Best eSIM for China in 2026: plans, prices and setup
China is one of the few countries where the SIM you choose decides which of your apps work. Here's how to pick a travel eSIM — and set it up — before you fly.
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Quick answer: for most travelers, Nomad is the best value — 10 GB for 30 days costs $17 and hotspot is included. Jetpac is the cheapest at $16 for the same data. If you stream a lot, Holafly's unlimited plan ($27.50 for 7 days) saves you counting gigabytes, but hotspot use is limited.
Why China is different
In most countries, any mobile data gets you everything. In mainland China, many foreign services — including Google, WhatsApp, Instagram and many foreign news sites — are not reachable on local networks. A local Chinese SIM card gives you cheap data, but often not the apps you rely on at home.
Local SIM cards also need passport registration in a store. For a short trip, that makes an international travel eSIM — installed at home before you fly — the simplest choice.
How a travel eSIM works in China
A travel eSIM is a digital SIM from an international provider. In China it connects to a local network — usually China Unicom, China Telecom or China Mobile — through a roaming agreement. With most providers, your data is then handled the way it would be on your home network, which is why messaging, maps and email usually work as normal.
Two things follow from this:
- It varies by provider. How each plan routes your data is the provider's choice. Read the plan details, and if it's not clear, ask the provider before you buy.
- It's data only. Most travel eSIMs don't come with a Chinese phone number. Keep your own SIM on for calls and SMS codes.
We haven't run our own on-the-ground tests yet. This guide is based on each provider's published plans and independent reviews (listed at the end). We'll add our own speed and app results after our next test round.
The best China eSIMs, compared
Published prices for mainland China, checked 26 August 2026:
| Provider | 10 GB / 30 days | Other options | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jetpac | $16.00 | — | Lowest price |
| Nomad | $17.00 | 1 GB / 7 days $4 · 50 GB / 45 days $35 | Most travelers, long stays |
| Airalo | $26.50 | 1 GB / 3 days $4 | A familiar brand |
| Saily | $26.99 | — | Well-reviewed all-rounder |
| Holafly | — | Unlimited, 7 days $27.50 | Heavy users |
The spread is wider than you might expect: Saily charges $26.99 for exactly the same 10 GB over 30 days that Jetpac sells for $16.
Nomad — best for most travelers
Nomad combines the second-lowest 10 GB price with the widest range of sizes, up to 50 GB for 45 days, which suits longer trips and digital nomads. Nomad says hotspot is included on all plans and its data plans run on China Unicom and China Telecom. See Nomad's China plans.
Jetpac — cheapest
At $16 for 10 GB over 30 days, Jetpac was the lowest price in the August 2026 comparison we used. It's a good pick if price is your main concern; check its hotspot and top-up options before buying.
Airalo — the familiar name
Airalo is the best-known travel eSIM store, and its app makes managing plans across many countries easy. You pay more for that: $26.50 for 10 GB over 30 days. One independent ranking rated its China network quality highest of the providers it tracked. See Airalo's China plans.
Holafly — unlimited data
Holafly sells days rather than gigabytes: $27.50 buys unlimited data for 7 days. That's handy if you video-call or upload a lot, but hotspot use is limited, so it's a poor fit for sharing data with a laptop or a travel partner. See Holafly's China plans.
Saily — the well-reviewed all-rounder
Saily gets strong independent reviews and a clean app, but at $26.99 for 10 GB it was the most expensive fixed-data plan in our check. See Saily's China plans.
How to choose
- Estimate your data. Maps, messaging and some photos use roughly 0.5–1 GB a day. Video calls and streaming use far more.
- Decide on hotspot. Sharing with a laptop or a partner? Avoid plans that cap or block tethering.
- Check when validity starts. Many plans start on your first connection in China, so you can buy early.
- Crossing into Hong Kong or Macau? Mainland plans usually don't cover them. Look for a combined or Asia regional plan.
- Check your phone. It must support eSIM and be carrier-unlocked. Use our phone checker.
Setting it up, step by step
- At home, on Wi-Fi: buy your plan and open the QR code on another screen.
- iPhone: Settings › Mobile Service (or Cellular) › Add eSIM › Use QR Code. Android: Settings › Network & internet › SIMs › Add eSIM (names vary by brand).
- Label the line "China" and keep your main SIM as the default for calls and SMS.
- Install the provider's app so you can check usage and top up on the road.
- After landing: switch mobile data to the China line and turn on data roaming for that line only.
The same steps, plus a phone checker, are on our China eSIM page.
FAQ
Can I buy an eSIM after I arrive in China?
You can, but it's harder: you'll need a working connection to download it, and public Wi-Fi often asks for a Chinese phone number. Install before you fly.
Do I need a Chinese phone number?
Not for most travel needs. A few local services ask for one; for those, a local SIM is the only option.
Will my bank's SMS codes still reach me?
Yes, if you keep your main SIM switched on. Turn off data roaming on that line to avoid charges from your home carrier.
Is an unlimited plan worth it?
Only if you use a lot of data. For maps, messaging and photos, 10 GB covers most two-week trips.
Sources
- Nerdbot — Best eSIM for China in 2026: host carriers and real rates (prices, 26 Aug 2026)
- Nomad — Best eSIM for China (Nomad's own plan details)
- esims.io — Best eSIM providers for China (network ratings)
- Yesim — Does eSIM work in China? (carriers and roaming)