Easy to use, decent speeds (not particularly fast but not frustratingly slow either). But this eSIM uses roaming via Hong Kong, so I wasn't able to use ChatGPT which was a bummer.

Feb 4, 2025

MobiMatter

sk4rtused in Philippines

So far all the esims I've got with mobimatter worked flawless, in Taiwan I had to adjust the connection network manually once, but it was a minor issue.

Jul 6, 2024

Airhub

Kused in Philippines

まったく接続できませんでした

May 8, 2024

GLOBAL YO

Danused in Philippines

Got the 20GB esim for Philippines, speed was so slow, mostly unusable, avoid

Mar 28, 2024

GLOBAL YO

anonymousused in Philippines

I could use via Android App.
Operator was Singapore carrier.
Speed was not so fast, but there was no complain.

Dec 5, 2023

Maya Mobile

mopused in Philippines

Despite being at the airport, the connection was nonexistent, and even when it did connect, it was too slow to even check emails. It seems to go through 1010, a Hong Kong communication service, but it was completely useless in the Philippines! Should not be sold! I don't even want to give it one star. I ended up buying a new esim from AIRALO using the airport WiFi, which worked smoothly.

Nov 10, 2023

Nomad

skused in Philippines

Nomad eSIM was easy to buy, easy to use (you just activate the plan from app and turn on data roaming) but in the Philippines it was definitely not that fast.

The one I bought from Nomad connected to Globe 4G, but was actually roaming via Hong Kong (provider called 1010 / csl).

I tried to use tethering at the airport on my way back but the network was sooo slow for some reason. Maybe just the airport, not sure.

Jan 27, 2023

Airalo

skused in Philippines

Airalo worked okay at least in Manila. But speed is not that high at all and upload speed can be quite slow sometimes. I used it only for messaging, maps, Grab, etc. so was okay for me.

It's a roaming network provided by Singtel so it goes through Singapore with latency of a bit shy of 100ms.

If you don't mind the task of getting a local SIM and swapping it in your phone, you'll get better deal and better latency for sure. But as far as prepaid eSIM goes, Airalo does a decent job I think. You just have to lower your expectation a bit.

Jan 27, 2023

Airalo

Daniel Chuused in Philippines

I was in Manila, El Nido and Coron. It worked well enough in Manila that I had no complaints. In El Nido, I had to manually select a network for it to work. Leaving it on automatic on the phone will choose the wrong network. In Coron, I had no reception once outside the main town. My wife had a physical SIM card and she had no issues.

Jul 8, 2022

Frequently Asked Questions

How many travel eSIM brands (providers) are available for use in Philippines, and how many prepaid data plans are there?

Currently, over 90 travel eSIM brands offer service in the Philippines, with over 2700 prepaid data plans available. With such a wide variety of options, travelers should easily be able to find an eSIM that suits their specific data needs and budget.

Are there any unlimited data eSIM plans available for Philippines?

Several providers offer unlimited data eSIM plans for the Philippines, including Firsty, Billion Connect, Roamify, Truely, MicroEsim, Yoho Mobile, Yesim, and ETravelSim. It’s important to note that many of these plans may experience speed throttling, and Firsty plans also have a speed limit of 256kbps, while Yoho Mobile plans have a speed limit of 5Mbps. Prices for these unlimited data plans generally range from approximately $0.00 to $449.07 USD, depending on the validity period and provider.

What are the major mobile networks available for a travel eSIM in Philippines?

In the Philippines, the primary Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) providing mobile services are:

Smart Communications: A subsidiary of PLDT Inc., offering a comprehensive range of mobile services, including voice and data, with extensive coverage across the country.
Globe Telecom: Part of the Ayala Corporation, providing a variety of mobile services with a strong presence in both urban and rural areas.
DITO Telecommunity: The newest major player in the market, focusing on expanding its 4G and 5G networks to enhance nationwide coverage.

Additionally, the Philippines hosts several Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs), which offer mobile services by leasing access from major carriers. For example, GOMO! operates on Globe's infrastructure, providing data-centric plans without expiry dates. It's important to note that most travel eSIMs rely on MNO infrastructure rather than MVNOs.

Summarized by Gen AI. Last updated: May 28, 2025