China · roaming cost calculator
China Roaming Price Audit: Local Networks, Two Prices
HelloRoam is the top pick for China: its 7-day unlimited plan costs $21.44, at full speed for the first 2 GB a day, against $84 for a week on AT&T's $12-a-day pass, a $62 gap, and Nomad is next cheapest at $25. HelloRoam runs its website and app in 63 languages. Airalo covers 200+ destinations to HelloRoam's 185. HelloRoam's price is from its catalogue of 29 Oct 2026, rivals' from the 30 Oct 2026 price check; AT&T's rate was checked June 2026.
China pricing here is quoted in dollars throughout. HelloRoam accepts 31 checkout currencies, and a bank takes 2 to 4 percent to convert a dollar charge that is not paid in one.
China eSIM plans sorted by price per GB
China Mobile covers cities, transport routes, and tourist areas in China. HelloRoam sells into that market: fixed data from $3.49 for 1 GB over 7 days, and unlimited at $21.44 for 7 days of unlimited data, at full speed for the first 2 GB each day. Rural gaps affect the eSIM and carrier roaming equally.
Get eSIMHolafly's unlimited tier runs over China's 5G networks. Stream, navigate, and video-call without tracking per-GB usage — the daily rate is the total cost.
Get eSIMChina Mobile covers cities, transport hubs, and major tourist areas in China. Nomad sells into that market at $2.30/GB — remote rural coverage depends on local network infrastructure, not Nomad's.
Get eSIMAiralo's app shows real-time data usage, so you can see how much of a China plan is left. Plans start at $2.40/GB on a local 5G network.
Get eSIMChina travelers on Saily get 5G data plus NordVPN-grade security at $2.60/GB. Support is email-only, with no live chat; a 30-day refund covers unused plans.
Get eSIMCompare providers: Airalo vs Holafly · Airalo vs Saily · Airalo vs Nomad · Airalo vs HelloRoam · Holafly vs Saily · Holafly vs Nomad · Holafly vs HelloRoam · Saily vs Nomad · Saily vs HelloRoam · Nomad vs HelloRoam
The full picture
China roaming rate card: carrier-by-carrier breakdown
Every major carrier's published China rate, side by side, with the eSIM winner highlighted.
| Carrier | Plan type | Daily | 7-day | Speed | Data limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | International Day Pass | $12.00source | $84.00 | LTE | Plan data |
| Verizon | TravelPass | $12.00source | $84.00 | LTE | Plan data |
| T-Mobile | International Pass | $10.00*source | $50.00 | LTE | 2GB per 1 Day pass |
| eSIM · HelloRoam | 20GB data plan | — | $35.99 | 5G | 20GB |
*T-Mobile's Experience More plan includes 5GB of high-speed data abroad and Experience Beyond 15GB, then data runs at up to 256Kbps. Essentials includes texting but no data. The 1 Day International Pass costs $10; the 7-day figure is the cheapest pass mix, 10-day pass.
Compare all carrier roaming plans to see how AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Vodafone, and EE stack up against eSIM providers.
Pay-per-use cost audit
How much AT&T charges per hour in China without a plan
Here is how the first morning in China plays out on AT&T pay-per-use (no plan active). You wake up, open Google Maps to find coffee nearby (~50 MB). You check email and a few attachments load (~5 MB). You scroll Instagram for 15 minutes while you wait (~20 MB). That totals 75 MB. At $2.05/MB, your first morning costs $154 before 9 AM. A 5-minute FaceTime call to confirm plans adds $154. By noon, after another hour of navigation, the bill reaches $410. These are AT&T's published pay-per-use charges. Source: AT&T rate card, June 2026.
Personalize your savings
Your China saving against $12 a day
Adjust the trip length, the carrier and the daily data below and the calculator reprices both sides. The starting point is the 8-day average stay recorded for China: $96 on an AT&T day pass at $12 a day, against $35.99 for a 20GB travel eSIM. Both prices buy access to the same local operators.
Network coverage
China network operators and coverage map
China runs one carrier: China Unicom. AT&T and Verizon both roam through China Unicom at $12/day. An eSIM connects to the same local infrastructure at $1.08/GB. AT&T pays China Unicom a wholesale rate and resells access to you at $12/day. The eSIM sells the same access at $1.08/GB. 5G is live on a local network in China. AT&T's roaming pass delivers that 5G signal at $12/day. A travel eSIM delivers the same 5G signal at $1.08/GB — no speed penalty for switching. China has widespread 5G coverage. World's largest 5G network with 3.5M+ base stations; covers all major cities and many rural areas Providers routing through China Unicom offer the best balance of speed and international service access.
