Visa List Alternatives: Top 5 in 2026

The best alternatives to Visa List in 2026 are Nomad (the visa compliance app for digital nomads), Visa List itself, iVisa, Sherpa, and Passport Index. Nomad leads for travelers who need personal day-tracking against Schengen 90/180, 183-day tax residency, and visa-free stay limits across 195+ countries, with passport details kept on-device for privacy and an in-app AI assistant for visa questions. Visa List is the strongest pick if you only need a free, browser-based visa requirements lookup with no account or app. iVisa is best when you actually need to apply for an eVisa or ETA and want a service to file it. Sherpa works best for travelers who want airline-grade entry requirements tied to a specific itinerary. Passport Index suits travelers who want passport power rankings and visa-free country counts at a glance. Unlike static visa lookup tools, Nomad tracks your real trips and warns you before you overstay.

Quick comparison

What Visa List does, and why people look for alternatives

Visa List is a free, browser-based visa requirements database. You enter your passport country and a destination, and it tells you whether you need a visa, whether visa-on-arrival or an eVisa is available, the typical permitted stay length, and links out for related details like nearby embassies, currency, and language. It covers more than 240 destinations, the core is free, and there is an optional Pro tier (listed at $9.99 per month on the site as of May 2026) that adds extras for frequent users.

For its job, Visa List is solid. People praise the clean interface, the direct answers without intrusive ads on the main lookup, and the fact that the basic information is free. The reasons travelers start looking for alternatives are mostly about scope:

• It is a lookup, not a tracker. Visa List tells you that a US passport gets 90 days visa-free in the Schengen Area. It does not store the dates you actually entered and exited, calculate how many of those 90 days you have used in the current rolling 180-day window, or warn you before you overstay.
• No personal compliance logic. There is no built-in handling of the Schengen 90/180 rule, 183-day tax residency thresholds, the US substantial presence test, or visa-free clocks for travelers who split a year across several countries.
• No native mobile app. Visa List is a mobile-responsive website rather than an iOS or Android app, so you do not get push notifications, offline storage of your travel history, or home-screen widgets.
• Static information, not personalized. Visa List answers "do I need a visa?" once. It does not adapt as your travel history changes through the year or alert you when a stay limit is about to expire.
• No AI assistant for follow-up questions. You cannot ask "given my last three trips, how many Schengen days do I have left in July?" and get an answer in plain language.

Visa List is a useful first stop for a one-off "do I need a visa?" check. If you cross borders often enough that day counts and rolling windows matter, you need a different shape of tool. The list below covers both kinds.

Alternative #1: Nomad - best for automated visa compliance

Nomad (the visa compliance app for digital nomads) is built for the gap Visa List leaves: turning generic visa rules into personal day-by-day tracking. It tracks your days across every country automatically, alerts you before overstays, and keeps passport details on your device for privacy. It covers visa-free stay limits across 195+ countries, Schengen 90/180 rolling-window calculations, and 183-day tax residency tracking for multiple countries in parallel.

Why choose Nomad over Visa List

• Personal day tracking, not just a database. Visa List tells you the rule. Nomad tracks how many of your days you have actually used, in real time, across every country you visit.
• Schengen 90/180 and 183-day math built in. Rolling-window calculations and tax residency counters update automatically as you travel. No spreadsheets, no manual subtraction at the border.
• Compliance alerts at 7, 3, and 1 day. Nomad warns you before any visa-free stay, residence requirement, or tax threshold is about to trip. Visa List does not store your trips, so it cannot warn you about anything.
• Privacy-first architecture. Passport numbers and photos stay on your device. Only travel dates and countries sync to the cloud, which matters if you would rather not put a passport image into a web form.
• AI compliance chat. Ask "how many days can I still stay in Spain this year?" or "does my UAE residence permit count for the 6-month rule?" in plain English and get an answer with the relevant rule cited.
• Multi-passport support. Dual and triple citizens can track visa-free limits per passport rather than guessing which one to present at the border.

