Best eSIM for Philippines in 2025 | Comparison

Planning your trip to the Philippines and looking for the best eSIM to stay connected? This is a complete guide with everything you need to know about using an eSIM when traveling to the Philippines including a comparison of the best Philippines eSIMs in 2025.

Don't waste money on high roaming charges, read my recommendations below and order an eSIM for the Philippines on the internet and get connected in just a couple minutes. Below you will find up to date prices and info as per January 2025, including all eSIM specifications.

Find out when and where to order an eSIM, an answer to all FAQ about eSIMs and of course links to directly order your eSIM for traveling to the Philippines online.

Table of Contents

In the past I used to buy a local prepaid sim card on arrival in every country, but nowadays I mostly use eSIMs to stay connected when traveling abroad.

Traveltomtom also wrote a complete guide for buying a prepaid sim card for tourists at Manila Airport.

Some links in this article about the best eSIMs for the Philippines are affiliate links. If you buy any product after clicking on an affiliate link I will earn a small commission. Don't worry this is at absolutely no extra cost to you!

My recommendation

Before showing you the two best eSIMs for the Philippines read the following carefully:

Make sure your phone is unlocked and eSIM compatible. If not, an eSIM won't work on your phone!

1. Jetpac eSIM for Philippines - 20 GB for $25 USD

• 20 GB data-only eSIM
• 5G ready
• Valid in Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam
• Valid for 30 days
• Operates on the Globe network
• $1.25 USD per Gigabyte

Click here to order a Jetpac eSIM for Philippines.

Traveltomtom readers now get an extra 10% off on all Jetpac eSIMs when using the promo code: TOMTOM10 at check out!

The Traveltomtom Team has had amazing experiences with Jetpac on a recent trip to Southeast Asia as the Jetpac eSIM for Philippines are also valid in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

2. Saily eSIM for Philippines - 20 GB for $28 USD

• 20 GB data-only eSIM
• Valid in Philippines only
• Valid for 30 days
• Only $1.4 USD per Gigabyte

Click here to order an eSIM for Philippines from Saily.

Both eSIMs from Jetpac and Saily are data-only eSIMs and incoming and outgoing calls or sms are not supported.

Is the Philippines one of your stops on a trip to Asia or around the world then you can also look into getting an eSIM for world travelers or an eSIM for traveling in Asia. There are a bunch of eSIMs that cover multiple countries.

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Best eSIM for Singapore in 2025 | Comparison

Best eSIM for Traveling to Vietnam in 2025

Best eSIM for Malaysia in 2025 | Comparison

Comparison of the best eSIMs for the Philippines

Buying an eSIM on arrival in the Philippines is also possible at for example Manila international airport and at certain phone stores in Philippines. Some mobile internet providers in the Philippines provide eSIMs for tourists, others don't.

If you don't want to wait until you arrive in the Philippines then order an eSIM online.

There are multiple eSIM providers on the internet that sell Philippines eSIMs for tourists. Traveltomtom recommends ordering an eSIM for traveling in Philippines from one of the well-known eSIM providers that have proven to be reliable operators: Jetpac, Holafly, SimOptions, Nomad, Airalo, GigSky, Airhub, aloSIM, Saily, Roamless, Firsty, Yesim, Sim Local, Ubigi, etc.

The competition is fierce... so before you buy an eSIM first read my tips below.

Jetpac

The Traveltomtom Team has tested Jetpac in more than 10 countries and has only gotten positive feedback about using Jetpac eSIMs.

Not only does Jetpac have great eSIMs for traveling to the Philippines, it also adds another couple advantages like free VPN and airporte lounge access.

The Jetpac eSIMs for Philippines are also valid in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

• 1 GB data for 4 days = $1 USD
• 3 GB data for 7 days = $7 USD
• 5 GB data for 30 days = $9 USD
• 10 GB data for 30 days = $15 USD
• 15 GB data for 30 days = $25 USD
• 20 GB data for 30 days = $25 USD
• 30 GB data for 30 days = $48 USD
• 40 GB data for 30 days = $58 USD

Click here for more info or to order a Philippines eSIM from Jetpac.

Traveltomtom readers now get an extra 10% off on all Jetpac eSIMs when using the promo code: TOMTOM10 at check out!

Big advantage of Jetpac eSIMs for Philippines is that they are also valid in: Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. It makes Jetpac therefore the best eSIMs for traveling in Southeast Asia.