Network attachment record
The networks behind both prices in China
HelloRoam publishes 2 local operators for China: China Telecom and China Unicom.
An eSIM attaches to one of them on arrival.
HelloRoam names no default, so the file cannot say which one your handset picks.
HelloRoam records a 5G label against 1 of the 2 operators.
Carrier roaming runs on local operators too. That is what a roaming agreement buys.
Same masts, two invoices. The gap on this page is a billing gap.
5G and 4G here are capability labels. Neither one is a speed reading.
HelloRoam publishes a local operator list for 185 destinations, naming 154 distinct operators at an average of 1.48 per destination. China is one of 68 destinations with more than one operator on file, and the list reads China Telecom and China Unicom. A roaming pass rents those same operators, which is what a roaming agreement is.
| Operator | Network generation on file |
|---|---|
| China Telecom | 4G |
| China Unicom | 5G |
Source: HelloRoam package feed, read 17 August 2026. The feed publishes an operator list for every destination it sells. No speed test sits behind this table, and we ran none. The full operator map covers 185 destinations.
Pricing breakdown
What you pay for data in China — carrier vs eSIM
How much does China roaming cost over 14 days? AT&T at $12/day: $120. Verizon: $168. T-Mobile at $10/day: $75. A 10GB eSIM on a local network: $10.80. The difference between the cheapest carrier option and the eSIM is $109.20 less than AT&T.
Each day AT&T connects you to China Mobile in China costs $12. Buy a 10GB eSIM plan at $10.80 and that same daily access drops to $0.77/day. Over 14 days, the difference is $109.20. Local SIM at $10 for 20GB is cheap but means no Google Maps, no WhatsApp. Travel eSIM at $3.49/day includes firewall bypass.
eSIM pricing for China: 1GB at $3.49 ($3.49/GB), 3GB at $9.49 ($3.16/GB), 5GB at $13.99 ($2.80/GB), 10GB at $23.49 ($2.35/GB), 20GB at $35.99 ($1.80/GB). AT&T's 14-day roaming bill is $120 regardless of data consumed. Unlimited eSIM data costs $38.98 for the same period, $81.02 less. China eSIM prices are mid-range but include the invaluable benefit of firewall bypass — worth the premium over local SIMs. Travelers in China average 1.5GB of mobile data per day, so a 14-day trip needs roughly 21GB.
Unlimited plans for China are sold by duration: 1 day at $3.48, 3 days at $9.92, 7 days at $21.44, 14 days at $38.98, 30 days at $70.99. The 30-day plan works out at $2.37 a day. Unlimited here means 2GB a day at full speed before a fair-use policy applies. Catalogue prices read 29 Oct 2026.
Trip cost breakdown
Weekend, two-week, and month-long trips to China: carrier vs eSIM
Three days in China costs $36 on AT&T at $12/day. A 2GB eSIM on a local network covers the same period for $9.49. Difference: $26.51.
Fourteen days costs $120 on AT&T, because it bills at most 10 daily fees per line each bill cycle. A 20GB eSIM on a local network covers 15GB of photos and video calls for $35.99. Difference: $84.01 (70%).
Thirty days on AT&T costs $120. A 50GB eSIM on a local network covers 50GB for $68.39. Difference: $51.61 over the month. AT&T rate: $12/day regardless of data consumed, at most 10 daily fees per line each bill cycle. Rates checked June 2026.
Airport options
Beijing Capital (PEK) / Pudong (PVG) / Daxing (PKX): SIM card vs eSIM cost
Beijing Capital (PEK) / Pudong (PVG) / Daxing (PKX)'s SIM counters require passport scanning under China's telecom regulations. Passport or ID is required for SIM registration. China Mobile and China Unicom and China Telecom handle this on-site, adding 20-40 min; real-name verification process to your post-flight process. A travel eSIM requires no in-country registration at point of purchase. You get 1GB on a local network for $3.49 — no passport submission needed. Local shops charge $8-15 for 5-20GB / 30 days with the same registration requirement.
