For most trips to mainland China, a fixed-data travel eSIM is the best value: 10 GB for 30 days cost $8.00 with us on 9 October 2026, against $17.00 with Ubigi and $26.50 with Airalo. A travel eSIM routes your data outside the mainland, so you can get online without a VPN app; ours exit in Hong Kong, Singapore or both. For daily video, Holafly’s $27.50 week has no daily speed cap, while our $19.00 and Airalo’s $27.00 unlimited weeks slow after 3 GB a day.
Below are four providers’ own prices for the same trips, the networks they use, where the data exits, and the catch behind each option. We sell China eSIMs ourselves, so we list our weak points too.
Quick picks by trip
| Your trip | What to buy | Price |
|---|---|---|
| A stopover or one day in Shanghai or Beijing | Day pass, 1 GB for 1 day | $1.99 |
| A short trip, light use | 5 GB for 30 days | $5.50 |
| One week: maps, messaging, translation, photos | 10 GB for 30 days | $8.00 |
| Two weeks or more | 20 GB for 30 days | $12.00 |
| A week of daily video, up to 3 GB a day | Unlimited for 7 days | $19.00 |
| One to two months | 50 GB for 60 days, exits in Singapore | $46.00 |
China-only plans do not cover Hong Kong or Macau. If your trip includes them, see our guide to China, Hong Kong and Macau eSIMs.
China eSIM prices compared
These are the prices on each provider’s own China page on 9 October 2026, in US dollars. Saily blocked our automated check with a verification page, and Nomad’s China page returned a page-not-found error when we checked, so neither is included.
| Plan | Code eSIM | Airalo | Ubigi | Holafly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 GB, 30 days | $5.50 | $15.50 | Not checked | Unlimited only |
| 10 GB, 30 days | $8.00 | $26.50 | $17.00 | Unlimited only |
| 20 GB, 30 days | $12.00 | $40.00 | Not checked | Unlimited only |
| 50 GB, 30 days | $26.88 | $49.00 | Not checked | Unlimited only |
| Unlimited, 7 days | $19.00 | $27.00 | Not checked | $27.50 |
| Unlimited, 10 days | $27.60 | $35.00 | Not checked | $37.50 |
Every plan we sell for China, with its network, speed limit and exit location, is listed on our China eSIM page.
Networks, exit location and hotspot
| Code eSIM | Airalo | Ubigi | Holafly | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Network | China Mobile on most plans up to 10 GB; China Telecom on 20 GB and unlimited; China Unicom on 50 GB for 60 days | China Unicom | China Telecom | China Mobile |
| Where data exits | Hong Kong, Singapore or both, shown on each plan page | Routed (IP routing); exit location not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Unlimited speed rule | 384 kbps after 3 GB a day | 1 Mbps after 3 GB a day | Not checked | No daily allowance |
| Hotspot | Supported on every China plan | Not stated on the plan page | Not checked | Not stated |
| Top-ups | Yes, on most plans | Yes | Not checked | Not stated |
| Hong Kong and Macau | Not on China-only plans | Not included | Not checked | Hong Kong needs a separate eSIM |
All three Chinese networks cover the cities and high-speed rail lines well. Where your data exits decides which region websites think you are in. Our guide to a China eSIM without a VPN lists the exit location of every China plan we sell and explains why it matters.
The catch behind each option
- Code eSIM: our unlimited plans drop to 384 kbps after 3 GB a day, which is slower than Airalo’s 1 Mbps and too slow for video. Most of our China plans exit in Hong Kong, or in Singapore or Hong Kong; only the 50 GB plan for 60 days exits in Singapore alone. We are a smaller store, with far fewer independent reviews than the big brands.
- Airalo: 10 GB costs more than three times ours. Its page says the data is routed, but not where it exits.
- Ubigi: $17.00 for 10 GB is cheaper than Airalo, on China Telecom. We only checked its 10 GB plan.
- Holafly: unlimited only, so a light user pays $27.50 for a week that 10 GB would cover. Its page says WhatsApp, Google and Instagram work without installing a VPN.
How much data you need in China
Maps, messaging, translation apps and some social media use about 500 MB to 1 GB a day, so 10 GB covers a typical week. Translation with the camera and video calls use more. Video streaming uses 1 to 3 GB an hour. Our travel data guide lists app-by-app numbers.
Visiting Japan or Korea too?
We compared plans for Japan, Korea and China, and the single-country guides for Japan and South Korea.
Before you buy
- Check that your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked on our compatibility list. Many iPhones sold in mainland China have no eSIM; see which Chinese iPhones support eSIM.
- Install the eSIM at home on WiFi, then turn on the eSIM line and data roaming when you land. The install guide has the steps.
- Keep your home SIM on for bank and payment verification texts.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best eSIM for China?
For most travellers, a fixed-data travel eSIM: 10 GB for 30 days cost $8.00 with Code eSIM on 9 October 2026, against $17.00 with Ubigi and $26.50 with Airalo. For heavy daily video, Holafly’s unlimited week at $27.50 has no daily speed cap.
Do I need a VPN with a China eSIM?
Not to get online. A travel eSIM routes your data outside mainland China; ours exit in Hong Kong, Singapore or both, as shown on each plan page. Where the data exits still decides which region websites see, which our China eSIM without a VPN guide explains.
How much does a China eSIM cost?
On 9 October 2026, a one-day pass cost $1.99, 10 GB for 30 days $8.00 to $26.50, and an unlimited week $19.00 to $27.50, depending on the provider.
Which network is best in China?
China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom all cover the cities and high-speed rail lines well. Most of our plans up to 10 GB use China Mobile, Airalo uses China Unicom, and Ubigi uses China Telecom.
Does a China eSIM work in Hong Kong and Macau?
Not if it is a China-only plan. Airalo’s China page says Hong Kong and Macau are not included, Holafly’s says you need a separate eSIM for Hong Kong, and our China-only plans cover mainland China only. Buy a plan that lists Hong Kong and Macau if your trip includes them.
Does a China eSIM include a Chinese phone number?
No. The plans compared here are data only. Messaging and calling apps work over data, and your home SIM can keep receiving texts.
Check where the data exits, count your gigabytes once, and the right plan is usually obvious.
Last reviewed 9 October 2026. Airalo, Ubigi and Holafly prices and terms come from each provider’s own China page on that date, in US dollars; they change and can vary by promotion. Our prices, networks and exit locations come from our catalogue on the same date; product pages are authoritative. Airalo, Ubigi, Holafly, Saily and Nomad are trademarks of their owners; this article is independent of them.