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Introduction
Most travel eSIMs give you data and nothing else. That works until you need to call a hotel, answer a Grab driver, or receive a text from a local number. Then you’re hunting for Wi-Fi or paying for roaming on your home SIM.
This eSIMo review looks at a travel eSIM with calls and a second phone number on top of data. It covers what eSIMo is, how much it costs in pesos, how the calling features work, where it connects, and how to set it up so your Philippine SIM still receives bank OTPs.
Quick verdict
- What it is: a travel eSIM app with data plans, in-app calling and an optional second phone number
- Price: data from $3.90 (about ₱250) for 1GB; second number from $1.90 (about ₱122) a month, depending on the country
- Coverage: 200+ destinations, with Globe and Smart in the Philippines
- Extras: hotspot allowed, 5% to 10% cashback on purchases, 24/7 live chat
- Best for: OFWs, frequent travelers and anyone who needs calls and texts abroad
- Promo code: PINAS for 15% off
Get your eSIMo eSIM here and use code PINAS for 15% off.
Table of Contents
What Is eSIMo?
eSIMo is a travel eSIM from ESIMO Technologies LTD, part of ALMA Technologies Group, based in Limassol, Cyprus. It launched in 2022 and sells data plans for more than 200 destinations through its website, esimo.io, and its app.
The app is called eSIMo: Travel eSIM & Calls on both iOS and Android. Look for that exact name when downloading. There are several eSIM apps and sites with similar names, including eSIM.sm, eSIM Card, eSim Travel Mobile Internet, esimo.com and esimo.click, and none of them are related.
How is eSIMo different from other travel eSIMs?
eSIMo combines data, calls and texts in one app. Most travel eSIMs are data only. It adds two things on top:
- In-app calling to real mobile and landline numbers, paid from a prepaid wallet
- A second phone number you can rent to receive calls, and on supported numbers, SMS
It also runs its own cashback program, eSIMoney, which returns part of every purchase as credit for your next plan, number or calls.
eSIMo Plans and Prices in 2026
eSIMo sells single-country, regional and global data plans, starting at $3.90 (about ₱250) for 1GB in a single country. Peso prices below use a rate of about ₱64 to $1 (late October 2026).
Plan type | Starts at |
|---|---|
Single country, 1GB | $3.90 (₱250) |
Regional bundle | $4.40 (₱282) |
Global, 150 countries, 1GB | $11.90 (₱762) |
Plans come in 1GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10GB and 20GB sizes. The 1GB plans last 7 days, and 3GB plans and up last 30 days. Validity starts when the eSIM first uses data at your destination.
How much is a 20GB plan?
For longer trips or work stays, the 20GB / 30-day plans give the best value per gigabyte.
Destination | 20GB / 30 days |
|---|---|
Malaysia | $27.90 (₱1,786) |
Singapore | $27.90 (₱1,786) |
Japan | $28.90 (₱1,850) |
Vietnam | $28.90 (₱1,850) |
Saudi Arabia | $31.90 (₱2,042) |
UAE | $34.90 (₱2,234) |
United States | $34.90 (₱2,234) |
Does eSIMo have unlimited plans?
Yes, for selected destinations. Unlimited plans run in 24-hour cycles, each with a daily high-speed allowance shown in the app before you buy. Once you pass it, speeds slow down until the next cycle. Unused high-speed data doesn’t carry over to the next day.
Can you use a hotspot with eSIMo?
Yes. Hotspot and tethering are allowed on fixed-data plans, so you can share data with a laptop or a travel companion. It also supports 5G wherever the local partner network offers it.
Can you top up mid-trip?
Yes. Top-ups are bought in the app and added straight onto the eSIM you already have. There’s no new QR code to scan.
Can You Make Calls and Get a Phone Number With eSIMo?
Yes. eSIMo lets you call real phone numbers from the app and rent a second number for incoming calls and texts. If you’ve been looking for an eSIM with a phone number, this is what sets eSIMo apart from data-only eSIMs.
How do in-app calls work?
Calls go through the app over your data connection, not the regular cellular voice network. That avoids international roaming charges. Calls to mobile and landline numbers in places like the US, the UK and Spain start at $0.01 (about ₱0.64) per minute. Rates vary by country, so check the exact rate in the app before calling.
Call credit comes from a prepaid wallet inside the app.
One important limit: in-app calls can’t reach emergency numbers like 911 or 112. Keep a regular SIM active for emergencies.
