Best eSIM for the Philippines: prices, Globe and Smart networks, unlimited plans and tips for island hopping
Best eSIM for the Philippines: daily-updated prices, Globe and Smart networks, unlimited plans, island-hopping tips and why many Asia plans leave it out.
For most trips to the Philippines, the best eSIM is a Philippines plan with 5 to 10 GB that can use both Globe and Smart, bought before you leave and installed at home. It saves you the registration needed for a local SIM card and gives you data as soon as you land in Manila or Cebu. This guide compares the prices, networks and unlimited rules of the almost 4,000 plans that cover the Philippines in our database, explains why a plan with two networks matters for island hopping, and shows why many Asia plans are not the right choice for this trip.
Quick answer: which Philippines eSIM to choose
- Manila, Cebu or a beach resort for a week or two: a Philippines plan with 5 to 10 GB is enough for most travellers.
- Island hopping in Palawan, Siargao or the Visayas: a plan that names both Globe and Smart, so you can switch when one has no signal.
- The Philippines as part of an Asia trip: check the country list; fewer than half of the Asia plans in our database include the Philippines.
- Remote work or heavy use: an unlimited plan with at least 2 GB a day at full speed.
Philippines eSIM prices: the cheapest plan for every data amount
The Philippines is well covered: all 39 providers in our database sell plans that include it, and about 1,300 of those plans are for the Philippines alone. The table shows the cheapest plan for each data amount with at least 7 days of validity, including regional and global plans:
| Data | Validity | Price | Per GB | Provider | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 7 days | €0.43 | €0.43 | Stellar eSIM | View plan |
| 2 GB | 14 days | $1.40 (€1.25) | €0.63 | eSIM.dog | View plan |
| 3 GB | 30 days | €1.60 | €0.53 | Stellar eSIM | View plan |
| 5 GB | 10 days | €2.50 | €0.50 | Stellar eSIM | View plan |
| 10 GB | 12 days | $5.08 (€4.55) | €0.45 | eSIM.dog | View plan |
| 20 GB | 30 days | €7.31 | €0.37 | Stellar eSIM | View plan |
| 50 GB | 7 days | $18.94 (€16.95) | €0.34 | eSIM.dog | View plan |
Per gigabyte, Philippines-only plans in our database cost somewhat more than plans for Thailand or Singapore. Comparing pays off: for a 5 GB plan valid for 7 to 30 days, the typical offer costs about three times as much as the cheapest one. Before you buy, also check:
- Validity: more than 400 Philippines-only plans, from every provider that sells them, run for 30 days or more.
- Network: the plan card names Globe, Smart or both; see below why both is better outside the cities.
- Day passes: more than 400 day passes cover the Philippines, useful for a stopover in Manila.
Prices are refreshed daily. All plans with filters for data, validity, network and 5G are on our Philippines eSIM page, and current discounts are on our promo codes page.
Unlimited data in the Philippines: daily allowance and speed
Just under three in ten plans for the Philippines are sold as unlimited, almost all with a daily allowance at full speed. Allowances of 1, 2 and 3 GB or more a day are about equally common; a cheap minority allows only 500 MB a day.
| Validity | Cheapest unlimited | With 2 GB/day or more at full speed |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | €0.83 · Stellar eSIM 500 MB/day at full speed, then reduced | $1.70 (€1.52) · Billion Connect 2 GB/day at full speed, then 384 kbps |
| 3 days | $1.69 (€1.51) · MicroEsim 500 MB/day at full speed, then 128 kbps | $3.40 (€3.04) · Billion Connect 2 GB/day at full speed, then 384 kbps |
| 5 days | $2.52 (€2.26) · MicroEsim 500 MB/day at full speed, then 128 kbps | $4.90 (€4.39) · Billion Connect 2 GB/day at full speed, then 384 kbps |
| 7 days | €3.03 · Yoho Mobile 500 MB/day at full speed, then 128 kbps | $6.50 (€5.82) · Billion Connect 2 GB/day at full speed, then 384 kbps |
| 10 days | €4.15 · Yoho Mobile 500 MB/day at full speed, then 128 kbps | $9.30 (€8.32) · Billion Connect 2 GB/day at full speed, then 384 kbps |
| 15 days | €5.65 · Yoho Mobile 500 MB/day at full speed, then 128 kbps | $13.60 (€12.17) · Billion Connect 2 GB/day at full speed, then 384 kbps |
| 30 days | €10.17 · Yoho Mobile 500 MB/day at full speed, then 128 kbps | $26.71 (€23.91) · Billion Connect 2 GB/day at full speed, then 384 kbps |
The table only shows plans with at least 2 GB a day at full speed. After the allowance, almost four in ten unlimited plans keep 1 Mbps or more, a third drop to 256 to 512 kbps, and about one in six to 128 kbps, which is barely enough for messages. For maps, Grab and messaging, a fixed plan of 5 to 10 GB is usually enough. Our guide Unlimited eSIM plans: how unlimited are they really? explains the rules.
Globe or Smart: which network is best?
The Philippines has two large mobile operators and a newer third one:
- Globe: named by about three quarters of the Philippines-only plans in our database, from 30 providers.
- Smart: part of the PLDT group, named by about six in ten plans, from 25 providers.
