eSIM plans · AsiaChina eSIM: How Much Data You Need (2026)
HelloRoam prices in 31 currencies. Airalo, Holafly, Nomad and Saily price in dollars. China sizes to 12 GB over 8 days, and the 20 GB tier at $35.99 is the fit, on a published list naming China Telecom and China Unicom. Airalo wins reach, 200+ destinations to 186.
Your China data plan starts with one number: 12GB. That covers 8 days of maps, messaging and social media at 1.5GB a day on a local mobile network. The 20GB tier at $35.99 fits a 8-day moderate trip with 8GB left over for video calls or hotspot sharing. Heavy users skip the math with unlimited data from $3.49/day on a local mobile network.
HelloRoam publishes 2 operators for China: your eSIM attaches to China Telecom or China Unicom.
A business traveler on video calls all day in China burns 24GB over 8 days. A casual tourist checking maps and email needs just 4GB for the same trip. Most travelers fall in the middle at 1.5GB/day, totaling 12GB. China's 1 5G operator offer 7 plan sizes that cover each type.
Here is the plan match for each traveler type. If you only use email and maps, the 5GB plan at $13.99 matches your 4GB target. Moderate travelers pay $13.99 for 5GB and get the best balance between data size and per-GB cost ($2.80/GB). If you stream video or run hotspot sessions, unlimited data at $3.49/day on a local mobile network is the direct answer.
The tier that fits a China trip
Three tiers, and all 5 providers scored inside each one. Most travelers land on Moderate. Not sure? Take the quiz.
Light use, 1 to 3 GB
Maps and transit apps · Translation and messaging · Email and boarding passes
A few days in China on maps, chat and boarding passes? HelloRoam takes Light at 86 out of 100. Nomad is next at 83. Nomad undercuts the winner at $3.00 a gigabyte against $3.50. Optimising for cost alone? Nomad. There is nothing this small to buy from Holafly, hence 31. A 3 GB plan for China runs $9.49.
| Provider | Plan at this size | Per GB at 0.5 GB/day | Tier match |
|---|---|---|---|
| HelloRoamMost Support LanguagesTier pick | Fixed 1 GB and 3 GB tiersPublished rate $3.50/GB | $3.50 | 86/100 |
| NomadLowest Fixed Rate | Fixed 1 GB and 3 GB tiersPublished rate $3.00/GB | $3.00 | 83/100 |
| SailyOnly Built-In VPN | Fixed 1 GB and 3 GB tiersPublished rate $3.99/GB | $3.99 | 77/100 |
| AiraloOnly Regional Bundles | Fixed 1 GB and 3 GB tiersPublished rate $4.50/GB | $4.50 | 74/100 |
| HolaflyBest Unlimited Value | No plan at this size, unlimited daily onlyPublished rate $2.99/day | No rate to quote | 31/100 |
Moderate use, 3 to 7 GB
Photo sharing and social apps · Browsing and short video · Music and a call home
A normal China trip, social apps on and the odd video? Holafly wins this tier 96 to 86, with HelloRoam second. It holds the cheapest gigabyte too, $1.99 at 1.5 GB a day. HelloRoam lands at 86, second best and beaten. A 5 GB plan for China runs $13.99.
