TOOLS & GEAR

THE REMOTE WORKER STACK

Tested tools, apps, and gear for working and living in the Philippines. Opinionated and updated from the field.

FIELD ESSENTIALS

SIM & DATA

Globe Tattoo

Best LTE coverage nationwide

DITO

Fast urban data, growing fast

Smart Bro

Solid backup, wide rural coverage

COWORKING

KMC Solutions

Premium spaces in Manila & Cebu

Clock In

Cebu-based, great community

Figaro Coffee

Reliable wifi cafe chain

BANKING

Wise

Best for international transfers

Revolut

Multi-currency, low fees

UnionBank EON

Local PHP account for expats

VPN

Mullvad

Best privacy, fixed price

ProtonVPN

Swiss-based, trustworthy

ExpressVPN

Reliable speeds throughout PH

GEAR DISPATCHES

tool ·

My Remote Design Stack 2026: What I Actually Use

Figma, Local by Flywheel, Bricks, Loom, GitHub — the tools that make client work from Southeast Asia indistinguishable from being in the office. An honest review with no sponsored opinions.

toolsdesignwordpress

tool ·

Banking and Money Management for Digital Nomads in the Philippines (2026)

GCash, Maya, Wise, or a local bank account? I've tried them all. Here's how to manage your money as a digital nomad in the Philippines without losing a peso to fees.

bankinggcashmaya

tool · Apr 3, 2026

How to Stay Productive During Load Shedding and Power Outages

Blackouts hit Cebu/Manila 2-12h. Here's the nomad toolkit: offline workflows, backup power, and cafes that never close.

power-outageproductivityload-shedding

tool · Mar 27, 2026

Best SIM Cards in the Philippines for Digital Nomads: Smart vs Globe vs DITO (2026)

Your SIM card choice in the Philippines matters more than anywhere else in Southeast Asia. Here's how Smart, Globe, and DITO compare — and which one to actually buy at the airport.

sim-cardinternetsmart

tool · Mar 26, 2026

Do You Need a VPN in the Philippines? An Honest Guide for Remote Workers

Speed, legality, and which services actually hold up on Philippine mobile data. Here's what the VPN conversation really looks like when you're working remotely from Cebu or Siargao.

vpnsecurityprivacy

tool · Mar 24, 2026

The Digital Nomad Packing List for the Philippines: What I Wish I Had Brought

The Philippines will break your gear assumptions. Some things you packed are useless. Some things you left behind will cost you a week of comfort.

toolspackinggear