Travelkon alternatives, and how to compare them fairly

Start here: Travelkon is a strong option

Most alternatives articles open by explaining what is wrong with the incumbent. That would be misleading here, so here is the fair summary first.

They publish the network. Their Japan 5G eSIM states “Coverage on KDDI” on the product page. Plenty of providers in this category never tell you whose network you are on. Background reading: who owns the network behind your travel eSIM.

They publish the reduced speed. Their Japan product states 128kbps once the included allowance is used. That is very slow in practice and we will come back to it, but publishing a number is more useful to a buyer than an undefined “reduced speed” statement.

They have a substantial independent review record. 5.0 stars from 1,056 reviews on ProductReview.com.au, with a 2026 award badge, checked 27 August 2026. That is the largest review count of any provider in this comparison and it is a genuine advantage.

They sell a broad range, including physical SIM cards as well as eSIMs, which matters if your phone cannot take an eSIM.

They price in Australian dollars, so no exchange rate and no foreign transaction fee.

And they run promotions that can undercut us. On 27 August 2026 their Japan 10GB over 30 days was listed at A$25.00 and selling at A$18.75. Our standing price is A$19.95. During that promotion they were cheaper.

If a long review record, a physical SIM option or an active promotion is what you are after, this page will probably send you back to them.

The Japan comparison, list price and promotion separated

Travelkon does sell a 10GB over 30 day plan, so a proper like-for-like comparison is possible. We have used standing list prices as the primary comparison and shown promotional prices separately, because a sale price tells you what one week costs, not what the product costs.

Two things to hold in your head at once. Our standing Japan price is lower than Travelkon’s listed standing price. And while their promotion was running on 27 August 2026, theirs was the cheaper plan. Both statements are true and neither is the whole picture.

The first two rows and Jetpac are displayed in Australian dollars. Ubigi and Flexiroam displayed US dollars, so putting those beside an Australian dollar figure understates them by whatever the exchange rate and your card’s foreign transaction fee come to. We have not converted them, because publishing a converted number as if it were a price hides both of those.

Travelkon’s full Japan ladder, checked 27 August 2026, list price then promotional price, both AUD:

That is a genuinely broad ladder, and the larger tiers are competitive. If you want 50GB or more, very few providers in this market sell that shape at all.

Our dated multi-provider table lives here: travel eSIM prices in Australia.

The one thing worth weighing carefully: 128kbps

Travelkon’s Japan product publishes 128kbps as the speed once your included allowance is used.

Being straight about what that means: 128kbps is very slow. Text messages will get through. Maps will struggle. Anything with images will feel broken. If you expect to use your full allowance and keep going, that is worth knowing before you buy.

Being equally straight about the alternative: several providers publish nothing at all, and a number you can plan around beats silence. Travelkon telling you it is 128kbps is more useful than a vague statement about managing network traffic.

Where the alternatives sit: Ubigi publishes up to 2 Mbps where its fair use policy applies, with thresholds of roughly 15GB to 25GB on seven day country plans and 60GB on thirty day regional plans depending on the country. Jetpac’s unlimited plan describes the first 3GB every 24 hours at standard speeds then up to 1 Mbps. Airalo reduces speed to 1 Mbps for the remainder of a 24 hour period once more than 3GB is used that day.

If running past your allowance is likely, that is the strongest single reason to look elsewhere. Our own comparison of what “unlimited” means across providers: what “unlimited” actually means.

1. Us, if you want a lower standing price and a simple fixed plan

Our Japan 10GB over 30 days is A$19.95, in Australian dollars. That is below Travelkon’s A$25.00 list price, though above their promotional price while it was running.

On the Japan plan compared here, we publish the supported local networks directly on the product page. We publish that information where our supplier evidence supports it, per plan, rather than making a blanket claim across every destination.

We are The SIM Shop Pty Ltd, ABN 50 699 035 704, ACN 699 035 704, in Brisbane. Our SIM Shop Credit terms and refund policy are public pages. Our refund policy generally addresses the original payment method unless another remedy is chosen, which is worth comparing against providers that direct refunds to store credit by default.

Where Travelkon is ahead of us. Their ProductReview.com.au record is substantial and ours does not exist: we are not listed there, checked 27 August 2026. They sell physical SIM cards and we do not. Their range is broader, including larger tiers we do not offer on Japan. And during a promotion they can be cheaper.

Who we suit. Someone who wants to see the plan clearly before paying, wants the price settled in Australian dollars, and wants an Australian business to email if something does not work.

2. Ubigi, if you might run past your allowance

What they offer. Their Japan 10GB over 30 days displayed US$16.50 when we checked. On that plan they name KDDI and NTT Docomo as the local networks, allow data sharing from the plan’s data, and let you top up through their app even without wifi or remaining data, which is a genuinely rare thing to solve. Plans activate automatically on arrival and expire unactivated after six months.

Their fair use policy quantifies a reduced speed of up to 2 Mbps where it applies, against Travelkon’s 128kbps.

What you give up. US dollar display, so add the exchange rate and any card fee. Their ProductReview.com.au listing showed 2.3 from 2 reviews on 27 August 2026, which is far too small a sample to read anything into, against Travelkon’s 1,056.

3. Flexiroam, if you want a listed company or a physical SIM

What they offer. Their Japan 10GB over 30 days showed an RRP of US$20.57 with a promotional price of US$14.40. They sell physical SIMs alongside eSIMs, offer data sharing and a schedulable plan start, and are listed on the ASX as FRX, which means public corporate and financial disclosures a private operator does not have.

