Editor’s be aware, Aug. 14, 2024: On April 2023, Ken Paxton, the legal professional basic of Texas, filed a lawsuit towards Nomad Web for violating the Texas Misleading Commerce Practices Client Safety Act, alleging the perpetration of misleading schemes misrepresenting its relationship with wi-fi web suppliers.

Nomad Web responded in a press launch on December 2023: “We remorse that the Texas Legal professional Common’s announcement of its probe of Nomad Web’s providers via the interval between 2020 and 2022 fails to acknowledge key info, inflicting confusion amongst customers.” We reached out to Nomad Web for extra remark and a spokesperson shared that “Nomad Web attorneys are working carefully with the state of Texas to resolve the claims made towards the corporate and attain a decision.”

As of Might 2024, the State of Texas resolved the Nomad Web lawsuit with a no-fault settlement. Nomad paid $2 million in refunds as a part of the settlement. Nomad Web continues to disclaim claims of wrongdoing and claims “to expertise a profitable trajectory,” in keeping with a press launch on the corporate web site in Might 2024. Our unique story follows.

Nomad Web evaluation

Nomad Web, which launched as an web service supplier in 2017, welcomed 2023 by asserting a spiffy new cellular app and sending out a press launch touting Nomad as the biggest nationwide rural wi-fi web service supplier within the US. The way it stumbled on that proclamation is unclear. For context, T-Cellular Dwelling Web, one other nationwide WISP that made quite a lot of noise in 2023, has many extra whole clients, round 5.2 million, which is forecasted to extend to five.6 million throughout 2024.

Nomad goals to assist bridge the digital divide by connecting rural neighborhood members and folks on the go — everybody from farmers and distant staff who recurrently journey for enterprise to individuals with a leisure car way of life. To perform this, Nomad Web makes use of 4G and 5G networks to deliver web connectivity to its clients.

The corporate’s strategy — no contract, no cancellation charges — makes it a compelling alternative for these with few broadband choices. The principle caveat? Since it is a third-party vendor utilizing different suppliers’ networks, the web speeds you obtain will differ tremendously.

Get Began

What number of members of your family use the web?

Subsequent

Nomad Web plans and pricing

Plan	Month-to-month value	Max obtain speeds	Charges and repair particulars
Nomad Limitless Learn full evaluation	$100	100Mbps obtain/25Mbps add	No month-to-month tools charges, no knowledge caps, no contracts
Nomad Limitless Extremely Learn full evaluation	$150	200Mbps obtain/50Mbps add	No month-to-month tools charges, no knowledge caps, no contracts

Present extra (0 merchandise)

Store suppliers at my tackle

Nomad plans appear pretty commonplace, however one explicit side of Nomad Web would possibly take you off guard: the web speeds aren’t assured. Nomad goals to supply its clients with high-speed, 4G and 5G web service, however the precise speeds rely in your location and proximity to a given cell tower.

There aren’t any forecasted value will increase for these plans, in keeping with the web site. Nonetheless, Nomad reserves the proper to extend month-to-month costs with discover. For $10 further a month, you possibly can opt-in to the Nomad Prime Improve which features a 24-month value lock, a free modem substitute and safety, and 24/7 cellphone technical assist.

Nonetheless, on the very least, Nomad Web is a legitimate different in locations the place good connections are few and much between, and with no contracts or cancellation charges, it is easy sufficient to check it out for 14 days to see if it’s going to fit your wants.

Nomad Web gives wi-fi, high-speed web to vacationers and rural areas throughout the US utilizing the 4G LTE and 5G mobile expertise of the most important service of Verizon. The corporate mission assertion is, “We imagine that simply because an individual chooses to reside in a rural space doesn’t suggest they need to have overpriced or gradual web.” Certainly, a great rural web connection will be frustratingly onerous to search out.

Take a peek at the corporate weblog, and you will find columns like “How Nomad Web is Fulfilling Unmet Buyer Wants,” “The Final Information to Staying Related in Distant Places,” and “Staying Forward of the Storm: The Essential Function of Web Connectivity.” You will shortly perceive how Nomad caters to these in rural and underserved communities and “touring nomads.”

