China eSIM deals: HelloRoam from $3.48
HelloRoam is the top pick for China: 5 GB for 30 days costs $13.99, against $14.00 at Nomad (prices checked 30 Oct 2026). HelloRoam prices checkout in 31 currencies on its website and in its app, with Apple Pay and Google Pay at checkout. Airalo lists 200+ destinations to the 185 HelloRoam sells.
Every promotion the five providers publish, set beside HelloRoam's 5 China plans and the rival prices read on 30 Oct 2026. China plans run on 5G on China Telecom or China Unicom.
China eSIM plans, lowest price first
| Data | Price | Per GB |
|---|---|---|
| 1GB | $3.49 | $3.49/GB |
| 3GB | $9.49 | $3.16/GB |
| 5GB | $13.99 | $2.80/GB |
| 10GB | $23.49 | $2.35/GB |
| 20GB | $35.99 | $1.80/GB |
The best China rate per GB is $1.80, on the 20GB plan at $35.99.
Rival prices below were read on 30 Oct 2026.
Active China eSIM promotions
Each offer is the provider's own published promotion. Provider offers apply to all destinations, not to China alone, and change without notice.
HelloRoam: Catalogue Price
Discount: No standing code: the catalogue price is the price
Conditions: Billed in 31 checkout currencies
China 1GB: $3.49, from the 29 Oct 2026 catalogue
See HelloRoam's China plans →Airalo: Code ALOHA
Discount: up to $5 off a first purchase
Conditions: First purchase only
China 1GB: $4.00 (read 30 Oct 2026) → $0.00 at best, since every figure above is an “up to” allowance
Apply ALOHA →Saily: Seasonal Sales
Discount: up to 10% off during seasonal sales
Conditions: Seasonal promotions, Black Friday
China 1GB: $4.49 (read 30 Oct 2026) → $4.04 at best, since every figure above is an “up to” allowance
Visit Saily →Nomad: Flash Sales
Discount: up to 20% off on select regions
Conditions: Monthly flash events, in-app only
China 1GB: $5.00 (read 30 Oct 2026) → $4.00 at best, since every figure above is an “up to” allowance
Visit Nomad →Holafly: Partner Discount
Discount: 5% off, applied automatically via partner link
Conditions: Via partner/affiliate link
China 7-day unlimited: $27.50 (read 30 Oct 2026) → $26.13 at best, since every figure above is an “up to” allowance
Visit Holafly →We may earn a commission if you buy through these links. All prices in USD.
Seasonal pricing patterns
How China eSIM prices shift throughout the year.
China seasonal trends
Tourist plan prices stay steady; they run slightly higher than what locals pay on domestic contracts Peak season: Apr-May, Sep-Oct. No provider in this site's offer file ties a discount to those months.
What drives China eSIM pricing
- Wholesale data cost: China's operators charge providers for bulk data, and that cost sits under every plan price.
- Provider competition: 5 providers sell eSIMs that travelers compare for China. More competition means lower prices for travelers.
- Plan tier: Larger plans cost less per GB. The China 20GB plan drops to $1.80/GB.
Where the China price floor sits
The catalogue holds 5 China plan sizes. The lowest rate is $1.80/GB in the 29 Oct 2026 catalogue. This site records list prices and does not forecast where they go next.
Comparing real savings across providers
The cheapest price is not always the best deal. Here is how each offer stacks up on real value.
Carrier roaming vs eSIM deals
This site compares every destination against a $10/day roaming baseline, so a 7-day trip runs $70.00. The lowest catalogue price for the same week is $35.99, saving $34.01 (49%). Apply a promo code to widen the gap further.
Post-discount net price comparison
| Provider | Base Price | Discount | Net Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nomad | $22.00 | up to 20% off | $17.60 |
| Airalo | $39.00 | ALOHA (up to $5 off) | $34.00 |
| HelloRoam | $35.99 | No code needed | $35.99 |
| Saily | $39.99 | up to 10% off | $35.99 |
HelloRoam's base price is its catalogue price. Each rival's base price is its own 20GB price for China, read on 30 Oct 2026, with its published promotion applied to that figure. Holafly is not listed here because it sells unlimited day rates rather than fixed plans.
For the 20GB plan, Nomad is lower after its offer, at $17.60 against HelloRoam's $35.99.
Compare the NET column, not the discount percentage. The lowest post-discount price wins.
