Confirmed from each provider's own site โ see the trust card on each provider page for the verification date.
eSIMCard
Ubigi
Maya Mobile
Airalo
ID verification
eSIMCard:
Not required
Ubigi:
Not required
Maya Mobile:
Not confirmed yet
Airalo:
Required for some countries (passport/ID)
Refund policy
eSIMCard:
No refunds once the eSIM is installed and used; refunds within 30 days for coverage issues preventing installation, technical problems with no data consumed, or unauthorized purchases.
Ubigi:
Refunds only for unused plans โ a plan can't be refunded once you start using it. Requests within 14 business days of purchase, processed within 10 business days to the original payment method.
Maya Mobile:
Full refund (less processing fees) within 30 days if no data has been used โ including incompatible or carrier-locked devices; partial refunds proportionate to unused data for Maya-side network issues.
Airalo:
Self-service refund request from your account (My eSIMs > Package History > Request Refund) for wrong purchase, changed plans, installation issues, or a non-working eSIM โ expired or fully-used eSIMs aren't eligible. Wrong-purchase/changed-plans refunds go to Airmoney (their in-app credit) only; installation-issue/not-working refunds can go to Airmoney or your original payment method, taking 7-10 business days (up to 30 depending on your bank).
Validity starts
eSIMCard:
The eSIM activates automatically when the first byte of data is consumed at the destination, not at purchase, so it can be bought and installed well in advance.
Ubigi:
Smartstart: the plan's validity countdown begins when you first connect at your destination, not at the moment of purchase. Preloaded eSIM QR codes must be redeemed within 6 months of purchase or they expire unused.
Maya Mobile:
Each plan runs for its full duration once activated in the app (turn the eSIM on when you land, not automatically at purchase); you're charged once at purchase regardless of how much data you use, and there are no partial refunds for unused days.
Airalo:
Validity starts either when the eSIM connects to the destination network or at the moment of installation, depending on the specific plan โ check 'Additional Information > Activation Policy' on the plan page before buying to see which applies.
Fair-use limit
eSIMCard:
Unlimited bundles include an allowed amount of full-speed data per rolling 24-hour period (starting from first use), after which speed drops for the rest of that period before resetting.
Ubigi:
Unlimited plans run at full speed up to a threshold, then drop to 2 Mbps: about 15โ25 GB on 7-day country plans and 60 GB on 30-day regional plans, depending on the destination.
Maya Mobile:
Unlimited plans: speed may be temporarily throttled to 10 Mbps once daily usage exceeds 3GB, and to 1 Mbps if very high usage continues; any throttle is removed within 24 hours. Prepaid (fixed-GB) plans run at full local network speed.
Airalo:
Unlimited plans default to a 3GB-per-day full-speed allowance before throttling to 1 Mbps for the rest of that 24-hour period (counted from activation, not purchase); a different daily threshold is stated on the specific plan's page when it applies instead of the 3GB default.
Top-ups & rollover
eSIMCard:
Existing eSIMs can be topped up or extended with more data through the eSIMCard app, which also lets you manage active plans.
Ubigi:
Existing Ubigi eSIMs can be recharged with a new data plan directly through the Ubigi app or ubigi.me account โ even without Wi-Fi or remaining data โ without installing a new eSIM.
Maya Mobile:
Add data to an existing eSIM any time: pick a package in the Shop and choose your existing eSIM at checkout (no reinstall); optional Auto Renew also extends 30-day plans monthly.
Airalo:
Only plans marked 'rechargeable' (checkable under Additional Information before buying) can be topped up, via the My eSIMs > Top Up option in the app โ a non-rechargeable eSIM or one that changed carriers requires buying a new eSIM instead.
Support
eSIMCard:
Email ยท WhatsApp ยท Phone ยท Help center ยท Live chat ยท 24/7
Ubigi:
Live chat ยท WhatsApp ยท Help center
Maya Mobile:
Email ยท WhatsApp ยท Live chat ยท 24/7
Airalo:
Live chat ยท Help center ยท 24/7
Comparison by eSIMKart