Nomad presents plans particularly focused at those that journey or keep “off grid.” The Nomad Air Journey Bag prices $400 and contains the Nomad Air Modem, a “sturdy and light-weight” backpack, a transportable charger with excessive sturdiness, an influence swap, an influence adaptor and an influence plug. The web speeds you may get on-the-go will differ, however Nomad advertises speeds as much as 200Mbps for it is journey system.

Precise speeds can differ

Feedback from customers on the Nomad Web web page point out a typical obtain pace vary of 60 to 70 megabits per second. Moreover, the location mentions, “We have had stories of over 150Mbps for many who are near a cell tower, and about 1Mbps [for those] which are a number of miles away from a tower.” 

Whereas Nomad’s website offers clients a basic concept of obtain and add speeds, it can’t be overstated — the character of the mobile connection makes it practically unattainable to ensure the speeds you may obtain. There are simply too many variables, primarily your proximity to the closest tower, the extent of knowledge congestion in your space and the variety of bodily and geographical boundaries obstructing your sign.

Tools is extra clear-cut

Nomad Web presents three sorts of tools: the Nomad Omen, an indoor modem for residential clients that connects as much as 30 units at a time; Nomad Air, a residential outside modem for “in-motion” use which might join as much as 60 units; the Nomad Raptor, geared in direction of gaming and enterprise use and that includes a number of LAN ports.

The Nomad Raptor prices a daily steep value of $700 however Nomad’s present promotional low cost lowers that value to $200. All three modems are aimed toward individuals on the go, frequent vacationers and people dwelling the RV life. Every contains the modem, an ethernet cable, an influence provide and an influence cable.

The prices for all tools are up-front; that value contains the service activation charge, sim card, account set-up charge and delivery.

Present extra (0 merchandise)

Store suppliers at my tackle

The Nomad Air, which might be mostly used, is a Wi-Fi 6 gadget that may assist as much as 60 linked units with out situation. A Nomad spokesperson shared that the corporate’s essential aim is to mitigate buyer trouble and confusion.

“Each plan with Nomad comes preconfigured, with up to date {hardware}, and every little thing is examined in our workplaces to make sure it is arrange earlier than we ship,” the spokesperson stated.

Different components to contemplate 

For those who’ve been following our ISP critiques — and I sincerely hope you might have! — you then’ve most likely seen that we advocate, every time potential, avoiding time period agreements and the stiff cancellation charges that accompany them. Nomad Web meets that problem by requiring no contracts, credit score checks or cancellation charges. Total, you may discover some pretty consumer-friendly phrases. However let’s get into the weeds just a little so you possibly can higher perceive what you may be paying. 

No set up charges or extra month-to-month costs

There aren’t any extra charges past the costs given within the plan chart. Nomad Web clients do not must pay an set up charge to start out their service and the service activation charge is included in that up-front price

Nonetheless, be aware that when you lose your tools or fail to return it after canceling your service, you may be charged a tool substitute charge of $150 to $900. 

Additionally of be aware is Nomad’s provide to briefly halt service and month-to-month charges for 3 months at a time, twice throughout 12 months. Simply ensure you fill out a ticket to request a short lived service freeze.

No knowledge caps, for essentially the most half

In contrast to many rural web choices, together with satellite tv for pc suppliers Hughesnet and Viasat, which impose month-to-month knowledge restrictions, Nomad regularly makes use of the phrase “as much as limitless knowledge.” The implication is that you simply will not want to trace your knowledge utilization for worry of incurring overage costs when you cross a sure threshold. 

That is definitely true. Nomad Web is not going to cost any knowledge overage charges. Nonetheless, as a result of it is a third-party vendor that doesn’t have the ultimate say over the mobile community it is utilizing, Nomad Web clients could have their knowledge deprioritized by the cellular firm. It is not unusual for cellphone carriers like Verizon to prioritize their very own clients in occasions of congestion or excessive site visitors.

