All went smoothly except: * the set-up is entirely self-service. The instructions are clear, but some human assistance at the collection point would be even better * my first attempted connection w... See more
Company replied
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Review summary
Created with AI, based on recent reviews
What people talk about most
Reviews shaping this summary
Received Sim and installed it - had data but had problem with receiving voice calls. This was due to the age of my phone. There are notes on the website about this, but the issue could perhaps be made... See more
Company replied
Great 4G LTE connectivity throughout my 14-day (9/22 to 10/05/25) trip in Japan. KYOTO, NARA, OSAKA, TOKYO. I do wish 5G data speed was available. I do love the massive data plan 50GB for 16 days.... See more
Company replied
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 T... See more
Company replied
Company details
Written by the company
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!
Contact info
The Winding House, Walkers Rise, Rugeley Road, Hednesford, Staffordshire, WS12 0QU, Staffordshire, United Kingdom
- support@mobal.com
- www.mobal.com
3.8
Great
930 reviews
Replied to 87% of negative reviews
Typically replies within 1 week
How this company uses Trustpilot
See how their reviews and ratings are sourced, scored, and moderated.
Japanese eSIM
We used the eSIM during a 10 day stay in Japan, during February, travelling in Tokyo, Atami, Hiroshima and Miyajami Island. The order process was easy and we received all of our details and instructions really quickly. The instructions for set up were great and straightforward and although we had some self inflicted set up problems we received great customer service from the team. They got us up and running really quickly and from that point onwards the eSIM worked seamlessly in our own handsets. We had really strong signal throughout our Trip, even on the bullet train, and sometimes even disconnected from Wi-Fi because the SIM signal was better. Really would recommend since you can set up before you arrive in Japan and loved not having to fiddle around with physical SIM cards and risk losing them. A really great product!
February 13, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from Mobal
We really appreciate you taking the time to provide your feedback.
It is wonderful to hear that you found ordering and receiving your eSIM quick and easy, and that your service worked well during your trip to Japan.
It is also great to hear that our Customer Service team were able to promptly provide you with support.
Thank you again for your kind review and we look forward to hearing from you again in the future!
Absolute horrible service provided
At this point, just shut down your services. Takes 3 days to reply to the ticket when its urgent. Installed eSIM with the instructions provided, but it couldn’t work. Said I deleted the eSIM and have to repurchase. There goes my $45 and a cheers to no data in Japan. Thanks Mobal for your troubles
March 10, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from Mobal
We appreciate you taking the time to provide us with your feedback and apologize for any inconvenience these issues may have caused you. If you could please email care@mobal.com with the subject "TrustPilot" review and we will get one of our dedicated care team to discuss this matter with you in further detail - Mobal
Positive sim provider
Sim was delivered in a timely manner alongside good instructions on how to use the card. Once I arrived in Japan the sim was able to connect to the network as expected, although was a little slow. Only downside is that now it is harder for me to track my data usage.
February 24, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from Mobal
Hi Rebecca, we really appreciate you taking the time to provide your feedback.
It is wonderful to hear that your SIM card arrived quickly and that you found the setup instructions easy to follow.
With regards to the cellular data service, connection speeds can vary based on a number of factors that are outside of our control. However, if you are still experiencing issues, please send an email (containing your account details, the make/model of your phone, and screenshots of your current data settings and of any speed tests you have performed) to our support team at support@mobal.com and we will be happy to look into this further for you!
Perfect Experience Each Time
I've used Mobal a couple of times when visiting Japan. The SIM cards have arrived really quickly, were easy to put into my phone, and connected to the network right away (I only used data for mine).
In both cases, I've had questions and their customer service has been really smooth - very quick at replying, and very friendly.
February 22, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from Mobal
Thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback!
It is wonderful to hear that your SIM cards arrived quickly and that your services worked well during your trips to Japan.
We are also pleased to hear that our Customer Service team were able to promptly assist you with your queries.
We thank you again for your repeat custom and look forward to hearing from you in the future!
Taking the stress out of SIMs
The selection on offer for Japanese SIM is really good, and at highly affordable rates. The pressure of having data access for our time is now gone thanks to Mobell.
Delivery was quick, and their customer support and help in selecting the right card was exactly what we needed.
Would recommend to anyone thinking of either visiting or living in Japan.
February 21, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from Mobal
Hi Matthew, thank you for your feedback.
It is wonderful to hear that you are happy with the selection of products we have available and that you found them good value for money!
We are glad that having a SIM card that can provide data whilst you are in Japan has helped alleviate any concerns you may have had.
It is also great to hear our Customer Service team were able to provide you with pre-sales support so that you could purchase the SIM most suited to your needs, and that once you made your order it arrived quickly.