What can you do with a second phone number?
A second number costs from $1.90 (about ₱122) a month. US numbers are the cheapest, and numbers from other countries cost more, so check the price for the country you need. Second numbers aren’t available in every country yet, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia. You rent a number for a set period and can extend it before it expires.
Incoming calls and SMS arrive right in the app. Some numbers receive calls only, so check that the number type includes SMS if you need texts. A second number is useful for:
- Giving a number to hotels, tour operators or drivers abroad
- Signing up for local services without sharing your personal number
- Keeping work and travel contacts separate
Can you receive Philippine bank OTPs on the second number?
Don’t rely on it. Philippine banks and e-wallets like BDO, BPI, GCash and Maya may not send OTPs to virtual or foreign numbers. The safer setup is to keep your Globe or Smart SIM in your phone for OTPs and use eSIMo for data. The setup steps are further below.
Where Does eSIMo Work?
eSIMo covers more than 200 destinations through partnerships with over 400 mobile networks worldwide. These are the areas that matter most to Filipino travelers and OFWs.
Does eSIMo work in the Philippines?
Yes. Philippine plans connect through both Globe and Smart, starting at $3.90 (about ₱250). Having two networks is an advantage on island trips, where one carrier can be strong in one town and weak in the next. It’s a good fit for foreign tourists and for OFWs coming home on vacation with an unlocked phone.
Japan
Japan plans use SoftBank and KDDI, two of the country’s major networks, and start at $3.90.
China
China blocks Google, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp on local networks. Some travel eSIMs route data through servers outside mainland China so these apps work without a VPN, but access can vary. Install a reliable VPN on your phone before you arrive, just in case.
Middle East
Middle East regional bundles start at $5.40 (about ₱346). There are also single-country plans for places like the UAE and Saudi Arabia. For OFWs, in-app calling is an easy, low-cost way to reach local contacts. Second numbers aren’t available for the UAE or Saudi Arabia yet.
Southeast Asia
Regional Asia plans cover the major ASEAN countries, including Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia. One plan works across borders, so there’s no need to buy a new eSIM for each country on a multi-country trip.
eSIMoney Cashback and eSIMo Promo Code
How does eSIMoney cashback work?
You earn 5% back as eSIMoney credit on every plan purchase and wallet top-up. As you level up in eSIMore, eSIMo’s rewards club, that rate rises to as much as 10%. The credit sits in your in-app wallet and can be spent like cash on:
- Your next data plan
- Monthly fees for a second number
- In-app call minutes
For people who travel several times a year, the credit adds up and lowers the cost of each trip. One rule to know: if a purchase is refunded, the eSIMoney earned from it is taken back.
There’s also a referral program. When friends sign up through your referral, you get up to $3.50 in bonus credit in the same eSIMoney wallet.
Is there an eSIMo promo code?
Yes. Use the eSIMo promo code PINAS for 15% off at checkout in the app. Enter the code before you pay.
How to Install and Set Up eSIMo
Install the eSIM at home over Wi-Fi before you fly, then switch it on when you land.
- Download the eSIMo app and create an account.
- Choose your destination and plan, then enter PINAS at checkout.
- Install the eSIM over Wi-Fi. On iPhone, it’s a one-tap install inside the app. On Android, you can also scan a QR code.
- On arrival, turn off Airplane Mode, switch on the eSIMo line in your cellular settings, and turn on Data Roaming for it.
How do you keep receiving OTPs on your Philippine SIM?
Set up your phone right after landing so your home SIM receives texts while eSIMo handles data:
- Set eSIMo as your mobile data line.
- Keep your Globe or Smart SIM on for calls and texts. Receiving SMS abroad is free.
- Turn data roaming OFF on your Philippine SIM. Otherwise you could be charged for roaming. Globe Postpaid users, for example, can be auto-charged Roam Surf 399 at ₱399 per 24 hours.
If data doesn’t connect, check that data roaming is on for the eSIMo line. You can also pick a partner network manually in your cellular settings.
Is your phone compatible?
Your phone must support eSIM and be carrier-unlocked. Compatible models include iPhone XR/XS and newer, Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer, and Google Pixel 3a and newer.
Phones bought on a Globe or Smart postpaid plan may still be locked. Ask your telco to unlock it before you buy a plan.
What should you know about refunds?
