Nomad alternatives
Most Nomad plans are data only; calls and texts come with a few plans in Thailand and the UK. If you want your own number that rings in an app, these are the alternatives travellers compare.
What is a good alternative to Nomad?
MirageTEL
Data eSIMs for 177 destinations, plus local phone numbers in 93 countries from $1.56 a month whose calls ring in the app. No passport or selfie for data plans; pay by card or USDT.
See MirageTEL plans →Airalo
Airalo sells prepaid data eSIMs for 200+ destinations; most plans are data only, and some plan types add calls and texts.
MirageTEL vs Airalo →Holafly
Holafly sells unlimited-data eSIMs for 200+ destinations and monthly plans; its trip eSIMs have no calls or texts.
MirageTEL vs Holafly →Saily
Saily sells data eSIMs for 200+ destinations, with an optional US (+1) number add-on for calls and texts.
MirageTEL vs Saily →How does MirageTEL compare with Nomad?
| MirageTEL | Nomad | |
|---|---|---|
| Data eSIM destinations | 177 destinations, 1631 plans source | 200+ destinations source |
| A real phone number | Yes — local numbers in 93 countries, from $1.56 a month source | Mostly no; Thailand and some UK plans include a number source |
| Calls | Calls ring right in the MirageTEL app, on iPhone and Android source | No, except Thailand and some UK plans source |
| Texts (SMS) | Numbers in 4 countries receive texts; the rest take calls source | No, except Thailand and some UK plans source |
| Passport or selfie for a data eSIM | No passport or selfie for data plans; some countries register a number holder by law source | No KYC stated (on its blog) source |
| Top up the same eSIM | Stated on each plan page source | Yes, with add-ons; not on unlimited plans source |
| Ways to pay | Card (with Apple Pay, Google Pay and Link) or USDT source | Cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal; no crypto listed source |
Nomad facts are from Nomad’s own pages, checked on 19 October 2026; each links to its source. “—” means their pages do not say. MirageTEL facts come from our live catalogue.
Questions
What is a good alternative to Nomad?
If you also want your own number, MirageTEL: data eSIMs plus local numbers in 93 countries with calls in the app. If you only need data, Airalo, Holafly, Saily are the other names travellers compare.
Why look for a Nomad alternative?
Most Nomad plans are data only; calls and texts come with a few plans in Thailand and the UK. If you want your own number that rings in an app, these are the alternatives travellers compare.
Updated 2026-10-19. Other companies’ names are trademarks of their owners; MirageTEL is not affiliated with them.