Ubigi alternatives, and what you would be giving up

First, the honest framing

Ubigi is one of the better-documented providers in this category, and most people looking for an alternative are not unhappy with them. They are usually looking for one of three things:

A different price on a specific destination. Ubigi’s pricing is not uniform. On the Japan 10GB plan we checked they were competitive; on some regional plans they are not.

Australian dollar pricing. The Ubigi Japan page displayed US$16.50 to us with a currency selector available. If you want the number on the page to be the number on your statement, that is a reason to look around.

A different plan shape. Ubigi sells metered gigabytes with top-ups. If you want unlimited days, or a very large bucket over a short window, that is a different product.

If none of those apply, stay where you are. We have set out the longer case in is Ubigi worth it.

What Ubigi publishes, so you know what you would be swapping

These are the things worth checking an alternative against, all from Ubigi’s own pages on 27 August 2026.

On their unlimited plans, the fair use thresholds vary by plan type. Ubigi publishes roughly 15GB to 25GB on seven day country plans and 60GB on thirty day regional plans, both depending on the country, with speeds reduced to up to 2 Mbps where the policy applies. Those numbers belong to those plan types. Do not assume the one you read applies to the plan you are buying.

Sources: Ubigi Japan 10GB 30 day plan and Ubigi’s unlimited data plans FAQ.

The Japan comparison, in the currency each provider showed us

We have kept every provider in the currency their page actually displayed on 27 August 2026, because converting them ourselves and printing the result as a price would hide both the exchange rate and whatever your card adds on a foreign transaction.

This is not a league table and you should not read it as one. Three of these rows are in US dollars and three are in Australian dollars, one is unlimited rather than metered, and three were mid-promotion when we looked. A promotional price is not a standing price and may be gone by the time you read this.

We maintain a dated multi-provider table here: travel eSIM prices in Australia, and the currency question has its own article: travel eSIMs priced in Australian dollars.

1. Us, if you want the whole purchase in Australian dollars

What we offer. Our Japan 10GB over 30 days is A$19.95, in Australian dollars, so the price on the page is the price on your statement. The SIM Shop is not registered for GST, so GST is not charged. We are The SIM Shop Pty Ltd, ABN 50 699 035 704, ACN 699 035 704, based in Brisbane and trading online.

On the Japan plan compared here, we publish the supported local networks directly on the product page. That is specific to that plan; we publish network information where our supplier evidence supports it rather than making a blanket claim across the range.

Our SIM Shop Credit terms and our refund policy are both public pages you can read before you buy rather than after.

Where Ubigi is ahead of us. They let you top up through their app without wifi or remaining data, and we do not have an equivalent. They publish quantified fair use thresholds and a 2 Mbps reduced speed on the plans that policy covers. And on the Japan comparison above, their displayed price was lower than ours before any conversion is applied.

Who we suit. Someone who wants a fixed amount of data, the price settled in Australian dollars up front, an Australian business to email when something goes wrong, and the plan details visible on the page before they pay.

2. Travelkon, if you want an Australian retailer with a long review record

What they offer. Their Japan 5G eSIM listed a 10GB over 30 days option at A$25.00, discounted to A$18.75 during a promotion running when we checked on 27 August 2026. Prices are in Australian dollars.

They publish “Coverage on KDDI” on that Japan product, state “Hotspot/Tethering enabled”, and publish a reduced speed of 128kbps once the included allowance is used. Their page also states the eSIM must connect to a supported network and be used within 180 days of purchase.

They hold 5.0 stars from 1,056 reviews on ProductReview.com.au with a 2026 award badge, checked 27 August 2026. That is a substantial independent record and it is a legitimate reason to buy from them.

What you give up. 128kbps is very slow in practical terms. It will struggle with maps and most things beyond text. Ubigi’s up to 2 Mbps on the plans where its policy applies is a different experience entirely. Their headline price also depended on a promotion that may not be running when you look.

3. Airalo, if you want the widest destination catalogue

What they offer. The largest destination list in this category, Australian dollar billing for Australian customers, and a fair use policy that states “There is no limit on tethering or the number of devices you connect.” If you plan to run a laptop off your phone, that sentence is worth money.

What you give up. Airalo’s fair use policy reduces speed to 1 Mbps for the rest of a 24 hour period once more than 3GB is used that day, which is half Ubigi’s reduced speed where its policy applies. They do not publish local carrier names the way Ubigi does on the Japan plan. Verify their current price for your destination before you switch, because it varies widely by region.

