Holafly vs Nomad: which eSIM to choose for your trip in 2026?

Holafly or Nomad: what are the differences in one table?

Across twelve criteria, Nomad wins six, Holafly five, and one criterion ends in a tie. Nomad wins on price and plan choice, Holafly on length, refunds and reviews. The table sums up this Holafly vs Nomad comparison, offer by offer, with the details in each section below.

Collected on October 23, 2026 on esim.holafly.com, nomadesim.com, the Nomad help center and Trustpilot.

What is Holafly and which eSIMs does it offer?

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 / 5

eSIMrat rating

• ✓Unlimited data on every destination eSIM
• ✓Length chosen down to the day, from 1 to 90 days
• ✓More than 200 destinations
• ✓Always On: 1 GB of backup data per month
• ✓24/7 support via chat and WhatsApp

%code “ESIMRAT” (-5%)

From

3€79

1 day, unlimited

See offers

Holafly is a Spanish company founded in 2017, based in Madrid and Dublin, that built its whole offer on unlimited data. It covers more than 200 destinations, with country or regional plans, and all its destination eSIMs are unlimited, with a validity you choose down to the day.

The daily cost drops as your stay gets longer: €3.79 for one day, €2.30 per day over a month, €1.43 per day over three months. The price grid is the same in Japan, the United States and Thailand, and slightly more expensive in Europe, Morocco and Dubai.

Holafly adds two rare services. Always On keeps 1 GB of free backup data per month once your plan ends, as long as the eSIM stays installed. And its country pages mention a chat with a doctor, 24/7, included with the eSIM. Our full Holafly review covers the rest of its catalog.

Prices collected on October 23, 2026 on esim.holafly.com, in euros. Discounted amounts calculated from the −5% rate seen at checkout.

What is Nomad and which eSIMs does it offer?

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 / 5

eSIMrat rating

• ✓Volume plans (1 to 100 GB) or unlimited
• ✓Unlimited: 2 GB per day at full speed
• ✓More than 200 destinations
• ✓Top-up with an add-on plan, no new QR code
• ✓Hotspot allowed

%code “ESIMRAT15” (-15%)

From

3€56

1 GB, 7 days (Japan)

See offers

Nomad is a travel eSIM run by LotusFlare, an American company. It claims more than 200 destinations, with country, regional and global plans, and prices shown directly in euros on its website and in its app.

Its catalog rests on two families. The first is the volume plan: from 1 GB for 7 days to 50 GB for 30 days in most countries, and up to 100 GB for 365 days in the United States. The second is unlimited data, sold over short, fixed lengths that vary by destination.

Nomad is currently running sales on several plans: the crossed-out price is the regular rate, the price paid is what you actually pay. In the United States, 20 GB for 30 days drops from €33.80 to €18.68. These promotions change often, so check the price on the day you buy. Our full Nomad review covers the rest of its offer.

Prices collected on October 23, 2026 on nomadesim.com/fr, in euros, as displayed at the time of collection.

Which eSIM is cheaper, Holafly or Nomad?

On unlimited data, Nomad is cheaper than Holafly on all 16 comparable lengths, in the six destinations we checked. The gap ranges from +8% (Dubai, 7 days) to +154% (Thailand, 10 days): it mostly depends on your destination.

The mechanism is the same as against Saily or Ubigi: Holafly shows an almost identical price everywhere, while Nomad sets a price per destination. So it's where data is cheap locally, like in Thailand, that Nomad widens the gap. Note that Nomad's Thailand price is shown "on sale": it may go back up.

This table has a limit: it only compares lengths sold by both brands. Beyond 21 days in Japan, 7 days in the United States or 10 days elsewhere, Nomad no longer sells unlimited data, and the comparison is then between Holafly unlimited and a Nomad volume plan.

Also be wary of outdated comparisons: a Spanish article that still ranks well claims Nomad is clearly more expensive than Holafly. That may have been true when it was published, but it's wrong on every price we collected on October 23, 2026.

Prices collected on October 23, 2026 on esim.holafly.com and nomadesim.com, in euros, unlimited plans.

Speed and cap: is Nomad unlimited really unlimited?

