SoftBank review

Billing runs on contract and prepaid terms, so the range has a contract side and a prepaid side. Teigaku Unlimited is the headline contract plan and carries unlimited data at ¥8,008 a month. The reference plan prices also list a pay as you go tier and a small data plan, both on contract terms.

The contract plans run 24 months, so the monthly figure holds for a long stretch rather than a rolling month. Readers who may want to move sooner should compare a seller that bills on contract, rolling and prepaid terms, such as yesss!, where rolling sits alongside contract and prepaid. Check the term before signing, because the same charge applies for its whole length.

There is one published change: the price rise rule is Hikari monthly basic charge +330 yen from Dec 2026. It is stated as a rule with an amount and a date rather than left open, so the higher figure can be built into a budget. Anyone holding the plan across that point should compare it against the 24 month term before deciding.

SoftBank sells as a network, so the service comes from the operator itself in Japan, and sim only is offered. A line can be activated on a compatible handset already in use rather than on a new one supplied with the plan. Sim only removes the handset, not the compatibility check, so check the device first.

A multi line discount is available, and billing runs on contract and prepaid terms, so lines added to the same account cost less each month than a line opened on its own. That makes the extra line the cheapest one to add for a household. The discount sits on the contract plans of 24 months, so it is worth combining with the term length.

Support runs on help centre, the self service route. The account is served through a help centre rather than a phone or chat line, so readers who want a person on the end of a call should weigh that before signing. Anyone comparing sellers should check the channel list early, because support is where two plans on the same price diverge most.

SoftBank serves JP and sells as a network, so the network and the pricing come from the same operator rather than a reseller. For a reader in that market that keeps coverage, billing and support in one place. The flip side is that the plan is tied to a single home market, which matters for anyone relying on the line while abroad.

The unlimited price ranks 162 of 173 among the brands compared here, which reflects a network price in yen rather than a resale figure. Lonestar Cell MTN's reference plan prices are prepaid data bundles with a fixed cap, and yesss! and GETESA bill on contract, rolling and prepaid and prepaid and contract terms. Comparing across currencies needs care.