Most Nomad Unlimited plans cap high-speed data at 2 GB a day and slow down after that. Nomad takes refund requests within 30 days of purchase, and its Unlimited plans do not follow that standard policy. Find that out mid-trip and you’re squinting at a frozen map on a foreign street.
Nomad eSIM plans include data and hotspot, but no phone number
Nomad eSIM plans include data and hotspot, and Nomad says its eSIMs support tethering and let you share your data across multiple devices. On phone numbers, Nomad’s own site says some of its eSIMs include a local phone number and tells buyers to check the plan details.
Nomad also pitches keeping your home number for calls and texts. Its networks run on 5G or 4G depending on local availability, and it lists coverage in over 200 destinations. Plans are sold per country, per region and global, by the gigabyte or as Unlimited.
How much high-speed data does a Nomad Unlimited plan give per day?
Nomad’s Unlimited plans carry a daily high-speed cap, set at 2 GB per day for most plans. Once it’s used, speeds are reduced for the rest of the day to roughly 1 Mbps or 2 Mbps depending on the plan, and the allowance resets every 24 hours from activation (Nomad, 2026).
Nomad’s help center spells out that its “Unlimited” label comes with daily high-speed limits and slower speeds after them. Its daily and multi-day plans each follow that rule.
How do refunds work on Nomad eSIM plans?
Nomad takes refund requests within 30 days of purchase, and anything later is not considered. Full refunds apply if the eSIM is unused, and partial refunds may apply for unused data or service issues (Nomad, 2026).
Four groups of plans do not follow that policy: UK Voice plans, the Thailand 10-day 50GB plan, the Europe Nomad Pass plan (subscription order) and all the Unlimited plans. Nomad lists them as non-refundable. You choose the payout: your original payment method, which Nomad says takes 2 to 5 business days, or Nomad Points, available instantly.
How much does a Nomad eSIM plan cost?
Nomad prices its gigabyte plans around $0.60 to $1.50 per GB, depending on the destination. Its Unlimited plans are priced by plan length, each against the daily high-speed allowance in its terms.
Nomad’s shop lists Europe from USD 0.70/GB and APAC from USD 1.02/GB (Nomad, 2026). Its Global plan starts from USD 5.15/GB for 1GB-20GB over 7 to 30 days. On Unlimited, its Europe page shows 5 days at USD 19 and 10 days at USD 34.
How do you install a Nomad eSIM before your trip?
You buy a Nomad plan in its shop or app and install it by QR code or in-app setup. Setup takes about 5 minutes and can be done before departure, while the daily high-speed allowance resets every 24 hours from activation.
Nomad says to install before the trip, since installation needs a stable internet connection. Installing does not activate the eSIM, and validity begins only once you activate it. You turn it on when you arrive, and Nomad says a plan you never start activates itself 60 days after purchase.
What do travelers complain about when an Unlimited eSIM slows down?
Travelers complain that an “unlimited” plan got restricted after the marketing promised no caps. Of 934 complaints about five travel eSIM providers published from September 22 to October 9, 2026, between 212 and 226 concerned what unlimited really means (Res research, 2026).
Nathan gave Orange Travel one star on Trustpilot on March 5, 2026, and wrote: “I purchased an “unlimited” data plan from Orange Travel and the entire experience has been extremely misleading and frustrating. Dealing with customer service made the situation even worse. So the overall experience ended up being: • “Unlimited” data that gets restricted for using too much • Marketing that claims no caps and no sudden stops • Customer support that initially didn’t believe the issue existed • Two days wasted waiting for an investigation • Restriction left in place anyway • Being asked to pay more for extra data • Outdated roaming partner information being sent by support This feels extremely misleading and poorly handled from start to finish.”
Which travel eSIM suits your trip once you check each daily data cap?
Each company publishes its own plan types, unlimited-data terms and daily allowance, and Nomad’s is 2 GB a day. Airalo, Holafly, Saily and Maya publish their own terms beside it, so you can read the caps and refund wording before you pay.
