Provider comparison
Holafly vs Nomad: eSIM Prices Compared Across 200+ and 200 Destinations
Holafly offers unlimited daily data plans across 200+ destinations.
Nomad offers straightforward, budget-friendly eSIM plans with a fast checkout across a 200-destination list.
Feature by feature
Holafly vs Nomad: the numbers
| Feature | Holafly | Nomad |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 8.8/10 (rank 2) | 6.2/10 (rank 3) |
| Destinations | 200+ | 200 |
| 5 GB plan, median a GB | No fixed plans (unlimited only) | $2.30/GB |
| 7-day unlimited, median | $27.50 | $25.00 |
| Full speed on that plan | no daily cap stated | 2 GB a day in 35 countries |
| Best for | Best Unlimited | Best Budget |
| Support | 24/7 chat + email | Email only |
| Support language | 10 languages | 2 languages |
| Guarantee | 6-month refund | 30-day refund |
| Founded | 2017 | 2020 |
| HQ | Murcia, Spain | Santa Clara, CA |
Market context
Five providers cover this market, not two
| Provider | Pricing model | 7-day unlimited | 5 GB plan, a GB | Destinations | Refund window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HelloRoam | Per gigabyte + unlimited | $21.50 | $2.01/GB | 185 | 180 days |
| Holafly | Per day, unlimited | $27.50 | No fixed plans (unlimited only) | 200+ | 180 days |
| Nomad | Per gigabyte | $25.00 | $2.30/GB | 200 | 30 days |
| Airalo | Per gigabyte | $27.00 | $2.40/GB | 200+ | 14 days |
| Saily | Per gigabyte | $26.99 | $2.60/GB | Not stated | 30 days |
HelloRoam and Holafly hold the longest refund windows at 180 days; Airalo's is 14. HelloRoam's support replies in your own language; Airalo's runs in 12 languages, Holafly's in 10, Nomad's in two and Saily's in one. Airalo lists 200+ destinations and Nomad 200, to HelloRoam's 185.
Destination pricing
Holafly vs Nomad: price comparison by country
Each provider's own 7-day unlimited plan in six popular destinations, read 30 Oct 2026.
| Country | Holafly | Nomad | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | $27.50 | $25.00 | Nomad |
| United Kingdom | $27.50 | $25.00 | Nomad |
| Thailand | $27.50 | $15.00 | Nomad |
| France | $27.50 | $25.00 | Nomad |
| Mexico | $24.50 | $22.00 | Nomad |
| Australia | $27.50 | $25.00 | Nomad |
Prices were read on each provider's own site on 30 Oct 2026. A rival's price is its cheapest unlimited plan lasting at least 7 days. Full-speed data a day differs: Holafly no daily cap stated; Nomad 2 GB a day in 35 countries.
Trip Cost comparison · 40% of the score
Holafly vs Nomad: Trip Cost
Holafly7.82/10
Holafly's 7-day unlimited plan has a median price of $27.50 across the 35 countries checked 30 Oct 2026, fifth of five, against HelloRoam's $21.50. Holafly states no daily full-speed cap, where the others slow down after a daily allowance. There is no per-GB plan, so a traveler who needs 1 GB for a weekend still pays the day rate.
Nomad8.6/10
Nomad's 7-day unlimited plan has a median price of $25.00 across the 35 countries checked 30 Oct 2026, second of five, with full speed for 2 GB a day in 35 countries. Where Nomad sells no 7-day plan, its cheapest plan lasting at least 7 days is used. HelloRoam's median is $21.50.
Trip Cost winner: Nomad leads with 8.6/10 versus 7.82/10, worth 40% of the composite.
Refund Window comparison · 25% of the score
Holafly vs Nomad: Refund Window
Holafly10/10
Holafly refunds an unactivated plan for 180 days, tied with HelloRoam for the longest window here and about thirteen times Airalo's 14 days. Refund requests go through 24/7 chat. Activated plans fall under fair-use terms.
Nomad1.67/10
Nomad refunds an unactivated plan for 30 days, matching Saily. That is a sixth of the 180 days HelloRoam and Holafly publish and about double Airalo's 14. Requests go through email. Once a plan is activated, unused data is non-refundable.
