Ubigi eSIM review 2026
The Ubigi eSIM is a data-only plan from Transatel, an NTT Group company, whose validity starts on arrival and whose terms run from one day to 12 months.
Quick Verdict: Is Ubigi Worth It?
This Ubigi review lands on a clear fit: frequent travelers who cross regions and want one reusable profile across an iPhone, an iPad and a Windows 11 laptop. Validity that starts on arrival and unlimited plans are the strengths. The limits are firm, with no number, no calls and no SMS. It scores 4.3/5 on features, a figure that leaves out price, support and refunds. Is Ubigi legit? A 4.1 Trustpilot score from 46,310 reviews points to yes. Ubigi coverage is marketed as 200+ destinations, sold through country, regional and World scopes. Ubigi pricing is best on larger regional bundles and weakest on small World packs.
All Features at a Glance
Based only on the features listed below. It does not include price, support or refund policy.
▾ How this score is calculated
Each feature earns its weight if it is available (Yes = full weight, Partial = half, No = zero). Score = 1 + 4 × (points earned ÷ 22 possible points).
- •Local/country plans, Top-up available: 3 points each
- •Regional plans, Global plans, Calls included, Unlimited data plans, Hotspot/tethering, App available: 2 points each
- •Reusable eSIM, Multi-device support, SMS included, Local number: 1 point each
- •Data only, Subscription/auto-renew: shown for information, not scored
What Is Ubigi, and Who Is It For?
Ubigi is a data-only eSIM service sold under the Transatel brand, provided by Transatel S.A.S or its affiliates under French law with Paris courts as venue. Transatel was founded in 2000 and has been majority-owned by NTT Communications since 28 February 2019, and the consumer brand launched in 2017. Transatel describes itself as a mobile network enabler with its own core network and roaming agreements, so plans run on roaming-based data rather than a single local network. They come as country, regional and World scopes, delivered as an eSIM profile you download through the app or a QR code.
Multi-Device Travelers
Wants data on an iPad or Windows 11 laptop as well as a phone, with one eSIM and account per device.
Long-haul, multi-region travelers
Crosses regions and prefers one reusable profile to a new QR code for every trip.
Heavy regional users
Burns 20 to 50 GB on regional or annual plans, where the per-GB rate is lowest.
Connected car owners
With BMW, MINI, Toyota, Jaguar Land Rover, or Stellantis vehicles needing factory-integrated in-car Wi-Fi
Not for voice, SMS or ID-shy travelers
Anyone needing a local number, the cheapest small pack, or a sign-up that skips an ID copy should look elsewhere.
Which Countries Does Ubigi Cover?
Ubigi markets “more than 200 destinations”, but its plan catalogue lists 173 individual countries and territories with their own plans. The catalogue count is the one used here, and the features table above matches it. Third-party listings sell the World plan as covering 201 countries, which fits the marketing figure. Named network partners include NTT Docomo and KDDI in Japan, SK Telecom in South Korea, Orange in Europe and AIS in Thailand. Transatel’s October 2025 release cites roaming deals with more than 300 operators, but another Transatel-linked page says more than 350 and ubigi.com says more than 200. Trustpilot reviewers, checked 22 September 2026, mention regional coverage drops.
200+ destinations covered
across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, and
Oceania
4G standard, 5G expanding
60+ countries, with 4G/LTE standard across all destinations
Ranked fastest eSIM
Regional bundles
covers Europe (30+ countries), Asia (16+ countries), Americas, Africa, Caribbean, and Middle East zones
How Does Ubigi Pricing Work?
Ubigi is prepaid and comes in three shapes: one-off plans from 1 day to 12 months, monthly plans that auto-renew, and annual plans paid in full upfront with a monthly data allowance. As of 22 September 2026, prices run from USD 2 (Asia 500 MB for 1 day, Europe 500 MB for 2 days) to USD 390 (World 200 GB for 12 months), with sizes from 500 MB to 200 GB plus unlimited. Regional bundles carry the value: Europe 50 GB costs USD 54, or USD 1.08 per GB, while World 10 GB is USD 59 for 30 days against USD 39 for Best World 10 GB. Unlimited plans, sold in 105 single countries plus regional and World scopes, drop to 2 Mbps after roughly 15 to 25 GB on 7-day country plans or 60 GB on 30-day regional ones, though one help page says 1000 Kbps and an older source 512 Kbps. Validity starts on arrival in a covered area, or immediately if you are already there. Top-ups go through the app, work after data runs out and need no Wi-Fi. Monthly plans bill a card and can be cancelled after three months. Hotspot use is allowed, but the terms bar uses that congest the network.
Is Ubigi Legit?
