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Best eSIM for the Philippines: Stay connected on your trip
Get a Philippines eSIM with unlimited data with Holafly, a local eSIM with Globle, or choose an eSIM from YeSIM, SimOptions, or Travel Sim!
Whether you plan to visit Fort Santiago, take a walk around Manila’s bustling streets, or enjoy some of the most beautiful beaches in the Philippines, there’s one thing you can’t miss: an internet connection while on your trip.
By connecting to the local Globe or Smart networks, eSIMs offer an easy solution to maintain a 5G connection on your trip without the need for a physical SIM card. But with many different providers in the market, there comes the question: which eSIM should you take?
We’ll help you choose the best eSIM for Philippines based on a range of factors like pricing, data plans, features, and pros and cons.
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What are the requirements to use an eSIM in the Philippines?
Before you can activate your eSIM and set off on your Philippines adventure, there are a few requirements to consider.
Some local providers, like Globe for example, require you to take your passport to buy a data plan and request an eSIM in-store.
Meanwhile, international eSIM providers require your phone to be unlocked, as it will be connecting to local Philippines networks rather than your carrier back home.
For both local and international eSIM options, you’ll need an eSIM compatible device. You’ll also need an email address to receive the QR code and WiFi or alternative internet connection to complete the activation process – and then you are good to go!
Which are the best eSIMs in the Philippines?
There are different eSIMs available to use in the Philippines, such as Holafly, YeSIM, Travel SIM, and SimOptions, as international carriers.
But we’ll also discuss Globe, which offers prepaid eSIMs for travelers, making it a reliable local eSIM provider.
For each one, we’ll talk about pricing, data plans, main features, and the pros and cons you need to consider when purchasing an eSIM.
1. Holafly eSIM for the Philippines with unlimited data
Our first option to get reliable eSIM plans in the Philippines is Holafly, a carrier with coverage in over 200 destinations and with great features such as unlimited data and customizable days for your eSIM.
When using the Holafly eSIM for the Philippines, you’ll find the ideal way to avoid data roaming. Prices range from $5.90 for a day to $138.90 for 90 days, making it a great option for short—and long-term travelers.
Also, as data plans are unlimited, you won’t have to worry about needing a top-up for your eSIM. You’ll only need to add more days to your eSIM if required!
You can buy an eSIM from Holafly through the app or official website, and to activate it, you only need an internet connection.
Advantages and disadvantages
- Advantages:
- Works with 5G local networks from Globe and Smart
- Allows data-sharing for up to 500 MBs per day
- Customer support is available in 19 different languages, 24/7
- No need to pay for extra plans; you buy an eSIM data plan for the exact amount of days you are staying
- Top-ups are available to add more days to your eSIM
- Automatic installation is available for iOS devices
- Disadvantages:
- Lacks of phone calls and text messages, but thanks to the unlimited plans, calls are available through VoIP apps
2. Globe Telecom tourist eSIM
Globe Telecom is the only local eSIM provider on our list. With Globe, you can buy an eSIM as a traveler to gain direct access to their 5G network.
Globe only offers one data package with its eSIM. This package includes 80 GB of data and lasts 30 days for roughly $31.50 USD. Also, it includes unlimited phone calls and text messages.
To get a Globe eSIM for the Philippines, you’ll have to download the “Globeone App” and choose the “Purchase an eSIM for PH visitors” option to complete the purchase. Also, through the app, you can purchase top-ups for your eSIM.
Advantages and disadvantages
- Advantages:
- Includes unlimited text messages and phone calls
- Offers 80 GB with their basic eSIM plan
- Available to purchase through the Globeone App
- Disadvantages:
- Activation must be completed upon arriving in the Philippines
- Purchase is not available through the Globe website
3. SimOptions Philippines eSIM
Back to the international carriers, we have SimOptions, where you can choose seven different eSIM plans for your trip.
SimOptions pricing varies from $4.50 to $79.90 USD. These plans include a limited amount of data, from 1 GB to 50 GB, and the duration ranges from seven to 60 days.
One downside of SimOptions is they lack some important information, such as which local network you’ll use in the Philippines, so that’s a surprise until you arrive!
You can purchase an eSIM from SimOptions through the app or website. Either way, you’ll receive a QR code to install your eSIM before traveling.
Advantages and disadvantages
- Advantages:
- Different data plans available for the Philippines
- Available to purchase through the app or website
- Disadvantages:
- No information about which local network SimOptions use
- Only ensures 4G/LTE network access
- No top-up available for any of the plans
- Lacks of phone calls and text messages
4. YeSIM eSIM for Philippines
Our fourth option is YeSIM, an eSIM provider with unlimited and limited data packages for the Philippines.
