Holafly vs AeroSims for the Philippines (2026): The Island Data Price Check
Holafly vs AeroSims for the Philippines (2026): The Island Data Price Check
Updated August 2026 · Prices verified on provider product pages and subject to change
Seven thousand islands, one practical problem: between Manila traffic apps, ferry bookings to Boracay and pinning that hidden lagoon in Palawan, you will burn data from the moment you land — and home-carrier roaming in the Philippines is billed at day-pass or per-megabyte rates on most US, European and Australian plans. A travel eSIM fixes that before you clear immigration. We compared the two obvious candidates head-to-head — same week, same public product pages — so you can decide in two minutes.
The quick verdict
Pick Holafly if unlimited data is what you want. For the Philippines its unlimited plans cost less than ours at all six lengths it publishes — $27.50 vs $48.32 for a week, $73.90 vs $174.86 for a month. We'd rather tell you that in the first line than bury it in fine print.
Pick AeroSims if your usage is normal — which for most Philippines trips it is. Our Philippines data packages start at $6.90 for 3 GB and run to $17.90 for 10 GB (valid 30 days), less than a single week of unlimited from either provider, and Holafly’s the Philippines page sells unlimited plans only.
The catch on the unlimited side: unlimited travel data comes with fair-use rules — ours included, and Holafly publishes no threshold on its Philippines product page. Nobody is selling infinity, which is exactly why the $17.90 / 10 GB package is the quiet favorite of this whole comparison.
| Philippines, side by side | AeroSims | Holafly |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited, 7 days | $48.32 | $27.50 |
| Unlimited, 30 days | $174.86 | $73.90 |
| Fixed data packages | 3–50 GB from $6.90 | Not offered for the Philippines |
| High-speed allowance | Fair-use policy applies | No threshold published on the product page |
| Network | Globe · Smart · 4G/5G | Not published |
| Hotspot / sharing | Included; counts toward the same daily allowance | “Share 1 GB of data per day” (Holafly’s wording) |
| Monthly backup data | Not listed on its country page | 1 GB “Always On” included |
| Money-back | 30 days, if the eSIM isn’t installed yet | Refunds up to 6 months, conditions apply |
The unlimited price gap — and this time it points the other way
Let’s not dance around it. On unlimited plans for the Philippines, Holafly is cheaper at every one of the six lengths it lists on its product page:
| Unlimited | AeroSims | Holafly | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 days | $21.59 | $11.90 | Holafly |
| 5 days | $35.25 | $20.50 | Holafly |
| 7 days | $48.32 | $27.50 | Holafly |
| 10 days | $66.83 | $36.50 | Holafly |
| 15 days | $94.74 | $50.50 | Holafly |
| 30 days | $174.86 | $73.90 | Holafly |
Six out of six. At 30 days AeroSims costs more than double. In other countries we win these line-ups outright; in the Philippines we don’t, and pretending otherwise would be the fastest way to lose your trust for the comparisons where we do. Holafly also includes 1 GB of monthly “Always On” backup data with its plans — worth knowing if you want a safety net between trips.
So if unlimited is genuinely what you need for a Philippines trip, buy it from Holafly. Then read the next section, because for most travelers unlimited is not the plan that should win.
The option Holafly doesn’t sell here: fixed data packages
For the Philippines, Holafly sells unlimited only. If your usage is normal — Grab rides in Manila, ferry timetables to Siargao, uploading the El Nido drone shot — a fixed package is the rational buy, and the gap is dramatic (all valid 30 days unless noted):
| Data (30 days) | AeroSims | Covers roughly |
|---|---|---|
| 3 GB | $6.90 | A long city weekend |
| 5 GB | $9.90 | A light-use week |
| 10 GB | $17.90 | One to two normal weeks |
| 20 GB | $31.90 | Two to four heavy weeks |
| 50 GB (180 days) | $84.90 | Long stays and remote work |
Run the trips through it: a two-week island hop on the 20 GB package costs $31.90 — about a third less than Holafly’s 15-day unlimited at $50.50, and roughly a third of AeroSims’ own 15-day unlimited at $94.74. A month on 10 GB is $17.90 against Holafly’s $73.90 — about a quarter of the price. That’s why our bottom line isn’t “our unlimited vs their unlimited”: for most Philippines trips the honest answer is a fixed package, and only one of us sells them. See where the Philippines sits in the eSIM Price Index 2026.
