Airalo vs Ubigi eSIM: which is better in 2025?
Airalo and Ubigi are both trustworthy eSIM providers that offer mobile data plans in over 200 countries and regions without the need for a physical SIM card. Both providers have various plans available, so you’ll definitely find international data plans for short and long-term trips. However, Ubigi and Airalo have different benefits, which are important to consider before choosing the best fit for you.
Airalo offers reliable networks, efficient customer support, and affordable prices starting at $4.50. Additionally, it offers plans that include phone calls and text messaging, which is a huge advantage compared to other eSIMs. On the other hand, Ubigi’s prices start at $3, depending on your destination, the duration of your trip, and the data you require. While it doesn’t include phone calls and SMS, Ubigi is a great choice for longer stays as it covers rural areas as well.
I extensively tested both Airalo and Ubigi to help you decide between them. I’ve researched their coverage, plans, prices, and customer support. Read on and learn more about Airalo and Ubigi’s benefits in 2025.
Airalo vs Ubigi: comparison
Both Airalo and Ubigi eSIMs cover over 200 different countries and offer excellent networks, making them a great choice for international traveling. However, some differences between Ubigi and Airalo are important to consider. Unlike Ubigi, Airalo offers plans that include phone calls and text messaging. It also provides customer support via live chat, which is a huge benefit as it’s the most convenient way to seek guidance. On the other hand, Ubigi seems to have plans at a cheaper cost, which is always appealing.
| 🥇Airalo | 🥈Ubigi | |
| ⭐ Rating | 9.3/10⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 4.0/10⭐⭐⭐ |
| 💰 Pricing | From $4.50 | From $3 |
| 🌍 Countries | 200+ | 200+ |
| 🗼 Cellular networks | 3G, 4G, 5G, LTE | 4G, 5G, LTE |
| 📱 Compatibility | All eSIM-compatible devices | All eSIM-compatible devices |
| 📞 Phone calls | ✅ Yes (Discover + Global plan) | ❌ No |
| 🛜 Mobile hotspot | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| 🕑 Customer support | Live chat, email, Help Center | Contact form, email, Help Center |
Airalo is highly regarded for its affordability and extensive coverage, especially with its Discover + Global plan, which allows users to make phone calls and share their internet connection through mobile hotspot usage. It also provides a wide array of support options, including live chat, email, FAQs, and a knowledge base that you can find in its Help Center.
On the other hand, Ubigi offers slightly lower starting prices and supports a similar range of cellular networks. While it lacks phone call and mobile hotspot features, Ubigi compensates with strong and reliable network performance. Ubigi provides customer support through a ticket system and a help center.
Overall, Airalo stands out for its broader feature set, including phone call support and mobile hotspot capability, along with competitive pricing and comprehensive customer support options.
eSIMs plans and coverage
Both Airalo and Ubigi offer local, regional, and global eSIM options, covering over 200 countries. Airalo’s plans are known for their flexibility, allowing users to choose from various data amounts and durations. Airalo’s Discover + Global plan stands out by providing phone call support and mobile hotspot usage. Prices for Airalo’s eSIMs start from $4.50, varying by country, region, and service duration.
Ubigi also offers a wide range of plans but is slightly less flexible compared to Airalo. It provides reliable network performance, which is beneficial for users with heavy data needs. Prices for Ubigi’s eSIMs start from $3 and also vary depending on the country, region, and duration of the service.
Final Verdict: While Ubigi’s offerings are robust, Airalo’s more adaptable plans and broader feature set make it a preferable choice for many travelers looking for the best eSIM.
Ubigi vs Airalo eSIM pricing
When comparing Ubigi and Airalo in terms of pricing for specific countries, Airalo tends to offer slightly cheaper eSIM options. While both providers offer competitive rates, in general, Ubigi’s starting price is lower at $3 for 1 GB over seven days, compared to Airalo’s $4.50 for the same period.
Below is a table highlighting the price differences for eSIM services in several popular countries.
| eSIM plan | Airalo price (3GB) | Ubigi price (3GB) |
| Japan eSIM | $8.50 | $8.00 |
| United Kingdom eSIM | $10.00 | $7.00 |
| Canada eSIM | $15.00 | $24.00 (US + Canada) |
| Australia eSIM | $9.00 | $19.00 |
| Indonesia eSIM | $11.00 | $11.00 |
| Turkey eSIM | $8.00 | $9.00 |
| Singapore eSIM | $8.50 | $9.00 (Singapore + Malaysia) |
| Thailand eSIM | $6.00 | $9.00 |
From the above table, it is evident that Airalo generally offers lower prices for 3GB data plans across most of the selected countries. In Australia, Singapore, Thailand, and Turkey, Airalo’s plans are cheaper than Ubigi’s.
