The short verdict
Flysimio is the value pick for most visitors to the Philippines, reaching both Smart and Globe at a competitive price per gigabyte at typical plan sizes. Smart (owned by PLDT) has the most extensive coverage across the archipelago's 7,600+ islands, from Palawan and Boracay to Siargao and Cebu. Globe is comparable in Manila and the major cities, but Smart keeps the edge in the provincial and island areas where most trips actually go.
Flysimio Philippines eSIM
$2.68 from · instant QR · 7-day refund
Philippines eSIM price index — October 2026
Across 4 providers and 16 plans compared in October 2026, the cheapest the Philippines eSIM data on a standard 3–50 GB plan works out at $2.10/GB (Flysimio, priced live). On the same measure the cheapest rival plan is Nomad at $0.90/GB — cheaper than our best equivalent plan, which costs 133% more per gigabyte.
| Provider | Plan | Price | Price per GB | Network | Best for | Price checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nomad | 50 GB / 30 days | $45.00 | $0.90/GB | Globe | Easy app | Oct 8, 2026 |
| Nomad | 20 GB / 45 days | $27.00 | $1.35/GB | Globe | Easy app | Oct 8, 2026 |
| Nomad | 10 GB / 30 days | $17.00 | $1.70/GB | Globe | Easy app | Oct 8, 2026 |
| FlysimioBuy$105.00 | 50 GB / 180 days | $105.00 | $2.10/GB | SMART | Live | |
| FlysimioBuy$21.60 | 10 GB / 30 days | $21.60 | $2.16/GB | SMART | Live | |
| Nomad | 5 GB / 30 days | $11.00 | $2.20/GB | Globe | Easy app | Oct 8, 2026 |
| FlysimioBuy$11.83 | 5 GB / 30 days | $11.83 | $2.37/GB | SMART | Live | |
| FlysimioBuy$7.10 | 3 GB / 15 days | $7.10 | $2.37/GB | SMART | Live | |
| FlysimioBuy$50.98 | 20 GB / 30 days | $50.98 | $2.55/GB | SMART | Live | |
| FlysimioBuy$2.68 | 1 GB / 7 days | $2.68 | $2.68/GB | SMART | Live | |
| Nomad | 1 GB / 7 days | $4.00 | $4.00/GB | Globe | Easy app | Oct 8, 2026 |
| Airalo | Unlimited (3 GB/day) / 7 days | $27.00 | — | Smart | Coverage & app | Oct 8, 2026 |
| Holafly | Unlimited / 7 days | $27.50 | — | Globe | Unlimited data | Oct 8, 2026 |
| Airalo | Unlimited (3 GB/day) / 30 days | $71.00 | — | Smart | Coverage & app | Oct 8, 2026 |
| Holafly | Unlimited / 30 days | $73.90 | — | Globe | Unlimited data | Oct 8, 2026 |
| FlysimioBuy$124.50 | Unlimited (2 GB/day) / 30 days | $124.50 | — | SMART | Live |
- Airalo · Unlimited (3 GB/day) / 7 days: Airalo bills this as "Unlimited": 3 GB per day at full speed, then throttled to about 1 Mbps. Airalo's Philippines store lists unlimited packages only.
- Holafly · Unlimited / 7 days: Unlimited with no daily high-speed cap; Holafly applies a fair-use policy for at most one day at a time.
- Airalo · Unlimited (3 GB/day) / 30 days: Airalo bills this as "Unlimited": 3 GB per day at full speed, then throttled to about 1 Mbps.
- Holafly · Unlimited / 30 days: Unlimited with no daily high-speed cap; Holafly applies a fair-use policy for at most one day at a time.
- Flysimio · Unlimited (2 GB/day) / 30 days: 2 GB per day at full speed, then 1 Mbps. Sold as 1–30-day passes; 30 days is priced here for comparison.
How this table is priced. Flysimio prices are read live from our carrier catalog every time this page loads, so the figure here is the figure at checkout. Competitor prices are the US-dollar price shown on each provider's own site, read on the date in the last column and linked to the page we read it from; promotional prices are marked alongside the list price. Price per GB is the plan price divided by its included data — unlimited passes have no per-GB figure and are ranked by total price instead. Full method: how we test, the eSIM Price Index and what an eSIM costs.
- Nomad — checked Oct 8, 2026 — www.nomadesim.com/philippines-eSIM
- Airalo — checked Oct 8, 2026 — www.airalo.com/philippines-esim
- Holafly — checked Oct 8, 2026 — esim.holafly.com/esim-philippines/
Smart vs Globe Philippines
| Carrier | Coverage | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Smart (PLDT) | Widest island coverage, best provincial, best Palawan | Any trip including outer islands, Palawan, Siargao |
| Globe | Strong in Metro Manila and Cebu City; weaker on outer islands | Manila and Cebu city stays |
| DITO | Growing in urban areas; limited provincial coverage | Metro Manila budget option |
Coverage by destination
| Destination | Coverage | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Manila (Metro Manila) | Excellent 4G/5G | Both Smart and Globe strong throughout |
| Cebu City | Excellent 4G/5G | Full urban coverage; 5G available |
| Palawan (Puerto Princesa) | Good 4G | City and main town covered; El Nido limited |
| El Nido (Palawan) | Moderate 3G/4G | Town has signal; island-hopping tours and beaches are spotty |
| Boracay | Good 4G | White Beach and stations covered; Smart better than Globe |
| Siargao | Moderate 3G/4G | General Luna town has signal; remote breaks and surf spots limited |
| Bohol (Panglao) | Good 4G | Alona Beach and main resorts covered |
| Davao City | Excellent 4G | Full city coverage; Mount Apo approaches limited |
| Batanes | Sparse | Remote islands at north; limited signal — offline maps essential |
When to visit and eSIM demand
The Philippines has two main seasons: dry season (November–May) and wet season (June–October). December through February is peak tourist season — Christmas celebrations, New Year, and Chinese New Year draw the highest visitor numbers. Boracay, Palawan, and Siargao are at their best from November to April. Buy your eSIM before departure regardless of season — airport SIM kiosks in Manila and Cebu are expensive.
