If you only want the answer: for a 7-day Japan trip with 10GB, Ubigi is US$14 and Airalo is US$17, so Ubigi is US$3 cheaper on the like-for-like plan. If you want unlimited data, compare Ubigi 8 days at US$25 with Airalo 7 days at US$26.50. Both are data-only, so neither gives you a Japanese phone number.
Ubigi US$14 vs Airalo US$17.
Ubigi 8 days: US$25. Airalo 7 days: US$26.50.
These travel eSIM options are data-only.
Airalo vs Ubigi in Japan: the current numbers
The comparison is easy to get wrong because both brands change their plan menus. These are provider-published prices checked on September 17, 2026. Recheck the provider page before buying.
| What matters | Airalo Japan | Ubigi Japan |
|---|---|---|
| 10GB / 7 days | US$17 | US$14 |
| Unlimited around 1 week | 7 days, US$26.50 | 8 days, US$25 |
| 30-day fixed data example | 20GB / 30 days, US$25 | 25GB / 30 days, US$32 |
| Japan networks shown by provider | SoftBank + KDDI | KDDI + NTT Docomo |
| Japanese phone number | No — data-only plan | No — data-only service |
| Activation | Validity starts when the eSIM connects to a supported network in Japan | Smartstart activates the plan on arrival in the covered destination |
| Data sharing / hotspot | Check the exact package details before purchase | Provider explicitly says data sharing is allowed |
Official checks: Airalo Japan fixed-data plans · Airalo unlimited plans · Ubigi 10GB / 7 days · Ubigi unlimited / 8 days
Which should you buy for a 7-day Japan trip?
Choose Ubigi if 10GB is enough
Ubigi currently lists 10GB / 7 days for US$14, while Airalo lists 10GB / 7 days for US$17. On the same data allowance and validity, Ubigi is US$3 cheaper. For a traveler mainly using maps, train apps, messaging, browsing and occasional social media, that is the cleanest price comparison.
Ubigi also states that its Japan plans use KDDI and NTT Docomo, support 5G where available, allow data sharing, and use Smartstart so the validity begins when you arrive in the covered destination.
Choose an unlimited plan if you do not want to watch a data counter
Ubigi lists unlimited data for 8 days at US$25. Airalo lists unlimited data for 7 days at US$26.50. That is close enough that price alone should not decide it; compare the fair-use policy and the network you prefer.
Which has the better network in Japan?
Airalo’s current Japan package information lists SoftBank and KDDI. Ubigi lists KDDI and NTT Docomo. That does not guarantee one service will always be faster at your hotel, station or mountain town, but it is a real difference between the products.
If your trip includes rural areas and you specifically want access to an NTT Docomo network option, Ubigi is the obvious one to examine first. If your trip is mostly Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, do not pay for a theoretical coverage advantage you may never notice—compare the actual package, validity and fair-use terms instead.
Airalo vs Ubigi for 30 days
For a month-long trip, the answer changes again. Airalo currently lists 20GB / 30 days for US$25, while Ubigi lists 25GB / 30 days for US$32. Ubigi gives 5GB more; Airalo costs US$7 less. If 20GB is enough, Airalo can be the better fixed-data value. If you want the extra data or Ubigi’s network combination, the additional cost may be worth it.
Ubigi also sells a one-off unlimited 30-day plan for US$65. Airalo’s unlimited 30-day Japan plan is currently US$69. Again, check fair-use rules rather than comparing the word “unlimited” by itself.
Do Airalo or Ubigi give you a Japanese phone number?
No. The Japan travel eSIM products compared here are data-only. You can still use WhatsApp, LINE, iMessage and other internet-based services, but if a Japanese service requires a domestic SMS code or a Japanese phone number, you need a different type of mobile plan.
Need Japanese SMS or a local number? See the Japan phone-number options →
Final verdict: Airalo or Ubigi for Japan?
Pick Ubigi for a 7-day trip if 10GB is enough, or if KDDI + NTT Docomo access is a priority.
Compare both for unlimited data: current one-week prices are very close and the fair-use terms matter more than the brand.
Pick Airalo for a 30-day fixed-data trip when 20GB is enough and its current US$25 price beats the amount of data you actually need.
Pick neither if your real requirement is a Japanese phone number or SMS verification.
The mistake is not choosing Airalo instead of Ubigi. The mistake is buying the brand before deciding how many days, how much data, which network and whether you need an actual Japanese number.
FAQ
Is Ubigi cheaper than Airalo in Japan?
Sometimes. For the same 10GB / 7-day allowance, Ubigi is US$14 and Airalo is US$17. Airalo also lists an unlimited 7-day plan at US$26.50. For 30 days, Airalo’s 20GB plan is US$25 and Ubigi’s 25GB plan is US$32. They are not identical data allowances, so compare the amount you will actually use.
Which network does Airalo use in Japan?
Airalo’s current Japan package information lists SoftBank and KDDI.
Which network does Ubigi use in Japan?
Ubigi lists KDDI and NTT Docomo for its Japan plans.
Can I use Airalo or Ubigi for Japanese SMS verification?
Not with the data-only Japan plans compared here. You need a service that explicitly includes a Japanese phone number and SMS.