- DITO: the third operator, launched in 2021. Only one provider in our database uses it so far.
| Network | Plans | Providers | With 5G | 1 GB+ from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Globe | 939 | 26 | 79 % | €0.88 |
| SMART | 866 | 24 | 82 % | €0.43 |
| Globe Telecom | 174 | 6 | 80 % | €2.19 |
| Smart Communications | 120 | 1 | 100 % | €3.13 |
| Null | 57 | 1 | 0 % | €2.28 |
| GlobeTelecom | 36 | 1 | 100 % | €3.80 |
| DITO | 8 | 1 | 38 % | €2.95 |
| SMART Gold | 3 | 1 | 100 % | €11.64 |
In Metro Manila, Cebu, Davao and the main tourist towns, both Globe and Smart work well, and about eight in ten Philippines-only plans state 5G. The country has thousands of islands, though, and away from the towns one network often has a signal where the other has none. About half of the Philippines-only plans with network details can use both Globe and Smart; for island hopping, that is the most useful feature to look for. On our Philippines page you can filter by network.
Island hopping: Palawan, Siargao, Boracay and boat trips
Many trips to the Philippines combine a city with several islands. Some things to keep in mind:
- Coverage on the islands: El Nido, Coron, Siargao, Boracay and Bohol all have mobile coverage in the towns, but on boat tours, remote beaches and in the mountains you will often be without signal.
- Two networks: a plan that can switch between Globe and Smart gives you the best chance of a signal in places where only one of them has a mast.
- Offline first: download maps, boarding passes and booking confirmations before boat trips and domestic flights.
- Hotspot: almost all plans for the Philippines that state it allow hotspot, useful when you share a connection in a resort with weak Wi-Fi.
- Typhoon season: roughly from June to November, storms can interrupt power and mobile networks on the affected islands for a while. Keep a power bank charged and save important contacts and documents offline.
| Trip | Typical use | Suggested plan |
|---|---|---|
| Stopover in Manila, 1–3 days | Maps, Grab, messaging | Day pass or 1–3 GB |
| One to two weeks, city and one island | Maps, bookings, social media | Philippines plan, 5–10 GB |
| Island hopping for several weeks | Navigation, photos, video calls | 30 days with 20 GB or more, Globe and Smart |
| Remote work from a beach town | Video meetings, uploads, hotspot | Unlimited with 2 GB a day or more |
The Philippines on a wider Asia trip
If the Philippines is one stop on a longer trip, be careful with Asia plans:
- Fewer than half of the Asia plans in our database include the Philippines. Do not assume an Asia plan covers it.
- No small combinations: virtually every regional plan that includes the Philippines also covers Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia; there are no compact two-country plans with a neighbour.
- Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong: around 2,000 plans cover the Philippines together with each of them, most of them larger Asia or global plans.
- Price: per gigabyte, an Asia plan that includes the Philippines costs about 40 % more than a Philippines-only plan, and a global plan about three times as much.
So for a trip that is mainly in the Philippines, a country plan is usually best; for a route through several Asian countries, an Asia plan that lists every stop. Our Asia eSIM guide compares the regional plans, and our guide Singapore and Malaysia covers a popular combination.
Travel eSIM or Philippine SIM card? Registration and phone numbers
Under a law passed in 2022, every SIM card issued in the Philippines has to be registered to its owner. As a tourist, you register with your passport, and a local tourist SIM may only be valid for a limited time. Local SIM cards are sold at the airports in Manila and Cebu, but registration takes extra time after a long flight. A travel eSIM avoids this paperwork: you install it at home and it works as soon as you land.
The trade-off is the phone number. None of the Philippines-only plans in our database include calls or SMS, so you get no local number. That matters mainly for some local apps, for example e-wallets, that need a Philippine number. For most visitors, messaging apps and ride-hailing on data are enough. Keep your home SIM active for calls and codes from your bank, and switch off data roaming on it; see Dual SIM with a travel eSIM.
How to set up your Philippines eSIM
- Check your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked; see Does my phone support eSIM?
- Buy and install the eSIM at home over Wi-Fi, a day or two before you travel. Many plans start only when they first connect in the Philippines; the plan details say when the validity begins.
- Keep your home SIM for calls and SMS, and switch off data roaming on it.
- After landing, turn on the travel eSIM, select it for mobile data and enable data roaming for the eSIM.
- Test it at the airport. If you have no signal, see eSIM not working abroad.
Step-by-step instructions are in our guides for iPhone and Android.
Questions travellers ask
Which network is best for an eSIM in the Philippines?+
Globe and Smart both work well in the cities and main tourist areas. On the islands, coverage differs from place to place, so a plan that can use both networks is the safest choice. About half of the Philippines-only plans in our database name both.
Do I need to register a travel eSIM in the Philippines?+
The Philippine SIM registration rules apply to SIM cards issued by Philippine operators. A travel eSIM from an international provider roams on Globe or Smart and is set up when you buy it, so you do not register it in the Philippines. Check the provider's terms if you are unsure.
Do Asia eSIM plans cover the Philippines?+
Not always. Fewer than half of the Asia regional plans in our database include the Philippines. Check the country list before you buy, or choose a Philippines-only plan, which is also the cheapest option per gigabyte.
Does a travel eSIM work in Palawan and Siargao?+
Yes, in the towns such as El Nido, Coron and General Luna. On boat tours, remote beaches and in the hills there are often gaps on both networks. A plan with Globe and Smart and offline maps make the biggest difference.
Can I get a Philippine phone number with a travel eSIM?+
No. None of the Philippines-only plans in our database include calls or SMS. If you need a local number, for example for an e-wallet, you need a Philippine SIM card, which you register with your passport.
Is 5G available with a travel eSIM in the Philippines?+
Yes, on most plans. About eight in ten Philippines-only plans in our database state 5G. You get it in Metro Manila, Cebu and other cities if your phone supports it.
Written by the eSIM Rankings editorial team. Prices, networks and plan details in the tables come from our database and are refreshed daily; price comparisons are medians from our data as of October 2026. Rules for local SIM cards are set by the Philippine authorities and can change. We compare published data and do not test providers ourselves.
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