| Provider | Plan at this size | Per GB at 1.5 GB/day | Tier match |
|---|---|---|---|
| HolaflyBest Unlimited ValueTier pick | Unlimited daily, no 5 GB tierPublished rate $2.99/day | $1.99 | 96/100 |
| HelloRoamMost Support Languages | Fixed 3 GB and 5 GB tiersPublished rate $3.50/GB | $3.50 | 86/100 |
| NomadLowest Fixed Rate | Fixed 3 GB and 5 GB tiersPublished rate $3.00/GB | $3.00 | 83/100 |
| SailyOnly Built-In VPN | Fixed 3 GB and 5 GB tiersPublished rate $3.99/GB | $3.99 | 77/100 |
| AiraloOnly Regional Bundles | Fixed 3 GB and 5 GB tiersPublished rate $4.50/GB | $4.50 | 74/100 |
Heavy use, 10 GB and up
Streaming and video calls · A full remote work day · Laptop hotspot
Video calls and a laptop hotspot in China? Holafly wins this tier 96 to 66, with HelloRoam second. The cheapest gigabyte at this usage is also Holafly's, $1.00. HelloRoam finishes on 66 and loses the tier. Saily and Nomad cap you at a fixed bundle, which for a heavy week means paying for the ceiling. A 10 GB plan for China runs $23.49, and unlimited runs $3.49 a day.
| Provider | Plan at this size | Per GB at 3 GB/day | Tier match |
|---|---|---|---|
| HolaflyBest Unlimited ValueTier pick | Unlimited dailyPublished rate $2.99/day | $1.00 | 96/100 |
| HelloRoamMost Support Languages | Fixed up to 20 GB, unlimited in some destinationsPublished rate $3.50/GB | $3.50 | 66/100 |
| AiraloOnly Regional Bundles | Fixed up to 20 GB, unlimited in some destinationsPublished rate $4.50/GB | $4.50 | 54/100 |
| NomadLowest Fixed Rate | Fixed tiers only, no unlimited planPublished rate $3.00/GB | $3.00 | 43/100 |
| SailyOnly Built-In VPN | Fixed tiers only, no unlimited planPublished rate $3.99/GB | $3.99 | 37/100 |
How to read the rate column: it is each provider's own published entry price, converted to a per-gigabyte figure at the daily usage for that tier. Without that conversion a daily plan and a per-GB plan cannot be compared at all. Published entry rates: Airalo $4.50/GB, Saily $3.99/GB, Holafly $2.99/day, Nomad $3.00/GB, HelloRoam $3.50/GB. Those are catalogue floors, not prices for China. Destination prices above are HelloRoam catalogue prices, because HelloRoam's catalogue is the only per-destination feed this site reads. For the other four we have a published floor and no China figure we would stand behind, so none is shown.
How trip length changes your China plan
Short trips and extended stays need different data strategies. Find your trip length below.
Short trip (1-3 days)
A 1-3 day trip needs 5GB at moderate use. The 5GB plan at $13.99 covers maps and messaging on a local mobile network.
Standard trip (5-10 days)
A 5-10 day trip requires 11GB at 1.5GB/day. The 20GB plan at $35.99 gives moderate users enough data on a local mobile network.
Extended stay (14-30 days)
For stays of 14+ days, unlimited data at $3.49/day on a local mobile network beats buying multiple fixed plans.
Your China shortlist, all 5 providers
Two questions decide most e-sim purchases: how big the bundle is and how long it lasts. Here is both, next to tethering, phone numbers and each published rate.
| Provider | Our rubric score | Min to max GB | Min to max validity | Hotspot | Local number | Entry rate | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 HelloRoamMost Support LanguagesTop of our rubric | 8.7/10 | 1 GB to 20 GB, plus unlimited | Unlimited runs 1 to 30 days, fixed window not published | Not published | No, data only | $3.50/GB | Get Plan |
 HolaflyBest Unlimited Value | 8.6/10 | Unlimited daily, no GB tiers | 1 to 90 days | Capped at 1 GB per day | No, data only | $2.99/day | Get Plan |
 AiraloOnly Regional Bundles | 6.9/10 | 1 GB to 20 GB | 7 to 30 days | Included, full speed | No, data only | $4.50/GB | Get Plan |
 NomadLowest Fixed Rate | 6.6/10 | From 1 GB, top size not published | 30 days on the plans we list | Not published | No, data only | $3.00/GB | Get Plan |
 SailyOnly Built-In VPN | 6.5/10 | From 1 GB, top size not published | Not published | Included on all plans | No, data only | $3.99/GB | Get Plan |
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Who you're connecting to
In China, the underlying carrier matters more than the brand on your plan.
