Four Japan Travel eSIMs Compared: Ubigi vs. Airalo vs. Maya vs. Mobal

What is Ubigi?

Founded in 2017,Ubigi is a global provider of premium cellular connectivity services. It offers affordable worldwide data plans for Mobile Devices and Connected Cars.Ubigi works with NTT Docomo for reliable coverage across Japan. The company behind Ubigi is Transatel, which is actually owned by NTT.

Ubigi can provide free eSIM profiles as well as local, regional and international prepaid eSIM data plans in over 200 countries including Japan.Whether you're seeking local, regional, or global eSIMs, Ubigi offers a comprehensive range of options. You'll find monthly data plans in some destinations, too.

Ubigi has been a pioneer in the eSIM market and has partnered with Apple and Microsoft to support eSIM on iOS and Windows 10 devices, to keep travelers always connected while on the go.They also offer global cellular connectivity solutions for Connected Cars such as Alfa Romeo, Jeep, Fiat, Maserati, Jaguar and Land Rover. Using the Ubigi SIM card provided with their vehicle, car owners can connect to the internet and enable the navigation and connectivity features of their vehicle’s infotainment system.

For people interested in getting an eSIM from Ubigi, they manage an e-commerce website plus an app for Android and iOS for travelers to get their preferred data package. 

Ubigi Advantages and Disadvantages

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What is Airalo?

Founded in Singapore in 2019,Airalo is the world's first and largest eSIM store with eSIM plans for 200+ countries and regions world-wide.It’s an eSIM provider powered by a user-friendly platform and wide network coverage. Users often praise its helpful customer support, competitively priced plans, and reasonable connection speeds across multiple continents. It offers eSIM plans that can be easily purchased and installed through its mobile app or website.With Airalo eSIMs, travelers can get connected the moment they land in their destination and avoid nasty data roaming charges.

Airalo’s Japanese eSIM uses the SoftBank network, which is one of Japan’s top mobile networks. This means excellent coverage across both urban and most rural areas. Users generally report reliable service and strong signal strength, making it a dependable choice for those venturing into both beaten and off-beaten paths.With Airalo plans, once your eSIM connects to a supported network, your plan kicks in. This means you can set everything up before heading to Japan without wasting time or data.

All of the eSIMs available on Airalo are data-only, meaning that they’re not assigned a phone number and cannot make or receive calls or text messages. They do, however, give you ultra-fast mobile data at nearly local prices.

Airalo Advantages and Disadvantages

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What is Maya Mobile?

Founded in 2015, US-based Maya Mobile is headed by Founder and CEO, Daniel Fry. He brings a wealth of knowledge in technology infrastructure and cloud computing to the business, along with a passion for connectivity.Maya Mobile emerged as a significant player in the eSIM marketplace with a mission to revolutionize how individuals connect while traveling abroad. The company has rapidly expanded its reach, offering coverage in over 190 countries and territories. 

Maya Mobile distinguishes itself by providing highly flexible plans, catering to short-term travelers and long-term digital nomads seeking an uncomplicated and reliable connectivity solution. Unlike a traditional mobile network, Maya Mobile doesn’t own the cell towers it uses, but rather leverages existing partner networks all over the world. An important differentiating factor is that Maya only uses premium networks for faster speed and better reliability AND usually partners with 2 or more networks in each country, giving you the broadest possible coverage.

To summarize, Maya eSIM distinguishes itself with its transparent flat-rate pricing, unlimited data, and Hotspot Capability. Because of these features, it is an ideal choice for people who desire uninterrupted connectivity without worrying about data caps. Additionally, digital nomads working remotely in various locations can benefit from Maya eSIM.

Maya Advantages and Disadvantages

What is Mobal?

