Best eSIM for China (Nov 2026): what actually works behind the firewall

For a China eSIM that works with WhatsApp, Google Maps and ChatGPT, I have completed app checks on Trip.com, Yesim and Nomad: all three worked without a separate VPN. Those tests were in Chengdu and Shanghai, as recorded in each review. I’m testing four additional ranked brands now: Saily, NXTL, Quibity and TooSim. I have also added a separately reviewed but unranked brand, Ubigi, whose China field tests are pending. Until my results are in, those four are marked ⬖, and their app information comes only from the brands’ official pages.

Quick picks

• Best overall: Trip.com. Official Chinese carriers, the fastest speeds in my tests (up to 144 Mbps), a hotspot that works well, and plans from $0.10 a day. Check its cancellation deadline and installation conditions before buying.
• Best for unlimited data and long stays: Yesim. Unlimited day passes with no daily cap set by Yesim, down to $2.52 a day on the 30-day plan. TikTok worked too.
• Best for big data bundles: Nomad. $22.00 for 20 GB or $37.00 for 50 GB. Skip it if you need TikTok or a fast hotspot.
• Big brand with advertised hotspot sharing: Saily ⬖. From the company behind NordVPN. Its official guide describes Google Maps access, but WhatsApp guidance conflicts and ChatGPT support is unconfirmed. A 15-day unlimited plan cost $44.99 with my code at the recorded checkout.
• For frequent visitors: NXTL ⬖. No plan to waste: you pay as you go, from $2.29 per GB, and your balance never expires.

Considering a fixed-data newcomer? Ubigi lists China 10 GB / 30 days at $17.00 and provides a partner-supplied 10% first-order code for eligible one-off/annual plans. I have not tested Ubigi’s China app access or the code at checkout yet, so it is not included in the test-based ranking. Read the Ubigi China review.

Also visiting Hong Kong or Macau? See my China, Hong Kong and Macau eSIM comparison for regional plans by route and data needs, including a separate section for Taiwan.

My field-test results

All apps were checked with no VPN running. Speed depends on the place: Nomad reached 68.2 Mbps on 5G at Shanghai Hongqiao Airport, but only 15.5 Mbps in my hotel. Each review lists every test. My field tests of Saily, NXTL, Quibity and TooSim are in progress, and their results will go in this table.

Which China eSIM works with WhatsApp, Google Maps and ChatGPT?

Trip.com, Yesim and Nomad all opened these three apps in my China checks without a separate VPN. Google Maps was included in my Google tests. For a working hotspot or TikTok as well, I’d favor Yesim or Trip.com; Nomad’s hotspot was slow and TikTok didn’t open in my tests.

“Tested” refers to my checks on the reviewed China plan. “Brand says” is official information, with field testing still pending. “Not confirmed” means the checked official pages don't establish support; it doesn't mean the app is proven blocked. App access doesn't guarantee every navigation, registration or account feature.

For the four untested brands, the distinction matters: Quibity explicitly excludes ChatGPT, despite officially supporting WhatsApp and Google Maps. NXTL officially describes WhatsApp and Maps access but doesn’t confirm ChatGPT. Saily’s WhatsApp statements conflict, and TooSim’s “VPN: yes” label doesn’t establish three-app compatibility. The individual reviews explain the official statements behind these entries.

The 7 eSIMs

Trip.com — best overall

Trip.com’s China eSIM runs on China’s three official carriers: China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom. It was the fastest of the three eSIMs I’ve tested, at 83–144 Mbps down on China Mobile in Chengdu and Shanghai — most recently 142 Mbps on 5G in a Shanghai hotel on 2 November 2026. Its data exits through Hong Kong, so Google, Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp and ChatGPT all loaded without a VPN, and the hotspot connected and worked well.

Plans are priced by the day, from $0.10 for 500 MB. You choose daily data or one total allowance, for 1 to 30 days, and some plans also offer 60, 90 or 365 days. Read the selected product’s cancellation deadline and installation conditions before setting it up. If you book your flights or hotels on Trip.com, the eSIM goes in the same account.

The catch: Microsoft Copilot stayed blocked, and on daily plans, speed drops to 384 kbps once the day’s data runs out, until the next day’s allowance. Read my Trip.com review.

See Trip.com China eSIM plans — from $0.10/day ↗

Yesim — best for unlimited data and long stays

Yesim came a close second in my tests in Chengdu and Shanghai: 65.7–120 Mbps down on China Mobile, including 5G at Shanghai Hongqiao Airport, and 68.4 Mbps on 4G in my latest test on 2 November 2026. Its data exits through Singapore, so Google, Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp and ChatGPT all loaded without a VPN, and the hotspot worked well.