“Unlimited” fine print: what fair use really means
Unlimited travel data is sold with a fair-use policy, set by the local network. That applies to the AeroSims plan too. After a daily high-speed allowance the connection continues at a reduced speed until the next day — maps and messaging keep working; streaming gets slow.
Holafly does not publish a fair-use threshold on its Philippines product page, so we can’t quote one for it. What its page does state is the sharing limit: “Share 1 GB of data per day” with travel companions. Either way, an unlimited plan is not infinity — worth remembering before paying the unlimited premium in a country where a 10 GB package costs $17.90.
Why roaming is the expensive option here
The Philippines sits outside every roam-like-at-home zone: EU regulation doesn’t reach it, and most US, UK, European and Australian plans bill it through international day passes or raw per-megabyte rates. Over a two-week trip, day-pass roaming alone can cost more than any plan in this article. Check your own carrier’s terms — but for nearly everyone, a local-network eSIM is the predictable-cost option, and both providers here deliver it as a QR code by email, installed before you ever board the plane.
Coverage: Manila to the last ferry stop
The AeroSims Philippines eSIM runs on Globe and Smart, the country’s major networks, with 4G/5G in the cities and solid 4G across the tourist trail. Metro Manila, Cebu, Boracay’s White Beach and the main towns of Palawan and Siargao are all well served. As on any Philippine network, expect signal to thin out on boat crossings between islands and in the remotest stretches of northern Palawan — it comes back at the next port. Holafly does not name its Philippine partner networks on its product page, so we can’t compare that line item. Full activation steps and itinerary tips live in the AeroSims Philippines eSIM guide.
Philippines eSIM questions travelers ask
Is AeroSims cheaper than Holafly for the Philippines?
On unlimited plans, no — Holafly costs less at all six lengths it publishes, from $11.90 vs $21.59 for 3 days to $73.90 vs $174.86 for 30 days, and we say so openly. Where AeroSims is cheaper is the plan type Holafly doesn’t sell for the Philippines: fixed data packages from $6.90, with 10 GB at $17.90 — below any week of unlimited on either side.
Do I need unlimited data for a Philippines trip?
Most travelers don’t. Maps, messaging, social and ferry bookings fit comfortably inside 10 GB for one to two weeks — $17.90 instead of $27.50 or more for any week of unlimited. Unlimited earns its price if you stream video daily or tether a laptop for work.
What does the fair-use policy mean in practice?
A fair-use policy applies, set by the local network: after a daily high-speed allowance the connection continues at a reduced speed until the next day. Most travelers never come close to it on a normal day of maps, messaging and social.
What if the eSIM doesn’t work on my phone?
AeroSims backs every plan with a 30-day money-back guarantee on eSIMs you haven’t installed yet. Holafly states on its site that you have up to 6 months to request a refund, with conditions applying — a longer window than ours, and fair to say so.
Does my WhatsApp number keep working?
Yes. The eSIM is data-only; your home SIM stays installed for calls and SMS codes, and WhatsApp keeps your existing number — handy for booking island tours over chat.
When does the plan start counting days?
When the eSIM first connects to a Philippine network — not at purchase. Install it at home days before you fly and lose nothing.
Which network will my phone use in the islands?
The AeroSims eSIM connects to Globe and Smart. In practice your phone picks the stronger signal wherever you are — useful on an itinerary that jumps from Cebu to Siargao to Palawan.
Bottom line
If unlimited data is non-negotiable, Holafly is the cheaper Philippines pick at all six lengths it publishes, and that’s our honest read of both product pages. For everyone else the smarter money skips the unlimited premium entirely: $17.90 for 10 GB — or $6.90 to start — on the Globe and Smart networks, in the one plan type Holafly doesn’t sell for the Philippines, backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee on eSIMs you haven’t installed yet. Our own unlimited plans stay on the shelf if you want them; we just won’t pretend they’re the value buy here.
Install today · Activates when you land in the PhilippinesGet the Philippines data eSIM — 3 to 50 GB from $6.90 →Prices checked August 2026 on the public product pages of aerosims.com and esim.holafly.com (Philippines unlimited: $11.90/3 days, $20.50/5, $27.50/7, $36.50/10, $50.50/15, $73.90/30). Holafly also offers other durations through a date selector on its product page; those prices are not published in its table and are not part of this comparison. All prices change with promotions and currency. Holafly’s hotspot wording, “Always On” backup data and refund window are quoted from its public product page at the time of writing.
Related resources
Plans & prices
Pick your size — the QR code arrives by email in seconds.
