Saily China eSIM Review (Nov 2026): Plans, Prices & Promo Code
Saily China eSIM review: seven Unlimited durations from $22.99, fixed-data plans from $4.49, hotspot, top-ups, Asia coverage and 10% off with ROAMTESTED.
Published 2026-11-05 Updated 2026-11-09
Saily, from the company behind NordVPN, sells China eSIMs from $4.49 for 1 GB, plus seven Unlimited passes for trips of 5–30 days starting at $22.99. Its China plans list China Telecom and China Unicom, with 5G where available. Beyond mobile data, Saily offers hotspot sharing, in-app top-ups, a virtual-location feature and built-in web protection. The code ROAMTESTED gives eligible new customers 10% off. This review covers Saily's China plans, setup options, regional coverage and alternatives.
Plans and pricing
Saily offers fixed-data China plans from $4.49 and seven Unlimited durations of 5, 7, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 days, starting at $22.99; both plan types use China Telecom and China Unicom where available.
Unlimited fair-use policy: China Unlimited provides 5 GB of full-speed data per day, then continues at up to 1 Mbps until the next daily cycle.
Which Saily plan fits your trip?
Choose your trip length and typical data use. We compare plans by total price.
Estimated data need: 16.8GB(including 20% buffer)
Covers your trip length and estimated data needs.
New customers: $26.99 with ROAMTESTED (10% off).
Check plansData needs are estimated from your selected usage level plus a 20% buffer. Confirm prices and fair-use restrictions at checkout.Optional discount for eligible customers; confirm at checkout.
All Saily China plans
Unlimited plans
| Validity | Price |
|---|---|
| 5days | $22.99 |
| 7days | $29.99 |
| 10days | $35.99 |
| 15days | $49.99 |
| 20days | $60.99 |
| 25days | $66.99 |
| 30days | $72.99 |
Unlimited plans can be subject to fair-use policies and network speed limits.
Fixed-data plans
| Data | Validity | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1GB | 7days | $4.49 |
| 3GB | 30days | $10.99 |
| 5GB | 30days | $15.99 |
| 10GB | 30days | $26.99 |
| 20GB | 30days | $39.99 |
Saily Asia and Oceania eSIM
Saily also has an Asia and Oceania regional eSIM covering 22 destinations, including mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea. A regional plan can be more convenient than separate country plans when you are visiting several stops. Compare Saily’s regional plan options and confirm the selected package’s coverage and validity before buying.
Saily Ultra: a Global subscription alternative
For frequent or multi-country travel, Saily also sells Ultra, a recurring Global subscription. Standard has 10GB; Plus and Premium have 30GB of high-speed data per cycle followed by data at up to 1Mbps. Premium also includes a US number with a monthly calling/SMS allowance.
Ultra starts on purchase, so its timing and renewal rules differ from the prepaid China packages above. Read my Saily Ultra Global eSIM review for Standard/Plus/Premium choices and the cost of data, VPN and usable airport benefits.
Buying and activation
- Open Saily’s website or the Saily app and pick a plan. Create your Saily account at home, before you fly.
- At checkout, enter
ROAMTESTED(10% off for new customers), then pay. - Install the eSIM at home, on Wi-Fi, by following the steps in the Saily app; Saily also emails a QR code when you buy on its website. Turn on data roaming for the eSIM before your trip.
- When you land in China, set the Saily line as your mobile data line. The plan starts when it connects to a network there. You have 180 days from purchase; after that, it starts by itself.
- Running low? Add data from the eSIM in the app, or turn on auto top-up. The new plan starts when your current one runs out.
Refunds: Saily refunds a plan in full within 30 days of purchase if you haven’t installed the eSIM or the plan hasn’t activated, as long as you haven’t used any of the plan’s extras. Once a plan is active, it refunds only for problems on its side, or if you’ve used less than 1% of the data. Ask in the Refund Center in the app or on Saily’s website.
Who should buy it
Buy it if you:
- Want Unlimited data for a flexible trip length — Saily’s 5–30-day Unlimited passes come in seven durations, with prices starting at $22.99.
- Need to share your mobile connection — Saily supports hotspot sharing within your plan’s data and fair-use terms.
- Prefer simple data management — top up in the Saily app or enable auto top-up instead of purchasing a new eSIM each time.
- Want virtual-location and security tools alongside mobile data — Saily’s app includes virtual location, ad blocking and web protection.
- Visit several Asian destinations — Saily’s regional eSIM range offers a single-plan option for China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea; check coverage before buying.
Saily alternatives for China
If your priority is lower prices or a different data policy, consider these alternatives:
| If you… | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Want a less expensive large fixed-data plan | Nomad | Its 20 GB / 30-day China plan costs $22, compared with Saily’s $39.99. |
| Want Unlimited without a provider-set daily full-speed quota | Yesim | Yesim sets no daily full-speed cap of its own, though partner-network fair-use restrictions may apply. |
| Need very little data for a short visit | Trip.com | Its China plans start at $0.10 per day for 500 MB. |
Compare the prices below, including eligible promo codes:
What's good
- Saily Unlimited comes in seven durations from 5 to 30 days, starting at $22.99 before discounts
- Hotspot sharing is included on its China plans, so you can connect a laptop or another device
- Top up from the Saily app or switch on auto top-up when your current data runs low
- Virtual location, ad blocking and web protection are built into the Saily app
- China coverage uses China Telecom and China Unicom, with 5G where available
- Full refund may be available within 30 days when the applicable unused or unactivated-plan conditions are met
What's not
- More expensive for large fixed-data packages: 20 GB / 30 days costs $39.99, versus $22 from Nomad
Frequently asked questions
Does Saily work in China?
