In short: in the Ubigi vs Airalo comparison, Airalo wins on entry price and a catalog of over 200 destinations; Ubigi wins on top-up convenience and regional plans for frequent travelers. Neither guarantees support in Spanish, so if that's important to you, also look into alternatives designed for Spanish-speaking travelers.
If you're deciding between Ubigi and Airalo for your next trip, the dilemma is legitimate: they are two of the most well-known eSIMs and work similarly, but they are not identical. In this guide, we compare them by price, coverage, activation, and app so you can see which one best suits your travel style and where each one falls short.
Ubigi vs Airalo in one sentence
Ubigi focuses on data plans with in-app top-ups and powerful regional profiles; Airalo is a huge marketplace of country-specific eSIMs with very low entry prices. Ubigi usually wins on top-up experience and Airalo on variety and initial price, but both charge for unused data if it expires.
The practical difference is in the details. Airalo sells you a fixed package (e.g., 3 GB for 15 days), and when it runs out, you buy another; its catalog covers over 200 destinations, and you can find plans for almost symbolic amounts. Ubigi, on the other hand, is designed for frequent travelers: you install one profile and top up when needed without scanning anything again. If you travel once a year, that convenience won't matter; if you travel every two months, you'll notice it. Another less-discussed difference is that Ubigi offers some plans with data without a clear expiration as long as you have credit, something Airalo almost never does. Neither is "the best" in the abstract: it depends on how much you travel and how much you value not having to manage multiple eSIMs on your phone.
Prices and plans: who is cheaper
For entry price, Airalo usually wins the first battle with very cheap small packages, but the actual cost per gigabyte depends on the destination. Ubigi does better for long stays and regional profiles, where its price per GB is lower. The table summarizes what you typically find for the same European destination.
| Aspect | Ubigi | Airalo |
|---|---|---|
| Smallest plan | Usually starts at 1 GB | Very small packages starting from minimal amounts |
| Cost per GB (long stay) | Competitive in regional plans | Increases when buying multiple packages |
| Unlimited data | In some destinations | In selected destinations |
| Top-up | Without reinstalling the profile | Sometimes requires a new eSIM |
The trick is not to look only at the price of the first package. A very cheap 1 GB plan that runs out in two days of maps and WhatsApp with videos forces you to repurchase, and that's where Airalo can end up costing more than a medium Ubigi plan. Before buying, also decide when you activate the profile: whether you do it in advance from home or wait until you land changes what suits you, and that calculation is explained in buying the eSIM before leaving or at the destination. It's not a minor detail: activating a limited-day plan too early eats up data days without using them.
Tip: Always compare the cost per GB of the full plan you're going to use, not the price of the promotional 1 GB package. That number is misleading.
Coverage and network quality
Both rely on local operators, so coverage depends on the country more than the brand. Airalo usually lists the network you'll connect to before buying; Ubigi tends to prioritize networks with good data roaming. In practice, in large cities, both work well; differences appear in rural areas, where the underlying operator dictates performance. If your destination has poor mobile coverage in general, no eSIM will fix it.
One point to note is speed. Many travel eSIMs limit the connection to 4G even if your mobile is 5G compatible, which affects downloads and streaming. If this matters to you, check the plan details to see if it includes high-speed network; we discuss whether it's worth it in eSIM 5G vs 4G: is it worth it for travel. And beware of the fine print: the "up to X Mbps" advertised in the plan details is almost never what you'll see on a real mobile. In crowded areas—a train station at rush hour, an airport—speed drops even with a good operator, and that doesn't depend on whether you use Ubigi or Airalo.
Activation and ease of use
The process is almost identical: you buy, receive a QR, scan it in the eSIM settings, and activate data upon landing. Airalo adds a direct installation option for many recent phones without a QR; Ubigi makes it easy to install the profile from its app. In both cases, the key is to install before leaving home with Wi-Fi and only activate upon arrival at your destination.
