Best eSIM for the Philippines 2026: 9 Plans Ranked, and Why Smart or Globe Matters Once You Leave Manila
I compared Philippines plans from 9 providers on price per gigabyte, daily caps and the one detail that changes everything outside the capital: whether the plan rides Smart or Globe. In Manila you’ll never notice. Between the islands, it decides whether your boarding pass loads.
November 10, 2026
The catch: none of the travel eSIMs here carries a Philippine +63 SIM number, so GCash and Philippine bank OTPs won’t reach it. Globe’s Traveler eSIM does, for ₱1,750.
The podium
- Globe mobile network
- 20GB for $22.95 with code
- 50GB for $34.85 with code
- 30-day validity on both plans
- Smart mobile network
- 5GB for $10.20 with code
- 10GB for $16.15 with code
- 20GB for $25.50 with code
- 14 days for $25.19 with code
- 30 days for $44.99 with code
- 165+ countries supported
- Hotspot sharing included
| At a glance | Plan |
|---|---|
| Providers compared | 9 |
| Networks behind them | Globe and Smart. No plan here names DITO |
| Best 10GB buy | Ubigi, $14.40 over 30 days with code, five cents under Nomad |
| Cheapest travel eSIM per gigabyte | aloSIM 50GB over 10 days, $0.59 with code |
| Cheapest unlimited | Maya Mobile, $1.50 a day on the 30-day plan with code |
| Local option with a +63 number | Globe Traveler eSIM, ₱1,750 for 80GB over 30 days |
Which network does each Philippines eSIM use?
The Philippines has three mobile networks: Smart, Globe and DITO. The travel eSIMs in this guide ride Smart or Globe.
Airalo uses Smart, Nomad and aloSIM use Globe, and MobiMatter names the network on every plan before you pay.
| Provider | Network | 10GB, 30 days | Phone number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nomad | Globe | $17 | None |
| Airalo (Alpas Mobile) | Smart | $19 | None |
| Maya Mobile | Not named | Unlimited only | None |
| aloSIM | Globe | $19 | Free app number |
| MobiMatter | Globe or Smart, named per plan | 30GB for $21.99 | None |
| Ubigi | Not named | $16 | None |
| Saily | Not named | $18.99 | Optional US number |
| Globe Traveler eSIM | Globe | 80GB for ₱1,750 | +63, unlimited local calls and texts |
| Holafly | Not named | Unlimited only | None |
Why Smart or Globe matters more in Palawan and Siargao than in Manila?
In Metro Manila and Cebu City, both big networks cover the streets thickly, so the name behind your eSIM barely registers.
On small islands a town, a pier or a beach can hang on a few towers, and one network can reach places the other doesn’t.
Pricing makes the choice almost free. Airalo on Smart and aloSIM on Globe charge the same $12, $19 and $30 for 5GB, 10GB and 20GB over 30 days, and both codes take 15%.
You’re picking a network, not a price. The Airalo vs aloSIM comparison covers the rest.
Coverage thins on the open water between islands, in inland Palawan, around Banaue and Batad, and in the quieter corners of Siargao. No eSIM conjures a tower. A second network just shortens the dead patches.
So for island legs I buy two small plans instead of one big one. Airalo 5GB on Smart for $10.20 plus Nomad 10GB on Globe for $14.45 comes to $24.65 for 15GB.
Nomad’s 20GB alone is $22.95. So $1.70 more, and 5GB less, buys a second network.
Cebu is home this month, and the fast craft to Bohol repeats the lesson every trip: somewhere mid-strait the bars vanish and the return boarding pass won’t open.
Maps, passes and the guesthouse pin now get saved offline before the boat leaves the pier.
Filipinos have a phrase for heading into the unknown: bahala na, come what may. Lovely attitude on a bangka. Just don’t leave your data to bahala na.
