Updated September 29, 2026 · NomadCue Editorial Team
Airalo vs Ubigi
Airalo
Higher score in this comparison
Ubigi
What sets them apart
| Compare | AiraloReviewVisitVisit | UbigiReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | €4 | $6 |
| Unlimited data | YesHas it | No |
| Reference plan prices | US 4.00 EUR; UK 4.00 EUR; Germany 4.00 EUR; Italy 4.00 EUR; Spain 4.00 EUR; Japan 4.00 EUR; Turkey 4.00 EUR; Egypt 5.00 EUR; Armenia 4.50 EUR | Japan 3GB $8; Asia 3GB $14; World 1GB $27; Europe 3GB $7, 10GB $13, 50GB $44 |
| Fair use policy | Unlimited plans have no fixed data cap; after more than 3GB per day, speed is throttled to 1 Mbps for the rest of that day and the daily allowance resets every 24 hours from activation; personal, non-commercial use only, no reselling or machine-to-machine use | Prepaid data allowance valid for a set duration; intended for browsing, email and app use without excessively contributing to network congestion; no cash refund for unused allowance |
| Seller type | Marketplace | Mvno |
| Price per GB from | Not confirmed | $2.33 |
| 5G | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Networks | Not confirmed | MEO, Taiwan Mobile, SK Telecom |
| 10 GB in Europe | Not confirmed | $13 |
Same on both: Countries covered (from 200), Hotspot sharing (Yes), Top-ups (Yes).
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Key differences
- Airalo scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 9.0.
- Unlimited data: only Airalo.
- Support channels: only Airalo offers Chat.
- Features: only Airalo offers Unlimited data.
- Features: only Ubigi offers 5G.
- Pricing model: only Airalo offers Marketplace.
- Pricing model: only Ubigi offers Budget.
Our verdict on each
Airalo
Airalo suits short trips and longer stays that want one shop for local, regional and global eSIMs, with unlimited plans, hotspot sharing and instant activation in the range. Coverage reaches from 200 countries, and entry plans start at €4 for a single destination or a whole region.
Ubigi
Ubigi suits travellers on short trips and longer stays who want broad coverage at budget prices, sold by a French mobile virtual network operator rather than a marketplace. Plans start at $6 with the price per GB from $2.33, and coverage spans from 200 countries.
Score breakdown
| Area | Airalo | Ubigi |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3HigherEntry plans start at €4, under a site median of €5, with local, regional and global options across a broad destination list. | 8.9Entry price of $6 sits above the site median of €5, and the Europe allowance lands at $13. |
| Offer | 9.3Higher | 9.0 |
| Trust | 8.2 | Not confirmed |
How they place
| Ranking | Airalo | Ubigi |
|---|---|---|
| Travel SIMs and eSIMs | 59 of 926 | 282 of 926 |
| Travel eSIMs | 60 of 918 | 289 of 918 |
Where these facts come from
Airalo
- airalo.com: 16 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Ubigi
- travelesimexpert.com: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- ubigi.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- cellulardata.ubigi.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Airalo | Ubigi |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Local, Regional, Global | Local, Regional, Global |
| Features | Unlimited data, Hotspot, Instant activation | 5G, Hotspot, Instant activation |
| Pricing model | Marketplace | Budget |
| Audience | Short trip, Long trip | Short trip, Long trip |
| Legal entity | AirGSM Pte Ltd | Transatel S.A.S |
| Headquarters | Singapore | France |
| Founded | 2019 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centreCovers more | Email, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Airalo | Ubigi | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per GB from | Not confirmed | $2.33above the median | $2 |
| Countries covered | from 200highest quarter | from 200highest quarter | 120 |
| 10 GB in Europe | Not confirmed | $13above the median | $12 |
Median across 492 listed travel providers.
Pros and cons
Airalo
Pros
- Coverage of from 200 countries, with local, regional and global plans for multi-country trips
- Unlimited data plans, hotspot sharing and instant activation are all listed in unlimited data, hotspot and instant activation
- Top-ups are available, so data can be added mid-trip without buying a new eSIM
Cons
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, so there is no phone line to call
- Airalo sells as a marketplace, so the network behind a plan and its terms depend on which seller you pick
- Unlimited plans follow a fair use policy for personal, non-commercial use only, with speed slowed after heavy daily use
Ubigi
Pros
- Coverage of from 200 countries across local, regional and global plans.
- Prices start at $6 with the price per GB from $2.33.
- Hotspot sharing is included and top-ups are available, so an unplanned day does not end the connection.
Cons
- There is no unlimited data option, so every plan carries a set allowance that can run out.
- Support runs on email and help centre only, with no phone or chat line listed.
- Unused allowance is not refunded in cash under the fair use policy.
Who each suits
Airalo
Who it suits
- Travellers on a short trip buying a plan for a single destination
- Longer itineraries that need a regional or global plan across several countries
- People who want hotspot sharing and top-ups handled from one account
Who should look elsewhere
- eSIMGo.is, which starts at $0.99 and competes on entry price alone rather than on destination range
- SimToIsrael, priced at $25, for a plan aimed at a single market rather than from 200 destinations
- Zwitchy, which also covers 200 countries, if you want a second marketplace with the same reach to compare against
Ubigi
Who it suits
- Travellers on short trip and long trip who want wide country coverage without a premium bill.
- People who need hotspot sharing for a laptop or tablet while moving between countries.
- Travellers who prefer one operator's own eSIM to a resale marketplace with many sellers.
Who should look elsewhere
- Travellers shopping purely on entry price, since eSIMGo.is lists a price from $0.99.
- Anyone who needs unlimited data, as Ubigi has no such plan.
- Buyers who want phone or chat support, because Ubigi runs on email and help centre only.
Current offers
Ubigi
Current offer
Discount code
Student Beans student discount: 20% off
Exclusive student offer via Student Beans verification
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
Verified third-party coupon code TEE10: 10% off (code TEE10)
New users, eligible prepaid plans, monthly plans excluded
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Questions about each
Airalo
How much do Airalo eSIMs cost?+
Entry plans start at €4, under a site median of €5. Reference prices for the US, the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan and Turkey sit close to that figure, while Egypt and Armenia cost a little more.
Does Airalo sell unlimited data plans, and are they really unlimited?+
Unlimited data plans are part of the range, listed alongside hotspot sharing and instant activation. They run on a fair use policy for personal, non-commercial use only: there is no fixed data cap, but speed slows once heavy daily use is passed, and the allowance resets each day from activation.
Ubigi
How much do Ubigi eSIM plans cost?+
Plans start at $6 and the price per GB from $2.33. Listed reference pricing runs across Japan, Asia, a world plan and several Europe sizes, with larger Europe allowances priced higher than the smallest one. The brand sits in the budget model, so entry points are low rather than premium.
Does Ubigi sell unlimited data?+
No. Unlimited data is not part of the range, so every plan comes with a set data allowance that can be used up. Top-ups are available if you need more, and the fair use policy asks that the allowance is used for browsing, email and app use rather than heavy network load.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
Airalo
Ubigi