Where Airalo can confuse a novice is that each purchase can generate a different eSIM that accumulates on the phone; over time, you'll have several dormant lines. Ubigi maintains one profile that you top up, keeping your phone tidier. For a single trip, it doesn't matter; for ten trips a year, Ubigi's approach saves hassle. If it's your first eSIM and you want a step-by-step general guide from start to finish, you can find the guide on how to install an eSIM, which works for any provider. And remember: activating the eSIM doesn't erase your physical SIM, so you'll still receive calls on your home number.
If your trip involves multiple countries
This is where the comparison gets interesting and where those who only look at the price of the first package pay the least attention. If your route is, for example, Italy, France, and Portugal in two weeks, buying a different eSIM for each country with Airalo means three purchases, three QRs, and three profiles to manage; some don't even overlap well in dates if the trip is extended. Ubigi, with its regional plans, solves this in one go: you activate a profile that works in several countries in the area and don't touch anything again until the credit runs out.
But "regional" doesn't always mean the same thing for every operator, and that's the nuance that almost no one explains well: a regional plan can cover the entire European Union or only a handful of specific countries, and the difference between a regional eSIM and a country-specific eSIM greatly changes what suits you based on your itinerary; we elaborate on this in regional eSIM vs country-specific eSIM. If your trip mixes continents—a stopover in Istanbul on the way to Thailand, for example—not even the broadest regional plan will serve you, and that's where the distinction between regional and global coverage comes in, which many confuse when buying in a hurry.
Practical rule: if your itinerary has three countries or fewer and they are bordering, a well-chosen regional plan is almost always cheaper and more convenient than going country by country. If there are more than three or you jump continents, calculate carefully because the savings from a regional plan can be diluted.
App, top-ups and support
This is where each one's philosophy becomes apparent. Ubigi's app focuses on managing your profile and topping up in two taps without scanning another QR, which is convenient for frequent travelers. Airalo's app works like a store: you browse by country, buy, and manage each eSIM separately. For a one-off trip, it doesn't matter; for ten trips a year, Ubigi's saves hassle.
For support, both offer chat assistance, though not always in Spanish and with varying hours. This is precisely where brands designed for Spanish-speaking travelers make a difference: support in Spanish and clear, surprise-free pricing. If you're weighing whether an eSIM is worth it compared to buying a local physical SIM upon arrival, that question also has an honest answer in eSIM vs local SIM: an honest comparison. And if your next destination is Europe, you can directly see what a typical plan covers before buying on eSIM for Europe.
Who is each one for
Choose Airalo if you take an occasional trip, want the lowest entry price, and don't mind managing multiple eSIMs. Choose Ubigi if you travel frequently, value topping up without reinstalling, and usually move between several regions. And consider a third option if what you're looking for is support in your language and a simple, surprise-free app.
- Once-a-year traveler: Airalo for initial price, or an eSIM with Spanish support for peace of mind.
- Frequent multi-country traveler: Ubigi for top-up convenience and regional profiles.
- Those who hate complications: an eSIM with 1-minute activation and help in Spanish when something goes wrong.
Whatever your profile, don't get married to the brand name: look at the specific plan you're going to use. And if you're really considering not using an eSIM and buying an international physical chip upon arrival, it's worth knowing how it truly differs from an eSIM, because it's not just a matter of card size: we explain it in international chip vs eSIM.
What almost no one tells you about Ubigi and Airalo
Beyond prices and comparison tables, there are details you only learn by installing eSIMs multiple times, which neither Ubigi nor Airalo highlight on their websites.
The QR expires, even if no one clearly tells you. With both Ubigi and Airalo, if you buy the plan and take weeks to install it, there are cases where the QR stops working or the profile appears as "expired" without you having used a single MB. The solution is not technical, it's about timing: buy the plan a few days before the trip, not a month in advance, and install it with Wi-Fi at home before heading to the airport.
