SIM Card Guides

How to get a Philippines SIM card in 2025

Smart Communications, Globe Telecom, and DITO all offer Philippines SIM card options for tourists, with prices ranging from $4.50 up to $52.40.

Buying a Philippines SIM card is a popular way to get data, texts, and calls during your travels. But which provider is the best, and where can you find a physical SIM in the Philippines? Follow along as we compare deals by local providers and introduce you to Holafly, an unlimited data eSIM for the Philippines.

In this article

Where to buy a prepaid Philippines SIM card

There’s no shortage of options for buying a prepaid SIM card for the Philippines, so you can choose one that suits you best:

Buy before you travel: You can get your SIM card online from international retailers like OneSimCard or SimCorner. Simply order the SIM online and it’ll be delivered to your home, hotel, or an airport in the Philippines.
Buy after you land: Didn’t buy your SIM in advance? You’ll find SIM card shops by leading local operators at the airport or throughout the country. Look for Smart Communications, DITO, and Globe Telecom stands at international airports. You can also find prepaid SIMs in supermarkets and convenience stores.
Get an eSIM instead: eSIM cards offer a simpler, more convenient alternative to physical SIMs. Since they’re completely digital, you can buy, set up, and activate your eSIM online to get connected near-instantly. All you need is an eSIM-compatible phone and internet access for the purchase process.

How to register a tourist SIM card in the Philippines

According to the SIM Registration Act (SRA), also known as the Republic Act No. 11934, all new SIM cards in the Philippines must be registered prior to activation. This process can be slightly different, depending on the provider you go with. Let’s take a look at how you can register SIM cards from some of the top providers in the country.

How to register a Smart Communications SIM card

To activate a Smart SIM card, insert the card into your phone and follow the steps below:

Go to simreg.smart.com.ph or the SIM registration section of the GigaLife app.
Enter the mobile phone number that’s linked to your SIM.
Enter the OTP number, which will be sent to your phone as soon as you provide the phone number.
Enter the required information, which includes your full name, date of birth, gender, and address (you can use the address of your hotel in the Philippines).
Add a picture of your valid ID or passport.
Confirm your ID by taking a live selfie on the activation page.
You’ll receive a message on your phone confirming the successful registration of your SIM.

If you don’t want to go through this process online, you can also visit any Smart Communications store in the Philippines. An employee there will help you register your eSIM in person. Just make sure you have a valid ID on you for the registration process.

How to register a Globe Telecom SIM card

The process of registering your Glove Telecom SIM is pretty similar to that of Smart:

Go to simreg.globe.com.ph or the SIM card registration section of the GlobeOne app.
Enter your phone number.
Enter the OTP that’s sent to your phone number.
Choose your SIM registration type.
Attach a picture of a valid ID or passport.
Confirm your ID with a live selfie.
Fill out the registration form with your full name, date of birth, gender, and address.
Review and confirm your details.
You’ll receive a message from Globe confirming the successful registration of your SIM.

Just as with Smart, you can also register your SIM in any physical Globe Telecom location.

How to register a DITO Telecommunity SIM card

If you’ve got a DITO SIM card, you can only register it through the official DITO app:

Open the SIM Registration section of the DITO app.
Fill out the form with your full name, date of birth, gender, and phone number.
As a tourist, you’ll need to provide a photo of your ID, proof of address in the Philippines (address of your hotel), and return ticket showing the date of your departure from the Philippines.
Submit the registration form.
You’ll receive a message confirming the successful activation of your SIM card.

Once again, if you’re having trouble activating your SIM online, visit a DITO store with your ID, proof of address, and return ticket.

What is the best SIM card for the Philippines?

Either one of the telecommunications companies mentioned above will offer reliable mobile data, calls, and texts within the Philippines. Therefore, your choice is as simple as picking the SIM card that offers the best package for your needs. Let’s take a closer look at tourist SIM card plans offered by each.

Smart Communications

Smart Communications is the largest telco in the Philippines and it offers multiple SIM card options for tourists. Prices range from around USD$4.50 to $27.90, depending on how much data you need. Data limits range from 2 GB to unlimited data, while validity periods range from 3 to 30 days.

You can order these SIM cards online, as Smart delivers to anywhere within the Philippines. However, delivery may take up to seven business days, depending on your location, so you might just want to purchase your card in a physical Smart Communications store instead.

Globe Telecom

The list of tourist SIM card options from Globe isn’t as long as those by Smart, but the provider does offer some great options if you’re a heavy data user.

The data packages range from 20 GB to 169 GB, with all plans including unlimited calls and texts to any network in the Philippines. The prices range from ~$8.70 to ~$52.40 and include a validity period of either 15 or 30 days.

Globe Telecom doesn’t deliver physical SIMs, but you can buy a travel eSIM online. If you do want a physical SIM, you can get one at the airport or in Globe stores throughout the Philippines.

DITO

DITO manages to cover the needs of most tourists with three simple, yet comprehensive SIM card plans. You can choose from 12 GB, 25 GB, or 60 GB of data, with a validity period of 7, 15, or 30 days respectively. All plans also include unlimited texts to all networks, unlimited calls to all DITO numbers, and 300 minutes of calls to other local networks.

The prices range from $5.25 to $17.50, making DITO SIMs some of the cheapest local SIM cards in all of the Philippines.

Holafly’s eSIM for the Philippines: A hassle-free way to stay connected

Don’t want to fiddle around with plastic prepaid SIM cards? Holafly’s eSIM for the Philippines offers a fully digital way to stay connected. All Holafly plans include unlimited data, hotspot sharing, and 24/7 customer support, so you’ll never have to worry about your data usage or losing connection.

If you’ll be traveling to multiple countries within Asia, you can get an Asia eSIM instead and stay connected everywhere with a single eSIM.

Holafly allows you to choose any number of days from 1 to 90 for your plan. This means you can match your eSIM to your stay in the Philippines and avoid paying for any time you don’t need. Prices range from $1.55 to $6.90 per day, with value for money getting better as plan duration increases.

Planning to travel the world for a while longer? Holafly Plans is a pay-monthly eSIM subscription with coverage in 170+ destinations worldwide. Cross international borders worry-free, without needing to buy a new SIM every time. Use it to stay connected as long as you need and cancel anytime. No long-term commitments or cancellation fees included.

Traveling to other countries in the region? Check out our other posts on local SIM cards:

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I buy a Philippines SIM card in the US?

No. Globe and Smart, the local providers, only sell their SIM cards in the Philippines at airports, seaports, and local stores.

Can a foreigner buy a SIM card in the Philippines?

Yes, foreigners can buy a SIM card in the Philippines. All you need is a valid ID or passport and proof of address (your hotel address will work just fine). Some SIM card providers may also ask for proof of a return ticket if you’re visiting the Philippines on a tourist visa.

Which SIM has the best coverage in the Philippines?

Globe is generally considered to have the best coverage in the Philippines, as it covers more rural areas than other local providers. That said, if you plan on using your SIM mostly in the cities, Smart and DITO both also offer solid coverage. Holafly eSIMs work on multiple local networks, so you can choose one with the best coverage in your location.

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Rokas Aniulis

Senior SEO copywriter

A senior SEO writer from Lithuania, combining my passion for writing and travel at Holafly. With years of experience in technical fields, I'm here to answer all of your questions about staying connected. I specialize in turning even the most complicated topics into something everyone can understand.

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