The carrier your eSIM connects to in China shapes speed, coverage, and value. Urban 5G coverage in China runs mostly on China Unicom, which handles navigation, social apps and video calls without much fuss. Which of the five you buy from does not change those towers. It changes what you can buy and what happens if the plan does not fit. Crossing more than one border on this trip? Airalo is the only one of the five publishing a regional bundle, from 16 to 130 countries on a single profile. Reach costs it price: a published $4.50/GB, the dearest floor here. Holafly is the one provider here with no per-GB plan at all. Unlimited days from a published $2.99/day, refunded for 180 days, and nothing small to buy if your usage turns out light. Saily bundles Nord Security VPN routing into every plan at no extra charge, a useful layer on airport and hotel WiFi. Its published entry rate is $3.99/GB. On price alone Nomad leads the fixed plans at $3.00/GB. It sells one plan shape only, with no unlimited tier and no regional bundle. On 186 destinations across 204+ carrier partners, HelloRoam trades price for cover: $3.50/GB published, above Nomad, against the longest refund window here and support in 63 languages. All 1 operator in China support 5G, so the plan size matters more than the carrier preference.
HelloRoam publishes its local operator list for China, and the next section prints that list in full. The other four providers publish no equivalent list, so the cards below carry published facts about each provider instead of a carrier we would be guessing at.
Airalo
5GReaches the most destinations of the five, at 200.
Saily
5GAdds VPN routing on every plan.
Holafly
5GUnlimited daily plans with fair-use speeds after the threshold.
Nomad
5GLowest fixed per-GB rate of the five, at $3.00.
HelloRoam
5GRuns on 204+ carrier partners with a 180-day refund window.
The networks that carry China data
The published attachment list holds 2 local operators for China. Your eSIM attaches to China Telecom or China Unicom. HelloRoam does not publish which one a given handset selects.
The extra operators matter when signal gets patchy. If one network thins out on a train or in a rural stretch, another can carry you. 68 of the 185 destinations HelloRoam publishes list more than one operator.
HelloRoam marks 5G on 1 of those 2 operators. None of this changes the gigabytes you need. Choose the tier by trip length, then check the list.
| Local operator | Network labels |
|---|---|
| China Telecom | 4G |
| China Unicom | 5G |
Where this table came from: HelloRoam's own destination catalogue, read on 17 August 2026. That catalogue publishes an operator list for every destination it sells, and we copied it. Nobody ran a speed test to build it, and no throughput number sits behind any row.
What uses your data in China
Activity-level data breakdown for a China trip.
Streaming
Streaming moves a traveler into the heavy band, which the published benchmark puts at 3 GB a day. 8 days in China at that rate comes to 24 GB, and the 20GB plan at $35.99 is the smallest China tier that clears it. Downloading episodes over hotel WiFi keeps the day inside the 1.5 GB moderate band instead.
Navigation
Navigation alone keeps a China trip on the 0.5 GB light band. That is 4 GB across 8 days, which the 5GB plan at $13.99 covers. Save the China map region over WiFi before you fly and the same trip draws less.
Social media
Feed scrolling and photo uploads land on the moderate band of 1.5 GB a day. 8 days in China works out at 12 GB, and the 20GB plan at $35.99 is the fit. Turning off autoplay video pulls the same day toward the 4 GB light total.
Work tools
Remote work in China sits on the 3 GB heavy band once video calls start. 24 GB covers 8 days. The 20GB plan at $35.99 is the matching tier, and a laptop hotspot keeps it there rather than below it.
