Philippines eSIM
Mobile data for your trip to the Philippines. Install at home, switch it on when you land.
Network: Globe (5G)
- Hotspot works. As it should.
- QR code in your inbox within minutes of paying.
- Your days start when the eSIM first connects at your destination.
- Full refund as long as the eSIM is not installed.
- Data only. Your own number keeps working for calls and texts if you leave it on. Not sure your phone works with eSIM? Check it first
Details
- Coverage
- Philippines. Networks: Globe (5G).
- Validity
- 7 to 30 days, depending on the plan. The days start when the eSIM first connects at your destination.
- Hotspot
- Allowed. Share your data with a laptop, tablet or travel partner.
- Top-up
- Need more? Top up on the same eSIM.
- How it works
- Buy, install at home on wifi and switch on after landing. Read the guide
How much data do you need?
Set your trip length and how many hours a day you use each type of app. We suggest a plan that fits.
These numbers are estimates. Video quality, app settings and background updates change how much you use.
Travelling in the Philippines: the quick facts
The Philippines is the lagoons of El Nido, the beaches of Boracay, the surf of Siargao and more than 7,000 islands to explore. Below you find what helps to know before you land, and how our Philippines eSIM with hotspot keeps you and your laptop online from Manila to the islands.
- CurrencyPhilippine peso (PHP, ₱)
- PlugsType A, B and C, 220 VUS and flat EU plugs fit
- LanguageFilipino and English, spoken almost everywhere
- Emergency911 for police, ambulance and fire
- Taxi appsGrab, JoyRide and Angkas
- NetworksGlobe (5G where available)
- Time zoneUTC+8 all year, no summer time
Most visited places in the Philippines
Most trips start in Manila or Cebu and continue by domestic flight or ferry to Palawan, Boracay, Bohol or Siargao.
El Nido
Limestone cliffs, hidden lagoons and island hopping tours in northern Palawan. Book tour A or C for the famous lagoons.
Boracay
White Beach, sunset sailing and a lively nightlife. Small and busy, with a strict limit on visitor numbers.
Manila
Intramuros, the old Spanish walled city, plus food halls and malls in Makati and BGC. Plan extra time for traffic.
Cebu
Canyoneering at Kawasan Falls, the sardine run in Moalboal and ferries to Bohol and Siargao from Cebu City.
Bohol
The Chocolate Hills, tarsiers and the beaches of Panglao, about two hours by fast ferry from Cebu.
Siargao
Surfing at Cloud 9, palm-lined roads and island hopping. Rent a scooter to explore the island.
How do we compare?
Cheaper than Airalo and Holafly on every Philippines plan, and hotspot is always included.
| Feature | Best choiceArrivalSIM | Airalo | Holafly |
|---|---|---|---|
Hotspot on every planChecked per country before a plan goes online | Yes | Depends on network | Max 1 GB/day |
Cheaper on every plan5 GB for 30 days from €8,49 | Yes | No | No |
Personal contactHelp from a real person when you need it | Yes | 24/7 chat | 24/7 chat |
Money-back guaranteeFull refund as long as the eSIM is not installed | Within 14 days if not installed | Within 14 days if unused | Within 6 months if unused |
Top up the same eSIMAdd data when you run low | Yes | Yes | Days only |
Fixed GB plansPay only for the data you need | Yes | Yes | No |
Checked on each provider's own website.
eSIM vs Philippines SIM card
You can also buy a SIM from Globe or Smart at the counters in the arrival areas of Manila airport. Counters can be closed late at night, and you register the SIM with your passport, hotel booking and return ticket.
| Topic | ArrivalSIM eSIM | Local SIM card |
|---|---|---|
| Where you get it | Online, install at home | Counter at Manila airport or a mall |
| Online when you land | Straight away | After registration and setup |
| Price | Plan price incl. VAT | Cheap, paid in pesos |
| Documents | None needed | Passport, hotel booking and ticket |
| Valid for | Up to 30 days per plan, top-ups possible | 30 days for tourist SIMs |
| Local number for calls | Data only | Calls included |
Need a Philippine number for calls and local apps? Then a local SIM is the cheapest option. For island hopping, the eSIM saves you the airport counter and you are online as soon as you land.
Money in the Philippines: pesos, cash and ATMs
The Philippines uses the Philippine peso (PHP, ₱). Cards work in the cities, but on the islands you mostly pay in cash. The rough converter below gives you a quick idea.
- Cash is still king outside the cities. Take out enough in Manila or Cebu before you go to the islands, as ATMs in El Nido and Siargao often run out.
- Philippine ATMs charge foreign cards about 250 pesos per withdrawal, so take out larger amounts at once.
- When a card terminal or ATM offers to charge you in your own currency, choose pesos.
- Hotels, malls and chain restaurants take cards. Keep small notes for tricycles, boats and street food.
Rough peso converter
About
| ₱ 100 | ≈ €1.40 |
|---|---|
| ₱ 500 | ≈ €7.04 |
| ₱ 1,000 | ≈ €14 |
| ₱ 5,000 | ≈ €70 |
| ₱ 10,000 | ≈ €141 |
Approximate, rounded rate for a rough idea only. Your bank or card uses its own rate.