The Jetpac eSIMs for Philippines go as low as $1.25 USD per Gigabyte, which is the average for pretty much all the data plans. There is also a 5 GB data plan for just $9 USD.

Jetpac eSIMs are data-only eSIMs and they do not come with a phone number. Incoming and outgoing calls/sms are not supported. The Jetpac eSIMs are 5G ready and operate on the Globe network.

Jetpac offers several additional services to its eSIM users. Get free lounge access if your flight is delayed. But make sure to register your flight on the Jetpac platform. Via Jetpac you can also buy discounted Airport Lounge Passes as well as fast track passes. But the best extra service of Jetpac is a free VPN subscription.

The eSIMs can be installed before traveling to the Philippines, but only from the first moment it connects to a supported network the eSIM validity of 30 days starts counting. For more info check out the Jetpac website.

Saily

Saily is an eSIM provider part of NordVPN family. The Traveltomtom Team tested and reviewed Saily eSIMs and was pleased with the reliability and its performance.

A downside of Saily is that they don't specify which mobile network they use in Philippines. That said, Saily eSIMs for the Philippines are definitely good value for money.

Here are the Saily eSIM plans for Philippines in 2025:

• 1 GB data for 7 days = $3.99 USD
• 3 GB data for 30 days = $7.99 USD
• 5 GB data for 30 days = $10.99 USD
• 10 GB data for 30 days = $17.99 USD
• 20 GB data for 30 days = $27.99 USD

Click here for more info or to order a Saily eSIM for Philippines.

Unfortunately Saily does not specify which network operator they use in Philippines and it is neither really clear if their Philippines plans are 5G ready. They just mention on their website: depending on local network provider.

Although prices are good, this is essential info that is missing, which is definitely a disadvantage of Saily.

Saily eSIMs are data-only and calling and texting is not supported.

Ubigi

On Ubigi you always find lots of different eSIMs and sometimes it is hard to figure out the best ones. Read the Traveltomtom's full review of Ubigi with all pros and cons.

For the Philippines I spotted some amazing eSIMs deals and that is why Ubigi is ranked high in this Philippines eSIM comparison.

Here are the Ubigi eSIMs for the Philippines in 2025:

• 1 GB data for 30 days = $4 USD
• 3 GB data for 15 days = $8 USD
• 10 GB data for 7 days = $14 USD
• 10 GB data for 30 days = $16 USD
• 25 GB data for 30 days = $29 USD
• 50 GB data for 30 days = $49 USD

Click here to order an eSIM for the Philippines from Ubigi.

The Ubigi eSIMs for the Philippines operate on the Smart 4G/5G network and are data-only. Incoming and outgoing calls are not supported. But 5G is supported.

The Ubigi 25 GB data plan for just $29 USD is actually is one of the best value eSIM for the Philippines in 2025.

Sim Local

The Traveltomtom Team has extensively tested Sim Local eSIMs. Find al the pros and cons of Sim Local in our extensive review.

Here are all the Sim Local eSIM plans for the Philippines:

• 1 GB data for 7 days = $3.75 USD
• 3 GB data for 30 days = $8.25 USD
• 5 GB data for 30 days = $11.25 USD
• 10 GB data for 30 days = $18.25 USD
• 20 GB data for 30 days = $27.75 USD

Click here for more info or to order an eSIM for the Philippines via Sim Local.

Sim Local also has unlimited data plans.

• unlimited data for 7 days = $31.50 USD
• unlimited data for 15 days = $44 USD

On the unlimited data eSIMs there is a so-called FUP (Fair Use Policy) in place and Sim Local does not exactly specify what the FUP is, so you might end up with reduced data speed. Therefore Traveltomtom is not a big fan of eSIMs with unlimited data and an undefined FUP.

All the Sim Local eSIMs for the Philippines are data-only and incoming and outgoing calls are not supported.

aloSIM

Not a new kid on the block, aloSIM has earned its stripes already in the eSIM world, but Traveltomtom didn't use aloSIM much until lately. The Traveltomtom Team tested and reviewed aloSIM and came with positive notes.

Read all about it in our extensive and honest aloSIM review.