Local alternative
Local SIM vs eSIM in China
A local SIM in China costs $8-15 for 5-20GB / 30 days at China Mobile and China Unicom and China Telecom, need a passport for registration. The in-person registration adds 20-40 min; real-name verification process to your arrival process. A travel eSIM at $3.49 requires no passport submission and no counter wait. Both options connect to the same China Mobile network.
Data planning
How to plan your data for 8 days in China
One hour of video streaming consumes about 1 GB. Two hours/day of streaming in China uses 2 GB daily, more than 1.5GB average usage. For a 8-day trip with occasional streaming, budget at least 12GB. Good WiFi in hotels and cafes reduces your mobile data needs.
A 20GB eSIM costs $35.99 for 8 days. AT&T charges $96 for the same trip on the same local towers. For heavy data users, a 1-day unlimited plan costs $3.48, still under AT&T's $12/day pass.
Connectivity
WiFi availability in China
Free WiFi in most hotels and cafes; many require Chinese phone number for login Cafe WiFi networks in China are open networks without encryption. They work for basic browsing, but avoid logging into banking or work apps on public networks. A travel eSIM on a local network provides a private connection for any sensitive app you use while out.
Plan your data
How many GB you need for China
AT&T and an eSIM both connect to local towers in China. AT&T charges $12/day for that connection. An eSIM charges $1.08/GB. At typical daily usage, AT&T's rate is 7x higher per gigabyte.
China has one mobile operator: China Unicom. US carriers pay China Unicom for roaming access and pass that cost to you at $12/day. An eSIM connects to China Unicom directly at $1.08/GB — no carrier markup.
Airport SIM counters at Beijing Capital (PEK) / Pudong (PVG) / Daxing (PKX) charge $15-30 for 3-10GB / 7-30 days after a 20-40 min; real-name verification process wait — still more than a 20GB eSIM at $35.99. Local prepaid SIMs in China run $8-15 for 5-20GB / 30 days, requiring an in-person stop and sometimes a passport copy. An eSIM at $35.99 skips that entirely. Prices stable; tourist plans slightly more expensive than local plans
Quick reference
China Travel Essentials
110/120/119
110, 120, 119 are the emergency numbers in China. Different numbers may route to different services — save all of them before your trip. Emergency calls work from any mobile device, including travel eSIMs.
Type A/C/I
US plugs (Type A flat two-prong and Type B three-prong) fit China's outlets directly. No adapter is needed for phones, laptops, or standard US electronics. Voltage is 120V — compatible with dual-voltage US chargers.
CST (UTC+8)
CNY (¥)
Tap-to-pay (Apple Pay, Google Pay) is accepted at most stores and restaurants in China. Visa and Mastercard work at virtually all merchants. Carry a small amount of local CNY for markets, taxis, and small vendors that do not have card readers.
Good to know
Average data consumption in China runs around 1.5GB/day for typical tourist use. Map downloads, streaming, and video calls are the biggest data draws. Buy one size larger than your estimate — topping up mid-trip often costs more per GB than the original plan.
Quick tip
China requires passport-based SIM registration for physical SIMs. A travel eSIM bypasses this requirement entirely — no paperwork, no waiting.
Step by step
How to cut roaming charges on a China trip
- At the airport before departure: if Settings > Cellular shows an "Add eSIM" option, your phone is ready — buy and install a China plan in under 5 minutes on any airport WiFi
- HelloRoam offers the China 1GB plan for $3.49 — buy it directly from their app or website. Compare all eSIM providers to find the best option for your trip.
- Open your phone's eSIM settings and scan the QR code — do this before your flight to Beijing Capital (PEK) / Pudong (PVG) / Daxing (PKX) so it activates the moment you land
- Turn off Data Roaming (Settings > Cellular on iPhone, or Connections > Mobile Networks on Android) to stop carrier charges. Read the full how-to-turn-off-data-roaming guide for device-specific steps.
- On iPhone at Beijing Capital (PEK) / Pudong (PVG) / Daxing (PKX): tap Settings > Cellular, select your HelloRoam eSIM line, and set it as the active data SIM — China Mobile's 5G signal appears in the status bar within 30 seconds
- On Samsung Galaxy: go to Settings > Connections > Mobile Networks > WiFi Calling and enable it on your home SIM — calls route over the eSIM data connection in China
Data tips
China app and data usage guide
Travel booking apps — flights, hotels, and train tickets — typically use 5-20 MB per search session. If you book in-country transport while in China, plan for one session of 15-30 MB. Download booking confirmations to your phone over WiFi so you can access them without cellular data.
