Ubigi vs Holafly: which eSIM should you choose for your trip?

Are you planning a trip and hesitating between Ubigi vs Holafly? We’ve compared the two point by point, price, speed, hotspot, coverage, to help you make the right choice in 5 minutes.

Ubigi or Holafly: the 30-second verdict

The main difference between Ubigi and Holafly is the pricing model. Holafly sells ‘unlimited’ packages at a fixed price (around $75 for 30 days). Ubigi offers packages based on data volume, starting at $4 for a 30-day package, which makes it cheaper for the vast majority of travellers, who use less than 2 GB per day.

But price isn’t everything. Ubigi also offers an unrestricted hotspot (limited to 500MB-1GB/day at Holafly), works on laptops, and is completely transparent about the data included, whereas Holafly’s ‘unlimited’ hides a speed restriction after 2 to 5GB per day, according to independent tests.

In a hurry? Find your data plan in 2 clicks.

Ubigi vs Holafly at a glance

^{1 Consult the list of eligible countries.}
Data verified in February 2026 on official websites, Trustpilot, App Store, Google Play and independent comparators (Monito, eSIMDB, Travel eSIM Expert).

Ubigi wins on 10 out of 14 criteria

Packages from $2.90 – No commitment Choose my package

How much does an eSIM really cost for your trip?

Holafly charges by the day with “unlimited” data. Ubigi charges by data volume. This difference changes everything: if you use your eSIM to look for a restaurant, call an Uber, consult Google Maps and post a few photos on Instagram, you’re using around 500 MB to 1 GB per day. This is the case for the vast majority of travellers.

And in this scenario, Ubigi is massively cheaper:

Japan – Unlimited – 30 days

United States eSIM (15 to 30 days)

Europe eSIM (30 days)

“For our typical needs (500MB to 1GB/day), Ubigi is the clear winner. ” (Away to the City, after more than 20 trips tested with both eSIMs)

The Holafly model only becomes competitive above 3 GB/day, a threshold that is difficult to reach without the speed restriction documented below.

Unlimited… but with an asterisk

Holafly’s main argument is that it is unlimited. And on paper, that’s reassuring: you don’t have to monitor your usage, so there’s no risk of running out of data. The problem is that ‘unlimited’ does not mean ‘unlimited speed’.

Here’s what the independent tests showed:

Monito.com

Independent financial comparator, field tests in 6 countries: documented throttling after ~4.5 GB/day in the UK. Speed dropped from ~7 Mb/s to less than 1 Mb/s. Insufficient for a video call.

eSIMDB

World’s largest unaffiliated eSIM comparator: analysed Reddit feedback: 39% negative sentiment towards Holafly, mainly due to clamping, limited hotspot and complicated refunds.

Reddit & Twitter/X

Users report throttling thresholds as low as 2-3 GB/day, with speeds dropping to 128 kbps, which is slower than 3G 15 years ago.

What Holafly himself says

In its terms of use, Holafly states that “certain operators may apply a Fair Usage Policy” and that “speed reductions” may be applied. The exact thresholds are not communicated prior to purchase.

The Ubigi approach is simple

You buy 10GB, you use 10GB. No throttling, no surprises, no asterisks. And when Ubigi offers an unlimited package (available in certain destinations), the fair use threshold is clearly displayed, not hidden in the terms and conditions.

The point that makes all the difference when travelling

Travelling as a couple and your partner wants Wi-Fi too? Working from a café in Bali with your laptop? Do you want to connect your tablet to keep the kids occupied on the plane? In all these cases, a shared connection (hotspot) is essential.

Ubigi

Unlimited hotspot: share your connection freely with all your devices, laptop, tablet, phone of your travelling companion. No cap, no restrictions.

Holafly

Limited hotspot: Limited to 500 MB-1 GB of hotspot per day on prepaid plans. Some destinations block the hotspot completely. Unlimited hotspot is only available on the $64.90/month monthly plan.

Blogger Bel Around the World recounts how her hotspot was cut off after just a few minutes in Kyoto, in the middle of uploading a video to her laptop. Exactly the kind of nasty surprise you’d rather avoid when travelling.

Stay connected on your laptop without a hotspot

If you’re travelling with an eSIM-equipped laptop, Ubigi has an advantage that no competitor can match: it’s natively integrated into Windows.