Yes. Saily's China eSIM provides mobile data in mainland China using China Telecom and China Unicom, with 5G where supported. Saily also offers hotspot sharing, top-ups and security features in its app.
Is Saily legit?
Yes. Saily is operated by Nord Security, the company behind NordVPN. You can buy plans on Saily's website or in its app, and handle installation, top-ups and support through your account.
Do I need a VPN with Saily in China?
You can use Saily's China eSIM for mobile data without installing a separate VPN. Saily's China FAQ advises a VPN for WhatsApp, while its separate guide says internationally routed travel eSIM data may allow access; these are different official statements. Google services may be accessible via international routing, but this is not a guarantee for every app or Wi-Fi network.
Does WhatsApp work with Saily in China?
Saily's China FAQ says WhatsApp needs a VPN, while its travel guidance explains that international eSIM routing can sometimes make WhatsApp available. The official guidance is not fully consistent, so do not assume VPN-free WhatsApp access is guaranteed when using Saily's China eSIM.
What is Saily's virtual location feature?
Saily's virtual-location feature routes app traffic through a selected server location, so websites may see a different country. It is included with Saily's plans alongside ad blocking and web protection. Saily describes it as VPN-like, not as a standalone full VPN, and it does not guarantee that every restricted app will work in China.
How much does Saily cost in China?
Fixed-data China plans start at $4.49 for 1 GB / 7 days and run to $39.99 for 20 GB / 30 days. Unlimited plans cost $22.99 (5 days), $29.99 (7), $35.99 (10), $49.99 (15), $60.99 (20), $66.99 (25) and $72.99 (30). New customers eligible for code ROAMTESTED can take 10% off at checkout on Saily's website.
Does Saily have unlimited data in China?
Yes. Saily Unlimited comes in 5-, 7-, 10-, 15-, 20-, 25- and 30-day options. Prices start at $22.99 for 5 days and reach $72.99 for 30 days; code ROAMTESTED gives eligible new customers 10% off. Unlimited is subject to fair-use and reduced-speed conditions.
Is there a Saily promo code?
Yes. Code ROAMTESTED takes 10% off for new customers. At checkout on 5 November 2026 it reduced the 15-day Unlimited plan from $49.99 to $44.99, with $1.35 in Saily credits earned. Enter the code on Saily's website or in the app.
What are Saily credits?
Saily advertises 3% of what you pay as credits toward future purchases. The 15-day Unlimited checkout at $44.99 earned $1.35 of Saily credits, even with the discount code. See Saily's plan offers for current eligibility.
Does Saily's hotspot work in China?
Yes. Saily advertises hotspot sharing on its China eSIM plans. Shared usage counts toward the purchased data allowance and remains subject to the plan's fair-use terms.
When does a Saily plan start?
Your Saily China plan starts when the eSIM first connects to a supported network in China. Install it before departure, enable roaming for the eSIM and activate within 180 days of purchase; otherwise the activation period expires and the plan may start automatically under Saily's terms.
Can I top up Saily in China?
Yes. Buy additional data through your Saily account in the app. Saily also offers auto top-up and usage alerts; a new plan typically starts when the current one finishes.
Can I get a refund on a Saily eSIM?
Saily describes a 30-day refund window for eligible plans that have not been installed or activated, subject to its terms and whether plan extras have been used. For active plans, different restrictions apply. Request a refund in Saily's Refund Center and check the current terms before purchase.
Does Saily's China plan work in Hong Kong?
No. The China-only eSIM does not cover Hong Kong or Macau. For mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea on one regional package, consider Saily's Asia and Oceania eSIM. Confirm the selected plan's destination list.
Will Saily work on my phone?
Yes, if your phone is eSIM-compatible and carrier-unlocked. Some phones sold in mainland China do not support travel eSIMs. Check Saily's compatibility guidance and the iPhone or Pixel guides before buying a Saily plan.
Does Saily give you a phone number in China?
Standard Saily China data plans do not include a Chinese phone number. Saily offers a separate paid US (+1) number with optional calling and SMS plans, but that is not a Chinese (+86) number and some services may reject VoIP numbers for verification. See the China phone-number guide.
How do I contact Saily from China?
Saily directs customers to in-app support and live chat. If you buy a Saily eSIM, install the app and sign in before departure because access to Saily's services can be limited on local networks in China.
Does Saily work with WhatsApp, Google Maps and ChatGPT in China?
Saily's official Google guide says internationally routed eSIM connections can access Google services, including Google Maps. For WhatsApp, its China FAQ says a VPN is needed, while other Saily travel guidance describes an international eSIM access route. Saily does not explicitly guarantee ChatGPT access in mainland China. Check Saily's China eSIM options for the current plan terms.