Last updated on January 1st, 2023 at 07:52 pm

Best China eSim Compared And How To Buy – In this guide you will learn how to buy a Chinese eSim and how to activate the best eSim for China. Click here to get a discount booking activities in China with Klook!
What Are The Most Popular eSim in China?
You can get the most popular eSim providers in China: Airalo, Holafly, Nomad, MTX, GigSky and Ubigi depending on how much data you need in China. Read here China sim card for tourist
What Is The Cheapest eSim For China?
You can find the cheapest China eSim with Nomad China eSim for $5 USD with 1 GB data valid for 7 days. If you need more data you can go for $15 USD Nomad China eSim with 5 GB data valid for 7 days.
The cheapest eSim in China with Airalo is $7 USD with 1 GB data valid for 7 days and for $8 USD with 2 GB data valid for 15 days. (USING DISCOUNT CODE GAMINTRAVELER 10%). Plans with Airalo eSim China prepaid start at $11 USD with 3 GB data valid for 30 days. For $16 USD with 5 GB data and for $28 USD with 10 GB data valid for 30 days.
Holafly China eSim for less than $60 USD if you use our code GAMINTRAVELER you will have unlimited internet for 30 days in China for just $2 USD per day.
Read here how to get from Beijing airport to city center and Shanghai airport to city center, best things to do in Sanya and Nanshan Temple.
WHERE TO STAY IN CHINA
Planning to book accommodation for your next trip to China? Click here to book with Booking and Agoda!
BOOK YOUR TRAVEL INSURANCE
You can read Heymondo Vs Safetwing cheapest travel Insurance. You can get for $135 USD your Heymondo Travel Insurance with Heymondo discount code valid for 90 days. Read our full Heymondo Travel Insurance Review
You can get Safetywing Travel Insurance for Digital Nomads valid for 28 days Safetywing for $50 USD per month with kids until 10 years old included
CHINESE ESIM COMPARED AND BEST PREPAID CHINA ESIM

CHINA ESIM BACKGROUND
An eSim is a virtual sim card (embedded sim) that you can use to connect to data services while you’re traveling. It’s not a physical sim card that you insert on your phone. Usually, you scan a code that gives your phone access to the data plan package of that eSim.
An eSim data plan is a great way to get a data or internet package outside of your home sim card, or phone carrier service from Europe. And because you are using an eSim, you don’t have to worry about changing your phone number for Whatsapp, imessage, Telegram, or any other messaging apps.
Once you purchase an eSim, you’ll immediately be emailed a QR code that you can scan, and if you should be connected to data immediately. There are a few eSims in China available for tourists and prepaid eSim data plans.
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Difference between an eSim vs getting a data plan
Ease of access to a data or internet package is the biggest difference of an eSim over a data plan from Regular mobile data carriers in your country. With an eSim, instead of buying the physical sim, you can buy a package online and activate it wherever you are.
How to Activate Your Esim Service

You can purchase your Holafly eSim here (in this case with Holafly eSim China but there are other providers too). Choose the country you’re going to, and how many days you want to have unlimited data service or any other data packages for data eSim in China.
Remember that you’re buying internet data and not credits for sending text messages/SMS, or making phone calls. You can use regular messaging apps for these like Whatsapp, Telegram, Messenger or iMessage.
Once you have your eSim confirmation, you’ll get the code. You can save this code in your phone as an image, and scan it later, or scan it now, and you’ll immediately activate it.
China eSim Comparison What do I need to have to get a data package for eSim in China
Before you can get an eSim China data package, you need to first make sure that your phone supports the eSim functionality. Unfortunately this is not available for all phones. It became available in the last year or two, making only the newest phone versions to support this feature.
If you are using an iPhone or iPad running SIM card functionality, these are the models that support the eSim feature for iOS.
iPhone and iPad with Esim Functionality
iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone SE 2 (2020), iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Mini, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro,, MaxiPhone SE 3 (2022). On iPhone 13 models you can have two eSIMs activated at the same time.
For iPads, you have the following.
iPad Pro 11″ (model A2068, from 2020), iPad Pro 12.9″ (model A2069, from 2020), iPad Air (model A2123, from 2019), iPad (model A2198, from 2019), iPad Mini (model A2124, from 2019)
Your ipad needs to have the sim functionality to get the esim feature.
This is how you activate an esim with iOS devices.
Android Phones with the Esim Functionality
Samsung Esim Phones
Samsung Galaxy S20, Samsung Galaxy S20+, Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy S21, Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G, Samsung Galaxy S21+ Ultra 5G, Samsung Galaxy S22, Samsung Galaxy S22+, Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy Note 20, Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G, Samsung Galaxy Fold, Samsung Galaxy Fold 3, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G Fold, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, Samsung Watch (via Samsung Wearable application)
For Samsung subscribers, you can check the guide here for activating the esim.
Google Pixel Esim Phones
Have a Google Pixel phone, check this guide on how to activate esim. Below are the Google Pixel Phones that support esim:
Google Pixel 2 (only phones bought with Google Fi service), Google Pixel 2 XLGoogle Pixel 3, Google Pixel 3 XL, Google Pixel 3a, Google Pixel 3a XL, Google Pixel 4, Google Pixel 4a, Google Pixel 4 XL, Google Pixel 5, Google Pixel 5a, Google Pixel 6, Google Pixel 6 Pro.
Other Android Handsets that Support the eSim functionality:
Huawei P40, Huawei P40 Pro, Huawei Mate 40 Pro
Oppo Find X3 Pro, Oppo Reno 5A, Oppo Reno6 Pro 5G, Oppo Find X5, Oppo Find X5 Pro, Oppo A55s
Motorola Razr 2019, Motorola Razr 5G, Nuu Mobile X5, Gemini PDA, Rakuten Mini, Rakuten Big-S, Rakuten Big and Sony Xperia 10 III Lite.
There are also Ultrabooks that have the eSim functionality in them.
So check the following ultrabooks and laptops:
Microsoft Surface Pro X, Microsoft Surface Go 2, Microsoft Surface Pro LTE Advanced
Acer Swift 3, Acer Swift 7, Asus Mini Transformer
Asus NovaGo, Asus VivoBook Flip 14, HP Elitebook G5
HP Probook G5, HP Zbook G5, HP Specter Folio 13, Lenovo Yoga C630, Lenovo Miix 630
Lenovo Yoga 520, Lenovo Flex 5G and Samsung Galaxy Book 2
Check if your phone is Unlocked
The idea of having an eSim is to have another carrier providing data service/internet service to your phone. Even if your phone supports the eSim functionality, the phone needs to be open or unlocked to use any data/sim company.
Locked phones are usually the phones you purchased with a data plan with a sim card or carrier service, where you have plans that you pay monthly until your contract expires, and allowed you to get your phone at a discount or for free.
Buying a China eSim And Best Prepaid eSim China Data Plan
HOLAFLY CHINA ESIM DISCOUNT CODE