Philippines eSIM prices compared
At 10GB over 30 days the spread is narrow, $14.40 to $17.09 after codes. The gaps open at 50GB, where per-gigabyte prices run from $0.59 to $1.03.
| With code applied | 5GB | 10GB | 20GB | 50GB | Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nomad (Globe) | $9.35 | $14.45 | $22.95 | $34.85 | ESIMDUDE15, 15% |
| Airalo (Smart) | $10.20 | $16.15 | $25.50 | $40.80 | ESIMADVICE15, new customers |
| aloSIM (Globe) | $10.20 | $16.15 | $25.50 | $51.43, or $29.33 over 10 days | ESIMTWEAKS, 15% |
| Ubigi | Not sold | $14.40 | 25GB for $26.10 | $40.50 | ESIMADVICE, 10% |
| Saily | $10.79 | $17.09 | $26.99 | Not sold | ESIMDUDE, 10% |
US dollars, 30 days unless stated. The other providers sell different plan shapes, compared below.
Nomad wins most 30-day columns, and Ubigi edges it at 10GB by five cents. Airalo and aloSIM tie to the cent until 50GB, where aloSIM’s ladder does something odd.
The 9 Best eSIMs for the Philippines, ranked
Three winners, four contenders and two plans for specific buyers, ranked on price per gigabyte, network and fair rules.
1
Nomad
Nomad sells Philippines data on Globe from $4 for 1GB to $41 for 50GB, and ESIMDUDE15 takes 15% off each.
Its 20GB and 50GB plans are the cheapest 30-day plans from any big brand.
| Nomad Philippines | Price | With ESIMDUDE15 | Per GB with code |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1GB, 7 days | $4 | $3.40 | $3.40 |
| 5GB, 30 days | $11 | $9.35 | $1.87 |
| 10GB, 30 days | $17 | $14.45 | $1.45 |
| 20GB, 30 days | $27 | $22.95 | $1.15 |
| 50GB, 30 days | $41 | $34.85 | $0.70 |
| Unlimited, 5 days | $18 | $15.30 | 2GB a day |
| Unlimited, 10 days | $33 | $28.05 | 2GB a day |
The plan starts by itself when it connects to Globe, and you get 60 days from purchase before it starts on its own.
Add-on data kicks in automatically when the first plan expires, so no day falls between them.
Skip the unlimited plans. They give 2GB a day at full speed, then 1 Mbps, the tightest daily allowance on this page. It’s data only, and the code doesn’t apply to Nomad’s Sale plans.
Verdict: the plan I’d buy for two weeks across Manila, Cebu and Bohol. Pair it with a small Smart plan before Palawan.
15% off Nomad with ESIMDUDE15. New and existing customers, not on Sale plans. Plan: 20GB over 30 days, $27 becomes $22.95.
The Nomad review and the Nomad promo code page cover the rest.
2
Airalo
Airalo’s Philippines eSIM, Alpas Mobile, runs on Smart and costs $19 for 10GB over 30 days, or $16.15 with ESIMADVICE15 for new customers.
It’s the cleanest way to carry Smart without a local SIM.
| Airalo Alpas Mobile | Price | With ESIMADVICE15 | Per GB with code |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3GB, 7 days | $8 | $6.80 | $2.27 |
| 5GB, 30 days | $12 | $10.20 | $2.04 |
| 10GB, 30 days | $19 | $16.15 | $1.62 |
| 20GB, 30 days | $30 | $25.50 | $1.28 |
| 50GB, 30 days | $48 | $40.80 | $0.82 |
| Unlimited, 7 days | $27 | $22.95 | 3GB a day |
| Unlimited, 30 days | $71 | $60.35 | 3GB a day |
Smart is the reason it ranks here. If Nomad is your Globe line, Airalo is the natural second network, and its 5GB at $10.20 makes a cheap backup.
Unlimited means 3GB a day at full speed, then 1 Mbps until the reset. Where an order qualifies for a refund, it arrives as Airmoney credit rather than cash.
Existing customers can use ESIMADVICE10 instead, which makes 20GB $27.
Verdict: buy it for Palawan, Siargao or any route where you want Smart in your pocket.