Refund Window winner: Holafly leads with 10/10 versus 1.67/10, worth 25% of the composite.
Destination Coverage comparison · 20% of the score
Holafly vs Nomad: Destination Coverage
Holafly10/10
Holafly sells plans for 200+ destinations, the same open-ended count Airalo publishes, ahead of HelloRoam's 185. Regional plans cover several countries on one purchase. Coverage is strong across Europe, the Americas, and East Asia, and thinner in Central Africa and the Pacific.
Nomad10/10
Nomad sells plans for 200 destinations, after Airalo's 200+ and ahead of HelloRoam's 185. Rates are most competitive in Southeast Asia and on the popular tourist routes. Check the destination list before assuming a country is stocked.
Destination Coverage winner: Holafly and Nomad score equally at 10/10 for destination coverage, worth 20% of the composite on 200+ and 200 destinations.
Support Channels comparison · 15% of the score
Holafly vs Nomad: Support Channels
Holafly7.5/10
Holafly publishes live chat and email and publishes 24/7 hours, which puts it second on this dimension. There is no WhatsApp line. Round-the-clock chat is a stronger commitment than the email-only support Saily and Nomad publish.
Nomad2.5/10
Nomad publishes one channel, email, and no 24/7 hours. There is no live chat and no WhatsApp line. Checkout takes under two minutes and the QR code arrives by email, so most buyers never contact support at all.
Support Channels winner: Holafly leads with 7.5/10 versus 2.5/10, worth 15% of the composite.
Strengths and weaknesses
Pros and cons: Holafly vs Nomad
Holafly
Pros
- +States no daily full-speed cap on its unlimited plans
- +Unlimited plans across 200+ destinations, a median $27.50 for 7 days
- +Simple pricing: pay per day, use as much as you want
- +180-day refund window, tied for the longest here
- +24/7 chat support
Cons
- Most plans restrict tethering to 1 GB/day hotspot
- Speeds reduced after daily fair use threshold
- No per-GB plans for light users
- 7-day median of $27.50, fifth of five on price (checked 30 Oct 2026)
Nomad
Pros
- +7-day unlimited median of $25.00, second of five on price
- +Cheaper than the top pick on some plans: in 7 of the 35 countries checked, Nomad had the lowest 7-day price
- +Simple, no-frills checkout in under two minutes
- +No account required for first-time buyers
Cons
- Support and refund terms trail the leaders, not the destination count
- Email-only support in two languages, with no 24/7 hours
- 30-day refund window against the 180 days two rivals publish
- App is basic compared to Airalo and Saily
Who should choose what
Which traveler profile fits Holafly vs Nomad?
Which provider costs less depends on your data usage and trip length.
Budget Backpacker
Prefers lowest per-GB cost, under 3GB/day, multi-country trip.
Pick: Nomad
Nomad scores 8.6/10 on trip cost against 7.82/10, the lower median 7-day unlimited price on the 30 Oct 2026 price check.
Business Traveler
Needs a reliable connection and reachable support. 3-5 day trips.
Pick: Holafly
Holafly publishes live chat, email around the clock, scoring 7.5/10 on support channels. A 3-day trip leaves no slack to wait on a ticket.
Family Vacation
Multiple devices, heavy video streaming, 1-2 weeks.
Pick: Holafly
Holafly's unlimited daily plan removes per-GB tracking across several devices and keeps the total predictable.
Digital Nomad
Works remotely, 1+ month stays, 10GB+ monthly usage.
Pick: Holafly
Holafly's unlimited daily plan is the one option here that scales to remote-work data without a monthly top-up.
Cancelled Trip
Plans change, flights get pulled, the eSIM was never activated.
Pick: Holafly
Holafly refunds an unactivated plan for 180 days against 30 on Nomad, scoring 10/10 on refund window.
Use case breakdown
Holafly vs Nomad: who wins each travel scenario
Named winner per scenario based on pricing, coverage, and support scores.
Digital nomad
Destinations covered on one account for month-to-month staysHolafly scores 10/10 with 200+ destinations, against Nomad with 200 destinations. Someone changing country every month runs out of coverage before they run out of data. Holafly's unlimited daily plans also remove data-budget tracking during work-heavy weeks.