"Unlimited data" is almost never truly unlimited. When a plan from either brand advertises unlimited data, it almost always hides a speed limitation after a certain daily consumption (fair use policy). If you're going to make long video calls or work remotely from your destination, this nuance matters more than the plan's price. Read the fine print of the specific plan, not the generic landing page.
Switching eSIM profiles without leaving mobile data can leave you without connection for a while. If you are going to activate the new eSIM while still using the old one (for example, crossing from one country to another on a train), first deactivate mobile data for the old line before activating the new one. Otherwise, the phone gets confused between two data profiles and you could lose connection for half an hour at the worst moment, like when looking for a hotel with your luggage.
Your Spanish operator's roaming sometimes already covers you for free, and you don't know it. If you travel within the European Union with a normal Spanish rate, your own operator probably already includes roaming at no extra cost due to European regulations. For a weekend in Lisbon or Rome, buying an additional eSIM might not be worth it at all; save it for destinations outside the EU, where your operator's roaming charges skyrocket. It's good to be clear about what data roaming is and when it applies before spending on something you might already have included: we clarify this in what is data roaming.
Deleting the profile doesn't always free up the number of available eSIMs. Some phones with many installed eSIMs (physical + several virtual ones) start giving strange warnings or slow down in the settings menu. If you're going to install a new one for each trip, delete the ones you no longer use after each adventure instead of letting them accumulate "just in case."
Frequently asked questions
Ubigi or Airalo, which is cheaper?
It depends on the destination and how much data you use. Airalo usually has the cheapest entry package, but if you consume a lot or travel for a long time, Ubigi might be better due to its cost per gigabyte on regional plans. Always compare the price of the complete plan you're going to use, not just the small, bait package.
Do Ubigi and Airalo work on any mobile phone?
Only on eSIM-compatible phones: iPhone XS or later, most Samsung Galaxy S models, and recent Pixel models, among others. Check first by dialing *#06# and seeing if an EID appears. If your phone doesn't have it, neither will work, and you'll have to resort to a physical SIM.
Can I have both eSIMs installed at the same time?
Yes. Modern phones store multiple eSIM profiles, although only one is active at a time. You can install one from Ubigi and one from Airalo and choose which one to use in the settings. However, accumulating many dormant eSIMs clutters the menu; delete the ones you no longer use after each adventure.
Do these eSIMs provide a number for calls?
Not in most of their plans: they are data eSIMs. With that data, you can use WhatsApp, Telegram, or internet calls without issue, but you won't receive calls or SMS from a new number. For that, you keep your physical home SIM, which remains active in parallel.
What happens if I run out of data halfway through my trip?
With Airalo, you buy another package or a new eSIM for the same destination. With Ubigi, you top up the profile you already have from its app without rescanning. In both cases, you need a connection for a moment (hotel Wi-Fi or any remaining data) to complete the top-up.
Is Ubigi or Airalo better for a single week trip?
For a short trip to a single country, Airalo usually fits better: you pay for a fixed package, use it, and that's it, without committing to a top-up you might not use again for months. Ubigi performs better when there's recurrence, meaning when you know you'll be traveling again soon and it's worth keeping the same profile active.
Can I use Ubigi or Airalo if my mobile doesn't have dual SIM?
Yes, you don't need a physical dual SIM. The eSIM occupies a digital profile independent of your normal physical SIM, so with a single eSIM-compatible mobile, you can have your home line and your travel line active at the same time, each in its virtual slot.
Conclusion
Ubigi and Airalo are solid options: Airalo shines in entry price and catalog, Ubigi in top-up convenience for frequent travelers. Neither is perfect, and both fall short in Spanish support. If you want clear prices, 1-minute activation, and help in your language when needed, an eSIM designed for Spanish-speaking travelers will save you a lot of headaches. Compare the specific plan, calculate your gigabytes, and choose with data, not by brand name.