Excessive upfront prices, however…

Although Nomad Web clients do not face a credit score examine, all subscriptions will need to have a legitimate bank card on file for automated fee. It’s because Nomad Web is actually a month-to-month, pay as you go service, the place you pay forward for 30 days.

One buffer Nomad presents is limited-time offers for diminished membership charges and one-time tools prices. At the moment, the Limitless plan is down from $130 to $100 and the Limitless Extremely plan is $150 (down from the common $180). For tools, the Nomad Omen is $100, the Nomad Air is $300 and the Nomad Raptor is $200 (tools sometimes prices between $200 and $700).

One other security web Nomad Web gives is a 14-day, money-back assure that permits you to check out the service. For those who discover it does not meet your expectations (possibly the speeds are unsatisfactory), or you possibly can’t get constant service over the community, you possibly can return the tools for a full refund of your tools charge and first month-to-month fee. 

Bear in mind: Earlier than returning the tools, you need to name the Buyer Cancellation Line at 385-257-2809 to inform your intent to cancel so the corporate can generate a Return Authorization Quantity. You will not qualify in your full refund with out that.

Aggressive referral program with first rate advantages

Nomad Web usually refers to its clients as its linked neighborhood. It helps foster that ambiance by encouraging clients to take part in its Nomad Accomplice Program. You possibly can rating factors for numerous actions — together with reviewing the service, reselling it, sharing on social media and extra — and people factors will be transformed to reductions on merchandise or to PayPal money bonuses. 

Extra lately, Nomad now presents its clients an incentive of “free web for all times” after clients refer 5 new clients to the corporate. Here is the way it works: Nomad offers energetic clients 5 free Nomad Omen modems so that you can reward to 5 associates. For each buddy that indicators up for Nomad service, you get one month of free web. In spite of everything 5 modems have been activated by totally different associates, Nomad Web guarantees to cowl the worth of your web in full. The one catch is that every of those 5 subscriptions should be maintained to maintain your web free.

Nomad Web vs. rivals: First rate buyer satisfaction scores for an ISP

Nomad Web does not have a large sufficient buyer base to register a ranking with both J.D. Energy’s US Residential Web Service Supplier Satisfaction Examine or the American Buyer Satisfaction Index, two surveys we regularly use to gauge how ISPs fare on equal footing. As a substitute, we turned to the Higher Enterprise Bureau. Nomad Web obtained a median rating of two.81 out of 5 factors from over 699 buyer critiques. Whereas that may not appear stellar on the floor, it is considerably above common for an ISP and properly above the scores for such greater names as Constitution Spectrum (1.09), AT&T (1.10) and Google Fiber (1.17).

Among the many complaints lodged with the BBB, three out of 4 have been “Billing/Assortment Points” as an alternative of “Issues with the Product/Service.” This made sense after we famous that a number of points stemmed from confusion over Nomad’s coverage requiring clients to inform the corporate of the intent to cancel. If a buyer returns the tools with out notifying Nomad, billing will usually proceed even after service ends.

Most complaints seem to have been satisfactorily rectified, however Nomad’s return coverage does appear to be a significant stumbling block for folk. A spokesperson shared with CNET that Nomad is conscious and is implementing new processes for its cancellation coverage to assist mitigate among the billing points.

What is the ultimate phrase on Nomad Web?

Nomad Web serves an admirable function by offering a dependable web supply for vacationers and underserved communities usually missed by conventional wireline providers. However relying in your location and proximity to mobile service, the efficiency of Nomad Web will differ. Translation: It is definitely greatest to strive before you purchase. 

That 14-day window of time to check drive Nomad Web is a good period of time to resolve if the plan is best for you, although optimally that window could be prolonged to 30 days. In contrast to different rural web choices (like satellite tv for pc web), you do not have to unquestioningly commit after which be tethered by a long-term contract to a service that does not accomplish what you want. In that respect, Nomad Web tries to do proper by its clients and provides them choices they may not in any other case have. 

Nomad Web FAQs