PikoeSIM
Excellent
Philippines eSIM
Plans from€0.27
100 MB 7 days
El Nido, Philippines
- 4G/5G data
- One prepaid price
- Check compatibility first
- Hotspot included
Choose your plan
Data for 7 days
Data for 15 days
Data for 30 days
Data for 180 days
Tech specs
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Country coverage | Philippines coverage only. International stopovers and overseas connections need a separate plan. |
| Local networks | Globe Philippines |
| Network technology | Connects to 4G/5G where the network offers it. |
| Data & validity | Validity runs 7 days, 15 days, 30 days or 180 days, with allowances from 100 MB to 50 GB. Each plan fixes its exact data total and number of days. |
| Calls & SMS | Data-only service. There is no local phone number, ordinary calls or SMS, so use WhatsApp and other messaging apps over the data connection. |
| Hotspot | The listed networks support hotspot. Any device you connect draws from the same data allowance. |
| Your phone | Your phone must support eSIM and be carrier unlocked. Check the exact model and regional variant, since compatible phones vary by region. |
How it works
Pick a plan, add the eSIM to your phone, then connect once you're in Philippines.
01Pick your plan
Choose data and validity that cover your trip. Save the setup instructions for offline access.
02Install before you travel
Install over Wi-Fi using your plan's instructions. Check when the plan's validity starts.
03Connect in the Philippines
On arrival, turn on the eSIM and select it for mobile data. Keep data roaming off on your regular SIM.
Compare ways to get online in Philippines
Use prepaid data on the phone you already carry. This is how PikoeSIM compares with a rental router, home-carrier roaming and a physical SIM.
Swipe or scroll to compare all four options
| What matters | PikoeSIMTravel eSIM | Pocket Wi-FiRental router | RoamingYour home carrier | Local SIMPhysical SIM card |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Getting connected | Download the eSIM to your phone, then follow the activation steps that come with your plan. | Book delivery or collect a rental router from the provider. | Turn on roaming and confirm your destination is covered by your home plan. | Buy a SIM card and insert it into a compatible SIM slot on your phone. |
| Extra equipment | None. You use the eSIM-compatible phone you already have. | A separate device to carry, charge and keep within range. | None. You keep using your existing phone and SIM. | A physical SIM card. You might need to remove your usual SIM to fit it. |
| Data & cost | From €0.27 for 100 MB / 7 days. You pick a fixed allowance when you order. | Rental fees and data terms vary by provider. Check delivery, loss and damage fees before booking. | Your carrier's rates apply. Some home plans already include roaming at your destination. | Prepaid prices, data allowances and validity periods differ between local operators. |
| Sharing your data | The listed networks support hotspot. Any device you connect draws from the same data allowance. | Connect phones and other devices to the router. They all need to stay inside its Wi-Fi range. | Tethering depends on your carrier and your roaming plan. | Check that the local plan allows tethering before you rely on it. |
| Calls & SMS | Data only. Make calls and send messages through internet apps. | Internet only. Regular calls and SMS still use your phone's mobile plan. | Calls and SMS are billed under your carrier's roaming terms. | A local number, calls and SMS depend on the specific plan you buy. |
| After your trip | There's nothing to send back when your trip ends. | Return the router and accessories on time. Late or missing returns can trigger extra fees. | No hardware to return afterwards. | You don't need to return any rental device. |
Frequently asked questions.
Answers to common setup and buying questions.
How do I pick the right data plan for my trip?
The cheapest listed plan, 100 MB, works only as a small backup, fine for one day, such as an arrival day, but not for a week of video or maps. For a holiday of 14 days that involves maps, messaging and a little YouTube, weigh 3 GB for 15 days at €3.05 against 5 GB for 30 days at €4.96. Compare the pricing across the listed options: the best value depends on your trip length and data use, and the lowest price is not automatically the best price for a longer stay.
What network does this eSIM run on?
Listed networks: Globe Philippines. Connects to 4G/5G where the network offers it. Speeds and signal vary with your phone, location and network conditions. Coverage strength still depends on your phone and location, so don't expect the best coverage in every bay; signal quality varies with where you are.
Is my phone compatible with this eSIM?
You need a network-unlocked phone that supports eSIM. Confirm the exact model and regional variant with the manufacturer, since compatible phones differ by region. On an iPhone, open Settings, General, About and check for No SIM Restrictions beside Carrier Lock; on other iOS devices the same menu applies. On Android, check the manufacturer's eSIM support page for your exact model and regional variant, since eSIM features differ.
When do I install the eSIM and start the clock?
Install over reliable Wi-Fi using the QR code or instructions in your order, and keep a copy saved offline. Follow the activation steps for that specific plan: adding the profile and starting its validity are not necessarily the same event, so don't assume instant installation means the days already started. On arrival, turn on the travel line and set it as your data line.
Does the connection hold up moving between islands?
The same plan carries over between domestic stops wherever Globe service reaches, but it doesn't include maritime or aircraft connectivity. Save ferry times, offline maps and host messages before you travel, since a bigger data allowance won't create a signal offshore.
Can I still use WhatsApp and my home number?