Fixed vs unlimited deal value
The 20GB plan at $35.99 covers 14 days at 1.5 GB/day. The unlimited plan costs $3.48 for one day, with 2 GB a day at high speed. Unlimited wins above 25.9 GB/day. Below that threshold, the fixed plan is the better value.
China eSIM promo codes
Every active code with China-specific net prices.
Active codes price snapshot
| Provider | Code/Link | Discount | Conditions | Net Price (China) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HelloRoam | None needed | No standing code: the catalogue price is the price | Billed in 31 checkout currencies | $3.49 |
| Airalo | ALOHA | up to $5 off a first purchase | First purchase only | $0.00 |
| Saily | Partner link | up to 10% off during seasonal sales | Seasonal promotions, Black Friday | $4.04 |
| Nomad | Partner link | up to 20% off on select regions | Monthly flash events, in-app only | $4.00 |
| Holafly | Partner link | 5% off, applied automatically via partner link | Via partner/affiliate link | $26.13 |
The top pick publishes no standing discount code and bills checkout in 31 currencies, so its row's net price is the catalogue price.
Offers as each provider published them, June 2026. Net prices apply each offer to that provider's own China price, read on 30 Oct 2026; N/A means no price was read.
How to apply each code
- Airalo (ALOHA): Visit airalo.com. Select a China plan. Enter ALOHA at checkout. Discount applied.
- Holafly (Partner link): Use the partner link above. Select China. The 5% off discount applies with no code to type.
- Saily (Seasonal): Check saily.com for an active sale banner. Select a China plan. The sale price shows at checkout.
- Nomad (Flash sale): Open the Nomad app. Check the flash sale banner. Select China. The discounted price shows if the sale is active.
Stacking discounts
No provider allows stacking multiple codes. One discount per order. The best strategy: compare the final price (after discount) across all 5 providers. The cheapest post-discount price wins, not the highest percentage off. Example: Airalo 1GB at $4.00 minus $5 = $0.00. The 7-day unlimited plan for China costs $21.44.
Best time to buy
When to buy for the best price on a China eSIM.
Published offers by provider
- Airalo: Airalo's ALOHA code takes up to $5 off a first purchase, and its Airmoney programme returns 5 to 10% on every order.
- Holafly: Holafly's partner link on this site applies 5% off its unlimited daily plans automatically.
- Saily: Saily runs seasonal promotions worth up to 10% off select plans, with no standing code.
- Nomad: Nomad posts monthly flash sales worth up to 20% off select regions, for a short window each time.
- HelloRoam: No standing discount code.
No offer in this site's offer file carries a sale date, so this list names no month.
Buy now or wait
If your trip to China is within 30 days, buy now with the best published offer. If your trip is 60+ days away, check back for the next Nomad flash sale or Saily seasonal promotion. Airalo's ALOHA code (up to $5 off) applies to a first purchase whenever you buy.
Right-size your plan for the best deal
At this site's 1.5 GB/day standard, a 8-day China trip needs 12 GB. The 20GB plan at $35.99 covers that.
Deal alert tips
How to catch the best China eSIM deals before they expire.
Where each offer appears
- Airalo: New users, entered at checkout. Airalo's own published offer; terms can change.
- Holafly: Applied through this site's own qualifying links, which is why the figure is fixed.
- Saily: Saily's own published promotions, around holidays and peak travel. No permanent code.
- Nomad: Nomad's own published in-app sales. Short duration, selected regions only.
Price comparison before buying
Always compare the net price (after discount) across all 5 providers before purchasing. A Nomad flash sale of up to 20% offon a higher base price can still cost more than Airalo's up to $5 off on a lower base price. Use the China pricing deep dive to see current base prices, then apply the promo codes from this page.
Airport SIM vs pre-buy deals
Airport SIM at Beijing Capital (PEK) / Pudong (PVG) / Daxing (PKX): $15-30 for 3-10GB / 7-30 days. HelloRoam's lowest China price: $3.48 for 1-day unlimited, bought before you fly with no SIM swap.
Multi-trip savings strategy
Airalo's ALOHA code works on a first purchase only. Holafly's partner link takes 5% off through this site's qualifying links. After a first Airalo order, compare base prices for China directly.
When China eSIM deals are cheapest
Tourist plan prices stay steady; they run slightly higher than what locals pay on domestic contracts.
