Ubigi eSIM REVIEW (Tried and Tested) + Discount code

As travelers, staying connected abroad is essential for us.

We need mobile data to navigate cities, find cool local spots, and keep in touch with our families while on the road.

Since 2015, we’ve discovered that eSIMs are one of the simplest ways to get online when traveling.

No more hunting down local SIM cards or paying crazy roaming fees, just download, activate, and you’re set.

However, today there are so many eSIM providers out there, like Holafly, GigSky and Nomad. So it’s become quite tricky to choose the right one.

In this UBIGI eSIM review, we’ll share our honest experience testing a Ubigi eSIM, focusing on how it works, its pros and cons, and whether we’d recommend it for your next trip

What is an eSIM?

Key facts about Ubigi’s eSIM

Discover the key facts about a Ubigi eSIM below!

Is my phone compatible with Ubigi?

Probably! It depends on the brand and model you have, but all recent phones offer an embedded SIM!

Compatible phones for the Ubigi eSIM:

• iPhones: XS, XR, and all newer models (including SE 2020 and up)

• Samsung: Galaxy S20, S21, S22, S23, Z Flip/Fold series, and newer Note models

• Google Pixel: Pixel 4 and newer (except some carrier-locked versions)

• Others: Recent Motorola Razr, Huawei P40, and certain Sony Xperia models

👉 INSIDER TIP: Check directly on Ubigi’s official compatibility page for the most up-to-date list or you can use the free *#06# shortcut tip on your phone to check if it is eSIM compatible (if an EID number appears, it is compatible)!

How we tested Ubigi’s eSIM

We decided to give Ubigi a try during a two-week trip through Europe.

From Brussels to the Mont Ventoux in France and back!

Our top priority was a quick and easy setup. We don’t want to spend one hour installing the eSIM.

We installed the European eSIM before we left the US so we could activate the Ubigi eSIM when we landed in Belgium.

Setting up Ubigi was actually quite easy. We downloaded the Ubigi app, created a free account, and installed the eSIM profile in minutes.

We just did it on our home Wi-Fi.

 Within about 30 seconds of turning on my phone at Brussels Airport, I had a 5G signal and was getting directions to my hotel.

Throughout the trip, Ubigi’s service remained fast and reliable, even in the car, away from cities. We were able to upload photos, write this blog post, and navigate with Waze without any issues.

In short, Ubigi passed our eSIM test with flying colors by delivering on convenience and reliable connectivity when I needed it most.

Ubigi coverage, plans, and pricing

For us, one of Ubigi’s biggest selling points is the variety of coverage and plans it offers.

Coverage

This service is available in over 200 (!) DESTINATIONS WORLDWIDE, so wherever you are traveling, the chances are that Ubigi has a data plan for it.

You can choose from three main plan types depending on your travel needs:

• Single-Country Plans: Ideal when you’re visiting just one country. Ubigi has local eSIM plans for popular destinations like Japan, Hong Kong, Greece, Iceland, Spain, the USA, and New Zealand.

• Regional Plans: Great for multi-country trips in the same region. For instance, Ubigi offers regional bundles for Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas, and the Caribbean. I love this option when country-hopping.

• Worldwide Plan: One eSIM plan that works almost anywhere. Ubigi’s global plans cover a huge number of destinations around the world. This is a fantastic choice if you’re doing a round-the-world trip or traveling through several continents for work.

Ubigi isn’t a traditional carrier; it’s actually a brand operated by Transatel (a French telecom company under NTT Group) that partners with local mobile operators in each country.

👉 DID YOU KNOW: Ubigi started out in 2017, and in 2023, they were recognized as the Consumers’ Champion at MVNO of the Year Awards for the way they have been able to scale customer-centric mobile connectivity solutions. 

In practice, that means when you use Ubigi in the USA, you’re riding on major networks like AT&T or T-Mobile, and if you’re in Europe, you might connect via Vodafone, Orange, etc.

Ubigi includes 5G coverage in over 60 destinations at no extra cost wherever available, which is a huge plus.

Just keep in mind that in very remote areas, coverage sometimes drops to 3G, but this is the case with any provider.

Plans and pricing

Ubigi offers everything from short one-off plans (great for a quick vacation) to monthly and even annual plans for extended trips or digital nomads.

You can buy tiny data packages (as small as 500 MB) or large ones up to 10, 25, 50, or even 60 GB.

Most prepaid plans have a validity period from 1 day up to 30 days, so you choose how long you need your data to last.

There are also monthly top-up plans where you get a set amount of data each month with no expiration as long as you keep renewing (handy if you’ll be in one country for a while).

To give you an idea of cost, Ubigi’s prices start at around $2 USD for the smallest plans. For just a few dollars, you can get enough data for a day or two, which is a lot better than the international roaming fees from U.S. carriers (those can be $10 per day or more!).

How does the Ubigi eSIM work?