Here are the aloSIM plans for the Philippines in 2025:

• 1 GB data for 7 days = $4.5 USD
• 2 GB data for 15 days = $7.5 USD
• 3 GB data for 30 days = $9.5 USD
• 5 GB data for 30 days = $13 USD
• 10 GB data for 30 days = $24 USD
• 20 GB data for 30 days = $38 USD

Click here for more info or to order an eSIM for Philippines via aloSIM.

The aloSIM plans for Philippines are more or less a copy of Airalo, prices are similar! aloSIM also operates on the Globe network and are 5G ready.

What differentiates aloSIM from Airalo and other eSIM providers is that they offer an eSIM for Philippines including an international phone number. This phone number that comes with the eSIM is via a separate application called Hushed.

SimOptions

SimOptions is a reputed eSIM provider that is very much recommended by Traveltomtom. Ordering your tourist eSIM for Philippines through SimOptions is done fast and easy. Read here the honest SimOptions review from the Traveltomtom Team.

Traveltomtom has used SimOptions uncountable times for staying connected when traveling abroad. Very reliable, never an issue and often some of the cheapest eSIM deals.

Here are the eSIM plans from SimOptions for 2025:

• 1 GB data for 7 days = $4.50 USD
• 3 GB data for 30 days = $7.40 USD
• 5 GB data for 30 days = $11.90 USD
• 10 GB data for 30 days = $19.90 USD
• 20 GB data for 30 days = $31.90 USD
• 30 GB data for 30 days = $47.90 USD
• 50 GB data for 60 days = $79.90 USD

Click here to order a SimOptions eSIM for the Philippines.

All the SimOptions eSIMs that you can order through SimOptions are only valid in the Philippines.

SimOptions doesn't specify on which network they operate in Philippines. Max data speed is 4G/LTE and 5G is not supported.

The SimOptions eSIM with 50 GB data is valid for 60 days. So for those travelers that visit the Philippines for longer than 1 month this is a perfect eSIM.

The SimOptions eSIMs for Philippines do NOT come with a phone number and they do not offer incoming/outgoing calls or sms services. The validity of these eSIMs is 1 year and the credit validity starts instantly after installing the eSIM, even if you are not in the Philippines. For more info check the SimOptions website.

Airalo

Airalo is a very reliable eSIM provider and Traveltomtom has used Airalo uncountable times in more than 50 countries around the world. I can totally recommend using Airalo for ordering an eSIM.

Why using Airalo? Airalo is the market leader in eSIMs and a rock solid eSIM provider.

Here are the Airalo data-only eSIM plans for the Philippines for 2025:

• 1 GB data for 7 days = $4.5 USD
• 2 GB data for 15 days = $7 USD
• 3 GB data for 30 days = $9.5 USD
• 5 GB data for 30 days = $13 USD
• 10 GB data for 30 days = $21 USD
• 20 GB data for 30 days = $32 USD

Click here to order an eSIM for the Philippines from Airalo.

The Airalo eSIMs for the Philippines are from Alpas Mobile and they operate on the 4G/LTE network of Globe. 5G is not supported.

The best value eSIM from Airalo gives you 20 GB data for $32 USD which is a rate of $1.6 USD per Gigabyte.

In the most popular places to visit in the Philippines you will find a 4G/LTE signal and the data speed is pretty good these days.

For more info about the best 4G/5G mobile data network in the Philippines check my complete guide for the best prepaid sim card for the Philippines in 2025, including network coverage maps of all the mobile internet providers.

All the Airalo eSIMs are data-only sim cards without a phone number, so any phone/sms service is NOT supported. An Airalo eSIM has to be installed within 1 month and after activation the credit validity starts when it connects the first time to a supported network. For more info check out the Airalo website.

Nomad

Nomad is another eSIM provider that often lures people with cheap plans. The Traveltomtom Team isn't 100% convinced about Nomad eSIMs as they ran into some issues while testing and reported some mixed feedback about Nomad.

However, Nomad has some good eSIM plans for the Philippines.

Here are the Nomad eSIM plans for Philippines in 2025:

• 1 GB data for 7 days = $4 USD
• 3 GB data for 30 days = $7 USD
• 5 GB data for 30 days = $10 USD
• 10 GB data for 30 days = $13 USD
• 15 GB data for 30 days = $21 USD
• 20 GB data for 30 days = $23 USD
• 30 GB data for 30 days = $35 USD
• 50 GB data for 30 days = $49 USD

Click here to order an eSIM for the Philippines from Nomad.