No. Nomad unlimited gives you 2 GB per day at full speed. Its help center states it in black and white: on most plans, the high-speed cap is set at 2 GB per day, then speed drops to about 1 to 2 Mbit/s. The counter resets every 24 hours, starting from the activation time. One plan page even mentions 512 kbit/s after the threshold: read your destination's description before you pay.

In practice, 2 GB of data per day is enough for maps, messaging apps, social media and a bit of video. It's not enough to watch a series in high definition every evening or to work remotely on video calls all day. Beyond that, 1 to 2 Mbit/s still handles WhatsApp, email and Google Maps, but not smooth video.

Holafly publishes no figure for its threshold. Its FAQ says some operators apply a fair use policy: speed may be reduced temporarily after heavy use, and the restriction is lifted the next day. So you don't know exactly when the slowdown kicks in, but it doesn't last.

Sources: Nomad help center (article on unlimited plans, updated August 24, 2026) and FAQ on the Japan page of esim.holafly.com, read on October 23, 2026.

What plan lengths do Holafly and Nomad offer?

For a trip of more than a week, this is the least visible and most decisive difference. Holafly sells unlimited data down to the day, from 1 to 90 days in most countries. Nomad sells unlimited data over short, fixed lengths that depend on the destination.

So for two weeks in the United States, Nomad has no unlimited plan that covers the whole stay: you have to switch to volume (20 GB for 30 days at €18.68 at the time of collection) or stack two plans. Same logic for three weeks in Thailand. Holafly sells exactly 14 or 21 days.

On volume data, Nomad offers long validities: 30 days on most plans, 180 and 365 days on large volumes in the United States. At Nomad, the eSIM must be activated within 60 days of purchase, and validity starts when your phone connects to the network at your destination. At Holafly, the plan also starts on arrival.

Lengths read on esim.holafly.com and nomadesim.com on October 23, 2026.

Volume plan or unlimited: which costs you less?

If you use less than 1.5 GB per day, a Nomad volume plan costs two to three times less than Holafly unlimited over a month. Holafly sells no volume plan on its destination eSIMs: you pay for unlimited data even if all you need is maps and messages.

The break-even point is easy to work out. In Japan, 50 GB for 30 days costs €31.13 at Nomad, versus €68.90 for 30 days of unlimited data at Holafly. Those 50 GB come to 1.7 GB of data per day for a month: as long as you stay below that, the Nomad volume plan wins by far. Holafly unlimited only pays off if you clearly exceed that pace, for example with video streaming, video calls or remote work every day.

To size your data needs, typical travel use (maps, messaging, social media, some browsing) often runs around 500 MB to 1 GB per day. Our data usage calculator helps you estimate your needs before you buy.

The rat's advice: before paying for unlimited data, open your phone's settings and check your mobile data usage over the last thirty days. Under 1.5 GB per day, go for volume. And if you take Nomad unlimited for very heavy use, remember it slows down after 2 GB every day.

Prices collected on October 23, 2026 on nomadesim.com and esim.holafly.com, in euros. Nomad 20 and 50 GB prices in the United States and Europe were on sale at the time of collection.

Can you use hotspot with Holafly and Nomad?

Yes, both allow hotspot, or tethering, which turns your phone into a Wi-Fi access point for a laptop, a tablet or a travel companion. Their data sharing rules differ.

At Nomad, the FAQ on country pages answers simply: Nomad eSIMs support tethering and hotspot. So you can use your phone as a modem without any special setting. Sharing draws on your plan's volume, or on the 2 GB of daily full-speed data on your unlimited plan. With 50 GB for 30 days, you can give a good share of it to your laptop.

At Holafly, the shareable volume is set at 1 GB per day of plan: a 7-day plan gives 7 GB of hotspot in total. Its FAQ also says the feature is only enabled on some eSIMs, so check your destination's description. Our hotspot explainer explains how to turn it on on iPhone and Android.

If you work on a laptop while traveling, or want to use hotspot for a tablet, check this before the price: a single system update can eat up a whole day's hotspot quota at Holafly.