The refund rules are strict. Refunds are not given if you:
- Skipped the setup instructions in the app
- Deleted the eSIM from your phone
- Want money back for unused data
- Bought a plan for a locked phone
If something isn’t working, don’t delete the eSIM. Keep it installed and message support first.
How does eSIMo customer support work?
Support is available 24/7 through live chat inside the app. You can also email support@esimo.io or browse the Help Center. For connection problems, contact support while the eSIM is still installed, so the team can check what went wrong.
eSIMo vs Telco Roaming: Is It Worth It?
For most trips, eSIMo gives you more data per peso than Philippine telco roaming, and it adds calls and a second number that roaming add-ons don’t have.
Trip | eSIMo | Telco roaming |
|---|---|---|
5 days in Japan | ₱826 (5GB) | ₱1,599 (Globe Roam Surf 1599, 5GB / 5 days) |
7 days in Thailand | ₱1,274 (10GB) | ₱800 (Globe GoRoam Thailand, 15GB / 8 days) |
30 days in the UAE | ₱2,234 (20GB) | ₱2,000 (Globe GoRoam UAE, 8GB / 28 days) |
The numbers tell an honest story. For Japan, eSIMo is the clear winner. For a month in the UAE, the prices are close, but eSIMo gives you more than twice the data. For a single-country trip to Thailand, a telco promo gives more data for less. What it won’t give you is in-app calling, a second number or cashback. Pick based on what you need most: maximum data, or data plus calls.
Who is eSIMo best for?
- OFWs. In-app calling, plus a second number in supported countries, makes it easier to stay reachable abroad, on top of reliable data.
- Remote workers and digital nomads. Hotspot is allowed, so you can tether a laptop instead of using slow café Wi-Fi.
- Frequent travelers. 5% to 10% eSIMoney cashback on every purchase lowers the cost of each future trip.
- Anyone who needs to make calls abroad. You can call a hotel, tour operator or driver without hunting for Wi-Fi.
Is eSIMo a good eSIM for OFWs?
Yes, especially for OFWs in the Middle East and Asia. Here’s how the features fit a typical OFW setup:
- Data: Middle East regional bundles start at $5.40 (about ₱346), and the UAE 20GB / 30-day plan costs $34.90 (about ₱2,234). That covers regular messaging and Messenger or Viber calls home through the month.
- Calls to local contacts: in-app calling lets you reach employers, agencies and landlords at low per-minute rates. Second numbers aren’t available for the UAE or Saudi Arabia yet, so OFWs there can’t rent a local number through eSIMo for now.
- OTPs stay safe: keep your Globe or Smart SIM in the phone with data roaming off, so bank and GCash texts keep arriving.
- Trips home: the same app has Philippine plans on Globe and Smart, and eSIMoney cashback from each purchase lowers the cost of the next one.
For an OFW juggling work abroad and vacations home, having all of this in one app is the main reason to pick eSIMo over a data-only eSIM.
Who should skip eSIMo?
- Heavy streamers on a tight budget. Fixed plans run out fast, and unlimited plans slow down after the daily allowance.
- People with locked phones. Postpaid Globe or Smart phones need to be unlocked first.
- Anyone planning to receive Philippine bank OTPs on the second number. Keep your home SIM for that.
eSIMo FAQs
Does eSIMo include a phone number?
Not by default, but you can add one. A second number costs from $1.90 a month, depending on the country. It receives calls, and SMS on supported numbers, in the app. Outgoing calls are paid from your in-app wallet.
Does eSIMo work in the Philippines?
Yes. Philippine plans connect through both Globe and Smart, starting at $3.90 (about ₱250) for 1GB.
Can I use eSIMo as a hotspot?
Yes. Hotspot and tethering are allowed on fixed-data plans, so you can share your connection with a laptop or another phone.
Can I call emergency numbers with eSIMo?
No. In-app calls can’t reach emergency services like 911 or 112. Keep a regular SIM active in your phone for emergencies.
What is the best eSIMo promo code?
Use PINAS for 15% off your purchase in the eSIMo app. Enter it at checkout before you pay.
Final Verdict: Is eSIMo Worth It?
For OFWs, frequent travelers and anyone who needs calls abroad, eSIMo is one of the most complete travel eSIMs available. Data, in-app calling and a second number all live in one app, with Globe and Smart coverage at home and 200+ destinations abroad. Add 5% to 10% cashback on every purchase and it gets cheaper the more you travel. Install before you fly, keep your Philippine SIM for OTPs, and never delete the eSIM if something goes wrong.