Thanks to a partnership with Microsoft, Ubigi is available directly in the Mobile Plans application for Windows 10 and 11. Compatible brands include Dell, Microsoft Surface, Acer, Asus, Fujitsu, Lenovo and VAIO. In practical terms, you open your laptop, buy an Ubigi package in two clicks, and you’re connected, without using your phone’s hotspot, without draining its battery, and without losing speed.

Holafly only supports smartphones. If you need Internet on your laptop, you’ll have to use the hotspot, with the ceilings we’ve just seen.

For whom it’s decisive

Travelling freelancers, remote workers, digital nomads and anyone who needs to work from their laptop while on the move.

Work from anywhere with eSIM for laptops integrated into Windows

Which eSIM offers the best connection when travelling?

In 2025, Travel eSIM Expert ranked Ubigi as the fastest travel eSIM in the world. Alertify awarded it^1st place for connection stability, up to 80% more stable than competitors.

Why this performance? Ubigi is not simply an eSIM reseller. It is operated by Transatel, a subsidiary of the NTT group, the ^3ᵉ largest telecoms group in the world. Ubigi has its own network with more than 300 direct agreements with local operators. The result: end-to-end quality control, optimised speeds and a more reliable connection.

Holafly is a reseller: it depends on the networks that its partners allocate to it in each country. You do not know in advance which network you will be connected to.

Details that count when travelling

A single eSIM for all your journeys

With Ubigi, you only have to install your eSIM once. For your next trip, you simply buy a new data package in the app, no reinstallation required. With Holafly, you have to install a new eSIM at each destination.

Buy a package even without a connection

The Ubigi app connects to ubigi.me free of charge, so you can buy a package even when you’ve run out of data and Wi-Fi. Very handy when you land in a country without having prepared anything.

Automatic activation on arrival (Smart Start)

SmartStart activates your eSIM automatically when your plane lands. No need to go to the settings, you’re connected before you even get off the plane.

Country-of-origin IP included (Smart IP)

Ubigi assigns you an IP address from your country of origin (see the list of eligible countries). Your banking apps work as normal, Netflix displays your usual catalogue, and you don’t have to pay for a VPN. Holafly does not offer this feature.

Customer reviews

Let’s be transparent: Holafly has more reviews on Trustpilot (75,000 vs. 30,000 for Ubigi) and a slightly higher rating (4.6 vs. 4.1). But the full picture is more nuanced:

The cross-tabulation of the data is revealing: Ubigi clearly dominates on iOS (4.6 vs 3.5), Holafly dominates on Android (4.7 vs 4.1). This inverted pattern suggests different experiences depending on the ecosystem, rather than a clear superiority of one supplier over the other. Also worth noting: Holafly actively solicits reviews via Trustpilot invitations and invests heavily in influencer marketing, which automatically generates more volume.

What the independent experts say

So, Ubigi or Holafly?

Holafly could be the right choice if…

• You consume more than 3 GB per day on a constant basis and you accept any speed drops.
• You prefer not to monitor your consumption, even if the speed can be reduced after 2-5 GB/day.

Ubigi is the best choice if…

• You want to pay the right price: from $2.9. Savings of 50 to 81% for standard usage (< 2 GB/day).
• You need the hotspot: share your connection without limits, connect your laptop, tablet or your travelling companion’s phone.
• Travelling with a laptop: Ubigi is the only eSIM integrated into Windows. Direct connection without a hotspot.
• You travel a lot: a single eSIM profile that can be reused in 200+ countries. No more reinstallations.
• Going to Japan: NTT Docomo premium network, #1 in speed. 10 GB for ~$14 vs $75 at Holafly.
• You want transparency: No hidden restrictions. 10 GB purchased = 10 GB usable. Full stop.
• You want to access your banking apps / Netflix: home country IP included, no VPN needed.

It’s simple, I promise

You don’t need to remove your current eSIM. Ubigi installs in parallel.

• Download the Ubig i app: Available on iOS and Android. Scan the QR code or install directly from the app. Tip: the app connects to ubigi.me for free, so you can install and buy even without Wi-Fi.
• Choose your destination: select your country from 200+ destinations. Choose the right data volume for your usage. Packages from $2.9, with no commitment.
• Travel connected: Smart Start automatically activates your eSIM when you land. No need to change the settings. You’re online before you collect your baggage.

Bonus : your Ubigi eSIM remains installed for life. For your next trip, all you have to do is open the app and buy a new package. No reinstallation, no QR code to scan again.

Everything you need to know about Ubigi vs Holafly