Unfortunately the installation was buggy on two iPhones 13 and 15 and I had to switch instantly to other eSIM provider. This worked well! Today good technical mature process to install sim and eSIM a... See more
Company replied
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Unfortunately the installation was buggy on two iPhones 13 and 15 and I had to switch instantly to other eSIM provider. This worked well! Today good technical mature process to install sim and eSIM a... See more
Company replied
really great support team. I lost access to my email that I registered the SIM card with - ended up reordering a new one with an accessible email address (you will need one to activate your physical S... See more
Company replied
I’ve just landed in Japan and honestly couldn’t be more impressed with this eSIM! The setup was unbelievably quick and easy, I was connected within minutes with zero hassle. The internet speed ha... See more
Company replied
Mobal was the best eSim for our Japan trip. Unlike most tourist eSIMs, they give you a real Japanese phone number — essential for restaurant reservations that only accept local numbers. The coverag... See more
Company replied
Mobal is an award-winning UK/Japan-based SIM provider whose mission is to make life in Japan easier for foreign nationals, known for reliable service, and friendly English support. What makes Mobal different is that it's 100% owned by a charity, which is dedicated to building schools and feeding children in Malawi, Africa. That means that all the profits Mobal makes go straight to making the world a better place!
The Winding House, Walkers Rise, Rugeley Road, Hednesford, Staffordshire, WS12 0QU, Staffordshire, United Kingdom
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Replied to 84% of negative reviews
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I’ve just landed in Japan and honestly couldn’t be more impressed with this eSIM! The setup was unbelievably quick and easy, I was connected within minutes with zero hassle.
The internet speed has been amazing from the start, super fast and reliable, and everything worked instantly without a single issue. After a long journey, it was such a relief not having to deal with swapping SIM cards or searching for WiFi.
This has made travelling so much smoother and stress-free. I’d 100% recommend this to anyone heading abroad, it’s an absolute game changer!
Reply from Mobal
I contacted customer support about an issue with my SIM card and it took several days to get a reply.
When the response finally arrived, it felt like a template rather than someone actually reading what I wrote.
The message didn’t address my specific question and seemed AI‑generated. I expected faster and more personalised support
Reply from Mobal
Product was difficult to install, support took hours and days to help. Once the 10 GB data was used the slow data would not even enable me to navigate with Google Maps.
Uninstalling the eSIM caused severe issues with going back to original eSIM.
I will NEVER recommend Mobal. Horrible experience.
It did work last year, no issue's. However, this year, it's NOT working at all. "Voice & Data" does NOT work on two different phone's, eSIM does NOT work on the 3rd phone, even after numerous exchanges with MOBAL Support: I provided all screenshot's, they haven't found anything wrong, and they can't help me further. I wan't my money back !
Reply from Mobal
I was never able to use what I purchased
Reply from Mobal
Absolute utter garbage.
I purchased one of their pocket wifi services, simply because I didn't want to bother with a SIM card, and they promised 100GB a month of "high speed internet". It was anything but high speed. Just imagine having to wait 10-15 seconds for a literal Instagram message to send. I felt lucky whenever I got 1% of the speed they promised.
Never in my life will I ever even consider purchasing anything from this scam of a company.
Reply from Mobal
We had taken 2 of their sims . We were based in kashiwa si and then in edogawa. Their service is horrible , most of time i did not get internet and their call rates are much high considering their poor service . I opted for this , for the calling feature but it was a bad decesion.
Reply from Mobal
Second time using Mobal sim. Was a little nervous last year when we first used their service but it worked seamlessly. Very happy and again this year using the same service. Highly recommend and happy that they donate profits to charity. Can’t go wrong.
Reply from Mobal
I recently changed to a new phone and discovered that Mobal eSIM cannot be transferred to a new device. I had to request a reissue of the eSIM, and this resulted in my Japanese phone number being changed.
This caused serious problems because many Japanese apps require SMS verification linked to the original phone number.
In addition, Mobal charged a reissue fee of 3,300 yen plus another 831 yen, just to change the eSIM, which is quite expensive considering the number may also change.
Because of this, I lost access to several services and had to spend significant time recovering my accounts and many seem that not possible to access anymore. I hope Mobal improves this process or at least clearly warns customers about the risks of using your esim!
