We Priced Six eSIM Apps on the Same Japan Trip, Including Our Own. We Do Not Win Every Row
Same country, same days, same data, six apps, one table. Where each one wins, where Fizen loses, and the two providers whose prices we could not check today.
Quick answer: On unlimited Japan plans checked on 24 September 2026, Airalo was cheapest at most day lengths, Fizen sat within about a dollar of it, Holafly was the most expensive at the long end, and Ubigi was cheapest at 15 and 30 days. On fixed data Ubigi undercut Fizen on every matched size.
Key takeaways
- Unlimited, 7 days in Japan: Airalo US$26.50, Fizen US$27.50, Holafly US$27.50. A dollar apart, so pick on payment method and support, not price.
- Unlimited, 30 days: Ubigi US$65.00, Airalo US$69.00, Fizen US$70.94, Holafly US$73.90.
- Fixed data is where Fizen loses. Ubigi sells 10 GB for 7 days at US$14.00 against Fizen's US$17.18, and 1 GB for 3 days at US$3.50 against US$8.51.
- Only one of the six takes USDT. If you hold stablecoins and no working card, that decides it before the price table does.
Every eSIM comparison you find was written by someone selling one of the eSIMs. So was this one. The difference is that the table below includes our own prices next to everyone else's, on the same country, the same day counts and the same data amounts, checked on 24 September 2026. Where we lose, the number is still in the table.
Unlimited Japan plans, same days, same date
| Days | Airalo | Fizen | Holafly | Ubigi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | US$11.50 | US$13.88 | US$11.90 | not sold |
| 5 | US$17.00 | US$17.69 | US$20.50 | not sold |
| 7 | US$26.50 | US$27.50 | US$27.50 | US$25.00 for 8 days |
| 10 | US$34.50 | US$35.18 | US$36.50 | not sold |
| 15 | US$48.00 | US$49.00 | US$50.50 | US$39.00 |
| 30 | US$69.00 | US$70.94 | US$73.90 | US$65.00 |
Read the word unlimited carefully. Fizen states a 10 Mbps ceiling on Japan unlimited plans, which carries a 1080p video call and will not carry a 4K stream. Airalo and Holafly publish unlimited volume without a headline speed figure, and Ubigi sells unlimited at 8, 15 and 30 days only. Unlimited volume is not the same as unlimited speed anywhere.
Fixed data, where the gap is real
| Plan | Fizen | Ubigi | Who wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB, 3 days | US$8.51 | US$3.50 | Ubigi |
| 5 GB, 15 days | US$10.13 | US$10.00 | level |
| 10 GB, 7 days | US$17.18 | US$14.00 | Ubigi |
| 10 GB, 30 days | US$18.21 | US$16.50 | Ubigi |
| 20 GB, 15 days | US$24.32 | not sold | Fizen by default |
If you want a small fixed bucket for Japan and you have a card that works, Ubigi is cheaper and we are not going to pretend otherwise. Our fixed plans roam on KDDI across 4G and 5G and slow to 384 kbps when the data runs out rather than cutting off, which is worth something on the last day of a trip, but it is not worth three dollars on a 10 GB plan.
What each app is actually for
- Airalo: the biggest catalogue and usually the cheapest unlimited entry price. The app is the product, and support is in-app.
- Holafly: unlimited only, no fixed buckets, priced highest at the long end. Simple if you never want to think about gigabytes.
- Ubigi: cheapest on fixed data and on long unlimited in this test, and it is carrier-backed rather than a reseller front end.
- Nomad and Saily: we could not verify either today. Nomad renders its prices in the browser and returned none to an automated check, and Saily served a Cloudflare bot challenge. No prices for them here rather than guessed prices.
- Fizen: mid-table on price, and the only one of the six that takes USDT as well as cards, with QR Pay and a wallet in the same app.
When the price table is not the deciding factor
A dollar between Airalo and Fizen on a seven day unlimited plan does not decide anything. Three things do.
- Whether your card works. If you hold stablecoins and your card is blocked, declined or simply not accepted, the cheapest plan you cannot pay for is not cheap. Fizen takes USDT from your own wallet balance.
- Whether you need more than data. The same Fizen balance pays a Vietnamese or Philippine QR code through QR Pay, which no eSIM app on this list does.
- What happens when it breaks. Fizen replaces a verified faulty eSIM 1-for-1 for the length of the trip, and an uninstalled eSIM is usually returnable depending on the plan. Check each provider's equivalent before you buy, because they differ.
New Fizen users also get a US$10 eSIM credit, applied automatically the first time the eSIM tab is opened in the app, no code, valid 12 months. On a seven day Japan plan that is most of the difference between the six apps in this table.
Frequently asked questions
Which eSIM app is cheapest for Japan?
It depends on the row. Airalo led most unlimited day lengths on 24 September 2026, Ubigi led fixed data and long unlimited, and Fizen sat within about a dollar of Airalo on unlimited.
Why are Nomad and Saily missing prices?
Nomad renders its prices client side and returned none to an automated check, and Saily served a bot challenge. We would rather leave them blank than publish a number we did not see.
Does unlimited mean unlimited speed?
No. Fizen states a 10 Mbps ceiling on Japan unlimited. Others publish unlimited volume without a headline speed. Every provider manages speed somehow.
Can I pay for an eSIM with crypto?
Of the six here, only Fizen takes USDT, straight from your wallet balance. The rest take cards and wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay.
Do these prices change?
Constantly. Every figure here carries the date it was checked, 24 September 2026. Open the two providers you are choosing between before you buy.
See where Fizen lands for your trip
Japan plans roaming on KDDI across 4G and 5G, fixed data or unlimited at up to 10 Mbps, dated prices on the store. Card, Apple Pay or Google Pay on the web, USDT in the app. Data only, installed before you fly. Not offered to US Persons.
Terms and conditions
- Information only. This article compares published mobile data prices. It is not an offer or sale of any product or service, and it is not financial, legal or tax advice.
- For readers in the United States. This article provides information only. It is not an offer, solicitation or sale of any product or service, and it is not financial, investment, legal or tax advice. Fizen is not offered to US Persons.
- Independent, and not neutral. Fizen sells one of the products compared here. Fizen is not affiliated with, endorsed by or a partner of Airalo, Holafly, Ubigi, Nomad, Saily or KDDI. Competitor prices are what each public site displayed on 24 September 2026 in USD, and they change.
- Full terms. See the Master Terms of Use, Privacy Policy and Disclaimer on the Fizen website.
Sources
- Airalo: Japan eSIM plans
- Holafly: eSIM for Japan, price by number of days
- Ubigi: Japan data plans
- Nomad: Japan eSIM
- Saily: Japan eSIM
- Fizen eSIM store
All prices were read from each provider's public site on 24 September 2026.
