Quick Answer: PLDT vs Converge
PLDT is the largest broadband provider in the Philippines, with the most extensive domestic fibre backbone and connections in nearly every major city and municipality. Fiber Unli plans run from P899 for 35 Mbps up to 1 Gbps, and Fiber Unli All tiers bundle Cignal TV, Netflix, and HBO Max.
Converge ICT is the fast-growing number-two ISP, a pure fibre-to-the-home network with no copper legacy. Its FiberX and Super FiberX plans give more megabits per peso, with Super FiberX Max at 400 Mbps for around P1,599, and it tops independent Philippine speed-test rankings.
Quick verdict: Converge for the best speed-per-peso and pure-fibre reliability where it reaches your street. PLDT for the cheapest entry plan, entertainment bundles, and the wider footprint outside the main cities. The two also part ways at the gateway: both answer at 192.168.1.1, but PLDT uses brand-suffix login paths and the adminpldt account, while Converge ships its own firmware passwords. The router and login differences section breaks down both.
Side-by-Side Comparison
PLDT and Converge are the two largest fixed broadband providers in the Philippines, but they took different roads to get there. PLDT carries decades of network history; Converge built a single-purpose fibre network from scratch.
| Feature | PLDT | Converge ICT |
|---|---|---|
| Market Position | #1 by subscribers (~42% share) | #2 by subscribers (~30% share) |
| Founded | 1928 | 2009 (ICT relaunch) |
| Parent Company | PLDT Inc. | Converge ICT Solutions Inc. |
| Network Type | Fibre plus legacy copper backbone | Pure FTTH, no copper |
| Fiber Brand | Home Fibr (Fiber Unli) | FiberX / Super FiberX |
| Entry Plan | 35 Mbps - P899/month | 35-200 Mbps tier from ~P1,500 |
| Mid-Tier Value | 200 Mbps - P1,699 | 400 Mbps - ~P1,599 (Super FiberX Max) |
| 1 Gbps Plan | From P3,199 (Fiber Unli All) | ~P2,599 (Super FiberX Ultra) |
| Prepaid Option | Fiber Prepaid from P50 | Surf2Sawa load-as-you-go |
| Router Gateway IP | 192.168.1.1 (brand suffix) | 192.168.1.1 (plain) |
| Full-Access Account | adminpldt | telecomadmin / operator |
| App | MyPLDT Home | GoFiber |
| Entertainment | Cignal, Netflix, HBO Max | SkyTV channels, Android TV box |
| Hotline | 171 | (02) 8667 0850 |
For the router setup behind each entry, read the PLDT router login guide and the Converge ICT router login guide.
Plans and Pricing
Figures below are monthly rates in pesos. Both providers run postpaid fibre under a lock-in term, and each pairs it with a prepaid alternative for subscribers who want no contract.
PLDT Fiber Unli Plans
PLDT splits its lineup into plain Fiber Unli (broadband only) and Fiber Unli All (broadband plus entertainment). Postpaid plans carry a 36-month lock-in and a P3,600 installation fee.
| Plan | Speed | Price/month | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fiber Unli 899 | 35 Mbps | P899 | Cheapest entry fibre |
| Fiber Unli 1299 | 50 Mbps | P1,299 | 100 Mbps boost for 6 months |
| Fiber Unli 1699 | 300 Mbps | P1,699 | 500 Mbps boost for 6 months |
| Fiber Unli 2699 | 700 Mbps | P2,699 | 1 Gbps boost for 6 months |
| Fiber Unli All 2499 | 500 Mbps | P2,499 | Cignal plus Netflix Standard |
| Fiber Unli All 3199 | 1 Gbps | P3,199 | Cignal plus Netflix plus HBO Max |
Converge FiberX and Super FiberX Plans
Converge runs every tier over the same pure-fibre line. The newer Super FiberX range pushed top speeds higher while sharpening the price, and most plans throw in SkyTV channels and a Google-certified Android TV box.
| Plan | Speed | Price/month | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| FiberX entry | 35-200 Mbps | from ~P1,500 | Older FiberX family |
| Super FiberX Play | 200 Mbps | ~P1,349 | SkyTV channels included |
| Super FiberX Max | 400 Mbps | ~P1,599 | Best speed-per-peso tier |
| Super FiberX Prime | 800 Mbps | ~P2,099 | High-tier value |
| Super FiberX Ultra | 1 Gbps | ~P2,599 | Cheapest gigabit between the two |
The headline gap sits in the middle of the table. At around P1,600 Converge serves 400 Mbps where PLDT gives 200 Mbps for P1,699. At the gigabit tier the gap widens, with Super FiberX Ultra near P2,599 against PLDT’s P3,199 Fiber Unli All. PLDT wins the very bottom rung, since nothing from Converge undercuts the P899 entry plan, and it wins on bundled streaming if Netflix and HBO Max matter more than raw speed.
