SafetyWing vs. World Nomads (what to know + who I use)

I spend most of the year abroad, living between airports, countries and different languages — I freaking love this life. But being a digital nomad also comes with some logistical hurdles, like making sure you’re protected while exploring overseas. You know, the important stuff!

So this is my review on two of the top companies in the travel insurance space: SafetyWing vs. World Nomads.

Both are solid options, but ultimately, the right travel insurance comes down to your budget, travel style, needs and goals. But don’t worry, by the end of this post, you should have a clear idea about who to choose.

Now enough chit chat — let’s do this!

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Hey there, just a quick heads up that this post was sponsored and some of the links may also be affiliate links, which earn me a small commission. But rest assured that I only review and recommend products that I either use myself or come with positive reviews and trust scores. All affiliate links are at no extra cost to you, but help me keep the lights on. Thank you for your support!

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SafetyWing vs. World Nomads (at a glance)

SafetyWing has two core products for their nomad insurance coverage:

• Nomad Essential (NE). Essential travel medical insurance for digital nomads and travelers needing extra protection for trips abroad.

• Nomad Complete (NC). Broader global medical insurance for digital nomads and remote workers living abroad (does not cover travel-related costs like lost luggage).

World Nomads has two main plan options:

• Standard plan. Cheaper plan with lower coverage limits.

• Explorer plan. Premium plan with extra benefits and higher coverage.

Both SafetyWing and World Nomads are global travel insurance companies with comprehensive long-term coverage for travelers and digital nomads. But how do their features compare?

Here’s a chart highlighting their key differences.

Features	SafetyWing	*World Nomads
Payment model	Flexible subscription with a minimum of 5 days (monthly payments available)	One-time payment per trip
Cost	NE: $56.28/month NC: $150.50/month (prices vary by age)	Average price is $153 (varies by age, policy and destination)
Standout features	Convenient subscription-style policy management; more affordable; optional add-ons, such as adventure sports and activities; includes some non-travel benefits and add-ons such as electronic theft coverage.	Great coverage for adventure sports and activities while traveling under both Standard and Explorer plans.
Claims	Easy claims through the online platform. Get reimbursed in less than 3 days for Nomad Essential and less than 14 days for Nomad Complete	Online claims process. Can take up to 10 days to hear back.
**Coverage for trips back home (for USA citizens, which is only relevant for Nomad Insurance)	For NE: Coverage for a max duration of 15 days for US citizens, and unlimited for non-US citizens with USA add-on. For NC: Up to 30 days with standard plan, and up to 180 days with the USA add-on (regardless of citizenship), only for medical emergencies.	No coverage in home country
Deductibles	$0 deductible (except for visits in the USA); USA is only for emergencies, even for NC (checkups not included)	Varies by plan and coverage level
Coverage expenses limit	US $1,500,000 overall limit for NC and $250,000 max limit for NE	Varies by plan and benefit; up to $100,000 for medical expenses
COVID coverage	Included	Included (check specific policy details)
Coverage area	180+ countries for NE, including short trips to the USA. 175+ countries for NC	Worldwide, with some restrictions
Customer support	24/7 support; online claims platform; reply in <1 minute	24/7 emergency assistance

*Some coverage info for World Nomads is general since specific details can vary widely depending on the plan and policy you sign up for.

**For SafetyWing NE coverage back home: You must visit your home country from abroad, after your insurance start date. In the case of a claim you will need to prove the date you entered your home country, and the date you intended to leave (via flight tickets, for example).

SafetyWing vs. World Nomads (features)

Let’s look at the core features for these two travel insurance companies. Just remember to also research these benefits for yourself too. Some of the policy specifics can vary depending on various factors and coverage options may have stipulations you should be aware of.

SafetyWing Features

Nomad Essential Coverage

• Emergency sickness or injury treatment and hospital stays

• Emergency evacuation

• Lost luggage

• Motor accident coverage

• Must have eligible license for the country you’re visiting and a helmet to get reimbursed

• Injuries from leisure sports and activities

• Flights back home for emergencies (such as a death in the family)

• Meals and accommodations for travel delays or 12+ hours

• Coverage for trips back home (up to 30 days; 15 days for US residents)

• Global coverage

• Repatriation of remains

• Emergency transportation in the event of natural disasters or civil/political unrest

• Fast and easy online claims process

• Claims takes 5 minutes to submit and less than 3 days to get resolved

• Purchase plans while already abroad

Nomad Complete Coverage

• Same coverage in 175+ countries

• Choose any doctor

• Hospital stay

• Doctor and specialist visits

• Wellness therapies (10 visits per year)

• Mental health care (10 visits per year)

• Cancer tests and treatment

• Physical therapy

• Maternity care

• Medical checkups and vaccines

• Fast and easy online claims process

• Claims take approximately 5 minutes to submit using the app or website and 14 days to get resolved

• Optional premium boost add-on (+$75):

• Routine dental care

• Vision

• Extra coverage

World Nomads Features

Note that both World Nomad plans offer a lot of the same benefits, but the Explorer plan comes with a higher coverage limit for many of them.

