Are you planning a trip to Philippines and wondering if you can buy a sim card for traveling in Philippines on arrival at Manila International Airport? The answer is yes! This is a complete guide for buying a sim card at Manila Airport including up to date prices as per August 2024, my recommendation, the best eSIMs for Philippines and everything else you need to know before buying a sim card to stay connected when traveling to Manila.
Traveling with a working data connection on your phone is so much more convenient. Looking for the best way to stay connected when traveling abroad is a vital part of my travel planning. To save money on high roaming costs you can order an eSIM for Philippines on the internet and arrive prepared or buy a Philippines prepaid sim card at Manila Airport on arrival.
eSIMs are super convenient, but often also more expensive. Depending on how much data you need it is worth ordering an eSIM for the Philippines on the internet before your trip, just like I did.
Traveltomtom is on a journey to travel to every country in the world and everywhere I go I write sim card guides for other travelers to find the best ways to stay connected. That is why on Traveltomtom you can already find more than 200 sim card guides from all over the world: Hong Kong, China, Shanghai, Thailand, Bangkok, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Australia, Sydney, New Zealand, Auckland, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Europe, London, United Kingdom, Rome, Italy, USA, Canada and many more.
Traveltomtom also wrote an extensive guide for the best Philippines sim card for tourists in 2024, including 4G/5G coverage maps and also a guide with a comparison of the best eSIMs for traveling to the Philippines in 2024.
Are you traveling to multiple countries in Asia then you might want to look into buying an international sim card or eSIM for Asia.
So next time you are planning your trip abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid and eSIM advice for your holiday destination. Bookmark me!
Some links in this article about buying a sim card at Manila Airport are affiliate links. If you buy any of the products after using an affiliate link I will earn a small commission. Don't worry this is at absolutely no extra cost to you.
My recommendation
Traveltomtom recommends buying a Smart sim card at Manila Airport. For around $36 USD you get unlimited GB data. But keep in mind that this is the cheapest sim card you can find at Manila Airport.
But you can also already order a Philippines eSIM on the internet for just $4 USD. Read all about it in my complete guide with everything you need to know before ordering an eSIM for the Philippines.
Simply because it is cheaper Traveltomtom actually recommends ordering an eSIM for the Philippines on the internet through either Airalo or SimOptions.
If you want to cheapest sim card deals you should not buy a local prepaid sim card for Philippines at Manila Airport, but in the city somewhere in a local phone shop. It will save you a couple dollar, check out my complete guide for buying a sim card for the Philippines in 2024 for more info.
If you are traveling to multiple countries on your trip to Asia then check out some of the international prepaid sim cads for traveling abroad. These physical prepaid as well as eSIMs are valid in multiple countries around the world, so they could be great for your next holiday.
Be aware that the local prepaid sim cards you buy in Philippines, as well as eSIMs and international sim cards only work in unlocked phones. If your phone is locked make sure to unlock your phone before your trip to Philippines. Contact your mobile internet provider in your home country if you are not sure about this.
Best eSIMs for Philippines
Local prepaid sim cards are not the only way to stay connected when traveling to the Manila. The easiest way to get data on your phone when traveling to Manila in 2024 is by ordering an eSIM online.
No need to visit a sim card store anymore on arrival in Manila and no need to buy a sim card at Manila Airport. As soon as the plane lands you are already online. The eSIM for Philippines you buy on the internet needs to be installed on your phone in a couple simple steps. Then once installed the eSIM instantly connects to an available network as soon as the plane touches the ground.
You can order an eSIM for Philippines directly on the internet, you process the payment, you receive a QR code, you scan it, follow the instructions and instal the eSIM in a couple simple steps. You are all set in less than 2 minutes.
For more detailed information about using eSIMs and an answer to all your FAQ's check out my guide about the best eSIMs for traveling to the Philippines in 2024.
Airalo
Airalo is a recommended eSIM provider that Traveltomtom has used multiple times. Check out the following eSIM plans for Philippines from Airalo:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $4.5 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $9.5 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $13 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $21 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $32 USD
Click here to directly order a Philippines eSIM from Airalo.
The Alpas eSIMs for the Philippines operate on the Globe network. They are not 5G ready, 4G/LTE only and it is a data-only sim card. Incoming and outgoing calls are not supported.
SimOptions
SimOptions is another eSIM provider, they offer also eSIMs for Philippines. Traveltomtom uses SimOptions a lot but their Philippines eSIMs are much more expensive than Airalo.
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $7.90 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $14.90 USD
- 6 GB data for 30 days = $17.90 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $39.90 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $64.90 USD
Click here to directly order a Philippines eSIM from SimOptions.
