Ubigi eSIM Review in 2026: Coverage and Pricing

Yesim Team •Updated 13 Mar 2026

10 minutes to read

How to install Ubigi eSIM?
Ubigi eSIM Coverage
How much do Ubigi eSIM plans cost?
Ubigi pros and cons
Ubigi user reviews
Ubigi vs. Airalo vs. Holafly vs. Yesim: which eSIM is right for you?
What is Ubigi?
Who should use Ubigi?

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Ubigi has serious backing (Transatel, owned by NTT), covers 200+ countries, and works on iPhones, Android phones, and even Windows laptops. On paper, it looks strong. Yet, its performance depends entirely on where you travel, what you need, and how much you value customer support when something goes wrong.

This review covers how Ubigi works, what the plans actually cost, where it performs well, and where it falls short. By the end, you'll know whether it fits your needs or whether a competitor like Yesim is a better fit.

What is Ubigi?

Ubigi is an eSIM provider owned by Transatel, a subsidiary of NTT, the Japanese telecom giant. The service launched with a specific focus: data-only connectivity for devices like laptops and IoT hardware. Over time, it expanded to smartphones.

The result is a service that works well for certain travelers but wasn't built primarily for people who need calls, flexible plan options, or fast support when things go sideways.

You buy a data plan through the Ubigi app, receive a QR code or install automatically, and connect to local networks in your destination. No physical SIM. No swapping cards at the airport.

How to install Ubigi eSIM?

Ubigi eSIM setup is straightforward if your device supports eSIM. Here's the process:

Download the Ubigi app (iOS or Android)
Create an account and verify your email
Select your destination country
Choose a data plan
Receive a QR code or install directly through the app
Activate when you land

Compatible devices include recent iPhones (XS and later), Samsung Galaxy S series, Google Pixel phones, and select Windows laptops. Ubigi's laptop compatibility is a genuine differentiator; most eSIM providers focus only on phones.

📍 One thing to note: you need to confirm your email before purchasing. Some users find this adds friction when they're in a rush before a flight.

Ubigi eSIM Coverage

Ubigi operates in more than 200 countries through partner networks. Coverage quality varies significantly by region.

Where Ubigi works well:

Western Europe (UK, France, Germany, Spain)
United States and Canada
Japan and South Korea
Southeast Asia (Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam)
Australia and New Zealand

Where coverage gets patchy:

Rural Japan (verified by multiple user reports)
Parts of West Africa (Niger, Chad)
Remote areas in South America

A traveler who used Ubigi across 35 destinations on Trustpilot reported: "it works 99%... especially Niger it doesn't work, Tchad it works but it's very difficult to send a voice note." Another user traveling Thailand reported strong performance across Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, and Koh Phangan, including connections in Japan.

But a traveler in rural Japan wrote: "I was not overly impressed with the coverage in different areas of Japan. I found that it didn't work at all in country towns. This was really annoying especially when I was relying on it to provide me with directions."

5G is supported in select markets including the US, UK, South Korea, and parts of Europe, though you won't always connect to a 5G network automatically.

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How much do Ubigi eSIM plans cost?

Ubigi offers local, regional, and global plans. Pricing sits in the mid-range compared to competitors, with options from daily passes to 30-day packages.

Country	Data	Duration	Price
UK (cheapest)	3 GB	30 days	$7
UK (most expensive)	Unlimited	30 days	$44
USA (cheapest)	500 MB	1 day	$2.90
USA (most expensive)	Unlimited	30 days	$65
Japan (cheapest)	1 GB	3 days	$3.50
Japan (most expensive)	Unlimited	30 days	$66
Brazil (cheapest)	500 MB	2 days	$4
Brazil (most expensive)	Unlimited	30 days	$69
Turkey (cheapest)	1 GB	7 days	$4
Turkey (most expensive)	Unlimited	30 days	$82

Short trips with modest data needs cost very little. A weekend in the UK on 3 GB runs $7. A month of unlimited in the US costs $65.

The unlimited plans are priced higher than competitors like Airalo in certain regions. Turkey at $82 for a month of unlimited is notably expensive compared to alternatives. Ubigi does not include calls or SMS. Every plan is data-only. If you need a phone number or want to receive texts, Ubigi doesn't cover that.

Ubigi pros and cons

Ubigi delivers on the basics: broad country coverage, clean setup, honest pricing, and a genuine advantage for laptop users. The data-only limitation and weak customer support are not minor caveats. They define the type of traveler Ubigi suits.

