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Best Philippines eSIM 2026: comparison of the 6 providers

Two weeks between Manila, Cebu and Bohol, the lagoons of El Nido and Coron in Palawan, surfing in Siargao or the white beach of Boracay: in the Philippines, you need constant internet for Grab, Google Maps, booking ferries and domestic flights the day before, GCash payments at certain merchants, and calls to family with a 6 to 7-hour time difference. A Philippines eSIM is installed before departure, activates upon landing, and saves you from the carrier counter, where a local SIM must be registered with a passport and only lasts 30 days. You keep your French SIM for calls and SMS.

Two Philippine pitfalls to know before you go. The first is your plan: the Philippines are not included in any French plan, not even with Free, and data roaming charges kick in as soon as you land. The second is 3G: the country is turning it off permanently by the end of 2026, and a phone without 4G VoLTE will no longer catch a signal. We scrutinized 6 providers using the same criteria: price per GB, network used on-site (Smart, Globe, or DITO), coverage in Manila, Cebu, Palawan, and the islands, support, simplicity of the app and activation, and the flexibility of the plans. The ranking first, then each offer in detail.

Rony
September 12, 2026 · 15 min read
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Best Philippines eSIM 2026: comparison of the 6 providers
The eSIMrat verdict#1 of 6
voilà eSIM

voilà eSIM: Smart and Globe in 5G, and 24/7 human support

7.8/10

The two networks covering the Philippines, Smart and Globe, on a single eSIM announced with 5G, at €1.22/GB for the 20 GB plan, the cheapest 1 GB plan in the comparison for a layover, the only 180-day plan for a long stay, "no blocked apps" written in black and white, a two-minute installation from an easy-to-use app, and human support reachable 24/7. Airalo, Yesim, Ubigi, and Esimzon do better on price per GB alone, but this is the most solid value for money based on our criteria.

Price per GB : €1.22/GBNetwork : Smart and Globe
See the voilà eSIM offer

How these eSIMs were ranked

Each eSIM is rated on six criteria, weighted for the Philippines. The price per GB and network coverage carry the most weight, because the country consists of more than 7,000 islands and the network changes completely as soon as you leave Manila or Cebu. Three operators share the field: Globe, which wins the coverage category for the fifth consecutive time with 7.4 out of 10 points; DITO, the newest, which wins on reliability, speeds, and time spent on 5G with 33.8% compared to 15% for its two rivals; and Smart, which maintains the best 5G coverage, according to the Opensignal report from July 2026. No travel eSIM uses DITO: they all rely on Smart, on Globe, or on both. Manila, Cebu, Davao, and the major seaside resorts are well-covered in 4G and 5G, while small islands and mountain roads are covered in patches, as shown on the nPerf coverage map. The real difference is therefore decided by price, the advertised network, and plan flexibility. The ratings are the editorial team's opinion, not an average of customer reviews.

  • Price per GB25 %

    Cost per gigabyte based on the cheapest plan from each provider, excluding occasional promotions.

  • Network coverage25 %

    Get signal in Manila, Cebu, Boracay, Palawan, Siargao and on ferries between islands.

  • Reliability15 %

    Connection stability, reliability of the partner operator, and provider reputation.

  • Support15 %

    Available channels, hours, human or automated response, with a 6 to 7-hour time difference.

  • Activation and application10 %

    Simplicity of installation, clarity of the app, consumption tracking.

  • Flexible plans10 %

    Choice of data volumes and durations, unlimited, top-ups, data sharing, long stays.

Based on these criteria, voilà eSIM comes out on top thanks to its two Smart and Globe networks announced in 5G, its 1 GB plan being the cheapest in the comparison, its 180-day plan, its app, and its 24/7 human support, despite a price per GB €1.22/GB that places it fifth out of six: Airalo, Yesim, Ubigi, and Esimzon perform better on price per GB alone, and it is stated in every product sheet. Airalo takes second place with the lowest price per GB, the announced Smart network, and unlimited plans from 3 to 30 days. Yesim is third, with the cheapest unlimited plans for most durations.

