Best eSIM for China in 2025 (travel eSIM providers)
Using the best eSIM for China allows you to buy data plans at a cheap price without having to face sky-high roaming charges.
An eSIM lets you connect to the internet without needing a physical SIM card, so you can set it up in just a few minutes. This makes it perfect for tourists, business travelers, and students who want to stay connected without stress.
In this guide, we will look at the top travel eSIM providers for China in 2025 and help you choose the right one for your trip.
In this article:
- Why You Need an eSIM in China
- Best China eSIMs: shortlist
- How we rated our eSIM for China results
- 1. esimNB - Overall best eSIM for China
- 2. Airalo- Long-standing eSIM provider
- 3. Nomad - eSIM provider with a wide variety of data options
- 4. Saily - New eSIM service from NordVPN
- 5. RedteaGo - eSIM provider from China
- Why choosing an eSIM for China is hard
- How do I know if my device is eSIM-compatible
- FAQ about eSIM China
Why You Need an eSIM in China
When you travel to China, staying online is very important. You need maps to find your way, apps to book rides, and messaging tools to talk with family or coworkers. Without internet, these daily tasks quickly become stressful.
Traditional roaming often costs too much, and buying a local SIM can take extra time. With an eSIM, you skip the long process. You can install your data plan before you even arrive, and once you land, you are ready to connect.
In addition, many apps you use every day need stable data. An eSIM gives you quick access to affordable plans, so you don’t have to worry about losing connection or paying extra fees. This makes your trip smoother and helps you focus on enjoying your journey.
Best China eSIMs: shortlist
- esimNB - Overall best eSIM for China
- Airalo - Long-standing eSIM provider
- Nomad - eSIM provider with a wide variety of data options
- Saily - New eSIM service from NordVPN
- RedteaGo - eSIM provider from China
How we rated our eSIM for China results
To help you choose the best eSIM for China, we looked at a few key points:
- Ease of activation – We checked if the provider gives clear step-by-step instructions. Simple guides save you time and help you set up your eSIM without stress.
- Price – This is the most important factor. Since most eSIM providers work with the same local networks, the price of data makes the biggest difference.
- Customer support – We tested how fast and how well the support team responds. We looked at whether you talk to real people or just bots, and whether the team is trained to give useful help.
- Extra features – We also noted if the eSIM lets you use hotspot sharing, or if it comes with extras like a built-in VPN for safer browsing.
By rating these factors, we made it easier for you to see which eSIM providers truly stand out for travel in China.
Best eSIM for China in 2025: detailed guide
Here’s the overview of the best eSIMs that actually work in China, you can compare prices, features, and pick the one that fits your trip best.
1.esimNB - Overall best eSIM for China
✅ Responsive customer support
✅ Supports over 140+ countries
✅ Plans start from $1.50
✅ Non HK ip package (Supports ChatGPT, TikTok)
esimNB is the best eSIM for China in 2025, with affordable plans that start from 1GB data 7 days, for $1.50, which is cheapper than other competitors. Anything beyond that will last you for up to 30 days and varies from 3 GB for $3.00, to 50 GB for $47.00.
| Destinations | Duration | Data Plans | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mainland China | 7 days | Total 1GB | $1.50 |
| Mainland China | 15 days | Total 3GB | $3.00 |
| Mainland China | 30 days | Total 5GB | $4.50 |
| Mainland China | 30 days | Total 10GB | $8.00 |
| Mainland China | 180 days | Total 50GB | $47.00 |
esimNB works with all three major mobile operators in China: 1. China Unicom, 2. China Mobile, and 3. China Telecom.
This ensures you get the same reliable internet experience as using a local SIM card. It’s worth noting that China Telecom only supports 4G, while China Unicom and China Mobile both support 5G, offering faster speeds and better coverage.
One of the biggest advantages of esimNB is that you don’t need to buy a separate VPN to access popular platforms like YouTube, Gmail, and Facebook. This is because the data exit IPs are based in Hong Kong and Singapore.
However, here’s an important tip: if you also want to use ChatGPT or TikTok, you should choose the Non-HK IP package, since these services block Hong Kong IPs.
The esimNB homepage is very user-friendly. You can easily find the FAQ section, step-by-step installation guides, and a complete list of compatible devices.
After purchasing, simply go to the “My eSIMs” page, where you can clearly check your order details, remaining data balance, and validity period. A step-by-step guide is also available to make installation easy.
For customer support, you can reach out via WhatsApp or Email. If you happen to use Xiaohongshu (a popular Chinese app similar to Instagram), you can even connect with a live customer service representative there.
2. Airalo- Long-standing eSIM provider
Airalo, founded in 2019, was one of the earliest eSIM providers on the market. As an early mover, it quickly gained global recognition.
However, in China, Airalo currently supports only China Unicom. Signal strength and coverage vary between the three major Chinese operators, generally ranked as: China Mobile > China Telecom > China Unicom.
That said, if you’re traveling to major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, or Shenzhen, the difference in signal quality is hardly noticeable, as coverage is strong across all networks.
When it comes to user experience, Airalo still performs very well. It offers clear, detailed installation guides and tutorials, and its UI and UX are highly refined.
In fact, many newer eSIM providers have modeled their design after Airalo. The downside is its pricing—Airalo is often twice as expensive as other providers.
If you’re traveling on a budget and prefer to spend less while getting more data, you may want to consider a more affordable alternative.