15% off Airalo with ESIMADVICE15. New customers. ESIMADVICE10 gives 10% to everyone. Plan: 10GB over 30 days, $19 becomes $16.15.
Both codes sit on the Airalo promo code page, and the Airalo review has the full picture.
3
Maya Mobile
Maya Mobile sells one unlimited plan that works in the Philippines and 165+ other countries, from $9.99 for 3 days to $49.99 for 30.
With ESIMTWEAKS10, 14 days costs $25.19.
| Maya Mobile unlimited | Price | With ESIMTWEAKS10 | Per day with code |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 days | $9.99 | $8.99 | $3.00 |
| 7 days | $19.99 | $17.99 | $2.57 |
| 14 days | $27.99 | $25.19 | $1.80 |
| 30 days | $49.99 | $44.99 | $1.50 |
That’s the cheapest unlimited data here by a distance: Holafly’s 30-day plan costs $28.91 more. The same eSIM covers the rest of Asia too.
Full speed runs to about 3GB a day, then up to 10 Mbps until the reset. Hotspot is included, and the network isn’t named, which makes it a weaker pick for remote islands.
Renewal is opt-in. Auto Top-Up stays off unless you switch it on, so a pass ends when its days do.
Verdict: the unlimited plan I’d buy for two weeks of video calls in Manila, Cebu or Boracay.
10% off Maya Mobile with ESIMTWEAKS10. All plans, new and returning customers. Plan: 30 days, $49.99 becomes $44.99.
More in the Maya Mobile coupon code page.
4
aloSIM
aloSIM runs on Globe with 5G and sells 50GB over 10 days for $34.50, or $29.33 with ESIMTWEAKS. That’s $0.59 a gigabyte, the lowest per-gigabyte price among the travel eSIMs here.
| aloSIM Philippines | Price | With ESIMTWEAKS | Per GB with code |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10GB, 7 days | $17.50 | $14.88 | $1.49 |
| 10GB, 30 days | $19 | $16.15 | $1.62 |
| 20GB, 7 days | $24 | $20.40 | $1.02 |
| 20GB, 30 days | $30 | $25.50 | $1.28 |
| 50GB, 10 days | $34.50 | $29.33 | $0.59 |
| 50GB, 30 days | $60.50 | $51.43 | $1.03 |
Look at the 50GB rows. The same 50GB costs $26 more stretched from 10 days to 30. On a 10-day trip, never buy the longer one.
Even the 20GB is $6 cheaper over 7 days than over 30.
Unlimited gives 3GB a day, then 1 Mbps, at $27 for 7 days. Hotspot is allowed, no ID is needed, and every plan includes a free Hushed app number for calls and texts.
Verdict: the heavy-user pick for a 10-day Boracay or El Nido trip on Globe.
15% off aloSIM with ESIMTWEAKS. Everyone, not with aloCASH or vouchers. Plan: 50GB over 10 days, $34.50 becomes $29.33.
Details on the aloSIM promo code page.
5
MobiMatter
MobiMatter is a marketplace with 61 Philippines plans from five providers, on Globe, Smart or both. Each plan names its network, and TSimTech’s 30GB over 30 days costs $21.99, or $0.73 a gigabyte.
That label is what an island route needs: Smart for Siargao, Globe for Coron, each picked by name. The 5GB over 15 days for $6.49 is the cheapest small plan here.
The TSimTech plans run at full speed with no daily limit, allow hotspot and start on first data use. They expire if you don’t activate within two months, and the operator can switch the networks a plan connects to without notice.
ESIMDUDE isn’t money off. It’s 50% cashback on a first order, capped at $5, paid into your MobiMatter wallet, so the 30GB plan returns $5 toward your next eSIM.
Verdict: more data than Nomad’s 20GB for less money, and the only shop where Smart or Globe is a menu choice.
See the MobiMatter promo code page for the cashback and the MobiMatter review for the marketplace.
