Three eSIMs dominate the China travel market in 2026: Holafly for unlimited data, Nomad for the best price-per-GB, and Saily for built-in VPN privacy. All three bypass the Great Firewall through international roaming — no separate VPN app needed.
But they're very different products. This guide compares them head-to-head so you pick the right one.
30-Second Verdict
| You Are… | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy data user / long trip | Holafly | Unlimited data, never run out |
| Best value for 1–4 weeks | Nomad | $12 for 10 GB/30 days — cheapest per GB |
| Privacy-focused / built-in VPN | Saily | Only eSIM with integrated VPN on every plan |
| Light user, 1 week | Nomad or Saily | Both under $10 for short trips |
| Visiting China + other Asian countries | Nomad | Best APAC multi-country plans |
The Core Difference
| Holafly | Nomad | Saily | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data model | Unlimited on every plan | Fixed data (1–20 GB) | Fixed data (1–20 GB) |
| Built-in VPN | ❌ No (roaming bypass only) | ❌ No (roaming bypass only) | ✅ Yes (Virtual Location feature) |
| GFW bypass method | International roaming | International roaming | International roaming + VPN |
| Network in China | China Mobile roaming | China Unicom roaming | China Mobile roaming |
| 5G access | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| App required? | ❌ No (web + QR) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Hotspot/tethering | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Multi-country plans | Separate per country | ✅ APAC plans | ✅ Regional plans |
What "Built-in VPN" Means for Saily
Saily's Virtual Location feature is the only true built-in VPN among the three. While Holafly and Nomad bypass the GFW through roaming (which doesn't encrypt your traffic), Saily adds an extra VPN layer that:
- Encrypts your data end-to-end
- Lets you choose a virtual location (US, UK, Japan, etc.)
- Protects you on hotel/cafe WiFi (roaming bypass doesn't help on WiFi)
This makes Saily the only eSIM that works on both mobile data AND WiFi — the others only bypass the GFW on mobile data.
Price Comparison: China Plans (2026)
Holafly China eSIM
| Duration | Data | Price | $/Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 days | Unlimited | $19 | $3.80 |
| 7 days | Unlimited | $27 | $3.86 |
| 10 days | Unlimited | $36 | $3.60 |
| 15 days | Unlimited | $47 | $3.13 |
| 20 days | Unlimited | $54 | $2.70 |
| 30 days | Unlimited | $69 | $2.30 |
Nomad China eSIM
| Duration | Data | Price | $/GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 days | 1 GB | $5 | $5.00 |
| 7 days | 3 GB | $8 | $2.67 |
| 7 days | 5 GB | $10 | $2.00 |
| 15 days | 3 GB | $9 | $3.00 |
| 15 days | 5 GB | $12 | $2.40 |
| 15 days | 10 GB | $18 | $1.80 |
| 30 days | 5 GB | $14 | $2.80 |
| 30 days | 10 GB | $12 | $1.20 |
| 30 days | 20 GB | $38 | $1.90 |
Saily China eSIM
| Duration | Data | Price | $/GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 days | 1 GB | $4.49 | $4.49 |
| 7 days | 3 GB | $7.99 | $2.66 |
| 7 days | 5 GB | $10.99 | $2.20 |
| 15 days | 3 GB | $8.99 | $3.00 |
| 15 days | 5 GB | $12.99 | $2.60 |
| 30 days | 5 GB | $14.99 | $3.00 |
| 30 days | 10 GB | $24.99 | $2.50 |
| 30 days | 20 GB | $39.99 | $2.00 |
Price Winner by Scenario
| Scenario | Holafly | Nomad | Saily | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 days, light use (3 GB) | $27 (unlimited) | $8 | $7.99 | Saily (by $0.01) or Nomad |
| 7 days, heavy use (10+ GB) | $27 (unlimited) | $18 max avail. | — | Holafly (unlimited) |
| 15 days, moderate (10 GB) | $47 (unlimited) | $18 | $12.99 | Saily (cheapest fixed) |
| 30 days, light (5 GB) | $69 (unlimited) | $14 | $14.99 | Nomad ($14) |
| 30 days, moderate (10 GB) | $69 (unlimited) | $12 | $24.99 | Nomad ($12!) |
| 30 days, heavy (20+ GB) | $69 (unlimited) | $38 (20 GB) | $39.99 (20 GB) | Holafly (unlimited) |
Key finding: Nomad's 30-day/10 GB plan at $12 ($1.20/GB) is the best value in the entire China eSIM market. If 10 GB covers your monthly usage, Nomad is unbeatable on price.
