Kornelijus
Affordable and reliable. Traveled to the US for a trip and used blikst. It was much more affordable than other companies and was very
Philippines
Trust score 4.5
Features
- Coverage: Philippines
- Network Provider: Globe
- Speed: 3G/ 4G / 5G
- Tethering / Hotspot: Yes
Plan Details
Device Compatibility: Most modern smartphones are fully compatible with Blikst eSIMs. However, a few exceptions exist. Check our detailed compatibility list to confirm your device works flawlessly with our service..
Activation Policy: Enjoy automatic activation by simply scanning the QR code provided after purchase. Your eSIM will instantly activate upon your arrival at Philippines, ensuring immediate connectivity.
Delivery Time: Receive a confirmation email with your eSIM details right after completing your purchase. Quick and seamless delivery ensures you’re ready to go in minutes.
Additional Information: All unlimited Philippines plans include 3 GB of high-speed data per day. After this is used, data continues at 128 Kbps with unlimited access. Your 3 GB high-speed allowance resets daily at midnight.
Description
The Philippines is 7,641 islands — connectivity is not a given once you leave Metro Manila. A Blikst Philippines eSIM runs on Globe Telecom's 3G/4G/5G network, which has dense coverage across Metro Manila, Cebu, Davao, the main Boracay and Palawan tourist corridors, and up through most of Luzon. Globe has one of the country's strongest 5G footprints in the NCR (Makati, BGC, Ortigas, Quezon City) and solid 4G across the main island-hop tourist routes.
Where Globe works well (and the islands that struggle)
Manila, Cebu City, Davao, Baguio, and Boracay have strong 4G and 5G in central areas. Puerto Princesa and the El Nido highway on Palawan are covered on 4G; Coron town has 4G but the outer islands on island-hopping tours are offline. Siargao's General Luna and Cloud 9 have 4G; the interior of the island drops fast. Bohol's Tagbilaran and the Chocolate Hills viewing areas are covered; interior Bohol is patchy. Batanes is a different network situation and signal is limited. Mindanao outside Davao has more 3G fallback than the tourist circuit suggests.
Cost vs. Globe tourist SIM at the airport
Globe sells tourist SIM packages at NAIA and Mactan-Cebu airports starting around PHP 500 ($9) for 7-day data packs. Fine option if you're happy queuing. The Blikst eSIM installs before you fly and skips the counter entirely. US and European carriers roaming in the Philippines typically run $10–$12 per day — by day three of a two-week trip, the eSIM has already paid for itself.
Arrival at NAIA, Mactan, or Clark
Install the eSIM profile on Wi-Fi at home before you fly. Land at NAIA Manila (MNL), Mactan-Cebu (CEB), Clark (CRK), or Davao (DVO), switch airplane mode off, and Globe registers automatically. NAIA's four terminals all have free Wi-Fi but it's crowded — the eSIM means you don't need it. Grab from NAIA to Makati or BGC is PHP 350–600 depending on traffic (which is heavy, always).
Apps you'll actually use
- Grab — dominates ride-hail, food delivery, and GrabPay QR payments. The default app for Metro Manila and Cebu.
- GCash and Maya — the two big mobile wallets. Many small shops, sari-sari stores, and even street food vendors accept GCash QR.
- Waze — Filipino drivers genuinely use Waze more than Google Maps because of traffic routing; if you're hiring a car with driver, they'll open Waze.
- Viber and Facebook Messenger — the Philippines runs on Messenger. WhatsApp is less common than in most Asian countries.
- Klook and 12Go — ferry tickets between islands (Cebu–Bohol, El Nido–Coron, Caticlan–Boracay) and activity bookings.
- PAGASA — the state weather bureau's app. Typhoon season (June–November) requires real-time tracking.
Island-hopping specifics
On Palawan island-hopping tours (El Nido Tour A/B/C/D, or Coron's Twin Lagoon and Kayangan Lake), expect no signal on the boat. Pre-download offline Google Maps of the islands. On Boracay, White Beach has full 4G; Puka Beach on the north end is thinner. Siargao surf spots (Cloud 9, Jacking Horse) have signal; the inland Sohoton Caves tour goes offline.
Typhoon and monsoon notes
Signal quality drops sharply during typhoon landfalls. Globe has historically been among the faster carriers to restore service post-storm. If you're travelling June–November, monitor PAGASA and have a backup plan if your island hop gets cancelled (they often do).
