Airalo vs Ubigi 2026 — eSIM for Japan compared, which one to pick

⚡ 30-Second Answer: For 7-14 days: Airalo ($8-17, 5-10GB). For 1+ month: Ubigi ($23-33, 10-20GB + calls). For heavy users: Saily ($17, unlimited). Requires eSIM-capable iPhone (XS+) or Pixel (4+) — activates in 5 minutes at airport Wi-Fi. 50% cheaper than pocket Wi-Fi and zero luggage.

Quick Reference	Value
7 days 5GB	Airalo $8-10
14 days 10GB	Airalo $13-17
1 month 20GB	Ubigi $23-33
Unlimited	Saily $17-23
Activation time	5 min
Last verified	June 2026

Airalo is the largest eSIM marketplace, covering 200+ countries; Ubigi is the long-running Transatel brand with stronger speed scores. Both are popular with inbound travelers, but Airalo is cheaper and Ubigi is faster and more stable, with slight differences in airplane-mode install. For a 1-week 5GB plan, Airalo is $11 and Ubigi is $13 — about ¥300 apart. Go Ubigi for longer stays or if you want speed; go Airalo if you want cheap.

Airalo and Ubigi at a glance

Airalo

• Founded in Singapore, 2019
• Largest eSIM marketplace with 200+ countries
• Uses the SoftBank network in Japan
• App Store rating: 4.7

Ubigi

• Run by France-based Transatel
• Has been selling eSIM since 2014
• Uses the NTT Docomo network in Japan
• Consistently strong speed scores
• Also serves enterprise customers

Price comparison (as of May 2026)

1-week plans (5GB)

→ For the same data, Airalo is ¥300-¥1,300 cheaper.

30-day plans

→ Ubigi has more options for long stays and large buckets; Airalo tops out at 20GB.

Speed and quality

Airalo (SoftBank)

Ubigi (NTT Docomo)

→ Ubigi is 10-30% faster overall than Airalo (NTT Docomo has stronger coverage).

Install and use

Airalo

1. Download "Airalo" from the App Store
2. Search "Japan" in the app → pick a plan
3. QR code or direct install
4. Pre-set "ON/OFF" before departure
5. Power on in Japan → connect instantly

Ubigi

1. Download "Ubigi" from the App Store
2. Pick "Japan" in the app → pick a plan
3. Install via QR code
4. Pre-set "ON/OFF" before departure
5. Power on in Japan → connect

The flow is effectively the same. Ubigi's app UI is more polished (stronger multilingual support).

Feature comparison

Picks by travel style

Short trip (1 week or less) → Airalo

• 5GB for $11 is plenty
• Cheap and simple
• Works fine at tourist spots

2+ weeks + speed priority → Ubigi

• Stable NTT Docomo network
• Strong large-bucket plans (30GB etc.)
• Convenient app management

Heavy video streaming → Holafly (separate article)

Has an unlimited plan. Compare at /compare/airalo-vs-holafly

Short business trip → either is fine

• 5GB / 1 week is plenty
• The $2 = ¥300 gap is small enough to be a preference call

Typical inbound-traveler scenarios

Scenario A: tourist, 1 week (Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka)

Data use: 500MB-1GB/day (maps, social, photo uploads)
1-week total: 3-7GB

→ Airalo 5GB $11 is the best fit
→ Ubigi equivalent is 5GB $13

Scenario B: business, 1 month (Tokyo base)

Data use: 1.5-2GB/day (video calls, laptop tethering)
1-month total: 30-60GB

→ Ubigi 50GB $75 is the best fit
→ Airalo tops out at 20GB and falls short

Scenario C: students or longer-stay learners, 6 months

Data use: 30-50GB/month

→ Sakura Mobile or a Japanese physical SIM is more economical long-term
→ Repeated Airalo/Ubigi purchases also work

Wrap-up: price and features

FAQ

Q: Can I buy both and use them together?

A: Technically yes, but it gets expensive. One main eSIM + a physical SIM as backup is more realistic.

Q: Can I change the plan after setup?

A: Both support top-ups (adding data). You can't switch plans — you have to buy a new one.

Q: Is it faster than Japanese Wi-Fi?

A: In big cities, eSIM is often faster than free Wi-Fi (public Wi-Fi tends to be slow and flaky).

Q: Can I share with a friend's phone?

A: Yes, via tethering from one phone to other devices. Worth testing first.

Q: Should I delete the eSIM after I get home?

A: You can leave it, but you'll need to switch between it and your home SIM. Settings → Cellular to delete.

Q: Are there options besides Airalo and Ubigi?

A: Holafly (unlimited), Saily (NordVPN-affiliated), aloSIM, Nomad, etc. Airalo + Ubigi are the largest right now.

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Last verified: 2026-05-20. eSIM pricing changes. Confirm the latest prices on each provider's official site or app before purchase.