*First order only. Maximum $5 cashback to MobiMatter wallet.
6
Ubigi
Ubigi sells 10GB over 30 days for $16, or $14.40 with ESIMADVICE. Its 60GB month at $59 keeps running at 2 Mbps after the allowance, double the usual 1 Mbps floor.
| Ubigi Philippines | Price | With ESIMADVICE | Per GB with code |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10GB, 30 days | $16 | $14.40 | $1.44 |
| 25GB, 30 days | $29 | $26.10 | $1.04 |
| 50GB, 30 days | $45 | $40.50 | $0.81 |
| 60GB, then 2 Mbps, 30 days | $59 | $53.10 | $0.89 |
The plan starts when you arrive, and it lapses if you don’t activate it within six months of purchase.
Hotspot is allowed. The code works on one-off plans, not subscriptions.
Verdict: the 10GB to buy for a city trip, and the 60GB for a month that can’t go dark.
10% off Ubigi with ESIMADVICE. One-off plans, not subscriptions. Plan: 10GB over 30 days, $16 becomes $14.40.
Ubigi’s own story is in the Ubigi review.
7
Saily
Saily sells 10GB over 30 days for $18.99 and unlimited plans with 5GB a day at full speed, from $18.99 for 5 days. ESIMDUDE takes 10% off both.
Fixed plans run $11.99 for 5GB and $29.99 for 20GB, a touch above Airalo after codes.
Unlimited is where Saily earns its place: 5GB a day, then 1 Mbps, the most generous allowance here. 15 days costs $44.09 with the code.
Hotspot has no extra limits, and the network isn’t named. Codes are on the Saily coupon code page.
Verdict: pick it if you’ll burn more than 3GB a day on video.
8
Globe Traveler eSIM
Globe sells its own Traveler eSIM in the GlobeOne app: 80GB, unlimited local calls and texts, and 30 days for ₱1,750, which Globe puts at about $33. That’s roughly $0.41 a gigabyte.
It’s the only plan here with a +63 number, for GCash, drivers who call and hotels that text.
Validity starts when you land. Pay with Visa, Mastercard or JCB, on the phone that will use it.
The rules are strict. You register on arrival, because the one-time PIN comes by text over Globe’s network.
No pausing, no extending the 30 days, and all purchases are final.
The quirk: at the NAIA, Clark and Mactan-Cebu arrival halls, the 80GB SIM costs ₱1,500 and an eSIM version adds ₱99. That’s ₱151 less than the app.
Verdict: worth it for a month, or whenever you need a +63 number.
9
Holafly
Holafly sells unlimited data in the Philippines from $11.90 for 3 days to $73.90 for 30. Hotspot is capped at 1GB a day, and no eSIMTweaks code exists.
Seven days costs $27.50, $9.51 more than Maya’s 7-day plan with ESIMTWEAKS10. The refund window runs up to six months, the most forgiving here.
Fair use can slow it for up to a day, and the network isn’t named.
The Holafly alternatives roundup lists cheaper routes.
Philippines eSIM cost per gigabyte, cheapest first
Sorted by what you pay per gigabyte after codes. Short validity and big plans win, so match the plan length to the trip.
| Plan | Network | Price with code | Per GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| Globe Traveler eSIM, 80GB, 30 days | Globe | ₱1,750 | ₱21.88, about $0.41 |
| aloSIM 50GB, 10 days | Globe | $29.33 | $0.59 |
| Nomad 50GB, 30 days | Globe | $34.85 | $0.70 |
| MobiMatter TSimTech 30GB, 30 days | Named per plan | $21.99 | $0.73 |
| Airalo 50GB, 30 days | Smart | $40.80 | $0.82 |
| aloSIM 20GB, 7 days | Globe | $20.40 | $1.02 |
| Nomad 20GB, 30 days | Globe | $22.95 | $1.15 |
| Airalo 20GB, 30 days | Smart | $25.50 | $1.28 |
| Saily 20GB, 30 days | Not named | $26.99 | $1.35 |
Do you need unlimited data in the Philippines?