The Nomad eSIMs are from JoyTelecom and they are data-only. Incoming and outgoing calls and sms are not supported. They operate on the network of Globe and 5G is supported.

Some of the Nomad eSIMs for the Philippines have exceptional good value as they come at a rate of $0.98 USD per Gigabyte.

The Nomad Philippines eSIMs have to be installed on your phone within 60 days and after installation its validity starts when it connects for the first time to a supported network in the Philippines. Basically when the plane lands. For more info check the Nomad website.

Holafly

Holafly is another well-known eSIM provider but unlike other eSIM providers they only offer eSIMs with unlimited data. However, there is a catch and that is a so-called FUP (Fair Use Policy). More about it later, but it could mean that you suddenly have a very slow data connection for a whole day until the data speed restores.

Here are the Holafly unlimited data eSIM plans for the Philippines:

• 1 day 'unlimited' data = $6.90 USD
• 2 days 'unlimited' data = $9.90 USD
• 3 days 'unlimited' data = $12.90 USD
• 4 days 'unlimited' data = $16.90 USD
• 5 days 'unlimited' data = $20.90 USD
• 6 days 'unlimited' data = $24.90 USD
• 7 days 'unlimited' data = $29.90 USD
• 10 days 'unlimited' data = $36.90 USD
• 14 days 'unlimited' data = $47.90 USD
• 20 days 'unlimited' data = $61.90 USD
• 30 days 'unlimited' data = $74.90 USD

The Holafly eSIMs are significantly more expensive than Jetpac, Airalo, Nomad and SimOptions. The Holafly eSIMs for the Philippines are data-only and incoming and outgoing calls/sms are NOT supported. These eSIMs do also not come with a phone number.

According to the Holafly website these Holafly Philippines eSIMs operate on the 4G/LTE/5G network of Smart and Globe so the Holafly eSIMs are supposedly 5G ready.

You can use a hotspot on the Holafly eSIMs, but it is capped at 500 MB per day.

Why 'unlimited'? Because there is a Fair Use Policy and the only thing Holfaly states on their website about data speed reduction is the following: "if necessary. Some carriers may reserve the right to apply a Fair Usage Policy"

There is no info whatsoever what the FUP is and what the reduced data speed means.

If I hate something then it is slow data speed. Therefore Traveltomtom's is not a fan of eSIMs with 'unlimited' data with an undefined FUP and therefore it is not my first recommendation when looking for an eSIM for the Philippines.

Also, the Traveltomtom Team tested Holafly in several countries and was disappointed with the overall performance. Holafly was not using the strongest mobile data network operator in those countries and while people all around had a proper data connection our Holafly eSIM had no signal. Even when we were in big cities I constantly had to ask for the public WiFi of my hotels, restaurants and bars because my Holafly eSIM was super slow.

I understand it could be a different story in the Philippines but I was put off a bit by Holafly eSIMs.

Smart

Smart is a mobile internet operator in the Philippines that offers their prepaid sim card plans also as eSIMs. Big difference between Holafly, Nomad, Jetpac, Airalo and SimOptions is that you can only buy Smart eSIMs in person in one of their stores or at Manila Airport.

So only once you have set foot in the Philippines and not on the internet!

At the Smart shop they have 8 different prepaid sim card plans for tourists:

• unlimited data + 93 minutes = 2,000 PHP - $34 USD
• unlimited data + 156 minutes = 2,500 PHP - $43 USD
• unlimited data + 218 minutes = 3,000 PHP - $51 USD
• unlimited data + 281 minutes = 3,500 PHP - $60 USD

The Smart prepaid sim cards are 5G ready and the big advantage over the other eSIMs is that these local eSIMs come with unlimited calling and texting in the Philippines.

Globe

As of 2025 Globe now also offers eSIMs for tourists in their phone stores in the Philippines and at international airports.

• 131 GB data + unlimited calls & text = 2,000 PHP - $34 USD
• 200 GB data + unlimited calls & text = 2,500 PHP - $43 USD
• 262 GB data + unlimited calls & text = 3,000 PHP - $51 USD

The Globe prepaid sim cards for tourists support 5G.

What is the cheapest eSIM for the Philippines?

Truly the cheapest eSIM for Philippines is Jetpac as they offer an eSIM for just $1 USD. It is only valid for 4 days and it gives you 1 GB data.