Mobal is yet another Japanese-only provider on this list that offers both short-term and long-term plans for staying connected while in Japan. In addition to data plans, they can also provide cell phone numbers for call and messaging functionality for an extra charge. These include both eSIMs and physical SIMs.Another cool feature of Mobal is they donate to charities: “Mobal guarantees that the majority of profits go to its charities, so with your Mobal SIM, you don’t just travel the world, you make it a better place!”Mobal uses the major Japanese network Docomo, which means that you won’t be roaming. It’s 4G LTE and coverage is countrywide. 

If you need unlimited data, you’re out of luck, as Mobal doesn’t offer any unlimited data plans to its customers. It also doesn’t offer live-chat customer support and doesn’t have dedicated apps, so you might experience delays if you need help, and you’ll have to stick to their website to buy your eSIM card and track data usage.

Mobal Advantages and Disadvantages

Ubigi vs. Airalo vs. Maya vs. Mobal: Head-to-Head Comparison

1. Coverage

• Ubigi Coverage

Ubigi covers over 200 destinations across the world. You can purchase data plans for a specific country, an entire region, or even a global plan. Some popular destinations with Ubigi coverage include Hong Kong, Japan, Bali, Greece, Italy, Iceland, Spain, Italy, USA, and New Zealand.

Ubigi, on the other hand, taps into NTT DOCOMO’s network. DOCOMO is renowned for its comprehensive coverage that slightly edges out competitors, especially in remote areas where maintaining a connection can be challenging. This makes Ubigi a slight frontrunner for adventurers looking to go deep into the heart of Japan.

• Airalo Coverage

Airalo also offers data plans to over 200 countries and regions.Airalo’s Japanese eSIM uses the SoftBank network, which is one of Japan’s top mobile networks. This means excellent coverage across both urban and most rural areas. Users generally report reliable service and strong signal strength, making it a dependable choice for those venturing into both beaten and off-beaten paths.

• Maya Coverage

Maya Mobile offers plans in over 200 countries, providing data and unlimited options in some destinations. They will connect you to the best networks in , not the cheapest, with coverage on 2+ networks in most countries.

• Mobal Coverage

Mobal only offers eSim plan in Japan.Mobal’s coverage relies on the Softbank network, guaranteeing ultra-reliable service across Japan, with over 99% nationwide coverage.

2. Pland and Pricing

• Ubigi eSIM Plan

Ubigi presents an extensive selection of local, regional, and global plans. 

• Local plans: Perfect if you know exactly where you’ll be roaming. Some popular destinations with Ubigi coverage include Hong Kong, Japan, Bali, Greece, Italy, Iceland, Spain, Italy, USA, and New Zealand.

• Regional plans: Ideal for exploring multiple countries within a specific area, like Asia or Europe. 

• Global plans: Stay connected virtually anywhere Ubigi operates, offering ultimate peace of mind.

Ubigi also offers one-off plans for short trips, monthly plans, and even annual plans for extended travel. You can easily top up or switch to a new data plan on your trip.

Ubigi offers 4 popular plans with options for 1GB, 3GB, 10GB, and 50GB in Japan. They all all valid for 30 days. There is an additional option for 500MB valid for 1 day.Ubigi also has a 12-month deal which might suit you better for longer stays in a single country.Ubigi plans are just slightly cheaper than comparable Airalo plans, but Airalo offers more options for shorter trips.

• Airalo eSIM Plan

Airalo offers a wide range of eSIM plans with competitive pricing that varies based on the destination, data allowance, and validity period. The plans are categorized into local, regional, and global options to cater to different travel needs. You'll find more local plans on Airalo than on Ubigi.

Airalo offers seven-day, 15-day, and 30-day single-country deals.It has 1 GB, 2 GB, 3 GB, 5 GB, and 20 GB deals.Here’s a summary of the Japan eSIM plans:

• Maya eSIM Plan

Maya Mobile offers local and regional eSIM plans such as (Europe+ eSIM in 30 Countries), (Asia eSIM Plans in 12 Countries), and much more. These plans range from data-only options to unlimited esims plans in certain regions, adaptable to various travel needs.Pricing is competitive and varies by destination, plan length, and data allowance.