Update after Mobal response:
Thank you for your reply. However, the suggestion to contact websites or services to update contact information does not work in practice.
Most people who use Mobal are foreigners who do not have a Japanese residence card or Japanese ID. This is exactly why many choose services like Mobal in the first place.
When my phone number changed unexpectedly because the eSIM could not be transferred to a new device, many Japanese services linked to my account stopped working because they require SMS verification tied to the original phone number.
For example, Mercari replied by email that they cannot provide support regarding account by email. Instead, they directed me to their Help Center and told me to contact them through the website. But that process leads back to account verification requirements, and when access is lost due to a changed phone number, services like Mercari require Japanese ID such as a residence card or Japanese driver’s license.
If users already had those documents, many of us would simply use normal Japanese mobile carriers instead of paying higher prices for services like Mobal.
So telling customers to “contact the websites” is unfortunately not a realistic solution. Changing the phone number due to an eSIM reissue can cause serious and sometimes permanent loss of access to many services.
Reply from Mobal
I used Mobal during my two-week stay in Japan. Everything worked flawlessly, everywhere I stayed, including Hakuba, Nagano, Matsumoto, and even Jigokudani Monkey Park! Mobal also worked great in the Tokyo subway system, where it was essential. I was also able to connect to apps like Uber very quickly. I will definitely use Mobal on my next trip to Japan!
Reply from Mobal
A good service, I used it for 3 months. However they charge a lot for an eSIM & once you are done it lapses unless you keep paying for it, it then finally lapses for good unless you fully reactivate.
It is for the above reasons I have gone with another provider for my current trip to Japan.
It is unfortunate that Mobal make the grab for cash. The service could be so much better, if they were not so greedy.
Reply from Mobal
It was really easy to have phone and wifi. Already one year now. I LOVE Mobal and their mission. I Will stay here for ever. Really foreigners friendly.
Reply from Mobal
I had used 5G unlimited data eSIM during my 2 weeks stay in Japan and the connection was always great even on the tops of Japanese Alps where I was testing japow🏂🏂🏂 and Mobal in the same time
Reply from Mobal
Mobal was the best eSim for our Japan trip. Unlike most tourist eSIMs, they give you a real Japanese phone number — essential for restaurant reservations that only accept local numbers.
The coverage? Flawless. They use Docomo, Japan's largest network. We had perfect signal everywhere, even in remote mountain areas.
And when I messed up the installation (totally my fault), their support fixed it. No drama, just quick and friendly help.
Highly recommended.
Reply from Mobal
I had the pleasure of using the unlimited 5G eSIM for two weeks during my trip to Japan, and let’s just say it has made my experience here infinitely better. I’ve been able to use it while taking the Tokyo trains, allowing me to stay connected even underground which is super important for navigating this huge city! I would recommend this over a limited monthly renewal plan, as those can sometimes be a hassle when you go over your data amount. Overall, 10/10 experience and I will be using again for my next trip to Japan!
Reply from Mobal
Reply from Mobal
I would give this company a ‘0’ star. The experience was awful. Firstly, it took me a significant amount of time to set up the mobile settings to receive calls and SMS, which I did not face with other providers. Additionally, they suddenly closed your account even though you have paid all the required money. No apology, no remedy plan, no customer service. They just took the money and wished you good luck. So if you want to avoid hassle, do not use it.
Reply from Mobal
I ordered a physical SIM from Mobal for my trip to Japan, because my phone Samsung A53 doesn't support eSIM. Wanted to have it shipped (to Netherlands) so i can have it before landing in Japan. I got it shipped in about a week, and i even entered the APN provided setting in advance in my phone. A few seconds after inserting the SIM at Narita airport, i had instant connectivity, which was so surprising and comforting! I had fast and reliable signal throughout the 2 weeks i traveled, which made my trip easier and even more memorable. Would choose Mobal again for traveling to Japan!
Reply from Mobal
I've been with Mobal for more than 3 years now, and it's been a breeze. Data, SMS, voice -- zero complaints about any of their services. Mobal is how a professional telecoms company should be!
Reply from Mobal
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