Airalo vs Ubigi: Which eSIM to choose?

One of the most important things you have to consider when traveling to another country is the internet connection. An eSIM is one of the easiest alternatives to get an internet connection. Also, these devices are considered one of the best options you can get on the market today. Companies like Airalo and Ubigi offer this kind of device. Because the other options such as International roaming, offer very little and cost quite a lot.

For this reason, there are several companies that are dedicated to the production and sale of the eSIM, among which we find Airalo and Ubigi. So, if you want to know more about Airalo and Ubigi, here in Roaming we will show you everything you need to know about these two companies. This way, you have everything ready to connect to the Internet on your travels.

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What is an eSIM?

Before we start comparing these two eSIM companies, we need to know what an eSIM is. Possibly, the concept of eSIM is familiar to you, as it has become quite popular recently. However, if you have never heard of it before, the eSIM is a completely virtual product. To activate it, you must have a smartphone that has the eSIM technology incorporated.

Once you have a smartphone with eSIM compatible technology, all you have to do is scan the QR code that is sent to your email after purchasing an eSIM from websites such as Airalo and Ubigi. Or also from cellular operators such as Orange or online shops like Holafly. The most compatible cell phones are iPhones and recent high-end cell phones.

How Airalo works

Let’s talk about the first company that offers this product. Airalo is a virtual store that offers multiple products to provide internet to its users. Among the products, eSIMs for multiple countries stand out. These eSIMs can provide internet in certain countries, groups of countries, or regions such as North America or Europe. They also can provide internet globally, that is, no matter where you are.

To buy your eSIM, all you have to do is go to the Airalo website or from the app which also serves as an online store. This application is compatible with both iOS and Android.

Airalo eSIM compatible phones

As we mentioned above, to use an eSIM you must have a smartphone that has eSIM technology included. To find this out, we recommend that you check if your smartphone is on the following list of devices compatible with Airalo eSIM.

iPhone

• iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone XS, iPhone XR , iPhone SE (2020), iPad Air (3rd Generation).

Android

• Samsung Galaxy Fold, Samsung Galaxy S20, Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip.
• Nuu Mobile X5.
• Google Pixel 3 & 3 XL, Google Pixel 3a & 3a XL, Google Pixel 4 & 4 XL.
• Gemini PDA.
• Motorola Razr 2019.
• Huawei P40, Huawei P40 Pro.

Microsoft and other operating systems

• ACER Swift 3, ACER Swift 7.
• ASUS Mini Transformer T 103 HAF, ASUS NovaGo TP370QL, ASUS Vivobook Flip 14 TP401NA.
• Dell Latitude 7210 2-in-1, Dell Latitude 9410, Dell Latitude 7310, Dell Latitude 7410, Dell Latitude 9510.
• HP Elitebook G5, HP Probook G5, HP Zbook G5, HP Spectre Folio 13.
• Lenovo Yoga C630, Lenovo Miix 630, Lenovo Yoga 520, Lenovo Yoga 720 convertible laptops.
• Samsung Galaxy Book 2.
• Surface Go 2.

Countries covered by Airalo

Some of the countries covered by Airalo are Afghanistan, Algeria, American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria. Also, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Benin, Belarus, Belgium, Bermuda. Bolivia, Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba. As well as Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Bulgaria, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, China. It’s important to mention Christmas Island, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, and Curaçao.

On the other hand, we find Germany, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, and Estonia. Also, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, and French Guiana. As well as Georgia, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, and Guam. They are also covered in Guatemala, Guernsey, and Guyana. Of course Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Isle of Man, Israel, and Italy. As well as Jamaica, Japan, Jersey, Jordan, Kiribati. Kuwait, Latvia, and Liechtenstein.

There is also for Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Malaysia, Martinique, Mayotte, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, and Montserrat. Other countries like The Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Northern Mariana Islands, and Norway. Also, Pakistan, Palestine, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and the Philippines. As well as Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, Reunion. St. Barthélemy. St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Martin, St. Vincent, and the Grenadines.

Don’t forget about San Marino, Serbia, Singapore, St. Maarten, Slovakia, and Slovenia. Also, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Svalbard, and Jan Mayen. As well as Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad, and Tobago. And finally, U.S. Virgin Islands, United Kingdom. U.S. Virgin Islands, United Kingdom. United States, Uruguay, Vatican City, and Vietnam.

