Summer Offer: 10% OFF - Use code SUMMER10

MegaEsim

eSIM for China

Get reliable and affordable internet connectivity during your trip.

Excellent Based on 6,798+ reviews
China travel eSIM — fast 4G/5G mobile data coverage with MegaEsim
Number of eSIMs 1
Secure checkout
Truly Unlimited DataStay connected every day with no overall data cap for the full validity period.
High-Speed Every DayUp to 1 GB per day at full 4G/5G speed, then up to 1 Mbps for the rest of that day.
Resets Every DayYour full-speed allowance refreshes automatically every 24 hours, with nothing for you to do.
Multi-network CoverageRuns on China Mobile and China Unicom in China for stable coverage.
Multiple eSIM PurchaseYou can buy several eSIMs at once for family and friends.
Device CompatibilityWorks with any smartphone that supports eSIM.

China travel data eSIM

What Is a China eSIM?

A China eSIM is a digital data plan that gives your phone mobile internet across China without a physical SIM card. You buy a plan, scan a QR code, and you are online. No plastic SIM, no airport queues.

Your home SIM stays in your phone, so you keep your normal number for calls and texts while the eSIM handles data. Cheaper than roaming, faster than finding a SIM shop when you land.

Strongest network, chosen automatically Connects to the strongest network in each area for fast 4G LTE and 5G data wherever you are.
  • No Physical SIM Card100% digital, delivered as a QR code
  • 4G LTE + 5G SpeedConnects to whichever operator is strongest nearby
  • Keep Your Home NumberDual SIM, so calls and texts still reach you
  • Fixed Price, No SurprisesPaid up front, with no meter running

Local networks

Which networks you connect to in China

Your MegaEsim China plan roams on the local operators below. Your phone picks whichever gives the strongest signal where you are standing, so there is nothing to choose or set up.

China Mobile 5G China Unicom 5G

19 plans are available for China, from $1.29 up to $101.22. Every plan is data only, delivered by QR code, and starts counting when you connect on arrival.

China flag Beijing Shanghai Xi'an Guangzhou

Same plan, same coverage, wherever you go in China.

Every plan

All China eSIM plans and prices

Unlimited plans never run out. They run at full speed up to a daily allowance, then carry on at a reduced speed. Data plans give you a set amount of data to use across the whole validity period.

See all 19 plans and prices Hide the full price list 1 GB to 50 GB plus unlimited · 1 to 30 days · from $1.29
Full speed each dayValidityPer dayPrice
1 GB a day1 day$1.29$1.29
3 GB a day1 day$3.37$3.37
1 GB a day Best value3 days$1.12$3.36
3 GB a day3 days$3.37$10.12
1 GB a day7 days$1.12$7.84
3 GB a day7 days$3.37$23.62
1 GB a day15 days$1.12$16.80
3 GB a day15 days$3.37$50.61
1 GB a day30 days$1.12$33.60
3 GB a day30 days$3.37$101.22

Once the daily allowance is used the connection keeps working at a reduced speed, then resets the next day.

Pick yours in the selector at the top of the page.

The alternatives

Travel eSIM vs SIM Card vs Roaming

The same trip, three ways to pay for data.

Recommended

MegaEsim travel eSIM

Sorted before you leave home

From $1.29, fixed

  • Scan a QR code before you fly
  • Working the moment you land
  • Keeps your home number
  • Paid up front, so no bill later

Local SIM card

Cheap, once you have one

Varies by shop

  • Find a shop, queue, show ID
  • Offline until you reach that shop
  • Your own SIM comes out
  • Paid up front, so no bill later

Roaming on your home plan

Nothing to do, and it costs

Often $10 or more a day

  • Already switched on
  • Keeps your home number
  • Charged per day, per line
  • The bill lands after the trip

Everyday use

Your number stays yours, and every app keeps working

Because your home SIM stays in the phone, WhatsApp still runs on your own number, and so do iMessage and the SMS codes your bank sends. Everything else simply uses the eSIM's data, exactly as it does on Wi-Fi at home.

  • WhatsApp
  • Google Maps
  • Uber
  • Instagram
  • Spotify
  • Gmail
  • Banking apps
  • Airline apps

Getting connected

From checkout to signal in three steps

Buying and installing takes about five minutes. The only waiting happens after you land.

Buy before you fly Choose your plan and the QR code arrives by email within a minute or two. It also sits in your account as a backup.
Install while you have Wi-Fi Scan the code from your phone settings. Do this at home the night before rather than in an arrivals hall with no signal.
Land, then switch on data roaming Turn on data roaming for the eSIM line when you arrive. Your plan activates on a local network and the clock starts then, not before.

Read the full setup guide

If plans change

Change of plans? No problem

Buy now and decide later. There are three situations where we refund you, and you have a long window to ask.

6 month money back guarantee You have half a year from the day you buy to ask for a refund.
Your trip is off
Cancelled or postponed and you have not activated the eSIM. Full refund.
Your phone cannot take it
Device turns out not to support eSIM, or it is carrier locked. Refunded immediately.
It will not connect
A network fault we cannot fix. Full or partial refund depending on what you used.

