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239+ destinations · plans from $1.99 · QR by email in minutes
6 plans from 1GB to 20GB. Buy now, scan the QR, and your data works the moment you land.
Network selection is automatic: your phone picks the strongest signal. Coverage in the Philippines →
| Data | Validity | Price (USD) | Per GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 7 days | $2.59 | $2.59 |
| 3 GB | 15 days | $4.89 | $1.63 |
| 3 GB | 30 days | $5.79 | $1.93 |
| 5 GB | 30 days | $8.69 | $1.74 |
| 10 GB | 30 days | $15.09 | $1.51 |
| 20 GB | 30 days | $28.39 | $1.42 |
Prices checked 7 November 2026. All-in price in USD, no roaming charges, QR by email in minutes. Data only; keep your own number for calls and texts.
The eSIM gives you data from landing and leaves your own SIM in place, so your usual number still gets calls, SMS and bank codes. While you plan the trip, you can also top up family numbers in Philippines and watch fares home.
It runs on Philippines's national mobile networks, so the same plan works right across the country, including Manila, Cebu, Boracay and Palawan. There is nothing extra to buy for a city or island.
Slashtel Philippines eSIMs start at $2.59 for 1GB over 7 days, across 6 plans. The lowest price per GB is $1.42 on the 20GB plan. A one-week trip costs from $2.59 (1GB). It connects to Smart and Globe on up to 5G. It is data only: your own number stays active for calls, SMS and bank codes. The QR code arrives by email within minutes; install it on Wi-Fi before you fly and the days start when it first connects in the Philippines. Prices checked 7 November 2026.
Last checked: October 2026
Buy a Philippines eSIM from $2.59 and you get a data only plan on the SMART and Globe networks, ready to activate when you land. There is no local number and no roaming bill, so you can map, message and book rides the moment you leave the airport. Sizes run from 1GB to 20GB, with 7, 15 and 30 day validity.
What matters is that your plan runs on the main local networks, carries enough data for your trip, covers your full stay and installs before you leave. If you are asking yourself which is the best eSIM for the Philippines, judge it on those four points rather than on a headline price.
Coverage comes first. A plan that only connects to one operator can leave you without signal in places where the other one is strong, so check that the plan you buy works on both SMART and Globe. Slashtel plans run on both and your phone picks the network automatically, which matters when you move between islands.
Data allowance is the second point. Island hopping days often mean long stretches of maps, photo uploads and messaging, while a stay with family can lean more on home wifi. Match the size to the trip rather than guessing at the last minute.
Validity is the third. A 7 day plan is enough for a short city break in Manila or Cebu, but a two week island route needs 15 days and a longer visit needs 30. Buying too short a plan means topping up mid trip, which is possible but avoidable.
Hotspot support matters if you carry a laptop or travel with someone who relies on your connection. Our plans allow tethering, so a tablet or a second phone can share your data.
Finally, install before you fly. Adding the eSIM at home on reliable wifi takes a few minutes and means you are not hunting for a signal in arrivals. Our guides to installing an eSIM on iPhone and Android and checking whether your phone supports eSIM walk through both steps.
Plans range from 1GB to 20GB, valid for 7, 15 or 30 days, with prices starting at $2.59. Pick the size that fits your trip; the table shows the current live price for each.
| Plan | Price from |
|---|---|
| 1GB | $2.59 |
| 3GB | $5.79 |
| 5GB | $8.69 |
| 10GB | $15.09 |
| 20GB | $28.39 |
Prices are shown in US dollars and are the live price at the time you open the page. The smallest plan suits a short stop where most of your day runs on hotel or cafe wifi. The larger plans suit travellers who use maps constantly, upload photos and video call home without thinking about it.
Your eSIM connects to SMART and Globe, the two main networks in the country, and selects one automatically. In practice that means your phone finds a signal without you changing settings, and you can fall back to the other network where one is weaker.
Coverage is strongest in cities and built up areas. Manila, Cebu and the larger provincial centres have good service, and popular island destinations are generally served, though remote beaches and small islands can be patchy on any network. Treat signal as something that varies with where you stand rather than something you can count on everywhere.
5G is available on both networks in supported areas, and your phone will use it where it is offered. Where 5G is not present the connection drops to the local 4G service without any action from you.
Because the network is chosen automatically, you do not need to pick an operator in settings. If you find yourself on a weak signal, switching airplane mode on and off forces a fresh connection to whichever network is stronger where you are.
Match the plan to the length and style of your trip, then add a little headroom for map days and photo uploads. These are sensible starting points.
A useful rule is that messaging and maps use little data, while video calls, cloud photo backup and streaming use much more. If you plan to call home on FaceTime or WhatsApp most evenings, lean towards a larger plan.
