Best eSIM for China Travel in 2026
If you're headed to the Middle Kingdom and feel anxious about tracking down a local SIM card, you need the best eSIM for China. Read on to learn about my top picks and what makes them the best options for China.
Written by Kit Copson (Writer, Briefing Editor)
Reviewed by Aleksander Hougen (Chief Editor)
Facts checked by Eugenie Tiu (Editorial Assistant)
Last Updated:
All our content is written fully by humans; we do not publish AI writing. Learn more here.
Key Takeaways: These Are the Best eSIM for China
- Saily — A well-rounded eSIM service with impressive security features. Try it out today and receive a 5% discount.
- Airalo — The best China eSIM with a phone number (global plan only).
- Holafly — An unlimited eSIM for those who don’t want to worry about data volume.
- Nomad — An American provider with large (up to 90GB) China data plans.
- Jetpac — A budget-friendly China eSIM with travel perks.
- Roamless — A flexible pay-as-you-go provider.
Facts & Expert Analysis About China eSIM Plans:
- App availability: Using a China eSIM lets you stay connected to apps that wouldn`t usually work in China, such as WhatsApp and Instagram.
- Single-country vs regional: Plans for multiple countries, like Asia regional plans, are ideal for those who want to head to more than one country.
- Single device: If you’re traveling in a group, note that you can’t install a China eSIM plan on multiple devices — it will be tied to just one device, so everyone will need their own plan. Alternatively, you can share data via a hotspot.
If eSIMs had been around when I first traveled to China in 2012, the beginning of my trip would have been much easier. A travel eSIM — an alternative to a physical SIM — provides mobile data in your selected country or region, and you install it on your phone before jetting off. If this is news to you, don’t worry — in this guide, I’ve rounded up the six best eSIMs for China.
In addition to providing mobile data for your trip, China eSIMs let you continue using apps that the Great Firewall blocks, such as Instagram and WhatsApp. They do this by routing traffic through international servers, like those in Hong Kong. Without further ado, let’s get into my top picks.
Cloudwards’ Choice: Saily
Cloudwards’ Choice: Saily
Saily is the best eSIM for China thanks to its affordability and array of security and privacy extras, which could come in very handy during your trip. It also sets the bar high for customer support.
The 6 Best China eSIM Providers With Data Plans
To get started, take a look at my top six China eSIM services in the table below to see how they compare. Please note that this information is for China plans only.
| eSIM: | Starting Price | Free eSIM Trial | Coverage | 4G/5G Support* | Data Allowance | Calls & Text? | Unlimited Plans | Regional Asia Plan | Great Firewall Bypass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | $4.49 | Over 200 destinations | Yes, up to 5G | 1GB-20GB | No | ||||
 | $4 | Over 200 destinations | Yes, up to 5G | 1GB-50GB | Yes (global plan) | ||||
 | $3.90 | Over 200 destinations | Yes, up to 5G | N/A | You can receive SMS on the unlimited monthly plan. | ||||
 | $4 | Over 200 destinations | Yes, up to 5G | 1GB-90GB | No | ||||
 | $4 | Over 200 destinations | 4G only | 1GB-40GB | No (voice call packages don’t cover China) | ||||
 | $3.45 (pay-as-you-go), $4.45 (fixed) | Over 200 destinations | Yes, up to 5G | No limit (pay-as-you-go), 1GB-20GB (fixed) | In-app calls (pay-as-you-go) |
1. Saily — Best China eSIM
Saily, a Nord Security eSIM, is the best overall eSIM for China because it comes with important privacy and security features that you can’t find elsewhere.
Hands-On Testing
One aspect of Saily that I love is how responsive its customer support team is. If you find yourself in a pickle and need to speak to a human, they typically respond within seconds. My Saily review goes into more detail.
Pricing & Value for Money
Saily’s China plans are reasonably priced, especially when you factor in all of the extra security features you get. However, if you need a plan heavier than 20GB, look elsewhere.
