Best eSIM for China in 2026: 6 providers compared
In China, the question is not only the price of data: it is access to Google Maps, WhatsApp, Instagram and Gmail, all blocked on the Chinese network. A China eSIM bought before you leave connects in roaming through a foreign carrier, and that detail is what lets your usual apps through without a VPN. You install it at home, it activates when you land in Beijing or Shanghai, and you keep your usual SIM for calls.
We ran 6 providers through the same grid: price per GB, network used on the ground (China Unicom, China Telecom or China Mobile), coverage in the big cities and along the tourist routes, support, how simple the app and the activation are, and plan flexibility. The ranking first, then each offer in detail.
voilà eSIM: two networks, 5G and your apps without a VPN in China
China Unicom and China Telecom on the same eSIM, 5G in the big cities, a "no blocked apps" promise stated in black and white, an eSIM that installs in two minutes and human support available 24/7, for €1.06/GB. Esimzon and Airalo do better on the price per GB of the largest plan alone.
How we ranked these eSIMs
Each eSIM is scored on six criteria, weighted for China. Price per GB and network coverage weigh the most: prices vary five-fold between providers, and the network used makes the difference between Beijing, Shanghai, the Great Wall and the countryside of Yunnan or Sichuan. We also checked, for each offer, what the provider says about access to Google, WhatsApp and social media. Scores are the editorial team's opinion, not an average of customer reviews.
- Price per GB25 %
Cost per gigabyte on each provider's cheapest plan, excluding one-off promotions.
- Network coverage25 %
Getting signal in Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Chengdu and Guangzhou, on the high-speed rail lines and in the tourist provinces.
- Reliability15 %
Connection stability, access to Western apps without a VPN, seriousness of the partner carrier.
- Support15 %
Available channels, opening hours, human or automated answers.
- Activation and app10 %
How simple the install is, how clear the app is, data usage tracking.
- Plan flexibility10 %
Choice of volumes and durations, unlimited, top-ups, tethering.
On these criteria, voilà eSIM comes out on top thanks to its two networks, its 5G, its advertised VPN-free access and its 24/7 human support, with a price per GB in the leading pack (€1.06/GB). Esimzon takes second place with by far the lowest price per GB, Airalo third with a good 50 GB plan and the most complete app.
Scores are the opinion of the eSIMrat editorial team, based on the criteria above, not customer reviews. eSIMrat earns a commission on links to its partners, which does not affect the ranking.
The ranking of eSIMs for China
The 6 eSIMs compared, from the highest to the lowest score. The price per GB shown is the cheapest per gigabyte at each provider, often a large 30-day plan: a small one-week plan costs more per GB. At Esimzon, it is a 35 GB plan.
- 1voilà eSIM€1.06/GBChina Unicom and China Telecom8.1/10
- 2
Esimzon€0.45/GBChina Unicom and China Mobile7.7/10 - 3
Airalo€0.89/GBChina Unicom7.4/10 - 4
Ubigi€1.32/GBLocal networks7.0/10 - 5
Yesim€1.27/GBLocal networks6.8/10 - 6
Saily€2.05/GBLocal networks6.3/10
Prices checked on September 6, 2026 on the providers' sites. eSIMrat partners' prices come from the comparator and refresh on every build.
Each China eSIM in detail
- 8.1/10
1. voilà eSIM
€1.06/GBChina Unicom and China TelecomData plans, 1 to 50 GBTwo networks, 5G, apps without a VPN, 24/7 human support
voilà eSIM advertises two networks in China, China Unicom and China Telecom, with 5G where it is deployed, which means every big city. The eSIM switches to whichever has the better signal, a real plus on the high-speed rail lines and outside the metropolises. Its China eSIM page promises "no blocked apps": TikTok, WhatsApp, Google and banking apps work normally, without a VPN, because the connection goes through roaming.
The rate drops to €1.06/GB on the 50 GB plan, in the leading pack of the comparison, and the 10 GB 30-day plan is the second cheapest of the six at that volume. Plans run from 1 to 50 GB over 7, 15 or 30 days, with no commitment, and tethering is included. The code ESIMRAT gives 5% off, see the promo codes page.
It is the easiest offer to get started with: the eSIM installs in two minutes from an app that is easy to use, and human support answers 24/7, which matters with a six or seven hour time difference. That value for money, two networks and VPN-free access included, earns it first place, even though Esimzon and Airalo do better on the price per GB of the largest plan alone.
