Compare 4 top-rated eSIM providers as alternatives to Nomad. Find better pricing, features, and coverage.
Nomad has built a solid reputation, but with four strong competitors in 2025—Airalo, Saily, UBIGI, and Roamless—it's worth exploring what else is out there. These alternatives offer compelling advantages, from Roamless's budget-friendly pricing to UBIGI's standout user ratings. Whether you're chasing better coverage or simply want more value for your data, the right eSIM might not be the one you started with.
Nomad currently offers zero plans and no country coverage, which means travelers need to look elsewhere for their eSIM needs right now. This makes the comparison straightforward: Airalo, Saily, UBIGI, and Roamless all provide actual connectivity options where Nomad doesn't. Nomad does maintain a respectable 4.4 TrustPilot rating, suggesting the service has delivered good experiences in the past, but without active plans available, alternatives are the only practical choice for upcoming trips.
Roamless stands out as the cheapest option among the alternatives. While specific pricing data varies by destination, budget-conscious travelers will find the most affordable data packages here. The trade-off for those lower prices typically comes down to plan flexibility and potentially fewer country options compared to more established players, though the savings can be substantial enough to matter for short trips or light data users.
Coverage is where the established alternatives really shine. Without any countries in Nomad's current lineup, providers like Airalo and UBIGI offer connectivity across dozens to over a hundred countries. This matters most for multi-country trips through Europe or Asia, where a single regional eSIM beats buying separate plans for each border crossing. Saily and Roamless also provide multi-destination coverage, giving travelers actual options to compare based on their specific itinerary.
UBIGI earns the highest customer rating among the alternatives, which likely reflects their reliability and polished user experience. Higher ratings usually signal better app functionality, more responsive customer support, and fewer connectivity headaches when you're actually on the ground trying to get online. The difference between a highly-rated provider and a mediocre one often shows up in those frustrating moments: when you need help activating your eSIM at the airport or troubleshooting a connection issue from your hotel.
Frequent travelers who visit multiple countries annually should lean toward UBIGI or Airalo for their broad coverage and proven track records. Budget backpackers or anyone taking a single short trip can save money with Roamless without sacrificing too much convenience. Nomad may return as a viable option once plans become available again, but for now, choosing any of these four alternatives means actual connectivity versus none at all.
Airalo stands out as a compelling alternative with 1,260 plans spanning 178 countries—a massive selection that gives travelers genuine flexibility across nearly every destination. Its 4.0 Trustpilot rating reflects solid user satisfaction, and at $0.53 per day, the pricing sits comfortably in the competitive range without breaking the bank. For travelers who prioritize choice and geographic reach, Airalo delivers both breadth and reliability. The sheer variety of plans means you can usually find an option tailored to your data needs, whether that's a weekend city break or a month-long multi-country trip.
Where Airalo really shines is for frequent travelers hopping between regions—especially those moving across Asia, Europe, and Latin America where coverage is particularly strong. The platform's intuitive app and quick eSIM delivery make it easy to switch plans on the fly, a practical advantage when your itinerary changes or you're extending a stay. However, Nomad may still hold appeal for travelers seeking niche regional bundles or those who've had particularly smooth experiences with its customer support in the past. Airalo's customer service can be hit-or-miss during peak times, so travelers who value guaranteed quick response times might weigh that trade-off.
Budget-conscious digital nomads and backpackers will appreciate Airalo's combination of wide geographic reach, competitive daily rates, and the ability to compare dozens of plans side-by-side before committing. The platform works especially well when you need coverage across multiple countries without buying separate SIMs for each stop—something that saves both money and hassle on extended trips.
Saily stands out with 816 data plans spanning 195 countries, making it one of the most comprehensive eSIM providers available—a stark contrast to Nomad's current limited offerings. At an average of $0.53 per day, Saily delivers competitive pricing that works well for both short city breaks and extended multi-country trips. The provider maintains a solid 4.0 TrustPilot rating, reflecting consistent user satisfaction across thousands of reviews. Travelers get access to reliable connectivity in major destinations across Europe, Asia, the Americas, and beyond, with enough plan variety to match almost any itinerary or data usage pattern.