Scores are the opinion of the eSIMrat editorial team, based on the criteria above, not customer reviews. eSIMrat earns a commission on links to its partners, which does not affect the ranking.

The ranking of eSIMs for the Philippines

The 6 eSIMs compared, from the highest rated to the lowest rated. The price per GB shown is that of the cheapest plan per gigabyte for each provider: a 50 GB 30-day plan with Airalo and Ubigi, a 20 GB plan with voilà eSIM and Saily, and a 10 GB plan with Esimzon. With Yesim, this price comes from a 0.49 GB one-day mini-plan at €0.45; its actual stay plan, 30 GB for 30 days at €31.90, comes to €1.06 per GB. A small one-week plan costs one to three times more per GB, except with voilà eSIM, whose 1 GB 7-day plan is €1.60.

ProviderPrice per GBNetworkScore
  1. 1voilà eSIMvoilà eSIM€1.22/GBSmart and Globe7.8/10
  2. 2AiraloAiralo€0.87/GBSmart7.6/10
  3. 3YesimYesim€0.92/GBLocal networks7.3/10
  4. 4UbigiUbigi€0.96/GBLocal networks7.1/10
  5. 5EsimzonEsimzon€1.11/GBGlobe6.8/10
  6. 6SailySaily€1.32/GBLocal networks6.4/10

Prices checked on September 12, 2026 on the providers' sites. eSIMrat partners' prices come from the comparator and refresh on every build.

Every Philippines eSIM in detail

  1. voilà eSIM

    1. voilà eSIM

    7.8/10
    €1.22/GBSmart and GlobeData plans, 1 to 50 GB, 7 to 180 days

    Smart and Globe in 5G, 1 GB for €1.60, 180-day plan, no blocked apps, 24/7 human support

    voilà eSIM is the only one in the comparison to offer the two major Philippine networks on a single eSIM: Smart, which has the best 5G coverage in the country, and Globe, which has won for overall coverage from Opensignal for five reports. On a ferry between Cebu and Bohol or on the road to Port Barton, your phone will catch whichever signal is strongest. On its Philippines page, the brand states "no blocked apps": Google Maps, TikTok, GCash, banking apps, and WhatsApp calls all work, and hotspotting is unlimited, which is essential when traveling as a pair with a single plan.

    Regarding price, €1.22/GB on the 20 GB 30-day plan at €24.40, it is the fifth cheapest price per GB out of six: Airalo, Yesim, Ubigi, and Esimzon do better, between €0.86 and €1.08. Where voilà eSIM is truly unique is at both ends of the catalog: 1 GB for 7 days at €1.60, the cheapest entry-level plan in the comparison, and a 50 GB plan valid for 180 days at €67.90, the only six-month plan, tailored for an Asian tour or a diving season. The code ESIMRAT gives a 5% discount, which can be found on the promo code page, further improving the value for money.

    What makes the difference is everything else: the eSIM is installed in two minutes via an easy-to-use app, with top-ups and data usage tracking all in one place, the brand promises a refund in case of issues, and the human support responds 24/7 on WhatsApp, which is vital with a 6 to 7-hour time difference. The limitations: no unlimited data, and the price per GB is less competitive than four competitors on one-month plans.

    Pros

    • Smart and Globe announced on a single eSIM, 5G, unlimited data sharing
    • 1 GB at €1.60, the cheapest entry-level plan, and the only 50 GB 180-day plan, "no blocked apps"
    • Simple to install eSIM, easy-to-use app, 24/7 human support

    Cons

    • Fifth lowest price per GB out of six, behind Airalo, Yesim, Ubigi and Esimzon
    • No unlimited plans
    See the offer
  2. Airalo

    2. Airalo

    7.6/10
    €0.87/GBSmartData plans from 1 to 50 GB, unlimited from 3 to 30 days

    Lowest price per GB, announced Smart network, unlimited from 3 to 30 days

    Airalo, the market pioneer, has the lowest price per GB in the comparison: €0.87/GB on its 50 GB 30-day plan for 43 €, and its 20 GB plan at 27 € remains at 1.35 € per GB. It announces the Smart network on its Philippines page, which offers the best 5G coverage in the country, and its application is the most complete of the six, featuring top-ups and usage tracking.