Pros
- Two networks, China Unicom and China Telecom, with 5G
- eSIM simple to install, easy-to-use app, VPN-free apps advertised
- Human support, 24/7, tethering included
Cons
- Not the lowest price per GB on the largest plan
- No unlimited plan
- 7.7/10
2. Esimzon
€0.45/GBChina Unicom and China MobileData plans 1 to 35 GB, and unlimitedBy far the lowest price per GB
Esimzon is a prepaid reseller that plays the price card: its lowest rate per GB comes to €0.45/GB on a 35 GB plan valid 30 days, a price no other provider comes close to, and its 10 GB plan is also the cheapest in the comparison. Plans run on China Unicom, with 5G, or on China Mobile, the country's largest network and the widest outside the cities. An unlimited offer exists, from 1 to 15 days.
The limits are elsewhere. Prices are shown in dollars on its site (the euro follows the daily rate), support is by email or chat, in English, and activation goes through a QR code, without an app as polished as the leaders'. Esimzon does not detail access to Western apps: check the plan sheet before buying.
Pros
- The lowest price per GB in the comparison, 35 GB plan
- China Mobile or China Unicom depending on the plan, unlimited available
Cons
- Prices in dollars, support in English by email or chat
- No proper usage-tracking app
- 7.4/10
3. Airalo
€0.89/GBChina UnicomData plans, daily unlimited, regional and globalGood 50 GB, unlimited, complete app
Airalo, the market pioneer, names the carrier of each plan: in China, it is China Unicom, a good urban network and solid along the tourist routes. Its best price per GB drops to €0.89/GB on the 50 GB plan, the second lowest in the comparison. The flip side: small plans are expensive, the 10 GB 7-day plan costs almost twice voilà eSIM's.
Its strength remains the app, the most complete of the six, with top-ups and usage tracking, an unlimited offer from 3 to 30 days, and a handy Asia plan if you chain China, Japan and Korea without changing eSIM. Support, in English, can be slow.
Pros
- Second price per GB in the comparison on 50 GB, China Unicom network named
- Complete app, built-in top-up, unlimited from 3 to 30 days
- Asia plan for a multi-country trip
Cons
- Expensive small plans, a single network
- Support in English, sometimes slow
- 7.0/10
4. Ubigi
€1.32/GBLocal networksData plans, one-off or monthly, and unlimitedNTT group, prices in euros, 10 GB over 7 days
Ubigi belongs to Transatel, a subsidiary of the NTT group, a mark of seriousness. Its prices are shown in euros, top-ups happen in the app and it offers one-off plans, monthly plans and an unlimited plan from 8 to 30 days. In China, the best price per GB comes to €1.32/GB on the 25 GB plan, in the middle of the comparison, and its 10 GB 7-day plan is among the cheapest for a week.
For this country, Ubigi does not say which carrier it uses before purchase. Support is by ticket, in English and French.
Pros
- Subsidiary of the NTT group, prices in euros
- Good 10 GB over 7 days, top-up in the app, unlimited available
Cons
- Chinese carrier not named before purchase
- Support by ticket only
- 6.8/10
5. Yesim
€1.27/GBLocal networksDaily, data and unlimited plansReusable eSIM, daily plans
Yesim, a Swiss provider, offers the widest range: daily plans, classic data plans up to 30 GB and an unlimited offer from 1 to 30 days. The best price per GB drops to €1.27/GB on the 30 GB plan, in the middle of the comparison, but its 10 GB is clearly more expensive than voilà eSIM's or Esimzon's.
The eSIM can be reused from one trip to the next, which saves a new install every time you leave. On the other hand, Yesim does not name the Chinese carrier it uses before purchase, and support is limited to chat.
Pros
- Reusable eSIM across several trips
- Daily plans and unlimited available
Cons
- Chinese carrier not named before purchase
- Expensive 10 GB, support by chat
- 6.3/10
6. Saily
€2.05/GBLocal networksData plans, 1 to 20 GB, and unlimitedBy Nord Security, built-in security
Saily is the eSIM from Nord Security, the maker of NordVPN. The app is simple, with an ad and tracker blocker and built-in web protection, and chat answers 24/7 in English.
