Five details behind one word
- High-speed allowance: how much full-speed data is included?
- Reduced speed: what happens once you use that allowance?
- Reset: when does any daily allowance renew?
- Hotspot: can you share the connection, and under what limits?
- Validity: what event starts the clock and when does it end?
Data volume and usable speed answer different questions
A package can remain active after its high-speed allowance is used. At a reduced speed, text messaging may feel different from a video call or uploading a large file. Ask what the advertised speed limit means for the tasks you need to complete.
Also check whether a “daily” allowance resets by local time, another time zone or a rolling period. Read the package terms instead of assuming midnight in the destination.
Estimate first, then compare the limits
A plan for your kind of trip.
Three small decisions.
A much clearer starting point.
to plan around
1 GB per day + a 20% planning buffer. Downloads, video quality and background apps can change this.
Confirm eSIM support for your exact model and carrier unlock before buying any plan.
This tool does not verify a device or recommend a specific paid package.
Compare the full-trip cost
Calculate the cost of covering the whole trip with the usage you expect. A fixed package with a clear allowance and an unlimited package with a daily threshold are different ways to buy data. Neither label tells you which is cheaper or more suitable without the details.
Match the plan to your habits
For frequent video calls, uploads or laptop sharing, reduced-speed details can matter more than the headline. If you mostly use messaging and saved maps, a fixed allowance may be easier to understand. Compare the total cost for the whole trip.
Read each package’s current details
Yesim
CHINA- 1 GB, 30 days
- 5 GB, 30 days: $13.20
- Unlimited, 5 days: $21.60
- Speed may be reduced under the network’s fair-use policy.
Airalo
CHINA- 1 GB, 3 days
- 5 GB, 30 days: $14.50
- Unlimited, 5 days: $19.00
- Throttled to 1 Mbps after 3 GB per day.
Saily
CHINA- 1 GB, 7 days
- 5 GB, 30 days: $15.99
- Unlimited, 5 days: $22.99
- 5 GB per day at full speed, then up to 1 Mbps.
Check eSIM compatibility, carrier unlock, coverage and when validity starts. Buy and install while you have reliable Wi-Fi. Prices in US dollars, from each provider’s China page on the date shown. They change often.
Questions before you go
Does unlimited data mean unlimited high-speed data?
Not necessarily. Read the package’s high-speed allowance, reduced-speed terms, reset time and hotspot limits.
Can the estimator predict my exact consumption?
No. It is a planning model with stated daily assumptions and a buffer. App behavior, media quality and downloads change actual consumption.
Sources & review notes
- Yesim China plans ↗ · Reviewed
- Airalo China help ↗ · Reviewed
Product prices use their own dates. Provider statements are not independent connection tests. Recheck time-sensitive details before booking.