Peak travel season in China: Apr-May, Sep-Oct. Spring and autumn give the best weather for sightseeing; Golden Week (October 1-7) and Chinese New Year pack every major attraction
China eSIM price positioning
Data costs in China rank as budget-friendly on the global scale. At $1.80/GB, China sits 44% below the global average of $3.20/GB. 2 carriers (China Telecom, China Unicom) provide the underlying 5G infrastructure.
5 plan tiers are tracked for China, from 1GB ($3.49, $3.49/GB) to 20GB ($35.99, $1.80/GB). The volume discount from smallest to best-value tier is 48%. The largest tier also delivers the best per-GB rate.
Unlimited data for China is tracked at $3.48/day. Full 5G speed runs for 2GB per day before throttling. Multi-day commitments drop the daily rate: the 30-day plan runs $2.37/day (32% off). The crossover point sits at 1.9GB/day: below that, the 20GB fixed plan saves money; above it, unlimited wins.
A local SIM costs about $10 for 20GB but blocks all Western apps. A travel eSIM at roughly $3.49/day adds firewall bypass on top of the data. eSIM providers that use China Unicom infrastructure give the best mix of fast domestic speeds and access to international services.
At $1.80/GB, China delivers strong data value. Most travelers will find fixed plans more economical than unlimited options here.
Cost-saving strategies for China
- Buy the 20GB tier instead of 1GB
The 1GB plan costs $3.49/GB. The 20GB plan drops to $1.80/GB. On 10GB of total usage, that saves $16.90. The upfront cost is higher ($35.99 vs $3.49), but the per-GB savings more than compensate if you use 50% or more of the plan's data.
Estimated savings: $1.69/GB, $16.90 on 10GB
- Use WiFi for heavy tasks in China
WiFi in China is rated good. Hotels and cafes provide free WiFi in most tourist areas; many public hotspots ask for a Chinese phone number to connect Download maps, sync photos, and stream video on WiFi. Reserve cellular data for outdoor navigation and messaging. This lets you buy a smaller, cheaper eSIM plan that covers only your outdoor data needs.
Estimated savings: 30-50% reduction in data consumption
- Skip the Beijing Capital (PEK) / Pudong (PVG) / Daxing (PKX) SIM counter
Airport SIM counters charge $15-30 for 3-10GB / 7-30 days. Queue time: 20-40 min with mandatory real-name ID checks. Skip the queue by activating an eSIM before you land.. A travel eSIM starts at $3.49 for 1GB with zero queue. Install before departure and connect on landing. The saved queue time means more time at your destination and less at a kiosk.
Estimated savings: 20-40 min with mandatory real-name ID checks. Skip the queue by activating an eSIM before you land. saved, potentially lower price
- Activate on arrival to maximize validity days
Most China eSIM plans start counting from first connection to a China Telecom tower. Install the eSIM at home over WiFi, but keep the cellular line disabled until you land. Activating a 7-day plan 2 days early wastes 2 days of validity. Every day of your plan should align with actual travel days.
Estimated savings: 0-2 extra valid days per plan
- Turn off carrier data roaming before departure
This site compares China against a $10/day roaming baseline. Forgetting to disable roaming costs $70.00 for a week of accidental data use. A plan covering the same week costs $35.99, 49% less. Go to Settings > Cellular > turn off Data Roaming on your home carrier line before your flight.
Estimated savings: $34.01 per 7-day trip
- Consider Asialink bundle for multi-stop Asia trips
Airalo's Asialink regional bundle covers 16 Asian countries on a single eSIM from $5.00 (1GB). If China is one of 2+ stops in Asia, compare the bundle price vs buying individual plans at $3.49 each. The bundle typically saves money from the third destination onward. One eSIM, one purchase, multiple countries.
Estimated savings: Varies; typically saves from 3+ countries
Hidden costs when buying China eSIM deals
- SIM registration: China requires ID registration for physical SIMs. An eSIM avoids this entirely.
- VPN restrictions: VPN usage is blocked in China. The Great Firewall blocks nearly all VPN apps; only state-sanctioned VPNs are technically permitted. Download your VPN at home before flying in.
- Carrier roaming markup: At this site's $10/day roaming baseline, a 7-day trip in China runs $70.00, against $35.99 on the catalogue plan that covers 1.5 GB a day.