| Travel eSIM | How plans are sold | Unlimited plan allowance, as published | Refund terms, as published |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maya Mobile | One Global eSIM for 165+ countries, unlimited data at a flat price by trip length: USD 9.99 for 3 days, USD 19.99 for 7 days, USD 27.99 for 14 days, USD 49.99 for 30 days | A daily high-speed data allowance (the Daily Quota) at up to 4G LTE or 5G where local networks offer it, reset every 24 hours; unlimited data at standard speed once the Daily Quota is used | A money-back guarantee when the eSIM cannot be installed or used, on the conditions in the return policy |
| Airalo | Per country, per region, or one global plan; priced in USD | Our unlimited data packages don’t have a fixed total data cap. However, to keep the network running fairly for everyone, when you use more than 3GB in a day, we’ll slow down (or “throttle”) your internet speed to 1 Mbps for the rest of that day. Your full high-speed connection will automatically be restored when your daily allowance next resets. Your daily allowance resets every 24 hours, counted from the time you activated your eSIM. | Replacements and Refunds. If you have activated the Services but are unable to use them due to an error or omission on the part of Airalo, or because Airalo has decided to retire the Service, we will either provide a replacement Service or refund an amount equal to the price of the Service you have purchased in full, at your option. |
| Holafly | Per country, per region (Europe, Latin America, Cruise plans), and monthly global plans: Light, 25GB of data, $ 49.90USD/month; Unlimited, $ 64.90USD/month; Ultra, $ 90.95USD/month | Unlimited data plans are subject to a fair use policy, which may temporarily reduce speed in cases of unusually high usage to maintain network quality for all users. | Trip eSIMs: “You have up to 6 months to request a refund.” Monthly plans: “Refunds are only eligible within 14 days of purchase.” |
| Saily | Per country and per region, plus one global plan; by the gigabyte, unlimited, or both | The Unlimited plan gives you 5 GB per day at full 4G/5G speed, then keeps you online at 1 Mbps for the rest of the day — fast enough for navigation, messaging, and standard browsing. | Refunds for Non-Activated Data Plans. If the eSIM (i) has not been installed or (ii) has been installed on your device but the Data Plan is not activated, you may request a full refund, provided that no Extra(s) included with the Data Plan have been used, reserved or shared, in whole or in part. |
| Nomad | Per country, per region and global plans; by the gigabyte and unlimited | Once the daily allowance of 2 GB is used, data speeds are reduced (throttled) for the rest of the day. Depending on the specific plan, this reduced speed is approximately 1 Mbps or 2 Mbps. | Learn Nomad eSIM’s refund policy: request within 30 days. Full refunds if unused; partial refunds may apply for unused data or service issues. |
The rival columns carry each company’s own published wording or a brief summary of it, while the Maya Mobile row comes from maya.net.
How Maya keeps one eSIM on your phone for every trip
You shouldn’t need to read a daily cap, a refund exception list and a catalog of plans before every trip. Maya is one eSIM with 3-day, 7-day, 14-day and 30-day plans, all with unlimited data across 165+ countries.
The 14-day plan costs USD 27.99 (USD 2.00/day) and is marked Most Popular. The 30-day plan costs USD 49.99, which works out to USD 1.67/day. To check your data, log in, click the eSIM name or select Manage eSIM, then view the data usage bar for a plan or the Data Usage tab for the full breakdown.
In January 2026, Katya M. gave Maya Mobile five stars on Trustpilot: “Awesome customer service. Couldn’t get my sim working, Hario sorted it out almost immediately! New sim, easy instructions and some extra troubleshooting amd I’m online to write this review. Ive used maya mobile for all esims for the last 2 years, and they couldnt be easier to use – most countries available, manual activation codes so youre not stuck with a qr code you cant read because it’s on the same device… and next time you travel, just reload the sim. No need to start the process from scratch. Super pleased and highly recommend. Thank you Hario!”
FAQ
When does Nomad’s daily high-speed allowance reset?
Every 24 hours from activation, according to Nomad’s help center. That applies to the daily high-speed data on its Unlimited plans. Your clock starts when you activate the eSIM, not when you install it.
What are Nomad Points and how do you use them?
Nomad Points are one way Nomad pays out a refund. You can take a refund as Nomad Points or as a direct refund to your original payment method. Points are instantly available and can be used toward future eSIM purchases, while direct refunds take 2 to 5 business days.
How do you ask Nomad for a refund?
Reach out to Nomad’s support team through its website chat or in-app chat on iOS or Android. Give plan details such as dates and regions, plus proof of non-usage or defects. Nomad only considers requests made within 30 days of purchase, and it processes refunds in 2 to 5 business days based on the method you chose.
Does unlimited data on a travel eSIM mean there is no daily limit?
No. Nomad’s Unlimited plans carry a 2 GB daily high-speed cap on most plans. Maya’s plans include a daily high-speed allowance (the Daily Quota) at up to 4G LTE or 5G where local networks offer it, then continue at standard speed for the rest of the day, refreshing every 24 hours from activation. Maya may also apply network management measures, such as deprioritisation during congestion, to usage patterns inconsistent with normal individual mobile use.
What should you check before buying any travel eSIM?
Check that your device is compatible, using the checker on Maya’s website. All Maya plans are prepaid and paid for at purchase, in 3-day, 7-day, 14-day and 30-day lengths. Maya is not a subscription; each plan is a one-time purchase.
How do you check that your phone supports an eSIM?
Open the list at maya.net/esim-compatible-devices. It covers iPhones from the iPhone XR/XS series through the iPhone 17 series, Samsung Galaxy S20 through S25 series, and Google Pixel models from the Pixel 3 up to the Pixel 10 Pro. Smart watches, tablets and laptops sit in a separate complete list.
Do you have to reinstall an eSIM for every trip?
No. Maya is installed once and stays on your phone permanently, with no need to delete or reinstall it between trips. For each trip you buy a new plan.
What happens when a travel eSIM plan reaches its last day?
On Maya, the plan runs until it expires and stops. With Auto Top-Up off, there is no further charge, and there is no automatic recurring charge unless you turn Auto Top-Up on. Auto Top-Up is opt-in and is not the default.
Maya is one eSIM for 165+ countries, with unlimited data plans from 3 to 30 days that you install once.
