Quick answer
Airalo and Ubigi both sell fixed and unlimited travel eSIMs in 200+ destinations. Ubigi, from the operator Transatel (NTT Group), offers a reusable eSIM, generous unlimited thresholds and unrestricted tethering but strict refunds. Airalo has calls-and-texts plans and higher cashback. eSIM.site compares several plans per destination.
Airalo vs Ubigi: at a glance
| Feature | Airalo | Ubigi | eSIM.site |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Prepaid packages: fixed GB for set days, day-based unlimited, and data plus calls and texts in some countries | One-off fixed-GB or unlimited plans, plus auto-renewing monthly and prepaid annual plans | Pay once per plan: fixed data for a set number of days, plus unlimited and daily plans |
| Example price | US: 1 GB / 3 days $4.00, 3 GB / 7 days $9.00; Japan: 5 GB / 30 days $11.00 (Oct 2026) | US: 1 GB / 7 days $4, 10 GB / 30 days $14; Japan: 5 GB / 15 days $10 (Oct 2026) | Plans from $2.02; every destination page lists live prices |
| Destinations | 200+ locations, with local, regional and global eSIMs | 200+ destinations, with local, regional and World plans | 210 destinations plus 9 regional and global plans |
| Unlimited data | Yes, in about 150 destinations: 3 GB per day at full speed, then 1 Mbps until the daily reset | Yes, in 90+ destinations: full speed up to a threshold (US 7 days: 25 GB), then 2 Mbps | Yes, in many destinations; each plan shows its fair-use limit before you buy |
| Calls, SMS or phone number | Some plans include local calls and texts (US: 1 GB + 10 min + 10 SMS, 3 days, $6.00) | No. Data only; calls and texts go through apps such as WhatsApp | No. Plans are data only; use WhatsApp or FaceTime for calls |
| How you buy and install | Website or iOS and Android app; install through the app or directly on the device | Website (QR code by email) or iOS and Android app | Buy on the website, no app needed; QR code plus one-tap install links for iPhone and Android |
| Top-ups | Yes, on the same eSIM when a top-up package is offered; optional renewals at 10% data left | Yes, recharge the same eSIM in the app, even with no data left | Yes, most plans can be topped up from your account |
| Hotspot and tethering | Allowed if your device and the local network support it; uses your plan data | Allowed; unlimited plans have no tethering restrictions | Usually allowed and counted against your plan data; ask support about a specific plan |
| Multi-country trips | Regional eSIMs (Europe, Asia, North America and more) and Global eSIMs from $8.50 | One reusable eSIM; country plans switch automatically as you cross borders | Regional and global plans, plus a Travel Planner that issues one eSIM per country of a trip |
| Refunds | 14-day withdrawal right ends at activation; change-of-plans refunds paid as Airmoney credit | Only if unused: no refund once the QR code is scanned; request within 14 business days | Only when the eSIM cannot connect at all after troubleshooting with support |
| Customer support | Live chat, in-app chat and WhatsApp, advertised as available any time | Contact form staffed any time, plus website chat and a WhatsApp AI assistant | Support tickets from your account and email |
| Rewards | Airmoney cashback of 5% to 10% by loyalty level on eSIMs and top-ups | UbiClub: up to 8% back in UbiCoins on in-app purchases | Gift cards; no cashback program |
| Customer rating | 4.1/5 from 46,700+ reviews (Trustpilot, Oct 2026) | 4.1/5 from 48,100+ reviews (Trustpilot, Oct 2026) | Too new for a public Trustpilot rating |
Prices and policies as published by each brand, checked October 10, 2026.
Airalo is an app-first eSIM store; Ubigi is the travel brand of Transatel, a French mobile operator owned by NTT Group. Both rate 4.1 out of 5 on Trustpilot, so the choice comes down to plan design, refunds and how often you travel. Prices, policies and ratings were checked on each brand's own pages and Trustpilot in October 2026.
Which is cheaper, Airalo or Ubigi?
Prices are close for small plans: 1 GB in the US cost $4 for 7 days with Ubigi and $4.00 for 3 days with Airalo (October 2026). In Japan, Airalo charged $11.00 for 5 GB for 30 days, while Ubigi charged $10 for 5 GB for 15 days.
Ubigi's 10 GB for 30 days in the US cost $14. Ubigi does not sell a one-off 5 GB plan for 30 days in Japan, so for a month there compare Airalo's 5 GB plan with Ubigi's 10 GB plan at $16.50.
How do Airalo and Ubigi unlimited plans compare?
Ubigi unlimited plans run at full speed up to a high threshold (25 GB on its 7-day US plan), then slow to 2 Mbps, and allow tethering without restrictions. Airalo unlimited plans give 3 GB per day at full speed, then 1 Mbps.
For heavy users and laptop hotspot use, Ubigi's unlimited plans are the more generous of the two.
Can you reuse an Ubigi or Airalo eSIM?
Ubigi uses one reusable eSIM in 200+ destinations, and plans for several countries switch automatically as you cross borders; you can recharge in the app even with no data left. Airalo lets you top up the same eSIM when a top-up package is offered.
Which has better refunds, Airalo or Ubigi?
Neither is generous. Ubigi refunds only unused plans: its terms refuse a refund once the QR code is scanned, and requests must be made within 14 business days. Airalo's withdrawal right ends at activation, and change-of-plans refunds are paid as Airmoney credit.
Do Airalo or Ubigi include a phone number?
Ubigi is data only, with no phone number or SMS. Airalo sells data, calls and texts plans in some countries, such as 1 GB with 10 minutes and 10 SMS for 3 days in the US for $6.00.
Is Ubigi legit?
