Nomad
RedteaGO
Nomad vs RedteaGO: Which eSIM Should You Buy?
Updated October 9, 2026
The Short Answer
Pick Nomad if you're traveling or living abroad for months and want one bundle that lasts up to a year. Pick RedteaGO if you just want the lowest realistic starting price for a shorter trip and don't mind buying data in smaller chunks more often. Both are data-only by default; neither is the pick if you specifically need a working phone number out of the box.
The Core Difference: One Big Bundle vs. Cheapest Entry Price
Nomad's regular plans work like most eSIM apps: pick a country, region, or global bundle, pay, scan, go. Its real differentiator is Global-EX, a second line of 10GB to 50GB bundles valid for up to a year, priced as low as roughly $2.58/GB on the largest sizes versus about $5.15/GB on Nomad's standard Global plan. That's built for someone actually living out of a bag for months, not a two-week trip.
RedteaGO doesn't compete on bundle size or validity length; it competes on the sticker price. Its own shop advertises eSIMs from as little as $0.52 for a Europe-wide plan, $0.70 for a US, Japan, or Thailand plan, and $2.90 for a global plan, across a claimed 180+ countries and regions. Those are entry-level, smallest-data-tier prices, so the actual GB amount matters more than the headline number, but RedteaGO is routinely one of the cheapest per-GB options on this site for a standard short trip. It has nothing like Nomad's year-long Global-EX line.
Price Snapshot (1GB, before any code)
| Destination | Nomad | RedteaGO |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $4.50 (1GB) | $2 (1GB) |
| Europe regional | $5 (1GB) | $2.79 (1GB) |
| Global | $12 (1GB) | $31 (6GB, roughly $5.17/GB) |
RedteaGO's standard-plan per-GB price runs well below Nomad's on single-country destinations. Nomad only closes that gap, and eventually overtakes it, once you need enough total data and enough validity that a Global-EX bundle makes sense; RedteaGO has no bundle like that to compare against.
Discount Codes
- Nomad: NOMTRAVEL20 or NOMCYBER20, 20% off. Full code list →
- RedteaGO: RTGF946FR, 5% off all plans. Full code list →
Neither code is ours. Nomad and RedteaGO don't run the kind of affiliate program that supports a code like that, so both are the best public codes we've verified for each. Nomad's 20% rate is bigger than RedteaGO's 5%, but RedteaGO's underlying price is already low enough that a smaller percentage off a cheaper base can still come out ahead; run the math on the specific plan you want.
Is Nomad or RedteaGO the Right Pick
Go with Nomad if…
- You're traveling or living abroad for months, not weeks
- You want one eSIM that doesn't expire on a 30-day clock
- You want to hotspot a laptop without checking plan rules first
Go with RedteaGO if…
- You want the lowest realistic starting price on a short trip
- You're fine buying data upfront with no refund on unused top-ups
- You've checked for the "Calls/Texts Available" label if you need a number
Two Things Worth Knowing Before You Decide
Neither one hands you a working phone number by default. RedteaGO's own FAQ says call and text service only exists on plans explicitly marked "Calls/Texts Available," plus a separate Call & Text eSIM package sold on its own. Nomad doesn't include calls or SMS on its standard or Global-EX plans either. If you specifically need a real number for calls and texts, see our SimLocal comparison instead: we bought a UK plan there ourselves and confirmed the bundled number works.
Refund policies point in opposite directions. Nomad advertises an easy refund policy on unused plans. RedteaGO's FAQ is explicit that data top-ups are non-refundable because the plan activates immediately once you complete the purchase. If there's any chance your trip gets cancelled or changes, that difference is worth more than either provider's price.
For device setup and eSIM basics that apply to both providers, see our eSIM compatible devices guide.
Nomad vs RedteaGO FAQ
Which is cheaper, Nomad or RedteaGO
For a standard single-country plan, RedteaGO is usually cheaper per GB. For a long trip where a Nomad Global-EX bundle makes sense, Nomad's per-GB rate can drop low enough to close or close that gap, something RedteaGO has no equivalent bundle to compete with.
Does either one include calls or texts by default
No. RedteaGO only includes them on plans labeled "Calls/Texts Available" or its separate Call & Text eSIM package. Nomad's plans, including Global-EX, are data-only.
Can I get a refund if my trip changes
Possibly with Nomad, which advertises an easy refund policy on unused plans. Not with RedteaGO: its FAQ states data top-ups are non-refundable once the plan activates.
Which one is better for long-term travel
Nomad, specifically because of its Global-EX bundles, which run up to a year and get cheaper per GB the larger they are. RedteaGO has nothing built for that use case; its plans are sized for a single trip.
Some codes and links on this page are affiliate codes and links, including our own (ADAMANDLINDS, where it applies). If you use one, we may earn a commission. We show our own code more prominently where we have one, not because it's automatically the best deal. See our about page for the full breakdown.