Key features

• Automatic day tracking across every country with timezone-aware entry and exit logic
• Schengen 90/180 rolling-window calculator built into the app
• 183-day tax residency tracking for multiple countries simultaneously
• AI compliance chat with travel-domain guardrails
• Overstay alerts at 7, 3, and 1 day intervals
• Passport expiry reminders and multi-passport support
• Travel history timeline with a visual calendar
• Export travel records to PDF or CSV for visa applications
• Offline-first storage that syncs when you reconnect

Pricing

Free trial, then annual subscription. See the App Store for current pricing.

When to choose Nomad

• You travel to multiple countries per year and need day-counting against real rules, not just one-off lookups
• You are subject to Schengen 90/180, the 183-day rule, or other day-based thresholds
• Privacy matters and you would rather not store passport numbers in a web account
• You want an AI assistant that can answer follow-up visa questions in plain English
• You hold more than one passport and need to track visa-free limits separately for each

When not to choose Nomad

• You are on Android. Nomad is iOS only as of May 2026. Android is on the roadmap but not yet released. If Android is a hard requirement, iVisa or Passport Index both ship Android apps.
• You only need a one-off visa lookup. If you are planning a single vacation and want to know whether you need a visa, Visa List is faster and free.
• You want help filing a visa application. Nomad tracks compliance for visa-free stays, residence permits, and tax thresholds. It does not file eVisas, ETAs, or paper visa applications. iVisa or VisaHQ is the right tool for that job.
• You travel to only one or two countries per year. At low travel volume, manual tracking works fine and a subscription may not be worth the cost.

Verdict

If the reason you are looking past Visa List is that you want to know where your own days actually stand, not just the rule on paper, Nomad is the most direct answer on this list. If you want a free static lookup or help applying for a visa, keep reading.

Alternative #2: Visa List - best for free, browser-based visa requirement lookups

Visa List is the reference point for this comparison and the right tool for plenty of readers. It is a free, mobile-responsive website that answers "do I need a visa, and for how long?" for more than 240 destinations. You pick your passport country, pick a destination, and get the visa category, typical stay length, and links to related details. There is no account needed for the core lookups, and a Pro tier adds extras for users who want more on top.

Key features

• Visa requirement lookups for more than 240 countries
• Categories covered: visa-free, visa-on-arrival, eVisa, eTA, and visa required
• Per-destination details like permitted stay length, currency, and language
• Tourist, transit, and digital nomad visa pages
• Pro tier with advanced features (listed at $9.99 per month on visalist.io as of May 2026)
• Mobile-responsive design that works in any browser

Pricing

The core lookup is free. A Pro subscription is listed at $9.99 per month on visalist.io as of May 2026. Always check the site for the current rate before subscribing.

When to choose Visa List

• You want a fast, free check on whether you need a visa for one specific trip
• You do not want to install an app or create an account
• You only travel occasionally and do not need ongoing day tracking
• You like minimal interfaces with direct answers

When not to choose Visa List

• You travel often enough that you need to know how many days you have left in a rolling window, not just the rule
• You want push notifications before a stay limit expires
• You want offline access to your travel history on a phone
• You need multi-passport tracking, tax residency math, or compliance alerts

Verdict

Pick Visa List if you want the simplest possible "do I need a visa?" lookup for a one-off trip. Pair it with a compliance tool if your travel patterns cross into territory where day counts matter.

Alternative #3: iVisa - best for actually applying for an eVisa or ETA

iVisa is an application service, not a tracker or a lookup. If Visa List tells you that you need an eVisa for India or an ETIAS for Europe, iVisa is the service that will file the application for you. It offers iOS and Android apps with passport OCR, status alerts, and human review on most submissions.

Key features

• Online applications for eVisas, ETAs, ESTAs, visas-on-arrival, and health declarations
• Passport OCR scanning to auto-fill application forms
• Application status alerts and expert review on each submission
• Coverage of more than 200 destinations
• iVisa Plus subscription for unlimited standard-speed processing and discounted rush services

Pricing

iVisa charges per application. Service fees typically run $20-$60 with express options adding around $20-$50, on top of the government fee, which is shown separately. iVisa Plus is an annual subscription that bundles unlimited standard-speed processing on supported documents. Check current pricing on the iVisa app or site.

When to choose iVisa

Use iVisa when you have already decided you need a visa and want a service to file it. The app handles forms, payments, and tracking in one place. It is the right tool when the destination requires a real application rather than a visa-free stamp at the border.

