Ubigi Review: The Best eSIM for Travel in 2025

It’s fair to say that for digital nomads, frequent flyers, and remote workers who can’t afford to be disconnected, eSIMs have changed the travel game.

Long gone are the days when you had to scramble around for Wi-Fi or overpay for roaming while you were abroad. Instead, there are now several companies that offer you a convenient eSIM product that allows you to remain connected wherever you are.

One such company you may have heard of is Ubigi. Backed by the telecom giant NTT, they are steadily making waves in the marketplace for their global reach in over 200 destinations, reliable speeds, and no-fuss setup. They also offer affordable prepaid plans and unlimited options in key countries, so they are definitely worth checking out if you are not familiar with them.

In this review, we will tell you everything you need to know about their eSIM offering to help you decide if it’s the right option for you.

Overview of Ubigi eSIM

Ubigi is a global eSIM service launched in 2017 by Transatel, a French telecom operator and subsidiary of Japan’s NTT Group, which is one of the world’s largest telecommunications companies.

Backed by decades of industry experience and a customer base that runs into the millions, Transatel has positioned Ubigi as a trusted and forward-thinking brand in the mobile connectivity space. This hasn’t gone unnoticed within the industry because Ubigi was bestowed the MVNO of the Year Award in 2023, in recognition of its rapid growth and overall commitment to quality.

Ubigi competes with providers like Airalo, KnowRoaming, Holafly, and Nomad. Aside from its expansive coverage in over 200 countries, its competitive advantage lies in its offering true 5G access in more than 25 of them.

Overall, the company leans more toward global travellers and business users in their targeting, rather than local or regional travel-specific eSIM providers.

Key Features at a Glance

• They have coverage in over 200+ countries and territories worldwide.
• Ubigi provide access to the 5G Network in over 25 countries and 4G in all others.
• Their pricing is competitive and seen as good value for quality.
• Their app is highly rated, on account of it being easy to navigate.
• Activation of their service is instantaneous via a QR code or an in-app setup.

Coverage & Network Reliability

Due to its global coverage, the great thing about Ubigi is that regardless of whether you’re exploring the streets of Vientiane, working remotely from Lisbon, or relaxing on a beach in Cape Tribulation in Tropical North Queensland, the company likely has a data plan for your destination.

Across the world, it partners with top-tier local providers, including AT&T, T-Mobile, Vodafone, Orange, NTT Docomo, and Telefónica, which ensures that you connect to some of the best networks wherever you are.

Here is an overview of the kind of coverage you can expect in various regions worldwide.

Europe: Users travelling through Europe report excellent speeds and reliable coverage in most countries, but particularly in Belgium, France, Germany, Spain, and the UK. Thanks to its strong network partnerships with Vodafone and Orange, roaming issues are rare anywhere other than maybe the most remotest parts of these countries.

North America: In the US and Canada, Ubigi performs well in big cities like New York, Miami, Los Angeles, and Cleveland on account of its partnerships with AT&T and T-Mobile. That said, in some rural areas and national parks, you will likely experience occasional drops in speed or reception.

Asia: Ubigi offers a stellar level of performance in Japan and South Korea, where it leverages strong local networks. While both China and India are covered, given the sheer size of these countries, coverage will vary depending on location. It also might not be as strong in places like Cambodia, Bhutan and Turkmenistan due to the infrastructure there.

South America, Oceania & Africa: You will experience good connectivity in all the major urban areas in these regions (e.g., São Paulo, Cape Town, Melbourne, Wellington). However, some remote zones will deliver slower speeds, possibly even lower-tier 3G connections.

Data Plans & Pricing

Ubigi’s data plans are targeted at a range of different travel styles and budgets. This means that regardless of whether you need it for a weekend or a period of multiple months, there’s likely a plan that is suitable to you.