If you’re new to eSIMs, don’t worry, setting up Ubigi is quite simple.

Here’s our quick step-by-step rundown of how it works to buy and activate a Ubigi eSIM. You can follow along with these steps!

• Check device compatibility: First, make sure your phone supports eSIMs. You can check that on Ubigi’s official compatibility page.

•  There are 2 ways to purchase a data plan: via the Ubigi website or via Ubigi app. After purchasing your first data plan via their website (10% OFF with our code LBO10), you can download the app, follow the instructions by scanning the QR code that has been sent to your email address.

• Sign up for an account: Open the app and create a Ubigi account using your email.

• Purchase a data plan: Now that the eSIM itself is on your phone, you need to buy a data package to use. In the Ubigi app, browse the “Store” or “Buy Data” section. Select the country or region you’re traveling to, and you’ll see all the plan options and prices. Choose one that suits your needs. The app will show the price in USD before you confirm. GET A DISCOUNT: Use our code LBO10 for 10% off at checkout using this Ubigi link!

• Activate and go online: The data plan you bought is stored in your Ubigi eSIM profile. When you arrive at your destination country, simply make sure your Ubigi eSIM is turned “ON” in your phone’s cellular settings (and if you have another SIM, set Ubigi as the active mobile data line).

That’s it, now you’re ONLINE.

Something we appreciate is that once you’ve installed the eSIM the first time, you don’t need to install a new eSIM for each trip.

You can just keep your Ubigi eSIM on your phone indefinitely. When you travel again, just open the app, buy a new data plan for your next destination, and the eSIM will AUTOMATICALLY REACTIVATE in that country when you arrive.

👉 INSIDER TIP: After installing, we recommend double-checking that the eSIM profile is properly added in your phone’s cellular settings and that mobile data is ENABLED for it. On iPhone, for example, you can give the eSIM a label (I named mine “Ubigi”) and set it as the data line. I also turned off data roaming on my physical SIM to be safe (to avoid any surprise charges). 

User experience and support

Beyond just the connectivity, there are a few other aspects of using Ubigi worth noting, things like customer support, app experience, and any limitations.

Here’s our take (and some input from other users) on the overall Ubigi experience:

Mobile app & account management

The Ubigi app is maybe not the most beautiful app in the world, but it’s very intuitive and gets the job done.

I liked that we could see our remaining data and receive notifications when we were getting low on data.

Adding more data or switching plans is also as simple as a few taps.

Also, because one Ubigi eSIM can hold multiple plans, I could buy a new plan for the next country before the current one expired. The app would just queue it up and activate it when I entered the new country. Quite a nice feature we haven’t yet seen on other eSIMs!

No voice or SMS (data-only)

One negative point about the Ubigi eSIM is that it’s strictly for data.

Their plans DO NOT COME WITH A PHONE NUMBER, so you can’t make regular voice calls or send SMS texts on a Ubigi eSIM.

It’s never really an issue for us, as we rely on WhatsApp for communication anyway.

But if we want to call a restaurant or a shop owner, then we do need a local number, so we can reach them.

Customer support

How is Ubigi’s support if you run into a problem? Officially, Ubigi offers support via email and live chat, 24/7 in multiple languages.

In my case, I didn’t need to contact support during the trip; everything worked, but for the sake of this Ubigi eSIM review, I did try the live chat afterward to ask a test question.

Finding the live chat wasn’t difficult, as it’s at the bottom right of the Ubigi website, but getting connected to an agent was more difficult.

At the end, it just created a ticket number with the IT service, meaning that they will help me resolve it, but there is no real live chat available.

To be completely honest, they did message me back after about 7 minutes, so I’m sure they would have resolved it quite fast!

You can also contact them via their help center.

User opinions

The general feeling about Ubigi is quite positive.

Just look at some ratings: Ubigi’s iOS app has about a 4.6 out of 5 rating on the App Store, and on Trustpilot, they have a 4.1/5 score based on over 27,000 customer reviews.

Those are strong numbers for a telecom service.

They especially stand out for their affordability and convenience as major plus points.

Conclusion: Is Ubigi eSIM worth it?

YES! Ubigi has proven to be one of the most convenient and affordable eSIM options we’ve tried.

With coverage in 200+ destinations, fast activation through their app, and solid speeds even in rural areas, it’s a good pick for travelers who don’t want to deal with physical SIM cards or roaming fees.

We especially liked the flexibility of their data plans and the ability to manage everything through the app.

While it’s true that Ubigi is data-only and doesn’t offer a phone number, most travelers can easily get by using WhatsApp for calls and messages.

Customer support is there when you need it (sadly no immediate live chat with an agent), and Trustpilot reviews back up the positive experience with a solid score of 4,1/5!

Best of all, you can save on your first plan! Just use the code LBO10 for 10% off at checkout using our Ubigi link.

👉 Reliable. Fast. Easy to use. Ubigi gets our full recommendation.