Table of Contents
- What Is Wrong with Nomad and Why Customers Seek Alternative?
- Yesim: The Best for Versatility
- Holafly: The Best for Unlimited Internet
- Instabridge: The Best for Data Saving
- Select the Best Nomad Alternative
- How to Choose the Right eSIM?
- Practical Tips by Travelers
- Bottom Line
eSIM technology has changed the way we connect to the Internet abroad. The days of hunting for a local SIM card are gone. With this new technology, you can install a SIM tariff directly to your phone and enjoy connection everywhere. Among eSIM options, Nomad has been a popular choice in recent years. Despite that, there are excellent Nomad alternatives as well.
Stay tuned whether you need a Nomad analogy or just examine the opportunities. Here, you’ll explore the leading eSIM alternatives to Nomad and compare their plans, costs, and hidden drawbacks.
What Is Wrong with Nomad and Why Customers Seek Alternative?
The short answer is nothing. Nomad is a great eSIM provider and a global company. Offering versatile plans, it helps short-term travelers and digital nomads. The problem is, the company doesn’t work with unlimited Internet options. For people who need A LOT of data, such a thing is crucial. Plus, Nomad has quite a complicated activation process. You can do it manually after some tries, but many customers say that the procedure is too difficult. If those two factors are crucial for you as well, explore Nomad Internet alternatives that solve those issues.
Yesim: The Best for Versatility
Yesim stands for versatility and flexible options for all travelers. Unlike Nomad, it doesn’t focus on tourists only. The company offers tariffs, suitable for long-term trips for students or digital nomads. Together with its wide choice and referral program, Yesim is a beneficial alternative.
Coverage
Yesim covers 200 countries worldwide and offers 5G or 4G connection depending on the destination. Among them, 135 create the global package – you pay one and use the Internet in 135 destinaitons without roaming. There are also regional offers:
- Europe (29)
- Asia Pacific (15)
- Central Asia (6)
- South America (11)
- Caribbean
- Balkans (12)
- South East Asia (8)
- Middle East (8)
- Africa (15)
See how it works. You purchase the regional plan and pay for the connection. Once you activate an eSIM and land in one of the countries, the Internet starts to work. No matter where you are, you don’t pay for roaming and use the same data volume. Yesim, meanwhile, connects to cell towers in each country, offering you the best possible Internet.
Pricing
The price per 1 GB starts at $1.59. However, if you buy large-volume offers, the price per GB is lower. In the unlimited Internet options, 1 day of the Internet costs you about $7. But a lot of days, and you cut off as well.
The pricing at Yesim is flexible, which is a great opportunity. In each country (or region), you choose between limited and unlimited data. Then, select the number of days or the data volume. This way, Yesim has about 8-10 tariffs for each country to choose from.
At first sight, regional plans seem much more expensive. But that’s not true. Paying for each country separately, you would lose much more money.
Yesim Application and Innovations
The application is a life-changing thing for beginning users. Here, you can buy and activate the tariffs automatically. Simple pay and give the app a permission to change your phone settings. No more trouble with manual activation, as Nomad suggests.
The app presents other perks as well. Invite your friends to Yesim, and you will get virtual points – Ycoins. Later, you can spend them as vouchers and economize. You can also track data spending in the app, so you won’t disconnect suddenly. If you run out of data, simply buy another plan. Unfortunately, the top-up function doesn’t work.
Yesim also offers virtual numbers as a separate service. If you need phone calls during your trip, buy the number through the app.
Holafly: The Best for Unlimited Internet
Holafly solves two Nomad’s problems – the lack of unlimited Internet and stable support. This is overall an innovative company. For example, customers create tariffs manually by choosing the number of days. Let’s see how it works in detail.
Coverage
Holafly works with up to 200 destinations, including Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. As for 2024, there are no global plans. However, you can choose one of 5 regional options:
- Europe
- Asia
- Latin America
- the United Kingdom
- North America
Note that the UK regional tariff is a rare option. If you plan to explore the Kingdom, choose Holafly’s offer without hesitation. The connection speed depends on the country. Just like other providers, Holafly connects with 5G cell towers and earlier connection options.
