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Disclosure: We’re The SIM Shop, an Australian travel eSIM retailer. We compete with the providers discussed here.
Nomad can be good value, depending on the allowance
A short trip needing only a few gigabytes is worth pricing on its own. Moving up to 10GB can change which shop costs less, so start with the allowance you need rather than treating either brand as the automatic cheaper choice.
Nomad’s Japan page, checked in AUD on 1 November 2026, lists 3GB/30 days at A$9.96, 5GB/30 days at A$14.22 and a sale price of A$22.76 for 10GB/30 days. Our corresponding Japan fixed offers are A$11.95, A$14.95 and A$19.95.
Nomad is A$1.99 lower at 3GB and A$0.73 lower at 5GB; we’re A$2.81 lower at 10GB in that snapshot. That is a useful comparison by allowance, not evidence that either retailer is always cheaper. Promotions and the selected currency can change the result.
The points have a real calculation, and an expiry
Nomad’s help example awards 25 loyalty points for each US$5 increment spent. A US$12 purchase earns 50 points, redeemable as US$0.50 at the stated 100 points per US$1 rate. That is about 4.17% of that example purchase, not exactly 5% on every possible total.
Ordinary loyalty points expire after six months. Returning users can receive 200 bonus points on qualifying plans of 10GB or larger, subject to the programme’s monthly limits and exclusions. Points are a reason to consider a later purchase, not cash already removed from today’s bill.
Don’t confuse loyalty points with a refund in points
Nomad’s refund help article describes eligible refunds either to the original payment method or as non-expiring refund points. Those are different from the ordinary six-month loyalty points. If you want money returned, state that preference instead of assuming every points balance is cash-equivalent.
For a changed trip, contact Nomad before installing the eSIM or activating the plan. Its plan refund policy uses a thirty-day request window and restricts discounted purchases after installation or activation. A known technical problem originating from Nomad has a separate review under its terms, so keep the profile installed and report the actual fault rather than treating every request as a change of mind.
When we’d choose it
For a compatible phone needing 3GB for a short Japan holiday, the lower captured price may be enough reason. If you’re likely to buy again within six months, usable points can add value. For 10GB, compare the actual sale total with our A$19.95 offer and the exact terms you care about.
For either provider, choose enough usable days and check the start window. Nomad’s Japan page gives a 60-day activation window; our Japan 3GB fixed offer gives 180 days and our 10GB gives 60. A cheaper small plan doesn’t help if the allowance or start deadline doesn’t fit.