Where it stands out is unlimited data. Day passes cost $4.32 for one day and get cheaper the longer you stay: $75.60 for 30 days, or $2.52 a day. Yesim doesn’t cap the daily speed itself, though partner networks may apply their own fair-use limits. Fixed-data plans start at $3.36, you can add 20 minutes of calls for $4.79, and you can use my code ROAM15 (15% off for new users). If China is one stop on a longer trip, Yesim Asia Pacific covers mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea, among 15 listed destinations. This coverage information is from Yesim; my field tests used its China-only plan.

The catch: installing the eSIM counts as activation, so you can’t get a refund after that, and Microsoft Copilot stayed blocked. Read my Yesim review.

See Yesim China plans — from $3.36 ↗

Nomad — best for big data bundles

Nomad’s big bundles are cheap: $22.00 for 20 GB over 30 days — less than Yesim, Quibity or Saily charge for 20 GB — and $37.00 for 50 GB over 45 days, about $0.74 per GB. In my tests in Shanghai, its data exited through Hong Kong, and Google, Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook and ChatGPT loaded without a VPN. Speed varied a lot: 68.2 Mbps on 5G at Hongqiao Airport in August, but 15.5 Mbps down and 1.18 Mbps up on 4G in a hotel on 2 November 2026 — still enough for maps, messaging and browsing.

Unlimited plans last 3 to 15 days, from $12.00, with 2 GB a day at full speed before they slow down. For unlimited data without a daily limit set by the brand, look at Yesim’s unlimited plans.

The catch: TikTok and Microsoft Copilot didn’t load without a VPN, and the hotspot connected but was very slow — only good enough for web pages on the second device. Read my Nomad review.

Nomad’s free 1GB / 3-day app trial is for new users; redeeming it rules out new-user promo codes.

See Nomad China plans — from $5 ↗

Saily — big brand, unlimited hotspot sharing ⬖

Saily is the eSIM app from the company behind NordVPN. Its China plans run on China Telecom and China Unicom, with 5G where supported. Its official Google guide describes Google Maps access through international routing, but its China FAQ says WhatsApp needs a VPN while its WhatsApp blog describes an eSIM access route. I don’t class VPN-free WhatsApp as confirmed, and the official pages checked don’t explicitly confirm ChatGPT. Saily also advertises hotspot sharing; my China field test is pending.

Fixed-data plans run from $4.49 for 1 GB to $39.99 for 20 GB, and unlimited plans come in 5 to 30 days: 15 days cost $49.99, or $44.99 with my code ROAMTESTED (10% off for new customers). You have 180 days from purchase to start a plan, and Saily refunds it in full within 30 days if you haven’t installed the eSIM or the plan hasn’t activated. My own field test in China is in progress, and I’ll update this with my results.

The catch: bigger fixed plans cost more than Nomad’s — 20 GB is $39.99 against $22.00 — and I haven’t found a daily full-speed limit for China on Saily’s pages, so I’ll check that in my field test. Read my Saily review.

See Saily China plans — from $4.49 ↗

NXTL — pay as you go, balance never expires ⬖

NXTL has no plans: you pay for the data you use, billed in 1 KB steps at the network’s rate, from $2.29 per GB on China Telecom 5G. You start by buying the eSIM for $11.99: $1.99 for the eSIM itself, plus $10.00 of balance that never expires, so leftover data carries over to your next trip. The same eSIM works in 180+ countries, and every purchase earns 5% back in NXTL Tokens. NXTL says Google, WhatsApp and social media work in China without a separate VPN. You can also use my code roamm10 (10% off). My field test is in progress.

The catch: hotspot depends on compatible hardware and network support, there’s no unlimited plan, and purchases are generally non-refundable once delivered. NXTL’s current FAQ permits tethering, but my China hotspot test is pending. Read my NXTL review.

Get the NXTL eSIM ↗

Quibity — 4 GB a day on unlimited ⬖

Quibity’s fixed-data plans run from $6.20 for 1 GB to $38.70 for 20 GB. From 3 GB to 10 GB they cost about the same as Nomad’s and Yesim’s, and you can top them up from your Quibity account. Its unlimited plan comes in any length from 1 to 30 days, with 4 GB a day at full speed — twice Nomad’s — before it slows to 1 Mbps. Its China plans run on China Mobile — the unlimited plan can also use China Telecom and China Unicom — and Quibity says Google services, including Google Maps, work without a VPN. Plans start only when you reach China, every plan earns 5% back as credit, and you can use my code CHOFQZJF (5% off). My field test is in progress.