Pricing
Here’s an interesting approach. At Holafly, you choose the number of days manually. Click the region, and select the plan’s duration. One day costs around $6 (it may change for some countries). However, the more days you choose, the less you pay for each. The longest 90-day offer costs you $288. This is $3.2 per day. Within the tariff, you also choose the number of users. You see, Holafly rarely offers hotspots in its plans. Even if Internet sharing is available, you cannot give more than 200 MB or 500 MB per day. Instead, an eSIM will be activated on several devices at the same time. Create one account for your family, and use the data together.
Holafly Application and Innovations
The company still offers three ways to activate the Internet:
- do it manually by entering the details in your phone settings;
- go to settings, choose “Add Network”, and scan the QR code sent by Holafly;
- activate within the app.
Application, of course, is the leading choice. The Holafly mobile program is available on iOS and Android and offers plenty of functions. Buy and activate the plan, track data usage, and top up the tariff. If you buy a multi-user regime, the app will track your data all together within one account.
Instabridge: The Best for Data Saving
Instabridge is all about innovation, and that sets it apart from Nomad. This eSIM for your trip has a clear strategy – to cover common problems and issues customers have with other providers. This makes the company quite interesting to explore. But is it financially beneficial?
Coverage
Instabridge covers 190+ countries, connected together in a global plan. You can buy a local tariff for each destination or purchase one of the three regional offers:
- Latin America;
- Europe;
- Asia.
The connection speed hugely differs depending on the region. The company supports 5G, 4G, 3G, and LTE.
Pricing
The provider lacks unlimited Internet option, so you can only buy a certain amount of data. The cheapest one is Ukraine with 1 GB at $1.5. Meanwhile, the price may reach up to $27 in Afghanistan or $69 in Anguilla. Be careful and check your destination’s price. The average price per 1 GB is $3-4 in European countries.
Apart from standard plans, Instabridge offers the “Pay as you go” program with its pros and cons. Within it, customers top up the Instabridge balance and use the Internet anywhere. What sets it apart from a global plan? With Pay as you go, the plan doesn’t expire. Once you arrive in a new country, Instabridge covers your balance into GBs of data, using the local price. This is an excellent option to stay connected everywhere without hassle. At the same time, be careful in pricey regions.
Instabridge Application and Innovations
Activate your plan automatically in the app. The whole process is easy:
- Download the Instabridge app from the official website, the App Store, or Google Play.
- Buy a tariff in the app or login to access your purchases.
- Activate it within the program by following easy instructions.
Give the program permission to change your settings, and you’re ready. Unlike other providers, Instabridge does everything automatically. Among other features, the provider offers a data-saving browser that uses 10x less data thanThe cheapest one is Ukraine with 1 GB at $1.5. Meanwhile Google Chrome. Plus, you can download a free Wi-Fi Map by Instabridge. Here, you’ll find GPS with all the free Wi-Fi spots in popular destinations.
Select the Best Nomad Alternative
Analyzing all these factors may be too complicated. After all, it contradicts the main idea of this industry – to make trips easy and hassle-free. To select the best option, see the key details and pricing calculations.
Official provider’s website | Yesim | Holafly | Instabridge |
---|---|---|---|
Coverage | Over 200 countries; 5G, 4G, 3G, and LTE depending on the location. | Over 200 countries; 4g/5g/LTE | 190+ regions; 5G, 4G, 3G, and LTE. |
Regional offers | Europe (29)Asia Pacific (15)Central Asia (6)South America (11)CaribbeanBalkans (12)South East Asia (8)Middle East (8)Africa (15) | EuropeAsiaLatin Americathe United Kingdom | AsiaEuropeLatin America |
Global plans | 4 global tariffs: Global Package (135 countries)USA Global (40 countries)Business destinations (43 countries)Africa and Europe (57 countries) | No global plan in 2024 | A single global tariff + “Pay as you go” program |
Pricing | From $7.70 per day of unlimited InternetFrom $1.59 per 1 GB in prepaid offers | $6 per 1 day of unlimited Internet; prepaid tariffs are absent. | from $1.5 per 1 GB (in Ukraine) to $20 per 1 GB (Afghanistan). On average, 1 GB costs $3-$4 |
Unlimited Internet | Available | Available | Unavailable |
Virtual numbers | Available at an additional price | Available at an additional price | Goes with every data plan for free |
Additional features and advantages | Postponed activationReferral Program | 27/4 supportmulti-device plans | “Pay as you go” with unlimited plan durationdata-saving browserWi-Fi map applicaiton |
Disadvantages | No top-up function | No opportunity to buy a particular amount of data | No unlimited Internet |
How to Choose the Right eSIM?
