Disclosure: haalaan sells one of the eSIMs compared here. We checked every other provider's facts on that provider's own website, left out anything we could not confirm, and earn nothing from the other providers. Prices change, so check before you buy.
You have the flights to Shanghai, Beijing or Chengdu. Now you want maps that load and messages that send the moment you land, the same way they do back home.
There are many ways to get online in mainland China: a travel eSIM, a pass from your US carrier, or a rented pocket Wi-Fi. This page compares six options US travelers actually use, side by side, in US dollars.
We sell one of them, and we say so. The rest of the facts come from each provider’s own website, checked on the date at the end of this page.
The comparison at a glance
Valid in mainland China (not Hong Kong or Macau), unless a row says otherwise.
| Option | Best for | Price (USD) | Data | Validity | Hotspot | Refund | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| haalaanSold by us | US travelers who want a simple China plan in USD | From $4.90 | 1–50 GB or 3 GB/day | 7–180 days | Yes | Full refund if not installed, within 30 days of purchase | China Mobile. Days start at the first connection in mainland China. Data only. |
| Airalo | A wide choice of fixed-data sizes | 10 GB / 30 days $26.50 · 20 GB / 30 days $40 · Unlimited 7 days $27 | 1–50 GB, or unlimited (1 Mbps after 3 GB a day) | 3–30 days | Yes, if your phone and the network support it | Eligible orders only. A change of plans is refunded as Airalo credit | China Unicom. Not Hong Kong or Macau. |
| Holafly | Unlimited data with no counting | 7 days $27.50 · 15 days $51.50 · 30 days $76.50 | Unlimited (a fair-use limit can apply for a day) | 3–30 days in the price table | Up to 1 GB a day | Change of plans: if not activated, within 6 months | China Mobile. Mainland China only. No phone number. |
| Nomad | Low prices on larger fixed plans when on sale | 10 GB / 30 days $19 (sale, usually $22) · 20 GB / 30 days $22 (sale, usually $30) | 1–50 GB, or unlimited (1 Mbps after 2 GB a day) | 7–45 days | Yes | Full refund within 30 days if not installed or activated | China Unicom and China Telecom. Starts on first connection, or after 60 days. |
| Saily | Unlimited with the most high-speed data a day | 10 GB / 30 days $26.99 · 20 GB / 30 days $39.99 · Unlimited 15 days $49.99 | 1–20 GB, or unlimited (1 Mbps after 5 GB a day) | 7–30 days | Yes | Full refund within 30 days if not installed or activated | China Telecom and China Unicom. Not Hong Kong or Macau. |
| US carrier roaming | A day or two, keeping your US number on data | AT&T Day Pass $12/day · Verizon TravelPass $12/day | AT&T: your US plan's data. Verizon: 5 GB high-speed a day. T-Mobile: depends on your plan | AT&T and Verizon: charged per day used | — | — | T-Mobile Experience Beyond includes 15 GB high-speed in China, then 256 kbps. |
— means we could not confirm it on the provider's own site, or did not compare it for that option.
A few things the table can’t show:
- Fixed or unlimited. A fixed plan is a set number of gigabytes over a set number of days. An “unlimited” plan usually gives a daily high-speed amount, then slows to 1 Mbps. That is fine for messages and maps, and slow for video.
- When the clock starts. haalaan, Airalo, Saily and Nomad all start the plan’s days when the eSIM connects in China, not when you buy. Nomad also starts the plan after 60 days if you never connect.
- Phone numbers. Travel eSIMs for China are mostly data only. Your US number stays on for calls and texts.
Best by trip type
haalaan
1 GB · 7 days · $4.90
Enough for maps, messages, a ride and a boarding pass. Install it at home. The days start when it first connects in mainland China, not when you buy.
See haalaan planshaalaan
10 GB · 30 days · $15.90
10 GB covers a normal week of maps, WhatsApp, Instagram, payments and some video calls, with room for hotspot.
See haalaan planshaalaan
20 GB · 30 days · $21.90
20 GB over 30 days suits two weeks of normal use. Nomad's 20 GB plan was on sale for less when we checked, so compare on the day you buy.
See haalaan planshaalaan
10 GB · 30 days · $18.90
One Greater China eSIM works in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau. The China plans from haalaan, Airalo, Holafly and Saily do not cover Hong Kong or Macau.
See haalaan plansSaily
Of the unlimited plans we checked, Saily states the largest daily high-speed amount: 5 GB a day, then 1 Mbps.