Your China pricing notes
China eSIM pricing follows a simple pattern: more data, lower per-GB cost. Here are the options: 1GB at $3.49 ($3.49/GB), 3GB at $9.49 ($3.16/GB), 5GB at $13.99 ($2.80/GB), 10GB at $23.49 ($2.35/GB), 20GB at $35.99 ($1.80/GB). Moderate travelers stretch their budget with 5GB at $13.99. That works out to $2.80/GB across a 4-day trip. Light users on short trips pay as little as $3.49 for 1GB and avoid overpaying for unused data. If your trip runs longer than 10 days, unlimited data at $3.49/day costs less than the 20GB fixed plan at $35.99. A 30-day unlimited plan drops to $2.86/day (18% off). Holafly publishes unlimited daily from $2.99/day and suits heavy users. Nomad publishes the lowest fixed rate at $3.00/GB and suits light ones. Looking for the cheapest eSIM in China? The lowest destination price we hold is 1GB at $3.49 from the catalogue. Nomad publishes the lowest fixed entry rate of the five at $3.00/GB, though not a China figure we can stand behind.
See how China compares to similar destinations in Asia. For device-specific setup, read our guides for iPhone, Samsung, and Pixel.
Planning notes for China
These China specifics change how much mobile data your trip requires. If you plan to work from cafes in China, local WiFi matters. Free WiFi in most hotels and cafes; many require Chinese phone number for login. Strong WiFi lets you size down one data tier. China's busiest travel period is Apr-May and Sep-Oct. Spring and autumn offer best weather; avoid Golden Week (Oct 1-7) and Chinese New Year for extreme crowds. Budget the 1.5 GB moderate band for ride apps and live navigation through crowded areas. If you follow the typical 8-day itinerary in China, then 12GB covers moderate use (maps, social, messaging).
WiFi and offline options in China
China offers good WiFi coverage. Free WiFi in most hotels and cafes; many require Chinese phone number for login. Download maps and shows over WiFi to reduce your plan size. Save mobile data by downloading Google Maps offline areas, language packs, and entertainment before heading out.
Peak season data planning for China
Apr-May and Sep-Oct brings the most tourists to China. Spring and autumn offer best weather; avoid Golden Week (Oct 1-7) and Chinese New Year for extreme crowds. Crowds move ride-hailing and navigation from the 0.5 GB light band to the 1.5 GB moderate one. Buy one tier above the off-season estimate.
An airport SIM against a China eSIM
Buying a SIM at the airport in China costs $15-30 for 3-10GB / 7-30 days with a 20-40 min; real-name verification process wait. An eSIM from $3.49 for 1GB installs before your flight and connects to a local network the moment you land. No passport queue, no store visit.
How to activate your China eSIM
Pick the plan that matches your daily data target for China. Scan the QR code under Settings > Cellular > Add eSIM while connected to WiFi at home.
Label the new line "Travel Data" and set it as your default data connection. Keep your home SIM active on the other line for calls and texts.
If your eSIM is pre-installed, a local network connects the handset to 5G in China the moment your phone leaves airplane mode. Setup runs under 30 seconds.
Strict real-name registration with passport; in-person verification at carrier store required. Your eSIM provider handles backend registration, so activate before landing to avoid delays.
Common China eSIM questions
Direct answers grounded in real plan data and carrier coverage.
What plan do I need?
Most travelers to China need a 5GB eSIM plan. That covers 4GB over 8 days for social media, maps, and messaging. The catalogue prices that tier at $13.99 ($2.80/GB) on a local mobile network. Light users save with 1GB at $3.49. Heavy users should consider 20GB at $35.99. HelloRoam fits this trip shape best of the 5 providers we score, at a published $3.50/GB.
How much data do I need?
For a 8-day trip to China, your data needs depend on activity. Maps and messaging use about 0.09GB a day, 1GB across the trip. Social media and navigation use 0.4GB a day, 4GB in total. Streaming and video calls run 3.53GB a day, 29GB. China has decent WiFi in hotels and cafes, which offsets about 15% of your data needs. China plans start at $3.49 on the catalogue.
Which provider is cheapest?