The catch: a week of unlimited costs $42.00, more than Nomad ($25.00) or Yesim ($30.24). Quibity also says TikTok doesn’t work on its China eSIM, and refunds end once you install the eSIM. Read my Quibity review.

See Quibity China plans — from $6.20 ↗

TooSim — easy to set up, pricey for China ⬖

TooSim sells six China plans, from $13.99 for 1 GB to $117.99 for 20 GB — several times what Nomad, Yesim or Trip.com charge. Setup is easy: there’s no ID check, the eSIM arrives right after you pay, and plan days start only when you first use it in China. TooSim says hotspot is free on every plan, and you can use my code ROATSM10 (10% off for new customers). But it doesn’t name its network in China or say which apps work without a VPN, there’s no unlimited plan to buy, and you can’t top up: when the data runs out, you buy a new eSIM. My field test is in progress.

The catch: the price. TooSim is fine as a backup if you already use it elsewhere, but hard to justify as a first choice for China. Read my TooSim review.

See TooSim China plans — from $13.99 ↗

Torn between two of these? I’ve compared them head to head: Nomad vs Yesim and Airalo vs Nomad.

Unlimited plans compared

If you don’t want to count gigabytes, here’s what a week, two weeks and a month of unlimited data cost, before discount codes:

Nomad is the cheapest for a week or two, as long as 2 GB a day at full speed is enough for you. Its unlimited plans stop at 15 days, so for a month I’d take Yesim’s 30-day plan, or Nomad’s 50 GB plan if you’d rather pay for a set amount ($37.00 for 45 days). Trip.com sells unlimited plans too, priced by trip length on its China eSIM page. NXTL and TooSim have no unlimited plan to buy.

How I test

I pay for every eSIM I test myself — no free review units, no sponsored placements — and each one goes through the same steps:

1. Install before the trip, following only the provider’s own instructions.
2. App check with no VPN running: Google, Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp, Facebook and AI assistants — ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok and Microsoft Copilot.
3. Speed tests in real places — hotels, an airport, a shopping street — noting the city, the network and whether it’s 4G or 5G.
4. Hotspot check: does a laptop or second phone connect, and is it usable?
5. Exit check: which country the data leaves through, which decides which apps open.
6. The fine print: daily full-speed limits on unlimited plans, what happens when the data runs out, and when refunds end.

Scores are weighted toward what actually ruins a trip: app access without a VPN counts for 30%, real-world speed and data policy 25%, price 25%, activation and setup 10%, and usability 10%. The four eSIMs marked ⬖ have provisional scores: I rated them from their official information, against the three I’ve tested, and my own results will replace them. Full methodology →

What to know before you buy any China eSIM

Install before you fly. Provider websites, app stores and QR-code emails may not load once you’re in China, so buy the eSIM, install it and sign in to the provider’s app at home, on Wi-Fi. Most plans don’t start until they connect in China. Check the refund rules first: read Trip.com’s product-specific cancellation terms before installing; Yesim counts installing as activation, and Quibity’s refunds end once you install.

“Works in China” means routing, not magic. These eSIMs don’t defeat censorship: your data roams out through a gateway in another country — Hong Kong for Trip.com and Nomad, Singapore for Yesim — so the firewall’s rules don’t apply to it. A local SIM bought at a Chinese airport generally doesn’t do this, so it sits behind the firewall.

Not every app gets through. Microsoft Copilot stayed blocked on all three eSIMs I’ve tested, and TikTok didn’t load on Nomad. Quibity says TikTok doesn’t work on its China eSIM either. If you rely on one of those, a VPN may be worth trying, but it cannot guarantee access to apps with their own regional restrictions. See when you actually need a VPN with a China eSIM and what VPN plans cost.

Keep your home SIM on for bank codes. The China plans here are data-only, so they can’t receive your bank’s SMS codes. Keep your home SIM switched on alongside the eSIM, or you could be locked out of your bank at the worst moment.

Buy the right amount of data. Most travelers need less than they think: about 6 GB for a week of moderate use, 12 GB for two weeks and 25 GB for a month. My guide to how much data you need in China has the cheapest plan for each trip length.

Check the hotspot policy if you’ll share data with a laptop or a travel partner. In my tests, the hotspot worked well on Trip.com and Yesim, but was very slow on Nomad. Saily, Quibity and TooSim advertise sharing; NXTL’s current FAQ permits it where the device and network support it. My hotspot tests on those four brands are pending.