Yes. Ubigi was launched in 2017 by Transatel, a French mobile operator founded in 2000 and part of NTT Group since 2019. Ubigi rates 4.1 out of 5 from more than 48,100 Trustpilot reviews, level with Airalo's 4.1 from more than 46,700 (October 2026).
Where does eSIM.site fit?
eSIM.site lists several fixed-data, unlimited and daily plans for each destination on one page, with no app needed and top-ups on most plans. It is data only, newer than Airalo and Ubigi, and only refunds an eSIM that cannot connect at all.
For a trip across several countries, the eSIM.site Travel Planner lets you pick every country on your itinerary and issues each eSIM on the day you need it, in one checkout. Before you buy any eSIM, check that your phone supports eSIM and is carrier-unlocked.
Strengths and weaknesses
Airalo
Large app-based travel eSIM store selling fixed-data, unlimited and some calls-and-texts plans in 200+ locations.
- Very wide choice: 200+ locations with local, regional and global eSIMs
- Low entry prices on fixed-data plans, from $4.00 in the US and Japan
- Airmoney cashback of 5% to 10% on eSIMs and top-ups
- Top-ups, plus calls-and-texts plans in some countries
- Trustpilot score (4.1) trails Holafly and Saily (4.7)
- Wrong-purchase or change-of-plans refunds are paid as Airmoney credit, not cash
- The cheapest 1 GB plans in the US and Japan last only 3 days
- Some reviewers report activation problems and rising prices
Ubigi
Travel eSIM from French mobile operator Transatel (NTT Group) with a reusable eSIM and one-off, monthly and annual plans.
- Backed by Transatel, a mobile operator owned by NTT Group
- One reusable eSIM, and plans for several countries switch automatically
- Low fixed prices, e.g. 1 GB for 7 days in the US for $4
- Unlimited plans allow tethering and slow to 2 Mbps after a high threshold
- Strict refunds: none once the QR code is scanned
- Data only, with no phone number or SMS
- Monthly plans can only be cancelled after three months
- Rewards and referral codes work only in the app
eSIM.site
Travel eSIM marketplace that lists several prepaid data plans for each destination, with live prices.
- Lists several plans from different networks for one destination, so you pick price, data and validity
- Fixed, unlimited and daily plans in many destinations, with top-ups on most plans
- No app needed: buy on the website and install by QR code or one-tap link
- Travel Planner books an eSIM for each country of a multi-country trip in one checkout
- Newer brand without a large public review base yet
- Strict refunds: only when the eSIM cannot connect at all after troubleshooting
- Data only: no plans with a phone number, calls or SMS
- No native app; eSIMs are managed from your web account
Which should you choose?
Airalo
Choose Airalo if you want calls-and-texts plans, higher cashback (5% to 10% Airmoney) or a wider choice of small plans.
Ubigi
Choose Ubigi if you travel often and want one reusable eSIM, unlimited plans that allow tethering, or monthly and annual plans.
eSIM.site
Choose eSIM.site if you want to compare several plans for one destination before buying, prefer not to install an app, or are booking eSIMs for a multi-country trip in one checkout.
See planseSIM.site prices today
Live starting prices for popular destinations. Open a destination to compare every plan.
Our verdict
Ubigi is the better pick for frequent travelers and heavy users: one reusable eSIM, automatic country switching and unlimited plans that allow tethering. Airalo suits travelers who want calls-and-texts plans and higher cashback. Both have strict refund rules, so only buy when your trip is confirmed.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ubigi better than Airalo?
For frequent travelers and heavy users, often yes: Ubigi offers a reusable eSIM, automatic country switching and unlimited plans with unrestricted tethering. Airalo is better for calls-and-texts plans and cashback.
Is Ubigi cheaper than Airalo?
Small plans cost about the same: 1 GB in the US cost $4 for 7 days with Ubigi and $4.00 for 3 days with Airalo in October 2026, so Ubigi's plan lasted longer for the same price.
Does Ubigi allow hotspot use?
Yes. Ubigi plan pages say data sharing is allowed, and its unlimited plans have no tethering restrictions. Airalo allows tethering when your device and the local network support it.
Does Ubigi have monthly plans?
Yes. Ubigi sells auto-renewing monthly plans and prepaid annual plans as well as one-off plans, but monthly plans can only be cancelled after three months.
Which is better for multi-country trips, Airalo or Ubigi?
Both sell regional plans. Ubigi also lets you hold plans for several countries on one reusable eSIM that switches automatically as you cross borders, which is convenient for multi-country itineraries.
Can I get a refund from Ubigi?
Only for an unused plan: Ubigi's terms refuse a refund once the QR code has been scanned, and requests must be made within 14 business days.
Sources and methodology
We compare each brand on its own published prices, plans and policies, plus public customer ratings, and record the date every fact was checked. We do not run lab speed tests. eSIM.site sells travel eSIMs and publishes these comparisons, so we link every source for you to verify.
- Airalo: United States eSIMs
- Airalo: Japan eSIMs
- Airalo: Unlimited data fair use policy
- Airalo Help: Can I use tethering (personal hotspot)?
- Airalo Help: Wrong eSIM or change of plans
- Airalo: Terms of Use
- Airalo Help: Calls and texts with an eSIM
- Airalo Help: Airalo loyalty program
- Airalo: Contact
- Airalo on Trustpilot
- Airalo press release: 30 million customers (June 2026)
- BetaKit: Airalo raises a $220M Series C
- Ubigi: USA 1 GB 7 days
- Ubigi: USA 10 GB 30 days
- Ubigi: USA unlimited 7 days
- Ubigi: Japan 5 GB 15 days
- Ubigi: Unlimited eSIM data plans
- Ubigi Help: Can I get a refund?
- Ubigi: Terms and conditions
- Ubigi Help: Contact customer support
- Ubigi: UbiClub loyalty program
- Transatel: Ubigi
- Ubigi on Trustpilot