Purchase, installation and app: 4 steps, 4 pitfalls

Installation is similar at both brands: you buy on the website or in the app, install the eSIM before you leave over Wi-Fi, and the plan starts on arrival. Each step hides a pitfall.

1. Check compatibility. Before your trip, you need an eSIM-compatible, unlocked phone. The pitfall: an iPhone or Android bought from a carrier may still be locked, and the eSIM won't work.

2. Choose the right plan. At Nomad, check the unlimited length and the network shown on the plan page: in Thailand, unlimited runs on True while volume plans run on AIS and dtac. The pitfall: buying a 7-day unlimited plan for a 12-day stay.

3. Install before you leave. Holafly offers one-tap installation from its app on iPhone, or the QR code sent by email. Nomad also uses its app or a QR code. The pitfall: installing the eSIM and then changing your mind, because installation closes the door to a refund at Nomad.

4. Activate on arrival. In settings, choose the travel eSIM for mobile data and turn on data roaming on that line only. Your main SIM stays active alongside for calls and texts, like your bank's codes. The pitfall: leaving roaming on for your main line and getting a roaming bill.

On the app side, both show your remaining data and let you buy a new plan. Nomad's also handles top-ups and loyalty points. Holafly's gives access to the support chat.

Topping up when you run out of data

On top-ups, Nomad is more convenient. You keep the same eSIM and add an add-on plan from the app or the website, with no new QR code to scan. That's useful if your data runs out before the end of your stay, or to extend an unlimited plan that's too short.

Holafly no longer tops up its eSIMs: to extend your stay or travel again, its FAQ says you need to buy a new eSIM and install it again. On the other hand, unlimited data doesn't run out, and Always On keeps 1 GB of backup data per month once the plan ends.

At Nomad, if your 7-day unlimited plan doesn't cover your whole stay in the United States, compare before topping up. A 20 GB plan for 30 days cost €18.68 on October 23, 2026, less than a second 7-day unlimited plan at €20.46.

Customer service and refunds: who protects you best?

On customer service, whether you're traveling or still at home, both answer 24/7. Holafly uses chat, WhatsApp and email. Nomad uses live chat in the app and on the website, plus email, with no phone line. The best support? A slight edge to Holafly for WhatsApp, handy when that's the only channel you have at hand.

The refund policy makes the real difference. Holafly gives you up to 6 months after purchase to make a request, with a full refund if you change your mind, if your device isn't compatible or if the connection doesn't work.

Nomad's policy is much stricter. Its help center accepts a refund within 30 days of purchase, only if the eSIM has been neither installed nor activated, paid back to your card within 2 to 5 business days or in Nomad points (100 points = $1). Above all, it excludes every unlimited plan, as well as the Thailand 50 GB for 10 days plan and the Nomad Pass Europe.

The rat's advice: at Nomad, don't buy unlimited data if your trip isn't confirmed. No unlimited plan is refundable, even if it's not installed. Buy it a few days before you leave, once you have your tickets.

Sources: Nomad help center (article on refunds, updated August 24, 2026) and FAQ of esim.holafly.com, read on October 23, 2026.

What coverage and which networks?

On raw coverage, there's no winner: Holafly and Nomad both claim more than 200 destinations worldwide, with country, regional and global offers. The best coverage therefore depends on your destination. The difference shows country by country, in the partner network used.

The more local networks there are, the better your phone's chances of finding a signal when one of them weakens. That's Holafly's advantage in Morocco, with three operators versus one. In the United States, each has its own second network: T-Mobile at Holafly, Verizon at Nomad, which covers rural areas well.

Networks read on the country pages of esim.holafly.com and nomadesim.com on October 23, 2026.

Japan: which is the best eSIM, Holafly or Nomad?

In Japan, Nomad is cheaper on every unlimited length it sells: €22.24 versus €25.50 for 7 days, €36.47 versus €43.90 for 14 days, €43.59 versus €58.50 for 21 days. Both run on KDDI and SoftBank.