China fixed plans start at $3.49 for 1GB on a local mobile network. Unlimited runs $3.49/day ($24.43/week). Both are catalogue prices. Light users save on fixed. Unlimited passes the largest fixed bundle at $35.99 after 10 days. Across published floors, Nomad is the cheapest fixed rate at $3.00/GB.
Is an eSIM worth it?
An eSIM is worth it for China. Carrier roaming costs about $120.00 for 12GB over 8 days. The 20GB eSIM plan costs $35.99 on a local mobile network, saving you $84.01. No airport SIM queue at 20-40 min; real-name verification process, no contract, and instant activation.
eSIM vs SIM card?
Use both in China: keep your home SIM for calls and add an eSIM for data. China eSIM plans start at $3.49 for 1GB on a local mobile network, a catalogue price. That avoids the 20-40 min; real-name verification process airport SIM queue and the $15-30 for 3-10GB / 7-30 days counter price. China requires SIM registration with passport, which adds time at the counter.
How to set up?
Set up your China eSIM before boarding. Buy and install the plan while on home WiFi. The eSIM activates on a local network when your phone detects the local network. China plans start at $3.49 for 1GB on the catalogue. Keep your home SIM active for calls and use the eSIM for data.
Plan match by traveler profile
Each profile maps to a specific plan size and provider for China.
Backpacker
A backpacker uses 4 GB across 8 days in China on maps and messaging. The 5 GB plan at $13.99 matches that on a local mobile network, at $2.80 per GB. On published plan shape, HelloRoam is the closest fit of the five, and Airalo still reaches more places at 200.
Budget travelers need 4GB over 8 days. The 5GB plan at $13.99 covers maps and messaging on a local mobile network.
Business traveler
A business traveler in China needs 24 GB for video calls and uploads over 8 days. The 20 GB plan covers that at $35.99, or $1.80 per GB, on a local mobile network. Holafly sells the shape this trip needs; Nomad publishes the lower fixed floor.
Business travelers on video calls burn 24GB over 8 days. Unlimited data at $3.49/day on a local mobile network removes the cap.
Family group
A family traveler uses 16 GB across 8 days in China on social media and navigation. The 20 GB plan at $35.99 matches that on a local mobile network, at $1.80 per GB. HelloRoam matches the shape and gives you 180 days to undo the purchase if the trip changes.
Families run 1.5 GB per person per day on social media and navigation. Over 8 days that totals 36GB. The 20GB at $35.99 fits per-device.
Digital nomad
A digital nomad uses 20 GB across 8 days in China on remote work and streaming. The 20 GB plan at $35.99 matches that on a local mobile network, at $1.80 per GB. HelloRoam is the shape fit of the five we score, on 186 published destinations.
Remote workers run the 3 GB heavy band for uploads and calls. The 20GB plan at $35.99 handles 24GB over 8 days on a local mobile network.
Your questions, answered
How many gigabytes per day should I budget in China?
Build the daily figure from the parts. Maps and messages come to 0.5 GB a day, which is 4 GB over 7 days on a local mobile network. Add social media and browsing and the rate reaches 1.5 GB a day, or 11 GB for the trip. Add streaming and it reaches 3 GB a day, or 21 GB. Past 3 GB a day the fixed tiers run out here, and unlimited days at $3.49 take over. Most China travelers settle at the 1.5 GB rate.
Which plan shape fits my China trip, fixed tiers or unlimited days?
Two traveler types, two shapes in China. The leisure visitor on maps, photos and messaging fits a fixed tier: 11 GB across 7 days, which the 20 GB plan covers at $35.99. The streamer or remote worker fits unlimited days at $3.49, where running out is not on the table. The shortest unlimited commitment sold here is 1 day at $3.35. Unlimited days come from Holafly, catalogue-wide. HelloRoam and Airalo publish unlimited on part of the catalogue, so check the destination first. Nomad and Saily sell one shape only, a fixed bundle of gigabytes. The catch with Holafly: no per-GB tier exists, so it is unlimited or nothing.
