Best eSIM for China in 2026

China eSIMs compared

	Saily	Jetpac	Maya Mobile	CTExcel	Holafly
Popular plan	10 GB, 30 days, $26.99	10 GB, 30 days, $16.00	Unlimited, 30 days, $49.99	10 GB, 30 days, $4.00	Unlimited, 30 days, $76.50
Networks	China Telecom, China Unicom	China Unicom, China Telecom		China Telecom
5G	5G where supported, 4G/LTE elsewhere, 3G in some remote areas	4G and 5G depending on location		4G/5G	Fast 5G/4G
Hotspot	Limitless hotspot sharing	Unlimited hotspot sharing, no daily cap	Hotspot included	Hotspot works	1 GB per day hotspot sharing
Top-ups
Phone number	Data-only, optional US number add-on	Data roaming only, no SMS, no Chinese phone number		Data-only, no phone number
Plans	9 plans	13 plans	4 plans	5 plans	6 plans

China coverage map

1. Saily: best all-round eSIM

Our pick

China

10 GB for 30 days, $26.99

• Fixed plans from 1 GB to 20 GB, plus unlimited plans
• China Telecom and China Unicom, with 5G where supported

• No local phone number, data only
• 10 GB for 30 days costs more than the budget pick

See Saily plans

For most travellers, Saily covers the basics well, with fixed and unlimited plans for short and long stays. The 10 GB plan lasts 30 days and costs $26.99, which suits a week or two of maps and messages.

An unlimited plan for 7 days costs $29.99, for travellers who want data without counting gigabytes. It runs on China Telecom and China Unicom, with 5G where the local network supports it and limitless hotspot sharing. It is data only, with an optional US number add-on for calls.

Check today's Saily prices for China

Installation

Download the Saily app on home Wi-Fi, choose a plan, and install the eSIM profile in the app before you fly.

If you buy on the website, a QR code arrives by email for a single scan. The plan starts on its own when you arrive in China, with the eSIM turned on and roaming enabled.

Coverage

Saily uses China Telecom and China Unicom in China, so coverage follows two large local networks. You get 5G where the local network supports it, 4G or LTE in other places, and 3G in some remote areas. Hotspot sharing is limitless.

2. Jetpac: the budget option

China

10 GB for 30 days, $16.00

• 10 GB for 30 days costs $16.00, $1.60 per GB
• Unlimited hotspot sharing, with no daily cap

• Cannot be installed inside mainland China
• No SMS and no Chinese phone number

See Jetpac plans

If price per gigabyte matters most, Jetpac leads on value for a mid-size plan in China. The 10 GB plan lasts 30 days and costs $16.00, which works out at $1.60 per GB. A 5 GB plan for 30 days costs $12.00, for lighter use over the same period.

It runs on China Unicom and China Telecom, with 4G and 5G depending on place. Hotspot sharing is unlimited, with no daily cap, and the plan is data roaming only, with no SMS.

Check today's Jetpac prices for China

Installation

Install Jetpac before you leave home, using the QR code or the Jetpac app on home Wi-Fi. You cannot install it inside mainland China, so set it up before departure to avoid losing access.

The plan starts on its own when you arrive in China. If it does not start, it stays in your account for 3 months from purchase.

Coverage

Jetpac connects through China Unicom and China Telecom, which cover most towns and cities in China. You get 4G and 5G depending on place, and hotspot sharing is unlimited with no daily cap. You can share data with a laptop or a second phone for maps and messages on more than one device.

3. Maya Mobile: best for unlimited data

China

Unlimited for 30 days, $49.99

• Unlimited data for 30 days costs $49.99
• Hotspot included

• Unlimited plans only, no fixed data plans
• 30-day plan costs more than a 10 GB fixed plan

See Maya Mobile plans

Heavy data users will get the most from Maya Mobile, with unlimited plans for short trips and a full month. The unlimited plan for 30 days costs $49.99, which works out at $1.67 per day. An unlimited plan for 7 days costs $19.99, for a week of heavy use. Hotspot is included.

Check today's Maya Mobile prices for China

Installation

Use the Maya app on iOS or Android to sign up and activate the plan at once. You can set it up before you fly, then turn it on when you arrive in China. Keep the eSIM turned on and data roaming turned on, so the plan is ready when you need it.

Coverage

Hotspot is included with Maya Mobile. That helps for maps and messages on more than one device, with heavy use across a long trip. The plan suits travellers who use a lot of data each day, with video on the go.

4. CTExcel: the local carrier option

China

10 GB for 30 days, $4.00

• 10 GB for 30 days costs $4.00 in the checked listing
• Runs on China Telecom, with 4G and 5G

• Data only, with no phone number
• Price is from the checked marketplace listing

See CTExcel plans

China Telecom sells its own travel eSIM under the CTExcel brand, sold on Trip.com for low fixed plan prices. The 10 GB plan lasts 30 days and costs $4.00 in the checked marketplace listing.

