Yesim China eSIM Review (Nov 2026): Tested in China
Yesim China eSIM review: 15% off with ROAM15. Tested in Shanghai and Chengdu: 65.7–120 Mbps, working hotspot, and WhatsApp, Google Maps and ChatGPT without a VPN.
Published 2026-07-30 Updated 2026-11-09
Yesim works in China without a VPN. Google Maps, WhatsApp, Instagram and ChatGPT all opened on my phone in Chengdu and Shanghai, because Yesim routes your data out through Singapore. On China Mobile, downloads ran at 65.7–120 Mbps, including 5G at Shanghai Hongqiao Airport; my latest test, on 2 November 2026, ran at 68.4 Mbps. Plans start at $3.36 for 1 GB, and the code ROAM15 takes 15% off for new users. Below are my speed tests, every plan and price, and who should buy it — and who shouldn't.
App access — tested without a VPN
Tested Shanghai · 2026-11-02| Apps | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Google · Instagram · TikTok | WORKS | |
| Google Maps | WORKS | |
| WhatsApp · Facebook | WORKS | |
| AI assistants (ChatGPT · Claude · Gemini · Grok) | WORKS | Microsoft Copilot blocked |
Apps were tested on cellular data in China without a separate VPN. Results are shown above.
Need an app that's not on this list? I'm in China right now — email me and I'll test it.
Speed tests on location
| Location | Network | Down | Up | Ping | Hotspot | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chengdu Hotel | China Mobile 4G | 73.2 Mbps | 51.4 Mbps | 106 ms | Connected, works well | 2026-07-30 |
| Shanghai Hongqiao Airport | China Mobile 5G | 65.7 Mbps | 53.2 Mbps | 92 ms | Connected, works well | 2026-08-14 |
| Shanghai Hotel | China Mobile 4G | 120 Mbps | 5.9 Mbps | 111 ms | Connected, works well | 2026-10-27 |
| Shanghai Hotel | China Mobile 4G | 68.4 Mbps | 27.7 Mbps | 107 ms | Connected, works well | 2026-11-02 |
After high-speed data runs out: Yesim doesn't throttle speeds itself, though some partner networks may slow data under their own fair-use policy. Fixed-data plans have no slow lane: when the allowance runs out, data stops until you buy a new plan.
Data exit: Singapore
Method: Ookla Speedtest, three runs per spot, median reported. VPN off, no background downloads. View all speed tests →
Plans and pricing
Yesim sells two kinds of China plans: unlimited day passes and fixed-data plans.
Which Yesim plan fits your trip?
Choose your trip length and typical data use. We compare plans by total price.
Estimated data need: 16.8GB(including 20% buffer)
Covers your trip length and estimated data needs.
New customers: $25.70 with ROAM15 (15% off).
Check plansData needs are estimated from your selected usage level plus a 20% buffer. Confirm prices and fair-use restrictions at checkout.Optional discount for eligible customers; confirm at checkout.
Yesim promo code: ROAM15 (15% off)
All Yesim China plans
Unlimited plans
| Validity | Price |
|---|---|
| 1day | $4.32 |
| 3days | $12.96 |
| 5days | $21.60 |
| 7days | $30.24 |
| 10days | $37.36 |
| 15days | $49.20 |
| 30days | $75.60 |
Unlimited plans can be subject to fair-use policies and network speed limits.
Fixed-data plans
| Data | Validity | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1GB | 30days | $3.36 |
| 3GB | 30days | $8.40 |
| 5GB | 30days | $13.20 |
| 10GB | 30days | $22.32 |
| 20GB | 30days | $35.76 |
| 30GB | 30days | $45.60 |
Before buying: Yesim’s fixed-data plans stop when the allowance runs out, while partner networks may apply fair-use limits to Unlimited plans.
Adding calls
Yesim’s standard China plans are data-only. When you pick a plan, you can add 20 minutes of calls for $4.79. Yesim’s official Calls coverage panel includes China (+86) among the countries where you can make and receive calls. Calls to premium-rate numbers are blocked.
Visiting Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Japan or South Korea too?
Yesim’s China plan covers mainland China only. For a multi-stop trip, its Asia Pacific eSIM covers mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea with one regional package, alongside nine other listed destinations. Compare the regional plan’s own price, data allowance and validity with the China-only option before purchasing.
Prefer separate country plans? Yesim also offers eSIMs for Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea. Each of these country plans covers its named destination only, with both fixed-data and unlimited options.
These destination options come from Yesim’s official listings; my field tests cover the mainland China plan. For alternatives on a Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan route, see my regional eSIM comparison.
Using it day to day
I bought the 1 GB, 30-day plan and used it on an iPhone 12 mini the way most travelers would — walking through the airport, riding the metro, staying in hotels, and moving through crowded malls at peak hours.
Across my speed tests on China Mobile, downloads ran at 65.7–120 Mbps: 73.2 Mbps in a Chengdu hotel, 65.7 Mbps on 5G at Shanghai Hongqiao Airport, 120 Mbps in a Shanghai hotel, and 68.4 Mbps in my latest test there, on 2 November 2026. My data exited through Singapore, which is why Google, WhatsApp, Instagram and ChatGPT all loaded without a VPN. The hotspot connected and worked well too, so you can share your data with a laptop or a travel partner.