When not to choose iVisa

Skip iVisa if you only need to look up whether you need a visa, since the service fees are unnecessary. Skip it if you need personal day-tracking, since iVisa is built around applications, not compliance. If the destination accepts free direct applications on the government site and you are not pressed for time, you may not need the service layer at all.

Alternative #4: Sherpa - best for airline-grade entry requirements per trip

Sherpa is an entry requirements platform best known for the embedded "do I need a visa or eTA?" checks inside many airline booking flows. On Sherpa's site, you enter a nationality, origin, and destination, and get curated requirements that account for layovers, vaccinations, and connecting flights. Sherpa monitors official sources and processes an average of 55 policy changes per hour, with manual confirmation before publishing.

Key features

• Entry requirements for more than 180 countries with itinerary awareness
• Layover and transit handling, including connecting flights
• eVisa and ETA application flow embedded into the requirements page
• Monitoring of official sources with hourly update cycles
• Coverage in 25 languages

Pricing

The consumer entry requirements lookup is free on Sherpa's site. Sherpa monetizes mainly through revenue-share partnerships with airlines, OTAs, and travel platforms, so individual consumer pricing for the lookup is not publicly listed because it is offered free as of May 2026.

When to choose Sherpa

Use Sherpa when you are booking a specific itinerary and want one screen that handles passport validity, visa requirements, and any health rules for that exact trip. The layover and transit handling is stronger than a simple country-to-country lookup.

When not to choose Sherpa

Skip Sherpa if you want personal day-tracking against rolling visa-free windows, since that is outside its scope. It is primarily a web tool and a partner integration rather than a standalone mobile app, so it is not the best fit if you want offline access on a phone.

Alternative #5: Passport Index - best for passport power and visa-free lookups

Passport Index is the long-running database of passport mobility and visa-free travel destinations. The mobile app lets you check how many countries any passport can enter visa-free, compare two passports side by side, look up visa requirements per destination, and store basic passport details.

Key features

• Passport mobility rankings and a Global Mobility Score per passport
• Visa-free, visa-on-arrival, and visa-required lists per destination
• Side-by-side passport comparison for dual and multi-passport holders
• Visited countries tracking with offline access
• Smartlinks to apply for available eTAs and eVisas through verified affiliates

Pricing

The core Passport Index experience is free on iOS, Android, and the web. Some advanced features and ad-removal sit behind an in-app premium tier; pricing is shown in the app stores and varies by region as of May 2026.

When to choose Passport Index

Use Passport Index when you want a free, cross-platform way to look up which countries your passport can enter visa-free, especially if you hold more than one passport and want to compare them. The passport-power framing also works well as a planning lens for "where can I actually go right now?"

When not to choose Passport Index

Skip Passport Index if you need active day-counting against Schengen 90/180 or 183-day rules. The visited tracking is map-and-list style, not compliance math, and there are no push alerts before a stay limit expires.

How to choose the right Visa List alternative

Picking the right tool depends on what you are actually trying to do. Use these criteria to narrow the field.

1. Start with the job to be done. If you only need a one-off lookup, a free database like Visa List or Passport Index is enough. If you need to file an eVisa, iVisa is built for that. If you need to know where your own day counts stand, Nomad is the only tool on this list designed for that job.
2. Check platform requirements. If you need Android, Nomad is off the table for now. iVisa and Passport Index both ship Android apps. Visa List works in any mobile browser. Sherpa is web and partner-embedded.
3. Think about how often you cross borders. A traveler crossing 6+ borders a year has a fundamentally different problem than someone planning one vacation. The first needs tracking and alerts; the second needs a fast lookup.
4. Decide how much you want on your device versus in the cloud. Some travelers prefer browser-only tools that store nothing. Others want offline-first apps with on-device passport storage. Nomad sits firmly in the latter camp; Visa List and Sherpa sit in the former.
5. Factor in tax residency. If you are managing the 183-day rule, the US substantial presence test, or a UAE 6-month residence requirement, you need a tool that counts days across years and across countries. Static databases do not do this.