A 5 GB plan for 15 days costs $2.50, for a short trip with maps and messages each day. It runs on China Telecom, with 4G and 5G, and it is data only, with no phone number.

Check today's CTExcel prices for China

Installation

Buy CTExcel on Trip.com before you fly, and a QR code arrives by email within 5 minutes. Scan it and install the profile on home Wi-Fi, before departure. Turn data roaming on in China, and the plan starts 30 to 60 seconds after you connect to a tower.

Coverage

CTExcel uses China Telecom in China, so coverage follows a large local network for towns and cities. You get 4G and 5G, and hotspot works with the plan for sharing data with other devices. You can share data with a laptop or a second phone.

5. Holafly: best for apps without a VPN

China

Unlimited for 30 days, $76.50

• Built-in VPN stated on Holafly's own page
• Unlimited data, from 3 days to 30 days

• Unlimited plans only, no fixed data plans
• Hotspot sharing is 1 GB per day

See Holafly plans

Getting Google, WhatsApp and Instagram to work without a separate VPN is the reason to pick Holafly in China. Holafly states a built-in VPN on its own page, so those apps work without extra setup for the traveller.

The unlimited plan for 30 days costs $76.50, with fast 5G and 4G and hotspot sharing of 1 GB per day. An unlimited plan for 7 days costs $27.50, for a week of heavy use.

Check today's Holafly prices for China

Installation

Install Holafly with the app, using one-button install on iOS and iPadOS 17.4 and later. You can also scan or long-press the QR code, or follow the guide sent by email if you need steps. Set it up before you fly, then turn it on when you arrive in China, with data roaming turned on.

Coverage

Holafly states fast 5G and 4G connectivity. Hotspot sharing is 1 GB per day, which covers a laptop or a second phone within that daily limit. The built-in VPN is the key point here, for apps that are blocked on local networks in China.

What is an eSIM and does your phone support it?

An eSIM is a SIM card built into your phone. You buy a plan online and add it as a second line, and your home SIM stays in the phone for calls and bank texts.

Most iPhones from the XS onward and most recent Samsung and Pixel phones support eSIM. Your phone has to be unlocked: a phone bought on a contract may still be locked to its carrier. Look for Add eSIM in your phone's mobile settings to check.

For China, install the eSIM at home. Downloading an eSIM profile inside China can fail, and the QR code arrives by email, which may not load without a working connection.

Best eSIM for a short trip to China

Saily is the best pick for a week in China. Seven days of unlimited data cost $29.99 on China Telecom and China Unicom, so your phone can switch to whichever network is stronger. For a one-night stopover, Saily's 1 day unlimited plan costs $4.99.

Ubigi's unlimited week costs $24 and Nomad's $25, both cheaper. Ubigi uses China Telecom alone, and Saily's second network is worth the difference when you move between cities.

Best eSIM for a long trip to China

For two weeks or more, Saily's 30 day unlimited plan costs $72.99 and keeps both networks for the whole stay. If you use maps and messaging more than video, a fixed plan costs far less.

Ubigi's 10 GB plan costs $17 for 30 days, the lowest price for that size, and you can top it up in the app even after your data runs out.

Nomad sells 10 GB for $19, 20 GB for $22 and 50 GB for 45 days at $37, the best value for a long stay with lots of photos.

Best eSIM for families and groups in China

Saily is the best pick for families. Its hotspot sharing has no extra limit, so one phone can keep a tablet or a second phone online all day. Nomad, Ubigi and Airalo allow sharing too.

Holafly caps sharing at 1 GB a day, which two people watching video use up by lunch. If several people need data all day, one eSIM each is safer than one shared phone.

Best unlimited data eSIM for China

Saily is our unlimited pick: $29.99 a week on two networks with unlimited hotspot sharing. Ubigi's unlimited week costs $24, Nomad's $25, Airalo's $27 and Holafly's $27.50, all on one or two networks.

Airalo's unlimited plans slow to about 1 Mbps after around 3 GB a day and reset the next day. Holafly includes a VPN, which helps on hotel Wi-Fi. Unlimited makes sense for daily video calls home. For maps, WeChat and payments, 10 GB is plenty.

Cheapest China eSIMs under $10

Ubigi's 3 GB plan for 30 days costs $7, the best value under $10. Its 1 GB plan for 7 days costs $4. Airalo sells 1 GB for 3 days at $4, and Saily sells 1 GB for 7 days at $4.49.

Holafly has no plan under $10 for China. Saily's 1 day unlimited plan at $4.99 suits a transit stop where you need data for a few hours.

China eSIM vs pocket Wi-Fi vs local SIM card

A travel eSIM is ready before you land and keeps Google, WhatsApp and Instagram working in most cases. There is nothing to rent, charge or return.

A Chinese SIM card from a shop needs your passport, takes time on your first day, and gives you a Chinese connection where Google and WhatsApp are blocked. Pocket Wi-Fi rentals can share one connection with a group, but you have to carry and charge the device every day.