Other cheap eSIMs for the Philippines are an eSIM from Sim Local for $3.75 USD or Nomad for $4 USD. You 1 GB data for 7 days. All of these cheap eSIMs are only valid in the Philippines and do not support calling and texting.

Why ordering an eSIM for traveling in the Philippines

eSIMs are the easiest way to stay connected when traveling to the Philippines in 2025 and you can arrange everything online in just a couple clicks. No more visiting a sim card shop and swapping physical sim cards. Order online, scan the QR code, follow the steps and you are connected in less than 2 minutes.

The most important reason to get an eSIM is because we would like to stay connected on our trip to the Philippines without wasting money on high roaming costs. Our smartphones are pretty useless without a working data connection. Think about ordering a taxi through an app, finding nearby friends, restaurants and bars. Get directions from Google Maps or simply staying in touch with family back home, check your social media apps on long bus rides or your banking apps when paying contactless.

One of the best things about arriving in the Philippines with an activated eSIM is that you are online as soon as the plane lands. More about when to instal your eSIM later.

There are so many reasons to stay connected when traveling to the Philippines, but the most important reason is that it makes your trip to the Philippines so much more convenient and fun!

At the same time we don't want to waste money on high roaming charges. Many mobile internet operators still charge $3 USD per MB for data roaming, that means just opening the Instagram app will already cost you 20 MB * $3 USD = $60 USD! Not kidding… it still is very common in 2025.

eSIMs are the easiest way to avoid high roaming charges!

Since 2012 I am already traveling the world full time and throughout the years I turned my passion for traveling into a lifestyle and became a full time nomadic travel blogger. That is why I constantly get to a different country and pretty much every week I need to look for a new sim card to stay connected.

On Traveltomtom you can find more than 200 sim card guides from all over the world: Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, Thailand, Asia, Turkey, Egypt, Dubai, Europe, United Kingdom, Italy, USA, Mexico, international eSIMs and many more.

So next time you are planning your adventure abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid sim card and eSIM advice for your holiday destination. Bookmark me and let me help you save money while traveling the world.

Overseas data roaming plans

So what about overseas data roaming plans? Well, not recommended! Why? Did you read the small letters at what data speed you can use data roaming? Pretty much all mobile internet operators limit the data speed for overseas data roaming plans, which means you end up with 3G data speed. Do you have the patience to handle 3G? It is frustrating when all around you in pretty much every amazing tourist destinations in Philippines there is 4G/LTE available.

And price-wise it should be a no brainer since you have seen how affordable the eSIMs for the Philippines are.

Uncountable times travel friends have asked me: 'Tom, can I use your hotspot? My data roaming plan is so slow, it is barely working!' Trust me, get yourself an eSIM or an international prepaid sim card for traveling to the Philippines.

Spend a couple dollars extra and be connected all the time instead of begging for WiFi or a hotspot from friends.

Where to buy an eSIM for the Philippines?

Online

You can buy an eSIM for the Philippines on the internet through an eSIM provider. There are multiple eSIM providers. Traveltomtom compared lots of providers and concluded that the ones mentioned in this guide are the best eSIM providers in 2025.

When buying an eSIM for the Philippines through one of the above recommended eSIM providers you only need your email address and the eSIM is instantly ready to use after installation. There is no ID registration needed.

On arrival in the Philippines

There are 3 main mobile internet provider in the Philippines: Globe, Smart and Dito. As per 2025 Smart and Globe now also offer eSIMs for tourists.

For more info about buying a prepaid sim card for tourists in Philippines in 2025 click on the link to read my complete guide and comparison of all the mobile internet providers in Philippines, including a comparison of the 4G/5G network.

Flying into the Philippines and landing at Manila Airport then you can buy a tourist sim card for Philippines on arrival at the airport. Click on the link above to read my complete guide.

You will find several sim card shops from Globe and Smart in the arrival hall where they sell tourist sim cards. As mentioned before Globe only sells a physical prepaid sim card, but Smart also sells tourist eSIMs.

When to order/activate an eSIM for the Philippines?

You can order an eSIM for the Philippines pretty much any time you want. Most eSIMs have to be installed on a phone within 1 month after purchasing, some even within 1 year, so you have time.

More important therefore is when do you instal/activate the eSIM. The validity of some eSIMs start straight after the installation, other eSIMs only start their validity when they connect the first time to a supported network.

Traveltomtom advices to instal your eSIM on the day of departure to the Philippines or before. You will need a stable internet connection to instal your eSIM. Manila international airport has free WiFi which works good so you could use that to install your eSIM.

