The Philippine eSIM Trick: Zero Monthly Fee, 60 Cents a Year to Keep Your Number
DITO, the Philippines' third-largest carrier backed by China Telecom, offers an eSIM that roams in mainland China, supports WiFi Calling, and costs just 89 PHP (~$1.50) to open and 5 PHP/year to keep.
The 60-second version
Philippine carrier DITO offers an eSIM with zero monthly fee, free incoming SMS, mainland China roaming, and annual retention cost of just 5 PHP (~$0.09) — a viral X tutorial shows Chinese users how to open one in under 10 minutes.
Key points
- DITO is the Philippines' third-largest mobile carrier, a joint venture with China Telecom, offering eSIM services accessible from abroad.
- Activation costs 89 PHP (~10 RMB / $1.50) one-time; annual top-up of just 5 PHP keeps the number active for another year.
- The eSIM supports roaming in mainland China with WiFi Calling, and incoming SMS is free.
- Payment is accepted via WeChat Pay, making the process frictionless for Chinese users.
- Requires a passport for KYC and an eSIM-compatible device (or an adapter card). Some users report recent registration issues.
Verdict. For anyone needing a low-cost overseas number for SMS verification or a backup contact line, DITO's eSIM is arguably the cheapest option on the market — but the registration window may be closing as demand spikes after the viral post.
What is DITO?The China Telecom-Backed Underdog
DITO is the Philippines' third-largest mobile operator, formed as a joint venture between DITO CME (Philippines) and China Telecom. While it competes with giants Globe and Smart in the domestic market, its eSIM product has found an unexpected audience across the South China Sea.
The appeal is simple: DITO's eSIM offers zero monthly fee (true pay-as-you-go), unlimited free SMS reception, and critically for Chinese users — full roaming in mainland China with WiFi Calling support. For anyone who needs an overseas phone number for account registration, SMS verification, or backup contact, this is one of the cheapest options available.
The PricingWhy It's a Bargain
Unlike most prepaid SIM cards that require regular top-ups to stay active (some as often as monthly), DITO's number retention policy is extraordinarily generous:
- Activation fee: 89 Philippine pesos (≈ 10 RMB / $1.50) — one-time.
- Annual retention: A minimum top-up of 5 PHP (≈ 0.60 RMB / $0.09) extends the number's validity by a full year.
- No monthly fee — no recurring charges, no plan requirements.
- Unlimited incoming SMS at no cost while roaming in China.
- WiFi Calling supported — works over Wi-Fi even in areas with weak cellular coverage in China.
This makes it ideal for users who only need occasional SMS verification or a secondary contact number. For comparison, competing options like Hong Kong or Macau SIMs typically cost 50-200 RMB per year to maintain; DITO's cost is effectively negligible.
Step by StepOpening a DITO eSIM
The process is designed for overseas users, with several friendly touches:
1. Download the App & Purchase
- Download the DITO app from the App Store or Google Play.
- Open the app, scroll up to the eShop section.
- Select the 89 PHP eSIM product (shown as 89.00 Philippine pesos).
- If your phone doesn't support eSIM natively, select "Use on Another Device" — the QR code will be emailed.
- Enter your email address and verify it via the code sent to your inbox.
- Pay with WeChat Pay — the author recommends this over Visa for simplicity.
2. Get the QR Code
After payment, return to the order page in the app. Do not wait on the "Download eSIM" screen — go back to the orders page. After about 5–6 minutes, the eSIM QR code appears in the order page and is also emailed to you. Scan the QR code to install the eSIM profile.
3. Activate
Once the eSIM has signal (a few minutes), go to the DITO app login page and select "Register my DITO number":
- Choose Filipino individual as the registration type.
- Enter your DITO number and click Verify.
- Select Passport as the ID type, upload a photo of your passport, and complete the face recognition step.
- Fill in a Philippine address (any address from Google Maps works).
- Accept the terms and register.
After successful registration, you'll receive a login confirmation SMS with a temporary password. Change it after first login.
Top-Up & RetentionKeeping the Number Alive
To maintain the number:
- Log into the DITO app and check the validity date.
- Top up a minimum of 5 PHP (the author recommends 10 PHP to be safe).
- This extends the number's validity by one year. No other action required.
- Note: Multiple top-ups do NOT stack time — each top-up resets the one-year clock from the date of top-up.
- Set an annual reminder to top up before the expiry date.
Payment for top-ups also supports WeChat Pay, making it trivially easy for Chinese users.
Use CasesWho Needs This?
The DITO eSIM is finding a niche among:
- SMS verification users — register Telegram, WhatsApp, X (Twitter), and other platforms that require a phone number (many accept Philippine numbers).
- Backup number holders — a low-cost fallback contact number that works anywhere with Wi-Fi.
- Frequent travelers — iPhone and high-end Android users who want a local Philippine number without swapping their primary SIM.
- Users of Philippine digital services — the author's follow-up guide covers opening a Maya Bank account (Philippine digital bank) using the DITO number, which gives access to a free Visa card and bank statements.
There is also a companion guide from the same author about opening a Maya Bank savings account (the leading Philippine digital bank, regulated by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas), which offers a free Visa card — making this a two-step path to a functional Philippine financial presence.
CaveatsWhat to Watch For
The author also notes that the follow-up Maya Bank guide is in progress, as the guide was becoming too long with too many screenshots.
Primary sources东逆 on X: 菲律宾 DITO eSIM 开通与低成本保号全攻略