The SimOptions data-only eSIMs are only valid in Philippines. SimOptions does not disclose which network operator in thye use in Philippines. These eSIMs do not support incoming and outgoing phone calls and 5G is also not suppported.
Nomad
Another recommendation for eSIMs in Philippines is Nomad and they have some great eSIM data-only plans for tourists.
- 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 = $17 USD
- 15 GB data for 30 days = $21 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $27 USD
- 30 GB data for 30 days = $35 USD
- 40 GB data for 30 days = $40 USD
- 50 GB data for 30 days = $49 USD
Click here to directly order a Philippines eSIM from Nomad.
The above eSIMs from Nomad are from Joytel and best thing is that they are 5G ready as of December 2024. They operate on the 4G/LTE network of Globe. Incoming and outgoing calls are not supported.
For a complete guide about using eSIMs when traveling to the Philippines and a comparison of the best eSIMs for Philippines in 2024 click on the link and read all my tips.
Before ordering an eSIM for Philippines make sure your phone is first of all unlocked. eSIMs only work in unlocked phones. Second, make sure your phone is eSIM compatible. Pretty much all newer smartphones are eSIM compatible.
Arrival at Manila International Airport
Manila is the capital city of Philippines and most international flights arrive at Manila International Airport. Manila Airport with airport code MNL is also called Ninoy Aquino International Airport - NAIA.
There are 3 terminals. Terminal 1 is mostly for domestic flights and low-cost carriers, Terminal 2 is used only by Philippines Airlines and pretty much all other major international airlines like Emirates, Qatar, Turkish Airlines, Qantas and all European airlines arrive and depart from Terminal 3.
There is free WiFi at Manila Airport but you need a phone number and be able to receive an sms to login, which can be a pain. When you manage to connect it actually works pretty fine.
As soon as you walk out of the plane a long hallway will direct you to passport control. There is only one way, so don’t worry you won’t get lost. You will walk past duty free and then around the corner there is immigration. You are required to fill out a health declaration form, which can be done online and there is WiFi available in this area. So while I was queueing up I filled out the health declaration form. Surprisingly, no one asked me or checked the QR code generated by filling out the health declaration.
Passport control was fairly busy but the wait wasn’t too long. After passport control you take the escalator down into a huge baggage claim hall. In the baggage claim hall there are no facilities, all ATM’s, money exchange, sim card shops, banks, tour agencies, car rental companies, etc. are in the Arrival Hall.
There is a luggage check x-ray machine, but only for carry-on luggage, it is a small machine. In my case everyone could walk past on my arrival and no bags were checked. Then finally you arrive in the Arrival Hall.
Where to buy a sim card at Manila Airport
It is very easy to find the sim card shops at Manila Airport where they sell tourist sim cards for Philippines. As soon as you walk into the Arrival Hall you can either go left or right. On both ends there is the exact same shop.
There are two sim card desks together in one sim card booth. One desk is from Smart and the other desk is from Globe. These are the main mobile internet providers in the Philippines.
The sim card shops are very easy recognizable as staff will be in front of them with signs for buying a sim card and trying to attract people by loudly screaming: ‘buy your prepaid sim cards for Philippines here’.
Great thing is that the sim card shops at Manila International Airport are open 24 hours and they accept international credit cards as well as cash. So no matter what time you arrive you can always buy a sim card at Manila Airport.
Prices prepaid sim cards Manila Airport
All the information below is updated in August 2024 and prices are in Philippines Pesos. $1 USD = 57.2 PHP and 100 PHP = $1.75 USD.
Expect to pay tourist prices for sim cards at Manila Airport. If you want the cheapest Philippines prepaid sim card deals then you have to buy a sim card in a phone shop in Manila City center and not at the airport. At the airport they sell tourist sim cards for tourist prices.
Globe
At the Globe shop they sell 5 different prepaid sim card plans for tourists which are all valid for 30 days:
- 131 GB data + unlimited calls & text = 2,000 PHP - $36 USD
- 200 GB data + unlimited calls & text = 2,500 PHP - $44 USD
- 262 GB data + unlimited calls & text = 3,000 PHP - $53 USD
The Globe prepaid sim cards are 5G ready. Globe does NOT provide eSIMs, they only have physical prepaid sim cards available at Manila Airport.