Thank you again for your recommendation and for choosing Mobal.
Worked great.
There were cheaper options but I chose Mobal in the end. Did not disappoint. I had the SIM mailed to Australia and it was shipped promptly. Set it up on the plane before landing and it worked as soon as I got off the plane. No trouble at all during the entire trip.
February 6, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from Mobal
We appreciate you taking the time to provide us with your feedback regarding your recent experience with our service.
We are delighted to hear that you received your SIM promptly and that the service worked well from the moment you arrived in Japan.
Thank you again for your kind review and we look forward to hearing from you again in the future!
Mobal esim it’s great solution to have…
Mobal esim it’s great solution to have easier, when you travel to Japan. Great internet. I recommend.
February 20, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from Mobal
Hi Joanna, thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback.
It is great to hear you found the data package worked well!
Thank you for your recommendation and for choosing Mobal.
Great product from mobal, highly recommend.
I have used mobal.com twice now to buy tourist Sims for Japan. The instructions sent to ensure the Sim worked in my phone were very clear and I had no problem at all the first time I used it. The second time was even easier as the phone is now set up for the mobal sim card and I was able to get online as soon as the flight touched down and I switched it on!
The sim arrived in the post very quickly, was reasonably priced and I will use them again for my next trip. I highly recommend them.
February 13, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from Mobal
Thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback.
We are delighted to hear your SIMs arrived quickly and that the instructions are clear and easy to follow!
It’s also great to hear that you found our Japan Tourist SIM cards good value for money.
Thank you for your recommendation and we look forward to being a part of your future trips in Japan!
Using it for a 3rd time
This is my third time choosing Mobal. Last times being Nov 2022 and Mar 2023. It's always been a very smooth experience - SIM card delivered to my home prior to departure, I activate the SIM after landing in Japan while on airport WiFi, and it works immediately and I can text and use data. Even though my travels are about 3 weeks each time, I've always chosen the long-term option to get call and text in addition to data, because in a foreign country, you never know when you might need to call a hotel or restaurant and make changes or ask for directions! With the long term option, the first month is pro-rated for the days remaining in the calendar month, and subsequent months you pay for the whole month. It's more time than I need, but I usually get the 5 GB plan and the convenience and peace or mind is worth it!
Softbank has very good coverage in the cities, but in rural places Docomo is supposed to be better. My friend's Docomo had coverage in the middle of nowhere when my Softbank signal was very weak. The physical SIM is Softbank. I wasn't able to order the eSIM, which is Docomo, but I hope to try it in the future.
February 10, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from Mobal
Hi Mabel, thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback.
It is great to hear that you have used Mobal multiple times on your trips to Japan, and each time the process of ordering, setting up and using your SIMs has been seamless!
With regards to the network coverage in rural areas, we are sorry to hear that the signal was weak at times. This can be caused by a number of factors which are unfortunately outside of our control.
We thank you again for your repeat custom and look forward to hearing from you in the future!
We need a Japanese phone number in Japan …
We need a Japanese phone number when we travel to Japan - typically twice a year. Mobal is easy to set up, and easy to use. And much cheaper than the alternative which we used to use. Plus we get the SIM card shipped to our house before we leave, which means we skip the huge lines at Haneda or Narita airport when we arrive. We just activate the SIM when we leave Canada and it's ready to go when we arrive.
February 9, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from Mobal
We really appreciate you taking the time to provide your feedback.
We are delighted to hear that you have found ordering and receiving your SIM cards quick and easy, and that your services have worked well from the moment you arrived in Japan!
Thank you again for your kind review and for choosing Mobal!
Sadly a big step back.
Sadly I can't recommend mobal anymore since they don't sell unlimited data simcards anymore.
I used to tell all my friends about mobal and used it since many years, but now I'm sadly disappointed they decided to take a big step back. We will have to find another website...
February 7, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from Mobal
We appreciate you taking the time to provide us with your feedback.
We are sorry to hear that the changes to our current product range mean that our services aren’t suitable for your needs anymore and that you no longer wish to recommend us.
We sincerely apologise for any inconveniences these changes may have caused, but we hope that you may reconsider using our services again in the future.
An excellent service
I decided to go with Mobal because they offer an eSIM with a proper Japanese phone number, I just needed to provide ID in the form of a passport image. The eSIM code was then delivered to me in the UK ahead of my 6 month trip.
On arrival, connected to the Haneda airport free WiFi and activated the eSIM - up and running in a minute or two.
Download speeds have been great, and being able to provide a proper number (not a VOIP one which many companies don't accept) has been brilliant.
I thoroughly recommend Mobal if you're looking for a mobile phone solution for Japan travel.
January 25, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from Mobal
Hi Peter, thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback.