Just make sure it is a stable internet connection. But just to make sure Traveltomtom advices you to install/activate your eSIM in your home country.

My personal advice is to instal your tourist eSIM for the Philippines before you get into the plane, because then as soon as the plane lands you will be connected to the internet without any problems.

How do I know all this? Traveltomtom has visited the Philippines 6 times and traveled all around the country to many of its amazing places to visit.

Traveltomtom also wrote a blog about buying a prepaid sim card for tourists for Philippines in 2025 and there is also a vlog on my YouTube channel about my arrival at Manila International Airport.

How to activate an eSIM

Installing and activating an eSIM is made as simple as possible. Everyone can activate an eSIM and the instructions on how to are very detailed and will be send to you instantly by email. But wait, it gets even easier. Just scan the QR code.

When you order an eSIM plan for the Philippines you instantly receive a summery of your order including a QR-code after the payment is processed.

You will see a summary of your eSIM order including a QR code on your screen and at the same time you will also receive an email with the same QR code. The email contains instructions on how to instal and activate your Philippines eSIM.

But installing an activating an eSIM is as easy as scanning the QR code with the same phone where you want to activate the eSIM on. The QR contains all the information about your Philippines eSIM.

Once you scan the code you will be guided through a couple simple steps and within less than 1 minute your eSIM is successfully installed.

Very important is that you are connected to the internet when installing your eSIM otherwise you will get an error and issues can occur.

Tip: if you order an eSIM with the same phone where you want to instal the eSIM on then ask a friend or someone nearby to take a photo of the QR code and then you scan the QR code from his/her phone and start the installation.

Tips for how to get around Philippines

Let me help you find the best bus, boat, train and flight tickets when traveling in Philippines. Check out the below search engine for public transport and be amazed what they find. Try it below yourself.

Powered by 12Go system

At 12Go Asia you will get all the modes of transportations in one overview.

Bus, boat, flights are all displayed and travel time, price, available seats, etc. are all indicted and best thing is you can directly book your ticket online and instantly get a confirmation on your phone.

Things to know before ordering an eSIM for the Philippines

Here are some general tips and FAQ for using eSIMs when traveling abroad. These tips do not only apply for Philippines eSIMs, but are things you have to know before buying an eSIM in general.

Make sure your phone is unlocked

To make sure you didn't miss this, let me say this again: eSIMs only work in UNLOCKED phones. If your phone is unlocked then you can use any eSIM without any problems.

If your phone is locked then ask your mobile internet provider from your home country to unlock your phone before your trip to the Philippines. It is likely that your mobile internet provider will charge you a fee for unlocking your smartphone.

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If you are unable to unlock your phone you can look into getting a portable WiFi for staying connected when traveling to the Philippines or better… bring a second unlocked phone on your trip to Philippines and use it as a portable WiFi device.

Which smartphones support eSIMs?

Another very important thing you have to check before buying an eSIM is if your smartphone supports eSIMs. If you have any of the latest smartphones then there is no need to worry, all new smartphones of the well known brands support eSIMs.

The fastest way to find out if your phone is eSIM compatible is by asking Google the question: is my (your phone model) eSIM compatible? Simple as that!

If your phone is NOT eSIM compatible then there is no other solution and you can NOT use an eSIM for traveling to the Philippines.

However, you can still order a sim card for the Philippines on the internet before your trip. Find out everything you need to know about international sim cards for traveling abroad in 2025.

Can I trust these eSIM providers?

All the eSIM providers recommended in this guide are reputable eSIM providers reviewed and tested by the Traveltomtom Team. All of them are licensed third party companies and resellers that partner or work directly with the mobile internet providers in Philippines.

Traveltomtom has used Airalo and SimOptions sim cards for more than 5 years and never really faced a major issue.

Check out the pros and cons of SimOptions in our review.

Jetpac is a fairly new eSIM provider, but Traveltomtom has tested and reviewed Jetpac now in more than 15 countries and is very happy with the performance and the extra perks like airport lounge access, etc.

Sim Local has more than 100 sim card shops and kiosks in international airports around the world and has been selling sim cards for tourists for more than 5 years. Read Traveltomtom's honest review about Sim Local eSIM provider.