4. Holafly, if you want unlimited days rather than gigabytes

What they offer. A different product shape. Their interactive Japan selector offered one day at A$6.00, while the separate duration table on the same page showed US$27.50 for seven days through to US$73.90 for thirty days when we checked. They also publish a refund period of up to six months covering withdrawal, incompatible devices and connection problems.

What you give up. Their Japan unlimited plans publish a hotspot allowance of 1GB per day, which is the clause most likely to matter if you are sharing. They describe a fair usage measure applied temporarily rather than publishing a threshold, so you cannot work out in advance whether you would reach it. Full comparison: Holafly vs Ubigi.

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

What they offer. Their Japan 10GB over 30 days showed an RRP of US$20.57 with a promotional price of US$14.40 when we checked. They sell both eSIMs and physical SIMs, offer data sharing and a schedulable plan start, and are listed on the ASX under FRX, so their corporate and financial disclosures are public in a way a private operator’s are not.

What you give up. Their refund policy ties eligibility to specified technical, service, fraud or account problems rather than offering a general change of mind right, applies a 5% administrative fee to refunds, and directs many refunds to Flexiroam Wallet credit valid for two years rather than back to your card. Ubigi’s Japan plan simply activates on arrival and expires unactivated after six months. Their ProductReview.com.au record is 2.8 from 46 reviews, checked 27 August 2026.

6. Jetpac, if travel extras matter to you

What they offer. Their Japan 10GB over 30 days listed at A$36.50 with a promotional price of A$25.50 when we checked. 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. They also sell airport lounge and fast track passes separately from the data.

What you give up. A higher checked Australian-dollar price than our A$19.95 Japan plan, a 1 Mbps reduced speed against Ubigi’s 2 Mbps, and their published terms treat an installed eSIM as used for refund purposes. Their ProductReview.com.au listing showed 1.0 from 3 reviews on 27 August 2026, which is far too small a sample to draw a conclusion from in either direction.

Which swap for which problem

What we would check before switching either way

The exact plan, not the brand. Every provider on this page has plans with different fair use thresholds, hotspot rules and validity windows. The destination page for the plan you are buying is the only thing that governs your trip.

Whether a promotion is running. Two of the prices above were promotional on 27 August 2026 and are not standing prices.

The settlement currency at checkout. A currency selector on a product page is not the same as the currency your card is charged in.

Whether your phone is unlocked and eSIM capable. A locked or incompatible handset will not run a travel eSIM from anyone, and several providers exclude that situation from their refund terms, so it is worth ruling out before you buy.

Questions people actually ask

Does Ubigi tell you which network you will be on?

On the Japan 10GB plan we checked, yes: KDDI and NTT Docomo. That is published per plan, so check the destination you are buying rather than assuming it applies everywhere.

What speed does Ubigi reduce to?

Up to 2 Mbps where its fair use policy applies. The threshold varies by plan type, with roughly 15GB to 25GB published for seven day country plans and 60GB for thirty day regional plans, both depending on the country.

Which alternative bills in Australian dollars?

We do, and Travelkon and Jetpac displayed Australian dollars on the pages we checked. Airalo bills Australian customers in Australian dollars. Ubigi and Flexiroam displayed US dollars. Holafly’s interactive selector showed Australian dollars while its separate duration table still showed US dollars, so check the final checkout currency.

Is Ubigi expensive?

It depends entirely on the destination and the plan. On the Japan 10GB plan we checked they were competitive. Check your own destination rather than generalising from one comparison.

Which alternative has the most independent reviews in Australia?

Travelkon, at 5.0 from 1,056 reviews on ProductReview.com.au as at 27 August 2026. Flexiroam showed 2.8 from 46 and Jetpac 1.0 from 3. Ubigi itself showed 2.3 from 2 reviews, which is too small a sample to mean much.

Can I use any of these as a hotspot?

All of them allow some form of sharing, but the rules differ per plan. Holafly’s Japan unlimited plans publish 1GB a day, Ubigi’s Japan plan shares from the plan’s own data, and Airalo states there is no limit on tethering or the number of devices you connect.

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

Ubigi price, named carriers, data sharing, top ups, activation and unactivated expiry from Ubigi’s Japan 10GB 30 day plan page; fair use thresholds and reduced speed from Ubigi’s unlimited data plans FAQ. Travelkon prices, network, hotspot statement, 128kbps reduced speed and 180 day use-by from their Japan eSIM product page. 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. Holafly prices, sharing allowance and refund period from their Japan eSIM page. 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; our Credit terms and refund policy are public. All competitor pages checked 27 August 2026. Prices and promotions change without notice.

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