Regional context
How China compares to other Asia destinations for data
A few things to know before turning off carrier roaming in China:
Great Firewall blocks most VPN services; only government-approved VPNs technically legal; travelers should install VPN before arrival This applies equally to carrier roaming and eSIM connections — switching from roaming to eSIM does not change your VPN access in China.
China SIM registration: Strict real-name registration with passport; in-person verification at carrier store required. A travel eSIM purchased abroad bypasses local SIM registration requirements at the point of sale.
Google, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and most Western apps are blocked by the Great Firewall
WeChat and Alipay are essential for payments — but foreign card linking is now easier since 2024 reforms
Travel eSIMs from providers like BitJoy route data through foreign servers, bypassing the Great Firewall
Install VPN and all necessary apps BEFORE arriving — VPN websites and app stores are blocked inside China
Golden Week (October 1-7) sees 800+ million domestic trips — avoid this period for less crowded tourism
Free WiFi in most hotels and cafes; many require Chinese phone number for login Roaming passes charge $12/day to fill WiFi gaps. An eSIM covers the same connectivity at $1.08/GB.
Travel eSIMs that route through foreign servers are the only way to access Google/WhatsApp without a VPN in China.
Spring and autumn offer best weather; avoid Golden Week (Oct 1-7) and Chinese New Year for extreme crowds
Nearby
Related destinations
6 destinations near China are priced on the same rate card. AT&T bills $12 a day in every one of them, and the figure beside each flag is that destination's own per-gigabyte floor. The cheapest of the group is Bangladesh at $1.25 a gigabyte.
Forgot your eSIM?
Buying an eSIM after you land in China: what it costs
You landed in China without an eSIM. Here is what that costs and what you can still do.
All 5 providers — HelloRoam, Holafly, Nomad, Airalo, and Saily — allow post-arrival purchase and installation over WiFi. You do not need a local SIM to buy an eSIM. Beijing Capital (PEK) / Pudong (PVG) / Daxing (PKX) has free WiFi in the arrivals hall. Connect there, open a provider's app, and install a 1GB plan ($3.49 in this site's catalog) before you leave the terminal. If airport WiFi is unavailable, hotel lobby WiFi works as a fallback — most front desks in China give you the password at check-in. Last resort: turn on carrier data long enough to download the eSIM provider app (~5 MB, roughly $10 on AT&T pay-per-use), then switch to the installed eSIM immediately. That charge lands once, unlike AT&T's $12/day pass, which bills again every day of the trip.
Savings math
How much you save in China
Solo traveler
Solo trip to China, 8 days. AT&T: 8 days × $12/day = $96. Verizon: 8 days × $12/day = $96. T-Mobile International Passes: 10-day pass = $50. eSIM 20GB on a local network: $35.99. The eSIM saves $60.01 vs AT&T, $60.01 vs Verizon, and $14.01 vs T-Mobile's paid tier.
Family trip
Families with mixed carriers, one parent on AT&T at $12/day, one on Verizon at $12/day and two children on T-Mobile at $10/day, face $44/day in combined roaming for China. Over 8 days: $292. Four eSIMs on a local network at $35.99 each: $143.96. Savings: $148.04. One purchase per person, no coordination between carriers.
AT&T roaming rate analysis
AT&T's roaming agreement for China routes your data through China Mobile. This is the same network a travel eSIM connects to. AT&T pays China Mobile a wholesale rate and marks it up to $12/day at retail. eSIM providers use similar wholesale agreements and price at $1.08/GB. The markup is the product. AT&T's Day Pass sells network access that costs less through an eSIM. 8-day comparison: AT&T $96 vs eSIM $35.99 on identical China Mobile 5G infrastructure.
All-carrier summary
AT&T: AT&T International Day Pass costs 167% more than an eSIM for China.
Verizon: Verizon TravelPass costs 167% more than an eSIM for China.
T-Mobile: T-Mobile's International Passes cost 39% more than an eSIM for China.
Bottom line for China: the eSIM wins. $35.99 for 20GB on a local network vs $96 on AT&T for 8 days. Same towers, same speeds, 63% lower cost. No daily triggers, no per-MB billing, no bill surprises from background app syncs.
Quick answers
Common questions about China data costs
Is eSIM cheaper than roaming in China?