Visit SailyUS carrier roaming
For a day or two, a carrier pass keeps everything on your US line with nothing to install. It costs more than an eSIM after a few days.
Most trips fit one of these. If yours is between two sizes, pick the larger one. Running out mid-trip is more annoying than paying a few dollars more.
The six options, one by one
haalaan
haalaan is built for travelers heading to mainland China from the US. Prices are in USD, plans run on China Mobile at 4G/5G high speed, and hotspot is supported on the China plans. There are fixed plans from a layover size up to 50 GB over 180 days, plus Unlimited daily plans: 3 GB high-speed/day, then 1 Mbps.
Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Maps and your other apps work just like back home on your haalaan eSIM. No extra setup needed. Support is 24/7 at support@haalaan.com, and you get a full refund if the eSIM is not installed, within 30 days of purchase. Top-ups are non-refundable.
Airalo
Airalo has the widest choice of fixed sizes we found for China: 1 GB for 3 days up to 50 GB for 30 days, plus unlimited plans from 3 to 30 days. Its unlimited plans slow to 1 Mbps after 3 GB a day. It runs on China Unicom, allows hotspot where the phone and network support it, and says its China eSIM does not cover Hong Kong or Macau.
Refunds are for eligible orders. Airalo says a change of plans is refunded as Airmoney, its store credit, rather than to your card.
Holafly
Holafly sells unlimited plans for China, from 3 to 30 days in its US dollar price table. It runs on China Mobile. Hotspot is capped at 1 GB a day, so a 7-day plan includes 7 GB to share. Holafly says a fair-use limit can apply for up to a day and then resets.
Its China plans have no local phone number. For a change of plans, Holafly refunds an eSIM that has not been activated, if you ask within 6 months of purchase.
Nomad
Nomad sells fixed plans from 1 GB for 7 days to 50 GB for 45 days, and unlimited plans from 3 to 15 days. When we checked, its 10 GB and 20 GB plans were on sale. Unlimited plans slow to 1 Mbps after 2 GB a day. It runs on China Unicom and China Telecom and supports hotspot.
Nomad gives a full refund within 30 days of purchase if the eSIM has not been installed or activated. Plans bought with a discount code can’t be refunded once installed.
Saily
Saily sells fixed plans from 1 GB for 7 days to 20 GB for 30 days, and unlimited plans from 5 to 30 days. Its unlimited plans give 5 GB of high-speed data a day before slowing to 1 Mbps, the largest stated daily amount among the unlimited plans we checked. It runs on China Telecom and China Unicom and supports hotspot.
Saily gives a full refund within 30 days of purchase if the eSIM has not been installed or activated.
US carrier roaming
Carrier roaming is the zero-setup option: your US line just works in China. The trade-off is the daily price.
- AT&T International Day Pass is $12 a day for China, and uses your US plan’s talk, text and data.
- Verizon TravelPass is $12 a day for China, with 5 GB of high-speed data a day before speeds drop.
- T-Mobile depends on your plan. Experience Beyond includes 15 GB of high-speed data in China, Experience More includes 5 GB, and Go5G and Magenta include unlimited data at 256 kbps. T-Mobile says prepaid plans have no data roaming in China.
For a week, $12 a day adds up to $84. Check roaming with your carrier before you go, since plans change.
How much data do you need?
Most people use less than they expect. Maps, messages, payments and ride-hailing are light. Photos and social apps add up. Video calls, streaming and a laptop on hotspot are what use data fastest.
- A layover or a night or two: a small plan covers maps, messages and a boarding pass.
- About a week: 10 GB fits most people using maps, messaging, social apps and the occasional call.
- About two weeks, or a heavy week: 20 GB, or a daily plan if you would rather not count.
- A month or more, or remote work: the largest plan you can find, with room to top up.
If you plan to post a lot of video, or share with a travel partner, size up. There is more detail, with example trips, in how much data for a China trip.
eSIM, roaming, or pocket Wi-Fi
eSIM. Bought and installed before you fly, on your own phone, with your US number still on. You pay once, in advance. The catch: your phone has to support eSIM and be carrier-unlocked.
Carrier roaming with your US plan. Nothing to install, and calls work as normal. It costs more per day, and the high-speed amount depends on your plan.
Pocket Wi-Fi. A small router you rent and carry. It can be handy for a family sharing one connection, but it is one more device to charge, carry and return, and everyone has to stay near it.