Japan is also the destination where Nomad unlimited lasts longest, up to 21 days. Beyond that, Holafly sells 30 days for €68.90, and Nomad offers 50 GB for 30 days at €31.13. For a traveler who mostly uses Google Maps, train timetables and messaging apps, 20 GB for 30 days at €20.46 is often enough. Our verdict for a trip to Japan: Nomad up to 21 days, Holafly beyond that if you want to stay on unlimited data.

Our Japan eSIM page compares all providers for the country, and our ranking of the best eSIM for Japan sorts them by profile.

Southeast Asia: the best eSIM for Thailand

In Thailand, the gap is the widest of all our data: €13.34 for 10 days of unlimited data at Nomad, versus €33.90 at Holafly. The Nomad price is shown on sale, but even at double, it would still be cheaper.

Nomad's limit lies elsewhere: its Thailand unlimited plan only exists for 10 days. For two or three weeks, you have to combine plans or switch to volume: 10 GB for 30 days at €8.89. Holafly sells 14 days for €43.90 and 21 days for €58.50. Our verdict: Nomad for 10 days or less, or on volume, Holafly for a long trip with unlimited data.

On networks, Holafly runs on True and DTAC. Nomad runs on True for unlimited and the 50 GB plan, on AIS and dtac for the other plans. Our Thailand eSIM page and our ranking of the best eSIM for Thailand go further.

Americas: the best eSIM for the United States

In the United States, Nomad is cheaper on its three unlimited lengths: €9.78 versus €11.37 for 3 days, €14.23 versus €18.50 for 5 days, €20.46 versus €25.50 for 7 days. But Nomad's unlimited data stops at 7 days.

For a road trip of two weeks or more, the choice becomes: Holafly unlimited (€43.90 for 14 days, €68.90 for 30 days) or a Nomad volume plan. At the time of collection, 20 GB for 30 days cost €18.68 (instead of €33.80) and 50 GB for 30 days €26.68 (instead of €53.37). Our verdict: Nomad for a week, Nomad on volume or Holafly unlimited beyond that, depending on your data needs.

On networks, Holafly runs on AT&T and T-Mobile, Nomad on AT&T and Verizon. Our United States eSIM page compares all offers.

Africa and the Middle East: Morocco and Dubai

In Morocco, Nomad is cheaper at equal length: €12.45 versus €13.90 for 3 days, €24.02 versus €29.90 for 7 days, €31.13 versus €39.90 for 10 days. Holafly has two arguments: it uses three networks (inwi, Maroc Telecom, Orange) while Nomad only uses Orange, and it sells unlimited data beyond 10 days. On volume, Nomad sells 10 GB for 30 days at €18.68.

In Dubai, the gap is tighter: €10.67 versus €12.50 for 3 days, €24.02 versus €25.90 for 7 days, €30.24 versus €34.90 for 10 days. Both run on du, the local operator. Holafly sells up to 20 days of unlimited data, Nomad stops at 10 days, with a 20 GB for 30 days plan at €25.80. Our verdict: Nomad for a short stay, Holafly for the best coverage in Morocco and for more than 10 days of unlimited data.

Our Morocco eSIM and United Arab Emirates eSIM pages, along with our rankings of the best eSIM for Morocco and the best eSIM for Dubai, compare the other providers.

Prices collected on October 23, 2026 on esim.holafly.com and nomadesim.com, in euros.

Europe: which is the best eSIM, Holafly or Nomad?

In Europe, Nomad stays cheaper on its two unlimited data lengths: €16.90 versus €18.50 for 5 days, €30.24 versus €34.90 for 10 days. Beyond that, Holafly sells 15 days for €47.90 and 30 days for €70.90, and Nomad offers 20 GB for 30 days at €24.02 (instead of €32.91) or 50 GB at €31.13 (instead of €42.70).

Before buying, check whether your usual mobile plan already includes roaming in the European Union: if so, a Europe eSIM would be useless, except for a non-EU country like Switzerland or the United Kingdom. Our verdict: Nomad for 10 days or less, Nomad on volume for a month. Our Europe eSIM page compares each provider's regional offers.