Speed & Coverage
All three connect through Chinese cellular networks and route data internationally to bypass the GFW. Speeds are similar because they use the same underlying infrastructure.
| Metric | Holafly | Nomad | Saily |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese network | China Mobile | China Unicom | China Mobile |
| Urban speed | 20–80 Mbps | 20–100 Mbps | 20–80 Mbps |
| Rural speed | 5–20 Mbps | 5–20 Mbps | 5–20 Mbps |
| 5G | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Latency | 50–100 ms | 50–100 ms | 50–100 ms |
| HSR coverage | Good (eastern China) | Good | Good |
Nomad edges ahead slightly on speed because China Unicom's 5G network in major cities tends to deliver faster real-world speeds than China Mobile's roaming tier. The difference is marginal (10–20%) and varies by location.
All three struggle in remote areas (western China, mountains, some train tunnels). This is a network limitation, not an eSIM limitation.
Great Firewall Bypass
What Works on All Three
| Service | Holafly | Nomad | Saily |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Search | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Gmail | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| YouTube | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | |
| ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | |
| ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | |
| Twitter/X | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Netflix | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| ChatGPT | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Google Maps | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
The WiFi Difference
| Holafly | Nomad | Saily | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GFW bypass on mobile data | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| GFW bypass on WiFi | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (built-in VPN) |
| Encryption on mobile data | ❌ No (roaming only) | ❌ No (roaming only) | ✅ Yes (VPN layer) |
This is Saily's killer feature. Holafly and Nomad only bypass the GFW on mobile data — if you connect to hotel WiFi, you're behind the firewall again. Saily's built-in VPN means you're protected on any network, including hotel and cafe WiFi.
Practical impact: If you regularly use hotel WiFi (to save mobile data, or because signal is weak indoors), Saily is the only eSIM that keeps Google and WhatsApp working on WiFi.
Multi-Country: Asia / APAC Plans
If you're visiting China plus other Asian countries (Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, etc.), you can either buy separate country plans or a regional plan:
Holafly: Separate Plans Only
- Buy one plan per country
- China 7 days: $27 + Japan 7 days: $27 + Korea 7 days: $27 = $81 total
- Simple but expensive for multi-country trips
Nomad: APAC Plans Available
| Plan | Countries | Duration | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| APAC | China + Japan + Korea + SE Asia | 7 days | 3 GB | $13 |
| APAC | Same | 15 days | 5 GB | $22 |
| APAC | Same | 30 days | 10 GB | $37 |
One eSIM, multiple countries. Dramatically cheaper than buying separate plans.
Saily: Regional Plans Available
| Plan | Countries | Duration | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asia | China + Japan + Korea + SE Asia | 7 days | 3 GB | $9.99 |
| Asia | Same | 15 days | 5 GB | $14.99 |
| Asia | Same | 30 days | 10 GB | $27.99 |
Saily's Asia plans are cheaper than Nomad's APAC plans for the same data. Best value for multi-country Asia trips.
Multi-country winner: Saily for price, Nomad for coverage breadth.
Setup & App Experience
| Holafly | Nomad | Saily | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purchase | Website (esim.holafly.com) | App or website | App or website |
| App required? | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (recommended) | ✅ Yes (recommended) |
| Installation | Scan QR code from email | In-app auto-install | In-app auto-install |
| Activation | Auto on landing (data roaming ON) | Auto on landing | Auto on landing |
| App quality | N/A (no app) | ★★★★ Good | ★★★★★ Very clean |
| Top-up in-app | N/A | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Customer support | Email/chat | In-app chat + email | In-app chat + email |
| Loyalty program | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (Saily Points) |
Holafly's no-app approach is both a strength (simplest possible setup) and a weakness (no in-app management, no top-ups).
Saily's app is consistently rated the cleanest and most intuitive among eSIM providers.