Pros	Cons
Works in 200+ countries – Ubigi connects through partner networks worldwide, covering most major travel destinations across Europe, North America, Asia, and Australia.	Data-only service – Ubigi does not provide a phone number, calls, or SMS, which can be inconvenient for verification codes or contacting hotels and services.
Simple app-based setup – The Ubigi app allows users to choose a plan, pay, and activate their eSIM within minutes. Most setups take under five minutes.	Customer support is difficult to reach – Support is limited to email and in-app chat, and users frequently report slow or missing responses.
Supports Windows laptops – Unlike most eSIM providers that focus only on smartphones, Ubigi also works on eSIM-enabled Windows laptops, which is valuable for business travelers and remote workers.	Coverage can drop in rural areas – While city coverage is generally stable, connectivity may be unreliable outside major urban regions or tourist areas.
Transparent pricing – Plans clearly show data allowance, duration, and price upfront with no activation fees or hidden costs.	Some regional plans are expensive – Unlimited plans in certain markets, such as Turkey or Japan, can cost more than comparable offerings from competitors.
Affordable short-term plans – Entry-level plans are competitively priced, such as 1 GB in Japan for 3 days at $3.50 or 3 GB in the UK for 30 days at $7.	Email verification required before first purchase – Users must verify their email before buying their first plan, which can slow down last-minute purchases.
5G support in select regions – Ubigi supports 5G connectivity in markets like the US, UK, South Korea, and parts of Europe where the infrastructure is available.

If you travel primarily between major cities, need data only, and feel confident the connection will work without needing support, Ubigi is a practical, affordable choice.

If you need calls and texts alongside data, plan to visit rural areas, or want a provider with responsive support when things go wrong, Yesim covers those gaps with virtual phone numbers, SMS, and service across the same 200+ country footprint.

Ubigi user reviews

Ubigi holds a 4.1 rating on Trustpilot. The App Store rating reaches 4.6 out of 5, and Google Play holds steady at 4.0. Across all three platforms, the patterns in feedback are consistent enough to draw clear conclusions.

Platform	What Users Focus On	Common Complaints
Trustpilot	Setup ease, value, reliability in cities	Support response times, billing issues
App Store (iOS)	Activation experience, Japan/Europe trips	Technical glitches, slow support
Google Play	Network performance on specific Android models	Compatibility on certain devices, speed drops
Reddit	Real-world route-specific performance	Rural coverage, activation timing

Positive feedback centers on ease of setup and reliability in major cities. Multiple users report smooth experiences across Thailand, Japan's urban centers, and Europe.

Negative reviews tell a different story about what happens when something goes wrong. One BMW-partnered customer wrote: "Installing the eSIM on the day I collected my BMW was straightforward, and initially everything looked fine. Unfortunately, shortly afterwards the service stopped working. I tried to contact Ubigi technical support but received no response."

The same user was then billed seven months later for missed charges in a single transaction, with no phone number available to dispute it. They wrote: "The product works when everything goes smoothly, but if something goes wrong, support is very difficult to reach."

This pattern appears in multiple reviews. When Ubigi works, it works well. When it doesn't, resolution is slow and often nonexistent.

Ubigi vs. Airalo vs. Holafly vs. Yesim: which eSIM is right for you?

Ubigi is not the only option. The eSIM market has grown fast, and several providers now cover similar country footprints with meaningfully different approaches to pricing, features, and support. Before committing to Ubigi, it is worth knowing exactly where it wins, where it loses, and which alternative fits your specific travel needs.

The four most commonly compared providers are Ubigi, Airalo, Holafly, and Yesim. Each serves a different type of traveler.

Feature	Ubigi	Airalo	Holafly	Yesim
Country coverage	200+	200+	170+	200+
Calls and SMS	No	No	No	Yes
Virtual phone number	No	No	No	Yes
Laptop support	Yes	No	No	No
5G support	Select markets	Select markets	Select markets	Select markets
Unlimited plans	Yes	Yes	Yes (core focus)	Yes
Customer support	Email and chat	Email and chat	24/7 chat	Email and chat
App quality	Strong	Strong	Strong	Strong
Real-time data tracking	Basic	Basic	Basic	Yes
Top-up options	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Entry-level price	From $2.90	From $1.00	From $6.00	From $1.50
Best for	Laptop users, city travel	Budget short trips	Unlimited data travelers	Full communication needs

Ubigi vs. Yesim

The difference that separates Yesim from every other provider in this comparison is communication. Yesim provides a virtual phone number with every plan. You get incoming calls and SMS alongside your data, in one eSIM, without managing a separate solution. Ubigi, Airalo, and Holafly are all data-only. If you need to receive a two-factor authentication text, call a hotel, or stay reachable while abroad, none of them cover it. Yesim does.

For travelers who have experienced Ubigi's support issues, Yesim also addresses that gap with more accessible customer service channels and a cleaner resolution process when problems arise.