Philippines eSIM vs a local SIM card (Smart, Globe, 7-Eleven)
Smart and Globe SIM cards are sold at the airport and in convenience stores such as 7-Eleven, and they are cheap. The catch is registration: under the Philippine SIM Registration Act (2022), every SIM must be registered before it works, and visitors register with their passport, usually through the carrier’s app or website, with tourist registrations time-limited. A travel eSIM skips that step. You buy it online, install it at home and it connects to Smart or Globe when you land at Manila or Cebu, while your home SIM stays in the phone.
| Flysimio Philippines eSIM | Local Smart or Globe SIM | |
|---|---|---|
| Where you buy it | Online, before you fly | Airport counter or convenience store |
| Registration | None in the Philippines | Passport registration required by law |
| Networks | Smart and Globe, 5G where available | One carrier |
| Philippine phone number | No (data-only) | Yes |
| Home number | Stays active on your regular SIM | Removed while the local SIM is in |
| Best for | Most visits up to a month | Long stays, or if you need a local number |
Calls, Grab and GCash with a Philippines eSIM
A Flysimio Philippines eSIM is data-only. Grab, Messenger, WhatsApp and Viber, which most Filipinos use for calls and messages, all work over the data connection, and your home number stays reachable on your regular SIM. Apps that verify you by SMS to a Philippine mobile number, such as GCash, need a local SIM: if you plan to use GCash, pair the eSIM with a registered local SIM, or keep paying by card.
Combining the Philippines with other countries? The Asia regional eSIM includes the Philippines on its 7-, 14-, 19- and 20-country plans, so a Manila + Singapore or Philippines + Vietnam trip runs on one eSIM. Each plan card shows which countries it covers.
Installing your Philippines eSIM
- Purchase before you fly — install on home Wi-Fi.
- Open the Flysimio email for the QR code.
- iPhone: Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM → Use QR Code.
- Android: Settings → Network & Internet → SIMs → Add SIM.
- Scan the code. Installation under 30 seconds.
- Label the eSIM "Philippines" and set as data line.
- Disable Data Roaming on your home carrier SIM.
- Your phone connects to Smart or Globe on landing at Manila (MNL) or Cebu (CEB).
Frequently asked questions
What is the best eSIM for the Philippines?
Flysimio is the value pick for a fixed-data Philippines eSIM in 2026, reaching both Smart and Globe, and was cheaper than Nomad at 5 GB when we checked in October 2026 — though Nomad undercuts us per gigabyte on larger plans. Airalo and Holafly both sell unlimited-only passes for the Philippines, so there is no equivalent fixed Airalo plan to compare against. Smart has wider island coverage, especially in Palawan and Siargao.
Does eSIM work in Palawan / El Nido?
In Puerto Princesa and El Nido town, yes — Smart has 4G in both. On island-hopping tours and at remote beaches in the Bacuit Archipelago, there is little to no signal. Download offline maps before heading out by boat.
Does eSIM work in Boracay?
Yes. Boracay's White Beach and surrounding resort areas have good 4G from Smart. The island is small enough that coverage is consistent across all three stations.
Does eSIM work in Siargao?
In General Luna town and Cloud 9 surf break, yes — Smart has 3G/4G. At remote breaks and on the outer islands of the Siargao group, coverage is intermittent. Smart has better Siargao coverage than Globe.
Is the Philippines eSIM cheap?
Yes. Flysimio offers 5 GB / 30 days at one of the most affordable rates in Asia. The Philippines covers 7,600+ islands so a 30-day plan is advisable for any itinerary longer than a week.
Does 7-Eleven sell SIM cards in the Philippines?
Yes. 7-Eleven and other convenience stores sell Smart and Globe SIM cards, as do counters at Manila and Cebu airports. Every SIM must be registered with your passport under the 2022 SIM Registration Act before it works. A travel eSIM bought online needs no Philippine registration and is ready when you land.
Is an eSIM or a local SIM better for the Philippines?
For most trips up to a month, an eSIM: no store visit, no registration, it reaches both Smart and Globe, and your home number stays active. A local SIM is cheaper per gigabyte on long stays and is the only option if you need a Philippine number, for example for GCash.
Can I use an eSIM and a physical SIM together?
Yes, on most phones. A phone with a SIM tray runs your physical SIM and an eSIM at the same time, so you can keep your home SIM for calls and texts and use the Philippines eSIM for data, or pair the eSIM with a local SIM if you need a Philippine number. US iPhone 14 and later have no SIM tray, but run two eSIMs at once instead.
What is the best time to visit the Philippines?
Dry season (November to May) is best for beach destinations like Palawan, Boracay, and Siargao. December and January are peak season with the highest prices and visitor numbers. Avoid typhoon season (June to October) for island travel.
Flysimio Philippines eSIM
$2.68 from · instant QR · 7-day refund
Maya Okafor
Senior Travel Connectivity Editor
Maya has tested eSIMs across 40+ countries over five years of full-time travel — from Tokyo subways to Patagonian backroads. She runs Flysimio’s hands-on network and speed testing.