Ubigi eSIM review 2026: Is it worth it after real testing?

Key takeaways on Ubigi

Ubigi is a really affordable eSIM, undercutting many of the more established eSIM companies in the market. The app is fairly bare bones, however, and lacks some features that have become common among other eSIM providers. So what are the key takeaways on Ubigi? 

• Strong performance in the UK, with consistently fast speeds in cities.

• Simple setup process, from both browser and app.

• Prices vary a lot by country, but some prices are very low compared to other eSIM providers.

• Limited options for small data packages (under 5 GB), but loads of great options for larger, longer data deals.

• Limited extra features, and no loyalty program or in-app currency.

Overall, Ubigi performs well across most metrics and could be a great option for getting online while traveling. The service is a strong alternative to internet solutions like international roaming or physical SIM cards. When comparing an eSIM vs. a physical SIM, most eSIMs are easier to acquire and activate than their physical counterparts.

What is a Ubigi eSIM and how does it work?

Ubigi is an eSIM company founded in 2017 and is currently based in Paris, France. The Ubigi eSIM app lets you temporarily connect to local mobile networks while traveling. To use this eSIM, you pay for a specific plan, choosing from a range of durations and the data allowances on the Ubigi website, and then activate the plan through the Ubigi app.

The Ubigi app offers a lot of benefits — no expensive roaming fees, no unreliable public Wi-Fi, and no time wasted swapping physical SIM cards. You don’t even need to remove your SIM card when you download an eSIM because the eSIM profile is completely digital. As long as you have an eSIM-compatible device, you can get your Ubigi eSIM installed and activated in a few minutes.

Most eSIM applications work in the same way and their performance quality is determined by the infrastructure in the specific location you’re visiting. Rating an eSIM app based on internet speed, for example, doesn’t make much sense, because you’re really just rating the mobile service providers in the country you were visiting. To work out how good an eSIM app is, you have to look at other factors beyond just performance — factors like affordability, plan variety, coverage, customer support, and extra features.

Ubigi eSIM pros and cons at a glance

Before diving into the details, here’s a quick snapshot of what the Ubigi eSIM app does well and where it falls short. This will give you a clear idea of its strengths and limitations — though we’ll go into most of these pros and cons in more detail later.

Pros

Ubigi has a lot of benefits, from widespread coverage to flexible plan options, including:

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  Wide destination coverage (200+ destinations).

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  Easy installation via the app or a QR code.

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  Reliable connection speeds in urban areas.

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  Hotspot tethering support.

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  Flexible plan options with wide price ranges.

Cons

While Ubigi has a few downsides, none of them are of critical importance. Still, it’s worth knowing the negatives before deciding whether or not this app is right for you. These include: 

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  Limited extra features.

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  No rewards or loyalty program.

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  Sometimes contradictory AI customer support.

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  No voice/SMS options (this applies to most eSIM apps, including Saily).

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  Sometimes more expensive — some other providers offer lower entry price points.

How to install a Ubigi eSIM on your phone

Getting started with Ubigi is super straightforward. Before you begin, check that your device is eSIM compatible and unlocked (not tied to a specific carrier). 

Incompatibility means you can’t use an eSIM on your device under any circumstances. On the other hand, a locked device is less of a problem because you can just call your provider to get it unlocked. 

Follow these steps to install and activate your Ubigi eSIM:

1. Download the Ubigi eSIM app, create an account, and log in.

2. Tap “Buy a new Ubigi eSIM,” look for the destination you want to visit, and choose the data plan you want.

3. Complete your purchase and follow the on-screen installation instructions.

4. When you arrive at your destination, your plan will automatically activate (thanks to Ubigi’s SmartStart feature), and you’ll be online.

Alternatively, you can start the process by choosing and buying a plan on the Ubigi browser website. Doing so causes an email to be sent to your inbox, containing a QR code. Scanning the QR code installs the Ubigi app on your smartphone, and you can then finish the setup on your device.

The experience of installing an eSIM is usually quite formulaic, whatever app or service you’re using — the main variable is your device. Our guide on how to install an eSIM on an iPhone will walk you through the essentials. Need to know how to install an eSIM on an Android? We’ve got you covered as well.

Ubigi eSIM review: Pricing and plans

Ubigi offers a huge variety of plans, some of which are extremely good value for money. Having tested the app in the UK, we’ll start by focusing on its UK data deals. 

The cheapest Ubigi plan for the UK is US$6 — this gets you 5 GB, and instead of having a fixed duration, your data renews each month on a rolling payment plan. You can cancel at any time, but you do run the risk of paying for more months than you need. The cheapest fixed-duration plan is US$7, but it comes with a little less data — 3 GB for 30 days. At the other end of Ubigi’s price range, you can get unlimited UK data for US$44, lasting 30 days.  

Different destinations have different price points, and Ubigi’s UK eSIMs are among its cheapest deals. In the USA, for example, a 3 GB eSIM is still US$7, but the plan’s duration is only 15 days. For 30 days of unlimited USA data, you’ll be paying US$65 — that’s US$21 more than the same deal in the UK.