Typical types of plans they offer include:

• Pay-as-you-go: Short-term access for occasional browsing
• Unlimited plans: Available in select countries like the US, UK, and France
• Regional bundles: For travel across Europe, Asia-Pacific, North America, etc.
• Global plans: Ideal for multi-country itineraries

Here is an example of prices you can expect to pay

When compared to other eSIM providers, such as Airalo, (which may offer cheaper entry-level prices) and Holafly (which are known for their unlimited (but speed-capped) plans), Ubigi falls somewhere in the middle.

It’s not the cheapest or most expensive by any stretch of the imagination. But its quality of coverage and the consistent speed it offers give customers strong value for money.

Most of their plans have 30–90 day validity, and while unused data doesn’t roll over, topping up the same plan can preserve it. Additionally, there are no hidden fees, and hotspot/tethering is allowed, which is always a bonus.

Internet Speed & Network Performance

Ubigi users consistently report fast, stable internet speeds for both 4G and 5G, although this does depend on their location and the compatibility of their device.

In Europe and Asia, download speeds typically range between 50–150 Mbps on 4G. However, 5G can peak at over 300 Mbps in cities like Paris, Tokyo, and Seoul, and parts of North America.

Ubigi is suitable for streaming, gaming, web calls, and uploading content, all of which you can do without noticeable lag. Moreover, it does not throttle speeds after data limits are hit. Instead, users are prompted to top up their plan to maintain full speed, which many actually see as a plus.

Ease of Use & Setup Process

Setting up Ubigi is as simple as it gets and can be done within minutes. Essentially, all you need to do is start by downloading the Ubigi app (iOS, Android, or Windows), choose your destination and data plan, and then follow the in-app instructions to either scan a QR code or install directly.

Here is a step-by-step overview of how to set it up:

1. Download the app and create an account
2. Select your country or region
3. Choose your plan and payment method
4. Install eSIM via QR code or in-app
5. Start using mobile data instantly

Ubigi’s app is widely regarded as being clean and intuitive. It features real-time data tracking, top-up options, and plan switching, which are all clearly laid out.

If you need assistance, customer support is available 24/7 via live chat and email. This is a real tick in the company’s favour as many of their competitors do not offer constant availability in this way.

Most users report quick response times, sometimes within an hour. While there’s no phone support, reviews on Reddit and Trustpilot generally praise the helpfulness of the support team, especially when it comes to billing or installation issues.

Pros & Cons of Ubigi eSIM

Like most companies in the eSIM marketplace, Ubigi excels in some areas and is not so strong in others. Here is an overview of some of its main pros and cons you should bear in mind if considering using their service.

Pros:

• Global coverage in 200+ countries
• Reliable 4G/5G speeds with top-tier networks
• Easy, instant setup through the app
• No hidden fees, supports tethering
• Great for digital nomads and frequent travelers

Cons:

• Slightly more expensive than some competitors
• Unlimited plans are only available in select countries
• Coverage can be spotty in remote areas
• No phone support, only live chat/email

How Does Ubigi Compare to Other eSIM Providers?

When compared to its main eSIM rivals, Ubigi stacks up pretty well. This is largely due to it being easy to use and enjoying reliable performance.

For instance, while Airalo offers lower-cost short-term plans, it can’t match Ubigi’s network quality or 5G availability. Likewise, even though Holafly offers unlimited data in more countries, unlike Ubigi’s service, it often comes with throttled speeds after heavy usage.

Additionally, other companies like Nomad, FlexiRoam, and Cricket Wireless might compete well on global plans, but they sometimes lag in app experience and network consistency by comparison.

Is Ubigi Worth It?

If you’re someone who wants an eSIM that offers reliable speeds, a polished app, and broad coverage, then Ubigi is absolutely worth it.

While not always the cheapest, its broad coverage, solid 4G/5G speeds, and user-friendly setup make it a dependable option for staying online wherever you go.

Moreover, as it does not hit you with hidden fees and also provides hotspot support, you can’t really go wrong.