Best eSIM for China 2026: 5 Providers Priced
China eSIM prices checked 27 Oct 2026: ONE eSIM is cheapest at every size from 1 to 20 GB, from $1.93 for 1 GB, against Airalo, Holafly, Saily and Nomad.
Short answer: ONE eSIM has the cheapest 1 GB eSIM for China at $1.93 for 7 days; the next cheapest is Airalo at $4.00. Prices checked 27 October 2026 across ONE eSIM, Airalo, Holafly, Saily and Nomad; the full table is below.
China eSIM plans come in two routing flavours: a standard version that exits via a Hong Kong breakout point, and a lower-cost 'nonhkip' version that exits via Singapore instead. That split matters when you're comparing prices, since it's not always the cheapest headline plan that matches the routing you want. Below are the prices for the sizes where ONE eSIM comes out cheapest, checked on 27 October 2026 against Airalo, Holafly, Saily and Nomad for China-only plans.
Quick answer: China eSIM prices by size
- 1 GB: ONE eSIM at $1.93 (7 days); next cheapest is Airalo at $4.00 (3 days).
- 3 GB: ONE eSIM at $5.23 (15 days); next cheapest is Airalo at $9.50 (3 days).
- 5 GB: ONE eSIM at $8.14 (30 days); next cheapest is Nomad at $14.00 (30 days).
- 10 GB: ONE eSIM at $16.09 (30 days); next cheapest is Nomad at $22.00 (30 days).
- 20 GB: ONE eSIM at $28.19 (30 days); next cheapest is Nomad at $30.00 (30 days).
China eSIM prices compared (1 GB to 20 GB)
| Data | ONE eSIM Our price | Airalo | Holafly | Saily | Nomad |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | $1.93 (7 days) Cheapest, saves $2.07 | $4.00 (3 days) | – | $4.49 (7 days) | $5.00 (7 days) |
| 3 GB | $5.23 (15 days) Cheapest, saves $4.27 | $9.50 (3 days) | – | $10.99 (30 days) | $10.00 (30 days) |
| 5 GB | $8.14 (30 days) Cheapest, saves $5.86 | $14.50 (7 days) | – | $15.99 (30 days) | $14.00 (30 days) |
| 10 GB | $16.09 (30 days) Cheapest, saves $5.91 | $24.50 (7 days) | – | $26.99 (30 days) | $22.00 (30 days) |
| 20 GB | $28.19 (30 days) Cheapest, saves $1.81 | $39.00 (15 days) | – | $39.99 (30 days) | $30.00 (30 days) |
Holafly sells only unlimited plans for China, so it has no price in the GB rows; its 7-day plan is in the week table below.
A week of unlimited data in China
| Provider | 7 days | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| ONE eSIM | $12.53 | 1 GB a day at full speed, then 384 Kbps until the next day (7 × $1.79) |
| Airalo | $27.00 | 3 GB a day at full speed, then 1 Mbps (fair use) |
| Holafly | $27.50 | No daily cap; fair use may slow very heavy use |
| Saily | $29.99 | 5 GB a day at full speed, then up to 1 Mbps |
| Nomad | $25.00 | 2 GB a day at full speed, then 1 Mbps |
For a week, ONE eSIM's 1 GB a day plan is the cheapest way to stay online all day at $12.53. The cheapest of the others is Nomad at $25.00, which gives more full-speed data a day; compare by how much you use a day, not by the word unlimited.
Networks and coverage in China
ONE eSIM's standard-priced China plans run on China Mobile and exit via a Hong Kong breakout point, while the lower-cost plans marked 'nonhkip' run on China Unicom and China Telecom and exit via Singapore instead. Both routing options are listed with 5G and 3G/4G/5G speed support, giving broad coverage across major cities and most of the country.
Which eSIM should you choose for China?
- Short trip, light use (up to 3 GB): ONE eSIM's 3 GB plan at $5.23 (15 days), the cheapest at that size.
- Two weeks or more (5 to 10 GB): ONE eSIM's 10 GB plan at $16.09 (30 days), the cheapest at that size.
- Heavy use (20 GB): ONE eSIM's 20 GB plan at $28.19 (30 days), the cheapest at that size.
- Streaming or video calls every day: compare the unlimited plans above by how much full-speed data each gives a day.
How to set up your China eSIM
- Check your phone supports eSIM and is carrier-unlocked.
- Buy and install the eSIM on Wi-Fi before you fly, so you're not relying on an unfamiliar connection once you land.
- Turn on the new line and enable data roaming once you land in China, then disable data on your home SIM.
China eSIM FAQ
- Does a China eSIM use a VPN? No. ONE eSIM's China plans simply route data out through a fixed exit point outside the mainland — Hong Kong on the standard plans, or Singapore on plans marked 'nonhkip'. That's a routing detail, not a VPN, and we don't make any claim about which specific apps or services it will or won't let you reach.
- Which network is best in China? China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom all offer wide 5G coverage in major cities; ONE eSIM's standard plans use China Mobile with an HK breakout.
- Is 5 GB enough for two weeks in China? Yes, for maps, messaging and moderate social media use; heavy streamers should consider a bigger plan or unlimited option.
- Can I use WeChat Pay or Alipay with a travel eSIM in China? Yes, these work over any standard mobile data connection; they do not depend on the breakout IP.
- Will my China eSIM work in Hong Kong or Macau too? No, these are single-country China plans; you would need a separate Hong Kong or Macau plan for those destinations.
How we check prices
We read each provider's public China page on 27 October 2026 and took its cheapest plan at or above each size, in US dollars before any coupon, with the validity in brackets; ONE eSIM prices are our live list prices on the same day. Prices move, so we re-check every month and keep the date on the page and in the short answer. If a number is out of date, write to support@oneesim.app and we will correct it.
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