Philippines eSIM

Staying connected in the Philippines

The simplest way to get online in the Philippines is to install a travel eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land in Manila or Cebu. AirOva sells Philippines plans from $1.49, with a fixed amount of data or unlimited, all data only, with no call minutes, SMS or local number. Philippines plans run on Smart and Globe, on 4G with 5G where available; each plan card lists its network.

Which Philippines plan to choose

GB plans suit most trips, since boat days use little data and city days with Grab, maps and Messenger use more. Unlimited plans give unlimited data with no data cap and no fair-usage limit; you only choose the number of days, which suits long island-hopping routes, surf or dive months and remote work. For coverage island by island, read our Philippines eSIM guide.

Smart and Globe

The Philippines has three mobile operators. Smart, owned by PLDT, and Globe, a joint venture of Ayala and Singtel, are the long-established nationwide networks; DITO, launched in 2021, is not on our plans. The stronger of the two changes from island to island. 5G is live in Metro Manila, Cebu and other large cities; elsewhere expect mostly 4G.

Arriving at NAIA or Mactan–Cebu

Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) lies between Pasay and Parañaque, about 7 km south of Manila proper; its three terminals are separate buildings, so check which one your onward flight uses. Mactan–Cebu International (CEB) is in Lapu-Lapu City on Mactan Island. Before you fly, install the eSIM over Wi-Fi and complete the free eTravel form. After landing, turn off airplane mode, switch the eSIM line on, choose it for mobile data and enable Data Roaming for that line; the data is prepaid, so roaming adds no charge. Keep roaming off on your home SIM.

Islands, boats and SIM registration

The country has about 7,641 islands, and coverage is decided mast by mast. Island-hopping tours off El Nido and Coron, the Puerto Princesa Underground River and much of the El Nido–Coron boat transfer are mostly offline, and the Cebu–Bohol fast craft loses signal mid-crossing. Under the SIM Registration Act, tourists register local SIM cards with a passport, a local address and an onward ticket, and tourist SIMs typically last 30 days; a travel eSIM skips that counter.

Tip: download maps and boarding passes before every boat day. From June to November typhoons can cancel ferries and flights, so follow PAGASA forecasts and keep a power bank charged.