Holafly vs Ubigi 2026: Which Travel eSIM Is Better?

Holafly is the better choice for travellers who want one flat, unlimited-data price and never want to think about gigabytes again, while Ubigi is the stronger option for anyone who needs cheap fixed-data plans, unrestricted tethering, genuine 5G and the network reliability of Transatel, an NTT Group company.

These two providers sit at opposite ends of the market: Holafly sells one idea — unlimited data, one price — while Ubigi sells data the way a carrier does, in transparent buckets at a clear price per gigabyte.

Holafly Overview

Holafly, founded in Spain in 2018, sells almost exclusively unlimited-data eSIMs across roughly 160+ destinations, with plans of 1 to 90 days at a broadly flat rate: from approximately USD 6–7 for short single-country durations, around ~USD 19 for 5 days and ~USD 65–75 for 30 days. A newer subscription tier adds a fixed-data option near 25 GB/month plus an unlimited option, both around ~USD 50–65 monthly.

Reasons to choose Holafly:

• Truly unlimited daily data on almost every plan — you never buy a top-up mid-trip.
• Predictable flat pricing: a month of heavy streaming costs the same as a month of light messaging.
• Excellent 24/7 WhatsApp support with multilingual human agents (EN, ES, PT, FR, IT, DE) — a real differentiator for Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking travellers.
• Fast activation, a clean beginner-friendly app, and regional plans covering 30–40+ countries on one profile.

Reasons to avoid Holafly:

• Hotspot and tethering are the weak point: depending on destination and plan, hotspot is either blocked or capped at roughly 500 MB per day — far too little to work from a laptop. Check the destination page before buying.
• A fair-use policy never published as a hard number. Independent testing reports throttling between roughly 1 GB and 3 GB per day by destination, after which speeds fall to about 0.25–5 Mbps.
• No usage meter in the app, so you cannot see how close you are to the throttle threshold.
• Poor value for light users: 2 GB on a week-long trip costs you unlimited prices for almost nothing.
• Coverage trails the leaders, and refunds are restrictive once the eSIM is activated.

Ubigi Overview

Ubigi is operated by Transatel, a French MVNO owned by the NTT Group. That heritage matters: Ubigi is embedded natively in many BMW, Audi, Volvo and Renault vehicles and in Windows laptops with built-in eSIM, so it is carrier infrastructure first and a travel app second. It covers 200+ destinations with local, regional and global plans, supports 5G where partner networks allow, and offers unlimited plans in a growing list of markets (Transatel cites 50+; others report 90+).

Reasons to choose Ubigi:

• Cheap entry point — plans from approximately USD 3, with 500 MB–1 GB starters and strong value at 10 GB and above.
• Unrestricted hotspot and tethering at no extra cost on data plans — this alone decides the comparison for anyone travelling with a laptop.
• Reliable 5G on partner networks, backed by Transatel/NTT wholesale agreements rather than resold retail capacity.
• "Smart Start" lets you buy up to six months ahead without burning validity, and the profile stays installed — install once, top up forever.
• Transparent per-GB pricing with no hidden throttling, rolling monthly plans for long stays, and in-app top-ups that work even at zero data.

Reasons to avoid Ubigi:

• Data-only. No voice or SMS, which occasionally matters for codes tied to a local number.
• Support is the weak point: no phone line, an AI-first chat assistant testers found gave contradictory answers, and email tickets with variable turnaround.
• Dated website, and automatic renewal on some plan types has caught users out.
• Unlimited plans are not the core product; in expensive markets like the USA they land around ~USD 65 for 30 days, no cheaper than Holafly.

Head-to-head: Holafly vs Ubigi

Feature	Holafly	Ubigi
Entry price	From approximately USD 6–7	From approximately USD 3
Destinations	~160+	200+
Unlimited data	Core product — nearly every plan	Available in 50–90+ destinations, not the default
Expiry	1–90 days, plan-bound	1 day to 1 year; Smart Start delays start up to 6 months
Hotspot / tethering	Restricted — blocked or ~500 MB/day cap on many plans	Unrestricted on data plans, no extra cost
5G	Yes, where the partner network supports it	Yes, on partner networks in most major markets
Support	24/7 WhatsApp, fast human agents	Chat assistant + email; no phone; slower escalation
Languages	EN, ES, PT, FR, IT, DE	~8 languages including EN, FR, ES
App	Clean and simple, but no usage meter	Plainer, accurate usage tracking; website weaker
Top-ups	Extension usually means buying a new plan	Genuine in-app top-ups, even at zero data

Coverage

Ubigi wins on raw numbers: 200+ destinations against Holafly's ~160. Both cover everywhere the vast majority of travellers go, so the gap only bites in less-travelled markets in Central Asia, the Pacific and parts of Africa, where Ubigi is more likely to have a local plan. The more meaningful difference is the network underneath. Ubigi's roaming agreements are negotiated by Transatel as a licensed operator, which generally means good tier-1 partners and consistent 5G attachment. Holafly resells capacity and the underlying network varies by destination — testing shows excellent results in the USA and Europe, noticeably weaker performance in parts of Asia and Latin America.

