povo2.0 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

povo2.0 is a prepaid sim only brand from KDDI Corporation, running on the au network in Japan with the base plan listed from ¥0. It suits readers who want the lowest entry price in the set and unlimited data as a short add-on, not those who want a contract term or phone support line.

Key facts

Best for
A prepaid sim only line in Japan with the lowest entry price and unlimited data as an occasional add-on.
Seller type
Network (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Host network
au (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
SIM-only
Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Price from
¥0 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Reference plan prices
Data 375GB 365days: 2200 JPY per month, 31.25GB per month, no contract Data unlimited 6 hours: 250 JPY, unlimited, no contract Base plan: 0 JPY per month, 0GB, no contract (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Unlimited plan price
¥250 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
5G
Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
eSIM
Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Roaming countries
90 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Hotspot sharing
Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Markets
JP (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Legal entity
KDDI Corporation (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Support channels
Chat, Help-centre (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Billing
Prepaid
Official website
povo.jp

Apps and profiles

Elsewhere
WikidataX

Pros and cons

Pros

  • The base plan is listed from ¥0, and the brand ranks 1 of 258 on price from.
  • Billing is prepaid, so there is no contract term to serve and nothing to exit early.
  • Seller type is network, so the plan is sold by the au network itself in JP rather than through a reseller.
  • Sim only, 5G, eSIM and hotspot sharing are all part of the plan, and unlimited data is an add-on at ¥250 rather than a standing monthly tariff.

Cons

  • Support runs on chat and help centre only, so anything needing a voice conversation has to go through chat or written help.
  • It is a JP market brand, so a reader who needs service in another country is looking at the wrong plan.
  • Billing is prepaid only, and GETESA (prepaid and contract) and Lonestar Cell MTN (contract and prepaid) both add contract billing for readers who want a term to lock in.
  • On unlimited price the brand ranks 4 of 173, behind where it sits on entry price, so constant heavy use costs more over time.
povo2.0

Ready to try povo2.0?

Scored 9.4 / 10 by TariffCue.

See alternatives

Who it suits

  • People in Japan who want a prepaid sim only line and pay only for the data they use.
  • Travellers leaving Japan who want roaming packs covering 90 countries rather than a roaming-inclusive tariff.
  • Readers who want unlimited data now and then, at ¥250 for a short window, rather than every month.

Who should look elsewhere

  • Anyone who wants a contract term: GETESA bills on prepaid and contract and Lonestar Cell MTN on contract and prepaid.
  • Anyone who wants a different home network: yesss! runs on A1, while this brand runs on au in Japan.

How it compares on our data

povo2.0 sits at 1 of 258 brands on price from, the strongest entry position in this comparison. On unlimited price the ranking is 4 of 173, further down the same kind of list. Both numbers matter: entry price decides who signs up, and the unlimited figure decides what heavy use costs later.

Plans and prices

Two figures do most of the work here. The base plan is listed from ¥0, and the unlimited plan is priced at ¥250. The entry number is the listed price of the cheapest plan rather than a headline offer, so nothing sits behind it waiting to rise. A reader comparing a first bill with a renewal bill finds one price to weigh for each plan.

Core features

The core list covers the essentials: sim only, yes. 5G, yes. Esim, yes. Hotspot sharing, yes. Roaming is sold as separate packs covering 90 countries, so travel use is bought when it is needed rather than folded into the standing price. The point to keep in view is that roaming is not part of the monthly plan.

The company behind it

The service comes from KDDI Corporation, a named network operator rather than an anonymous reseller, so the brand answers for its own network. Support runs on chat and help centre only, which suits readers who settle problems in writing and suits those who would rather pick up the phone less well.

How povo2.0 compares

Where povo2.0 is available

Available
Japan

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

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to get started?+

The base plan is listed from ¥0, which is the lowest entry point among the brands compared here. There is no introductory rate waiting behind it: billing is prepaid, so the figure you see is the figure you pay, with no term to serve and no renewal step.

What does unlimited data cost?+

The unlimited plan is ¥250, and on unlimited price the brand ranks 4 of 173 brands. It is bought as a pass for a short window rather than as a standing monthly tariff, which suits bursts of heavy use and costs less if you rarely need it.

Is there a contract or a renewal price to worry about?+

Billing is prepaid, and the reference plan prices are sold without a contract. That means no term to serve and no renewal uplift to budget for, so top-ups stop whenever you want. Readers who want a fixed contract length should look at GETESA, whose billing is listed as prepaid and contract.

Where does the service actually run?+

povo2.0 is a JP market brand sold on the au network, so the plan is built for use at home in Japan. Coverage comes from the host network rather than a separate reseller network, and roaming beyond Japan is sold separately in packs covering 90 countries.

Do I need a physical SIM card?+

Sim only: yes, so there is no handset bundled in and nothing to repay. An eSIM is offered, which lets a compatible phone activate the line without a card arriving in the post, and a physical SIM stays the fallback for a device that cannot use an eSIM.

Does the plan include 5G and hotspot sharing?+

Both are part of the plan: 5G, yes, and hotspot sharing, yes. Hotspot sharing lets the line serve a laptop or tablet on the move, which matters for anyone who does not want a separate data dongle. Both ride on the au network in Japan.

How do I get help when something goes wrong?+

Support runs on chat and help centre, meaning chat and a help centre. No phone line is listed, so a problem needing a voice conversation has to be handled in writing instead, which suits readers who prefer a written record of what was agreed.

Who is this plan built for?+

It is built for people in Japan who want a sim only line, pay per top-up rather than by monthly contract, and top up only what they use. The base plan is listed from ¥0 and billing is prepaid, so the cost of starting is the lowest in this comparison.

Sources

Compiled from 7 source pages, checked September 30, 2026. We did not open an account.

Not confirmed yet: Contract length.

povo2.0

povo2.0

A prepaid sim only line in Japan with the lowest entry price and unlimited data as an occasional add-on.

9.4/10See 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