Holafly China eSim is our favorite since we are always looking for unlimited data options or huge data packages. Holafly China eSim for less than $60 USD if you use our code GAMINTRAVELER you will have unlimited internet for 30 days in most of the countries in Europe just $2 USD per day.
The data plans with Holafly eSim China start at $19 USD for 5 days for unlimited data. If you choose 10 days unlimited data $34 USD, for $47 USD 15 days unlimited data and $64 USD unlimited data for 30 days all of them with unlimited data.
AIRALO CHINA ESIM DISCOUNT CODE

Airalo China eSim is a good alternative to have internet in China but you won’t be having unlimited internet service with them. Plans with Airalo eSim China prepaid start at $11 USD with 3 GB data valid for 30 days. For $16 USD with 5 GB data and for $28 USD with 10 GB data valid for 30 days.
The cheapest eSim in China with Airalo is $7 USD with 1 GB data valid for 7 days and for $8 USD with 2 GB data valid for 15 days. (USING DISCOUNT CODE GAMINTRAVELER 10%).
MORE PREPAID ESIM CHINA
Nomad eSim China

Nomad eSim China for $5 USD with 1 GB data valid for 7 days can be a great idea if you aren’t planning to use so much data. Plans with Nomad eSim China prepaid start at $13 USD with 3 GB data valid for 7 days. For $15 USD with 5 GB data valid for 7 days. Nomad eSim China isn’t offering huge data packages or unlimited data for eSim in China.
MTX Connect eSim China

MTX Connect eSim China is a small provider offering data plans in China. MTX Connect eSim China for €24 with 4 GB data valid for 14 days. There are unlimited data plans starting from €10 per day and for €15 with 2 GB data valid for 7 days.
UBIGI CHINA ESIM

Ubigi China eSim for $12 USD with 1 GB data valid for 30 days and for $25 USD with 3 GB data valid for 30 days. (USING DISCOUNT CODE GAMINTRAVELER 10%).
GIGSKY CHINA ESIM

GigSky China eSim for $10 USD with 1 GB data valid for 7 days and for $48 USD with 5 GB data valid for 30 days.
BEST ESIM FOR CHINA CONCLUSION (CHEAPEST CHINA ESIM FOR TOURISTS)
The best eSim for China I would go for the cheapest eSim in China with Nomad China eSim if you are planning to stay short for $5 USD with 1 GB data valid for 7 days and for $15 USD with 5 GB data valid for 7 days with Nomad China eSim.
The cheapest eSim in China with Airalo is $7 USD with 1 GB data valid for 7 days and for $8 USD with 2 GB data valid for 15 days. (USING DISCOUNT CODE GAMINTRAVELER 10%). Plans with Airalo eSim China prepaid start at $11 USD with 3 GB data valid for 30 days. For $16 USD with 5 GB data and for $28 USD with 10 GB data valid for 30 days.
Holafly China eSim for less than $60 USD if you use our code GAMINTRAVELER you will have unlimited internet for 30 days in China for just $2 USD per day.
CURRENCY AND ATMS IN CHINA
The Renminbi abbreviated RMB or Chinese Yuan is the currency in China. For $1 USD you will have 7 RMB.
To exchange cash the best way is to head to the banks. It can be really hard to find exchange offices and even hotels for cash. So the most reliable option in our experience is going to the bank.
If you want to use the ATMs you will find many around the city and the airport too.
Click here to know the exact exchange rate!
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Happy Travels!
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