WhatsApp and other messaging apps can run on the eSIM's internet connection. The plan doesn't add a local phone number, ordinary calls or SMS. Verification codes sent to your regular number still depend on your home SIM and carrier, so check roaming charges before leaving that line switched on.
Can I tether another device to my eSIM?
Tethering is supported on the listed networks. The listed networks support hotspot. Any device you connect draws from the same data allowance. Treat the data hotspot as one shared allowance, not extra data, and pause laptop updates and cloud backups if you want to keep data for maps and messages.
Does the data reset each day?
No. Each plan lists one total allowance for its stated number of days, and hotspot use draws from that same total. A 1 day layover suits the smallest plan, while a 30 day plan roughly covers a one month stay, but 30 days is not always a calendar month and these are fixed prepaid data plans, not a monthly subscription. Match the expiry to the last day you need service instead of assuming a daily reset.
Can I top up or extend the plan later?
Check the options that come with your order before counting on being able to top up or extend the plan, since these plans don't advertise a confirmed top up amount or method. Buying another plan doesn't automatically extend the current one or roll over unused data. Keep the installed profile until you've confirmed the next purchase steps.
What should I do if the internet won't connect?
Confirm you're in the Philippines, the travel line is on and set as the data line, and the plan still has allowance and days left. Apply the supplied roaming and APN settings only to that line. Toggle airplane mode briefly, then move to a spot with better signal. Keep the profile installed and note your device model, location and order reference when you ask for help.
How do I stop my home SIM from using data?
Set the travel eSIM as the mobile data line, turn off automatic data switching and keep roaming off on your home SIM. Apply any travel-eSIM roaming setting only to the travel line. Calls and texts on your regular SIM still follow your home carrier's terms and charges.
What should I check before buying about support and refunds?
Read the purchase conditions before you buy online, including how support is reached and how activation or use changes refund eligibility. If 'no contract' matters to you, verify it against those terms rather than assuming it. Keep the order reference and any connection error to hand, and don't delete the profile while an issue is still being looked into.
Using your Philippines eSIM on the ground
A Philippines eSIM sized to your actual trip
One prepaid plan covers a Manila arrival, the transfer out to Palawan and messages between island stays, whether the trip is a short vacation or a family visit. The eSIM (virtual SIM card) installs digitally on a compatible, network-unlocked phone, so there is no physical esim card to collect or swap.
The 100 MB and 500 MB plans are best kept as a small backup, not for a week of video. For a stay of around 2 weeks of maps and messaging, compare 3 GB for 15 days at €3.05 against 5 GB for 30 days at €4.96. The 50 GB plan runs 180 days, so pick it for the total allowance and long validity rather than any daily refill. For a normal stay, the 3 GB or 5 GB plans are the more affordable middle ground.
Plan boat days before you leave the coast.
Listed networks: Globe Philippines. Connects to 4G/5G where the network offers it. Speeds and signal vary with your phone, location and network conditions. Save your island transfer and accommodation details before you board. A Philippines plan doesn't guarantee a signal at sea, inside every bay or on remote island roads.
Save the details first.El Nido, Philippines
Manila: name your terminal in the pickup message.
At Ninoy Aquino International Airport, tell your driver the terminal and the pickup point from your booking. Follow the airport's current signs and your ride-hailing app instructions to the meeting area.
Open the hotel address before you join the pickup queue. A booking app can run on the travel eSIM's data, but a brand-new account may still need a verification code sent to your regular phone number. Create the account before you fly and keep a second way to reach your host.
If a domestic flight follows, recheck the terminal on your airline record. Store the flight details and the transfer arrangement so a weak signal doesn't hide the next step.
Save before you goTerminal, flight number, hotel entrance and pickup instructions. Save the booking so it opens without a fresh sign-in.
El Nido: confirm which airport your ticket actually uses.
Lio Airport and Puerto Princesa are separate arrival points for an El Nido stay. The official tourism guide describes the five-to-six-hour van ride from Puerto Princesa, so check which airport your ticket names before you book a van or ask the resort to collect you.
For a Bacuit Bay boat trip, message the operator before the day begins. Confirm the meeting point, the route you booked and any revised departure time. Keep the reply saved on the phone instead of hoping the booking site reloads at the beach.
Save full-resolution photo backups for Wi-Fi. A bigger allowance leaves more room for uploads, but it won't stretch reception past the supported network footprint.
Save before you goArrival airport, van reservation, resort address and boat meeting point. Download a local map before you leave town.
Coron: keep transfer and tour details in one place.
Coron sits on Palawan with lake visits, island trips and wreck-diving. Keep your own airport or ferry arrival details next to the accommodation address so the host knows where to collect you.
Before a dive or boat day, set the meeting time and return plan directly with the operator. Download the confirmation while you still have a connection, and don't count on an offshore signal as part of the trip.
The same Philippines eSIM can stay installed for the next domestic stop. Check your remaining data and the expiry before you leave, especially on a trip that strings together several island stays.
Save before you goTransfer contact, excursion confirmation and the return meeting point. Keep the phone dry and protected from water.
Choose your Philippines plan
Compare data amounts and durations to find the plan that fits your trip.
Choose a plan
