Best eSIM for China
Instantly compare and calculate the best local network deals for your trip to China.
Find the perfect plan for China
Staying connected in China
What the coverage maps do not tell you, and what you will actually use the data for.
Where the signal actually drops
Coverage across China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom is excellent in cities and along the high-speed rail network, and holds up better in remote areas than most countries at similar income levels. The genuine gaps are the far west: parts of Tibet, the Taklamakan desert region in Xinjiang, and high-altitude sections of Qinghai and Sichuan.
What you will use your phone for here
China is the most app-dependent destination on this list. WeChat and Alipay are how you pay for nearly everything, including street vendors and taxis, and cash is often awkward and occasionally refused. Both apps now accept foreign cards, but they need a working data connection at the point of payment, so a dead phone genuinely means a dead wallet. DiDi handles taxis, and metro entry in many cities is by QR.
Before you go
The main trap is the Great Firewall. Google (including Maps and Gmail), WhatsApp, Instagram and most Western services are blocked on domestic Chinese networks. A roaming eSIM routes your traffic outside mainland China, which is why several plans we track are explicitly marked as needing no VPN: they sidestep the filtering entirely. A locally bought SIM does not, so check this before choosing on price alone.
How much data you will actually need
Moderate for data volume but critical for reliability. The risk here is not running out of gigabytes, it is being offline at a moment when you cannot pay for something.
China eSIM plans compared
| Provider | Data | Validity | Price (USD) | Hotspot | Networks | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airalo | 1 GB | 3 days | $4.00 | ✅ | Multiple networks (roaming eSIM, typically no VPN needed) | View deal |
| Nomad | 1 GB | 7 days | $4.00 | ✅ | China Telecom (no VPN needed) | View deal |
| Ubigi | 1 GB | 7 days | $4.00 | ✅ | Multiple networks | View deal |
| Saily | 1 GB | 7 days | $4.49 | ✅ | Multiple networks | View deal |
| aloSIM | 1 GB | 7 days | $4.50 | ✅ | Multiple networks | View deal |
| Ubigi | 3 GB | 30 days | $7.00 | ✅ | Multiple networks | View deal |
| Maya Mobile | Unlimited (fast up to 5GB/day) | 3 days | $9.99 | ✅ | Multiple networks | View deal |
| Airalo | Unlimited (fast up to 3GB/day) | 3 days | $11.50 | ✅ | Multiple networks (roaming eSIM, typically no VPN needed) | View deal |
| Holafly | Unlimited | 3 days | $11.90 | ✅ | China Mobile (CMCC, roaming eSIM, no VPN needed) | View deal |
| Nomad | 5 GB | 30 days | $13.50 | ✅ | China Telecom (no VPN needed) | View deal |
| Airalo | 5 GB | 7 days | $14.00 | ✅ | Multiple networks (roaming eSIM, typically no VPN needed) | View deal |
| Saily | 5 GB | 30 days | $15.99 | ✅ | Multiple networks | View deal |
| aloSIM | 5 GB | 30 days | $16.00 | ✅ | Multiple networks | View deal |
| Nomad | 10 GB | 30 days | $17.00 | ✅ | China Telecom (no VPN needed) | View deal |
| Ubigi | 10 GB | 30 days | $17.00 | ✅ | Multiple networks | View deal |
| Saily | Unlimited (fast up to 5GB/day) | 5 days | $18.99 | ✅ | Multiple networks | View deal |
| Maya Mobile | Unlimited (fast up to 5GB/day) | 7 days | $19.99 | ✅ | Multiple networks | View deal |
| Airalo | 10 GB | 7 days | $23.00 | ✅ | Multiple networks (roaming eSIM, typically no VPN needed) | View deal |
| Ubigi | Unlimited (fast up to 5GB/day) | 8 days | $24.00 | ✅ | Multiple networks | View deal |
| Nomad | Unlimited (fast up to 2GB/day) | 7 days | $25.00 | ✅ | China Telecom (no VPN needed) | View deal |
| aloSIM | 10 GB | 30 days | $26.50 | ✅ | Multiple networks | View deal |
| Saily | 10 GB | 30 days | $26.99 | ✅ | Multiple networks | View deal |
| aloSIM | Unlimited (fast up to 3GB/day) | 7 days | $27.00 | ✅ | Multiple networks | View deal |
| Holafly | Unlimited | 7 days | $27.50 | ✅ | China Mobile (CMCC, roaming eSIM, no VPN needed) | View deal |
| Maya Mobile | Unlimited (fast up to 5GB/day) | 14 days | $27.99 | ✅ | Multiple networks | View deal |
| Maya Mobile | Unlimited (fast up to 5GB/day) | 30 days | $49.99 | ✅ | Multiple networks | View deal |
| Holafly | Unlimited | 15 days | $50.50 | ✅ | China Mobile (CMCC, roaming eSIM, no VPN needed) | View deal |
| Holafly | Unlimited | 30 days | $73.90 | ✅ | China Mobile (CMCC, roaming eSIM, no VPN needed) | View deal |
Why use an eSIM in China?
Using an eSIM is the easiest way to get mobile data when you land. Avoid expensive roaming charges and the hassle of finding a local SIM card. Simply buy online, scan a QR code, and you're connected.
How we picked the best plans
We analyze plans based on price per GB, network quality, and hotspot capabilities. Our calculator above helps you find the plan that matches your exact travel dates and data needs, ensuring you don't overpay for data you won't use.
China eSIM FAQ
What is the cheapest eSIM for China?
Right now the cheapest plan we track is Airalo at $4.00 for 1GB over 3 days.
Are there unlimited data eSIMs for China?
Yes. Maya Mobile ($9.99 / 3 days), Airalo ($11.50 / 3 days), Holafly ($11.90 / 3 days), Saily ($18.99 / 5 days), Maya Mobile ($19.99 / 7 days), Ubigi ($24.00 / 8 days), Nomad ($25.00 / 7 days), aloSIM ($27.00 / 7 days), Holafly ($27.50 / 7 days), Maya Mobile ($27.99 / 14 days), Maya Mobile ($49.99 / 30 days), Holafly ($50.50 / 15 days), Holafly ($73.90 / 30 days) offer unlimited plans here. Check the fair-use policy: speeds are often reduced after a daily high-speed allowance.
Can I share my eSIM data via hotspot in China?
28 of the 28 plans we track allow hotspot sharing, including Airalo and Nomad and Ubigi and Saily and aloSIM and Maya Mobile and Holafly.
Which networks will my eSIM use in China?
The plans we track connect to Multiple networks (roaming eSIM, typically no VPN needed), China Telecom (no VPN needed), Multiple networks, China Mobile (CMCC, roaming eSIM, no VPN needed).
Where will I lose signal in China?
Coverage across China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom is excellent in cities and along the high-speed rail network, and holds up better in remote areas than most countries at similar income levels. The genuine gaps are the far west: parts of Tibet, the Taklamakan desert region in Xinjiang, and high-altitude sections of Qinghai and Sichuan.
How much data do I need for China?
Moderate for data volume but critical for reliability. The risk here is not running out of gigabytes, it is being offline at a moment when you cannot pay for something.