Best eSIMs for China (2026): How to Stay Connected

TL;DR: If your phone is unlocked and supports eSIM, buy a China travel eSIM and install it at home before you fly. Unlimited-data plans from Airalo, Holafly and Nomad start around US$11.50–12 for 3 days; fixed-data plans from Nomad, Saily and Ubigi start around US$4–5 for 1 GB. Hong Kong carriers sell mainland-plus-Hong Kong eSIMs, but they now must be activated outside the mainland. Whether foreign apps such as Google or WhatsApp work depends on how each plan routes traffic, and the providers themselves don’t all say the same thing, so read the plan page and follow local law. A local Chinese SIM requires your passport and an in-person visit to an official carrier store. Prices checked Oct 2026.

Why travelers use eSIMs in China

A travel eSIM is a digital SIM profile you download by QR code or app. It gives you mobile data from the moment you land, without queuing at an airport counter, and you can keep your home SIM in the phone for calls and texts.

The other reason people talk about eSIMs for China is access to foreign apps. Many foreign services, including Google, WhatsApp and Instagram, are not reachable on ordinary mainland Chinese connections. Travel eSIMs are roaming products: you connect to a mainland network (China Mobile, China Unicom or China Telecom), but your plan is issued by a foreign or Hong Kong operator. Trip.com’s 2026 guide says data on these roaming eSIMs “routes through overseas or Hong Kong gateways,” which is why many travelers report foreign apps working.

That is not true of every plan, so don’t assume it is:

• Saily says in its own China FAQ that you “will also need a VPN to access WhatsApp in China.”
• Holafly bundles a VPN with its China eSIM, which suggests its plan doesn’t bypass restrictions on its own.

On legality: Saily’s FAQ notes that VPNs are not completely banned in China but are restricted, with unrestricted use limited to licensed businesses. Rules can change, and this guide is not legal advice. Use what your plan provides as delivered, and follow local laws and regulations while you are in China.

Check your phone first

Two things have to be true before any eSIM will work:

1. Your phone supports eSIM. Ubigi’s quick test: dial *#06#. If an EID number appears, the device is eSIM-capable. Most recent iPhones, Samsung Galaxy S and Google Pixel models qualify, but check your exact model on the provider’s compatibility list.
2. Your phone is carrier-unlocked. On an iPhone, go to Settings > General > About and scroll to Carrier Lock. “No SIM restrictions” means it’s unlocked. On Android, Ubigi suggests turning off automatic network selection under Settings > Network & internet > Mobile network; if several networks appear, the phone is unlocked. If yours is locked, ask your home carrier to unlock it well before your trip.

Comparison: China eSIM plans (prices checked Oct 2026)

Every price below was read from the provider’s own China page on 29 October 2026. Prices change often and some are temporary sales, so confirm at checkout.

Provider	Mainland network (as stated)	Example plans and prices	Notes
Airalo	China Unicom	Unlimited: 3 days US$11.50 · 7 days US$27 · 10 days US$35 · 30 days US$69	Also 5, 15 days
Holafly	CMCC (China Mobile)	Unlimited: 3 days US$11.90 · 7 days US$27.50 · 10 days US$37.50 · 30 days US$76.50	Data only; hotspot sharing 1 GB/day; mainland only (not HK/Taiwan); VPN included
Nomad	China Unicom / China Telecom	Unlimited: 3 days US$12 · 7 days US$25 · 15 days US$39. Fixed: 1 GB/7 days US$5 · 10 GB/30 days US$19 (sale, from US$22) · 20 GB/30 days US$22 (sale, from US$30)	Hotspot supported; activate within 60 days of purchase
Saily	China Telecom / China Unicom	Fixed: 1 GB/7 days US$4.49 · 3 GB/30 days US$10.99 · 10 GB/30 days US$26.99 · 20 GB/30 days US$39.99. Unlimited from US$22.99	Says a VPN is needed for WhatsApp; 180-day activation window
Ubigi	China Telecom	1 GB/7 days US$4	Starts on arrival; expires if not activated within 6 months
China Mobile Hong Kong (Mainland/HK/Macau Travel Data Card)	China Mobile (mainland)	5 GB HK$38 · 15 GB HK$98 · 30 GB HK$178, each valid 30 days (suggested retail)	Data only; cannot be activated in mainland China; non-refundable
China Unicom HK (CUniq) (Mainland/HK/Macau Data SIM)	Not stated on product page	45 GB/365 days HK$202 · 100 GB HK$434 · 200 GB HK$802	Since 1 Aug 2026, must be activated in Hong Kong or another listed region before entering the mainland

How to choose

• Short city trip, heavy use (maps, photos, video calls): a 3–10 day unlimited plan from Airalo, Holafly or Nomad. At the time of checking, Nomad’s 7- and 10-day unlimited plans were the cheapest of the three.
• Light use or a long trip: fixed-data plans from Nomad, Saily or Ubigi usually cost less, and you can top up in the app if you run out.
• Hong Kong or Macau plus the mainland: Holafly and Saily say their China plans do not cover Hong Kong or Macau. Choose a multi-region plan, or one of the Hong Kong carrier products, and complete the activation step before you cross the border.
• Sharing with a laptop or a travel partner: look for hotspot support. Nomad and Saily state it plainly; Holafly caps sharing at 1 GB per day.