Standard Plan

• Emergency accident or sickness medical treatment

• Emergency dental treatment

• Adventure sports and activities

• Emergency evacuation

• Repatriation of remains

• Emergency transportation in the event of civil or political unrest

• Trip cancellation, interruption or delay

• Reimbursement for lost or damaged baggage or personal items

• Accidental death and dismemberment

• 24/7 global assistance

Explorer Plan

• Emergency accident or sickness medical treatment

• Emergency dental treatment

• Adventure sports and activities

• Emergency evacuation

• Repatriation of remains

• Emergency transportation in the event of civil or political unrest

• Trip cancellation, interruption or delay

• Reimbursement for lost or damaged baggage or personal items

• Rental car damage

• Accidental death and dismemberment

• 24/7 global assistance

SafetyWing vs. World Nomads (user reviews)

A lot of the user reviews for SafetyWing and World Nomads are pretty similar. They have almost the same TrustPilot scores and many of the negative user reviews have to do with the claims process. But if you look closer, many of the poor experiences can be easily explained.

SafetyWing

TrustPilot — “Great Rating”

4/5 stars, based on 1.4K+ reviews

Reddit Reviews (what people are saying)

The main SafetyWing complaint I see popping from Redditers is about the claims process.

For example, in a thread comparing travel insurance companies, one user noted they had been a long-time user but, after visiting a doctor for a sore throat, their claim was “denied without explanation”.

But if you read the review fully, you’ll see they purchased a standard nomad insurance policy (Nomad Essential). This plan is less extensive than the Nomad Complete plan, and may not cover basic doctor visits (for something like a sore throat).

Also, this user’s exact review has shown up in other threads verbatim (like this one), indicating a potential bot or spam comment (or just a rogue situation).

Finally, it’s worth pointing out that many reviews are also quite old (over 2 years). It’s always better to look for recent posts, which better reflect the current state of the company.

Here’s the takeaway from Reddit Reviews of SafetyWing: remember to read the fine print for what’s actually covered and choose a plan that’s right for you (Nomad Essential vs. Nomad Complete). This should help you avoid claims issues.

World Nomads

TrustPilot — “Great Rating”

4.1/5 stars, based on 3.2K+ reviews

Reddit Reviews (what people are saying)

Reddit reviews for World Nomads tend to focus on a poor claims process, price concerns and customer service issues.

For example, in this thread, the user struggled to get a hold of someone to file an emergency claim, indicating the lines were “defunct” and that they felt they were “blown off” by customer support.

As for the claims process, many of the negative reviews stem from users trying to make claims for something that isn’t covered. This thread offers a balanced mixture of both positive and negative experiences with World Nomads.

Here’s the takeaway from Reddit Reviews of World Nomads: Similar to SafetyWing, always review your policy coverage and choose the right plan for your trip. You can also limit price shock by researching ahead of time and budgeting.

My SafetyWing Experience (what to expect)

I use SafetyWing because they’re affordable, have a convenient pricing structure and come with a solid reputation. As a digital nomad, it’s the perfect option. But I think I’m most impressed by how easy it is to sign up and manage things.

Usually when it comes to bureaucratic stuff like insurance, it’s a whole thing 🙄 — you know how it is. But with SafetyWing, it was surprisingly smooth!

Here’s the basic process:

1. Confirm your home country. Simply type in your home country and hit next.

2. Choose a start date. You can start on the same day and still purchase a plan if you’re already traveling.

3. Choose optional add-ons. You can add extra coverage including adventure sports or electronics theft protection for Nomad Essential and dental and vision care for Nomad Complete.

4. Add your info. For Nomad Essential, there are no requirements and only covers emergencies. Simply put in your basic information, including your sex, phone number and a beneficiary. For Nomad Complete, you will be asked for your height, weight, smoking/drinking habits and overall medical history to check for eligibility and quote information before purchasing.

5. Add your destinations. Put in all of your planned destinations abroad; if you’re not sure, just adding your first destination is enough.

6. Add travel companions or family. If you’re traveling with others, you can add them here.

7. Review and pay. And voila! You’re done.

You also have the option to pay upfront for your trip if you have a specific end date in mind (rather than having a monthly subscription). And after you sign up for coverage, it’s super easy to manage everything — filing claims, stopping your policy, billing — all inside your SafetyWing account dashboard.

SafetyWing has a super simple and sleek user interface. And as an artist, this makes me happy!

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My Final Verdict: SafetyWing for Convenience + Price

SafetyWing gets the edge over World Nomads for its flexible pricing and policy options.

Their subscription-style plans and transparent pricing are truly built with digital nomads in mind. For NE, there are no extensive forms to fill out and you can pay as you go, easily starting and pausing your policy at any point.

They also have a more extensive plan (NC) for expats wanting full coverage. But this plan does require you to fill in your medical history to check for eligibility or get a quote. Still, it’s very convenient and entirely online.

Overall, SafetyWing is a great company and someone I use with full confidence. Just be sure to read through the coverage details so you know exactly what to expect.

FAQs

• Is SafetyWing or World Nomads cheaper?

  SafetyWing is the cheaper option. Their Nomad Essential coverage starts at $56.28/month and their Nomad Complete plan starts at $133/month. Keep in mind though that these prices are for policyholders between 18-39 and do not include pre-existing conditions.

• Are there any other travel insurance companies?

  Of course! If you still want another SafetyWing or World Nomads alternative, you have options. Here are some other popular travel insurance companies:

  • Genki

  • Heymondo

  • WorldTrips

  Check out my post on the best long-term travel insurance options for more information!

• Is SafetyWing or World Nomads better insurance?

  Between these two options, choosing the best travel insurance comes down to you and your personal goals, budget and travel preferences. Both SafetyWing and World Nomads have great coverage options and a solid reputation with positive reviews. Personally, I prefer SafetyWing for their simplicity, affordability and flexibility.

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