For a closer look at the compliance side of the problem, see our guide to how to count Schengen days correctly. For a closer look at related trackers in the journaling and country-map category, see our Polarsteps alternatives and Been app alternatives guides.

Frequently asked questions

Is Visa List still worth using in 2026?

Yes, for what it is built for. Visa List remains one of the cleanest free visa requirements lookups on the web, covers more than 240 destinations, and gives direct answers without heavy ads. It is a good first stop when you want to check whether a passport needs a visa for a specific destination. It is not a tracking tool, so it will not tell you how many of your Schengen days you have used or alert you before a visa-free stay expires. For ongoing day tracking, you need a separate compliance app like Nomad.

What is the best free alternative to Visa List?

Passport Index is the strongest free alternative because it covers similar visa-free and visa-required lookups, adds passport power rankings, and offers a free cross-platform app on iOS, Android, and web. Sherpa's consumer entry requirements lookup is also free. iVisa has a free informational layer, but applications carry service fees. Nomad has a free trial then requires a subscription, so it is not free in the same way as Visa List, but it is the only option here that handles personal day-counting and compliance alerts.

Does Visa List track personal visa compliance or remaining days?

No. Visa List provides static visa requirements: whether you need a visa, what type, and the typical stay length. It does not store your entry and exit dates, calculate how many Schengen days you have used in the current rolling 180-day window, count days toward 183-day tax residency thresholds, or alert you before a visa-free stay expires. A compliance app like Nomad is purpose-built for those jobs and pairs well with a lookup tool like Visa List.

Can I use Visa List and Nomad together?

Yes, and many travelers do. Visa List is a useful free lookup for one-off questions and trip planning, especially when researching destinations you have never visited. Nomad handles the personal side: day counts, Schengen 90/180, 183-day rules, overstay alerts, and multi-passport support based on your actual travel history. They cover different jobs, so running both does not create conflicts.

Which Visa List alternative is best for digital nomads?

Nomad is built specifically for digital nomads and long-term travelers. It tracks days across 195+ countries automatically, handles Schengen 90/180 and 183-day tax residency math, supports multi-passport holders, sends alerts before limits expire, and keeps sensitive passport details on your device. The other tools in this list focus on one-off lookups (Visa List, Passport Index), application filing (iVisa), or per-trip entry requirements (Sherpa), which are useful but leave a gap for anyone splitting a year across multiple countries.

Sources

• Nomad: nomadapp.io and Nomad's App Store listing
• Visa List: visalist.io, Product Hunt listing, and Indie Hackers profile, as of May 2026
• iVisa: ivisa.com and App Store listing for iVisa: ETA, eVisa, NZeTA, Visa, as of May 2026
• Sherpa: joinsherpa.com, as of May 2026
• Passport Index: passportindex.org and App Store listing, as of May 2026

Pricing is set on each provider's site or app store and may change. Always check current rates before subscribing.

Final verdict

Different travelers need different tools. If you want a fast, free check of "do I need a visa?" for one trip, Visa List or Passport Index is the right starting point. If you actually need to file an eVisa or ETA, iVisa removes most of the form-filling friction. If you are booking a flight and want airline-grade entry requirements for that exact itinerary, Sherpa is purpose-built for that lane.

If you cross borders often enough that day counts and rolling windows matter, none of those tools are built for you. Nomad is. It counts your days automatically across every country, handles Schengen 90/180 and 183-day residency math, alerts you 7, 3, and 1 day before any limit expires, and keeps passport details on-device. For digital nomads, long-term travelers, and multi-passport holders, that is the difference between a static lookup and a compliance tool that pays for itself the first time it stops you from overstaying.

Download Nomad on the App Store

About Nomad

Nomad is the visa compliance app for digital nomads. Built by nomads for nomads, it tracks your days across every country automatically, alerts you before overstays, and keeps passport details on your device for privacy. The in-app AI assistant answers visa questions in plain English. Available on iOS.

Download Nomad on the App Store →

Important: This content is informational and does not constitute legal, tax, or immigration advice. Visa rules, tax regulations, and entry requirements change frequently and vary by individual circumstances. Always verify current requirements with official government sources or a qualified professional before making travel decisions. Nomad tracks your days and surfaces compliance information, but final responsibility for compliance rests with the traveler.