Airalo vs Nomad: the same plan, priced in 12 destinations (2026)
Same allowance, same day, two stores. Across the 12 destinations below, Nomad comes out cheaper in 10. Prices checked July 9, 2026; they move, so the date matters.
Airalo
cheaper in 2/12The biggest eSIM marketplace, 200+ countries
- Plans:
- Fixed data packs, plus newer unlimited options in major destinations
- Unlimited:
- In selected countries
- Extras:
- Regional and global multi-country packages, loyalty credits
- Best for:
- Coverage breadth and app experience
- Watch out:
- Mid-pack pricing; eKYC registration required in some countries
Nomad
cheaper in 10/12US-based store with aggressive fixed-pack pricing
- Plans:
- Fixed data packs, some unlimited
- Unlimited:
- In selected countries
- Extras:
- Frequent promo codes, referral credits
- Best for:
- Promo pricing on popular routes
- Watch out:
- Coverage list is shorter than Airalo's; prices swing with promotions
Airalo vs Nomad prices, destination by destination
Each row prices the closest matching bundle at both stores for a plan a normal trip would buy. Bold marks the cheaper of the two; the last column shows the price this site stocks for the same allowance, so you can see both against the market.
| Destination | Plan compared | Airalo | Nomad | This site (Fizen) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 50 GB 路 90d | $87.90 | $85.90 | $18.46 |
| South Korea | 30 GB 路 90d | $58.50 | $50.90 | $17.82 |
| Thailand | 15 GB 路 7d | $40.50 | $37.50 | $11.44 |
| Vietnam | 1 GB/day 路 15d | $37.50 | $33.90 | $24.80 |
| China | 20 GB 路 90d | $44.50 | $38.90 | $14.63 |
| Taiwan | 50 GB 路 90d | $91.50 | $73.90 | $31.21 |
| Singapore | 15 GB 路 90d | $39.90 | $37.90 | $17.50 |
| United States | 1 GB/day 路 15d | $39.50 | $40.50 | $19.09 |
| Europe | 30 GB 路 90d | $52.90 | $44.90 | $19.41 |
| Southeast Asia | 50 GB 路 90d | $91.50 | $81.50 | $25.95 |
| United Arab Emirates | 15 GB 路 90d | $45.50 | $47.50 | $31.21 |
| Indonesia | Unlimited 路 90d | $155.50 | $140.90 | $8.25 |
Store prices from public listings for the closest matching plan, checked July 9, 2026. Fizen column = live prices on this site's destination pages. Rankings follow the prices shown.
My verdict: when to pick which
Pick Airalo if coverage breadth and app experience matters most to you. Its trade off: mid-pack pricing; ekyc registration required in some countries.
Pick Nomad if promo pricing on popular routes is the priority. Its trade off: coverage list is shorter than airalo's; prices swing with promotions.
And before you buy either, check the destination page here: in most of the popular destinations above, the plan this site stocks undercuts both, and where it does not, the page says so and names the cheaper store.
Questions people ask
Which is cheaper, Airalo or Nomad?
Across 12 popular destinations priced this month, Nomad was cheaper than Airalo in 10. The gap changes by destination, so check the table for the country you are flying to. Both are undercut in most of these places by smaller stores; the full six-brand table is on the comparison page.
What is the main difference between Airalo and Nomad?
Airalo: fixed data packs, plus newer unlimited options in major destinations; strongest for coverage breadth and app experience. Nomad: fixed data packs, some unlimited; strongest for promo pricing on popular routes.
Should I just buy the cheapest one?
Usually yes for short trips: these are data-only travel eSIMs and the experience is similar once you are online. Pay attention to plan type first (unlimited vs fixed pack), then price per GB. If you tether a laptop or need a specific local network, the destination pages on this site list what each plan actually runs on.