Only if you’ll use more than about 1.5GB a day. Below that, Nomad’s 20GB at $22.95 lasts two weeks and costs less than any two-week unlimited plan, Maya’s $25.19 included.
| Unlimited plan | 7 days | 30 days | Full speed | After that |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maya Mobile | $17.99 | $44.99 | About 3GB a day | Up to 10 Mbps |
| Airalo | $22.95 | $60.35 | 3GB a day | 1 Mbps |
| aloSIM | $22.95 | $61.63 | 3GB a day | 1 Mbps |
| Saily | 5 days for $17.09 | $64.79 | 5GB a day | 1 Mbps |
| Holafly | $27.50 | $73.90 | No published daily cap | Hotspot 1GB a day |
| Nomad | 10 days for $28.05 | Not sold | 2GB a day | 1 Mbps |
Prices with codes where a code exists. The unlimited data eSIM comparison goes deeper, and the eSIM data planner sizes your trip.
Globe eSIM, Smart eSIM or a Philippines SIM card: what tourists need
Both big networks sell eSIMs to visitors, and both need registering under Philippine law. Globe’s Traveler eSIM costs ₱1,750 for 80GB with calls and texts.
Smart sells a Digital Tourist eSIM for ₱599 through its online store.
At the airport, Globe’s Traveler SIM packs run from 20GB for ₱500 over 15 days to 169GB for ₱3,000 over 30, each with unlimited calls and texts, and any of them becomes an eSIM for ₱99 more.
A carrier-locked phone can’t use a Globe Traveler eSIM, and you can’t buy one for someone else.
For under three weeks without a +63 need, a travel eSIM still wins: no registration, no queue, no 30-day clock.
For a month, the best SIM card Philippines visitors can buy is Globe’s 80GB pack. Either way, run the phone through the eSIM compatibility check first.
Philippines tourist SIM registration: what RA 11934 means for you
The SIM Registration Act, Republic Act 11934, requires every Philippine SIM, eSIMs included, to be registered before it works.
Tourists register with a passport, proof of a Philippine address and a return or onward ticket, and the line lasts 30 days.
A hotel booking counts as proof of address. Smart also asks tourists and foreign nationals for a selfie and a date of birth.
Under the NTC’s implementing rules, a tourist SIM is deactivated after 30 days unless you present an approved visa extension.
A travel eSIM bought abroad skips all of it. It connects to Smart or Globe as a foreign roaming line, so there’s no form, no passport photo and no 30-day clock.
That’s the trade: no paperwork, no +63 number.
eTravel: the other registration before you land
eTravel is the Philippines’ free arrival registration at etravel.gov.ph or in the eGovPH app.
You complete it within 72 hours before arrival and get one QR code for immigration, quarantine and customs.
Do it at home on Wi-Fi the evening you install your eSIM, and screenshot the QR code. Any site charging for eTravel isn’t the real one.
GCash, banks and OTPs: do you need a local number?
For GCash, usually yes. Its standard sign-up starts with a +63 mobile number and an OTP sent by text, and a data-only travel eSIM can’t receive that text.
Your home bank is different. Its OTPs go to your home number, so keep that SIM on for texts and set the travel eSIM as your data line.
Need GCash? Run Globe’s Traveler eSIM alongside a cheap travel plan, or on its own.
Which Philippines eSIM should you buy?
Match the network to the route first, then the plan size to the days. Between the top plans, price differences are a few dollars.
Want Globe for a normal two-week trip? Nomad’s 20GB is the best value on that network.
Setup: what to do before and after you land
Install at home on Wi-Fi, register for eTravel, and switch the line on at touchdown. Most plans here start on arrival or first use, not on install.