Top eSIM deals on China trips
HelloRoam is the top pick for China: 1 GB for 7 days costs $3.49, against Airalo $4.00 at the next store (prices read 30 Oct 2026).
HelloRoam refunds an eSIM you never activate for 180 days. Airalo lists 200+ destinations to the 185 HelloRoam sells. The top pick publishes no promo code. Airalo's ALOHA code takes up to $5 off a first purchase, Holafly's partner link takes 5% off, Saily's seasonal sales reach up to 10% off and Nomad's flash sales reach up to 20% off. Each provider takes one discount per order, and each offer can change without notice.
HelloRoam is the top pick for China with no code needed: 1 GB costs $3.49 for 7 days at list price, while Airalo's ALOHA code takes up to $5 off a first purchase. Airalo lists 200+ destinations to the 185 HelloRoam sells.
HelloRoam: no code to enter; the list price is the price. Airalo: enter ALOHA in the promo code field at checkout. Holafly: the partner link on cheaptravelesim.com applies 5% off. Saily: seasonal banners in the Saily app, up to 10% off. Nomad: flash sales on the Nomad homepage, up to 20% off, for a limited window.
Yes. HelloRoam covers a week of data in China for $35.99 on the 20 GB plan, against $70.00 at this site's $10/day roaming baseline, 49% less.
The $10/day baseline is a site reference, not a carrier price: the AT&T International Day Pass costs $12/day. eSIM plans are prepaid, so there are no overage charges.
China eSIM deal price snapshot
The best China eSIM deal starts at $3.48 for 1GB. Covering a full week costs $21.44, $48.56 (69%) under the $10/day roaming baseline.
Deal type: unlimited + fixed · Key savings: 69% vs roaming baseline
Common questions about deals
Can I get a China eSIM deal right now?
HelloRoam sells China data from $3.48 for 1-day unlimited with no code needed. Airalo's ALOHA code takes up to $5 off a first purchase and Holafly's partner link takes 5% off unlimited plans, each on that provider's own prices. Each offer is the provider's own published promotion, restated as published in June 2026.
Can I tell which provider deals hardest on China plans?
China prices on this page come from the HelloRoam 29 Oct 2026 catalogue, set beside Airalo, Nomad, Saily and Holafly prices read on 30 Oct 2026. Compare the post-discount net price across providers, not the discount percentage. The lowest net price wins.
Can I stack promo codes on a China eSIM order?
No. Each provider accepts one discount per order. Airalo takes code ALOHA. Holafly applies 5% off automatically via partner link. Saily and Nomad run periodic sales. Compare the final post-discount price across all four to find the real cheapest option.
Can timing the purchase cut a China eSIM price?
Tourist plan prices stay steady; they run slightly higher than what locals pay on domestic contracts If your trip is within 30 days, buy now with the best published offer. Nomad flash sales and Saily seasonal promotions carry no fixed dates in this site's offer file.
Can a discounted China eSIM beat roaming, and by how much?
This site compares against a $10/day roaming baseline, so 7 days costs $70.00. The lowest catalogue price for the same week: $35.99. Savings: $34.01 (49%). Apply a promo code to save even more.
Can China eSIM prices fall further?
This site does not forecast prices. The lowest China rate is $1.80/GB in the 29 Oct 2026 catalogue. Buy the plan size you need and apply a published offer.
Can Holafly discount a China plan?
Yes. Holafly's partner link takes 5% off its unlimited plans, with no code to type. Holafly listed 7 days of China unlimited data at $27.50 on 30 Oct 2026. The catalogue's 7-day unlimited plan costs $21.44.
Can waiting for a sale beat buying a China eSIM today?
Buy now if your trip is within 30 days. Airalo's ALOHA code (up to $5 off) applies to a first purchase whenever you buy. Wait only if your trip is 60+ days away and you want to catch a Nomad flash sale or Saily seasonal promotion.
China eSIM deal details
What is the best eSIM deal for China?
The lowest tracked China plan is the 1GB at $3.49. The deals table on this page shows which store sells it and when the price was read.
Are China eSIM deals available year-round?
This site holds no seasonal price data. Prices change when providers change them, so each page dates its prices. Airalo's ALOHA code (up to $5 off) is the one standing promo code among the five providers.
Can I stack promo codes with China eSIM deals?
No. Providers allow one code per order. Apply the single best code at checkout for maximum savings.