eSIM vs SIM card vs pocket WiFi vs roaming in China
For travellers from Singapore. The eSIM figures below come from the 21 China plans on sale on HolidaySG today; SIM cards, pocket WiFi and roaming are described in general terms, because their prices and rules depend on the seller or operator.
China eSIM at a glance
- From
- S$2.38 (China eSIM 1GB / 7 days)
- Lowest price per GB
- S$0.96 per GB (China eSIM 50GB / 30 days)
- Unlimited plans
- from S$1.53 per day (China eSIM Unlimited (1GB/day full speed) / 15 days)
- Plan length
- 1 to 180 days, starting when the eSIM first connects in China
- Mobile networks
- China Mobile, China Telecom, China Unicom (3G / 4G / 5G)
- Hotspot
- 21 of 21 plans
- Top-up
- 9 of 21 plans
- ID check
- Not needed on any plan
Internet location (20 plans): Apps and websites may see you as being in Hong Kong, not China. Maps and messaging work normally; some local streaming or banking apps may behave differently.
Internet location (1 plan): Apps and websites may see you as being in Singapore, not China. Maps and messaging work normally; some local streaming or banking apps may behave differently.
Side by side
General comparison, not about any particular seller, rental company or operator. Their prices and rules vary: check with them before you buy.
| What | HolidaySG eSIM | Local SIM card | Pocket WiFi | Roaming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| How you get it | Buy online, install by QR code or one tap before you fly | Buy at the airport, a shop or online, then put the card in your phone | Rent a small router, usually collected at the airport or sent by post | Turn on roaming on your Singapore mobile plan |
| Pick-up and return | Nothing to collect or return | Collect the card; nothing to return | Collect and return the router; a late or lost router usually costs extra | Nothing to collect |
| Deposit | No deposit | Usually no deposit | A deposit, or a charge for a lost or damaged router, is common | No deposit |
| ID and registration | None of our China plans needs an ID check | Many countries require your passport to register a local SIM card | Depends on the rental company | Nothing new: your Singapore plan |
| Your Singapore number | Keep your own SIM in a dual-SIM phone for calls and texts | Your own SIM comes out, unless the phone takes two SIMs | Your phone keeps its own SIM | You keep your number; calls and texts abroad may cost extra |
| Sharing data | Hotspot on every plan | Depends on the SIM plan | Several devices can join the router | Depends on your roaming plan |
| Carrying and charging | Nothing extra to carry or charge | Nothing extra to carry | One more device to carry and charge every day | Nothing extra |
| Phone needed | Supports eSIM and is carrier-unlocked | Carrier-unlocked | Any phone with Wi-Fi | Your current phone |
| Price | From S$2.38 · plans of 1 to 180 days | Varies by seller: compare the total for your trip | Varies by rental company: add any deposit and delivery fee | Varies by operator: check its roaming prices or passes for China |
How much data do I need in China?
Typical use per hour. These are estimates: real use depends on your apps, their settings and video quality.
| Activity | Estimated data |
|---|---|
| Maps and navigation | about 5–20 MB per hour |
| Messaging (text and photos) | about 5–50 MB per hour |
| Web browsing | about 50–150 MB per hour |
| Music streaming | about 40–150 MB per hour |
| Social media with videos | about 0.1–0.7 GB per hour |
| Video calls | about 0.3–1.5 GB per hour |
| Video streaming | about 0.7 GB (standard) to 3 GB (HD) per hour |
For a 7-day trip
The lowest-priced China plan on sale today for each level of use (estimated daily use; prices in SGD, the amount the plan page charges).
Before you choose an eSIM
Your phone must support eSIM and be carrier-unlocked. Check which phones support eSIM.
China eSIM plans to start with
China: eSIM, SIM card, pocket WiFi or roaming?
Should I get an eSIM or a SIM card for China?
An eSIM is installed before you fly, so you can connect when you land and keep your Singapore SIM in the phone for calls and texts. A local SIM card means collecting and swapping a card, and in many countries registering it with your passport. A SIM card can suit a phone that does not support eSIM. Our China eSIM plans start at S$2.38.
eSIM or pocket WiFi for China?
A pocket WiFi is a router you rent, collect, return and charge every day; it lets several devices share one connection. An eSIM has nothing to collect or return, and every one of our China plans also lets you share data by hotspot. Compare the total price for your trip, including any deposit or delivery fee for the router.
Is roaming on my Singapore plan enough for China?
Roaming keeps your number and needs no set-up, but roaming data can cost more than a local data plan. Check your operator's roaming prices or passes for China before you go. Many travellers keep their Singapore SIM on for calls and texts and use an eSIM for data.
How much data do I need for a week in China?
As a rough estimate, light use (maps, messages, some browsing) is about 0.5 GB a day, moderate use with social media about 1 GB a day, and heavy use with video or a hotspot 2 GB or more a day. Real use depends on your apps and video quality. For a 7-day trip with moderate use, the lowest-priced China plan on sale today with at least 7 GB and 7 days is China eSIM 10GB / 30 days at S$11.22.
When does a China eSIM start?
Data plans start when the eSIM first connects to a network in China, not when you buy or install it. Install it before you fly while you are on Wi-Fi, then turn on data roaming for the eSIM when you arrive.
Which networks does the eSIM use in China?
Our China plans connect to China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom, with 5G where the network and your phone support it. Each plan page lists its networks.
Can I add data later?
9 of our 21 China plans can be topped up from My eSIMs; the others cannot, so choose enough data for your whole trip.
Does my phone support eSIM?
Most recent phones support eSIM, for example iPhone XS / XR or newer, Google Pixel 4 or newer (and most Pixel 3 / 3a), Samsung Galaxy S20 or newer and many recent flagships, but not every model or country version does. To check, look for an EID under Settings → About, or an "Add eSIM" option in the mobile / SIM settings. A phone bought from a carrier may be locked to that carrier.
Our team answers eSIM questions 9 AM – 11 PM Singapore time (SGT), every day.