Pros and cons of each eSIM

Holafly

✅ Unlimited data down to the day, from 1 to 90 days
✅ Refunds available on request for up to 6 months
✅ Support via chat, WhatsApp and email, 24/7
✅ Always On: 1 GB of backup data per month
✅ 4.7 out of 5 on Trustpilot
❌ More expensive at equal length on all 16 lengths checked
❌ No volume plan on destination eSIMs
❌ Hotspot limited to 1 GB per day
❌ No top-up: a new eSIM for every trip

Nomad

✅ Cheaper unlimited at equal length on all 16 lengths checked
✅ Volume plans from 1 to 100 GB
✅ Top-up on the same eSIM, no new QR code
✅ Hotspot within the plan's volume
✅ ESIMRAT15 code for −15% on eligible plans
❌ Unlimited capped at 2 GB per day at full speed
❌ Unlimited limited to 7, 10 or 21 days depending on the country
❌ No refundable unlimited plan
❌ No WhatsApp or phone support

What do Trustpilot reviews say?

On customer reviews, Holafly does better. On October 23, 2026, it shows 4.7 out of 5 on Trustpilot from 115,835 reviews. Nomad shows 4.3 out of 5 on Trustpilot from 46,853 reviews.

Reviews published on fr.trustpilot.com (Holafly and Nomad), summarized and not quoted word for word.

Both brands invite their customers to leave a review after purchase, which mechanically inflates the number of positive ratings. The 12-point gap on five-star reviews is still clear. On their eSIMrat reviews, our score out of 5 gives Nomad 4.3 and Holafly 4.2: Nomad makes up with price and volume for what it loses on reviews and refunds.

Also be wary of comparisons that name a clear winner: one of the pages that ranks well for this search is published by Holafly itself, and another, in English, is an article sponsored by Holafly.

Ratings and breakdown read on fr.trustpilot.com on October 23, 2026.

Digital nomads and long stays: which option?

For a trip of several months, the two brands have different answers. Holafly offers monthly subscriptions, Holafly Plans, valid in more than 160 destinations and cancelable at any time. Nomad offers large volume data plans with long validity.

If you change countries every month, Holafly Plans saves you from stacking plans, with hotspot, Always On and a local number to receive texts, reserved for the Unlimited and Ultra options. If you stay a long time in one country with moderate use, Nomad's large plans cost less per month: 100 GB over a year in the United States comes to €8.90 per month.

Prices collected on October 23, 2026 on esim.holafly.com/fr/esim-plans and nomadesim.com, in euros.

Holafly or Nomad: which one should you choose?

Holafly or Nomad? The choice depends on your traveler profile and type of trip, in three questions: how many days you're staying, how much data you use, and whether your trip can still be canceled.

Our verdict: Nomad is the better eSIM of the two, and the best choice for most short stays and for anyone who knows how much data they use. It costs less, sells volume plans and tops up without reinstalling. Holafly remains the best provider for long stays with unlimited data, very heavy users and travelers who want the option to cancel.

Once you've made your choice, go through our Nomad promo code or Holafly promo code pages: ESIMRAT15 gives −15% at Nomad on eligible plans (except unlimited, sales and plans under $5), ESIMRAT gives −5% at Holafly.

Cheaper alternatives to Holafly and Nomad

If your main criterion is your travel budget and you don't need unlimited data, there are alternatives on volume data. For 10 GB valid for 30 days, voilà eSIM costs less than Nomad in Japan, the United States, Europe and Morocco. In Thailand, Nomad stays ahead. Holafly doesn't sell this format.

voilà eSIM belongs to the same group as this comparison site, and we treat it like the others. What sets it apart, beyond its value for money (€8.70 for 10 GB over 30 days in Japan, on the NTT Docomo network): an eSIM that's easy to install, an app that's easy to use, and human customer support, available 24/7. Its limits: it doesn't sell unlimited data, so it doesn't meet the needs of very heavy users, and it's more expensive than Nomad in Thailand in this format.

Airalo, Saily and Ubigi are the other providers most often compared with Holafly and Nomad. If you're also hesitating between other brands, our Airalo vs Holafly, Saily vs Holafly and Ubigi vs Holafly head-to-heads compare Holafly with the other heavyweights.

Prices collected on October 23, 2026 on voilacreators.com and nomadesim.com, in euros.