Our verdict
Depends on your trip
A week of unlimited data costs $25–$27.50; light users can pay less with fixed data
The short answer
Any unlocked phone that supports eSIM can use a travel eSIM in China. On 22 October 2026, a week of unlimited data cost $25 at Nomad, $27 at Airalo and $27.50 at Holafly; Nomad also sells fixed-data plans from $5. A local SIM needs your passport at a carrier's own store. Prices change, so check before buying.
| Cheapest unlimited week | Nomad, $25 (Airalo $27, Holafly $27.50) |
|---|---|
| Cheapest unlimited month | Airalo, $69 for 30 days |
| Light use | Nomad fixed data, from $5 for 1 GB |
| Local SIM | Passport, in person at a carrier store |
| Local eSIM | In trial; only a few phone models |
| Prices checked | 22 October 2026 |
Unlimited China plans compared
Prices in US dollars as shown on each provider's China page on 22 October 2026, with our price per day. The cheapest at each length is in bold. Check the provider before you buy.[1][3][5]
| Length | Airalo | Holafly | Nomad |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 day | — | $3.90 · $3.90/day | — |
| 3 days | $11.50 · $3.83/day | $11.90 · $3.97/day | $12 · $4.00/day |
| 5 days | $19 · $3.80/day | $20.50 · $4.10/day | $18 · $3.60/day |
| 7 days | $27 · $3.86/day | $27.50 · $3.93/day | $25 · $3.57/day |
| 10 days | $35 · $3.50/day | $37.50 · $3.75/day | $33 · $3.30/day |
| 15 days | $49 · $3.27/day | $51.50 · $3.43/day | $39 · $2.60/day |
| 30 days | $69 · $2.30/day | $76.50 · $2.55/day | — |
Networks: Airalo uses China Unicom, Holafly China Mobile, Nomad China Unicom and China Telecom. Airalo sold no fixed-data China plans that day. Holafly's FAQ says plans of 1 to 90 days are available.
Fixed-data plans (Nomad)
If you mostly need maps and messaging, a fixed allowance can cost less than unlimited.[5]
| Data | Valid for | Price | Per GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 7 days | $5 | $5.00 |
| 3 GB | 30 days | $10 | $3.33 |
| 5 GB | 30 days | $14 | $2.80 |
| 10 GB | 30 days | $19 (was $22) | $1.90 |
| 20 GB | 30 days | $22 (was $30) | $1.10 |
| 50 GB | 45 days | $37 | $0.74 |
The small print
| Airalo | Holafly | Nomad | |
|---|---|---|---|
| When the plan starts | When the eSIM first connects at your destination | When it connects on arrival; a 1-day plan lasts 24 hours from then | When it connects at your destination; it starts automatically 60 days after purchase if you have not used it |
| Install before you fly? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hotspot | Not stated on the China page | Allowed, 1 GB a day shared (7 GB on a 7-day plan) | Supported; no cap stated |
| Fair use | Not stated on the China page | Speed may be reduced for heavy use, for no more than a day at a time; max 90 days in one destination | Not stated on the China page |
| Phone number | Data only | Data only; Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan sold separately | Data only |
Will your phone work?
- iPhone: iPhone XS, XS Max, XR and later support eSIM. Apple says that in mainland China only iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max, 17e and iPhone Air support it, so a phone bought in mainland China usually will not take a travel eSIM.
- Google Pixel: Pixel 4 and later all support eSIM.
- Samsung: Galaxy S20 to S26, Z Fold and Z Flip models, Note20 and some A models support it (Samsung Australia's list; models vary by region).
- Unlocked: your phone must be unlocked by your carrier to use another provider's SIM or eSIM.
How to set it up
- 1
Check your phone
Confirm it supports eSIM and is unlocked (see above).
- 2
Buy and install before you fly
All three providers let you install the eSIM in advance on a stable Wi-Fi connection.
- 3
Let it start in China
Plans start when the eSIM connects to a network at your destination. With Nomad, use it within 60 days of buying or it starts automatically.
- 4
Switch your data on landing
Turn on the eSIM line and set it for mobile data. Check it works before you leave the airport Wi-Fi.