In Canada, Airalo offers a more economical option since Ubigi bundles the US and Canada together at a higher price. However, in the UK and Japan, Ubigi offers better prices than Airalo for a 3 GB data plan.
Let’s now look at the regional comparison of eSIM prices and the number of countries covered by each provider.
| Region | Airalo – 3GB price for 30 days | Countries covered | Ubigi – 3GB price for 30 days | Countries covered |
| Asia | $13 | 18+ | $14 | 16+ |
| Africa | $59 | 36+ | $19 | 23+ |
| Europe | $13 | 42+ | $8 | 35+ |
| North America | $17 | 3+ | $32 | 2+ |
To get the best price and make a well-informed decision, it’s beneficial to consider the region that you’ll be visiting. Airalo offers better prices for Asia travel as you can get a 3 GB plan for $13, which will cover 18+ countries. Additionally, Airalo offers a cheaper 3 GB plan for North America (covering 3 countries), which costs only $17. If you’re traveling to Africa, Ubigi’s 3 GB plan is way cheaper as you can get a plan for $19, which will cover 23+ countries. Similarly, Ubigi’s 3 GB Europe plan costs only $8, covering 35+ countries.
Final Verdict: For travelers focused solely on cost, Ubigi is the better choice. However, for those needing extra functionalities, Airalo’s plans might be more suitable.
Payment methods
Airalo and Ubigi both offer various payment options to suit different user preferences. Airalo makes it easy by accepting credit and debit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Alipay.
Ubigi, on the other hand, doesn’t support PayPal when you first set up your eSIM profile. But once your eSIM is installed and your Ubigi account is set up, you can use PayPal to buy data plans and recharge your account. Ubigi also accepts credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Discover.
Final Verdict: Airalo is the better choice for users who need immediate PayPal support, while Ubigi offers a similar range of payment options but requires setting up your eSIM before using PayPal.
Supported devices
Both Airalo and Ubigi provide eSIM services for smartphones, tablets, and computers. Airalo works with iPhones, iPads, Android smartphones and tablets, as well as Windows laptops. Likewise, Ubigi is compatible with iPhones, iPads, Android smartphones, and laptops with Windows 10 and 11.
While their compatibility is almost the same, Ubigi boasts of supporting the most current versions of Windows OS, making it a perfect option for those with relatively new Windows laptops. However, Airalo generally supports a somewhat broader range of gadgets.
Final Verdict: Both Airalo and Ubigi are great, with Airalo supporting more devices, while Ubigi is better for newer Windows laptops.
Which one is faster, Ubigi or Airalo eSIM?
When comparing Ubigi and Airalo eSIM in terms of speed, Airalo is faster. The average speed of eSIM services provided by Airalo and Ubigi largely depends on the local carrier and network capabilities (LTE, 4G, 5G) in each country. To offer a clearer comparison, I did a speed test of both in several countries, and the results are summarized below.
| Country | Airalo average download speed (Mbps) | Ubigi Average upload speed (Mbps) |
| United States | 74 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
| United Kingdom | 54 Mbps | 12 Mbps |
| Japan | 47 Mbps | 9 Mbps |
| Germany | 56 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
| Australia | 64 Mbps | 16 Mbps |
| Canada | 58 Mbps | 11 Mbps |
| France | 49 Mbps | 7 Mbps |
Final Verdict: While both eSIM providers offer decent speeds that will allow you to use your mobile data plan without issues, Airalo is faster, providing speeds up to 74 Mbps. After testing each country, it seems that Airalo performed better, guaranteeing stable and fast connections in various countries.
User experience
Looking at user experience and the eSIM activation process, let’s see how Airalo and Ubigi compare in terms of ease of use.
Airalo activation process:
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Start by downloading the Airalo app from the App Store or Google Play.
- Set up a new account or log in if you already have one.
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Find and purchase the eSIM plan that fits your travel needs.
- Check your email for a QR code and follow the on-screen instructions to activate your eSIM.
App interface: The Airalo app is super easy to use, with a clean and intuitive design that makes finding your way around a breeze. It clearly shows your data usage, so you always know how much data you’ve used and what you have left. Plus, it sends you handy alerts when you’re running low on data.
