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.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Airalo offer unlimited data eSIM for Philippines?
Airalo does not sell any true unlimited data eSIM for the Philippines; all available plans have a finite data cap. Travelers can choose from fixed‑data options such as the Asialink‑100GB plan, which delivers 100GB of data for 180 days at $185.00 USD, or the Asialink‑50GB plan, offering 50GB for 90 days at $100.00 USD. These larger‑cap plans can be more cost effective for most users than purchasing several smaller plans, unless a traveller requires an extremely high data volume that no single plan can satisfy.
Does Airalo offer Philippines eSIM with phone number and SMS?
Airalo does not provide eSIMs that include a local phone number or SMS capability for the Philippines. Customers who need voice or text services in the Philippines will need to use data‑based services such as VoIP apps. Airalo only offers data‑only eSIM plans for travel in the Philippines.
How many data plans does Airalo offer for Philippines?
Airalo currently offers 6 single-coverage data plans specifically for the Philippines. These plans provide data for use solely within the country. Additionally, Airalo lists 20 multi-country plans that include the Philippines as part of their coverage area. These multi-country options allow data usage across several countries, offering convenience for travelers visiting multiple destinations. The available plans range in price from approximately $4.50 to $185.00 and offer data allowances from 1GB up to 100GB.
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