    Its second strength is the unlimited data for all durations, from €10.50 for 3 days to €63.50 per month, the cheapest in the comparison at €16.50 for 5 days. The limitations: short-term plans are expensive per GB, €4 for 1 GB for 3 days, only one network announced whereas voilà eSIM has two, and chat support, in English, which can be slow.

    Pros

    • The lowest price per GB in the comparison, 50 GB for 30 days at 43 €
    • Smart Network announced, unlimited from 3 to 30 days, full app with top-up feature

    Cons

    • Short plans expensive per GB, €4 for 1 GB for 3 days
    • Only one network announced, chat support in English
    See the offer
  3. Yesim

    3. Yesim

    7.3/10
    €0.92/GBLocal networksData plans from 1 to 30 GB, unlimited from 1 to 30 days

    Cheapest unlimited on most durations, sold day by day, 30 GB for €31.90

    Yesim sells unlimited day by day: €3.40 for 24 hours, €23.80 for the week, €37 for 15 days, €54.50 for the month. You pay exactly for the duration of your stay, and for 3, 10, 15 and 30 days, it is the cheapest unlimited option in the comparison, ahead of Ubigi, Airalo and Saily.

    Watch out for the price per GB shown in the table: €0.92/GB comes from a 0.49 GB mini-plan valid for one day at €0.45, which is practical for a layover but misleading for a trip. Their real two-week plan is the 30 GB for 30 days at €31.90, which is €1.06 per GB, remaining the second-best rate in the comparison for a large volume. The limitations: the provider does not announce the Philippine carrier before purchase, and support is limited to chat. The eSIM can be reused from one trip to the next.

    Pros

    • Unlimited sold day by day, the cheapest for 3, 10, 15 and 30 days, 54.50 € per month
    • 30 GB for 30 days at 31.90 €, reusable eSIM

    Cons

    • Price per GB in the table calculated on a one-day mini-plan
    • Philippine operator not specified before purchase, support via chat only
    See the offer
  4. Ubigi

    4. Ubigi

    7.1/10
    €0.96/GBLocal networksData plans from 1 to 50 GB, unlimited from 7 to 30 days

    50 GB at under €1 per GB, prices in euros, support in French

    Ubigi belongs to Transatel, a subsidiary of the NTT group. Its prices are displayed in euros, top-ups are done via the app without reinstalling a profile, and support responds via ticket in French, which remains rare in this comparison. Its Philippine catalog is solid for large volumes: 50 GB for 30 days at 48 €, which is €0.96/GB, the third lowest price per GB, and a 25 GB plan at 29 €.

    Its unlimited plan is the cheapest in the comparison for 7 days, at 23 €, then ranks behind Yesim at 40 € for 15 days and 59 € for the month. The rest of the table is more expensive: 1 GB for 7 days at 3.50 €, 10 GB for 30 days at 16 €. It does not announce the Philippine operator before purchase.

    Pros

    • 50 GB for 30 days at 48 €, third best price per GB, 25 GB at 29 €
    • Prices in euros, top-up in the app, support via ticket in French, cheapest 7-day unlimited plan

    Cons

    • Philippine operator not specified before purchase
    • Small expensive plans, €3.50 for 1 GB, 30 days unlimited behind Yesim
    See the offer
  5. Esimzon

    5. Esimzon

    6.8/10
    €1.11/GBGlobeData plans 1 to 10 GB, 30 days

    Named Global Network, 10 GB for €10.84, all plans valid for 30 days

    Esimzon names its network, Globe, the one that wins overall coverage from Opensignal in 4G. Its four plans are all valid for 30 days, which simplifies the choice: 10 GB for €10.84, which is €1.11/GB, the fourth lowest price per GB, 5 GB for €6.02, 3 GB for €3.96, and 1 GB for €2.24.

    The limitations are clear: nothing beyond 10 GB, no unlimited data, no advertised 5G, prices displayed in dollars on the website (the euro follows the daily exchange rate), and support via email or chat, in English. For two weeks of photos and videos, 10 GB might not be enough.

