Nomad Internet Review: I Evaluate Plans, Pricing, Speed and Availability

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Nomad Internet rating

How we calculated our rating

6.4/10

CNET Score

We score internet providers for speed, value and customer care. Our data sources include the FCC, J.D. Power, The American Customer Satisfaction Index and extensive in-house research.

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6.4

/ 10

SCORE

Speed

5.5/10

Value

6.5/10

Customer Care

7/10

Pros

• Unlimited data
• No contracts required
• Freedom to connect just about anywhere in the US

Cons

• High upfront costs
• Competitive rates for rural internet, but pricier than cable or fiber
• Internet speeds are not guaranteed

See more pros and cons

Nomad Internet review

If you live in a remote or rural area, you likely already know all the frustrations of finding a competitively-priced internet provider with decent speeds. Nomad is a wireless internet service attempting to bridge the broadband divide in rural communities by offering internet plans that you can easily start and stop. Nomad gears its services specifically to "nomads" or travelers: The service was created for "rural communities and RV parks," according to the website.

But how effective is Nomad's service? And how does it compare to big-name competitors like Starlink and T-Mobile Home Internet -- both of which have an edge in rural connectivity? In terms of fair pricing and speeds, Nomad has some catching up to do.

The company’s no-contract, no-cancellation-fee approach makes it an attractive option for those with limited broadband choices, but I'd consider Nomad a last resort due to a combination of the provider's inconsistent speeds and confusing (and often changing!) terms of service. Nomad relies on third-party vendors' 4G and 5G networks, primarily Verizon’s, which means that your speeds will be highly variable and likely deprioritized during peak usage hours. On top of that, Nomad requires a steep up-front internet equipment rental fee and expensive monthly rates: The cheapest plan starts at $100 monthly and only goes up from there.

If you're out of internet options and you need a convenient, travel-friendly internet plan, Nomad might be right for you. But you may be better off just signing up for service from Starlink. Here's everything you should know about Nomad Internet.

Nomad Internet plans and pricing

Nomad's internet plans are on the pricier side for rural internet, more comparable to plans you'd see from a satellite internet provider. Just like with other fixed wireless providers, the internet speeds advertised with these plans are not guaranteed consistently. Nomad aims to provide its customers with high-speed, 4G and 5G internet service, but the actual speeds depend on your location and proximity to a cell tower.

If you can get the maximum speeds or close to them, consider it a decent connection for rural or mobile use. For comparison, T-Mobile Home Internet and Starlink have expected max speeds of just over 200Mbps.

Nomad offers plans specifically targeted at those who travel or stay "off grid." The Nomad Air Travel Bag costs $400 and includes the Nomad Air Modem, a "durable and lightweight" backpack, a portable charger with high durability, a power switch, a power adaptor and a power plug. The internet speeds you'll get on the go will vary, but Nomad advertises speeds up to 200Mbps for its travel system. Keep in mind you'll still have to pay for a monthly internet plan with Nomad. For context, Starlink's comparable Starlink Mini costs $299 for equipment with a monthly cost between $50 to $165

The 100Mbps available with the Nomad Unlimited plan should support streaming, video conferencing and other basic internet activities on a couple of devices. For connecting multiple devices, consider upgrading to the Nomad Unlimited Ultra plan that advertises speeds up to 200Mbps -- on par with competitors Starlink and T-Mobile Home Internet.

While Nomad doesn't advertise price increases anymore, it hasn't shied away from enforcing them in the past. After a year of service, you may see your bill jump by $20.

Still, at the very least, Nomad Internet is a decent option in places where good connections are few and far between. With no contracts or cancellation fees, it's easy enough to test it out for 14 days to see if it'll suit your needs.

Actual speeds can vary

Comments from users on the Nomad Internet page indicate a typical download speed range of 60 to 70 megabits per second. Additionally, the site mentions, "We've had reports of over 150Mbps for those who are close to a cell tower, and about 1Mbps [for those] that are several miles away from a tower." 

Nomad's site gives customers a general idea of download and upload speeds, but it cannot be overstated -- the nature of the cellular connection makes it nearly impossible to guarantee the speeds you'll receive. There are just too many variables, mainly your proximity to the nearest tower, the level of data congestion in your area and the number of physical and geographical barriers obstructing your signal.

Steep up-front equipment pricing

You'll have to pay for your equipment rental up-front with Nomad -- and there's no option to use your own equipment.

"All modems and related equipment, regardless of brand or type, provided by Nomad Internet remain the sole property of Nomad Internet," says the terms of service. "Customers do not own the modems or equipment, and they must be returned upon cancellation of service or upon request by Nomad Internet."

Nomad Internet currently offers four different types of equipment, ranging in price from $100 to as much as $700. The modems are categorized by device capacity (two modems can support up to 128 devices) and use (there is one travel-specific modem). Additionally, Nomad offers antennas, or "Nomad Wings," to boost coverage in rural areas. Those antennas start at $100 and top out at $300.

You'll have to return all equipment within 14 days after cancelling service -- though Nomad claims to offer straightforward advice on how to do that. If you lose your equipment or fail to return it after canceling your service, you'll be charged a device replacement fee of $150 to $900. 

Also, keep in mind that you must activate service within 14 days of having your modem delivered, or Nomad will force activation. That's not very customer-friendly, and that notice is buried in Nomad's terms of service, so keep that in mind.