Yes, Ubigi is a very reputable company. The company behind it is Transatel S.A.S in Paris, an NTT Group company, and the terms fall under French law. Trustpilot shows 4.1 out of 5 from 46,310 reviews with 66 percent five-star and 12 percent one-star. Reviewers praise easy setup, signal and human support, and complain about regional coverage, abrupt caps and variable speed. Ubigi shows no rating of its own on its site, so there is no second figure to set against Trustpilot’s. Card payment is confirmed for monthly plans, and the help center names no other method. Identity checks, refunds and support are covered in the FAQ below.
Ubigi's Pros and Cons
- Validity starts on arrival. SmartStart begins the plan clock once the phone reaches a covered area, so days bought early are not burned before the trip.
- Beyond phones. Windows 11 laptops, iPads and nine connected-car brands are supported, so a tablet, a laptop or a car can share the same provider as a phone.
- Reusable, easy to top up. One profile serves later trips, and the app can top it up mid-trip, so a returning traveler skips a fresh QR code each time.
- Unlimited with a floor. Unlimited plans slow down after the cap instead of stopping outright, so heavy users keep a connection, and the pricing section gives the thresholds.
- Cheap regional bundles. Europe 50 GB works out at USD 1.08 per GB, well below what the World plans charge.
- Data only. With no number, calls or SMS, verification texts and phone calls need another SIM or a VoIP app.
- Small World packs cost more. World 1 GB at USD 14 and World 10 GB at USD 59 hurt light users on short trips.
- Narrow refunds. Only an unscanned QR code qualifies, and annual plans are never refunded, which hurts anyone who buys before checking their phone or route.
- Monthly lock-in. Monthly plans auto-renew with a three-month minimum, which traps anyone who only needed one month.
- ID copy requested. The terms ask for an ID or passport copy, which will bother privacy-minded travelers.
FAQs
How do I set up and activate a Ubigi eSIM?
- Dial *#06# to confirm your phone shows an EID and supports eSIM.
- Buy a plan, then download the profile through the Ubigi app or by QR code activation; Android needs Wi-Fi for this step.
- Install it before you travel.
- On arrival, switch the line on in your phone settings.
Validity starts once you reach a covered area, or immediately if you are already there.
What is Ubigi's refund policy?
Ubigi refunds a preloaded eSIM only if its QR code has not been scanned, and you must ask within 14 business days of purchase. Approved refunds return to the original payment method within 10 business days. Recharges cannot be refunded once service has started, and annual plans are not refundable at all. The Ubigi refund policy therefore rewards checking your phone and route before you scan anything.
Can I reinstall or transfer my Ubigi eSIM to a new phone?
Yes, up to five times after deletion. The profile must be deleted on the first phone before it installs on the new one, so a transfer is really a delete and reinstall, and Android needs Wi-Fi for it. If the old phone is lost or broken, contact support instead. With only five reinstalls allowed, people who swap phones often should keep count.
How long does a Ubigi eSIM stay active without a new plan?
Ubigi’s help center says the profile stays active if you buy a plan at least once every 18 months, while its terms allow suspension after 24 months unused. Those two figures conflict, so treat 18 months as the safe limit. A profile kept for occasional trips should get a purchase at least every year and a half, because the reusable eSIM only saves rescanning a QR code while it stays active.
Does Ubigi require ID verification?
The terms ask for a copy of an ID or passport before first use or within 15 days, and customers under 18 need guardian consent. Ubigi does not say how strictly the request is enforced, so plan to hand over the document rather than rely on it being skipped. Travelers who do not want to share ID are among those the terms effectively rule out.
How do I contact Ubigi support?
The contact form is the best route, according to Ubigi’s help center. Live chat can escalate to a human agent, and a WhatsApp AI assistant called Ubi is also offered. Customer service by email runs Monday to Sunday, 08:00 to 21:00 CET. Ubigi states no reply time and does not confirm 24/7 chatbot hours, though Trustpilot reviewers praise human support.
Does Ubigi offer 5G, and does it cost extra?
Ubigi’s 5G help page does not state any extra charge, and a phone falls back to 4G wherever 5G is unavailable. The page’s destination count conflicts with its own list, as the coverage table above shows, so check the list for your route before you count on 5G. Because plans roam on partner operators, the speed you see depends on the local network, and Trustpilot reviewers mention variable speed.
How do I check my remaining Ubigi data?
Open the My Account tab or the Ubigi app, which show your balance. Because Trustpilot reviewers complain about abrupt caps, and unlimited plans slow at set thresholds, look at the counter before a long stretch of streaming or video calls. If you run low, a top-up in the app covers you, as the pricing section explains. On a monthly plan that you cancel, any remaining data stays usable until the end of the paid month.
