Tech, Internet and Gear for Digital Nomads

Mobile data

Land with data on an eSIM bought before you fly, then switch to a local SIM or local eSIM for longer stays: it is cheaper and gives you a local number that banks, taxi apps and delivery apps want. Keep your home number on a cheap plan or a second eSIM for bank codes. The eSIM guide compares providers and explains when each option makes sense.

Home internet

• Ask for a speed test screenshot from any host before you book, taken that day, not copied from the listing.
• Check the type of connection. Fibre is reliable; shared building Wi-Fi, satellite in bad weather and 4G routers often aren’t.
• Check the upload speed, not just the download. Video calls need about 3 to 5 Mbps up, screen sharing and large uploads much more.
• Plug in when it matters. Many routers have a spare Ethernet port; a small USB-C Ethernet adapter and a short cable fix weak Wi-Fi instantly.
• For long stays, a fibre line of your own costs about $15 to $30 a month in much of Asia and Latin America.

Backup internet

Always have a second way online, ideally on a different network:

1. Your phone’s hotspot on a generous local data plan: the simplest backup.
2. A second SIM or eSIM from another network, in case one network drops.
3. A travel router that can share a phone connection or a 4G/5G SIM with your laptop and other devices.
4. Your coworking space, which usually has two separate lines and backup power.
5. Starlink in remote places: many guesthouses on islands and in the countryside now have it, and some nomads carry a Starlink Mini on the roaming plan.

Test the backup before you need it, ideally on a real video call.

• Reliability over specs. A laptop under about three years old with a battery that lasts a working day. Most nomads choose a MacBook Air or Pro, a Dell XPS, a Lenovo ThinkPad or a similar business laptop.
• Repairs and warranty. Pick a brand with service centres in the regions you will be in, and check whether your warranty is international. Apple warranties are honoured worldwide; many others are country-specific.
• Weight. A light laptop is worth paying for when you carry it every day.
• A laptop stand, external keyboard and mouse. The most important health kit you will carry. Hours hunched over a laptop on a cafe table cause real back and neck problems.
• A portable monitor, if you work with code, design or spreadsheets and have the bag space. USB-C models of 14 to 16 inches weigh under a kilogram.
• Noise-cancelling headphones and a decent microphone for calls from coworking spaces and cafes. A small clip-on or USB microphone sounds far better than a laptop’s.
• A webcam light or simply a window in front of you for video calls.

• A universal travel adapter with USB-C ports, plus one or two cheap local adapters for the country you are in.
• A compact GaN charger that can charge your laptop and phone from one plug.
• A high-capacity power bank for long travel days. Airlines limit sizes, usually 100Wh in cabin bags only, and some now ban using power banks in flight.
• A small extension lead or travel power strip, so one socket by the desk can power everything.
• Surge protection in countries with unstable power, and a small UPS or a power bank that can charge your laptop if outages are frequent.
• Dual-voltage chargers. Nearly all laptop and phone chargers handle 100 to 240 volts; hair dryers and kettles often don’t.

• A password manager for every account.
• An authenticator app or security key for two-factor authentication, not just SMS to a number you might lose.
• A VPN on public Wi-Fi and for reaching home banking and services that block foreign connections. See the VPN guide for what it can and can’t do, and where VPNs are restricted.
• Full-disk encryption on your laptop (FileVault on Mac, BitLocker on Windows) and a strong passcode on your phone.
• Automatic cloud backups, plus an occasional backup to a small external drive kept separately from the laptop.
• “Find my device” turned on for every device, with remote wipe set up.
• Offline copies of your passport, insurance details and card emergency numbers.
• A privacy screen if you work in cafes and coworking spaces with sensitive data.

Your laptop is probably the most valuable thing you own on the road, and most nomads are underinsured for it.

• Travel and nomad insurance usually covers belongings only up to low limits, often $300 to $500 per item and $1,000 to $3,000 in total, with exclusions for theft from unattended bags, cars, beaches or unlocked rooms. Some nomad insurers sell an electronics theft add-on; check the per-item limit.
• Home or renters’ insurance in some countries covers personal belongings worldwide, including laptops, for a limited time abroad. Check whether it still applies once you no longer live at home.
• Specialist gadget and laptop insurance covers theft, accidental damage and liquid spills, often worldwide. Look for worldwide cover for long trips, a per-item value high enough for your laptop, and theft cover that does not require forced entry.
• Manufacturer plans such as AppleCare+ cover accidental damage, and in some countries theft and loss, but check where they are valid and how repairs work abroad.
• Business insurance for freelancers and companies can include equipment cover, sometimes worldwide.

Whatever you buy, keep receipts and serial numbers, photograph your gear, and report any theft to the police within 24 hours: almost every insurer requires a police report.

• Navigation: Google Maps, with offline maps downloaded for each city; Naver Map or KakaoMap in Korea.
• Rides and delivery: Grab in Southeast Asia, Uber and DiDi in Latin America, Bolt in Europe and Africa, Careem in the Middle East.
• Messaging: WhatsApp almost everywhere, LINE in Thailand and Japan, KakaoTalk in Korea, Zalo in Vietnam, Telegram for many nomad groups.
• Money: your bank, Wise or Revolut, and a currency converter that works offline.
• Time zones: a world clock or meeting planner so you never miss a call.
• Translation: Google Translate with offline languages and the camera feature for menus and signs.

• Laptop, charger, stand, keyboard and mouse
• Phone (unlocked, eSIM-ready) and charger
• Noise-cancelling headphones and a small microphone
• Universal adapter, GaN charger, power bank and a short extension lead
• Travel router, USB-C Ethernet adapter and a short Ethernet cable
• A small external drive for backups
• A cable organiser with USB-C cables and adapters
• A backpack that fits the laptop and works as cabin luggage
• A cable lock and a padlock for lockers
• Copies of documents

• EFF Surveillance Self-Defense: practical guides to securing your devices and accounts.
• Have I Been Pwned: check whether your email has been in a data breach.
• eSIMDB: compare eSIM data plans by country.
• Speedtest: test any connection before you commit to a rental or desk.
• Staying connected abroad: our general guide to SIMs, eSIMs and Wi-Fi for travellers.