Pricing and promo bundles shift often in the Philippine market, so confirm the current rate for your address on pldthome.com or convergeict.com before you commit.
Speed and Reliability
Pure Fibre vs Legacy Backbone
The clearest technical split is the network underneath. Converge ICT Solutions built an end-to-end FTTH network without inheriting copper, so every residential line is glass from the exchange to the home. PLDT layers its fibre over the largest legacy backbone in the country, an asset that gives it reach but also means a wider mix of line types and ages across its base.
On independent testing Converge has been the benchmark for speed in the Philippine market, posting the top Speedtest Connectivity Score among the major providers and a higher median download figure. PLDT Home Fibr sits close behind in those rankings. The gap is real but modest, and it narrows or reverses on any specific line, since the segment serving your street matters more than the national median.
What Affects Real-World Speed
Wired speed tracks your plan rate closely on both networks when the line is healthy. Wi-Fi is where most subscribers lose throughput, and the cause is usually the same on either provider: concrete walls common in Filipino homes, an ONT parked in a corner, or too many devices on the 2.4 GHz band. A wired retest tells you whether the line or the radio is the limit. Power fluctuations and brownouts also skew home results, so test when supply is stable.
Coverage Comparison
Fibre Footprint
PLDT has the wider reach. Decades of backbone investment put PLDT fibre in nearly every major city and municipality, including provincial areas that newer networks have not yet built into. If availability is the deciding factor at a rural or semi-urban address, PLDT is the safer bet.
Converge expanded fast from its Luzon base into Visayas and Mindanao and now ranks second by subscribers, but its pure-FTTH rollout is still catching up to PLDT’s legacy spread. Coverage is strongest in cities and dense residential zones and thinner the further out you go.
Address-Specific Availability
Fibre serviceability here is settled house by house. Two homes on one block can face different provider menus. Confirm the line at your precise address with both PLDT and Converge first, since the stronger plan on paper means nothing if no cable reaches your wall.
Router and Login Differences
Speed and price get the headlines, but the two providers also split at the gateway you sign into. This is the part that matters the day you set up the line, change the Wi-Fi password, switch on bridge mode, or add your own router. Both default to the same address, yet the path and the credentials are not the same.
Gateway IP address. Both PLDT and Converge routers answer at 192.168.1.1, the common Philippine default. The split is in how you reach the admin page. PLDT appends a brand suffix that depends on your hardware: 192.168.1.1/fh for Fiberhome units, 192.168.1.1/ZTE for ZTE units, and plain 192.168.1.1 for Huawei units. Converge keeps it plain, so a ZTE F670L on Converge opens at 192.168.1.1 with no suffix at all. Type the wrong PLDT suffix and the page simply will not load.
Default credentials. This is where the two diverge most. PLDT routers take admin with 1234567890 for basic access, and the adminpldt account for full control, with a per-model password that PLDT rotates through over-the-air firmware updates. Converge ships its own passwords: the ZTE F670L logs in with admin and Converge@zte123, with operator / operator@123 for the deeper menus, and Converge Huawei units use telecomadmin / Converge@huawei123. Because the two ISPs flash different firmware, a Converge password will not open a PLDT unit even when the chassis is identical, and the generic admin/admin combo rarely works on either. Full per-model tables sit in the PLDT router login guide and the Converge ICT router login guide.
App control. PLDT subscribers manage billing, tickets, and basic Wi-Fi changes through the MyPLDT Home app, while Converge subscribers use the GoFiber app for the same. Neither app exposes port forwarding or DHCP reservations, so those still live only in the web panel at 192.168.1.1 on both networks.