The real advantage becomes clear for frequent travelers and digital nomads who move between regions regularly. Saily's extensive country coverage means you can often stick with one provider across multiple destinations instead of juggling different eSIMs. Budget-conscious travelers particularly benefit from the competitive daily rates, which add up to real savings on trips lasting two weeks or longer. The main trade-off is that Nomad may offer better-known brand recognition in certain circles, though Saily's growing plan catalog and proven track record across nearly 200 countries more than compensate for any perception gap. Regional specialists might occasionally beat Saily's rates in specific markets, but few providers match its combination of breadth and affordability.
For travelers who prioritize flexibility and value, Saily typically makes more sense than Nomad:
UBIGI stands out as a compelling alternative with 923 data plans spanning 200 countries—a significantly broader selection than what many travelers find with smaller providers. The platform maintains a solid 4.1 TrustPilot rating and offers plans averaging $0.73 per day, making it accessible for both occasional and frequent travelers. The sheer variety of options means travelers can fine-tune their plan to match specific trip lengths and data needs, rather than settling for one-size-fits-all packages. This breadth of choice matters most when visiting multiple countries on a single trip or when data requirements vary dramatically from one destination to the next.
For travelers who prioritize flexibility and global reach, UBIGI delivers particularly well. The extensive plan library shines during multi-country itineraries across Europe, Asia, or South America, where switching between regional and country-specific plans can optimize both coverage and cost. Budget-conscious travelers appreciate the competitive daily rate without sacrificing reliable connectivity in major destinations. The trade-off comes down to user experience: while UBIGI's catalog is vast, some travelers may find the interface less streamlined than providers with a tighter, curated selection. Nomad might appeal to users who prefer simplicity over exhaustive choice.
UBIGI makes the most sense for frequent travelers who value having options at their fingertips and don't mind spending a few extra minutes comparing plans. The combination of wide geographic coverage and a large plan inventory means most travelers can find something that fits, whether they need 3GB for a weekend city break or 20GB for a month-long work-and-travel arrangement.
Roamless stands out with its massive selection of 4,367 plans covering 194 countries, making it one of the most flexible eSIM providers available. While Nomad's exact plan count and coverage aren't widely published, Roamless delivers similar pricing and similar coverage while giving travelers far more options to fine-tune their data needs. The trade-off is a slightly lower Trustpilot rating of 3.5 compared to Nomad's 4.4, suggesting that while the variety is impressive, customer service experiences can be more inconsistent.
For travelers who move between multiple countries frequently or need specific data amounts for different legs of a trip, Roamless excels. A backpacker hopping through Southeast Asia and Europe in one journey can choose from hundreds of regional and country-specific plans rather than being locked into a one-size-fits-all option. The sheer number of plans means better chances of finding exactly the right data allocation without overpaying for unused gigabytes. Nomad might still appeal to those who prioritize a higher-rated support experience and prefer fewer, more curated options over extensive choice.
Roamless makes the most sense for travelers who value flexibility and plan variety over streamlined simplicity. Those willing to spend a few extra minutes comparing plans will find competitive rates across nearly 200 destinations, while anyone who prefers a more reliable customer service track record might lean toward Nomad despite its narrower selection.
After comparing Nomad with Airalo, Saily, UBIGI, and Roamless in 2025, most travelers will find a better fit by switching—especially if price or proven reliability matters to you. Nomad remains a decent option for users who value brand familiarity, but the alternatives now outperform it in key areas that directly affect your wallet and connectivity peace of mind.
Here's how to match your priorities to the right provider:
Sticking with Nomad makes sense only if you're already locked into their ecosystem or have unused credits. For everyone else, switching to one of these four alternatives means better value, stronger performance, or both—pick based on whether you prioritize saving money or maximizing reliability.
