KDDI au review

Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 30, 2026

We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.

Our verdict

KDDI au is a network-run provider for people in Japan who want their own network rather than a resold deal, at an entry price of ¥550 on the Value Plan. It suits households wanting 5G, unlimited data and no minimum term on the same bill, and it scores 9.1 overall.

Key facts

Best for
Japanese households wanting a network-run plan with no minimum term and unlimited data.
Seller type
Network (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
SIM-only
Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Price from
¥550 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Reference plan prices
U12 Value Plan: 550 yen/month, kids low-speed data, no term | Unlimited Data MAX Plan+ 5G/4G: 5258 yen/month, unlimited data, no term | Smartphone Mini Plan+ 5G/4G up to 1GB: 2398 yen/month, 1GB, no term (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Unlimited plan price
¥5,258 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
5G
Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Hotspot sharing
Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Multi-line discount
Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Support channels
Chat, Phone, Help-centre (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Billing
Contract
Official website
au.com

Apps and profiles

Elsewhere
WikidataWikipediaX

Pros and cons

Pros

  • KDDI au operates its own network, with a seller type of network, so the plan comes straight from the operator rather than a reseller.
  • Sim only is offered, so a line can start without a new handset or with a device already in hand.
  • Unlimited data comes on the Unlimited Data MAX Plan+ at ¥5,258, which is the monthly cost a heavy user faces.
  • Support runs on chat, phone and help centre, covering chat, a phone line and a help centre.

Cons

  • Billing runs on contract alone, with no prepaid or rolling option, unlike GETESA and yesss!.
  • On unlimited price the plan ranks 119 of 173 compared brands, so heavy users will find cheaper unlimited tariffs.
  • Support runs on chat, phone and help centre only, with no email route listed for questions.
  • The entry figure of ¥550 belongs to the Value Plan, a kids low-speed data plan rather than a full everyday allowance.
KDDI au

Ready to try KDDI au?

Scored 9.1 / 10 by TariffCue.

See alternatives

Who it suits

  • People in Japan who would rather buy from the network operator than a resold deal.
  • Households that want 5G and unlimited data without a minimum term.
  • Families adding extra lines to an existing account, where a multi line discount applies.

Who should look elsewhere

  • Readers who want prepaid billing next to contract billing should look at GETESA, which lists prepaid and contract.
  • Anyone after a rolling monthly option will not find one here, since billing runs on contract; yesss! lists contract, rolling and prepaid.

How it compares on our data

On entry price KDDI au ranks 63 of 258 brands in the comparison, which places it in the stronger part of the field rather than at the front. Unlimited price tells a different story: 119 of 173 brands rank ahead on that measure, so a reader shopping purely on unlimited data will find cheaper options elsewhere. The gap between those placements is the trade-off worth naming. Entry price is competitive, unlimited price is not, and the choice depends on how much data a household actually uses.

Plans and prices

The Value Plan carries the entry figure of ¥550, and it is a low-speed data plan for children rather than a full allowance for everyday use. Unlimited data sits on the Unlimited Data MAX Plan+ at ¥5,258, which is the monthly cost a heavy user faces. Between them sits the Smartphone Mini Plan, a capped allowance available on 5G that costs less than the unlimited tier without matching its headroom. All of the listed plans are quoted without a minimum term, so there is no locked-in period to weigh against the monthly figure and the entry price is the standing price rather than a launch rate that later steps up. Readers comparing cost should set both anchors, ¥550 and ¥5,258, against the data they expect to use, since the gap between them is where the real decision sits.

Core features

Sim only is offered, so a line can be taken on its own without a new handset, and 5G is available on the plans listed. Hotspot sharing is supported, which lets a phone or tablet act as the data source for a laptop. A multi line discount is offered for extra lines on the same account. These are the working features rather than headline extras: connectivity for current devices, a way to share it, and a reason to bring more lines onto the same account, which is the shape most households actually buy.

How KDDI au compares

Where KDDI au is available

Available
Japan

Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 30, 2026)

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest way to start with KDDI au?+

The Value Plan carries the entry price of ¥550. It is a low-speed data plan for children, so it suits a family that wants a cheap extra line rather than a full mobile data allowance. Billing runs on contract terms and the plan is quoted without a minimum term.

How much does unlimited data cost?+

Unlimited data comes on the Unlimited Data MAX Plan+ at ¥5,258 per month, available on 5G. On the comparison of unlimited prices, KDDI au sits at 119 of 173 brands, so heavier users have cheaper unlimited tariffs to weigh against this one.

Is there a minimum contract period, or a launch price that later changes?+

The plans are quoted without a minimum term, so there is no locked-in period to count out. That also means the entry figure of ¥550 on the Value Plan and ¥5,258 on the Unlimited Data MAX Plan+ read as standing monthly prices rather than launch rates. Billing itself runs on contract terms.

Can I take a plan without buying a handset?+

Sim only is offered, so the SIM can be used on its own with a device already owned or with a handset bought separately. That makes KDDI au a workable option for a traveller or an extra line rather than a plan tied to a phone purchase.

Does the network handle 5G and sharing a connection with a laptop?+

5G is available, and hotspot sharing is supported, so a phone can pass its connection to a laptop or tablet. A multi line discount also applies to extra lines, and Sim only lines can use these features on a device already owned.

How do I reach support?+

Support runs on chat, phone and help centre, so questions can be raised by chat, by phone or through the help centre. Email is not among the listed routes, which matters for anyone who prefers to keep a written record of a billing query.

Is KDDI au a network or a reseller?+

The seller type is network, so the plans sit with the operator that runs the service rather than a party reselling someone else's network. Sim only and 5G are offered on that base, and the Value Plan shows how low the entry figure of ¥550 can go.

How does the entry price rank against other providers?+

On entry price, KDDI au ranks 63 of 258 brands in the comparison, which places the entry figure of ¥550 in the stronger part of the field. Unlimited price ranks further back, so readers shopping on data volume should look there first.

Sources

Compiled from 6 source pages, checked September 30, 2026. We did not open an account.

Not confirmed yet: Contract length.

Related by the facts

KDDI au

KDDI au

Japanese households wanting a network-run plan with no minimum term and unlimited data.

9.1/10See alternatives

Your cookie choices

We use necessary cookies to make this site work. With your permission, analytics cookies help us understand usage and marketing cookies support advertising.

You can reject non-essential cookies and still use the site. Change your choices anytime in Cookie settings.

Cookie policy
Cookie settings