Airalo vs Nomad: which eSIM & travel data wins in 2026?
We tested Airalo and Nomad head-to-head on every criterion in our esim & travel data methodology. Here's the verdict.
Verdict
Nomad wins overall
Based on 6 esim & travel data criteria: Airalo wins 1, Nomad wins 2, 3 tied.
Airalo
1
criteria won
Nomad
Winner2
criteria won
Feature-by-feature
| Criterion | Airalo | Nomad | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Countries (Europe regional) | 42 | 35 | Airalo |
| Price / GB (USD) | $3.3 | $2.4 | Nomad |
| Plan validity (days) | 7 | 30 | Nomad |
| Install | One-tap (iOS 17.4+) | One-tap (iOS 17.4+) | โ |
| In-app top-up | Yes | Yes | โ |
| Tethering | Yes | Yes | โ |
Total cost of ownership
| Horizon | Airalo | Nomad | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 months | $17 | $12 | Nomad |
| 2 months | $34 | $24 | Nomad |
| 4 months | $68 | $48 | Nomad |