Best eSIM Travel TL;DR
✅ Nomad genuinely earns its place for Philippines island coverage — Globe beats Smart in rural areas
✅ Comparable to Airalo in Indonesia via Telkomsel
⚠️ Clunkier app experience than Airalo — slower and more steps to navigate
⚠️ No regional Asia plan — a significant limitation for multi-country travel
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Why I Started Testing Nomad eSIM
A friend texted me from Siargao saying her Nomad eSIM was giving her 22 Mbps while the person next to her on Airalo was getting 8 Mbps. Same island, same time, very different experience. That message sent me down a 3-week testing rabbit hole across the Philippines and Indonesia.
Nomad eSIM Pricing
Philippines:
- 1GB / 7 days: $5
- 3GB / 30 days: $10
- 5GB / 30 days: $15
- 10GB / 30 days: $26
Indonesia:
- 1GB / 7 days: $4.50
- 3GB / 30 days: $9
- 5GB / 30 days: $13
Thailand:
- 1GB / 7 days: $5.50
- 5GB / 30 days: $15
Pricing is slightly higher than Airalo — $1-4 more per plan. The question is whether better coverage in specific locations justifies that premium.
Speed Tests: Nomad vs Airalo
Philippines — 4 Locations
| Location | Airalo (Smart) | Nomad (Globe) | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manila BGC | 34 Mbps | 28 Mbps | Airalo |
| Siargao | 11 Mbps | 24 Mbps | Nomad |
| El Nido, Palawan | 8 Mbps | 19 Mbps | Nomad |
| Dumaguete | 18 Mbps | 22 Mbps | Nomad |
In the Philippines: Airalo wins in Manila, Nomad wins everywhere else tested.
Indonesia — 3 Locations
| Location | Airalo (Telkomsel) | Nomad (Telkomsel) | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubud, Bali | 31 Mbps | 29 Mbps | Airalo (marginal) |
| Lombok (Senggigi) | 18 Mbps | 17 Mbps | Tie |
| Flores (Labuan Bajo) | 9 Mbps | 12 Mbps | Nomad |
In Indonesia: essentially tied on Bali and Lombok (both use Telkomsel), Nomad slightly ahead in very remote areas.
Thailand — 2 Locations
| Location | Airalo (AIS) | Nomad (TrueMove H) | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangkok | 52 Mbps | 41 Mbps | Airalo |
| Chiang Mai | 44 Mbps | 35 Mbps | Airalo |
In Thailand, Airalo’s AIS network consistently outperforms Nomad’s TrueMove H partnership.
The App Experience: Where Nomad Falls Short
Compared to Airalo’s polished app, Nomad’s interface feels dated. The main issues:
- Dashboard takes 15-20 seconds to load data balance
- Plan purchase flow has more steps than necessary
- No regional multi-country plan option
- Support ticket system is buried in the UI
None of these are dealbreakers, but after using Airalo’s genuinely excellent app, the contrast is noticeable.
When to Choose Nomad
Choose Nomad for:
- Philippines island travel (Siargao, El Nido, Coron, Dumaguete) — Globe coverage is materially better than Smart outside Manila
- Remote Eastern Indonesia where minor Telkomsel tier differences occasionally matter
Stick with Airalo for:
- Thailand — AIS clearly beats TrueMove H
- Vietnam — Airalo’s Viettel is the only sensible choice
- Malaysia — Airalo’s Maxis is excellent
- Multi-country trips — Airalo has a regional Asia plan, Nomad does not
Bottom Line
Nomad eSIM is a legitimate product with real advantages in specific Philippines locations. For most digital nomads travelling Southeast Asia broadly, Airalo remains the primary choice. But if your Philippines itinerary includes Siargao, El Nido or other remote islands, install Nomad alongside Airalo and switch when you leave Manila.
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[IMAGE: nomad-esim-siargao-road — Coconut palm lined road in Siargao with phone showing signal strength bars, no people, tropical afternoon light, lush green vegetation on both sides]