Airalo vs Ubigi eSIM for Japan (2026): Prices, Networks and Which to Buy
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In a hurry? Airalo vs Ubigi at a glance:
- Price: on the six plans both companies sell, Ubigi was cheaper every time when we checked, by $0.50 to $9.
- Short trips on unlimited data: only Airalo sells unlimited plans for 3, 5, 7 or 10 days. Ubigi’s one-off unlimited plans are 8, 15 or 30 days, and for a week its 8-day plan costs less than Airalo’s 7-day one.
- Networks: Airalo lists SoftBank, KDDI and Rakuten. Ubigi lists KDDI, NTT Docomo and SoftBank.
- Small print: Ubigi states its unlimited limit, allows data sharing and starts the plan when you arrive. Airalo’s package details state its limit too (1 Mbps after 3GB a day) and say the plan starts when the eSIM connects to a network in Japan. They don’t mention hotspot.
Airalo and Ubigi sell many of the same plan sizes for Japan, so we checked both companies’ Japan pages on the same day in October 2026, in US dollars, and lined up the plans that match. This guide covers the prices, the networks each one uses, what “unlimited” means on each, and which one fits which kind of trip.
Airalo vs Ubigi: side-by-side comparison
| Airalo | Ubigi | |
|---|---|---|
| Networks in Japan | SoftBank, KDDI and Rakuten | KDDI, NTT Docomo and SoftBank |
| Unlimited plans | 3, 5, 7, 10, 15 or 30 days | 8, 15 or 30 days (one-off plans) |
| Fixed-data plans | 1GB to 20GB, for 3, 7, 15 or 30 days | 1GB to 50GB, for 3, 7, 15 or 30 days (one-off plans) |
| Unlimited speed limit | 1 Mbps after 3GB of use per day | 5GB a day at full speed on the 8-day plan, 30GB on the 15-day plan or 60GB on the 30-day plan, then 2 Mbps |
| Hotspot | Not mentioned in the Japan package details | Data sharing allowed |
| When the plan starts | When the eSIM connects to a network in Japan | On arrival at your destination |
| Extra data | Top-ups in many cases | Top up in the app once your data runs out |
Based on each company’s Japan eSIM pages on October 5, 2026, and Airalo’s package details on October 6, 2026. We checked both companies’ networks again on October 19, 2026, and their unlimited plans and Airalo’s networks on October 30, 2026. Plans and prices change, so check the current details before you buy.
Airalo vs Ubigi prices for the same plans
Six plans exist at both companies with the same data and the same number of days. Prices are in US dollars as shown on October 5, 2026; the amount in your currency may differ.
| Plan | Airalo | Ubigi | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1GB, 3 days | $4.00 | $3.50 | Ubigi by $0.50 |
| 5GB, 15 days | $10.50 | $10.00 | Ubigi by $0.50 |
| 10GB, 7 days | $17.00 | $14.00 | Ubigi by $3.00 |
| 10GB, 30 days | $18.00 | $16.50 | Ubigi by $1.50 |
| Unlimited, 15 days | $48.00 | $39.00 | Ubigi by $9.00 |
| Unlimited, 30 days | $69.00 | $65.00 | Ubigi by $4.00 |
Ubigi was cheaper on all six. The gap is small on the light plans and largest on the 15-day unlimited plan. Price only settles it when both sell the plan you want, though, and each company has plans the other doesn’t.
Plans only one of them sells
- Only Airalo: unlimited data for 3 days ($11.50), 5 days ($17.00), 7 days ($26.50) or 10 days ($34.50). It also has 3GB plans ($7.50 for 3 days, $8.00 for 7 days) and 20GB plans ($24.00 for 15 days, $25.00 for 30 days), plus a few other data-and-day combinations.
- Only Ubigi: unlimited data for 8 days ($25), 25GB for 30 days ($32) and 50GB for 30 days ($55), plus monthly and annual plans. The monthly plans can only be cancelled after 3 months, so they aren’t built for a short visit.
If you want unlimited data for a one-week trip, compare Airalo’s 7-day unlimited plan ($26.50) with Ubigi’s 8-day unlimited plan ($25); we checked both on October 30, 2026. Ubigi’s plan costs $1.50 less and runs one day longer. It gives 5GB at full speed each day, then 2 Mbps, while Airalo slows to 1 Mbps after 3GB a day. If you don’t need unlimited data, Ubigi’s 10GB for 7 days at $14 costs $12.50 less than Airalo’s 7-day unlimited plan.
