Best eSIM for Philippines
Updated November 2026
The short answer
The best eSIM for the Philippines is one that works across islands rather than in Manila alone, because almost nobody stays in one place. Ours runs on Smart and Globe, the two networks with real national reach.
Philippines plans from Tonavira start at $1.99, with 495 plans to choose from. Every plan is a one-time payment with no subscription and no roaming bill afterwards.
Best for: Island-hopping trips where ferries, flights and rooms are booked as you go, and being offline costs you a connection.
When you should not buy from us
No eSIM suits every trip. These are the cases where something other than our Philippines plan is the better buy.
- You are at one resort in Palawan or Boracay with Wi-Fi included and are not travelling between islands.
- You are staying long enough to want a local number for domestic booking apps, which usually want a Philippine SIM.
What to compare before you buy
The cheapest Philippines eSIM is rarely the best one. These are the things that decide whether a plan actually works for your trip.
- Price per gigabyte, not the headline price: a $5 plan with 1 GB costs more per gigabyte than a $13 plan with 5 GB.
- Whether hotspot and tethering are allowed. Many cheap plans block them, which matters the moment you open a laptop.
- What happens when the data runs out: can you top up the same eSIM, or must you buy and install a new one?
- What 'unlimited' means on that plan: almost always a daily allowance at full speed, then a much slower connection.
- Whether validity starts when you buy, when you install or when you first connect. Each of our plan pages says which.
- Whether there is a refund if the eSIM will not work on your phone, and whether a human answers when something goes wrong.
What actually matters in Philippines
- Smart and Globe both have strong urban 5G and very different rural footprints. Coverage on the smaller islands can be good in one barangay and absent in the next.
- Typhoon season affects the network as much as the ferries. After a storm passes, mobile data is often the first thing back and the only way to rebook.
- Download your onward tickets before each leg. Island ferry terminals are exactly where signal is weakest and where you most need the booking.
How much data do you need for Philippines?
300-500 MB a day. 5 GB covers a week of maps, messaging and booking, more if you are uploading video.
Not sure? The data calculator works it out from how you actually use your phone.
Our Philippines plans
One-time payment. Each plan page says when its days start.
100 MB
SMART [5G], Globe [5G]
$1.99
≈ $0.28 / day
1 GB
SMART [5G], Globe [5G]
$2.99
≈ $0.43 / day
3 GB
SMART [5G], Globe [5G]
$6.99
≈ $0.23 / day
5 GB
SMART [5G], Globe [5G]
$10.99
≈ $0.37 / day
10 GB
SMART [5G], Globe [5G]
$16.99
≈ $0.57 / day
20 GB
SMART [5G], Globe [5G]
$29.99
≈ $1.00 / day
50 GB
SMART [5G], Globe [5G]
$73.99
≈ $0.41 / day
Not sure how much you need? Use the data calculator
Questions about eSIMs in Philippines
What is the best eSIM for Philippines?
Pick a plan that covers your whole stay with some data to spare. We offer 67 Philippines plans starting from $1.99, delivered instantly by email and in your account.
Which networks does the Philippines eSIM use?
It connects to SMART [5G], Globe [5G], and your phone switches to the strongest available network automatically.
Can I install my Philippines eSIM before I travel?
Yes, on the day you travel: install it on Wi-Fi before you leave. Some plans start counting when the eSIM is installed and others when it first connects in Philippines, so installing on the day keeps all your days.
Do I get a phone number with the Philippines eSIM?
No, it's data only. Call and message over WhatsApp, FaceTime or Telegram, and keep your regular SIM switched on to receive texts such as bank codes.
How much data do I need for a trip to Philippines?
Most travellers use 0.5–1 GB per day for maps, messaging and social media. Streaming video uses much more. Our data calculator gives a personal estimate.
Updated November 2026. Our prices are read from our live catalogue, so the figures above are what we charge today. Full Philippines plan details are on the Philippines destination page.