Nomad eSIM gives your phone mobile data abroad through a digital SIM, without swapping your physical SIM card. You buy a data plan for your destination in the Nomad app or at nomadesim.com, install it by scanning a QR code or in the app, and the plan starts when your phone connects to a local network at your destination.
This article walks through each step, from choosing a plan to topping up, and explains what stays the same on your phone.
How Nomad eSIM works, step by step
Step | What you do | Good to know |
1 | Check your phone | Your phone must support eSIM and be carrier-unlocked. Check the Nomad device list before you buy. |
2 | Choose a plan | Pick a country, regional or global plan, with fixed data or unlimited daily data. Buy in the Nomad app or at nomadesim.com. |
3 | Install before you fly | Connect to Wi-Fi, then scan the QR code from your email or install directly in the app. On iPhone, the eSIM appears under Settings, Cellular (or Mobile Data). |
4 | Switch on when you land | Turn on the Nomad line, turn on data roaming for it, and choose it for mobile data. Your plan starts when it connects to a local network. |
5 | Use and top up | Check your data in the Nomad app and buy an add-on if you run low. Keep your home SIM on for calls and texts. |
For screenshots of each step on iPhone and Android, see the eSIM installation guide. New to travel eSIMs? Read the beginner's guide to travel eSIMs.
What stays the same on your phone
Your home SIM stays in your phone. On dual-SIM phones, you keep your usual number for calls and texts while your Nomad eSIM provides mobile data, and apps such as WhatsApp and iMessage keep using your existing number.
Most Nomad eSIMs are data only and don't include a phone number. Only Nomad's Thailand, UK and Maldives plans offer calls and texts, and each plan's details show whether it includes a number. Do Nomad eSIMs come with a phone number?
To avoid roaming charges from your home carrier, set your Nomad eSIM as the line for mobile data and turn off data roaming on your home line.
When your plan starts and ends
Installing your Nomad eSIM doesn't start your plan. The plan starts when your phone first connects to a supported network at your destination, with the Nomad line switched on and data roaming turned on for it.
Plans must be activated within 60 days of purchase. If you haven't used your plan by then, it activates automatically and its validity starts. How long each plan lasts is shown in its plan details. Does Nomad eSIM activate automatically?
Topping up and checking your data
You can check how much data you have left at any time in the Nomad app. If you're running low, buy an add-on for the same eSIM in the app, with nothing new to install. If your plan expires, an add-on you've already bought activates automatically. How Nomad eSIM add-on data works
On unlimited plans, you get a daily 2GB allowance of high-speed data. Once you've used it, data continues at 1 Mbps until the high-speed allowance resets, 24 hours after you started using it.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need Wi-Fi to install Nomad eSIM?
Yes. You need an internet connection, usually Wi-Fi, to download your Nomad eSIM onto your phone, so install it at home or at the airport before you fly. You don't need Wi-Fi to start using it: the plan connects to a local network automatically when you arrive at your destination.
Does Nomad eSIM activate automatically?
Yes. Your Nomad eSIM plan starts automatically when your phone connects to a supported network at your destination, as long as the Nomad line is switched on and data roaming is turned on for it. Installing the eSIM before you travel doesn't start the plan or use any of your data.
Can I keep my home SIM while using Nomad eSIM?
Yes. Nomad eSIM works alongside your home SIM on dual-SIM phones, so you can keep your number for calls and texts while Nomad provides mobile data. Set the Nomad line as your mobile data line, and turn off data roaming on your home line to avoid roaming charges.
Can I use hotspot with Nomad eSIM?
Yes. Nomad eSIM supports hotspot and tethering, so you can share your data with a laptop, tablet or another phone. Shared data counts towards your plan's allowance,
and you can top up with an add-on in the Nomad app if you run low.
What happens when my Nomad eSIM runs out of data?
When your data runs out, mobile data on the Nomad eSIM line stops until you top up. You can buy an add-on in the Nomad eSIM app for the same eSIM without reinstalling anything. On unlimited plans, data doesn't run out: speed drops to 1 Mbps after the daily high-speed allowance and resets every 24 hours.