Pros & Cons Summary
Holafly
| ✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
|---|---|
| Truly unlimited data — never run out | Throttles to ~256 Kbps after 1–2 GB/day |
| No app needed — scan QR and go | Most expensive for light users |
| 5G on China Mobile | No built-in VPN (WiFi not protected) |
| Hotspot/tethering supported | No multi-country plans |
| Simple pricing — one plan per duration | No loyalty program |
Nomad
| ✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
|---|---|
| Best $/GB — $12 for 10 GB/30 days | Data runs out — must buy top-ups |
| APAC multi-country plans | No built-in VPN |
| 5G on China Unicom (fastest in cities) | App required |
| Good app experience | Customer support can be slow |
| Competitive pricing across all durations | Cheaper plans may sell out on popular dates |
Saily
| ✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
|---|---|
| Only eSIM with built-in VPN | Slightly more expensive than Nomad per GB |
| Works on WiFi AND mobile data | Smaller company (fewer user reviews) |
| Cheapest Asia regional plans | Virtual Location feature uses extra data |
| Cleanest app experience | Limited unlimited data options |
| Loyalty program (Saily Points) | Newer to China market (less track record) |
| Privacy-focused (Nord Security family) |
5 Common Scenarios: Which to Pick
Scenario 1: 1-Week Tourist, Beijing/Xi'an/Shanghai
- Data needed: ~5 GB
- Winner: Nomad ($10 for 5 GB/7 days) — cheapest
- Runner-up: Saily ($10.99 for 5 GB/7 days) — add built-in VPN for $1 more
Scenario 2: 2 Weeks, Remote Worker
- Data needed: 15+ GB (Zoom, uploads, streaming)
- Winner: Holafly ($47/15 days unlimited) — won't run out
- Alternative: Nomad 10 GB ($18) + WiFi where available (risky)
Scenario 3: 1 Month, Moderate Use
- Data needed: ~10 GB
- Winner: Nomad ($12 for 10 GB/30 days) — best price on the market
Scenario 4: 1 Month, Heavy Streaming
- Data needed: 30+ GB
- Winner: Holafly ($69/30 days unlimited) — only unlimited option
Scenario 5: China + Japan + Thailand (2 Weeks)
- Winner: Saily Asia ($14.99 for 5 GB/15 days) — cheapest regional plan with VPN
- Runner-up: Nomad APAC ($22 for 5 GB/15 days) — good coverage, no VPN
FAQ
Does Holafly actually provide unlimited data in China?
Yes — you never get cut off. But speeds throttle to ~256 Kbps–1 Mbps after approximately 1–2 GB of usage per day. Enough for messaging and basic browsing, too slow for HD video streaming.
Is Nomad's $12/10 GB plan really the best value?
Yes, as of May 2026. At $1.20/GB for 30 days, it's the cheapest per-GB price among major China eSIM providers. The catch: 10 GB may not be enough for heavy users. If you stream video daily, you'll burn through 10 GB in about a week.
What makes Saily's built-in VPN different from roaming?
Roaming bypasses the GFW by routing data through international gateways, but it doesn't encrypt your traffic. Saily's Virtual Location adds a real VPN tunnel on top of roaming — encrypting data and letting you choose a virtual location. This also protects you on WiFi networks, which roaming alone doesn't do.
Can I use these eSIMs after arriving in China?
It's risky. App stores and activation pages may be blocked. Install and activate before your flight. If you're already in China without a VPN, use Bing (works without VPN) to access the eSIM websites, or have a friend outside China email you the QR code.
Do these eSIMs give me a Chinese phone number?
No. All three are data-only — no phone number, no SMS, no voice calls. Use WeChat for messaging and FaceTime/iMessage for calls.
What if I run out of data on Nomad or Saily?
Both allow in-app top-ups. Nomad: buy additional data packs. Saily: buy more data in the app. Holafly doesn't need top-ups (unlimited).
Can I use Alipay/WeChat Pay with these eSIMs active?
Alipay and WeChat Pay may fail when mobile data routes internationally. Temporarily switch to WiFi (or a China SIM) for payments, then switch back. Saily's VPN can help here — disable Virtual Location briefly for Alipay, then re-enable.
Related Guides:
- Holafly vs Airalo for China: Which Is Better?
- Best eSIM for China: Complete Buying Guide
- eSIM vs Physical SIM vs Pocket WiFi vs Roaming
- China eSIM Coverage & Speed Guide
- How to Activate & Set Up a China eSIM
- China eSIM Troubleshooting: Not Working?
- VPN Alternatives: eSIM vs VPN vs SIM Card