Family vacation
Multi-device simplicity and a predictable totalHolafly's unlimited daily plans remove per-GB tracking across several devices. Each family member installs their own plan and the cost is fixed per person per day, whatever the kids stream.
Business traveler
Reachable support and a refund if the trip is pulledHolafly publishes live chat, email with 24/7 hours, scoring 7.5/10. Nomad scores 2.5/10. On refunds, Holafly holds an unactivated plan for 180 days against 30 on Nomad.
Budget traveler
Lowest median 7-day unlimited price, checked 30 Oct 2026Nomad scores 8.6/10 on trip cost against 7.82/10. The benchmark week costs $25.00 on Nomad and $27.50 on Holafly. Difference for 7 days: $2.50.
Scores come from published provider data and the 30 Oct 2026 price check. Refund windows, coverage and support checked June 2026. Winner determination uses the published rubric scores.
Real-world cost analysis
Holafly vs Nomad: what you actually pay per trip type
3 GB to use across Europe
Light user: maps, messaging, social media. A 3 GB Europe plan, valid 30 days at HelloRoam, Nomad and Saily and 7 days at Airalo.
Holafly sells no plan of this shape for Europe, so only one price is shown.
One week of unlimited data in Europe
Moderate user: navigation daily, video calls, some streaming. Each provider's cheapest Europe unlimited plan lasting at least 7 days.
Holafly costs $6.50 less for this plan.
Two weeks of unlimited data in Europe
Active user across several countries. Each provider's cheapest Europe unlimited plan lasting at least 15 days.
Nomad sells no plan of this shape for Europe, so only one price is shown.
Europe regional plans from the 30 Oct 2026 price check, read on each provider's own site. Each provider's Europe plan covers its own country list.
Our verdict
Which should you choose: Holafly or Nomad?
Holafly verdict
Choose Holafly if you stream, work remotely, or would rather not count gigabytes: it states no daily cap. It ties the longest refund window and publishes 24/7 chat. It places second overall because its 7-day median of $27.50 is $6.00 above HelloRoam's.
Nomad verdict
Choose Nomad if price on a given plan is what decides it, and check the destination: it had the lowest 7-day price in some countries. Its price does not offset a 30-day refund window and email-only support in two languages.
Holafly offers unlimited data across 200+ destinations and states no daily cap. Nomad offers fixed plans and short unlimited plans across 200 countries. On the 30 Oct 2026 check, Nomad's 7-day unlimited median was $25.00 against $27.50 at Holafly, and Nomad cost less in 27 of 35 countries, with full speed on 2 GB a day. Budget travelers using a small plan on a short trip save money with Nomad: its 5 GB Thailand plan cost $8.00, and its median was $2.30 a GB. Holafly's edge is length and volume. It had a 15-day plan in all 40 countries checked and a 30-day plan in 39, while Nomad had a 15-day plan in 3 and a 30-day plan in 1. Holafly's 24/7 live chat is the best support offering here and Nomad's email-only line is the thinnest (June 2026). Nomad covers 40 more countries than Holafly, which matters for travelers going beyond Southeast Asia and Europe.
Situational recommendations
5-day beach holiday in Bali
Nomad's 5 GB Indonesia plan cost $12.00 on 30 Oct 2026. Holafly sells no fixed plan, and its 7-day Indonesia plan cost $27.50, so a 1 GB a day trip costs far less on Nomad.
3-week overland trip through Southeast Asia
Holafly's 15-day Thailand unlimited plan cost $50.50 on 30 Oct 2026, and the check found no Nomad plan of that length there. For heavy daily use across a long trip, Holafly is the one that covers it.
Business trip to a less-visited market
Holafly publishes 200+ destinations and Nomad publishes 200, so neither list is clearly longer. For a less-visited market, check that your destination is on the list before you buy.
Not sure about either? See all 5 providers ranked in our best eSIM for travel guide.
Holafly vs Nomad FAQ
Is Holafly or Nomad cheaper for travel eSIM?
