Holafly vs Airalo vs Ubigi Japan eSIM: Price per GB Compared

This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Your flight to Tokyo is booked. Now you have three eSIM tabs open on your phone, each with a different price, and you want to know which one is actually cheapest. If you want a set amount of data, Airalo and Ubigi cost the least per GB. If you'd rather not count at all, Airalo's and Holafly's unlimited plans are within a dollar or two of each other.

The short answer (prices as of 2026-11):

• Light trip, 7 days: Airalo 3 GB for $8.00.
• About 10 GB: Ubigi is cheapest, at $14 for 7 days or $16.50 for 30 days.
• No counting at all: Airalo unlimited is $26.50 for 7 days. Holafly is $27.50, with 1 GB a day you can share by hotspot.

💸 How much does each one cost per GB in Japan?

This table answers the main question: what one gigabyte costs with each brand, at small, medium and large sizes. All prices are in US dollars, taken from each company's own Japan page as of 2026-11.

The per-GB price falls a lot as the plan gets bigger. With Airalo, a gigabyte costs $2.50 in the 3 GB plan and $1.20 in the 20 GB plan. That's half the price.

For a sense of scale, 10 GB is enough for a week of maps, LINE or WhatsApp messages, and posting photos, with room left for some video. Most people on a two-week trip who don't stream on the train fit inside 20 GB.

Honestly, Ubigi's 10 GB plan is the one people miss. At $14 for 7 days, it costs less than Airalo's 10 GB plan of the same length. And Ubigi's page lists all three big Japanese networks: KDDI, NTT Docomo and SoftBank.

📶 What about unlimited plans?

Unlimited means you never watch a counter. Each brand defines "unlimited" a little differently, so here's what you get for the money.

Prices as of 2026-11, from each brand's own page.

Airalo: you get 3 GB a day at full speed. After that, the connection slows down until your daily allowance resets, then full speed comes back. Airalo's fair-use page says there is "no limit on tethering or the number of devices you connect". Tethering means sharing your phone's data with a laptop or a friend's phone.

Holafly: Holafly says a slowdown, if it happens, lasts "no more than one (1) day". You can share 1 GB a day with other people's devices, so a 7-day plan gives you 7 GB to share in total.

Ubigi: there's one unlimited plan, valid 30 days. It includes 60 GB at full speed, then runs at 2 Mbps for the rest of the month. That's still fine for maps, messages and email. Ubigi also has a $45 monthly version, but it renews every month and you can only cancel after three months. It's made for people who come back to Japan often, not for one holiday.

Here's my take. For a week, Airalo's unlimited plan is $1 cheaper than Holafly's, and the gap gets bigger on longer trips. Holafly suits you if you like a simple daily sharing rule and its KDDI/SoftBank coverage.

🗓 Which is cheapest for 7 days in Japan?

Start with how you use your phone, not the brand. Here's the cheapest published option for each type of traveler, as of 2026-11.

For most first-time visitors, 10 GB for a week is plenty. If you choose 3 GB and run short, Airalo lets you add data with a top-up package.

🧳 Which is cheapest for 14 days in Japan?

None of the three sells a 14-day plan. Buy the 15-day or 30-day plan instead.

Look at the 20 GB line. Airalo's 20 GB for 15 days costs half as much as any unlimited plan for the same trip. If you're not streaming hours of video, a large fixed plan is clearly the better value on a two-week trip.

📱 Which networks do they use, and can I share data?

In Japan, the network your eSIM uses matters more than the brand name. The three big Japanese networks are NTT Docomo, KDDI (au) and SoftBank.

All three are data-only. You get no Japanese phone number. Calls go through apps like LINE, WhatsApp or FaceTime.

Ubigi starts your plan when you arrive in Japan, so you can install it at home days before you fly. Airalo's validity starts when the eSIM first connects to a supported network.

❓ FAQ

Is Holafly or Airalo cheaper for Japan?
For unlimited plans, Airalo costs a little less at every length as of 2026-11: $26.50 against $27.50 for 7 days, and $48 against $50.50 for 15 days. Holafly sells unlimited plans only.

Does Ubigi have unlimited data for Japan?
Yes. There's a one-off 30-day plan for $65 that includes 60 GB at full speed, then 2 Mbps. There's also a $45 monthly plan that renews each month (as of 2026-11).

Can I use my phone as a hotspot with these eSIMs?
Yes, within each brand's rules. Airalo's unlimited plans have no tethering limit, Holafly allows 1 GB a day, and Ubigi says data sharing is allowed.

How much data do I need for a week in Japan?
For maps, messaging and photos, 10 GB for a week leaves plenty of room. If you watch video every day or share data with family, unlimited saves you from checking your balance.

Does my phone need to be unlocked?
Yes. Your phone must support eSIM and be unlocked by your carrier. Check this in your phone settings before you buy any plan.

🎟 Quick recap

• For light use, Airalo's 3 GB plans start at $7.50 as of 2026-11.
• For about 10 GB, Ubigi costs the least per GB: $14 for 7 days or $16.50 for 30 days.
• For 20 GB on a two-week trip, Airalo's $24 plan gives you half the cost of unlimited.
• For unlimited, Airalo is slightly cheaper. Holafly fits if you like its daily sharing rule.
• Before you fly, pick the plan that fits your trip length and install it at home on Wi-Fi, so your phone works the moment you land.

Get your data sorted before you land

Best value

Ubigi

Ubigi — 10 GB / 30 days

4.5

• Data10 GB
• Valid30 days
• NetworkNTT docomo / KDDI / SoftBank · 5G
• HotspotYes

Editor's pick

Airalo

Airalo Moshi Moshi — 10 GB / 30 days

4.5

• Data10 GB
• Valid30 days
• NetworkSoftBank / KDDI (au) / Rakuten · 5G