Prices and duration will vary depending on the type of plan. Limited data packages range from seven to 30 days, while unlimited data plans range from one to 30 days.
Pricing range from $14.40 to $60 USD for the limited data plans, while the unlimited plans range from $8.40 to $64.80 USD.
You can use their official app or website to get an eSIM data plan from YeSIM. After the purchase, you’ll get a QR code to manually activate the eSIM, or you can use the app for an automatic installation.
Advantages and disadvantages
- Advantages:
- Offers different limited and unlimited data plans
- eSIM coverage is provided by Globe
- Automatic installation available on the app
- Disadvantages:
- Lacks information about data speeds and mobile hotspot usage
- Data plan is immediately activated after the purchase
5. Travel SIM Philippines eSIM cards
Our last option is Travel SIM, a company that offers eSIM cards in over 135 destinations, including the Philippines.
While Travel SIM offers a prepaid eSIM for the Philippines, these are not the most user-friendly option on our list regarding features and pricing.
The available data plans range from $17 to $53 USD, including 1 GB to 5 GB of mobile data. Plus, you’ll need to pay for the eSIM as if it were a physical SIM, adding $6 USD to your final purchase.
You can buy any data plan from Travel SIM through the website or app. However, purchasing an eSIM requires you to create an account, which slows the process compared to other eSIM providers.
Advantages and disadvantages
- Advantages:
- Offer calls as add-ons
- Available to purchase through website or app
- Disadvantages:
- No information about the eSIM features, such as data speeds, network connectivity, top-ups, etc.
- There’s an additional charge for the eSIM, which reduces the cost-effectiveness
- Limited to three data plans with low data plans
eSIMs in the Philippines: A comparison
Up to this point, we’ve discussed four international eSIM providers and Globe, a local provider.
But the time has come to decide which is the best eSIM to use in the Philippines? Let’s see a quick side-to-side comparison for each one of these eSIM cards.
| eSIM Features | Holafly | Globe Philippines | SimOptions | YeSIM | Travel SIM |
| Do they charge for the eSIM? | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Top-Up | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| App | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Unlimited data | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
| Automatic installation | Yes, on iOS devices | No | No | Yes | No |
| Networks | Smart / Globe | Globe | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Buy online | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Which eSIM for the Philippines offers more data?
Holafly and YeSIM offer unlimited plans, starting at $5.90 and $8.40, respectively. But there’s an advantage to the Holafly data plans, as you can choose exactly for how long you plan to use your eSIM
Which Philippines eSIM offers more benefits?
Holafly is the winner in terms of benefits when compared to other alternatives.
For example, Travel SIM offers calls, but they charge you for the eSIM, and phone calls are quite expensive; plus, you can’t tell if you’ll get reliable connectivity!
Globe Telecom is a great contender, as it includes calls and text messages. You can buy it through an app, but the purchase process is slower, as you’ll need your passport to complete it.
YeSIM and SimOptions are quite similar in terms of benefits. They offer affordable data plans, but they lack features, such as information about which local network you’ll use. Not all plans accept top-ups, and you can’t share data with their data-only plans.
And here’s where Holafly takes the lead, as you’ll get:
- Customizable days to avoid extra charges
- Fast and reliable internet access with 5G data speeds thanks to local carriers
- Affordable data plans starting at $5.90 USD
- Up to 500MBs of data sharing to other devices
Which eSIM for the Philippines is the best overall?
After a side-to-side comparison of the best eSIM cards for the Philippines, Holafly is the winner.
Even though there are other options for seamless connectivity, your eSIM card will lack different features, like customizing for how long you need it, data sharing, accessing the best coverage, and much more.
That’s where Holafly takes the lead, so if you have a trip to the Philippines in mind, you know what eSIM card is the best for you!
FAQs
Yes. Smart is a local carrier that offers eSIM cards, but these aren’t accessible to travelers. For now, they focus on providing a physical SIM card service to tourists in the Philippines.
If you plan to visit different countries in Asia, we recommend the Asia eSIM from Holafly. It can be used in 11 countries with high-speed internet for up to 90 days and avoid data roaming rates.
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I first started my content creation journey as a freelancer in 2019, before connecting with Holafly in 2021. At Holafly, my travel and tech interests come together in one place as I craft high-quality articles about the eSIM and related markets. My content aims to help travelers stay connected, wherever they are.
