SafetyWing serves the nomadic minimalist, offering basic coverage at a lower cost, while World Nomads crafts a safety net robust enough for the daredevils.
Choosing the right travel insurance can be overwhelming. You want an affordable policy that also protects you in a variety of situations.
In this SafetyWing vs. World Nomads comparison, we're looking at two of the best travel insurance companies on the market—SafetyWing vs. World Nomads—and putting them head-to-head.
On my last trip, even I had a difficult time choosing between SafetyWing and World Nomads, because both offer excellent benefits for travelers. That said, there are some significant differences you should be aware of.
Plus, so much of choosing the right travel insurance comes down to what kind of traveler you are.
Is your goal to be a long-term traveler on a country-hopping tour around the globe, or do you plan on living the expat life in Europe? Are you an adrenaline junkie who loves the great outdoors, or more of a low-key explorer?
Just remember that no matter where you travel, it’s always important to have travel insurance.
Founded in 2017, SafetyWing is a fairly new player in the travel insurance game. However, they show real promise and are quickly making a name for themselves in this already saturated industry.
And it takes a lot to stand out in a saturated industry—especially insurance.
With SafetyWing, shopping for travel insurance is a piece of cake. From what I know , they're planning to expand their offerings, but at the moment, they only offer one travel insurance plan.
That makes things ridiculously easy.
This plan has a $250,000 maximum limit after a $250 deductible. That means you must pay $250 out of pocket before SafetyWing takes over. And while this deductible may seem high, it only applies to a few benefits, like emergency medical expenses.
SafetyWing comes with $100,000 in emergency medical coverage, which should cover most incidents abroad. In addition, you're also protected for up to $1,000 in emergency dental care.
And if you need to be transported to a hospital, you’ll also have $100,000 for emergency evacuation.
Your SafetyWing policy also comes with a few travel-related benefits (as it should!). If you need to leave early from your trip, you’ll receive up to $5,000 for one-way air or ground transportation back home. And if the airline loses or damages your checked bag, you’re entitled up to $3,000 (with a limit of $500 per item) for reimbursement.
Depending on your travel needs, SafetyWing is an excellent option for travel insurance. Although it might not fit everyone’s needs, here are some travelers who will benefit from a SafetyWing policy:
Although SafetyWing provides affordable medical protection, there are a few things that are not covered.
Pros
Cons
You can also check out a full SafetyWing travel insurance review at the link.
As one of the biggest names in the travel insurance industry, World Nomads has been protecting travelers and backpackers since 2002. For years, they've been my go-to recommendation for travel insurance for a lot of reasons.
Depending on the amount of coverage you want for your trip, World Nomads offers two different plans.
The Standard Plan comes with $100,000 in emergency medical coverage, as well as $300,000 in emergency evacuation. It also includes $2,500 for both trip cancellation and trip interruption.
Other trip benefits include $1,000 (with a maximum of $500 per item) in lost or stolen personal belongings. And if your bag doesn’t arrive on time, you’ll receive $750 for toiletries and other items.
For more robust coverage, World Nomads also has the Explorer Plan. Emergency medical coverage is the same as in the Standard Plan, but emergency evacuation increases to $500,000. The plan also comes with $10,000 in trip cancellation and interruption as well as $3,000 for personal belongings.
If you plan on doing any extreme sports while traveling, then World Nomads is the company you want. They provide insurance for over 300 activities, from bungee jumping to hot air ballooning.
First and foremost, World Nomads is made for travelers and backpackers. However, there are other types of people who could benefit from a World Nomads policy.
Although World Nomads offers good travel and medical coverage, it does have its limitations.
Pros
Cons
You can also check out a full World Nomads travel insurance review at the link.
SafetyWing and World Nomads are two excellent options for travel insurance. But to help you decide between the two, let’s take a look at the biggest differences between both companies.
Trip protection is one of the most significant benefits of having travel insurance. For example, you might need to cancel your trip or come home early due to sickness or other family emergencies. Without trip cancellation and interruption coverage, you won’t get reimbursed for those unused expenses.
The World Nomads Standard Plan comes with $2,500 for both trip cancellation and trip interruption. If your trip is worth more, then you should opt for the Explorer Plan, which includes $10,000 worth of coverage.
On the other hand, SafetyWing does not offer any sort of trip cancellation coverage. While they do provide $5,000 for trip interruption, you can only claim reimbursement if you’re already on your trip.
To summarize, trip cancellation and interruption is vital if you spent a lot of money on your vacation.