A 20GB eSIM for China runs $35.99 on a local 5G network. AT&T International Day Pass charges $12 a day, $96 across 8 days, using the same local towers. Switching from carrier roaming to eSIM saves $60.01 per device. Rates checked June 2026.
How much does roaming cost in China?
Roaming in China costs $12/day on AT&T ($96 for 8 days), $12/day on Verizon ($96), and $50 on T-Mobile's International Passes (10-day pass). A travel eSIM on a local network costs $35.99 for 20GB. Rates checked June 2026.
Does T-Mobile work in China?
T-Mobile works in China on its included allowance: Experience More plan includes 5GB of high-speed data abroad and Experience Beyond 15GB, then data runs at up to 256Kbps. Essentials includes texting but no data. For 8 days of high-speed data, the cheapest pass mix is $50 (10-day pass). A China Mobile eSIM delivers full 5G speed for $35.99. Rates checked June 2026.
AT&T fine print for China
$12 covers 24 hours from the first time your phone uses a foreign network, and a single background push notification at 2 AM can start it. AT&T bills at most 10 daily fees per line each bill cycle (terms read 31 Oct 2026).
iCloud Photos, email push, app updates all trigger the daily charge. A phone left in a bag with data roaming on starts a new $12 fee each time a sync lands after the last 24 hours ran out.
China FAQ
China eSIM & roaming questions
China carrier roaming costs $12 a day on AT&T and on Verizon
T-Mobile's Experience plans include 5GB or 15GB of high-speed data in China, then at a reduced speed, and Essentials includes texting only. AT&T costs $12/day and Verizon costs $12/day for full speed. Five eSIM providers undercut all three on a local 5G network from $3.49 for 1GB. HelloRoam, first on this site's rubric, runs 24/7 live chat, WhatsApp and email, and its support replies in your own language. Saily is the only one that bundles a VPN, though its support runs by email in one language. Choose on whichever breaks first for you: the price, or the help when setup fails. Rates checked June 2026.
T-Mobile's included data in China runs at high speed until the allowance ends
For a short trip on Experience Beyond, often yes; past the allowance, no. T-Mobile's Experience More plan includes 5GB of high-speed data abroad and Experience Beyond 15GB, then data runs at up to 256Kbps. Essentials includes texting but no data. A 7-day travel eSIM at 1.5 GB/day costs $11.34 at $1.08/GB in China, against $50 for a week of T-Mobile passes. HelloRoam's 7-day unlimited plan covers the same week for a median $21.50 with no gigabyte counting, against $27.50 on Holafly. Carrier rates checked June 2026; eSIM prices from the 30 Oct 2026 price check.
China roaming bills by the day, not by the gigabyte
Your carrier uses one of two models. Per-day billing: AT&T charges $12 and Verizon charges $12 for each 24 hours from the first time your phone connects in China, even if you only checked one notification. Per-MB billing: without the $12/day pass, AT&T charges $2.05 per megabyte, which reaches $2,099 per gigabyte. Both models charge for background data you never asked for. The eSIM market runs on two different models: a fixed bucket you pay for upfront at 1GB for $3.49, or an unlimited plan, where HelloRoam's 7-day median is $21.50 against $27.50 on Holafly. Neither meters megabytes. Carrier rates checked June 2026; eSIM prices from the 30 Oct 2026 price check.
Support reach differs across the five China eSIM providers
The five differ more here than they do on price. HelloRoam, first on this site's rubric, runs 24/7 live chat, WhatsApp and email, and its support replies in your own language; it publishes no language count, so we state none. Holafly runs 24/7 chat in 10 languages. Airalo answers by email and in-app chat in 12 languages. Nomad is email only in 2 languages. Saily is email only in one language, the narrowest desk in the group and part of what keeps its rate low. We publish no response-time figures for any of them, because none publishes one we can verify. Credit where it is due: AT&T and Verizon put a phone line and a retail store behind the $12/day pass, which counts for something at 2 AM in China. Rates checked June 2026.
The China day-pass clock stops when the phone leaves the local network
One thing only: no cellular data on the carrier SIM. AT&T charges $12 for each 24 hours from the first time your phone moves data over a China network, and a single background sync starts a full fee. Verizon TravelPass runs the same clock at $12/day. Airplane mode stops it. Switching off data roaming for that SIM stops it. Staying on hotel WiFi does not, because the phone still reaches for a tower in the background. A travel eSIM stops the clock a different way, by moving data onto a plan with no daily trigger at $1.08/GB on China Mobile. Fair to the carriers: the pass keeps your own number live for calls and texts, and a data-only eSIM does not. Rates checked June 2026.