Weather and best time to visit Manila and the Philippines
The Philippines has a dry season from December to May and a rainy season with typhoons from June to November. The pattern below is for Manila; the east coast and Siargao can get rain at other times.
-
Cool and dry
December to FebruaryThe most pleasant weather and calm seas, the best time for island hopping. Also the busiest season.
-
Hot and dry
March to MayHot and sunny, often above 33 °C. Good beach weather, and Holy Week around Easter is very busy.
-
Rainy and typhoon season
June to NovemberHeavy rain, especially from July to September. Typhoons can cancel ferries and flights, so keep your plans flexible.
Grab vs JoyRide: which taxi app to use in Manila
In Manila and Cebu, Grab is the easiest app: you see the price before you book and can pay by card. JoyRide is often a little cheaper, and Angkas motorbike taxis are the fastest way through traffic. On the islands, you mostly use tricycles and boats.
Grab
The biggest app in Manila and Cebu, for cars and taxis. You see the price before you book and can pay by card.
JoyRide
A local app for cars and motorbike taxis in Metro Manila, often a little cheaper than Grab.
Angkas
Motorbike taxis that weave through Manila's traffic. Fast and cheap, and the driver brings a helmet for you.
From Manila airport
At NAIA Terminal 3, Grab and JoyRide pick you up at the ride-hailing hub in the multi-level car park, with lounges where you can also book without the app. Expect heavy traffic into the city at rush hour.
Internet rules in the Philippines: eTravel, SIM registration and island internet
eTravel registration
Every arriving traveller registers on eTravel within 72 hours before the flight. It is free on the official website and in the eGovPH app; sites that charge a fee are not official.
Local SIM: registration and 30 days
A Philippine SIM must be registered in your name with your passport, a hotel booking and your return ticket. A tourist-registered SIM works for 30 days. Our eSIM needs no counter visit: you buy it online and install it at home.
Internet on the islands
Wifi in resorts and cafés on the islands is often slow. Mobile data is usually the faster option, but on boats and remote beaches the signal can drop out.
Source: eTravel, Philippine government. Rules change, so check before you travel.
Internet in Manila for tourists: coverage and hotspot
With our eSIM you have mobile data in Manila, Cebu and on the main islands, from Palawan to Siargao. It uses Globe, with 5G where available. Coverage is good in cities and towns. On boats, remote beaches and small islands, expect gaps.
Using hotspot in the Philippines
- Install the eSIM at home on wifi before departure and leave the line off.
- After landing in Manila or Cebu, switch it on, set it for mobile data and turn on data roaming.
- Turn on Personal Hotspot (iPhone) or Hotspot and tethering (Android). Hotspot data counts towards your plan.
Step by step: iPhone install guide, Android install guide. Need more data later? Top up the same eSIM.
A note from our founder
The Philippines. A country that has been on my bucket list for a long time. Photos of El Nido made me want to visit the country in the first place. And I made it happen! I travelled for three weeks, from Manila to Cebu, Siargao, Coron and El Nido. A wonderful country and I have to say, delicious fast food at Jollibee too. On a later trip I had the privilege to get to know Cebu in depth as well, and I have to say: Filipinos have a special place in my heart. Incredibly smart people, and their English proficiency is just so good. I always love going back and I'm excited for you. I hope ArrivalSIM helps you to be connected to the world, so you can fully enjoy your time in the Philippines.
Peter, founder of ArrivalSIM
Philippines eSIM FAQ
Should I buy and install the eSIM before I travel to the Philippines?
That is the easiest way, especially if you land at night when SIM counters can be closed. Install it at home on wifi and switch it on after landing.
Does the eSIM work in El Nido, Coron and Siargao?
Yes, in the towns and on the main islands. On boats between islands, on remote beaches and in some lagoons, expect little or no signal.
Do I need to register on eTravel?
Yes. Every arriving traveller registers within 72 hours before the flight, for free on etravel.gov.ph or in the eGovPH app.
Does hotspot work with the Philippines eSIM?
Yes. Hotspot is included on every plan, so you can share your data with a laptop, tablet or travel partner. Hotspot data counts towards your plan.
Is ArrivalSIM cheaper than Airalo in the Philippines?
Yes. When we compared prices on their own websites, every Philippines plan of ours cost less than the same amount of data at Airalo, including their shorter plans, from 1 GB to 20 GB. Holafly only sells unlimited plans, priced per day, and costs more for the same trip length.
Which plan fits three weeks of island hopping?
Maps, messaging and some social media: the 10 or 20 GB plan. You can top up the same eSIM if you run low. The data calculator above helps you choose.
Is my eSIM limited to 30 days like a tourist SIM?
Each plan lasts up to 30 days, and you can add a new plan on the same eSIM when you stay longer. There is no registration limit as with a tourist-registered local SIM.
Can I get a refund?
Yes, you get a full refund as long as the eSIM is not installed. Questions first? Reach us through our contact page.
Ready for the Philippines?
Plans from €3,49 including VAT
Pick your plan, install it at home before you fly and you are online when you land. Travelling on? We cover 190+ countries.
Questions first? Reach us through our contact page.