China guide · 5 min read

China eSIM Data and Budget Guide: Pick the Right Plan and What It Really Costs

Planning data for a China trip is mostly about matching the right amount to your days on the ground, then paying as little as you can for it. Our China eSIM runs on China Mobile and China Unicom, so you get real local coverage in Beijing, Shanghai and beyond. This guide walks you through the real plans, the real prices, and how much data different travelers actually use.

01 Start With Your Trip Length, Then Match a Plan

The smartest way to save money is to buy for the trip you are actually taking. A weekend in Shanghai needs far less than two weeks across Beijing, Xi'an and Chengdu. Pick the plan length first, then the data size.

Here are three real options to anchor your budget. A short visit can use the 1 GB for 7 days plan at $0.98. A standard week or two fits the 3 GB for 15 days plan at $2.66 or the 3 GB for 30 days plan at $2.73. A longer or heavier trip is covered by the 10 GB for 30 days plan at $8.19.

If your dates are tight, the 1 GB for 1 day plan at $0.91 is the cheapest way to get online for a single travel day, like the afternoon you land at Beijing Capital airport and need maps and a ride.

02 How Much Data You Will Really Burn Through in China

Most light users get by on about 1 GB to 2 GB for a few days. That covers maps, messaging, train and metro times, and the odd photo upload. For that kind of use, the 1 GB for 7 days plan at $0.98 is hard to beat.

Average travelers tend to use 3 GB to 5 GB over a week or two. If you check maps in the Forbidden City, post a few photos from the Bund, and call home each night, look at the 3 GB plans or step up to the 5 GB for 30 days plan at $4.14.

Heavy users who stream, video call, or work on the road should plan for 10 GB or more. The 10 GB for 30 days plan at $8.19 suits most of these trips, and the 50 GB for 30 days plan at $35 is there for long stays or hotspot use.

03 Why Our Plans Beat the Airport SIM Counter

Physical SIM cards sold at Pudong or Beijing Capital arrivals often cost two to three times more for the same data, and you usually have to show your passport and fill in forms in a language you may not read. That eats time you would rather spend exploring.

With our eSIM you skip all of that. The cheapest plan starts at $0.91, and even a generous 10 GB for 30 days plan is $8.19. You set it up before you fly, land, and you are already online. No counter, no queue, no card to swap.

04 Getting Online: Google, WhatsApp and Maps That Actually Work

China blocks many apps that travelers rely on, including Google, Gmail, Google Maps, WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook, for anyone using a normal local connection. This catches a lot of first time visitors by surprise.

Our eSIM sends your data out through servers outside mainland China. That means Google Maps, WhatsApp and your usual apps keep working the way they do at home, with no extra setup on your part. You do not need to buy or fight with a separate app just to message family.

05 Coverage From the Big Cities to the Quiet Corners

Because the eSIM uses China Mobile and China Unicom, you get strong signal where most travel happens. Expect fast 4G and 5G across Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu and Xi'an, including business districts and the main tourist sights.

Signal is also solid on most high speed train routes, which is handy on the long ride between Beijing and Shanghai. In remote spots, such as parts of rural Yunnan or the hills around Guilin, coverage is good but can thin out. In those areas keep an offline map saved as a backup.

06 Install Before You Fly: A Two Minute Setup

This is the one rule that matters most. You must add the eSIM while you still have WiFi, before you arrive, because foreign eSIMs cannot be installed once you are inside mainland China. Set it up at home or at your departure airport.

The steps are simple. Buy your plan, then scan the QR code we send you to add the eSIM to your phone. Leave it set to turn on when you reach China, switch on data roaming for that line, and it connects on its own when you land. Setup takes about two minutes.

Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about our China eSIM.

It works on most phones from the last several years that support eSIM, including recent iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel and many others. Your phone also needs to be carrier unlocked. If you can normally add an eSIM in your settings, this plan will work for your China trip.

It connects to China Mobile and China Unicom, two of the largest networks in the country. That gives you strong 4G and 5G coverage in cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu, plus good signal on most high speed train routes.
Verified reviews

What travellers say about China eSIM

4.9
45 verified reviews

“No more hunting for a SIM card at the airport. My China eSIM was ready the second I arrived. Simple, fast and great value.”

🇳🇿
Ying K.
Auckland, New Zealand
✓ Verified

“Honestly impressed with the coverage across China. Full signal in the cities and even in remote areas. Worth every cent.”

🇿🇦
Raj T.
Cape Town, South Africa
✓ Verified

“Bought the China plan for a business trip and it saved me a fortune. Reliable connection the entire time, zero hassle.”

🇧🇷
Mia R.
São Paulo, Brazil
✓ Verified

“As a frequent traveller, MegaEsim's China eSIM is the easiest I've used. Instant delivery, clear pricing, and it just works.”

🇵🇹
Samuel H.
Lisbon, Portugal
✓ Verified
Travelling onward?

Popular eSIM destinations

Ready to land connected?

19 plans for China, from $1.29. Your QR code arrives by email within minutes, and the clock only starts when you connect on arrival.

  • 6 month money back guarantee
  • Delivered instantly by email
  • Keep your own number