The Traveltomtom Team has extensively tested and reviewed Nomad and they have proven to be a reliable eSIM provider. However, some mixed reviews have come back from the Traveltomtom Team about connectivity and activation.

Since Traveltomtom is not a fan of eSIMs with unlimited data and an FUP I hardly use Holafly, but when I did I was not happy. So now I let the Traveltomtom Team randomly test Holafly and just like myself, mixed reviews have come back. Some positive, some negative.

But there are many more eSIM providers. Traveltomtom has tested and wrote dedicated reviews for the following eSIM providers: GigSky, aloSIM, Ubigi, Airhub, Saily, Yesim, etc.

On top of that there is also Roamless, an eSIM provider with no data expiration. And Firsty, which offers free data in exchange for watching ads. Truly two game changers!

Traveltomtom does NOT sell eSIMs for Philippines, Traveltomtom only compares and recommends you to use eSIMs for traveling to Philippines.

All eSIM providers have their own Helpdesk which you can contact may you encounter any problems or in case you want to claim a refund.

Can I keep my phone number from home with a Philippines eSIM?

Yes, you can and this is for many people a reason to order an eSIM to stay connected when traveling to the Philippines. An eSIM can be used next to your physical or eSIM from your home country at the same time. You do not need a dual-sim phone for using an eSIM.

So you can have multiple eSIMs installed on your phone? Yes, no problem at all!

For example: you can turn off the mobile data from your sim card from home but still use it for texting and calling. Your new Philippines eSIM you can be used at the same time just for data to ensure you are not wasting money on high roaming costs.

This is also the trick to keep receiving sms for example for OTP (one time password) sms to login to applications.

Switching between physical and eSIMs is a matter of turning them on/off in the settings. Just always make sure your sim card from home is switched off for data roaming.

Can I make phone calls with a Philippines eSIM?

No, unfortunately all the tourist eSIMs for Philippines available on the internet do NOT include calling and texting. All the eSIMs are data-only and any calling or sms service is not supported.

If you buy a prepaid sim card on arrival in Philippines in a phone store or at the airport then you get (unlimited) calling and texting included.

Most hotels, restaurants and tour companies in the Philippines have WhatsApp services, so you can easily give them a call through WhatsApp. There is no direct need for calling minutes.

Does a Philippines eSIM come with a phone number?

No, none of the Philippines eSIMs that you can buy on the internet come with a phone number which also means you can not receive any phone calls or sms.

Can I use 5G on an Philippines eSIM?

Yes, most of the eSIMs for Philippines are 5G ready as per 2025.

Are there eSIMs for Philippines with unlimited data?

Yes, the Holafly eSIMs for the Philippines include unlimited data. However, Traveltomtom is not a big fan of unlimited data sim cards.

Always ask yourself is unlimited truly unlimited. Is there a catch? If the unlimited data is not on max data speed then there is a so called FUP. Which means that your data speed will be capped after you used an X amount of Gigabytes.

Holafly is an eSIM provider that sells eSIMs with unlimited data for the Philippines and uses a so-called Fair Use Policy (FUP). Holafly does NOT specify what the FUP is. Which is very dissatisfying.

Traveltomtom does NOT recommend Philippines eSIMs with unlimited data plans with an FUP. On Holafly sim cards I experienced a reduce in data speed after using more than 2 GB per day. After I contacted support they explained me that I had to wait for 24 hours until my data speed was restored to normal.

Those 24 hours were a nightmare as my data speed was barely enough to use WhatsApp. Social media was not even loading!

Especially on days that you have a long bus or train ride and you need a lot of data, you definitely don't want any data speed restrictions that day.

Again, Traveltomtom does NOT recommend eSIMs for the Philippines with unlimited data. But if you think you will never use more than 2 GB per day, then Holafly might be your favorite eSIM.

However, if you don't use so much data per day then what's the point of an eSIM with unlimited data... is what you have to ask yourself.

Are eSIMs the best way to stay connected when traveling to the Philippines?

eSIMs are the easiest and fastest way to get data on your phone when traveling to the Philippines, but what is the best way?

There are 3 ways to stay connected when traveling to the Philippines:

• Local prepaid sim cards
• International prepaid sim cards
• eSIMs

Let's compare eSIMs, local prepaid sim cards and international prepaid sim cards, for you to find out what is your preferred way of staying connected.

Local prepaid sim cards

In general if you use a lot of data then local prepaid sim cards are a cheaper way to stay connected, depending on the length of your trip.