Saily has a regional Asia plan and a global plan. Please check the website for information on pricing.
| Plan: | Price |
|---|---|
| 1GB (7 Days) | $4.49 |
| 3GB (30 Days) | $10.99 |
| 5GB (30 Days) | $15.99 |
| 10GB (30 Days) | $26.99 |
| 20GB (30 Days) | $45.99 |
2. Airalo — Best Call & Text eSIM
Airalo is ideal for those who want a phone number to make calls and send texts while in China. If you need this feature, you must choose the Discover Global data, calls and SMS plan (138 countries).
Hands-On Testing
I’ve used Airalo twice without any issues. Customer support was slow when I bought my first plan months ago, but Airalo has clearly worked on this since then. It usually takes just a few seconds to get an answer now. I discuss hands-on testing in more detail in my Airalo review.
Pricing & Value for Money
Airalo’s three-day plans are relatively pricey, but the 30-day plans are much more reasonable. As is generally the case for the eSIM market, the price per GB drops the longer the validity period and the larger the number of GB.
Please check the Airalo website or app for unlimited plan pricing.
| Validity: | Plans & Pricing (China, Fixed) |
|---|---|
| 3 days | 1GB: $4 3GB: $9.50 |
| 7 days | 3GB: $10.50 5GB: $14.50 10GB: $24.50 |
| 15 days | 5GB: $15 10GB: $25.50 20GB: $39 |
| 30 days | 5GB: $15.50 10GB: $26.50 20GB: $40 50GB: $49 |
3. Holafly — Best Unlimited eSIM for China
Unlimited data provider Holafly is best for people who don’t want to worry about data usage limits while in China. Just bear in mind that a fair usage policy may apply. This means that network operators may throttle your speeds after you’ve used a certain amount of high-speed data on any given day.
Hands-On Testing
I find Holafly eSIM to be very beginner-friendly, with an equally friendly customer support team for whom nothing seems to be too much trouble. I always receive lightning-quick responses.
Pricing & Value for Money
Holafly’s unlimited offering means its plans are on the pricier side, so it isn’t ideal for those with light data needs. However, the more days you opt for, the cheaper the daily price works out to be. Learn more in my Holafly review.
You can choose as few or as many days as you want up to a total of 90 days. The table below shows just a few common validity periods.
| Number of Days: | Pricing |
|---|---|
| 1 day | $3.90 |
| 7 days | $27.30 |
| 15 days | $50.90 |
| 30 days | $74.90 |
| 90 days | $139.90 |
4. Nomad — A Free Trial China eSIM
I picked California-based Nomad as an option for travelers who need heavy data plans — up to 90GB — for China. It’s not the best for unlimited plans, though, as 10 days is the maximum validity period.
Hands-On Testing
Nomad worked for me without a hitch, as I explain in my Nomad review. The response from customer support wasn’t quite as quick as with my top three choices, but I got an answer to my question within around five minutes.
Pricing & Value for Money
Nomad’s China plans are cheaper than those from competitors like Saily and Airalo, and I’ve noticed that there are often sales. What’s more, the 50GB plans last 45 days — more than the average 30 — and a free trial is available.
Please check the Nomad app or website for unlimited plan pricing.
| Plan: | Price |
|---|---|
| 1GB (7 Days) | $4 |
| 3GB (30 Days) | $7 |
| 5GB (30 Days) | $10 |
| 10GB (30 Days) | $22 |
| 20GB (30 Days) | $30 |
| 30GB (30 Days) | $35 |
| 50GB (45 Days) | $49 |
| 90GB (90 Days) | $90 |
5. Jetpac — China eSIM With Travel Perks
Jetpac’s plans let you continue using WhatsApp, Grab, Google Maps and Uber when you’re out of data. You’ll need to purchase a plan above 3GB to access this feature, though.
Hands-On Testing
Jetpac worked flawlessly for me, and the customer support — delivered via WhatsApp or email — is responsive. The app is organized in such a way that buying and installing a plan is simple, and you can easily get help if necessary.