You can expect to pay under US$10 for most Ubigi plans of 3 GB or less, but prices bounce around depending on where you’re traveling. Let’s compare a few of Ubigi’s plans (focusing only on fixed-term deals, since most users will choose those over rolling monthly contracts).

This information was accurate as of November 18, 2025, but is subject to change. Again, rolling monthly and annual deals have been excluded from the data presented above. 

Of course, Ubigi is just one of many eSIM providers currently operating. Let’s see how it stacks up against other options.

Network speed and performance

We tested Ubigi’s speed and performance in the UK. The signal was predictably excellent in urban centers like Glasgow and Manchester and much poorer in remote rural areas. That’s because 5G cell infrastructure is reliable and well-maintained in UK cities and quite limited in the countryside. 

Let’s be honest — eSIM comparisons based on internet speed aren't actually helpful, because you’re really just reflecting on the speeds offered by mobile providers in the country you visited. Like most eSIM apps, Ubigi only connects your device to major mobile networks within each country you travel to. The app itself doesn’t determine network performance. 

As a general rule, expect faster speeds in large urban centers and less reliable coverage when traveling in remote areas or in countries where mobile infrastructure isn’t great. This proved to be the case in the UK and will be true of most places you visit with a Ubigi eSIM.

Customer support

Ubigi’s customer support is a mixed bag. While customer support is available 24/7, that might not mean talking to a human whenever you like.

The good news is that the website’s AI chatbot is surprisingly good. The bot is called Ubi and it responds quickly, providing useful information and engaging in very fluid conversations. 

The other option for contacting Ubigi is via an email portal on its website, but you should be aware that the initial email responses you receive are also generated by Ubi. Impressive as Ubi seems after a brief interaction, the information it provides isn’t always accurate — we sent the same query to Ubi via email and through the browser chatbot and received contradictory answers from both. 

On the bright side, you can ask Ubi to connect you to a human to discuss issues further, but you may still have to waste time being bamboozled by a confused robot before you get to actually speak to someone who works at Ubigi.

Additional features

Ubigi doesn’t offer a wealth of extra features, which is probably its main weakness. The app’s big selling point is affordability, and you don’t get a lot of additional benefits or add-ons on top of that.

Ubigi doesn’t offer a loyalty system or in-app credits (a common feature with many eSIM services), but users can monitor their data usage in the app, which is helpful if you’re on a tighter data allowance. A Ubigi eSIM can also be used to run a hotspot, tethering other devices.

Again, Ubigi offers a very basic service, but most users won’t mind — after all, its data deals are affordable and the app is easy to use.

Ubigi alternatives

Ubigi is just one of many eSIM companies, all offering slightly different unique selling points. Let’s see how it compares to the other major players in the industry: 

Airalo

Ubigi offers a much wider range of plans than Airalo for most destinations, giving users greater flexibility in choosing the deals that match their travel needs. Ubigi also ranks higher for customer satisfaction. Despite having almost twice as many Trustpilot reviews as Airalo, Ubigi’s overall rating is higher, and it has 10% fewer one star reviews (as of November 18, 2025). If you’re interested in learning more about Airalo, our Airalo review looks more deeply into the app’s pros and cons. 

Holafly

The big difference between Holafly and Ubigi is data — Holafly only offers unlimited plans, while Ubigi provides a range of data deals, including unlimited packages. For that reason, the easiest way to compare these two services is based on the price of their unlimited data plans. A 30-day unlimited data plan is usually cheaper with Ubigi — sometimes by as much as US$10. As we said in our Holafly review, if you want unlimited data for a shorter duration, Holafly might be the better choice, but generally speaking, Ubigi holds up very well in this comparison. 

Saily

Saily is one of the best travel apps out there (as demonstrated by reviews from Lonely Planet, TechRadar, and CyberNews). Still, Ubigi comes out looking pretty good on price, plan flexibility, and overall performance in a direct Saily vs. Ubigi comparison. The big disparity comes with the extra features offered by each app. Saily’s users pay around the same as Ubigi’s but get access to a lot of great additional benefits, like ad blocking, extra cybersecurity measures, and enhanced online privacy. If you don’t consider those additional features, though, Ubigi and Saily are pretty tied for affordability (even if Saily does edge ahead in some areas). 

Verdict: Is a Ubigi eSIM worth it?

After testing Ubigi in the UK, messing around with its various customer support features, and researching plans from a variety of locations, here’s our verdict. Ubigi is one of the cheapest eSIM apps available right now, but it might not be the best one from a value-for-money perspective. 

While it undercuts the prices of many major eSIM apps, it’s pretty much tied with Saily, especially for its cheapest and most expensive plans. But for roughly the same price point, Saily eSIM users are getting a host of extra features, like enhanced cybersecurity, virtual location switching, reduced online trackers, and ad blocking. That last one is important, because Saily’s ad block saves an average of 28.6% of data per page, so users get more out of their data plan. 

We do our best to keep everything accurate and up to date, but eSIM service provider prices, plans, and features can change quickly. If you spot something that seems outdated or incorrect, feel free to get in touch with us at [email protected] — we’d really appreciate the heads-up!