Airalo China eSIM: Is It Worth It?
China is an incredible place to live and travel, but if you work online... The internet will humble you pretty quickly! Google, WhatsApp, Slack, and Instagram are all blocked by the Great Firewall. You can use a VPN, but it often slows things down enough to make work frustrating.
I spent three months working remotely in China, tried a few different setups, and eventually used Airalo’s China eSIM (without a VPN!) for the entire trip.
I was online the moment I landed and had consistent mobile data across the country. Speeds usually sat around 10–25 Mbps download and 5–10 Mbps upload, which was enough to work without thinking about my connection.
Does Airalo Work in China?
Yes, Airalo does work in mainland China, and it made life a lot easier than I expected.
As you might know, China’s internet is locked down by the Great Firewall, which usually means running a VPN all day just to open Google, Slack, WhatsApp, or Notion. I’ve done that before, but it’s slow, unstable, and honestly exhausting.
With Airalo’s China eSIM, I didn’t need to keep a VPN on to get online. The traffic is routed in a way that already bypasses most blocks, so all the usual apps worked out of the box. That’s not something you can say for all eSIMs.
On top of that, Airalo runs on Chinacom / China Unicom networks, so the connection was fast and reliable. I used it daily for work in big cities and smaller towns without having to think about my connection all the time. Which, in China, is a win!
Why I Recommend Airalo for China Travel
After trying a few different setups and talking to other nomads on the ground, these are the reasons Airalo ended up being the setup I stuck with for the rest of my time in China:
Coverage and speeds are good everywhere
I relied on Airalo every single day in Shanghai, but also in smaller places like Dali, and that’s where it really won me over. Speeds were usually around 10–25 Mbps download and 5–10 Mbps upload, which was more than enough for emails, file uploads, and video calls without stress.
Chinese apps still worked normally
This is huge, and something people underestimate before arriving. China runs on its own digital ecosystem, and without local apps, you can’t really function day to day. Some other setups I used broke Chinese apps completely, which was super frustrating. With Airalo, WeChat, Amaps, and Alipay worked normally, and I never had to mess with settings to do basic things like booking a taxi or finding my way home.
Customer support was there when I needed it
eSIM support is usually where things fall apart. I had a couple of small questions while setting things up with Airalo, and later checked in about a plan top-up, and support was surprisingly quick, clear, and actually useful.
It fits the digital nomad lifestyle
What I liked most about Airalo is how little I had to think about it. I picked a plan, topped up when needed, and moved on. It felt flexible in the same way nomad life is supposed to be and not another thing you have to manage while you’re already juggling travel, work, and life in a new country...
Plans and Pricing
Airalo’s China eSIM plans are pretty flexible and easy to adapt to how long you’re actually staying. Prices start low at around €4–€5 (~$4–$5) for small data packages, and scale up depending on how much data you need and how long you’re in the country.
Most China-specific plans fall into clear tiers: 1 GB for a few days, 3 GB for a week or so, 5 GB or 10 GB for around 30 days, and larger options like 20 GB or 50 GB if you’re staying longer. Prices generally range from budget-friendly on the low end to around $40–$50 for higher data caps. There are also short “unlimited” plans, but like most unlimited options, speeds can slow after a daily high-speed allowance.
If you’re moving around Asia, Airalo also offers a regional Asia plan that include China alongside other countries, which can make sense if China is just one stop on a longer trip.
All plans are data-only (no local phone number), can be bought and installed before you land, and are managed entirely inside the Airalo app. Compared to local Chinese SIMs, Airalo is usually a bit more expensive, but you’re paying for convenience, flexibility, and avoiding setup friction.
My Recommendation
A lot of cafés and chains like Starbucks require a local Chinese phone number just to access Wi-Fi... Airalo won’t give you that, unfortunately. So, if you plan to work from cafés a lot or come back to China regularly, the best setup is Airalo for daily mobile data + a cheap local Chinese SIM you keep for Wi-Fi and verification.
However, if you are simply looking to get mobile data and work mostly from your apartment or regular coworking spaces, Airalo will be more than enough.
How to Set Up Your Airalo China eSIM: Step-By-Step Guide
Setting up Airalo is super easy, just make sure you do it before you fly, because once you’re in China, downloading anything new can be annoying.
1. Check your phone and install the Airalo app
Make sure your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked (most newer iPhones and many Androids are). Then download the Airalo app while you’re still on reliable Wi-Fi.
2. Buy your China eSIM inside the app
Open the app, search for China, and pick the plan you want. You don’t need to overthink this and you can always top up later.
3. Install the eSIM (takes a couple of minutes)
After buying, go to “My eSIMs” and follow the prompts to install it. Your phone will guide you through the process. Just tap “Add eSIM” or “Add mobile plan” when asked.
4. Leave it installed but inactive until you arrive
Once installed, you don’t need to turn it on straight away. I left my main SIM as default and only switched to Airalo after landing in China.
5. Turn it on when you land
After landing, switch your mobile data to the Airalo eSIM and make sure data roaming is turned on for that line. Within a minute or two, it should connect.
Alternatives to Airalo China eSIM
Before settling on Airalo, I went down the usual rabbit hole and looked at pretty much every China eSIM people kept mentioning. A few of them do work, but they just solve slightly different problems.
Holafly
Holafly is what people pick when they’re anxious about running out of data. The “unlimited” plans sound great, and if you’re hotspotting a lot or streaming all day, I get the appeal. Just know that unlimited isn’t truly unlimited, and there are fair-use limits and slowdowns... And it’s noticeably more expensive. It’s peace of mind, but you pay for it.
Saily
Saily feels like the new kid on the block. Clean app, easy setup, and it works, but it still feels a bit less battle-tested. For a short trip, fine. For a longer stay in China, I personally preferred sticking with something more established.
Is Airalo Worth It for China Travel?
Yes, absolutely. China’s internet is the biggest challenge you’ll face as a remote worker there, and Airalo kept me online from the moment I landed with speeds that let me actually work.
It's a bit more expensive compared to a local SIM, but it is the least painful and most predictable way to stay connected, so for a digital nomads, that’s totally worth it. If you also grab a cheap local SIM for things that need a Chinese number (like some café Wi-Fi and verification SMS), you start to feel like you’ve cracked the code on working in China!
Ready to Give Airalo China eSIM a Try?
Join our global
digital nomad community
Join us for free
Freaking Nomads is supported by you. Clicking through our links may earn us a small affiliate commission, and that's what allows us to keep producing free, helpful content. Learn more
Travel tips, hacks, and news
Exclusive travel discounts
Offers and promotions
Digital nomad inspiration
Latest articles form our blog