Airalo Rates

The rates of the eSIM cards sold by Airalo depend, in addition to the country, on the amount of data and the number of days you want to remain connected. In addition to this, remember that Airalo eSIMs are divided into single country eSIMs, regional eSIMs, and Global eSIMs.

Also, the rates for single country eSIM cards are usually 1 GB with 7 days for $8. Regional eSIM cards cost from $5 to $185 depending on the region and the amount of data and days. Finally, the Global eSIM costs from $9 to $90 and has coverage in 87 countries.

Advantages of Airalo’s eSIM

• It has available coverage in numerous countries.
• On the other hand, they have affordable prices.
• 24-hour customer service.

Disadvantages of Airalo

• They do not handle a lot of languages in their service. 
• Problems with the cellular network in some countries according to several users.

Ubigi eSIM, how it works

Now that we know how Airalo eSIMs work, their prices, coverage in other countries, which devices are supported, etc. Now it’s time to talk about the eSIM offered by Ubigi.

Like Airalo, Ubigi is an eSIM card provider. However, Ubigi offers a completely free eSIM prepaid profile to its users through its cellphone app, where they can also top up their eSIM cards to connect to the internet from other countries.

Ubigi eSIM-compatible cell phones

Unlike Airalo, Ubigi has a large number of devices available beyond smartphones and computers. Going so far as to have eSIMs available for tablets and cars. iOS’s devices sold in China do not have eSIM, so they are not supported.

iPhone

• iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, and iPhone SE 2 (2020)

Android

• Google Pixel 5, Google Pixel 4, Google Pixel 4a, Google Pixel 4 XL, Google Pixel 3, Google Pixel 3 XL, Google Pixel 3a, Google Pixel 3a XL
• Huawei P40, Huawei P40 Pro, Huawei Mate 40 Pro
• Motorola Razr
• Samsung Galaxy Fold, Samsung Galaxy Note 20, Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy S20, Samsung Galaxy S20 +, Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2

iOS iPad

• iPad Pro 11 “(1st and 2nd generation), iPad Pro 12.9” and iPad Air (3rd and 4th generation), iPad (7th and 8th generation), iPad Mini (5th generation)

Ubigi supported Android tablets

• Surface Duo
• Gemini PDA

Ubigi compatible cars.

Automobiles from manufacturers such as Jaguar, Land Rover, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Jeep and Maserati. They are compatible with the Ubigi eSIM.

Countries with Ubigi coverage

Some of the countries with Ubigi eSIM coverage are Albania, Antigua, and Barbuda. Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Barbados, Belgium. As well as Bermuda, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic. Also, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, French Guiana, Ghana. Don’t forget about Gibraltar, Greece, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala. Countries like Guernsey, Guyana, and Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary. India, Indonesia, Ireland, Isle of Man, Iceland, Israel, and Italy. 

Other countries are Jamaica, Japan, Jersey, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Martinique, Mayotte, and, Mexico. Also, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, North Macedonia, and Norway. Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico. You can also find Qatar, Reunion, Romania, Russia, St. Kitts, and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, South Africa, and South Korea. As well as Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad, and Tobago. Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United States, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Vatican City, and Vietnam.

Ubigi Rates

At Ubigi you will be able to top up data plans to your eSIM starting at $9. Depending on the country you want to travel to, the price for the number of megabytes and the days you would like to have internet may increase.

Advantages of Ubigi

• You can connect from more devices
• Users report better experiences with the Ubigi network.
• Free eSIM profile

Disadvantages of Ubigi

• Fewer countries covered than Airalo
• Forces you to share your location

Airalo vs Ubigi Which one to choose? Our recommendation

After reviewing all the details from each of these two companies. Due to many countries and numerous cellular devices, between these two options, the Ubigi eSIM card is the winner. We could say that acquiring an eSIM from this company would give you a good experience.

eSIM with other operators

If for some reason neither of these two options caught your attention, we recommend you to take a look at these other options that may be of interest to you. So, if you want to connect to the Internet during your trip and want other options read about:

• eSIM Tanzania: compare, buy, and travel connected
• How to get and activate a T-Mobile prepaid eSIM?
• eSIM Serbia: compare, buy, and travel connected

Leoneska Ruiz

Leoneska over here, your guide to travel connected. I'm a Venezuelan with over 4 years of sharing tips and tricks to keep mobile internet while traveling and make the most of your adventures. With me, you will be able to learn about the use of eSIMs, Pocket WiFis, and more.