The Best China SIM Card of 2022

If you're coming to China for travel or work, and you want to be a technologically integrated member of society when you do, you’ll need to get a China SIM card. Obtaining a China SIM card will give you the ability to use mobile internet, make and receive phone calls, and send and receive SMS messages. Just so you know in advance, with a VPN, you won't be able to use the messaging features of any Western applications such as Facebook Messenger, Kakao Talk, LINE or Whatsapp. So, before you come to China, you should check my guide on the Best VPNs for China for details.

If you're used to traveling abroad, you'll know that in most countries in Asia you can buy a pre-paid SIM card without any difficulty. With a low price and easy-to-recharge services, you can usually get a connection in a few minutes. You have to remember to unlock your phone so that you can use your new SIM.

China SIM cards operate on mobile networks the same way you’re used to back home with a few notable caveats. After you read this guide, you’ll know exactly what to expect when you get to China.

Using a CDMA network, China Telecom is not compatible with any phones purchased outside China. If you want to buy a phone that only works in China, you could use China Telecom, but I’m not sure why you would do that.

This is the largest carrier in China with a 70% market share. You can find China Mobile locations in most towns in China. Even if you find yourself in an underdeveloped town without a stop light, you’ll still be able to find someone who can top up your China mobile account.

The only carrier with a 3G Network, China Unicom is the 2^nd largest mobile carrier in China that you can use with foreign devices.

I think China Unicom is most likely going to be the best for your purposes. Most international phones work with 4G / HSPA+, and the 3G CDMA standard is mostly for phones in China. While you'll have the best coverage available in the country, know that their roaming charges are pretty extreme. For example, calling to other provinces, you could incur a significant charge. China Unicom is the best for foreign phones running 4G as well as 3G.

For the China Unicom Basic 4G Voice and Data SIM, you get:

You can purchase a top up card, but you don’t need to. Most of the time, what I do is enter my phone number into the calculator they have on the counter, and the attendant can pull up my account.

The most convenient option for topping up your account is paying with WeChat Pay or Alipay.

In WeChat you can find the options to top up your phone under Me > Wallet > Mobile Top Up. You'll need to have WeChat Pay activated. After you choose how much you'd like to spend, you enter your PIN, and the balance will be credited to your account. To make this work, you need to have WeChat Pay activated with your bank card. To get it set up to check my guide How to Use WeChat Pay as a Foreigner.

Alipay is almost the same, except you'll find the Top-up mobile option on the front page of the app. All you have to do is select it, a payment plan, and then enter your pin.

You can ask a Chinese friend to top up for you. All they have to do is enter your number, you give them some cash, and they can select a plan to make a payment for your account with their mobile apps. 1GB of data goes for about 21RMB.

Some companies can deliver to you a pre-paid SIM card before you come to China. It means that the moment you arrive in China, you'll have data. This can be a plus if you want to use a ride share application like Didi to ride to your intended location from the airport.

The only drawback to a prepaid card of this kind is that rates are often higher. You can find some prepaid cards that offer dual Hong Kong/China roaming, and the great thing about that is that you won't have to use a VPN to get uncensored content on your phone. See details below.

If you plan to stay in China for a year or more, it will be more affordable if you sign a contract. Some people don’t like contracts because they don’t like to get boxed in, but you can decide which route is best for you. Monthly subscriptions mean that your charges will be deducted from your paid fees. Post-paid packages are generally not a thing in China.

Some people are unsure when they come to China whether they should attempt to use their existing phone, buy a burner, or just rent a phone. Here are some of the considerations you’ll need to make when making this decision.

Plenty of people have iPhones in China, but the question of whether or not your iPhone will be the best choice can be complicated. Why? Because iPhones are typically locked to a specific domestic carrier, like Verizon or AT&T. If you try to use this kind of phone in China, you'll get charged extreme roaming fees by your provider.

This is what is meant when I mention your phone is "unlocked" above. After your contract is over, you can unlock your iPhone and potential use it on a Chinese network. Other kinds of phones have less difficulty swapping SIMs and getting set up right away, like Blackberry.

The other primary consideration when it comes to compatibility is the frequencies of telecommunication providers. China's biggest networks support 900Hz to 1,800Hz. Will those work with your device?

Are you willing to pay the enormous fees for international roaming when you go abroad? While it might be more expensive, there are benefits. You should ask your local service provider how much it costs and the rates might shock you.

Purchasing a local SIM is a pretty typical, obvious choice. If your phone is unlocked, you can get one at any China Unicom, Telecom, or China Mobile shop for about 200 to 300 RMB.

If you’re not sure if you can unlock your phone and don’t want to deal with the potential complications, you can do the following:

You don’t have to spend a lot to get good value on these, but I would recommend a Chinese android. If you have a VPN, you might be able to download the Google framework and get Play Store installed manually, even if it is a Chinese model.

If you're only staying a short while and you're mostly going to be in cities, almost every establishment offers complimentary wifi. With an app like Skype, you’ll even be able to keep in touch with your contacts from back home.

It's possible to rent a phone and have it delivered abroad to your home before you leave for China. The phone has an existing SIM card that will be ready for use once you get to China.

If you want to access Gmail, Google, Facebook and Instagram on your phone, you’re going to need a VPN. Any of the following VPNs will work on both your computer and your smartphone so you can access blocked content during your stay.

Not all VPNs are suitable for bypassing the Great Firewall, so check my guide on the Best VPN for China to make an informed decision.

I think that VyprVPN is the best choice because of their unique Chameleon protocol, adding an extra layer of protection. They offer a 30-Day money back guarantee, so might as well take advantage of that. Remember, it can be challenging to get a VPN set up before you arrive in the country to get this handled as soon as possible.

You should use China Unicom. You can use your phone in China if it is unblocked. Remember to acquire a VPN service before coming to China. Also, remember that your charger might not work for your foreign phone in Chinese electrical outlets and the voltage might be different.