A local SIM instead
Chinese carriers must register every SIM to a real identity. Foreigners need their passport and must go in person to the carrier's own store; none of the three sells SIMs online to foreigners.[10][11][12][13][14][15][16]
| Carrier | For foreign visitors | Price |
|---|---|---|
| China Telecom | Foreigner 30-day card (Shanghai): 50 GB data, 300 minutes, 50 texts; cancels itself at midnight on day 30. On sale until 30 November 2026. Also 7- and 15-day cards. Counter at Pudong T1 arrivals, near Gate 11, 07:00–22:00 | ¥195 for 30 days |
| China Mobile | “Panda Card” for 7, 15 or 30 days at the Pudong Airport store. In Beijing, apply online and collect at the “Beijing Service” counter at Capital Airport | Not published |
| China Unicom | 7-, 15- and 30-day tourist cards (Beijing); the CUBe Card combines a SIM with digital-yuan payment and Beijing transit, including a 10-day option | Not published |
Prices not published online are charged as shown in store.
Buying before you go, and roaming
China's mainland carriers do not sell SIMs online to foreigners. CUniq, China Unicom's Hong Kong arm, sells mainland China data eSIMs online; they must be activated outside mainland China before you arrive.
The US Federal Communications Commission notes that most US domestic plans do not cover use abroad and that roaming rates can be much higher. Its advice is to unlock your phone so you can use a local SIM or eSIM.[20][21]
How much data do you need?
No carrier publishes an official daily figure for visitors. For scale, China Telecom's 30-day card for foreigners includes 50 GB, about 1.7 GB a day.[12]
Questions readers ask
Does an eSIM work in China?
Yes. Travel eSIMs from Airalo, Holafly and Nomad roam on China Unicom, China Mobile or China Telecom. Your phone must support eSIM and be unlocked.
Do I need a VPN with a China eSIM?
Holafly and Nomad say their China eSIMs reach apps like Google and WhatsApp without a separate VPN; Airalo makes no such claim. We have not tested this.
Can a foreigner get a Chinese eSIM?
Only in person at a carrier store with a passport, and only on a short list of approved phones, mostly mainland models. Most visitors will find a travel eSIM easier.
Can I buy a China SIM card in the US?
Not from mainland carriers. CUniq, China Unicom's Hong Kong arm, sells mainland data eSIMs online that you activate outside mainland China first.
When does my eSIM plan start?
When it first connects to a network in China. Nomad plans start automatically 60 days after purchase if unused.
Sources
- Airalo, China eSIM · accessed 22 Oct 2026
- Airalo, Help Center · accessed 22 Oct 2026
- Holafly, China eSIM · accessed 22 Oct 2026
- Holafly, Terms and Conditions (6.3 fair use) · accessed 22 Oct 2026
- Nomad, China eSIM · accessed 22 Oct 2026
- Nomad Japan, China eSIM guide (Japanese) · accessed 22 Oct 2026
- Apple, Set up eSIM on iPhone · accessed 22 Oct 2026
- Google, Get a SIM and add it to your Pixel phone · accessed 22 Oct 2026
- Samsung Australia, eSIM compatibility · accessed 22 Oct 2026
- MIIT Order No. 25, real-name telephone registration (Art. 7) · accessed 22 Oct 2026
- Henan Provincial Government, how foreigners get a phone card (7 Sep 2026) · accessed 22 Oct 2026
- China Telecom Shanghai, foreigner 30-day card tariff · accessed 22 Oct 2026
- Shanghai Airport Authority, Pudong T1 China Telecom counter · accessed 22 Oct 2026
- Beijing Service, SIM cards at Capital Airport · accessed 22 Oct 2026
- People's Daily Shanghai, China Mobile Panda Card (4 Nov 2024) · accessed 22 Oct 2026
- Xinhua, China Unicom CUBe Card (20 Jan 2025) · accessed 22 Oct 2026
- China Unicom, eSIM service · accessed 22 Oct 2026
- China Mobile, eSIM notice · accessed 22 Oct 2026
- Xinhua, phone eSIM commercial trial launched (20 Oct 2025) · accessed 22 Oct 2026
- FCC, International Roaming: Using Your Mobile Phone in Other Countries · accessed 22 Oct 2026
- CUniq, mainland China and Macao data eSIM · accessed 22 Oct 2026
Update log. 22 October 2026 — reviewed. Next review due 21 November 2026. Suggest a correction
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