIM Work?
The process is pretty simple. Choose your destination in the Nomad eSIM app or website, select the amount of data and validity period you need, buy your plan and install the eSIM on your compatible phone.
On newer iPhones, installation can be done directly through the Nomad eSIM app. We selected the automatic installation option and followed the prompts on the phone, and the whole process took just a few minutes.
This is a big improvement on our earlier experience of eSIMs, when we often had to open a QR code on a second device and scan it with the phone we wanted to install the eSIM on. Nomad eSIM still supports QR code and manual installation if you need them, but we didn’t need either during our latest test.
You can install your Nomad eSIM before you travel without starting the plan. In most cases, it activates when you arrive at your destination and connect to a supported local network. Nomad currently gives most eSIMs a 60-day activation window after purchase, so don’t buy one months before you intend to use it without checking the specific plan conditions.
Once you’re connected, you simply select the Nomad eSIM for mobile data and make sure data roaming is switched on. You can leave your normal SIM active for calls, messages and your usual phone number.
Now your eSIM is active, the Nomad eSIM app makes it easy to keep an eye on your data. You can see how much you’ve used at a glance, how much you have left and when your plan expires, which we found much easier than trying to keep track through the phone’s settings.
If you’re running low, many plans also allow you to buy an add-on directly through the app without installing a new eSIM. The additional data activates automatically when your current allowance runs out or expires, although add-ons aren’t available for every plan.
Nomad eSIM Plans and Prices
One of the things we particularly like about Nomad is the amount of choice. Instead of offering just a handful of standard packages, there are different data allowances and validity periods, so you can choose a plan that fits the length and style of your trip.
There are three main ways to buy Nomad eSIM data:
You’ll also find individual country eSIMs alongside regional plans covering areas such as Europe, Asia and North America. If you’re visiting several countries on the same trip, a regional plan can be much more convenient than buying and installing a new eSIM every time you cross a border.
How much does a Nomad eSIM cost?
There isn’t a single Nomad eSIM price. What you’ll pay depends on your destination, the amount of data you choose, the validity period and the type of plan.
We found the pricing competitive when we compared the options available for our Spain trip, but we wouldn’t assume Nomad eSIM will always be the cheapest provider. Prices in the eSIM market change regularly, and the best-value option will depend on where you’re going and how much data you need.
It’s also worth comparing the different Nomad eSIM plans for the same destination. If you’re only away for a week and use a lot of data, an unlimited plan may make more sense. For a longer trip with fairly light use, a fixed-data plan with a longer validity period could work out cheaper.
Gap Decaders discount: Use code GAPDECADERS15 to get 15% off eligible Nomad eSIM plans. The code is single-use per customer and doesn’t apply to plans under US$5, sale plans, add-on data, unlimited plans or the Thailand 50GB plan.
Is Nomad Pass worth considering?
Nomad Pass works differently from the standard prepaid eSIMs we tested. Instead of buying data for an individual trip, you pay monthly for an ongoing allowance that can be used across supported destinations.
That could make it interesting for frequent travellers, digital nomads or anyone regularly moving between countries. For occasional holidays, we’d be more inclined to compare the standard country and regional plans first.
We haven’t tested Nomad Pass ourselves, so we can’t comment on its performance or value from first-hand experience.
Nomad eSIM Europe
If you’re travelling through several European countries, Nomad eSIM’s regional Europe eSIM means you can keep using the same data plan as you cross borders rather than buying a separate eSIM for each country.
For our latest test, we used the Nomad Europe eSIM alongside a country-specific Spain eSIM. We switched between the two during the week and couldn’t detect any difference in connection quality or performance.
Both gave us a reliable connection in a location where our usual mobile provider had been struggling, and we were able to work online, upload and download video, stream TV and hotspot to other devices using either plan.
For a road trip covering several countries, we’d choose the Europe plan for the convenience of not having to think about connectivity every time we crossed a border. If we were spending the entire trip in one country, we’d compare the country-specific and regional plans and choose whichever offered the best combination of data, validity and price.
Which countries does the Nomad Europe eSIM cover?
Nomad eSIM currently offers both 35-country and 36-country Europe eSIM plans, so check which one you’re buying against your planned route rather than assuming every European country is included.
This is particularly important for road trippers. A route across Europe can take you through several countries in a matter of days, and the last thing you want is to discover at the border that your regional eSIM doesn’t cover your next destination.
Nomad eSIM lists all the included countries and available networks before you buy, so we’d recommend checking your entire itinerary rather than just your arrival country.
Europe eSIM or individual country eSIM?
Having now tested both in the same place, we wouldn’t choose one because we thought it would provide better connectivity. In our test, their performance was indistinguishable.
Instead, we’d make the decision based on the trip.
For a holiday entirely in Spain, for example, we’d compare the Spain eSIM with the Europe plan on price, data allowance and validity. For a road trip through Spain, France, Germany and Italy, we’d favour the regional Europe eSIM if the price and data allowance suited us, simply because it’s easier.
That’s one of the things we like about Nomad eSIM: you don’t have to buy a regional product when a country plan suits you better, or keep buying country plans when one regional eSIM will cover the whole trip.
Is Nomad eSIM Reliable?
Our experience with Nomad eSIM has been very positive, but there are also some useful independent indicators of how the service performs more widely.
Independent data backs up our positive experience too. In Ookla’s Q2 2026 analysis of travel eSIM performance, Nomad eSIM recorded the highest global median download speed among the travel eSIM brands measured, at 80.26Mbps.
Nomad eSIM also has more than 40,000 reviews on Trustpilot, with an overall rating of 4.3 out of 5, and its app is rated 4.8 on both Apple’s App Store and Google Play.
Those figures don’t guarantee you’ll get the same performance everywhere, because your connection ultimately depends on the local mobile networks available at your destination. But combined with our own experience in Spain, they provide useful reassurance that our positive test isn’t an isolated indicator.
Our Nomad eSIM Verdict
After testing both the Spain and Europe plans, we’d happily use Nomad eSIM again. Both gave us a reliable connection in a location where our usual mobile provider had been struggling, and we were able to work online, upload video, stream TV and hotspot without any issues.
We particularly liked how easy the eSIM was to buy, install and manage, along with the choice between fixed-data and unlimited plans. The pricing is competitive too, although we’d always recommend comparing the available plans for your particular destination and data needs.
If you want to try Nomad eSIM for your next trip, you can use our exclusive code GAPDECADERS15 to get 15% off eligible Nomad eSIM plans.
Use code GAPDECADERS15 at checkout. The discount is single-use and excludes plans under US$5, sale plans, add-on data, unlimited plans and the Thailand 50GB plan.