Do Google and WhatsApp work in China with an eSIM?

Google, WhatsApp, Instagram and YouTube are blocked on Chinese home connections and hotel Wi-Fi. A travel eSIM is a roaming SIM: your data goes through the eSIM company's network and reaches the internet outside mainland China. These apps usually work on a travel eSIM without a VPN as a result.

Airalo states this routing for its China plan, and Holafly includes a VPN. Open Google Maps and WhatsApp in your first hour in China to check. Install a VPN app before you fly for hotel Wi-Fi. App stores in China do not list VPN apps.

How much data do you need in China?

Maps, WeChat and messaging use about 300 to 500 MB a day. Alipay and WeChat Pay need a connection for every payment but use very little data.

A week of light use needs 3 to 5 GB, and 10 GB covers two weeks with photo uploads. Video calls home push that up fast: take unlimited if you call by video every day. The travel data calculator works out your own number.

China eSIM networks and coverage

China has three networks: China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom. All three have strong 4G and 5G in Beijing, Shanghai and the other big cities, and China Mobile has the most masts in the countryside.

Saily and Nomad use China Telecom and China Unicom, Airalo uses China Unicom, Holafly uses China Mobile and Ubigi uses China Telecom. Coverage thins out in Tibet, Xinjiang and the far west. The coverage map above shows each eSIM's networks.

Alipay, WeChat Pay and Hong Kong

Many shops, taxis and stations in China take only Alipay or WeChat Pay. Both apps now accept foreign Visa and Mastercard. Set one up at home, link your card and keep data on for payments.

Hong Kong and Macau are outside mainland China's mobile networks. Saily's China plan does not work there, so buy a Hong Kong plan or a regional Asia plan if your trip crosses the border.

5G in China

All five eSIMs here state 5G for China. Ubigi includes 5G at no extra cost on China Telecom, and Saily drops to 4G, or 3G in a few remote areas, where 5G is missing.

5G covers the big cities. Plan size matters more than 5G for most travellers: maps, messaging and payments run well on 4G.

How to install an eSIM on iPhone and Android

On iPhone, open Settings, tap Mobile Service (Cellular in the US), then Add eSIM, and scan the QR code. On Android, open Settings, Network and internet, SIMs, then Add SIM (on Samsung: Connections, SIM manager, Add eSIM).

When you land, set the eSIM as your mobile data line and turn on data roaming for it. Keep your home line on for texts, with its data roaming off. Test the connection at the airport before you leave.

How to scan the QR code with only one phone

You cannot scan a QR code shown on the same phone. Install the eSIM from the provider's app instead: Saily, Airalo, Holafly, Nomad and Ubigi all offer a one-tap install.

You can also choose Enter details manually under Add eSIM and type in the activation code from the email. Save that code in a note before you fly in case email does not load in China.

When the plan starts and data roaming

Saily starts counting days when you arrive in China, and Airalo when the eSIM first connects to a local network. Nomad gives you 60 days from purchase to start your plan.

Data roaming must be on for the eSIM line. Travel eSIMs roam on a Chinese partner network, and with roaming off the line will not connect.

Topping up during your trip

Saily adds data in its app, and auto top-up can buy more before you run out. Ubigi tops up in its app even with no data and no Wi-Fi, which helps when you run dry on the road. Nomad sells add-on plans that start when the first one ends.

Holafly sells no data top-ups. You add days to the same eSIM in its app with the email you first used. Airalo only tops up some eSIMs, so check your plan page.

Calls and texts in China

Saily, Holafly and Ubigi are data only, with no Chinese phone number. Use WhatsApp, FaceTime or WeChat for calls. WeChat is the app most people in China use, and hotels often send booking messages through it.

Keep your home SIM on for bank codes. Saily sells an optional US number in its app. Nomad says some of its eSIMs include a number, so check the plan details if you need one.

What to do when your China eSIM has no signal

Check that data roaming is on for the eSIM line and that it is set as your mobile data line. Turn Airplane Mode on and off and wait a minute.

If it still fails, restart your phone and check in the provider's app that the plan is active. On Saily and Nomad, your phone can switch to the second network. Contact the provider's support chat in the app if nothing works.

Fair use rules on unlimited plans

Airalo's unlimited plans slow to about 1 Mbps after around 3 GB a day and reset the next day. Ubigi lists its unlimited plans as 1000 GB, and a fair use policy may apply.

Saily, Nomad and Holafly do not state a daily limit for their China unlimited plans. Read the plan page before you buy unlimited for heavy video use.

How we compare China eSIMs

We checked the prices and plans on each provider's own site in November 2026. Prices are in US dollars and can change, so check the provider's page before you buy.

The networks for each eSIM come from the providers. The coverage map counts 4G and 5G masts from OpenCelliD, an open database of mobile masts. We do not run speed tests, so this guide makes no claims about measured speeds.