Maya offers 5 days,10-day,15-day, and 30-day Japan deals.In total they have 5 packages of 1GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10GB and another with unlimited gigabytes. 

Maya Mobile’s unlimited gigabyte plans are relative as they have a speed limit of 5Mbp, which drops to 1Mbps after 30GB has been used. The price ranges from €49 to €69.

Frequently, Maya Mobile runs promotions such as 'Spring Sale' or 'Buy One Get One' deals, where travelers can receive an additional data plan free with the purchase of the first, or discounts for longer durations, which appeal significantly to long-term voyagers and digital nomads seeking uninterrupted connectivity. These special offers not only make traveling more connected but also more cost-effective.

• Mobal eSIM Plan

Mobal offers both short-term and long-term plans for staying connected while in Japan. In addition to data plans, they can also provide cell phone numbers for call and messaging functionality for an extra charge. 

• Long Term eSIMs: The long-term Japan eSIMs are perfect for you if you are living, working or studying in Japan.

• Short Term eSIMs: Perfect for business travel or short trips. They have both Data Only eSIMs and Voice+Data eSIMs available

1) Data Only eSIMs

2) Voice+Data eSIMs

Note: Due to regulations in Japan, the voice + data eSIM cannot be emailed to customers; your access code will need to be posted to your residence overseas, or otherwise picked up in person in Japan. You need to apply in advance, upload an ID document and wait for a delivery. Once you get your package in the mail, you need to activate your Mobal eSIM on the Mobal website. You’ll enter a 32-digit EID, then wait for Mobal to activate your eSIM and provision your new Japanese phone number. Technical support is available via email and a web form, though most questions can usually be solved by having a peek at Mobal’s FAQs page.

3. Customer Service

• Ubigi

Customer service from Ubigi needs a bit of improvement. There’s a “live chat” option available on the website, but it is not available 24/7. The button is always there, but not always there’s someone to answer.

If a traveler comes across an issue and finds the live chat unavailable, Ubigi will make them wait for a few hours, depending on how late the query was sent. There’s no additional way to contact them, at least for now.

• Airalo

Airalo offers several support channels, including email, in-app chat, and social media. However, they do not provide phone support.It’s important to note that Airalo website support is only available in English. If you change the language on the website, the live chat will still appear in English, but you can get support in other languages if you contact them through other available channels if you click the three dots on the live chat.

However,the responsiveness of customer support is a mixed bag based on user reviews. Some customers praise the support team for resolving issues quickly via chat or email. But a few others complain about the lack of real-time support options causing wait times of up to 24 hours.

• Maya

Your first customer service line on Maya’s website is the chat option. However, it’s a pretty basic ChatBot. You can type “agent” at any time to get help from the support team. However, you will have to give them your email address for that to happen. This seems like an unnecessary step to get more information and talk to a person.

• Mobal 

With Mobal, you can count on a seamless experience, thanks to their accessible and friendly English-language support, available around the clock. If, for any reason, you find yourself unhappy with their service—no problem. Mobal offers a quick and hassle-free money-back guarantee.

4. Setup & User Experience

The eSIM activation process is quite straightforward, regardless of which provider you choose. All you have to do is buy an eSIM plan via its website or the mobile app. Then, install your eSIM from the app by following the step-by-step prompts, scanning a QR code to start the installation process, or entering your eSIM details manually in your device’s Settings.

Both Ubigi and Airalo offer user-friendly mobile apps with intuitive interfaces. You can efficiently manage your eSIM services, track usage statistics, and monitor data consumption. The apps provide clear and detailed information, enhancing the overall user experience.However,the Maya and Mobal do not have an app to download.And Mobal's voice + data eSIM can't be emailed due to Japanese regulations. You must have the access code mailed to an overseas address or pick it up in Japan. You need to apply in advance, provide ID, and wait for delivery.