Other factors to consider 

If you've been following our ISP reviews, you've probably noticed that we recommend avoiding term agreements and the stiff cancellation fees that accompany them whenever possible. Nomad Internet does meet that challenge by requiring no contracts, credit checks or cancellation fees. But there are plenty of other factors to consider with Nomad. Plus, the terms of service are often changing and are not easy to find.

Let's get into the weeds a little so you can better understand what you'll be paying. 

Watch out for those activation fees

When you sign up for service, expect to pay three fees upfront: SIM card and activation fee ($10), internet equipment (typically $100+) and any shipping and taxes. All fees are non-refundable.

There are no broadband labels on the site, and Nomad does not disclose what other one-time or monthly fees beyond your plan fee will look like.

No data caps, for the most part

Unlike many rural internet options, including satellite providers Hughesnet and Viasat, which impose monthly data restrictions, Nomad frequently uses the phrase "up to unlimited data." The implication is that you won't need to track your data usage for fear of incurring overage charges once you pass a certain threshold. 

That's certainly true. Nomad Internet will not charge any data overage fees. While the company claims that no speed throttling will occur, it is a third-party vendor that does not have the final say over the cellular network it's using. Nomad Internet customers may have their data deprioritized by the mobile company. It's not uncommon for phone carriers like Verizon to prioritize their own customers in times of congestion or high traffic. If you're experiencing speed throttling by your ISP, here's how you can put a stop to it.

Might be worth a two-week trial

Although Nomad Internet customers don't face a credit check, all subscriptions must have a valid credit card on file for automatic payment. This is because Nomad Internet is essentially a month-to-month, prepaid service, where you pay ahead for 30 days. You're free to start and stop service at any time.

Another safety net Nomad Internet provides is a 14-day, money-back guarantee that lets you try out the service. If you find it doesn't meet your expectations (maybe the speeds are unsatisfactory), or you can't get consistent service over the network, you can return the equipment for a full refund of your equipment fee and first monthly payment. 

Be aware: Before returning the equipment, you must call the Customer Cancellation Line at 385-257-2809 to register your intent to cancel so the company can generate a Return Authorization Number. You won't qualify for your full refund without that.

Aggressive referral program with decent benefits

Nomad Internet often refers to its customers as its connected community. It helps foster that atmosphere by encouraging customers to participate in its Nomad Partner Program. You can score points for various actions -- including reviewing the service, reselling it, sharing on social media and more -- and those points can be converted to discounts on products or to PayPal cash bonuses. 

More recently, Nomad now offers its customers an incentive of "free internet for life" after customers refer five new customers to the company. Here's how it works: Nomad gives active customers five free Nomad Air modems for you to gift to five friends. For every friend that signs up for Nomad service, you get one month of free internet. After all five modems have been activated by different friends, Nomad Internet promises to cover the price of your internet in full. The only catch is that each of these five subscriptions must be maintained to keep your internet free.

Nomad Internet vs. competitors: Customer satisfaction scores reflect user frustration

Nomad Internet doesn't have a sizable enough customer base to register a rating with either J.D. Power's US Residential Internet Service Provider Satisfaction Study or the American Customer Satisfaction Index, two surveys we frequently use to gauge how ISPs fare on equal footing. Instead, we turned to the Better Business Bureau. Nomad Internet received an average score of 2.38 out of 5 points from over 500 customer reviews. That might not seem stellar on the surface, but it's significantly above average for an ISP and well above the scores for such bigger names as Spectrum (1.09), AT&T (1.10) and Google Fiber (1.16).

On the other hand, Reddit -- another source we use to gauge customer satisfaction with ISPs -- features overwhelmingly negative reviews of Nomad's service. Many users expressed exasperation over slow speeds, unavailable customer support and faulty equipment among other issues.

Nomad Internet's fraud investigation

On April 2023, Ken Paxton, the attorney general of Texas, filed a lawsuit against Nomad Internet for violating the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Consumer Protection Act, alleging the perpetration of deceptive schemes misrepresenting its relationship with wireless internet providers.

Nomad Internet responded in a press release on December 2023: "We regret that the Texas Attorney General's announcement of its probe of Nomad Internet's services through the period between 2020 and 2022 fails to acknowledge key facts, causing confusion among consumers." We reached out to Nomad Internet for additional comment and a spokesperson shared that "Nomad Internet attorneys are working closely with the state of Texas to resolve the claims made against the company and reach a resolution."

As of May 2024, the State of Texas resolved the Nomad Internet lawsuit with a no-fault agreement. Nomad paid $2 million in refunds as part of the settlement. Nomad Internet continues to deny claims of wrongdoing and claims "to experience a successful trajectory," according to a press release on the company website in May 2024.

While Nomad continues to offer services and has likely been a reliable source of internet for several rural communities, its legal troubles and customer satisfaction ratings are definitely worth considering before signing up.

My final take on Nomad Internet

Nomad Internet's speed performance will vary. Translation: It's certainly best to try before you buy. 

That 14-day window to test drive Nomad Internet is a decent amount of time to decide if the plan is right for you, although optimally, that window would be extended to 30 days. Unlike other rural internet options (like Viasat and Hughesnet), you don't have to unquestioningly commit and then be tethered by a long-term contract to a service that doesn't accomplish what you need. In that respect, Nomad Internet tries to do right by its customers and give them options they might not otherwise have. 

If you're pressed for internet options, Nomad might be worth a try. But you may find faster speeds from Starlink for a comparable price.

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