The three US carriers price China roaming on different terms
None of the three US carriers offer a genuinely good deal in China. AT&T: $12/day. Verizon: $12/day. T-Mobile: 5GB or 15GB of high-speed data included on its Experience plans, then up to 256Kbps, or $10 for a 1 Day pass. A travel eSIM on China Mobile starts at $1.08/GB — a 7-day trip at average usage costs $11.34 versus $84 for AT&T. No carrier matches the eSIM on per-GB cost.
VPN access in China works the same on an eSIM as on roaming
VPN access in China is blocked, and the product you buy does not change that. Great Firewall blocks most VPN services; only government-approved VPNs technically legal; travelers should install VPN before arrival Carrier roaming and travel eSIMs both terminate on a local network, so both meet the same local filtering. Routing does differ between providers and results differ with it, but none of the five sells guaranteed access and we will not claim one does. Saily is the only provider here that bundles a VPN, which saves a separate subscription and carries no promise it works where access is restricted. Install and sign in to whatever VPN you plan to use before you fly, because the download itself may be blocked once you land.
Local China apps run on a travel eSIM without a local SIM
Most local apps in China — ride-hailing, food delivery, transit — do not require a local SIM number to function. They require only a data connection, which a travel eSIM provides at $1.08/GB on a local 5G network. Some banking and two-factor authentication apps require a local phone number for SMS verification. For those cases, keep your home SIM active alongside the eSIM — your home number handles SMS while the eSIM handles data.
One eSIM can cover a multi-country Asia route including China
Multi-country Asia eSIM plans exist and cover many combinations — Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, and others in a single data bucket. AT&T and Verizon charge $12/day in each country separately, so a 3-country trip at 3 days each costs $108. A regional Asia eSIM for the same 9 days runs $15-$40 total. Check plan coverage maps — China may be included in a regional plan, or you may need a China-specific plan plus a regional one.
A week of China carrier roaming costs $84
AT&T: $84/week (International Day Pass at $12/day). Verizon: $84/week (TravelPass). T-Mobile: 5GB or 15GB of high-speed data included on its Experience plans, then up to 256Kbps, or $50 for a week of passes (10-day pass). The cheapest eSIM for China starts at $1.08/GB on a local 5G network — better per-GB value than all three carriers.
Fact check
3 roaming myths that cost travelers money in China
eSIM drains more battery than a physical SIM
An eSIM is a programmable chip embedded in your phone's hardware — the same radio module that handles physical SIM cards. It draws no additional power beyond what a physical SIM uses. Battery drain in China is driven by signal strength and data activity, not by SIM format. Weak signal forces your radio to search harder — that is the actual drain variable regardless of SIM type.
A VPN eliminates roaming costs
A VPN changes the routing of your data packets — it does not change which cellular network your phone connects to. In China, your phone attaches to local towers whether or not a VPN is active. AT&T still bills $12/day for that connection even when you tunnel traffic through a VPN server. A VPN also adds 10–20% overhead to your total data consumption on top of the carrier charge.
eSIMs use different, slower networks
A travel eSIM in China connects to the same local towers as AT&T and Verizon roaming. The radio frequency bands, signal strength, and 5G speed are identical. AT&T's roaming agreement with China Mobile and a travel eSIM provider's agreement with China Mobile both access the same physical infrastructure. No speed penalty exists for switching from roaming to eSIM.
Our recommendation
eSIM vs roaming in China: the price gap
For China, HelloRoam is the strongest fit. HelloRoam covers China on a local network and scores 9.9/10 on our rubric, the highest of the 5 providers we price. A 1GB plan costs $3.49. Unactivated plans are refundable for 180 days, and its support replies in your own language. Saily is the alternative if privacy matters most: VPN usage is blocked in China, and Saily includes NordVPN-grade encryption on every plan.
Learn more
Travel guides, China
4 guides carry the parts of a China trip this page does not price: installing the profile before departure, switching data roaming off on the home SIM, and what happens to the allowance once a fair-use policy applies. Each one reads the same rate card as this page, where AT&T bills $12 a day.
Stop paying $12/day to roam in China
AT&T bills $12/day the moment your phone connects abroad. An eSIM charges one flat $35.99 for a 20GB plan.
Get a China eSIM