Whether you use a physical SIM or eSIM during your trip, this guide will walk you through the simple process of reconnecting with your home network and avoid any unwanted roaming charges.
Top 5 Nomad eSIM Alternatives: Which is the best?
Are you looking for reliable alternatives to Nomad eSIM? Choosing the right eSIM provider that offers fast connection, affordable pricing and stable performance can be challenging, especially when faced with a lot of options. While Nomad eSIM is a popular travel eSIM provider in the world, it still has its own drawbacks, which often leave users exploring better alternatives. In this article, we will find out the best Nomad eSIM alternatives, including providers like Gigago, YeSIM, Flexiroam, Airalo, and AloSIM. Let’s explore so you can decide which is the best option for your travel experience.
In this article
What are the top Nomad eSIM alternatives?
Nomad eSIM services cover more than 100 countries worldwide. One of standout features of Nomad eSIM is its intuitive app. Users appreciate the app’s clean interface and real-time data usage tracking. Besides, many users also highlight that Nomad’s smaller data packages are perfect for short vacations or weekend getaways. However, its plans are more expensive compared to other eSIM providers, especially for frequent travelers or those needing higher data volumes. Some users have reported inconsistent network performance, especially in rural or less-developed regions. In regions with limited carrier options, connectivity speed can drop significantly, resulting in an irritating experience.
To avoid such frustration during your trip, we recommend trying the top Nomad eSIM alternatives.
1. Gigago
Gigago, a new alternative to Nomad eSIM, is known for its affordability, ease of use, and extensive global coverage. Whether you are traveling for business, leisure, or remote work, Gigago ensures you stay connected wherever you go.
Benefits of Gigago eSIM
- Affordable plans: Gigago offers some of the most competitive pricing in the eSIM market. Plans start as low as $1.90, making it a budget-friendly choice for travelers visiting destinations like the USA, Asia, or Africa.
- Wide coverage: Gigago provides eSIM plans for more than 200 countries worldwide, including popular travel destinations like Japan, Thailand, South Korea, the United States, South Africa, and France. Whether you are visiting a single or multiple countries, Gigago has you covered.
- Flexible Plan options: Gigago caters to a variety of travel needs with local, regional and global eSIM plans. You can flexibly choose from data-only or data-and-voice tailored to your usage requirements. The data plans range from fixed to daily to unlimited depending destinations.
- Data sharing: With Gigago, you can easily share your cellular data with other devices, such as tablets, laptops and other smartphones, making it perfect for multitaskers.
- 24/7 Multi-lingual customer support: Gigago provides support via WhatsApp, hotline or email. Whether you encounter issues during activation or need advice on choosing a plan, you always get an answer from their team almost instantly. The support team can give you advice in English, Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, French, German.
How to install and activate Gigago eSIM
Gigago eSIM is compatible with the latest versions of iOS and Android. You can set up eSIM from Gigago by using 2 methods:
- QR code method
- Manual method
All installation and activation details will be sent to you through email.
After installing your eSIM, once you arrive at your destination, the eSIM will automatically connect to the best available network. If it does not connect, you can manually select the network from your device’s settings through configuring APN settings.
2. YeSIM
YeSIM is another excellent alternative to Nomad eSIM, offering reliable eSIM services for international travelers. The platform provides a range of local, regional, and global eSIM plans for both Android and iPhone devices. Similar to Gigago, YeSIM allows users to share their data with other devices. Though YeSIM offers unlimited data plans for many countries, their plans have no phone numbers, so you cannot make traditional phone calls or SMS. Additionally, YeSIM tends to lack small data volumes, making it less suitable for users with low data usage needs.
3. Flexiroam eSIM
Flexiroam is a well-known name in the eSIM market, offering advanced eSIM services for international travel. It provides local, regional, and global eSIM plans for over 200 destinations. It provides text and voice plans for certain countries. Users can share data from fixed data plans of Flexiroam with family and friends with Flexi Share feature.
However, its local plans tend to lack variety and often come with low data allowances. Some users report that Flexiroam’s data plans don’t provide enough data to meet their needs, with packages expiring too quickly, especially for long trips.
4. Airalo
Airalo is a leading eSIM provider but falls short in several areas. Its plans often offer limited data, lack unlimited options, and can become costly for heavy users or long-term travelers due to frequent top-ups. While local plans are affordable, regional and global plans are comparatively expensive. Airalo is data-only, with no support for traditional calls or SMS, which may be inconvenient for users needing a phone number for verification or communication. Many plans have short validity periods, making them less suitable for extended trips. Customer support is email-based, with no live chat or phone options, leading to delays in resolving urgent issues.
5. AloSIM
AloSIM is another alternative to Nomad eSIM, offering local and regional eSIMs for over 175 destinations worldwide. It provides a range of plans tailored to travelers’ preferences, although it is better suited for short-term or light data users. However, AloSIM’s eSIM plans are often more expensive compared to competitors like Airalo, Gigago, or Flexiroam.
For example, a 1-day, 1GB USA eSIM costs $2 with Gigago, while AloSIM charges $4.50 for the same duration and data volume. This price disparity becomes even more significant when purchasing larger data packages or plans with longer durations. Additionally, AloSIM does not offer unlimited data plans, meaning heavy users may need multiple top-ups. It also lacks multi-country plans, which can be inconvenient for travelers visiting several destinations.
AloSIM’s limited customer support is another notable weakness. While the app is user-friendly, troubleshooting issues can sometimes be slow or unresponsive.
Final words
Many eSIM providers work better than GetNomad eSIM, depending the travelers’ specific needs. Providers like Gigago, YeSIM, Flexiroam, Airalo, and AloSIM each have their own strengths and weaknesses, making them suitable for different types of users. We have discussed the top alternatives to help you make an informed decision based on your travel requirements.
FAQs
Why is Nomad not the best?
Nomad eSIM provides good services and app interface for international travelers. However, its services’ coverage does not large (only 100+ countries)are quite disappointing to those frequent travelers. The single country Nomad eSIM is more expensive than other providers. Sometimes, users face connectivity drops while traveling.
How Gigago is better than Nomad eSIM?
Gigago is best for coverage, affordability and functionality, making it a strong alternative to Nomad eSIM. It offers detailed guidelines to customers for activation and use, ensuring a hassle-free setup process. Additionally, Gigago’s customer support team is proactive and responsive, following up with users to provide assistance whenever needed. In comparison, Nomad eSIM has been criticized for its slower response times and less attentive customer service.