    Pros

    • Global Network named, 10 GB for 30 days at 10.84 €
    • Four simple plans, all valid for 30 days

    Cons

    • Catalog capped at 10 GB, no unlimited data, 4G only
    • Prices displayed in dollars, support in English
    See the offer
  6. Saily

    6. Saily

    6.4/10
    €1.32/GBLocal networksData plans from 1 to 20 GB, unlimited from 5 to 30 days

    Ad blocker and tracker blocker, 24/7 chat

    Saily is the eSIM from Nord Security, the publisher of NordVPN. The app is simple, featuring an ad and tracker blocker and built-in web protection, and the chat responds 24/7 in English. On the Wi-Fi of a Siargao hostel saturated by surfers, it's a real plus.

    The price is the highest in the comparison: €1.32/GB for the 20 GB 30-day plan at €26.49, and a 1 GB 7-day plan at €3.49. Its unlimited plan, from €16.99 for 5 days to €63.99 per month, remains above Yesim, Ubigi, and Airalo for every duration, and it does not announce the Philippine operator before purchase.

    Pros

    • Integrated ad and tracker blocker, 24/7 chat
    • Unlimited available from 5 to 30 days

    Cons

    • The highest price per GB in the comparison
    • Philippine operator not specified before purchase, 20 GB maximum
    See the offer

Which Philippines eSIM according to your profile?

The eSIM we recommend for every type of traveler.

  • voilà eSIM
    Two weeks between Cebu, Bohol and Palawanvoilà eSIM€1.22/GB on 20 GB, Smart and Globe on a single eSIM, no blocked apps, and 24/7 human support despite the time difference.
  • Airalo
    The lowest price per GBAiralo50 GB for 43 € on the Smart network, the best price per GB in the comparison, valid for 30 days.
  • Yesim
    A month without countingYesim€54.50 for 30 days of unlimited data, which is €1.80 per day, the cheapest in the comparison.
  • voilà eSIM
    Long stay or tour of Asiavoilà eSIM50 GB valid for 180 days for €67.90, the only six-month plan in the comparison.
  • Ubigi
    One week in BoracayUbigiThe cheapest 7-day unlimited plan, 23 €, with prices in euros and support in French.
  • voilà eSIM
    Three-day layover in Manilavoilà eSIM1 GB for 7 days at 1.60 €, the cheapest plan in the comparison, without touching your French plan.

3G is shutting down: is your phone ready for the Philippines?

This is the point that travelers discover too late. The Philippine regulator, the NTC, has ordered the complete shutdown of the country's 2G and 3G networks by December 31, 2026, at the latest, and Globe as well as DITO have already shut down their 3G, with Smart committing to do so by autumn 2025, as reported by the Manila Times. A phone must therefore support 4G with VoLTE to work locally, and an older or imported model that lacks Philippine 4G bands will catch a signal in the city, but much less so in the islands.

For a travel eSIM, which is used only for data, the consequence is simple: every eSIM-compatible smartphone, therefore released after 2018, is also a 4G phone, and it will pick up a signal. The best habit is to download your offline maps before crossing via bangka or traveling the mountain roads of Luzon, and to keep in mind that classic calls go through your French SIM via roaming, which also uses 4G VoLTE.

eSIM or local Philippine SIM?

A local SIM remains possible: Globe and Smart have counters open day and night in the arrivals hall of Manila airport, and their prepaid SIMs are sold in all 7-Eleven stores. Since the SIM registration law, however, a tourist must register with their passport, proof of address in the Philippines (a hotel reservation is sufficient), and their return ticket, plus a selfie. Most importantly, as Smart explains on its blog, a SIM registered by a tourist is only valid for 30 days, after which it is deactivated, unless a visa extension is presented before the deadline. And if your phone only has one slot, you lose your French line during your stay, along with your bank's SMS.

A travel eSIM is purchased online, installed before departure, and in this comparison, costs between 0.85 and 1.35 € per GB on a large plan. You keep your French line for calls and SMS, and you have no counters or registration upon arrival. Our rule: eSIM for a tourist stay, an island tour, or a long trip in Asia; Globe or Smart local SIM for a multi-month installation with a Philippine number, which is essential for GCash and for local administrative tasks.