When Ubigi is the better choice: you work from a Windows laptop, you travel exclusively between major cities, and data-only coverage meets your needs.

When Yesim is the better choice: you need calls and SMS alongside data, you want real-time usage tracking, or you want a provider that handles full communication under one plan without friction.

Ubigi vs. Airalo

Airalo's advantage is selection. It lists more local plan options per country, which gives travelers more control over data amounts and durations. Entry-level prices on Airalo start lower in many markets, particularly for 1 GB to 3 GB plans in Asia and the Middle East. Ubigi's advantage is infrastructure and device support.

Transatel's network agreements, backed by NTT, give Ubigi stronger enterprise-grade reliability in certain markets. More importantly, Ubigi supports Windows laptops. Airalo does not. For business travelers who work from a laptop and need a single data solution across devices, that distinction matters.

Ubigi vs. Holafly

Holafly targets a specific traveler: someone who wants unlimited data without monitoring usage or worrying about running out mid-trip. Unlimited plans are Holafly's default offering, and their customer support is positioned as a key differentiator, with 24/7 chat available across their plans.

Ubigi costs less than Holafly at the lower data tiers. A 3 GB UK plan on Ubigi costs $7. Holafly's entry point in the UK starts higher. For travelers who need limited data for a short stay, Ubigi is the more affordable option.

Where Holafly pulls ahead is unlimited plan pricing in select markets and support accessibility. Ubigi's unlimited plans in Turkey ($82) and Brazil ($69) are expensive. Holafly competes more aggressively in those regions. And when something goes wrong, Holafly's 24/7 chat gives you a faster path to resolution than Ubigi's email-only support.

Who should use Ubigi?

Ubigi fits well for:

Business travelers who work from laptops and need data on Windows devices
City-focused tourists in well-covered markets
Short-trip travelers who want cheap data without a long commitment
People comfortable with a self-service setup and no support escalation

Ubigi fits poorly for:

Travelers venturing into rural areas
Anyone who needs calls or SMS
People who want responsive customer service
Long-term travelers who need flexible plan management

Is Ubigi eSIM worth it?

Ubigi is a solid data-only eSIM with genuine strengths: wide country support, easy setup, competitive short-trip pricing, and rare laptop compatibility. NTT's network infrastructure gives it credibility.

The weaknesses are real. Customer support is genuinely poor. Rural coverage is inconsistent. And data-only means you're managing a second solution for calls.

For straightforward city travel where you only need data and you're confident the setup will go smoothly, Ubigi delivers. For anything more complex, especially longer trips or destinations off the beaten path, the support gap becomes a real risk.

If you need calls, SMS, and data in one eSIM with responsive support, Yesim covers all three. If you're booking a week in London or Bangkok and want affordable data without complications, Ubigi is a reasonable choice. Your use case determines the right answer. Match the tool to the trip.

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Is Ubigi eSIM worth it?

Ubigi works well for data-only travel in major cities across 200+ countries. Setup is simple and short-trip pricing is competitive. If you need calls or SMS alongside data, Yesim is a stronger option since it includes virtual phone numbers and messaging in the same plan.

Does Ubigi eSIM support calls and SMS?

No. Ubigi is data-only. You get no calls, no SMS, and no phone number. If you need a full communication solution while traveling, Yesim provides data, incoming calls, and SMS under one eSIM plan.

How does Ubigi compare to Yesim?

Ubigi offers data-only plans with laptop support. Yesim covers 200+ countries and adds virtual phone numbers, calls, and SMS. For travelers who need more than just data, Yesim delivers a complete package at competitive pricing.

What devices are compatible with Ubigi eSIM?

Ubigi supports iPhone XS and later, recent Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel devices, and select Windows laptops. Laptop compatibility is rare among eSIM providers. For device compatibility questions before purchasing, Yesim also supports the same major smartphone models.

Is Ubigi eSIM reliable in rural areas?

Coverage drops noticeably outside major cities. Multiple user reports confirm issues in rural Japan, Niger, and parts of West Africa. If your trip includes remote areas, Yesim's network partnerships offer broader rural coverage in many of the same destinations.

How much does Ubigi eSIM cost compared to alternatives?

Ubigi's entry plans start at $2.90 for 500 MB in the US and $3.50 for 1 GB in Japan. Unlimited 30-day plans reach $65 to $82 depending on the country. Yesim offers comparable unlimited pricing with calls and SMS included, making it better value for full communication needs.

What happens if Ubigi eSIM stops working abroad?

Ubigi has no phone support. Multiple verified reviews report slow or zero response from their support team. If reliable customer service matters to you, Yesim provides accessible support channels, which is a practical advantage when you're troubleshooting connectivity in a foreign country.