Philippines prepaid sim cards for tourists offer bigger data plans than tourist eSIMs you order online. In fact local prepaid sim cards with data are pretty cheap for tourists in Philippines.

However, a local prepaid sim card can only be purchased on arrival in Philippines in a phone store or at the airport but NOT on the internet.

Another big difference is that local prepaid sim cards have the advantage that they come with a local phone number and mostly with calling minutes and sms bundles. That means incoming and outgoing calls are supported.

More info about the best Philippines sim cards for tourists can be found in my complete guide for buying a prepaid sim card for the Philippines in 2025.

International prepaid sim cards

If your smartphone is not eSIM compatible you can order an international prepaid sim card for traveling to the Philippines. Some of them are great for the Philippines as well as in all other countries in for example Europe, Americas and Asia and you can easily order them online.

If after visiting the Philippines you are traveling onwards in Asia then check Traveltomtom's list of the best sim cards for traveling internationally in 2025.

A pre-activated physical sim card will be delivered to your home address before your trip. You put this physical sim card in your phone and as soon as the plane touches the ground in the Philippines and the sim card connects to a supported network you are online. Plug and play!

Click here to order an international prepaid sim card for the Philippines directly online.

eSIMs

As explained throughout the article there are two different eSIMs:

• eSIMs that you buy on the internet through a third party
• eSIMs that you buy in the Philippines in a mobile internet provider store

As of 2025 Smart and Globe both sell eSIMs for tourists.

On arrival at Manila International Airport there are sim card shops from Smart and Globe and they sell both eSIMs and physical prepaid sim cards. See my complete guide including a vlog about buying a sim card for tourists at Manila Airport.

eSIMs vs. local prepaid sim cards

Getting an eSIM on the internet is the easiest way to stay connected when traveling to the Philippines, no doubt! You arrange everything online within just a couple clicks. Right here, right now and you are all set for your trip to the Philippines.

You arrive prepared and there is no need to visit a sim card shop on arrival in the Philippines. As soon as the plane lands, you are online!

But what is cheaper? An eSIM or a local prepaid sim card for tourists?

When we compare the prices for Philippines eSIMs with the prices for local prepaid sim cards in the Philippines, it is an easy conclusion that local prepaid sim cards are much more affordable as you get many more Gigabytes for the same price.

In fact, for around $34 USD you can get a prepaid sim card with unlimited data for 1 month. For more info check out my article about the best prepaid sim cards for Philippines in 2025.

But local prepaid sim cards can only be bought in the Philippines on arrival in a sim card shop or at the airport and a tourist eSIM for the Philippines can be bought in just 2 minutes on the internet before your trip to the Philippines.

Remember that some of the eSIMs for Philippines actually go down to only $0.98 USD per Gigabyte as well.

After a long flight you just want to get to your hotel and it is often a big task to go to a sim card store and get connected. With eSIMs you buy on the internet you are connected as soon as the plane lands.

For this convenience Traveltomtom definitely recommends to order one of the listed best eSIMs for the Philippines in the comparison above.

Many reasons why a lot of travelers simply get an eSIM for the Philippines. Faster, easier, less stress and even cheaper depending on how much data you need.

Data speed

Another difference between a local prepaid sim card and an eSIM is that eSIMs are often through a third party, a so called MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator). These MVNO's operate on the network of one of the main mobile internet operators and basically buy bandwidth.

This may sound a little bit too technical, but what it means is that eSIMs through an MVNO are the last ones in line when the line is busy. Especially during peak times, the performance of an eSIMs is less compared to a local prepaid sim card from a mobile internet operator.

Bottomline: the data speed of eSIMs can be less compared to a local prepaid Philippines sim card.

I am sure some of the above tips for finding the best eSIM for your trip to the Philippines were helpful. I hope that after reading through my comparison, tips and tricks it was easier to make a decision and order your eSIM for the Philippines right away.

If you still have any questions about eSIMs then please leave me a comment below and I am more than happy to help you out.

Curious what the life of a full time nomadic traveler looks like? Go check out my Instagram account @traveltomtom and follow along with daily updates from around the world about the good, the bad and the ugly about traveling.

Traveltomtom is on the road to 197, meaning I would like to travel to every country in the world. As of January 2025 I have visited more than 155 countries, still about 40 to go, but no rush.

Enjoy your trip to Philippines!