VoaSim vs Ubigi: side by side

This is a comparison of two business models, not a lab speed test. Both VoaSim and Ubigi deliver a travel eSIM by QR code, both connect to local networks abroad, and both save you from carrier roaming. The difference is how you pay: a flat price for unlimited data, or a bucket of gigabytes.

Below you get the facts we can verify about VoaSim, a fair description of how Ubigi works, and a checklist to decide in two minutes. For anything specific to Ubigi's current packages, check the Ubigi app or official site — prices and allowances change.

The core difference: flat unlimited vs data by GB

VoaSim charges one price per trip duration and gives you truly unlimited data at that destination. No data cap, no speed throttling, no hidden "fair use" clause. The same price applies to every destination we cover, so a week in Japan costs the same as a week in Portugal.

Ubigi is an eSIM brand from Transatel (NTT group) sold mainly through its own app, with local, regional and global data packages measured in gigabytes. You pick a country or region, pick a size, and top up if you run out. Validity windows and package sizes vary by destination, so check the terms in the app before you buy.

In practice: if you stream, tether-free navigate all day, upload video or work remotely, a flat unlimited plan removes the math. If you mostly use maps and messaging on Wi-Fi-heavy trips, a small GB package can be cheaper. Neither model is universally better. See more eSIM comparisons.

VoaSim prices: one table, every destination

There is one price list. It does not change by country, and there is no early-booking discount on the English site — the table price is the price. Today's promo is already applied (15% off).

Trips of 1 to 4 days pay the 5-day package. Maximum is 90 days per eSIM. A second eSIM in the same order gets 10% extra off — useful for couples. Run your dates through the price simulator to see the exact total.

Coverage, payment and support

Coverage. VoaSim works in 170 destinations on every continent, including Brazil, connecting automatically to local networks on 4G and, where available, 5G. The Europe plan covers 50 countries with a single eSIM, including Switzerland, the UK, Turkey, Norway and Iceland. One gap to know: the island Caribbean (Dominican Republic, Cuba, Jamaica, Bahamas, Aruba, Curaçao) is not covered right now. Puerto Rico works on US networks. On cruises, the eSIM works on land at ports, not at sea.

Payment. International credit or debit card in USD through Stripe, no hidden fees, invoice by email. No cash, no local-currency billing.

Support. Human support by email at hola@voasim.com and on-site chat, with an optional WhatsApp heads-up if you leave a number at checkout. If the eSIM will not connect and support cannot fix it, you get a 100% refund. There is also a free eSIM Rescue tool that diagnoses an eSIM with no signal — any brand, including Ubigi.

Install, activation and your home number

The QR code arrives by email within minutes of payment. Install it before you fly, while you still have Wi-Fi, and follow the step-by-step guide for iPhone and Android.

Your validity days start counting at the eSIM's first connection to a network at the destination, not at purchase. So install at home and keep the eSIM line switched off until you land — on Android, do not turn on the eSIM's mobile data before the trip.

Your physical SIM and your phone number stay in the phone and keep working, so WhatsApp remains on your usual number. Just turn off your home carrier's data roaming so nothing bills you by accident. Note that VoaSim is a data-only product: no phone number and no traditional voice calls, though WhatsApp calls, app calls and maps all run over data. Ubigi is also delivered by QR code or app install; its activation rules are set out in its own app.

Compatibility checklist

Both brands need an unlocked phone with eSIM support. Quick check that works on any device: dial *#06#. If an EID number appears, the phone supports eSIM.

• iPhone XR or newer
• Samsung Galaxy S20 or newer
• Google Pixel 3 or newer
• Most phones released from 2020 on
• Carrier-locked phones must be unlocked first

VoaSim does not sell physical SIM cards. If your phone has no eSIM slot, a local SIM at the destination is your route — bring your passport, expect registration in most countries and airport time, and remember your home number leaves the phone while the local SIM is in it.

On hotspot and tethering: we do not promise it. It depends on the plan, so ask support before you build a trip around sharing your connection. Ubigi states its own tethering rules in its terms — read them if that matters to you.

Which one should you pick?

Choose Ubigi if: you are a light data user and know your ceiling (a couple of GB for a short trip), you like managing top-ups in an app, you want a specific single-country package, or you are traveling somewhere VoaSim does not cover — such as the island Caribbean. A named GB package can genuinely cost less than a flat plan when you barely use data.

Choose VoaSim if: you do not want to count gigabytes, you stream or work on the road, you are hopping across several countries (one eSIM for 50 in Europe), you want the price in plain USD with an invoice and Stripe checkout, and you want human support plus a 100% refund if the eSIM will not connect.

Still undecided? Compare against carrier roaming too — for a two-day layover, your existing plan's day pass may beat both. Check the current rate in your carrier's app, then run your dates here.

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