Hong Kong carrier eSIMs: read the fine print

The China Mobile Hong Kong and China Unicom (Hong Kong) products are issued by Hong Kong operators and cover the mainland, Hong Kong and Macau on one profile. Two rules matter:

• Activate before you enter the mainland. CMHK’s terms say the card “cannot be activated in Chinese Mainland.” CUniq says that from 1 August 2026 its cards must be activated in Hong Kong or another designated region before you travel to the mainland. If you fly straight into Beijing or Shanghai, check whether activation from your home country is supported for your card.
• Hong Kong data needs real-name registration. On the CMHK card, the Hong Kong part requires registration under Hong Kong law. Without it, you only get mainland and Macau data.

The local SIM alternative

A mainland SIM gives you a +86 number, which helps with deliveries, ride-hailing and services that verify by SMS. Official guidance from the Shanghai and Tianjin authorities says:

• Go in person to an official, self-operated store of China Mobile, China Unicom or China Telecom with your passport. Tianjin’s guide says someone else cannot apply on your behalf.
• Your phone must support 5G or VoLTE.
• One person can hold no more than five active numbers with the same operator nationwide.
• To find a store, call 10086 (China Mobile), 10010 (China Unicom) or 10000 (China Telecom), or use the carrier’s app.
• Shanghai’s guide also lists an online option, Nihao Mobile, which asks for photos of your passport photo page, visa page and entry stamp plus a video selfie.

Installing your eSIM: do it before you leave

• Install at home on Wi-Fi. Airalo, Holafly and CMHK all note you need an internet connection to download the eSIM. Saily also warns that its app may be hard to reach once you are in China.
• Don’t delete it. Holafly says its eSIM can’t be reinstalled once installed. CMHK allows a QR code to be installed up to three times.
• Know when the clock starts. Most plans (Holafly, Saily, Ubigi, Nomad) start when the eSIM first connects to a network in the destination. Ubigi and Saily also give an activation deadline: 6 months and 180 days respectively.
• Set the lines before you board. Choose the travel eSIM for mobile data, turn Data Roaming on for the eSIM line, and consider turning roaming off on your home SIM. Holafly notes that your home provider may charge roaming fees for calls and texts if you leave that SIM active.
• Keep a copy of the QR code or your app login, in case you need support.

How much data do you need?

It depends on how you use your phone. One reviewer quoted on Nomad’s China page used about 1 GB a day for maps, Instagram and sending photos without streaming video. If you plan to stream or video-call daily, or to share a hotspot, unlimited plans remove the guesswork. Some providers apply fair-use speed limits; Holafly, for example, says speeds may be reduced temporarily for up to a day. Nomad and Saily both offer data calculators on their sites.

Troubleshooting

If you land and have no data:

1. Check that the eSIM line is turned on and selected for mobile data.
2. Check that Data Roaming is on for that line.
3. Toggle Airplane Mode on and off, or restart the phone.
4. Try selecting a network manually in your mobile settings, using the network your plan names.
5. Contact the provider’s support. Airalo, Holafly and Saily all advertise 24/7 support.

Saily’s checklist also flags a common mistake: each QR code can usually be scanned only once and on one device.

FAQ

Will Google, WhatsApp and Instagram work on a China travel eSIM? It depends on the plan. Some providers and many users report foreign apps working because roaming traffic is routed outside the mainland. Saily, however, says a VPN is needed for WhatsApp, and Holafly bundles a VPN. Check the specific plan, and follow local law.

Can I buy an eSIM after I arrive in China? Plan not to. Saily says you can’t buy its eSIM once you’re physically in China and that its app may be restricted. The Hong Kong carrier cards must be activated before you enter the mainland.

Do these eSIMs include a Chinese phone number? Mostly no. Holafly, Ubigi and the CMHK card are data only. Nomad says some of its plans include a local number, and Saily sells a separate US number add-on. For a +86 number, get a local SIM with your passport.

Does a China eSIM also work in Hong Kong and Macau? Not necessarily. Holafly and Saily say their China plans are mainland only, and Airalo’s China page lists only China; check before you buy. Use a multi-region plan or a mainland/HK/Macau product.

Can I use a hotspot? With most providers, yes. Nomad and Saily support tethering, Holafly allows 1 GB per day of sharing, and Ubigi allows data sharing. Check the terms before you buy.

What if my phone isn’t eSIM-compatible? Buy a local physical SIM at an official carrier store with your passport, or check whether a provider ships physical travel SIMs to you before departure.