If you’re planning a trip to the Philippines and want to stay connected without relying on anyone or anything, this article is for you. We’ll guide you on how to get a SIM card with internet access in the Philippines so you can stay online all the time.
In the Philippines, as in many other countries, you’ll find Wi-Fi almost everywhere. However, given the affordable data rates, you’ll likely choose either a local SIM card or the Holafly Philippines eSIM. Here’s everything you need to know. Let’s dive in!
We used to recommend local SIM cards in your destination country because they were cheaper than physical SIM cards you could buy online. However, the eSIM option has become very appealing.
The key change for us is that eSIMs now offer unlimited data (though not yet in all destinations, but coming soon for the Philippines), making a more justified price.
With the Philippines eSIM, you don’t need a physical SIM card to access the internet. Instead, you install a virtual card on your phone for unlimited connectivity. You purchase the eSIM, configure your phone automatically, and as soon as you arrive, your smartphone will connect to the internet.
Starting today, you can get a Holafly discount code on your international Philippines eSIM. The link above provides general information about Holafly, but the button below will take you directly to the discount for your eSIM purchase.
NOTE: If the discount isn’t applied automatically (which is very rare), use this discount code: CONMOCHILA.
In the Philippines, there are two main telecom companies: Smart and Globe. Unfortunately, neither is particularly outstanding… We chose Smart because it is supposedly slightly better, but the service has been poor even in Manila, where it should be more reliable. Since we can’t do much about the quality of these providers, you’ll need to choose one.
At Manila Airport, you can find kiosks for both companies. As soon as you get off the plane, you can go to one of their kiosks and purchase a SIM card.
The staff will take your phone, swap the SIM card, and sign you up for the pricing plan you choose.
We had already done some research beforehand, so we asked for an “unlimited” plan for 30 days for about 1300 pesos (approximately €25) plus the cost of the SIM card and some credit for calls. However, you can also choose data packages based on your usage.
They used one of our passports to register the two SIM cards we purchased, and it was all done in 5 minutes!
If you run out of data or call credit, you can top up your SIM card (or do a “load” as they call it) at any 7-Eleven store you find on the street.
