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Nomad Internet Review: Cellular Setup With No Strings Attached – CNET

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Nomad Internet rating

How we calculated our rating Speed

5.5/10

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

Editor’s note, June 30, 2023: In April 2023, Ken Paxton, the attorney general of Texas, filed a lawsuit against the internet company for violating the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices — Consumer Protection Act. It alleges the perpetration of deceptive schemes misrepresenting its relationship with wireless internet providers.

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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.” 

While Nomad’s site gives customers a general idea of download and upload speeds, 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.

Equipment is more clear-cut

Nomad Internet offers three types of equipment. The Nomad Omen (an indoor modem for residential customers), Nomad Air (a residential outdoor modem for “in-motion” use) and the Nomad Raptor, geared towards business use and featuring multiple LAN ports. All three are aimed at people on the go, frequent travelers and those living the RV life. Each includes the modem, an ethernet cable, a power supply and a power cable.

Technically, no. Nomad Internet does not enforce a data cap. However, because it’s a third-party vendor dependent on the Verizon mobile network, the final say is in the hands of another company. Nomad Internet will not cap your data, “but data limitations, speeds and availability may vary based on the discretion of the providing network.” 

Yes. You can certainly use your own router with Nomad Internet, though all their plans feature gateway equipment that includes a modem and Wi-Fi 6 router. Most customers shouldn’t need to use a router beyond the given equipment, but if you already have one you prefer, you most certainly could. 

Potentially, yes. Nomad Internet can reach anywhere from 100Mbps to 200Mbps for maximum download speed (based on which plan you have). For example, a satellite provider like Hughesnet tops out at 100Mbps download speed, while Viasat can potentially hit 150Mbps in some areas. It will be critical for customers to do a trial run with Nomad to see what download speeds they can get in their area.

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Plan Max download speeds Max upload speeds Starting monthly cost Regular monthly cost One-time activation fee Data cap Data cap
Nomad Unlimited
Read full review		 100Mbps 25Mbps $100 $130 $99 None None
Nomad Unlimited Ultra
Read full review		 200Mbps 50Mbps $150 $180 $99 None None