We are delighted to hear that you found it easy to purchase and set up your Voice + Data eSIM!
It is also great to hear that having a genuine Japanese phone number and fast data speeds has helped you navigate everyday life in Japan.
Thank you very much for your recommendation and we hope you enjoy the remainder of your trip!
Cost effective with good customer service
Mobal provides very cost effective and quick service. I highly recommend them
April 10, 2023
Unprompted review
Reply from Mobal
We really appreciate you taking the time to provide your feedback.
It is great to hear that you found our services cost effective and worked well.
We thank you for your recommendation and hope to hear from you again in the future!
Mobal is great!
I used Mobal in my more than 2 years of stay in Japan, and it was so sooo convenient! I had no problems in ordering the sim, setting up payments, up to my cancellation when I left Japan for good. Reception was also always good, I remember having good coverage even when I go hiking and just doing daily life within my small inaka town.
February 7, 2023
Unprompted review
Reply from Mobal
Hi Christelle, thank you for providing your feedback!
We are delighted to hear that you found the process of ordering, setting up, paying and using your SIM card easy and hassle free.
Thank you again for your kind review and for letting Mobal be a part of your adventures!
My wife used your service and said it…
My wife used your service and said it worked really well while she was in Japan visiting her mom!
June 20, 2023
Unprompted review
Reply from Mobal
Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback.
It is great to hear that your wife found the Mobal Japan WiFi worked well whilst she was visiting her Mother in Japan!
We hope she had a wonderful time and we look forward to hearing from you again in the future!
Mobal Voice and Data e-sim long term plan
I purchased Voice and Data e-sim long term plan and it was the best choice for my 14 day trip. Got connected after the package was collected form Narita 2 airport counter. The installation was easy and the connectivity was the best. I traveled to Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima and Kanazawa. The data was working perfectly and full signal all around the trip.
January 13, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from Mobal
Hi Anu, thank you for your feedback.
We are happy to hear that you found the Voice + Data eSIM easy to install and that the service worked well throughout your time in Japan!
Thank you again for choosing Mobal and we hope to hear from you again in the future!
Mobal for moving to Japan
Mobal's service has been a lifesaver for me in Japan. The process of starting a phone plan which you normally need a Japanese credit card and to open a bank account you need a phone number, but Mobal's streamlined approach has made it much easier and is extremely expat friendly. While they may not be the cheapest option, the convenience and time saved make it worthwhile, especially for newcomers adjusting to life in Japan. I hope they consider offering more competitive prices to retain long-term residents like myself.
February 3, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from Mobal
We really appreciate you taking the time to provide your feedback.
We are delighted to hear that your SIM card has made your time in Japan easier and that you found the process of setting up and using your service straightforward.
With regards to the cost of our services, we strive to make out prices competitive and review them on a regular basis. However, we appreciate your feedback and will pass this onto the relevant department to review.
Thanks again for your review and for choosing Mobal!
Debt collector agency
I am a college student in japan and I used their 3GB plan. It was alright until it was hard keeping up with the payments. My sim closed on me and sent me to a debt collection agency. They claimed that it was not their problem. I am both confused and scared. Don’t use mobal sim for either data or voice. Use Sakura or GTN instead. They are wayyy cheaper and won’t send you to a debt collector agency.
Update: The debt collection agency they provided won’t take any calls. Don’t bother.
February 1, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from Mobal
Thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback and we are sorry to hear of your frustrations regarding our billing procedures!
Using the information you have provided, we believe that we have located your account but the account appears to be linked to an alternative email address (the email address you use when logging in to your Mobal account).
For security purposes (as we can only send personal information relating to billing / charges etc to the email address associated with the account) we can confirm that we have sent an email to the Gmail address linked to your Mobal account to discuss this further.
This email contains details of our declines procedures and the various reminders / notifications that were sent to you (before the outstanding balance was eventually passed on to the collection agency) but if anything is unclear, please let us know!
Fast delivery
Fast delivery, with a nice included quick start guide. It's also really nice to know that a part of the profits go to charity.
January 17, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from Mobal
Hi Luca, thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback!
It’s great to hear you found the quick start guide provided with your SIM card useful.
We also thank you for your custom. Every purchase makes a difference to many lives, as the majority of our profits go towards helping to achieve our vision for the communities that we support in Malawi and beyond.
Thank you again for choosing Mobal and we hope to hear from you again in the future!
Make sure you understand SIM cards and connecting to foreign networks.
We were inexperienced with changing SIM cards but worked it out.
November 15, 2023
Unprompted review
Reply from Mobal
We are sorry to hear that you experienced difficulties changing the SIM Cards however we are delighted to hear that you were able to get up and running in the end!
Thank you for choosing Mobal and we look forward to hearing from you again in the future!
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