The best eSIM for Philippines
An archipelago of stunning beaches and vibrant culture. Here is the plan we would pick today, the live pricing for every plan we track, and the practical things to know before you fly.
The lowest price-per-gigabyte we currently track for Philippines. A solid fit for most one-to-two-week trips with maps, messaging, and the occasional photo upload.
| Provider | Data | Days | Price | $/GB | Get |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Nomad | 50GB | 30 | $49.00 | $0.98 | Get → |
 GoMoWorld | 18GB | 30 | $19.99 | $1.11 | Get → |
| GoMoWorld | 27GB | 30 | $29.99 | $1.11 | Get → |
| Nomad | 20GB | 45 | $23.00 | $1.15 | Get → |
| Nomad | 10GB | 30 | $13.00 | $1.30 | Get → |
 Saily | 20GB | 30 | $26.99 | $1.35 | Get → |
| GoMoWorld | 8GB | 30 | $10.99 | $1.37 | Get → |
| Saily | 10GB | 30 | $17.09 | $1.71 | Get → |
| Nomad | 5GB | 30 | $10.00 | $2.00 | Get → |
| GoMoWorld | 1.8GB | 7 | $3.99 | $2.22 | Get → |
| Nomad | 3GB | 30 | $7.00 | $2.33 | Get → |
| Saily | 5GB | 30 | $11.99 | $2.40 | Get → |
 Roamless | 3GB | PAYG | $7.35 | $2.45 | Get → |
| Roamless | 1GB | PAYG | $2.45 | $2.45 | Get → |
 Virgin Connect | 50GB | 30 | $203.00 | $4.06 | Get → |
 GigSky | 5GB | 30 | $48.49 | $9.70 | Get → |
Prices are live and may change. Google Fi is excluded from the value ranking because it is a full phone plan rather than a travel data plan.
Manila
- Arriving
- Ninoy Aquino International (NAIA, code MNL) is about 7 km from Makati but the traffic can make that a long ride. There is no rail link yet, so transfers are by Grab, the UBE airport bus or a taxi. All terminals have 4G/5G from Globe, Smart and DITO. Have data ready so Grab and navigation work, since traffic routing matters here more than most cities.
- On the subway and rail
- Metro Manila has three elevated rail lines (LRT-1, LRT-2 and MRT-3) with cell coverage, plus the PNR commuter rail, the EDSA Carousel bus rapid transit, the jeepneys and the buses. The Beep card and Grab cover ticketing and rides. Traffic is heavy, so the ride apps and live navigation are genuinely essential and hold data across the metro.
- Free public WiFi
- The malls leave WiFi open: the SM Mall of Asia (one of the largest in the world), Greenbelt and Glorietta in Makati, and SM Megamall. Cafes across Makati and BGC offer WiFi. MNL airport has free terminal WiFi. Hotels provide guest WiFi as standard, so connectivity is easy in the business and mall districts.
- Coverage in the city
- Globe and Smart cover Makati, Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Intramuros and old Manila, Quezon City and the Mall of Asia complex, with the newer DITO competing on price. Speeds can fluctuate during peak hours. The rail lines and the ride apps hold data across the metro; coverage is strongest in the central business districts.
- If you prefer a local SIM
- Globe, Smart and DITO sell prepaid SIMs at MNL and in the malls. The Philippines now requires SIM registration with a passport under the SIM Registration Act. Tourist data is very affordable. An international travel eSIM that includes the Philippines is the easiest option for visitors and avoids the registration step.
Cebu
- Arriving
- Mactan-Cebu International (CEB) is on Mactan Island, about 15 km from Cebu City across the bridges. Transfers are by Grab, taxi or the MyBus airport shuttle. The airport has full 4G/5G from Globe, Smart and DITO. Cebu is the main jumping-off point for island hopping, so have data ready for the ferry and tour bookings.
- On the subway and rail
- Cebu City moves by jeepney, the MyBus and Beep buses, taxis and Grab; there is no rail. The bridges link the city to Mactan Island, where the airport and the beach resorts are. Coverage holds across the city and Mactan; the island-hopping boats to Bohol, Malapascua and Moalboal lose signal once well offshore.
- Free public WiFi
- The malls leave WiFi open: SM Seaside, SM City Cebu and Ayala Center Cebu. Cafes across the IT Park and the Capitol area offer WiFi. CEB airport has free terminal WiFi. The Mactan Island resorts provide guest WiFi as standard, so connectivity is easy in the city and the resort strip.