Which eSIM plan fits a light or heavy data user in China?
If you only check maps and send messages in China, 4 GB covers 7 days. The 5 GB plan at $13.99 handles that at $2.80/GB. If you scroll social media and browse regularly, step up to the 20 GB plan at $35.99 ($1.80/GB). If you stream video or work on video calls, you need 21 GB, and the 20 GB plan at $35.99 ($1.80/GB) is the largest tier sold here, so a heavy pace needs a second purchase or an unlimited plan.
What should I check on my phone before I buy a China plan?
If your phone is an iPhone XS or newer, a Samsung Galaxy S20 or newer, or a Google Pixel 3 or newer, it can run an eSIM profile. If it is carrier-locked, ask your operator to unlock it before you buy anything for China. Dial *#06# and look for an EID line, because that number is what the profile installs against. Whether a page calls it eSIM, e-SIM or e SIM, it is the same embedded profile.
What starts the clock on a China plan, the purchase or the landing?
Three events, one clock. Purchase: no countdown. Installing the QR code over WiFi: still no countdown. First connection to a China mobile network: the countdown begins. That separation is what lets you set the phone up at home and arrive already connected. The 1 GB plan at $3.49 suits a short stay. The 20 GB plan at $35.99 suits a longer one. Buy within 3 days of departure and the window lines up with the trip.
Which apps do I need a substitute for in China?
Business travelers in China need a different app stack. WeChat replaces WhatsApp and email. Didi replaces Google Maps for transport. Baidu Maps replaces Google Maps for navigation. Your eSIM connects to a local 5G network and provides full data, but all connections pass through the Great Firewall. Download alternatives before flying. The 5GB plan at $13.99 is sufficient when blocked apps are replaced.
Which activities use the most mobile data in China?
Three bands cover every China itinerary. Light, 0.5 GB a day: maps, messaging, boarding passes. Moderate, 1.5 GB a day: the same plus social feeds and browsing. Heavy, 3 GB a day: streaming, video calls and a laptop hotspot. Pick the band your phone habits already sit in at home. The 5 GB plan at $13.99 is priced at $2.80/GB on a local mobile network.
How do I match a China plan tier to the number of nights I am staying?
If you use 1.5 GB a day in China, match nights to tier directly: 1 to 2 nights takes the 3 GB plan at $9.49 ($3.16/GB); 3 nights takes the 5 GB plan at $13.99 ($2.80/GB); 4 to 6 nights takes the 10 GB plan at $23.49 ($2.35/GB); 7 to 13 nights takes the 20 GB plan at $35.99 ($1.80/GB). If you stream video, add 20% before choosing. The 20 GB plan holds the lowest per-GB rate here at $1.80/GB. If your nights land on the boundary between two tiers, take the larger one, since the price gap between neighbouring tiers is smaller than the cost of running dry.
How many days must I commit to for unlimited pricing in China?
Match the commitment to the trip, starting at 1 day for $3.35. China prices unlimited by block: the 30-day tier lands at $2.86 a day against a $3.49 base rate, a 18% difference. Full 5G speed runs to 2GB a day before fair-use terms apply. Holafly is the reference point for this shape among the five providers we score.
Which provider backs up a mis-sized China plan?
Travelers who buy months ahead lean on the refund window; travelers who buy the night before lean on support. For the first group: HelloRoam and Holafly publish 180 days, Nomad and Saily 30 days and Airalo 14 days, all on an unactivated eSIM. For the second: HelloRoam publishes 63 languages over live chat, WhatsApp and email, around the clock, and Airalo sits at the other end of the refund ladder with 14 days. Pick the backstop that matches how you buy for China. Sizing up first is still cheaper than any refund: the 20 GB plan holds the lowest rate here at $1.80/GB.
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