Plan sizing
A 5-day Manila business trip — 3 GB. A one-week Manila + Palawan or Boracay beach trip — 5 GB. Two-week Philippines island-hop across Cebu, Bohol, Siargao and Palawan — 10 GB. Month-long digital nomad stay in Siargao, Cebu or Manila — 20 GB minimum, 50 GB if tethering.
Install before you fly, land at NAIA or Mactan, and skip the Globe counter entirely.
Important Information
- This eSIM plan is only compatible with iPhone, Samsung and Google devices.
- To activate this plan, you will need to provide your IMEI, EID/ICCID and preferred eSim Activation Date.
- On the specified date your eSim will be activated automatically in the USA no QR code needed.
- The plan must be purchased at least 2 days before the activation date to allow time for processing.
Our plans
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How to get your Bliskt eSIM data?
Check Device Compatibility
Confirm that your smartphone or device supports our Blikst eSIM functionality.
Learn More
Follow Installation Instructions
Use the provided step-by-step guide to set up and activate your eSIM in few minutes. Then enjoy your trip.
Learn MoreBlikst eSIM Reviews
Marius
Smooth, simple, just works. Use it again.
Elinga
Quick activation and stable connection. Super handy 🌟 Used it during my trip in Madeira.
James
Lovely support, got an esim for UK. Had no issues.
Capone
I used to have 3 mobile but the internet connection was not the best, that’s why I started to use Blikst and I find it very useful
eSIM FAQ
The Blikst Philippines eSIM runs on Globe Telecom's network (network provider: Globe), giving you 3G, 4G and 5G speeds. Globe has one of the country's strongest 5G footprints in the NCR, so you'll get 5G across Makati, BGC, Ortigas and Quezon City, with solid 4G along the main island-hopping tourist routes and 3G fallback in more remote areas.
Coverage is dense across Metro Manila, Cebu, Davao, Baguio and the main Boracay and Palawan corridors, with strong 4G and 5G in central areas. Be honest with yourself about the gaps: Coron's outer island-hopping stops are offline, Siargao's interior drops fast, inland Bohol is patchy, Batanes signal is limited, and Mindanao outside Davao leans on 3G. On boat tours expect no signal at all.
Right after purchase you'll get a confirmation email with your eSIM details, so delivery takes just minutes. Install the profile by scanning the QR code over Wi-Fi at home before you fly. Activation is automatic: land at NAIA, Mactan-Cebu, Clark or Davao, switch airplane mode off, and Globe registers your line automatically for immediate connectivity, with no airport counter queue needed.
Most modern smartphones work fully with Blikst eSIMs, though a few exceptions exist, so check our detailed compatibility list to confirm your device. Your phone must be carrier-unlocked. On an iPhone you can check eSIM support under Settings, General, About by looking for an EID number; on Android, look in your network or SIM settings for an eSIM or add-data-plan option.
It depends on your trip. A 5-day Manila business trip suits about 3 GB. A one-week Manila plus Palawan or Boracay beach trip is comfortable on 5 GB. A two-week island-hop across Cebu, Bohol, Siargao and Palawan fits roughly 10 GB. A month-long digital nomad stay in Siargao, Cebu or Manila wants 20 GB minimum, or 50 GB if you're tethering regularly.
Yes, tethering and hotspot use are supported, so you can share your connection with a laptop or travel companion. On the unlimited plans you get 3 GB of high-speed data per day; once that's used, data continues at 128 Kbps with unlimited access. Your 3 GB high-speed allowance resets daily at midnight, so heavy tethering is best spread across the day.
These are data-only plans, so they don't include a local phone number for traditional calls or SMS. In practice that's no problem in the Philippines, which runs heavily on Viber and Facebook Messenger, so you can call and message over the internet. Because an eSIM is a separate digital line, you can leave your physical home SIM in the phone and keep your usual number active for anything important.
Often, yes. US and European carriers roaming in the Philippines typically run 10 to 12 dollars per day, so on a two-week trip the eSIM has usually paid for itself by day three. Globe sells tourist SIM packs at NAIA and Mactan-Cebu from around PHP 500, roughly 9 dollars, for 7-day data, but that means queuing at a counter, whereas the eSIM installs before you fly.