Ubigi is less famous than some of the eSIM brands you see everywhere on Instagram, but it has a few features that make it one of my favorites, especially for one country I know very well. I’m Mexican, I live in Paris, and I travel between Europe and Mexico often. Here is my honest review of Ubigi: who runs it, how it works, what it costs, and why it stands out in Mexico. If you already know what you need, you can check Ubigi’s plans for your destination.
One eSIM for all your trips
Ubigi eSIM
- 200+ destinations
- Starts when you land
- Works on laptops
- Telcel in Mexico
This post contains affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
This post contains affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Who’s behind Ubigi
Ubigi is a brand of Transatel, a French mobile operator that is part of Japan’s NTT Group. That matters: Transatel runs its own core network, so Ubigi isn’t just reselling someone else’s eSIMs. It signs roaming agreements with local carriers and manages the connection itself. In practice, that’s why Ubigi often connects to more than one network in a country, and why it was one of the first eSIM providers to work on laptops.
How Ubigi works
You install one Ubigi eSIM and keep it. It’s a “lifetime” eSIM: next trip, you just buy a new plan in the app, and you don’t need to install anything again. A few features make it different:
Smartstart
Your plan starts when you arrive in the destination, not when you buy it. Unused plans expire after six months.
Lifetime eSIM
Install once, reuse it on every trip. You only buy new plans.
Laptops and tablets
Works on eSIM Windows 10/11 laptops, iPads and Android tablets, not just phones.
Top up with zero data
The app stays reachable when your data runs out, so you can top up without wifi.
Hotspot included
Share data with other devices on every plan, at no extra cost.
Support
An automated chat on the website and an AI assistant on WhatsApp handle quick questions. For refunds or account issues, you use the contact form, which goes to a human team. No phone line.
The laptop support is the feature I’d highlight for anyone working remotely from Mexico or anywhere else: your laptop can have its own connection, without draining your phone’s battery as a hotspot.
Plan types and prices
Ubigi has three ways to pay. Prices below were published in August 2026 and change by destination and with promotions.
Published prices, August 2026, in USD. Check the current price for your destination before you buy.
On unlimited plans, Ubigi gives you a set amount of full-speed data, then slows you down for the rest of the plan. The threshold depends on the destination and is listed on each plan page (in Mexico, it’s 20 GB, then 2 Mbps). Ubigi is data only: there’s no phone number, so calls and texts go through WhatsApp, FaceTime or similar apps, and you keep your home SIM in the phone.
See Ubigi’s plans for your destination
Ubigi in Mexico: why it stands out
This is where Ubigi becomes my first recommendation.
Which networks does Ubigi use in Mexico?
Telcel
The carrier most Mexicans use, from big cities to small towns.
Movistar
Runs on AT&T’s infrastructure. Good in cities.
Altan Redes
Wholesale network built to reach underserved areas.
Networks listed on Ubigi’s Mexico plan pages, October 2026. No 5G in Mexico on Ubigi plans.
Ubigi’s Mexico plans connect to three networks: Telcel, Movistar and Altan Redes. Telcel is the key one. According to Opensignal’s latest Mexico report, Telcel scored 8.8 out of 10 for coverage experience, almost double AT&T’s 4.7, and it also led on download speed.
In big cities and beach resorts like Cancún, almost any eSIM works. The difference shows up on highways, in small pueblos, in the mountains of Oaxaca and Michoacán, and on the kind of trips I describe in my guide to adventure travel in Mexico. That’s Telcel territory. When I’m home in Michoacán, it’s the network that keeps working once you leave Morelia.
Ubigi Mexico prices
| Plan | Validity | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 500 MB | 2 days | $3 |
| 1 GB | 30 days | $5 |
| 3 GB | 30 days | $9 |
| 10 GB | 30 days | $24 to $29 |
| Unlimited (20 GB full speed, then 2 Mbps) | 7 days | $36 to $45 |
Prices seen on Ubigi’s Mexico pages in August to October 2026. They move with promotions, so check the current one.
Thanks to Smartstart, you can buy your Mexico plan weeks ahead and it won’t start until you land.
Ubigi vs Airalo in one line
For Mexico, Ubigi wins on coverage thanks to Telcel, while Airalo is very easy for city trips. I go deeper in my Airalo vs Ubigi comparison for Mexico, and you can read my Airalo review if you’re also using it for other countries.
How to install Ubigi
Check your device
It must be unlocked and support eSIM. Most recent iPhones, Pixels, Samsungs and eSIM Windows laptops do.
Buy and install at home
Download the Ubigi app, pick your destination and plan, and install the eSIM on wifi.
Land and switch on
Turn on the Ubigi line, select it for mobile data and enable data roaming for it. Smartstart activates the plan.
Reuse next trip
Keep the eSIM installed. Next time, just buy a new plan in the app.
Who should buy Ubigi
Ubigi is a great fit if:
- You travel several times a year and want one eSIM you never reinstall.
- You work from a laptop or tablet and want it connected on its own.
- You’re going to Mexico and leaving the main tourist routes.
- You like buying early, knowing the plan won’t start until you land.
Look at other options if:
- You want fast, human support by phone.
- You need a local phone number for calls.
One eSIM for every trip
200+ destinations, plans that start when you land, and Telcel coverage in Mexico.
This post contains affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ubigi legit? Yes. Ubigi is a brand of Transatel, a French mobile operator owned by Japan’s NTT Group, and it runs its own core network.
When does a Ubigi plan start? With Smartstart, the plan activates when you arrive in a destination it covers, not when you buy it. If you don’t use it within six months of purchase, it expires.
Does Ubigi work on laptops? Yes. Ubigi works on eSIM-compatible Windows 10 and 11 laptops, as well as iPads and Android tablets.
Does Ubigi use Telcel in Mexico? Yes. Ubigi’s Mexico plans connect to Telcel, Movistar and Altan Redes. Telcel has the widest coverage in the country.
Does Ubigi give you a phone number? No. Ubigi is data only. Use WhatsApp or FaceTime for calls and keep your home SIM active for texts.
My verdict: a smart pick for frequent travelers, people who work from a laptop, and anyone going beyond the big cities in Mexico, where Ubigi connects to Telcel. The weak spot is support: quick answers come from automated chats, and reaching a person means filling in a contact form.
Mexaround’s editorial scores, based on features, published prices and network partners.
So, is Ubigi worth it?
Yes, especially if you travel often or need reliable coverage beyond the big cities. In Mexico, it’s the eSIM I’d recommend for road trips and rural travel because of Telcel. Ready to try it? Find your destination on Ubigi. Still planning your dates? Here’s where to go in Mexico in December.
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