Guides · Updated September 2026

Airalo vs eSIM Landing for the Philippines: an honest comparison

Same networks, different prices and a different way of buying. Where we are cheaper, where Airalo is the better choice, and what is actually the same.

Airalo is the biggest name in travel eSIMs and a perfectly good choice for the Philippines. We are a small US company selling the same thing. You should know what is actually different before choosing, so here it is without the marketing.

What is the same

• The networks. Both run on Smart and Globe under roaming agreements. Same towers, same speeds, same coverage.
• The way it works. Data only, no Philippine number, no registration, starts on first connection in the Philippines, installs by QR code or one tap.
• Traffic routing. Both exit through a gateway outside the Philippines, so both show a different country to websites.

Prices, September 2026

Both companies change prices, so check both pages before you buy. Airalo's unlimited plan has the same 3 GB per day full-speed allowance as ours.

Where Airalo is the better choice

• Multi-country trips. Airalo sells regional and global plans. We sell single-country plans. If your trip is Manila, Bangkok and Bali, one Airalo regional eSIM is simpler than three of anything.
• The app. Airalo has one; it tracks usage, holds all your eSIMs and handles top-ups. We use a web page linked from your order email. It does the same job and needs no download, but if you like an app, that is a real difference.
• Track record. Airalo has been around since 2019 and sold millions of eSIMs. We have not. That should count for something when you are choosing who to trust at 1am in a foreign airport.

Where we think we are the better choice

• Price on the Philippines and Thailand plans, by 10 to 15%.
• No account, no app. Email address, pay, install. Your order page is a link. Nothing to sign up for or remember a password to.
• Support from a person. Reply to your order email and the reply comes from someone who can actually see your order and talk to the carrier, not a chatbot tier.
• Plain terms. What "unlimited" means, when the plan starts, what the refund rule is. It is all on the page in one sentence each, not in a help center.

Things to check with any provider

• Whether the unlimited plan has a daily cap and what speed it drops to. Some sellers cap at 1 GB a day and drop to 256 kbps, which is not the same product.
• Whether the plan starts on first connection or on installation. Regional plans sometimes start on installation.
• The refund rule for an uninstalled eSIM if your phone turns out to be locked.

Common questions

Can I use Airalo and eSIM Landing on the same phone?

Yes. They are separate eSIM profiles. People do this to have a backup on a different provider.

Do you have a loyalty program like Airalo credits?

No. Our prices are lower instead.

Are you reselling Airalo?

No. Different supplier. Same underlying networks in the Philippines.