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Customer Reviews
See what travelers are saying about their China eSIM experience. Real feedback from real users to help you pick the best plan for your trip.
“I noticed that the pay-as-you-go option does not appear in the plan listings on esimdb, which caught my attention a little. After actually using it, I personally feel this is the most convenient option.
Because it is fully usage based, you can keep using it seamlessly even when moving between countries, which is incredibly convenient. With cheaper flight tickets, long layovers at airports in China are common, and sometimes you may want to head into the city for a short while. In those situations, it feels a bit wasteful to purchase a one day plan or a large data package, so this option fits perfectly.
Airport WiFi is available, of course, but connections can be unstable, and SMS verification is sometimes required, which often makes it more troublesome than expected. That is why having the reassurance of being able to connect immediately on your own mobile line, even during immigration, feels very valuable.
Overseas roaming is also available with ahamo and Rakuten Mobile, but there are still countries that are not covered. Having this set up as a dual SIM feels like something that could really help in an emergency. I also appreciate that LINE and WhatsApp continue to work even after the main data allowance has been used up. It is a small detail, but genuinely useful.”
“I do not recommend this site for purchase. Before purchasing, I came across a number of negative reviews, but I decided to try my luck anyway. Here's my experience: In Uzbekistan, everything worked perfectly for one day, but the speed was terrible on the second day. In South Korea, everything worked well, but in China, everything worked well for two days, and then the internet simply disappeared, even though I still had plenty of data and time left. There is no support, and the AI agent responds by saying that I am doing something wrong.”
“Used Micro-Esim for the first time, went great.
Bought online, got sent a QR code by email, downloaded it to my android and installed it, had it off as second SIM until landed in China and then turned it on, worked great for the time I was in China.
Could not get Instagram or TikTok to work but that will be due to country rules and not the SIM.”
“Pre-installed Nomad eSIM on a 10GB/30day plan. Activation at the Guangzhou airport after a 15 hr flight was bit challenging. I used the combination of Airport Wi-Fi & Firsty Tier 1 Free Basic to bootstrap start Nomad. Provisioning and activatin took less than 5 minutes max. Nomad has implied VPN features, so to really use the cellular connection service provided by partner China Telecom, under Settings I disabled wi-fi in my iPhone 16 and primary SIM. I was able to access 90% of my Apps (normally blocked: YT, FB, WhatsApp, Outlook emails, Gmails, etc.). Some locations even with signals at 4-bars, both eSIMs appeared not working, that is the network connection issues and not the eSIM's fault. Overall very satisfied with Nomad (paid) DL upto 90Mbs and Firsty (free) 230Kbs as backup.”
“Easy to purchase and setup, had a full day layover in Shanghai and I got the 1GB 1 Day plan, speeds were very good and had no troubles connecting and using the data”
“I ordered a 3 day unlimited package which didn't work. Requested for a refund twice and was promised I'd get it in a few days. I still haven't been refunded for almost a month now.👎”
“eSIM i ordered was not what I expected. Support was fast in answering and helpfull. In the end they give me a refund.
Can't say anything about internet speed or anything, but will use them again for their support team”
“I’ve used Billion Connect for multiple eSims abroad now, and I’ve found them great every time. Their customer service responds pretty quickly to any issues, and the sims are cheap and work well. Be aware the sims are mostly based in Hong Kong so if you’re geographically far from there the latency might be a little high, and you may need a VPN for things like TikTok to work, but I’ve had very few issues.”
“Dude, if you're headed to China or Hong Kong, you gotta check out Textr eSIM's data plan. I used it on a work trip recently and it was freakin' awesome. The network was super fast and reliable, even in the middle of nowhere. Setting it up was a breeze, and the pricing was totally reasonable. Plus, their customer support was super helpful whenever I had a question or needed assistance. Overall, if you want to stay connected and get stuff done on your trip, Textr eSIM's China and Hong Kong Data Plan is the way to go. Highly recommend.”
“Bypassed the Great Firewall. I used MySim eSIM in both Shanghai and Beijing as well as a high speed train between the two destinations. Here's my experience on my iPhone X:
It's a pretty straightforward installation once I scanned the QR code and turned on Data Roaming (which you need to do).
I was able to use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Google, Whatsapp, YouTube, and Gmail with no issues or a VPN.
I had great reception pretty much everywhere as well as the subway and I did use the phone extensively even making a view Facetime calls as well using Google Maps a lot to find my way.
Having a SIM card that bypassed the Chinese national firewall was essential and made the trip way safer.”
“It was so practical to travel with MySIM in China! I had access to all the social networks that I need (Facebook, Whatsapp, Instagram...). I also have to say the connection was perfect and in 4G! Really good experience overall, convenient and easy to use.”
“Bought this eSIM for a round trip in China, after download on arrival I just have to select China Mobile network and I have a full access to internet without restriction (google, whatsapp, gmail, facebook) and very good speed in 4G”
China Travel eSIM FAQ
Everything you need to know about using eSIMs in China
How many travel eSIM brands (providers) are available for use in China, and how many prepaid data plans are there?
China offers roughly 180 eSIM providers and about 13, 600 prepaid data plans. This extensive catalogue gives travelers plenty of options to find an eSIM that fits their travel needs.
Are there any unlimited data eSIM plans available for China?
Australian, European and Asian providers such as abesteSIM, ASIMGO, MicroEsim, Earth Esim, Roamify, Yesim, Truely, Bloomy eSIM and Ohayu offer unlimited data eSIM plans that cover China, each with a validity window of one to ten days. All of these plans allow tethering, but the data rate is often subject to throttling; some specify a hard speed cap (for example, MicroEsim limits downloads to 10 Mbps, Earth Esim offers 5 Mbps or 10 Mbps options, and Ohayu restricts speed to 1 Mbps). Prices vary across providers, with the lowest entry point around $1.88 and the highest offering around $26.25 for the same unlimited data period. Travelers should estimate their expected data consumption—based on activities such as streaming, navigation and social media—and select a plan that comfortably covers those needs, keeping in mind the potential for reduced speeds.
What are the major mobile networks available for a travel eSIM in China?
China Mobile: The largest mobile operator in China, offering extensive nationwide coverage and a wide range of services, including voice, data, and multimedia.
China Unicom: A major state-owned operator providing mobile and fixed-line services, known for its strong presence in northern China and compatibility with international devices.
China Telecom: Another leading state-owned operator offering mobile, fixed-line, and broadband services, with robust coverage in southern China.
In addition to these major operators, China has Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) that lease access from the primary carriers to offer mobile services. Examples include China Broadcasting Network (CBN), a state-owned entity providing mobile, broadband, and broadcasting services. However, most travel eSIMs rely on the infrastructure of the major Mobile Network Operators rather than MVNOs.
Can I get a travel eSIM with a phone number and SMS for China?
Yes, travel eSIMs that offer a phone number able to send and receive SMS are available for China. Providers that supply local China‑number plans use the dialing code +86, which means the number is native to the country rather than a foreign one. Airhub offers 30‑day plans with 20GB, 50GB, and 100GB of data for prices of about $29, $55 and $69, while RedEx eSIM provides a 20GB 30‑day plan for approximately $35.90. Both providers support inbound and outbound voice calls and inbound/outbound SMS. Plans listed under other operators use foreign dialing codes such as +1, +33, or +48, so their phone numbers would not be local to China.
Summarized by AI, Last updated:
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