To choose the best eSIM for your trip, consider the most important factors. Remember that each trip is unique, and your requirements are the key:
- Coverage. Ensure the provider has a stable network all over the country/region. Check which providers are included. In Europe, Vodafone is the best choice.
- Pricing. Compare data plans. For a clear picture, calculate the price per 1GB or day of unlimited Internet. Otherwise, you may be confused by the plans’ duration and price/duration ratio.
- Flexibility. Look for providers that offer flexible plans. Nomad, for example, lacks unlimited connection options.
- Customer support. Ensure you can receive help quickly and in your native language. In terms of support, Holafly seems the leader. Yet, Yesim also helps users 24/7.
- The ease of activation. Choose a company with easy and automatic activation. In 2024, you don’t need to enter the plan details manually.
- Reviews and ratings. Remember about customer reviews and real experiences. Using Trustpilot, look for reviews about eSIMs in your destination specifically. For example, Yesim offers the best connection in Asia, but Holafly is the best in the US.
Overall, set priorities and stick to them. If you need global coverage, prioritize Instabride and Holafly. Yesim, meanwhile, is the best for data saving. The company offers versatile packs even for short-term trips.
Practical Tips by Travelers
Apart from standard recommendations, ensure you know the industry well. Experienced travelers focus on the following aspects:
- Compare roaming charges with your provider’s costs. Sometimes, roaming charges are lower than a mobile plan you purchase. This is a rare occasion for long-term trips. But if you travel for a day, several GB may be simply unnecessary and consume your budget.
- Explore the refund policy. There are several approaches. Some providers allow you to refund the plan and return your money. Others, like Yesim, offer a postponed activation. If you cancel the trip right now, keep the plan and activate it within the following 365 days. Others exchange money for vouchers.
- Consider multi-country plans. This is a cost-saving tip for global travelers. If you plan to see several countries, look for combined offers. Most providers offer European, African, and American plans. Yesim also offers 4 types of global offers (business destinations, global, etc.) Nomad, for its part, offers 3-country plans. Most providers still lack this function.
Overall, know how the technology works and consider the ways to save money. The whole idea of the eSIM industry is to save your budget from roaming costs and overpaying. Make the best out of it.
Bottom Line
Once again, the main tip is setting priorities. Decide if you need a lot of data or 1GB to chat with family. Choose between long-term offers (they are usually cheaper) and 1-day plans. While Nomad is a popular solution, the list of eSIM companies contains cheaper, easier, or more flexible options. Cater to Yesim for unlimited Internet, or use Holafly to set the trip duration manually. All this helps to reduce small costs and save a lot of cash in the long perspective.
Consider Yesim, Holafly, and Instabridge. Those are the leading companies on the market. Each offers different advantages – versatility, unlimited connection, and handy innovations.
Yesim is a leader in terms of versatility. You can choose up to 10 plans for each destination, including limited and unlimited Internet. Holafly stands out for its support and customization. Instabridge, meanwhile, is innovative and offers special perks. Sure, all of them offer the best Internet connection.
All three leaders have amazing coverage and connection speed. However, Yesim is the cheapest one. In terms of unlimited Internet prices, Holafly is the best. Instabridge is less stable – European countries are cheaper than everywhere, but Africa and the Middle East cost a lot.
To see the actual picture, see reviews at Trustpilot, where real users share experiences. Overall, people thank Holafly for timely assistance, Yesim for good coverage, and Instabridge – for the easiest interface.
First of all, consider what are your priorities. This may be coverage (if you travel to distant regions), pricing, plan duration, or connection speed. Tourists, freelancers, and digital nomads have different demands, so choosing one provider is impossible.