We’ve all heard horror stories of stolen wallets, lost luggage, and left behind phones while traveling abroad. Although it’s a hassle to lose your stuff, travel insurance can reimburse for some of those personal items.
If you lose or damage your belongings, World Nomads offers up to $1,000 in their Standard Plan and $3,000 in their Explorer Plan.
Unfortunately, SafetyWing falls short here too. With their plan, checked luggage is the only thing that’s covered. So, you won’t be able to file a reimbursement claim if anything goes missing on the remainder of your trip.
It’s also important to note that both companies only cover $500 per item. If you lose your $2,000 laptop, for example, you’ll only get $500 back.
If you’re planning to be abroad for several months, both SafetyWing and World Nomads are great options. But if you plan to stay for more than a year, you’ll need a company that provides coverage for the entire duration of your travels.
With SafetyWing, you’re able to travel for as long as you like. And because there isn’t a time limit, their plan is an excellent choice for digital nomads or long-term travelers.
World Nomads, on the other hand, can only be purchased for a maximum of 365 days. Although you have coverage for single- and multi-trips, you won’t be covered if you plan to stay longer than a year.
During your trip, you might plan a short trip home to see family and friends. However, many travel insurance policies only cover you once you leave your home, which means you’re unprotected once you step back on American soil.
SafetyWing lets you add home country coverage. If something were to happen during your trip home, you’d have all the same benefits as if you were traveling. US citizens are covered for 15 days in a 90 day period, while non-US residents get 30 days.
While World Nomads covers you in over 150 countries, they do not provide home country travel benefits. That means you’ll need to have separate health insurance or a supplemental insurance policy back home.
Now that you know more about SafetyWing and World Nomads, you might be wondering how much a policy costs. And since price is one of the biggest factors when choosing travel insurance, we’ll break down the total costs to help you decide between SafetyWing vs. World Nomads.
To put it simply, SafetyWing is one of the most affordable options for travel insurance. Although the exact cost will depend on your age and length of travel, it’s still a cheap option for those on a budget.
| Age | Cost for 4 weeks | Cost for 4 weeks incl. USA |
| 18-39 | $37 | $68 |
| 40-49 | $60 | $111 |
| 50-59 | $94 | $184 |
| 60-69 | $128 | $251 |
Adding home country coverage will increase your monthly costs. However, it’s worth the extra few dollars a week, especially if you’re planning to travel home often.
Calculating the cost of your World Nomads policy is a bit more complicated. The price will depend on a variety of factors, including age, destination, and nationality. To help, we’ll look at a few scenarios so you know what to expect to pay for travel insurance.
Let’s say, you’re a 25-year-old backpacking through France and Italy for two weeks. For a World Nomad’s policy, you’ll pay $77.78 for the Standard Plan, and $140.66 for the Explorer Plan.
And in a different scenario, the cost for a 30-year old living in Thailand is considerably more expensive. The cost for five months of travel insurance is $407.28 for the Standard Plan and $588.08 for the Explorer Plan.
At the end of the day, SafetyWing’s affordable pricing model is hard to beat. If you forgo US home coverage, you’re only paying $37/4 weeks. That breaks down to just $1.23 per day! Home coverage is extra and starts at $2.26 per day.
Compared to SafetyWing, World Nomads can cost three or four times as much, even for their cheapest plan. For a two week trip to Europe, you’ll pay around $5.50 per day with World Nomads.
But while World Nomads is more expensive, it also has a few added benefits that are noticeably missing from SafetyWing’s policy -- including trip cancellation. Based on the type of coverage you want, it’s up to you to decide if the price is worth spending.
It’s hard to say point-blank which travel insurance company is better. In fact, this answer will depend entirely on your budget, length of travel, and desired benefits.
If budget is a concern, then SafetyWing is the most affordable option. But if you’re looking for comprehensive medical and travel coverage, World Nomads is probably your best bet.
It’s up to you to compare each policy to see which company is right for you. But no matter who you choose, just make sure you have travel insurance, period. It's one of the most important purchases you can make.
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We hold ourselves to a rigorous standard. Financial incentives don’t sway our recommendations — real-world field tests, thousands of travel hours, and authentic wanderlust do.
As a Manchester City fan, he made it his mission to catch matches at legendary stadiums from Camp Nou to the Etihad. But Nick's travels go beyond football. He's explored 20+ countries across Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean, always chasing authentic experiences over tourist traps. Nick lives by a simple rule: the best stories come from saying yes to the unexpected. And TravelFreak is his biggest yes yet.
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