Bringing your own router. Each provider lets you sit a personal router behind the supplied unit over DHCP, with no PPPoE credentials. On PLDT you set the unit to bridge mode using the adminpldt account, then run its LAN port into your router’s WAN port. On Converge you disable the ZTE F670L radios, run the same LAN-to-WAN cable, and shift your router’s LAN range off 192.168.1.x so the subnets stop clashing. Both lines sit within the wider set of Philippines ISP router login guides on HanoiLUG.
Pros and Cons
PLDT Advantages
- Cheapest entry fibre at P899 for 35 Mbps, undercutting anything from Converge
- Widest footprint, reaching nearly every major city and municipality
- Fiber Unli All bundles Cignal, Netflix, and HBO Max into the monthly price
- Largest legacy backbone for reach into provincial areas
- Always On 4G LTE failover available as an add-on
- Longest market presence, operating since 1928
PLDT Disadvantages
- Lower speed per peso in the mid range (200 Mbps vs Converge 400 Mbps near the same price)
- Gigabit pricing is higher (P3,199 vs Converge’s ~P2,599)
- Mixed line quality, since fibre sits over an older copper backbone
- Customer support delays reported on repair and restoration tickets
- 36-month lock-in on postpaid plans
Converge Advantages
- Best speed-per-peso, with 400 Mbps near P1,599 against PLDT’s 200 Mbps
- Pure FTTH end to end, with no copper legacy to slow the line
- Cheapest gigabit between the two at around P2,599
- Tops independent Philippine speed-test rankings
- SkyTV channels and an Android TV box bundled on Super FiberX
- GoFiber app handles billing, signal checks, and Wi-Fi changes
Converge Disadvantages
- Narrower footprint, thinner outside the main urban centres
- No entry plan as cheap as PLDT’s P899 tier
- Fewer big-name streaming bundles than PLDT’s Netflix and HBO Max
- 24-month lock-in with a staggered installation fee
- Younger network with less provincial reach than PLDT
Which Should You Choose?
The table below maps common household situations to the better fit.
| Scenario | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Budget Entry | PLDT | P899 for 35 Mbps, the cheapest fibre |
| Best Speed per Peso | Converge | 400 Mbps near P1,599 vs PLDT 200 Mbps |
| Cheapest Gigabit | Converge | ~P2,599 vs PLDT P3,199 |
| Streaming Bundle | PLDT | Netflix and HBO Max included on Fiber Unli All |
| Pure-Fibre Reliability | Converge | End-to-end FTTH, no copper |
| Provincial Area | PLDT | Wider footprint outside the cities |
| City Address | Check both | Availability differs street by street |
| Gaming | Converge | Higher speed-test scores, pure fibre |
| Bridge Mode Setup | Either | PLDT via adminpldt, Converge via operator account |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Converge faster than PLDT?
On independent speed tests Converge edges ahead. It runs a pure fibre-to-the-home network with no copper legacy and posts the top Speedtest Connectivity Score among the major Philippine providers, with PLDT Home Fibr close behind. Its plans also give more megabits per peso, such as 400 Mbps on Super FiberX Max for about P1,599 against PLDT’s 200 Mbps at P1,699. The national gap is modest, so the line serving your address matters more than the headline figure.
Which is cheaper, PLDT or Converge?
It depends on the tier. Converge delivers more speed for the same money in the mid range, with Super FiberX Max at 400 Mbps for around P1,599 where PLDT’s Fiber Unli sits at 200 to 300 Mbps near that price. Converge also has the cheaper gigabit at about P2,599 against PLDT’s P3,199. PLDT wins the very bottom rung with Fiber Unli 899 at P899 for 35 Mbps, the cheapest entry fibre plan between the two.
What is the default router login for PLDT and Converge?
Both default to 192.168.1.1, but the path and password differ. PLDT routers use a brand suffix, such as 192.168.1.1/fh for Fiberhome and 192.168.1.1/ZTE for ZTE, with the adminpldt account for full access. Converge ZTE F670L units open at plain 192.168.1.1 with admin and Converge@zte123. The two ISPs flash different firmware, so a Converge password will not open a PLDT box even on the same hardware. See the PLDT router login guide and the Converge ICT router login guide for per-model credentials.
Does Converge or PLDT have wider coverage?