Read the fine print on “unlimited”. Nomad’s unlimited plans slow down after 2 GB a day, and Quibity’s after 4 GB. On Trip.com’s daily plans, speed drops to 384 kbps once the day’s data runs out. Yesim doesn’t cap the daily speed itself, and I haven’t found a daily limit for China on Saily’s pages — I’ll check it in my field test.

Use a promo code. Four of the seven have one, and I checked each at checkout: Yesim ROAM15 (15% off for new users), Saily ROAMTESTED (10% off for new customers), NXTL roamm10 (10% off) and Quibity CHOFQZJF (5% off). They’re all on my deals page.

Does my phone need to be unlocked for a China eSIM?

Yes, generally. To use a China travel eSIM from a provider other than your home carrier, your phone needs to be carrier-unlocked and eSIM-compatible. These are separate checks: having an eSIM menu or no physical SIM tray doesn’t prove the phone is unlocked. Confirm eSIM support for your exact model and the region where it was sold.

On an iPhone, open Settings → General → About and check Carrier Lock. “No SIM restrictions” means it’s unlocked. On Android, ask the carrier that sold you the phone to confirm it is SIM-unlocked for another provider’s eSIM; menu names vary by model.

If it’s locked, request an unlock from your original carrier before buying a travel plan. Switching eSIM brands won’t remove that lock. Carrier unlocking is also different from entering your screen passcode. Your home carrier’s own China roaming may still be an option on a locked phone; check its coverage and charges.

My iPhone unlock check and Pixel unlock check explain the next steps.

FAQ

Do I need a VPN in China if I have a travel eSIM? For data on the eSIM itself, mostly no. On the three eSIMs I’ve tested — Trip.com, Yesim and Nomad — Google, WhatsApp, Instagram and ChatGPT all loaded without a VPN. The exceptions were Microsoft Copilot on all three, and TikTok on Nomad. Hotel Wi-Fi and other local networks are still behind the firewall, so you’d need a VPN there. I’m testing NordVPN in China now — here’s how to set it up — and my VPN price comparison covers the rest.

Does WhatsApp work in China on these eSIMs? WhatsApp worked without a separate VPN on Trip.com, Yesim and Nomad in my China tests. Quibity and NXTL officially describe WhatsApp access, but remain untested here. Saily’s official guidance conflicts, and TooSim’s China page lists WhatsApp calling without clearly confirming VPN-free access. Switching to hotel Wi-Fi changes the connection; the eSIM’s result doesn’t apply to it.

Does Google Maps work in China with an eSIM? Google Maps worked on Trip.com, Yesim and Nomad in my China app checks. It was included in the Google tests shown above. Quibity, NXTL and Saily discuss Maps access in their official China guidance, but I haven’t tested those brands yet; TooSim’s checked page doesn’t confirm it. Getting Maps online isn’t a guarantee of every local map or navigation feature.

Which China eSIM works with ChatGPT? ChatGPT worked without a separate VPN on Trip.com, Yesim and Nomad in my recorded checks. Quibity’s official China article says ChatGPT is unavailable. The checked Saily, NXTL and TooSim official information doesn’t establish China-specific ChatGPT support. My app checks don’t guarantee registration, every account or API availability.

Which China eSIM is the cheapest? It depends on how much data you use. For light use, Trip.com’s 500 MB-a-day plan costs $0.10 a day. For a big fixed bundle, Nomad sells 20 GB for $22.00. For unlimited data on a long stay, Yesim’s 30-day plan works out to $2.52 a day, before my code. My data guide picks the cheapest plan for each trip length.

Which eSIM is best for a month in China? Yesim: its 30-day unlimited plan costs $75.60, with no daily cap set by Yesim, and it worked well in my tests. If you’d rather pay for a set amount, Nomad’s 50 GB plan costs $37.00 and lasts 45 days. Nomad’s unlimited plans stop at 15 days.

Can I get a Chinese phone number with these? The standard data plans here don’t include a Chinese +86 number. Saily now offers a separate paid US +1 number with calling and texting plans, but it doesn’t replace a mainland mobile number or guarantee verification codes. See my China phone-number guide for the options, including passport-registered local SIMs.

Is buying a China eSIM legal? Yes. Trip.com’s is sold through China’s three official carriers, and the others are ordinary international roaming eSIMs. None of them is a grey-market workaround.

Prices checked in November 2026. Trip.com, Yesim and Nomad are scored from my own field tests in Chengdu and Shanghai. Saily, NXTL, Quibity and TooSim (⬖) have provisional scores based on their official information, and my own test results will replace them.