What you give up. Their refund policy ties eligibility to specified technical, service, fraud or account problems rather than a general change of mind right, applies a 5% administrative fee to refunds, and directs many refunds to Flexiroam Wallet credit valid two years rather than back to your card. Their ProductReview.com.au record was 2.8 from 46 reviews on 27 August 2026, with reviews split roughly 39% positive to 61% negative and recurring themes around activation difficulty and support responsiveness.

4. Jetpac, if you want travel extras alongside the data

What they offer. Their Japan 10GB over 30 days listed at A$36.50 with a promotional price of A$25.50. Their unlimited plan describes the first 3GB every 24 hours at standard speeds then up to 1 Mbps. They publish hotspot sharing with no stated limit, and complimentary access to a named set of essential apps on packs of 3GB and above once the main allowance is used. Airport lounge and fast track passes are sold separately from the data plans.

What you give up. A higher checked Australian-dollar price on the like-for-like Japan plan. Their published terms state that once an eSIM is installed it is considered used and no refunds are offered, alongside a separate money back guarantee for incompatibility or connectivity problems, which is a confusing pair to read together. Their ProductReview.com.au listing showed 1.0 from 3 reviews, too small a sample to conclude anything from.

5. Airalo, if you want the widest catalogue or tethering in writing

What they offer. The broadest destination list in this category, Australian dollar billing for Australian customers, and a fair use policy stating “There is no limit on tethering or the number of devices you connect.” That is unusually explicit for this category.

What you give up. Their fair use policy reduces speed to 1 Mbps for the rest of a 24 hour period once more than 3GB is used that day. They do not publish local carrier names the way Travelkon and Ubigi do on the plans checked here. Check their current price for your destination, because it varies a lot by region.

Which swap for which problem

What we would check before buying anything here

Whether the promotion is still on. Travelkon, Flexiroam and Jetpac were all mid-promotion when we checked on 27 August 2026. Compare list prices to understand the product and promotional prices to decide on the day.

The use-by window. Travelkon’s Japan product states the eSIM must connect to a supported network and be used within 180 days of purchase. If you buy a long way ahead, check that against your travel date.

The settlement currency. Ubigi and Flexiroam displayed US dollars, while The SIM Shop, Travelkon and Jetpac displayed Australian dollars. Check the checkout before you enter card details.

Your phone. It needs to be unlocked and eSIM capable, and several providers exclude incompatible or locked devices from refunds. Check before you buy from anyone, including us.

The refund route. Some providers return money to your card, others default to store credit. Ours is set out at our refund policy, and we compare the published policies across providers here: travel eSIM refund policies compared.

Questions people actually ask

Does Travelkon sell a 10GB, 30 day plan?

Yes. On 27 August 2026 their Japan 5G eSIM listed 10GB over 30 days at A$25.00, discounted to A$18.75. Their ladder also runs from 1GB up to 100GB over 90 days.

Is Travelkon cheaper than The SIM Shop?

It depends on the day. Our standing Japan 10GB price of A$19.95 is below their A$25.00 list price. While their promotion was running at A$18.75, theirs was cheaper. Check both on the day you buy.

What does 128kbps actually feel like?

Slow enough that maps struggle and image-heavy pages will not really load. Text should still get through. If you expect to use your whole allowance and keep going, weigh that carefully.

Which provider names the network?

Travelkon publishes “Coverage on KDDI” on the Japan product we checked, and Ubigi names KDDI and NTT Docomo on its Japan 10GB plan. We publish the supported networks on our own Japan plan page. In each case it is published per plan, so check the destination you are buying.

Who has the most Australian reviews?

Travelkon, at 5.0 from 1,056 reviews on ProductReview.com.au as at 27 August 2026, with a 2026 award badge. That is well ahead of everyone else in this comparison.

Does The SIM Shop have reviews?

We are not listed on ProductReview.com.au, checked 27 August 2026. We have a claimed Trustpilot profile at au.trustpilot.com/review/thesimshop.com.au, claimed in June 2026, which had no reviews when we checked on 27 August 2026. While that record builds, the things you can check about us today are our public company details, our published plan information, our public Credit and refund terms, and the fact that every price in this article is dated and linked.

Can I keep my Australian number?

With any travel eSIM, yes. It installs as a second line, so your Australian SIM stays in the phone for calls and texts while the eSIM carries data. Turn data roaming off on your Australian line before you go.

Sources

Travelkon prices, the full Japan ladder, “Coverage on KDDI”, “Hotspot/Tethering enabled”, the 128kbps reduced speed and the 180 day use-by from their Japan 5G eSIM product page, checked 27 August 2026, with a promotion running at that time. Their rating, review count and award badge from their ProductReview.com.au listing, checked 27 August 2026. Ubigi price, named carriers, data sharing, top ups and activation from their Japan 10GB 30 day plan page, and fair use thresholds and reduced speed from their unlimited data plans FAQ. Flexiroam prices from their Japan eSIM shop page and refund terms from their refund policy. Jetpac prices, unlimited terms, hotspot and essential apps from their Japan eSIM page, and refund wording from their published terms and conditions. Airalo tethering wording from their fair use policy. Review ratings and counts from ProductReview.com.au, stated as observed and not interpreted. The SIM Shop price and published supported networks from our Japan eSIM page. All prices and promotions change without notice.

Written by Lachlan, who runs The SIM Shop from Brisbane and answers the support email himself.