Buying and activation
- Open Yesim’s China eSIM page and choose an unlimited day pass or a fixed-data plan.
- At checkout, enter
ROAM15(15% off for new users), then pay. - Before you fly, tap the One Tap button on the confirmation page and follow the prompts — the eSIM installs automatically, and the whole setup took me about 60 seconds. A QR code is there too if you prefer manual setup. Install it only once your trip is certain: Yesim counts installing as activation, so it can’t be refunded after that.
- When you land in China, switch your mobile data to the Yesim eSIM and turn on data roaming. The plan’s validity starts when it first connects to a network there.
Who should buy it
Buy it if you:
- Want unlimited data for your actual stay — choose 7, 15 or 30 days to cover the trip. The 30-day pass costs $75.60 in total; its $2.52 daily average isn’t the price of buying just a week.
- Are visiting mainland China plus Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Japan or South Korea — Asia Pacific covers all six in one regional eSIM; compare its total price with single-destination plans.
- Want Google Maps, WhatsApp, Instagram and ChatGPT to work without setting up a VPN.
- Need to share data with a laptop or a travel partner — the hotspot connected and worked well in my tests.
Yesim alternatives for China
Yesim offers small fixed bundles for light use and unlimited options sized to longer stays. If one of these sounds like you, compare another eSIM:
| If you… | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Only need a little data for a short stop | Trip.com | Its China eSIM starts at $0.10 a day for 500 MB. |
| Might cancel your trip after installing | Nomad | Yesim can’t refund an installed eSIM. Nomad refunds a fixed-data plan within 30 days if it hasn’t activated, unless you used a discount code (see my Nomad review). |
| Need more than 30 GB of fixed data | Nomad | Yesim’s biggest fixed plan is 30 GB. Nomad sells 50 GB for 45 days, at $0.74 a GB. |
Comparing head to head? See Nomad vs Yesim, tested side by side in Shanghai, and Yesim vs Airalo for China, with plan picks by trip length and data needs.
What's good
- Data exits through Singapore, so Google Maps, WhatsApp, Instagram and ChatGPT work without a VPN
- Unlimited options for different trip lengths — compare the full purchase price, not just a 30-day daily average
- A separate Asia Pacific product can cover multiple included stops; check the selected package's destination list and price
- 5G available — my Shanghai test ran on China Mobile 5G
- One-tap install from the confirmation page, with a QR code as a backup
- Hotspot connected and worked well in my tests, so you can share data with a laptop or a travel partner
What's not
- Installing the eSIM counts as activation, so it can't be refunded after that
- Microsoft Copilot didn't open in my China app checks
Frequently asked questions
Does Yesim work in China?
Yes. I tested it in Chengdu and Shanghai on China Mobile and measured 65.7–120 Mbps download speeds, including 5G at Shanghai Hongqiao Airport. My latest test, on 2 November 2026 in a Shanghai hotel, ran at 68.4 Mbps on 4G. See the plans on Yesim's China eSIM page.
Do I need a VPN with Yesim in China?
No. In my tests using Yesim's China eSIM, data was routed through Singapore, and Google, WhatsApp, Instagram and ChatGPT all loaded without a VPN. Microsoft Copilot stayed blocked.
Does Yesim's hotspot work in China?
Yes. The hotspot worked well in my tests with Yesim's China eSIM, so you can share data with a laptop or a travel partner.
Is there a Yesim promo code or discount code?
Yes. The code ROAM15 takes 15% off for new users. I checked it at Yesim's checkout on 2 November 2026, where it took a 7-day unlimited pass from $30.24 to $25.70. Enter it in the coupon field at checkout on Yesim's China eSIM page.
What happens when my Yesim data runs out?
On a fixed-data plan, mobile data simply stops — there's no slow lane — so you buy a new plan or a top-up. Unlimited day passes don't run out, and Yesim doesn't throttle them itself, though some partner networks may slow speeds under their own fair-use policy.
Does Yesim give you a Chinese phone number?
No. Yesim's China plans are data only. Yesim does sell virtual numbers, but for countries such as the UK, US, Netherlands and Canada, not China.
Can I make phone calls with Yesim in China?
Yes, with the optional 20-minute calling add-on, listed at $4.79 when you pick a plan. Yesim's official Calls coverage panel includes China (+86) for making and receiving calls; calls to premium-rate numbers are blocked. The standard China data plan itself doesn't include carrier voice calls or SMS.
Can I get a refund on a Yesim eSIM?
Only before you install it. Yesim refunds unused plans within 30 days of purchase, but it counts installing the eSIM as activation, so install it only once your trip is certain.
Does Yesim work in Hong Kong as well as mainland China?
Yes, but not with the China-only plan, which covers mainland China only. Yesim's Asia Pacific eSIM covers mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea, plus other destinations. Check the regional plan's price and terms before buying.
Does Yesim work with WhatsApp, Google Maps and ChatGPT in China?
Yes. WhatsApp, Google Maps and ChatGPT worked on Yesim's China eSIM in my China app checks, with no separate VPN. Google Maps was included in my Google checks.