PLDT has the wider footprint. It built the largest domestic fibre backbone over decades and reaches nearly every major city and municipality, including provincial areas. Converge is a younger pure-FTTH network that grew from Luzon into Visayas and Mindanao and now ranks second by subscribers, but its rollout is thinner outside the main urban centres. For a rural or semi-urban address, PLDT is more likely to be available.
Will PLDT or Converge let me run a third-party router?
Yes on both. Each supplied unit terminates the fibre and outputs plain Ethernet, so your own router only handles Wi-Fi and routing behind it over DHCP, with no PPPoE credentials needed. On PLDT you set the unit to bridge mode using the adminpldt account, then cable its LAN port to your router’s WAN port. On Converge you disable the ZTE F670L radios, run the same cable, and shift your router’s LAN range off 192.168.1.x to avoid a subnet clash. Our Wi-Fi password change guide covers the SSID step for both.
How do I check fibre availability at my address?
Visit pldthome.com for PLDT Home Fibr or convergeict.com for Converge FiberX, then key in your full address down to the barangay. Serviceability is decided per location in the Philippines, so one provider may reach your home while the other does not. Where both options exist, the comparison above helps you pick.
Summary
PLDT and Converge split the Philippine fibre market along clear lines. Converge wins on speed-per-peso and pure-fibre reliability, serving 400 Mbps for around P1,599 where PLDT gives 200 Mbps at P1,699, and offering the cheaper gigabit at about P2,599. It tops independent speed-test rankings on the strength of an end-to-end FTTH network with no copper to slow it down.
PLDT wins on reach and entry pricing. Its P899 plan for 35 Mbps is the cheapest fibre between the two, its Fiber Unli All tiers bundle Netflix and HBO Max, and its decades-old backbone reaches provincial areas that Converge has not yet built into. For a home outside the main cities, PLDT is often the only option that actually reaches the street.
Check availability at your exact address before deciding, since fibre coverage in the Philippines differs block by block. When you do set up the line, the gateway side is the same starting point for both at 192.168.1.1, then the paths split. Start with the PLDT router login guide or the Converge ICT router login guide, both part of the Philippines ISP router login guides on HanoiLUG.
Data Sources: PLDT Home official website, Converge ICT official website, Philippine telecommunications and independent speed-test data
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Converge faster than PLDT?
On independent speed tests Converge edges ahead. Converge runs a pure fibre-to-the-home network with no copper legacy, and its plans give more megabits per peso, such as 400 Mbps on Super FiberX Max for about P1,599 against PLDT's 200 Mbps at P1,699. PLDT covers more of the country, so real-world results depend on the line at your address.
Which is cheaper, PLDT or Converge?
Converge tends to deliver more speed for the same money in the mid range. Super FiberX Max gives 400 Mbps for around P1,599, while PLDT's Fiber Unli at a similar price sits at 200 to 300 Mbps. PLDT counters at the very bottom with Fiber Unli 899 at P899 for 35 Mbps, the cheapest entry fibre plan between the two.
What is the router login IP for PLDT and Converge?
Both default to 192.168.1.1. The difference is the path and the password. PLDT routers use a brand suffix, such as 192.168.1.1/fh for Fiberhome and 192.168.1.1/ZTE for ZTE, plus the adminpldt account for full access. Converge ZTE F670L units log in at plain 192.168.1.1 with admin and Converge@zte123. The two ISPs flash different firmware, so a Converge password will not open a PLDT box even on identical hardware.
Does Converge or PLDT have wider coverage?
PLDT has the wider footprint. It built the largest domestic fibre backbone over decades and reaches nearly every major city and municipality. Converge is a younger pure-FTTH network that grew from Luzon into Visayas and Mindanao and now ranks second by subscribers. Outside the main urban centres, PLDT is more likely to be available at a given address.
Will PLDT or Converge let me run a third-party router?
Yes on both. Each supplied unit terminates the fibre and outputs plain Ethernet, so your own router only handles Wi-Fi and routing behind it over DHCP, with no PPPoE credentials needed. On PLDT you switch the unit to bridge mode using the adminpldt account. On Converge you disable the ZTE F670L radios and run a LAN-to-WAN cable, moving your router's subnet off 192.168.1.x to avoid a clash.