Add the eSIM to your phone at home, before departure, so it is ready the moment you land. Installation needs a stable internet connection, and airport wifi on arrival is not always reliable.
Installation is a one time step: scan the QR code or follow the manual details, label the eSIM so you can tell it apart from your home SIM, and leave it switched off until you travel. The iPhone and Android install guide covers the exact steps for each system.
When you arrive, switch the eSIM on and set it as the line for mobile data. Keep your home SIM active for calls and texts but turn off data roaming on it, so you do not run up charges. Your phone will then connect to SMART or Globe automatically.
The eSIM is data only: there is no local number, no calls and no SMS on it. That is deliberate, because it keeps the plan simple and cheap to run.
You can still call and message using apps. WhatsApp, FaceTime, Messenger and similar services work over the data connection, so voice and video calls home cost nothing beyond your data allowance. Your home number stays live on your own SIM, which is what you want for bank codes and two factor messages from your bank or employer.
Set your home SIM as the line for calls and texts, and the eSIM as the line for mobile data. This way incoming bank codes still arrive, and your data runs on the local network rather than on roaming.
The short answers below cover the points travellers raise most often. If your question is about your specific handset, check the compatibility guide before buying.
Most travellers want to know whether the plan is data only, whether WhatsApp works, whether hotspot is allowed, when the clock starts, how topping up works and which phones are supported. The FAQ below answers each in a few lines.
One practical note for island hopping: download offline maps for each island before you leave wifi, so a weak signal on a boat or a remote beach does not leave you without directions.
Yes. The plan carries mobile data only. There is no local phone number, and you cannot make ordinary calls or send SMS through it. Messaging and calls through apps such as WhatsApp and FaceTime work normally over the data connection.
Yes. WhatsApp, FaceTime, Messenger and similar apps work over the data connection, including voice and video calls. Keep your home SIM active for ordinary calls, texts and bank verification codes, and set the eSIM as the line for mobile data.
Yes, hotspot and tethering are supported, so you can share your data with a laptop, tablet or a travelling companion. Keep an eye on usage when tethering, because a laptop can use far more data than a phone.
The validity period starts when the eSIM first connects to a network in the Philippines, not when you buy or install it. You can install it at home weeks before you fly and it will not begin counting until you arrive and switch it on.
You can buy another plan from your Slashtel account and install or activate it when needed. To avoid running short mid trip, check your remaining data every few days, especially after heavy map, photo or video call days.
Most recent iPhones and many recent Android phones support eSIM, but support varies by model and region. Check your handset in our compatibility guide before buying, and confirm with your home network that your phone is not locked to it.
For most trips a 5GB to 10GB data eSIM valid for 30 days is the right size: Slashtel's 5GB plan for the Philippines is $8.69 on Smart and Globe. Install it before you fly, keep your home SIM on for calls and bank texts, and top up the same eSIM if you run low.
From $2.59 for 1GB valid 7 days, as of 7 November 2026. Longer trips: two weeks from $4.89 (3GB), one month from $5.79 (3GB).
$1.42 per GB on the 20GB plan (30 days, $28.39). Bigger plans usually cost less per GB, so buy the size you expect to use.
Smart and Globe, with speeds up to 5G where available. The eSIM picks the strongest network automatically.
No. Slashtel eSIMs are data only, with no local number, calls or SMS. WhatsApp and other internet calls work, and your home SIM can stay on for calls and OTP texts.
Validity starts when the eSIM first connects to a network in the Philippines, not when you buy it, so you can buy and install it before you travel.
The Philippine peso (PHP).
beep (Metro Manila LRT-1, LRT-2, MRT-3; select city and P2P buses): buy at LRT-1, LRT-2 and MRT-3 stations, Lazada.
Pick a plan, pay by card. QR arrives by email within a minute.
Scan the QR on Wi-Fi at home. Takes two minutes. Keep your main SIM in.
Enable data roaming on the Slashtel line. Done, no shops, no queues.
Money, getting around and the apps you'll need. Facts checked 2026-10.
LRT-1 / LRT-2 / MRT-3 · metro · Metro Manila
Sources: beep.com.ph · beep.com.ph
Philippines plans run for up to 30 days, and you never need a second eSIM. Pick a 30-day plan and tick Keep me connected at checkout: when your data runs low or the plan ends, the same plan is added to the same eSIM at the same price, with an email first, and you can turn it off any time. Or add data yourself on the Add data page whenever you like. No new QR code either way.
No single eSIM covers both, so we pair two plans in one payment. Both go on the same phone: install both before you fly, then pick which one is your data line when you cross. Both are data only: your own SIM stays on for calls, SMS and bank OTPs.
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