How Airalo’s Japan eSIM works
Airalo is an eSIM store covering more than 200 locations. When we checked again on October 30, 2026, its Japan eSIM listed SoftBank, KDDI and Rakuten, and Airalo says the eSIM may switch between them based on availability and speed. You can install it as soon as you like, as long as you have a stable internet connection, and in many cases you can top up instead of buying a new eSIM.
Airalo’s package details state the limit on its unlimited plans: speed drops to 1 Mbps after 3GB of use per day. They also say the validity period starts when the eSIM connects to a mobile network in Japan, so you can install it at home. The Japan package details don’t mention hotspot; Airalo’s general help center says you can use personal hotspot as long as your device and the network support it. Our Airalo Japan eSIM guide lists every Airalo plan and price.
How Ubigi’s Japan eSIM works
When we checked again on October 19, 2026, Ubigi listed three networks for Japan: KDDI, NTT Docomo and SoftBank. Data sharing is allowed. The plan’s activation starts when you arrive at your destination, which Ubigi calls Smartstart, so you can install the eSIM at home. When your data runs out, you top up in the app, and Ubigi says that works without WiFi or data credit.
The unlimited plans have a stated limit. The 8-day plan includes 5GB a day at full speed, the 15-day plan 30GB and the 30-day plan 60GB; after that the speed is set to 2 Mbps. The same eSIM can be reused in more than 200 destinations.
Airalo or Ubigi? Which to choose
- You want the lower price on a plan both sell: Ubigi, on every matching plan we checked.
- You want unlimited data for 3, 5 or 10 days: Airalo. Ubigi’s shortest one-off unlimited plan is 8 days.
- You need to share data with a laptop or a travel partner: Ubigi states that data sharing is allowed. Airalo’s Japan package details don’t mention hotspot.
- You want to know the unlimited limit before you buy: Both state it. Ubigi’s 8-day plan includes 5GB a day at full speed, its 15-day plan 30GB and its 30-day plan 60GB, then 2 Mbps. Airalo slows to 1 Mbps after 3GB of use per day.
- You need more than 20GB without going unlimited: Ubigi has 25GB and 50GB plans.
- You want around 20GB for two weeks: Airalo’s 20GB, 15-day plan is $24.00. Ubigi’s one-off plans jump from 10GB to 25GB.
Before you buy either one, check that your phone supports eSIM and isn’t locked to a carrier. On an iPhone, go to Settings > General > About: next to Carrier Lock it should say “No SIM Restrictions”.
Frequently asked questions
Is Airalo or Ubigi cheaper for Japan?
Ubigi was cheaper on all six plans that both companies sold when we checked on October 5, 2026. For example, 10GB for 7 days was $14 at Ubigi and $17 at Airalo. Prices change, so compare again on the day you buy.
Which networks do Airalo and Ubigi use in Japan?
Airalo lists SoftBank, KDDI and Rakuten. Ubigi lists KDDI, NTT Docomo and SoftBank. Both list SoftBank and KDDI; only Ubigi lists NTT Docomo, and only Airalo lists Rakuten.
Do Airalo and Ubigi have unlimited data for Japan?
Yes, both do. Airalo sells unlimited plans for 3, 5, 7, 10, 15 or 30 days, and each slows to 1 Mbps after 3GB of use per day. Ubigi’s one-off unlimited plans run for 8, 15 or 30 days. The 8-day plan gives 5GB a day at full speed; the 15-day and 30-day plans give 30GB and 60GB respectively over the whole plan. After that, the speed drops to 2 Mbps.
Can I use hotspot with Airalo or Ubigi in Japan?
Ubigi’s Japan plan pages say data sharing is allowed. Airalo’s Japan package details don’t mention hotspot. Airalo’s general help center says you can use personal hotspot as long as your device and the network support it.
When does the plan start?
Ubigi says activation starts upon arrival at your destination. Airalo’s package details say the validity period starts when the eSIM connects to a mobile network in Japan.
Final thoughts
On the prices we checked, Ubigi was cheaper on every plan the two have in common, and its plan pages state that data sharing is allowed. Airalo is the one to pick when you want unlimited data for 3, 5 or 10 days, or a 20GB plan for 15 or 30 days. Decide how many days and how much data you need, then check whether both companies sell that exact plan.
Sources: Airalo’s Japan eSIM page and Ubigi’s Japan data plans, checked on October 5, 2026, with Airalo’s package details checked on October 6, 2026.
Still comparing? Our Airalo vs Klook comparison and Yesim eSIM for Japan guide cover two more options, and our eSIM setup guide walks you through installing one. If you’re weighing Ubigi against Klook, our Klook vs Ubigi comparison covers plan lengths, unlimited-data limits and networks.