On the 30 Oct 2026 price check, Holafly's 7-day unlimited plan has a median price of $27.50 across the 35 countries where all five providers were priced, against $25.00 at Nomad. On the 5 GB plan, the median across 40 countries is No fixed plans (unlimited only) at Holafly and $2.30/GB at Nomad. Medians hide single countries, so the table below gives six of them. Light users (under 5GB per trip) pay less on a fixed plan; heavy users compare unlimited plans and their daily full-speed allowance.
Which costs less for a 7-day trip, Holafly or Nomad?
Holafly scores 7.82/10 on trip cost while Nomad scores 8.6/10. Holafly's 7-day unlimited plan has a median price of $27.50 across the 35 countries checked 30 Oct 2026, fifth of five, against HelloRoam's $21. Nomad's 7-day unlimited plan has a median price of $25.00 across the 35 countries checked 30 Oct 2026, second of five, with full speed for 2 GB a day in 35 countries. Both figures are the median 7-day unlimited price across the 35 countries where all five providers were priced, read 30 Oct 2026.
Which eSIM provider has a better refund policy?
Holafly refunds an unactivated plan for 180 days, scoring 10/10. Nomad refunds for 30 days, scoring 1.67/10. Holafly handles claims through 24/7 chat + email; Nomad through email only. Both follow standard industry terms once a plan is activated.
Can I use both Holafly and Nomad on the same phone?
Yes. Modern smartphones (iPhone XS and later, most Android phones from 2020 onward) support multiple eSIM profiles simultaneously. You can install both Holafly and Nomad before your trip, then switch between them in your phone's cellular settings. This is useful for comparing real-world speeds at your destination or using one provider as a backup if the other has weak coverage in a specific area.
Can I get support in my own language from Holafly or Nomad?
Holafly runs support in 10 languages. Nomad runs support in 2 languages. Support language carries no weight in this site's score, because HelloRoam publishes no count to compare. Holafly publishes 24/7 chat + email; Nomad publishes email only.
Which of Holafly and Nomad covers more destinations?
Holafly scores 10/10 on destination coverage with 200+ destinations. Nomad scores 10/10 with 200 destinations. Holafly sells plans for 200+ destinations, the same open-ended count Airalo publishes, ahead of HelloRoam's 185. Regional plans cover several countries on one purchase. Nomad sells plans for 200 destinations, after Airalo's 200+ and ahead of HelloRoam's 185. Rates are most competitive in Southeast Asia and on the popular tourist routes.
How does this site rank Holafly against Nomad?
Holafly scores 8.8/10 overall and ranks 2 of 5 here. Nomad scores 6.2/10 and ranks 3 of 5. Those two composites come out of one weighting: Trip Cost 40%, Refund Window 25%, Destination Coverage 20%, and Support Channels 15%. The weights reflect what this site compares, which is what a trip costs against carrier roaming and what a buyer can recover if the trip falls through. Coverage is counted off each provider's own destination list: Holafly 200+, Nomad 200.
Is Holafly available in more countries than Nomad?
Holafly publishes 200+ destinations and Nomad publishes 200, so the two lists are about the same length. Holafly was the deeper of the two in Latin America and southern Europe in June 2026. For travel within Southeast Asia, East Asia, Europe and the US, both providers work well.
Does Nomad offer unlimited plans like Holafly?
Yes, for short stays. Nomad's 7-day unlimited plan had a median of $25.00 on 30 Oct 2026 against $27.50 at Holafly, with full speed on 2 GB a day where Holafly states no daily cap. Nomad had a 15-day plan in only 3 of 40 countries checked, so for a long stay Holafly is the safer bet.
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The alternative
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Sources
Data sources and verification
- Prices: the 30 Oct 2026 price check (HelloRoam's catalogue of 29 Oct 2026; rival sites read 30 Oct 2026). Pairing notes last checked 30 Oct 2026 for prices, June 2026 for everything else
- Destination counts from each provider's own published destination list
- Support channels, published hours, support languages (HelloRoam publishes no count; its support replies in your own language), and refund windows from each provider's own policy pages
- Scoring weights: Trip Cost 40%, Refund Window 25%, Destination Coverage 20%, and Support Channels 15%. Read the full scoring methodology
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