Conclusion: Which Option is the Best eSIM for Japan?

Like choosing a favorite between your children, it’s never easy to pick among the four eSIMs. In conclusion, it depends on what you value best.

Airalo generally offers a very polished app and user experience with decent speeds and reasonable prices globally, with good signal too. The monthly data plans from Ubigi are also great for long-term travelers.However, Ubigi's prices are usually higher than Airalo's.

Maya eSIM is an attractive choice for those who want uninterrupted connectivity during their travels. The provider stands out for its transparent pricing, unlimited data, and Hotspot Capability.

Whether you are planning a short visit or are in Japan for the long haul, Mobal has the perfect SIM plan for you—minus the hassle of long contracts and language barriers. You can have your SIM conveniently shipped to you before your trip, or you can pick it up when you arrive in Japan.In addition to data plans, they can also provide cell phone numbers for call and messaging functionality for an extra charge. 

Before you leave on your holiday, I recommend reflecting on a few questions, specifically what you plan to use your data for, how long you will be away, and whether you need any special additional features like hot-spotting or analogue calls. Your answers to these questions will help you to decide whether to buy an eSIM from Airalo Maya,Ubigi or Mobal.Whichever provider you choose, you can rest assured of receiving quality service and reliable data. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Ubigi work in the USA?

Choose Ubigi for data plans starting at 500MB up to unlimited coverage across the USA, including Hawaii. They also offer combined plans for the USA and Canada.

Does Ubigi give you a phone number?

You will not get a new mobile phone number with your Ubigi eSIM. Ubigi provides mobile data connectivity only and does not provide any mobile phone number to make standard phone calls or text messages.

Can I use WhatsApp with Ubigi?

If you use Ubigi eSIM, you can use your favorite VoIP applications such as Skype, WhatsApp, Viber, iMessage, Facebook Messenger… For iPhone users, you can also keep using your home-based carrier line to make calls and send SMS while using Ubigi mobile data.

Can you make calls with Ubigi?

You can not make phone calls with Ubigi eSIM data plans but you can use iMessage and your favorite VoIP applications such as Skype, FaceTime, WhatsApp, Viber, Facebook Messenger, etc.

Can Airalo make phone calls?

Simply install an Airalo eSIM with call and text services to make phone calls without roaming fees when you travel. As long as your iPhone is connected to your eSIM network, you'll be able to follow the same steps to make phone calls with your iPad — and without unnecessary roaming charges. And there you have it!

Can you FaceTime with Airalo?

If you have an eSIM with call and text services, it will come with a local or international number so you can place calls and texts while abroad. If your eSIM is data-only, you can use internet-based calling apps like WhatsApp, FaceTime, or Skype to chat without roaming.

Does Airalo give you a local phone number?

Simply purchase an eSIM plan with call and text services. A call-and-text eSIM gives you a local or global number (depending on the plan), so you can send and receive calls and text messages at affordable local rates.

Is Maya a good eSIM provider?

Yes. Maya eSIMs are legit. Maya mobile's website states that it has been around since 2021, and Maya Mobile eSIM has almost 5,000 reviews on Trustpilot, which points to a significant customer base.

Does Maya eSIM include calls?

Maya eSIM plans do not include a local phone number, but don't worry! After activating a Maya Mobile eSIM, you can continue using your phone number to send and receive calls and text messages (SMS). Your new eSIM plan will be used for data only, saving you expensive roaming fees.

Can you FaceTime with Ubigi?

With Ubigi eSIM, you can use your favorite VoIP and iMessage applications such as Skype, FaceTime, WhatsApp, Viber, Facebook Messenger. By using these VoIP apps, you will be able to make calls and send text messages.

Can I text using Ubigi?

Ubigi is a data only service. It does not support traditionnal voice calls or SMS but enables you to use all your favourite VoIP or Message applications.

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