Customer support is another area where Airalo falls short. Most inquiries are first answered by automated replies, and it takes extra effort to reach a human agent.
Even then, the response speed and quality can be inconsistent. This lack of reliable support is one of the main reasons why Airalo’s ratings have dropped recently.
| Destinations | Duration | Data Plans | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mainland China | 7 days | Total 1GB | $4.50 |
| Mainland China | 15 days | Total 2GB | $8.50 |
| Mainland China | 30 days | Total 3GB | $10.50 |
| Mainland China | 30 days | Total 10GB | $26.50 |
| Mainland China | 30 days | Total 20GB | $40.00 |
3. Nomad - eSIM provider with a wide variety of data options
Nomad is another option for China eSIM users. It offers both daily plans and regular plans, with network support from China Unicom and China Telecom. One limitation, however, is that activation requires downloading the Nomad app, which may not be as convenient for everyone.
In terms of pricing, Nomad is generally cheaper than Airalo. For the best value, it’s recommended to purchase during promotion or discount periods, when the cost becomes even more competitive.
As for the user experience in China, Nomad performs reliably with stable signal and data speeds. But in some other countries, users have reported that it occasionally falls back to 3G or LTE connections. This means that in areas with weaker network coverage, the overall experience may be less satisfying.
| Destinations | Duration | Data Plans | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mainland China | 7 days | Total 1GB | $4.00 |
| Mainland China | 30 days | Total 3GB | $7.00 |
| Mainland China | 30 days | Total 5GB | $10.00 |
| Mainland China | 30 days | Total 30GB | $35.00 |
| Mainland China | 90 days | Total 90GB | $90.00 |
4.Saily - New eSIM service from NordVPN
Saily is a fast-rising eSIM provider that has been gaining visibility across many blogs and websites. The company is best known for its other flagship product, NordVPN, one of the world’s most popular VPN services. Thanks to this strong brand background, Saily has quickly attracted attention in the eSIM market.
That said, as a relatively new player, Saily’s partnerships with Chinese mobile operators are still limited. This means that if you’re planning to use Saily in China right now, you may need to wait until its coverage and support become more complete.
In terms of usability, the Saily app offers a minimalist experience—clean, simple, and very easy to use. Looking ahead, the company also plans to adopt the same data security and encryption technologies used in NordVPN, which would bring an added layer of privacy protection.
This makes Saily a promising option in the eSIM space and a brand worth keeping an eye on.
| Destinations | Duration | Data Plans | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mainland China | 7 days | Total 1GB | $4..49 |
| Mainland China | 30 days | Total 3GB | $10.99 |
| Mainland China | 30 days | Total 5GB | $15.99 |
| Mainland China | 30 days | Total 10GB | $26.99 |
| Mainland China | 30 days | Total 20GB | $47.99 |
5. RedteaGo - eSIM provider from China
RedteaGO is a China-based eSIM provider, and just like esimNB, it supports all three major Chinese operators. Since the two share some of the same suppliers, the experience when using them in China is almost identical. Coverage is solid, and internet speeds are reliable.
The main differences are in plan pricing and options—some people may find RedteaGO’s packages a better fit, while others might prefer what esimNB offers.
One thing worth noting is that RedteaGO also requires you to download their app to install and activate your eSIM. If you’re not a fan of adding extra apps, this could feel a bit inconvenient.
But overall, it’s still a dependable choice, especially if you’re traveling within China, where network performance isn’t really a problem.
| Destinations | Duration | Data Plans | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mainland China | 30 days | Total 1GB | $1.80 |
| Mainland China | 30 days | Total 3GB | $4.05 |
| Mainland China | 30 days | Total 5GB | $5.31 |
| Mainland China | 30 days | Total 10GB | $5.85 |
| Mainland China | 90 days | Total 20GB | $11.16 |
Why choosing an eSIM for China is hard
Finding the right eSIM for China is not as easy as it sounds. Many websites you see online are run by affiliate marketers. They earn money every time you buy through their links. While some still try to be fair, many focus more on sales than on giving you the full picture. This makes it hard to know if their advice is really in your best interest.
Another challenge comes from review platforms. Sites like TrustPilot let anyone leave a review without checking if they actually used the product. This opens the door to fake positive reviews from sellers or even fake negative reviews from competitors. In the end, you cannot fully trust what you read there.
Because of these issues, travelers often feel lost. You want a simple answer to “which eSIM works best in China,” but instead, you face a mix of sales talk and unreliable reviews. That is why making the right choice takes extra care.
How do I know if my device is eSIM-compatible
To find out if your device is eSIM-compatible, you can check directly in your phone’s settings:
- For iPhone users:
Open the Settings app Go to General > About Scroll down and look for Available SIM or Digital SIM If it appears along with an IMEI number, your iPhone supports eSIM
- For Android users:
Open your Settings Tap Network & Internet (this may be listed slightly differently depending on your phone) Select Mobile Network If you see an option like Add SIM or Download SIM, your phone likely supports eSIM functionality
FAQ about eSIM China
Does China's eSIM have a VPN?
esimNB provides Chinese eSIM cards with VPN.
Can I use WhatsApp in China with eSIM?
Yes, you can use WhatsApp in China when using China travel eSIM
How esimNB Works
IMPORTANT: Make sure your phone is carrier-unlocked and eSIM compatible
Choose your destination and package
Activate your eSIM data plan
Manage and Top-up your package