Philippines eSIM troubleshooting
| Symptom | Fix |
|---|---|
| No data after landing in Manila or Cebu | Turn data roaming on for the eSIM line and make it the mobile data line |
| Connected in town, nothing in a small port | Pick the other network manually in settings, or switch to your second eSIM |
| Signal gone mid-crossing | You’re between islands. Open your offline maps and passes, and wait for the next pier |
| Unlimited plan slow by evening | You’ve used the daily full-speed allowance. It resets within 24 hours |
| Globe Traveler eSIM won’t register | Register in the Philippines on Globe’s network, because the OTP arrives by text |
| GCash code never arrives | Travel eSIMs have no +63 number. Use a registered Globe or Smart line |
Best eSIM for the Philippines: FAQs
Short answers to the questions travellers ask most before buying a Philippines eSIM.
What is the best eSIM for Philippines travel?
Nomad is the best eSIM for the Philippines for most trips. It runs on Globe and sells 20GB over 30 days for $27, or $22.95 with ESIMDUDE15. For Smart, Airalo’s Alpas Mobile plan costs $16.15 for 10GB with ESIMADVICE15. For unlimited data, Maya Mobile’s 14-day plan costs $25.19 with ESIMTWEAKS10. Island routes do best with one plan on each network.
Does an eSIM Philippines plan work on arrival?
Yes, on Globe or Smart, the moment you land. Every travel eSIM here installs at home and starts when it connects in the Philippines, so the only airport job is switching the line on. Your phone has to be eSIM-capable and carrier-unlocked, with data roaming on for the eSIM line and off for your home SIM.
Is Smart or Globe better for tourists in the Philippines?
Neither wins everywhere, which is why the choice matters on islands. In Manila and Cebu City both cover the streets well, so pick on price. On small islands one town or beach can favour one network, and coverage thins on the water. For Palawan or Siargao, carry Airalo on Smart and Nomad on Globe.
Do I need to register a travel eSIM under the SIM Registration Act?
No. Registration under Republic Act 11934 applies to Philippine SIMs from Globe, Smart and DITO. A travel eSIM bought abroad connects as a foreign roaming line, so there’s no passport upload and no 30-day limit. Local tourist SIMs and eSIMs need a passport, proof of address and a return ticket, and they’re deactivated after 30 days unless you show a visa extension.
Which eSIM works best in Palawan, Siargao and Boracay?
Pick by network, not brand. Airalo runs on Smart, while Nomad and aloSIM run on Globe, and MobiMatter names the network on each plan. Boracay is well covered, but inland Palawan, quiet parts of Siargao and boat crossings have gaps. Two small plans on two networks, such as Airalo 5GB and Nomad 10GB for $24.65, beat one big plan there.
Will a travel eSIM work for GCash?
Not for signing up. GCash’s standard registration asks for a +63 mobile number and sends an OTP by text, and travel eSIMs are data only. aloSIM’s free number is an app number, not a Philippine SIM line. If you need GCash, add Globe’s Traveler eSIM, which includes a +63 number.
How much data do I need for two weeks in the Philippines?
Plan on 10GB if you mostly message, 20GB if you post. Maps, Grab and chat apps are light. Photos, social media and the odd video call push most travellers to 20GB over two weeks, and Nomad’s 20GB at $22.95 with ESIMDUDE15 covers that. Heavy video or hotspotting a laptop points to Maya Mobile’s unlimited plan or aloSIM’s 50GB.
The verdict
For most trips, Nomad is the best eSIM for the Philippines: 20GB on Globe for $22.95 with ESIMDUDE15. Airalo is the Smart pick at $16.15 for 10GB, Maya Mobile the best unlimited, and Globe’s Traveler eSIM the one for a +63 number.
Choose the network before the price. In El Nido, Coron or General Luna, a second network for a couple of dollars beats any discount code.
Ingat sa biyahe. Safe travels.
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About the author
Ali has bought the wrong eSIM in enough airports to make it a personal mission that you don’t. He handles reviews and price-tracking at eSIMTweaks — catching providers who quietly charge triple for the same gigabyte and pulling coupon codes the second they stop working. He trusts a speed test over a marketing deck and a live price over a five-star badge, every time.