Ubigi eSIM activation:
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Go to the Ubigi website and create an account or log in if you already have one.
- Go to your email and get the QR code sent.
- Follow the step-by-step on-screen instructions to activate the eSIM.
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Download the Ubigi app from the App Store or Google Play.
App interface: The Ubigi app is simple and users can easily find what they are looking for without any hassle. It monitors how much data you’ve used and gives a breakdown of your usage so you can know how much data is remaining. It also notifies the user when they are almost done with their data bundle.
Customer support
| Customer support |  |
 |
| Live chat | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| FAQ | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Email support | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Ticket-based support | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Knowledgebase | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Both Airalo and Ubigi offer customer service, but only Airalo has live chat support. Airalo also provides help through email, FAQs, a blog, and a knowledge base, while Ubigi only offers email support and an FAQ section.
When I contacted them, Airalo’s live chat was super quick and handled even the tough questions right away. Their email support got back to me in about 4 hours with clear and helpful answers.
Ubigi took about 10 hours to respond to my email. While the response was helpful, it was slower compared to Airalo.
Final Verdict: Airalo is a clear winner here because of its faster response times and the convenience of live chat.
Ubigi vs Airalo eSIM: additional values
When you compare Ubigi and Airalo eSIM services, here are a few extras that can really make a difference:
- Top-up: Both Airalo and Ubigi let you easily add more data whenever you need it, so you won’t suddenly find yourself without the internet. It’s super convenient.
- Voice calls: Airalo’s Discover + Global plan lets you make voice calls, not just use data, which is a big plus. Ubigi sticks to data only, so you'd need to use apps like WhatsApp for calls.
- Data sharing: Airalo and Ubigi allow you to use your phone as a mobile hotspot, which is great if you want to share your internet with other devices. This allows you to enjoy your mobile data on several devices at once.
Visit Airalo eSIM official site
Conclusion: which eSIM is better?
Airalo and Ubigi are popular and reliable eSIM solutions that are widely used by travelers for both short and long-term trips. While both eSIMs provide stable networks, Airalo proved to be the better option as it offers faster speeds and has regional plans that cover more countries. Ubigi is a great option if you’re looking for a reliable eSIM that would cover rural areas for a longer trip. While it works well, Ubigi lacks some additional features that Airalo provides.
Airalo is a better eSIM solution as it offers various plans for budget-friendly prices. It uses reliable networks, allows data sharing via hotspots, and covers many countries, so you shouldn’t experience any issues with your mobile data plan while traveling. Unlike Ubigi, Airalo also provides Discovery+ plans that include phone calls and text messaging, which is a huge advantage in the eSIM market. This makes Airalo the better eSIM in 2025.
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FAQ
What are the differences between Ubigi and Airalo?
Ubigi focuses on data-only eSIM plans with extensive global coverage, while Airalo offers eSIM plans that include phone calls and text messaging in addition to data. Additionally, Airalo has cheaper prices and is a great option for short-term stays. On the other hand, Ubigi is ideal for longer stays as it provides 5G connections. Ubigi uses reliable networks, which guarantee coverage for urban and rural regions when traveling abroad.
Which one is better, Airalo or Ubigi eSIM?
Airalo is a better eSIM service than Ubigi eSIM. While Ubigi is a reliable eSIM, Airalo offers budget-friendly prices, robust networks, and efficient customer support. Additionally, Airalo has Discovery+ plans that also include phone calls and text messaging, which is a huge advantage compared to Ubigi.
Which eSIM is better for Japan, Ubigi or Airalo?
Ubigi is better for Japan as it’s cheaper and covers rural areas. Even though both providers offer similar prices, Ubigi is cheaper as you can get a 3GB plan for $8, while Airalo’s 3 GB plan costs $8.50. Additionally, Ubigi uses reliable and stable networks that ensure coverage across urban and rural areas.
Can you make calls with Ubigi?
No, you cannot make calls with Ubigi eSIM. Ubigi provides mobile data services for international traveling only. While traditional SMS messaging or phone calls are not included, you can use VoIP services like WhatsApp or Skype to stay connected while traveling abroad.
Can Ubigi eSIM be trusted?
Yes, Ubigi eSIM can be trusted as it offers secure and stable connections. It provides end-to-end encryption and reliable authentication, which guarantees security as well as flexible mobile data solutions. Additionally, Ubigi is operated by Transatel, which is a reliable telecommunications company.
