Reviewed China plans
| Provider & plan | Data | Validity | Observed total |
|---|---|---|---|
 NomadMainland ChinaView this plan ↗ | 1 GB | 7 days | USD 5.00 |
| NomadMainland + Hong Kong + MacaoView this plan ↗ | 1 GB | 7 days | USD 5.00 |
| NomadMainland ChinaView this plan ↗ | 3 GB | 30 days | USD 10.00 |
| NomadMainland + Hong Kong + MacaoView this plan ↗ | 3 GB | 30 days | USD 10.00 |
| NomadMainland ChinaView this plan ↗ | 5 GB | 30 days | USD 14.00 |
| NomadMainland + Hong Kong + MacaoView this plan ↗ | 5 GB | 30 days | USD 15.00 |
| NomadMainland ChinaView this plan ↗ | 10 GB | 30 days | USD 19.00 |
| NomadMainland + Hong Kong + MacaoView this plan ↗ | 10 GB | 30 days | USD 19.00 |
| NomadMainland ChinaView this plan ↗ | 20 GB | 30 days | USD 22.00 |
| NomadMainland + Hong Kong + MacaoView this plan ↗ | 20 GB | 30 days | USD 29.00 |
| NomadMainland ChinaView this plan ↗ | 50 GB | 45 days | USD 37.00 |
| NomadMainland + Hong Kong + MacaoView this plan ↗ | 50 GB | 30 days | USD 45.00 |
Estimated conversions · ECB rates, 10 November 2026.
Choose the correct destination list
The mainland product covers mainland China. Greater China includes mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. A Hong Kong stop before or after the mainland leg can therefore change which offer fits, even when the two bundles have the same number of gigabytes.
Validity is continuous across stops. Returning to the mainland does not reset it. The reviewed mainland selection includes a longer-validity large fixed bundle; the similarly sized regional offer has a different validity. Compare days as well as data, rather than treating the two catalogs as interchangeable.
Sources: Nomad mainland-China catalog · Nomad Greater China catalog · Nomad China coverage, routing and purchase restrictions
Buy before reaching mainland China
Nomad says installation and activation are separate: connection to a supported destination network usually starts validity. Its general setup guidance specifies a 60-day activation deadline, after which validity starts automatically. Follow the installation email where it gives additional manual steps.
Its China help also says new eSIM purchases are unavailable while physically in mainland China. Add-ons can be bought for an active, unexpired base plan. Buy and install before departure, and arrange extra data before that base expires. This matters more than a small initial saving if you expect to recharge during a long stay.
Sources: Nomad installation, activation, hotspot and add-ons · Nomad China coverage, routing and purchase restrictions
Separate hotspot permission from app access
Hotspot is allowed and uses the same data balance. The reviewed mainland fixed plans list China Unicom and China Telecom; regional network availability needs its own package check. A laptop’s background transfers can make a modest phone bundle run out much sooner.
Nomad attributes access to Google, Gmail and WhatsApp on its China eSIM to international routing, and explicitly distinguishes that from VPN encryption. This is a provider claim, not our test. Exact Greater China routing remains unconfirmed in this review: the China-only explanation is insufficient to establish every regional package’s app behavior.
Sources: Nomad installation, activation, hotspot and add-ons · Nomad China coverage, routing and purchase restrictions · Nomad Greater China catalog
When the fixed bundles are useful
Consider Nomad when a fixed allowance suits your habits and you want to compare mainland and regional coverage within one provider. For frequent tethering, use the whole shared budget. For a regional journey, compare the exact TSimTech regional packages at MobiMatter as well; account for their different top-up rules.
The table uses observed USD public prices, including sales where displayed. No personal coupon is deducted. Some links open the wider country catalog: reselect the displayed allowance and validity before paying. We have not included an unverified Nomad Unlimited fair-use pairing or ranked this provider by speed.
Sources: Nomad mainland-China catalog · Nomad Greater China catalog · Nomad installation, activation, hotspot and add-ons
Related comparisons
Sources and review
Reviewed on 11 November 2026. Provider statements and technical information are distinguished from independent testing; no China connection or speed test was performed for this guide.