For most solo travelers and couples, an eSIM is the simplest. The China travel internet checklist goes through the trade-offs in more detail.
How to choose
Whichever provider you pick, check these before you pay:
- Your phone. It has to be eSIM-compatible and carrier-unlocked. See compatible phones.
- Mainland China, or more. China plans usually do not cover Hong Kong or Macau. If your trip crosses into either, plan for it.
- Honest data. Look for the daily high-speed amount behind any “unlimited” label.
- When the days start. On first connection in China is best: you can install early without losing days.
- Hotspot. If you need to share, check whether it is allowed and whether there is a cap.
- Refunds. Know what happens if your trip changes before you install, and whether you get cash or credit.
- Price in dollars. Compare price per gigabyte and the number of days, not only the headline.
Then install it at home, on Wi-Fi, a few days before you fly. The steps are in how to set up an eSIM before a China trip.
haalaan plans and prices
Valid in mainland China (not Hong Kong or Macau). Going to Hong Kong or Macau too? Add a Hong Kong or Macau eSIM at checkout, or choose Greater China for one eSIM across all three.
| If the trip looks like this | Plan | Price |
|---|---|---|
| A layover. Maps, messages, a boarding pass | China 1GB · 7 days | $4.90 |
| A few days. Maps, messages, a few photos | China 3GB · 15 days | $7.90 |
| About a week. Maps, WhatsApp, Instagram, some calls | China 10GB · 30 days (most popular pick) | $15.90 |
| About two weeks, or a week of heavy posting and video calls | China 20GB · 30 days | $21.90 |
| More than a month: a semester, a posting, or remote work | China 50GB · 180 days | $69.90 |
| A packed week, and you do not want to count | Unlimited · 3 GB high-speed/day, then 1 Mbps · 7 days | $24.90 |
| Two weeks, and you do not want to count | Unlimited · 3 GB high-speed/day, then 1 Mbps · 15 days | $46.90 |
Every plan and price is on the China eSIM page. For payments, apps and the rest of the trip, see China travel essentials.
How we compared
We read each provider's own China product page, refund policy and help pages on 2026-10-19: airalo.com, esim.holafly.com, saily.com, nomadesim.com, t-mobile.com, att.com and verizon.com. Prices are the US dollar prices those pages showed that day. Where a page showed a sale price, we give the regular price too.
haalaan is listed first because it is ours. The other eSIM providers follow in alphabetical order, then US carrier roaming. The order is not a ranking. We did not use review sites or affiliate lists. Where we could not confirm a fact on the provider's own site, or did not compare it for that option, the table shows a dash rather than a guess. We do not rate or score the other providers, and nothing on this page is a customer review.
haalaan prices come straight from the haalaan catalogue, the same list checkout uses. We will re-check the other providers and update this page when their plans change. Spot something out of date? Email support@haalaan.com.
FAQ
What is the best eSIM for China?
It depends on the trip. For a week, a 10 GB plan bought before you fly is enough for most people. For heavy video, an unlimited plan with a high daily allowance fits better. For mainland China plus Hong Kong or Macau, choose one eSIM that covers all three.
Do I need an unlimited plan in China?
Most travelers do not. Maps, messages and payments use little data. Unlimited plans usually slow down after a daily amount: 2 GB a day at Nomad, 3 GB at Airalo and 5 GB at Saily, then 1 Mbps.
Do China eSIMs cover Hong Kong and Macau?
Usually not. haalaan China plans are valid in mainland China (not Hong Kong or Macau), and Airalo, Holafly and Saily say the same of theirs. Going to Hong Kong or Macau too? Add a Hong Kong or Macau eSIM at checkout, or choose Greater China for one eSIM across all three.
Is carrier roaming cheaper than an eSIM?
For a day or two it can be. AT&T and Verizon charge $12 a day for China when we checked. Over a week, a prepaid eSIM usually costs less than a daily pass.
Will Google and WhatsApp work on a China eSIM?
Yes. Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Maps and your other apps work just like back home on your haalaan eSIM. No extra setup needed.
Do these eSIMs include a phone number?
haalaan and Holafly China plans are data only. Keep your US line on for calls and texts, with its data roaming off, and message in apps over the eSIM.
When should I buy and install a China eSIM?
A few days before you fly, on Wi-Fi at home. haalaan days start when the eSIM first connects in mainland China. Installing ends the refund for an uninstalled eSIM.
Valid in mainland China (not Hong Kong or Macau).
China eSIM · China travel essentials · China city guides · Help · How much data · FAQ