Pricing and value

The two pricing models are not directly comparable, which is exactly why so many travellers pick the wrong one. Holafly charges a flat daily rate for unlimited data — superb value if you use a lot, since a 30-day plan at ~USD 65–75 works out at roughly USD 2.20–2.50 per day for effectively uncapped usage. It is poor value if you use 500 MB a week, because you pay the same as someone streaming nightly.

Ubigi charges per gigabyte. A 10 GB plan in most markets sits around ~USD 14–17 and a 3 GB plan can be under ~USD 8. For a one-week city break of maps, messaging and occasional social media, Ubigi typically costs a third to a fifth of Holafly.

The honest rule of thumb: below roughly 1 GB per day, Ubigi is cheaper. Above roughly 1.5 GB per day, Holafly is cheaper — provided you do not need tethering.

Unlimited data

"Unlimited" needs an asterisk on both sides. Holafly's unlimited plans never cut you off, but they are governed by an unpublished fair-use policy. Independent testers report throttling between ~1 GB and ~3 GB per day by destination, with post-throttle speeds from ~0.25 Mbps to ~5 Mbps. The range is wide because the policy genuinely differs by market — and with no usage meter in the app, you fly blind.

Ubigi's unlimited plans are newer and less central to its lineup, priced comparably to Holafly in expensive markets and cheaper in several European ones. The advantage is that unlimited on Ubigi still permits hotspot, which makes it laptop-workable in a way Holafly's is not.

If you want unlimited data and only ever use your phone, Holafly's breadth is unmatched. If you need to share it, Ubigi is the only real answer of the two.

Support and user experience

Holafly wins support decisively. WhatsApp-first support with real human agents, typically replying within minutes during European business hours, in six languages including Spanish and Portuguese, is a level of service most eSIM providers do not attempt.

Ubigi's support is its weakest area: no phone line, an AI assistant reviewers found inconsistent, escalation by email ticket. The counterweight is that the product needs support less often — activation is reliable, the app tracks usage accurately, top-ups work at zero data. Ubigi's Trustpilot rating sits around 4.1/5 across a very large review base; Holafly also rates well, with complaints clustering on refund refusals after activation and on throttling expectations rather than connectivity itself. On the apps: Holafly's is prettier but hides your usage; Ubigi's is plainer and shows exactly where you stand, though its website is clunky — buy through the app.

Which should you choose?

• Backpacker on a long, budget trip: Ubigi. Multi-month travel with moderate usage is where per-GB pricing and install-once-top-up-forever wins, and the 200+ footprint covers off-the-beaten-track routes.
• Business traveller: Ubigi, almost without exception. Tethering to a laptop is non-negotiable and a ~500 MB/day hotspot cap will not survive a working day.
• Family on holiday: Holafly, if everyone has their own eSIM and nobody needs to tether — unlimited ends the "who used all the data" argument, and multilingual WhatsApp support reassures when you are managing four devices. If you will share one connection, choose Ubigi.
• Digital nomad: Ubigi for stays where you work from a laptop; Holafly only as a phone-only backup line. Ubigi's rolling monthly plans suit multi-week stays far better.

Worth a mention as a third option: HolaSIM covers 200+ destinations with unlimited data plans, 24/7 human support in English, Spanish and Portuguese, instant QR activation and an eSIM that never expires, from around USD 1.70. The honest downside is that its unlimited plans cost more than its fixed-data plans, so light users should compare before defaulting to unlimited.

FAQ

Does Holafly allow hotspot in 2026?

Partially, and inconsistently. Some plans and destinations block tethering outright; others permit it with a cap of roughly 500 MB per day. Because the policy varies, check the destination page before buying. Ubigi permits tethering without a separate cap.

Is Ubigi really owned by NTT?

Yes. Ubigi is the consumer brand of Transatel, a French MVNO within the NTT Group. Transatel also supplies embedded connectivity to carmakers and PC makers, which is why Ubigi behaves more like a carrier than a reseller.

Which is cheaper, Holafly or Ubigi?

For light and moderate users, Ubigi — often dramatically so, with plans from approximately USD 3 versus Holafly's entry of roughly USD 6–7. Above about 1.5 GB per day, Holafly's flat pricing becomes cheaper.

Does Holafly throttle its unlimited data?

Yes, under a fair-use policy it does not publish as a hard figure. Independent testing places the threshold between roughly 1 GB and 3 GB per day by destination, with reduced speeds afterwards — adequate for messaging and maps, not for reliable video calls.

Can I make phone calls with either eSIM?

Neither is a voice service. Both are data-only: keep your home number active for calls and SMS, or use WhatsApp over data. SMS two-factor codes still reach your home number and may incur roaming charges.

Do the plans expire?

Holafly plans run for a fixed window of 1 to 90 days and end when it closes. Ubigi plans have their own validity, but the profile stays installed indefinitely and can be topped up on a later trip; Smart Start lets you buy six months ahead without starting the clock.

The verdict, plainly: Ubigi is the better-engineered, better-value and more flexible product for most travellers in 2026 — cheaper at low and moderate usage, unrestricted for tethering, backed by a real operator, available in more places. Holafly wins on two axes that matter enormously to a specific traveller: it removes all data anxiety for heavy phone-only users, and its multilingual WhatsApp support is the best in the category. Choose Ubigi if you carry a laptop, watch your spending or travel widely. Choose Holafly if you burn through data on your phone, hate managing gigabytes and want a human to answer in your own language within minutes.