In China, the best price per GB comes to €2.05/GB on the 20 GB plan: the highest rate in the comparison, with no carrier named before purchase. For those who want the security layer above all.
Pros
- Built-in ad and tracker blocker
- 24/7 chat, unlimited available
Cons
- The highest price per GB in the comparison
- Carrier not named before purchase
Which China eSIM for your profile?
The eSIM we recommend for each type of traveller.
- Google, WhatsApp and Instagram without a VPNvoilà eSIM"No blocked apps" advertised, two networks and 5G.
- Small budget, big volumeEsimzon€0.45/GB, the lowest price per GB in the comparison, on 35 GB.
- Human supportvoilà eSIMA team that answers 24/7, despite the time difference.
- UnlimitedAiraloUnlimited from 3 to 30 days on China Unicom, complete app.
- China, Japan, KoreaAiraloAsia plan, a single eSIM for the whole trip.
- Several trips a yearYesimReusable eSIM, daily plans.
eSIM or local SIM card in China?
In China, the local SIM has a flaw that price does not make up for: it connects you to the Chinese network, so behind the national firewall. Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Gmail and most Western sites are blocked without a VPN, and VPNs themselves work less and less well. A China Mobile or China Unicom SIM is bought in a shop on presentation of your passport, with real-name registration, and it makes you lose your usual SIM if your phone has a single slot.
A travel eSIM goes through roaming: your connection exits through a foreign carrier, and the filtering does not apply. That is why voilà eSIM advertises "no blocked apps" and why most eSIMs in the comparison keep your apps working. Check your home plan before buying: some European plans already include China with tens of GB a month, Free Mobile's 5G plan for instance (the list is in our article on the countries included at Free Mobile). Our rule: eSIM for any tourist or business trip, local SIM only for an expatriation, where you will need a Chinese number anyway for WeChat Pay and Alipay. And if you continue to Tokyo or Seoul, the same comparison exists for the best eSIM for Japan and the best eSIM for South Korea.
What to check on your phone before buying
Two conditions: an eSIM-compatible phone that is carrier-unlocked. iPhones since the XR and the Pixel, Galaxy S and other recent models are; the full list is on our eSIM-compatible phones page. A phone bought subsidised from a carrier may still be locked: ask for the unlock before you leave. China has switched off its 2G and 3G, so count on 4G everywhere and 5G in the cities.
Before you leave, install what you will need on the ground: Alipay or WeChat Pay with your bank card, Amap or Apple Maps for navigation (Google Maps is unreliable in China even with data), and a translation app. Once the eSIM is installed, keep your home SIM active for calls and texts, turn off its data roaming, and turn on the China eSIM's when you arrive. Every plan in the China comparator is sold by providers that show compatibility before purchase.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best eSIM for China?
How much does an eSIM for China cost?
Do WhatsApp, Google and Instagram work with an eSIM in China?
Which network has the best signal in China?
Should I activate the eSIM before leaving for China?
Most read
August 18, 202614 min readFree Mobile country list: the destinations included abroad (2026)
Free 5G+ plan: 35 GB across 117 destinations. Free Max: unlimited in over 140. The full list of included countries, the limits and the plan B.
Rony
July 28, 20267 min readSqueezie eSIM: should you use the Saily promo code?
Squeezie sponsors the Saily eSIM with a -15% promo code. We break down the offer, compare price per GB and tell you whether it is really the best deal.
Rony
August 28, 202610 min readFree eSIM: what is actually free, and what is not (2026)
Six eSIMs with real free data, as reported on September 15, 2026, from providers, their terms and conditions, and when paying €0.80 becomes the smarter choice.
Rony
August 19, 20269 min readLa Poste Mobile eSIM: not available yet, and here is when that changes (2026)
La Poste Mobile does not offer eSIM yet, only physical SIM cards. Announced launch date, alternatives and compatible phones in 2026.
Rony
August 25, 202610 min readNumero eSIM review: legit or not? What the ratings don't tell you (2026)
Suspended Trustpilot rating, 3.5/5 on the App Store, disputed charges: our full Numero eSIM review, with verified prices and the alternatives.
Rony
August 26, 20269 min readDoes WhatsApp use mobile data? How much, and how to stay in control (2026)
WhatsApp eats into your data plan: from 0.01 MB per message to 20 MB per minute of video call. The numbers, the settings that save your plan, the travel case.
Rony