Smart
At the Smart shop they offer prepaid sim cards for Philippines with unlimited data valid for 30 days and they have 4 different tourist sims available:
- unlimited data + 93 minutes = 2,000 PHP - $36 USD
- unlimited data + 156 minutes = 2,500 PHP - $44 USD
- unlimited data + 218 minutes = 3,000 PHP - $53 USD
- unlimited data + 281 minutes = 3,500 PHP - $62 USD
The Smart prepaid sim cards are 5G ready and Smart also offers eSIMs for tourists. Physical prepaid sim cards are also available. You choose the tourist sim card you want at the Smart sim card shop at Manila Airport.
Best sim card for tourists at Manila Airport
When we look at the prices we see that there is hardly difference between the Smart and Globe prepaid sim cards plans for tourists. The cheapest sim card plans for both Smart and Globe are $2,000 PHP which equals $36 USD.
Although the same price, Smart gives you unlimited data and Globe gives you 131 GB data.
So the first match is won by Smart. Based on the prepaid sim card plans and prices Smart is the best sim card you can buy at Manila Airport.
Tourist sim cards with data plans in Philippines are very big and although I am a very heavy data user even on a crazy day I barely use more than 5 GB. On average I use about 2 - 3 Gigabyte per day, mostly on social media apps like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, Snapchat, etc.
For my research about the best sim cards for traveling in Philippines I also compared the network coverage maps of Smart and Globe. Both have a pretty decent 4G/5G network around the country and it seems like pretty much all the best places to visit and tourist destinations in Philippines are covered with a 4G and even often a 5G signal.
However, after my comparison I came to the conclusion that Smart has a more advanced 4G/5G network in Philippines than Globe. For more info check out my complete guide for finding the best prepaid sim card for Philippines in 2024.
Traveltomtom also wrote a complete Philippines eSIM guide. Find out everything about eSIMs, FAQ's about using eSIMs and a comparison of the best eSIMs for traveling to the Philippines in 2024.
On top of that Smart offers eSIMs as well as physical prepaid sim cards for tourists and Globe does only offer physical sim cards.
All in all it is a fairly easy conclusion that Smart is the best sim card at Manila Airport.
That said, the cheapest tourist sim card at Manila Airport is 2,000 PHP ($36 USD), but an eSIM for Philippines already starts from just $4 USD. Or get 20 GB data for $27 USD.
Simply because it is cheaper Traveltomtom actually recommends ordering an eSIM for the Philippines on the internet through either Airalo or SimOptions.
Order a prepaid sim card for your trip to Manila online
Remember that eSIMs can only be used in eSIM compatible phones. If your phone is not eSIM compatible and you want to order a sim card for Philippines on the internet then you have to look into buying an international prepaid sim card for Philippines.
These pre-activated physical prepaid sim cards will be delivered to your home address before your trip. You put them in your phone during your flight and you are online as soon as the plane touches the ground in Manila and your international sim card connects to an available network.
Unfortunately at the moment there are very few choices when it comes to international prepaid sim cards for the Philippines:
- 10 GB data for 14 days = $49.90 USD
Click here to order an international prepaid sim card for Philippines directly online via SimOptions.
This is prepaid sim card is course not worth the money. As soon as I find better international sim card plans for Philippines I will add them.
A last reminder though that you can easily order an eSIM for the Philippines on the internet through either Airalo, Nomad or SimOptions.
Nomad has amazing deals and the cheapest eSIMs for the Philippines that already start from $4 USD only. For all Philippines eSIM deals check out my complete guide with everything you need to know before ordering an eSIM for the Philippines.
My experiences buying a sim card at Manila Airport
Unfortunately it was already my second time in 2023 that I was in Manila for just 1 day, basically on a long stopover. I have traveled in Philippines extensively for several months on different trips back in the days of backpacking. But I really wish I had more time to travel again in this incredible country.
Since I knew I was staying in Manila only for like 16 hours and I did not need so much data I bought an eSIM online from Airalo with 1 GB data for just $4.5 USD. It was the perfect match for what I needed and as soon as we landed in Manila I had a working data connection on my phone.
However, for research purposes to get you the most detailed and up to date information I went all around the airport and filmed my experiences arriving at Manila Airport and created the vlog below to show you what it is like buying a sim card at Manila Airport.
However, when you ask me it is much better for your wallet to buy a sim card at Manila city center, but are you ready to wait a little bit or are you choosing convenience and buy your sim card at the airport?
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.
I am sure some of the above tips on how to stay connected when traveling to Manila were helpful. If you have any additional questions then please leave me a comment below or reach out to me on social media.
Curious what the road to 197 / visiting every country in the world looks like then head to my Instagram @traveltomtom and follow along. As of August 2024 I have visited more than 155 countries, so still more than 40 to go, but no rush.
Enjoy your trip to Manila!