Pricing & Value for Money
Though Jetpac’s smaller plans are cheap, the 40GB plan is relatively pricey. Excluding limited-time offers, the 40GB plan currently costs $65 compared to Airalo’s 50GB for $49. More pricing information is available in my Jetpac review.
Please check the Jetpac website or app for unlimited plan pricing.
| Plan: | Price |
|---|---|
| 1GB (4 Days) | $4 |
| 3GB | $5 (1 day) $6 (4 days) $7 (7 days) |
| 5GB | $6 (1 day) $7 (4 days) $8 (7 days) $10 (30 days |
| 10GB | $10 (1 day) $13 (4 days) $14.50 (10GB) $18 (30 days) |
| 15GB | $19.50 (7 days) $26 (30 days) |
| 20GB (30 Days) | $35 (30 days) |
| 30GB (30 Days) | $50 (30 days) |
| 40GB (30 Days) | $65 (30 days) |
6. Roamless — Pay-As-You-Go eSIM for China
Roamless is ideal for those who need a pay-as-you-go eSIM for China. Fixed plans are available as well if you decide to switch at any point. My Roamless review tells all.
Hands-On Testing
I like the simplicity of Roamless’ app, and it has recently added a live chat feature. This was originally only available on the website, so it’s a nice development.
Pricing & Value for Money
Several of Roamless’ fixed China plans are cheaper than the average, and all last for 30 days. You also get 400MB free. With the pay-as-you-go plans, you can add funds to your Roamless wallet as needed, but the price per GB varies by country. You’ll get 500MB of free data if it’s your first account. The table below shows pricing for China.
| Plan: | 1GB | 3GB | 5GB | 10GB | 20GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pay-As-You-Go* | $3.45 | $10.35 | $17.25 | $34.50 | $69 |
| Fixed | $4.45 | $9.95 | $13.95 | $24.95 | $38.95 |
Why Use an eSIM in China
The best part about China eSIM plans is that they typically let you bypass Great Firewall restrictions to access popular apps like WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram and more. These apps are blocked in China, and you usually need a VPN to access them. However, most China eSIM plans allow you to stay connected without any extras.
Furthermore, eSIMs are more convenient than physical SIMs because you can buy them straight from your phone via an app. Most importantly, travel eSIM services are far cheaper than relying on international roaming packages, which are notorious for racking up huge bills.
How to Activate a China eSIM
Once you’ve installed your eSIM profile and are ready to use your data in China, go into your phone settings and follow the steps below.
- Go into the SIM card management area in your phone’s cellular or network and internet settings.
- Enable the eSIM, then turn on data roaming.
- Set the eSIM as your cellular/mobile data source. If you’re in China, your plan should start working.
Methodology: How We Tested the Best China Mobile eSIM Plans
When testing eSIMs, I think about:
- Pricing: I look for services with a good balance of quality and value for money based on special features or other factors, such as amazing customer support.
- Support: I contact each service’s support team to see how long it takes to get a response. Getting help quickly can be invaluable when you’re stuck.
- User-friendliness: I look for beginner-friendly apps and comprehensive help guides and installation instructions, in addition to making sure the eSIM works as expected.
- Blocked apps: I checked that all of the eSIMs on this list can unblock apps that aren’t available in China due to the Great Firewall, like WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram.
Final Thoughts
In brief, a China eSIM is an affordable and convenient way to establish a local network connection and not have to worry about tracking down a physical SIM card. It also gets around the Great Firewall, so you can continue accessing your favorite apps as usual.
Which of these eSIMs will you take with you on your next adventure? Let me know in the comments. Thanks for reading.
FAQ: Best eSIM Card for China
Yes, you can use an eSIM service in China, but make sure to buy and install your plan before you arrive.
Saily is the best eSIM for China. It’s affordable and comes with security features you can’t find elsewhere.
Airalo is better in China for lighter data use, while Holafly is better for flexible unlimited plans.