- Coverage in the city
- Globe, Smart and DITO cover Cebu City (the Capitol, Colon, IT Park and the Ayala district) and the Mactan Island resorts at Lapu-Lapu. As the gateway for island hopping, it reaches the day-trip launch points; the boats out to Bohol, Malapascua, Moalboal and the Oslob whale-shark site lose signal offshore, with the islands covered in their town centres.
- If you prefer a local SIM
- Globe, Smart and DITO sell prepaid SIMs at CEB and in the malls, with passport SIM registration required. Tourist data is affordable. An international travel eSIM including the Philippines is the cleanest option for a Cebu and islands trip combined with Manila.
Grab an eSIM before you arrive in Philippines to skip local SIM queues. Most urban areas offer 4G or better, while rural regions can slow down, so keep offline maps handy. Activating the eSIM in advance ensures you are connected the moment you clear customs.
The Philippines is served by two dominant carriers - Globe and Smart - which provide 4G coverage in Metro Manila, Cebu, Davao, and other major urban centers. As an archipelago of over 7,000 islands, coverage varies significantly by location. Major cities and popular tourist destinations like Boracay, Palawan (Puerto Princesa and El Nido town), and Bohol have usable 4G coverage, but speeds and reliability can fluctuate, especially during peak hours.
Remote islands, rural areas, and locations away from town centers often have weak or no mobile signal. Travelers island-hopping or visiting less-developed beach areas should expect connectivity gaps and plan accordingly.
Data costs are affordable, and international eSIM providers generally include the Philippines in their Asia or global plans. While the Philippines is not known for the fastest mobile speeds in the region, coverage in tourist areas is typically sufficient for messaging, navigation, and social media.
- Download offline maps before island-hopping - many smaller islands and boat routes have no mobile coverage
- Coverage in El Nido and remote Palawan beaches can be weak - expect limited connectivity outside town centers
- Boracay has reliable coverage along the main beach areas and in D'Mall
- Grab works well for ride-hailing in Metro Manila and Cebu - make sure you have data available for booking
- Data is very affordable - generous eSIM plans for the Philippines are available at low cost
Average Data Cost
~$1-$2/GB
Network Quality
4G in Manila, Cebu, Davao, and major tourist areas. Variable coverage across islands. Speeds can be inconsistent during peak usage.
eSIM Availability
Globe supports eSIM for postpaid subscribers locally. International travel eSIM providers are the easiest option for tourists visiting the Philippines.
Major Carriers
Recommended Providers for Philippines
Plans for Philippines
From $3.99
Plans for Philippines
From $4.00
Plans for Philippines
From $3.99
Plans for Philippines
From $2.45
Pay-as-you-go: $2.45/GB
Plans for Philippines
From $6.50
Plans for Philippines
From $10.00
Pay-as-you-go: $10.00/GB
Plans for Philippines
From $11.49
- 1
Buy and install at home on WiFi.
Installation is not the same as activation. You can install the Philippines eSIM days ahead and only switch it on after you land, which avoids burning days of validity in transit.
- 2
Screenshot your current APN before you swap.
If you ever need to switch back to your home line quickly, that screenshot saves a support call from a foreign airport.
- 3
Decide on your dual-SIM strategy.
Keep your home line on for SMS-based bank logins, two-factor codes, and emergency calls. Set the travel eSIM as the data line only. Most modern phones can do both simultaneously.
- 4
Disable iMessage on the travel eSIM line.
Otherwise iMessage will try to re-activate against the new line on arrival and you will spend the first ten minutes troubleshooting it instead of finding the taxi rank.
- 5
Download offline maps for Philippines.
Google Maps and Apple Maps both support offline regions. Pull them down on home WiFi so a flaky activation never leaves you without a route from the airport. Our offline maps guide walks through it step by step.
- 6
Activate at the airport, not before.
Once the validity timer starts it does not pause. A 15-day plan you turn on the morning of departure burns a full day of validity before you even land.
We are building this section from real, verified traveler submissions rather than stock testimonials, so it stays empty until we have notes we can stand behind. If you have used an eSIM in Philippines recently, a one-paragraph note on what worked (and what did not) helps the next traveler.
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eSIM setup guide for Philippines
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Offline maps for Philippines
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Pricing on this page is pulled live from our database and refreshed every four hours. Coverage notes are sourced from carrier roaming agreements and updated when carriers change partners. Provider rankings are determined by price-per-gigabyte and plan flexibility, not by who pays the largest commission.