What to check on your phone and your plan before buying

Two conditions: an eSIM compatible phone and carrier unlocked. iPhones since the XR and Pixels, Galaxy S, and other recent models are; the complete list is on our eSIM compatible phones page. A phone purchased with a subsidy from a French carrier may remain locked: request unlocking before you leave. And check your plan: the Philippines are not included in any French plan, neither with Orange, SFR, and Bouygues, nor in Free 5G+ and Free Max, which do cover Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia, as detailed in our article on countries included with Free Mobile. Without an eSIM, data is charged as roaming from the very first connection.

Once the eSIM is installed, keep your French SIM active for calls and SMS, disable its data roaming, and activate the Philippines eSIM upon arrival. Manila, Cebu, Davao, Boracay, and the Palawan islands are well-covered with 4G and often 5G; the small islands of the Visayas, the Banaue rice terraces, and the isolated beaches of Siargao still have dead zones, regardless of the provider, so let your loved ones know. All plans in the Philippines comparator are sold by providers that display compatibility before purchase, and if you are heading to Thailand or Indonesia next, multi-country plans are gathered on the Southeast Asia eSIM page, along with our best Thailand eSIM and best Indonesia eSIM comparatives.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best eSIM for the Philippines?
Based on our criteria, voilà eSIM: the two major Smart and Globe networks on a single eSIM announced with 5G, "no blocked apps," the cheapest 1 GB plan in the comparison at €1.60, the only 180-day plan, an eSIM that is easy to install, an easy-to-use app, and 24/7 human support. Its price per GB, €1.22 on the 20 GB plan, is fifth out of six. For the lowest price per GB, Airalo wins with 50 GB for €43 on the Smart network, and for unlimited data, it's Yesim, the cheapest for most durations, at €54.50 per month.
How much does an eSIM for the Philippines cost?
Between €0.86 and €1.32 per GB depending on the provider, on 20 to 50 GB plans valid for 30 days. A small plan costs more per gigabyte, except with voilà eSIM, where the 1 GB 7-day plan costs €1.60 and the 5 GB 30-day plan costs €6.80. Unlimited data is paid per day: €3.40 for one day with Yesim, €23 per week with Ubigi, and €54.50 per month with Yesim.
Which network has the best coverage in the Philippines: Smart, Globe, or DITO?
According to the July 2026 Opensignal report, Globe has the best overall coverage, Smart has the best 5G coverage, and DITO has the best speeds and reliability, with a third of the time spent on 5G. No travel eSIM uses DITO: voilà eSIM announces Smart and Globe, Airalo announces Smart, Esimzon announces Globe, and others do not specify their network before purchase.
Do you need a passport for a SIM card in the Philippines?
Yes. Since the SIM registration law, every buyer must register, and a tourist does so with their passport, proof of address in the Philippines, and their return ticket, plus a selfie. A SIM registered by a tourist is only valid for 30 days, after which it is deactivated. A travel eSIM is purchased online before departure, requires no local registration, and activates itself upon arrival.
Does my French plan work in the Philippines?
For calls and SMS, yes, via paid roaming. For data, no French plan includes the Philippines, not even Free 5G+ or Free Max, which do cover Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Without an eSIM or a local SIM, every megabyte is charged as out-of-plan, so disable data roaming on your French SIM before connecting.
Does the eSIM work in the islands and in Palawan?
In inhabited areas, yes: El Nido, Coron, Puerto Princesa, Boracay, Bohol, and Siargao are covered in 4G, often in 5G in the centers. As soon as you move away, on a bangka between islands, on isolated beaches, or in the mountains of Luzon, the network disappears for kilometers, regardless of the provider. Download your offline maps, and for a stay far from everything, an eSIM that works on both Smart and Globe, like voilà eSIM, has a better chance of catching a signal.
Author
Rony

A travel obsessive, I built eSIMrat to share the best connectivity deals: the most reliable option at the best price, so you can leave with a clear head and make every trip the best it can be.

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