1. Anyone has used a non-Chinese e-sim card successfully in mainland China? I am thinking of Airalo. Was the coverage good?
2. If I buy a Chinese local sim card on arrival, can I still use VPN and access Google etc?
Or do I need a non-Chinese sim for the VPN?
I have not used VPN before so no experience or knowledge on this topic.
TIA.
1- eSim or regular SIM makes no difference, you need to check the service provider's arrangements in China to make sure that you get service. It is usually on their webisite but most foreign SIMs work in China.
2- Sure. Make sure that your VPN works in China and that you have a way to reach their customer service if it does not A VPN will work on both types but you pay roaming fees on a foreign SIM.
Several VPN offer free trials. Try it at home first.
JPDM. Thank you.
The Airalo I am looking at is their global SIM that supposedly works in China. I am trying to see if anyone had good or bad experience using it.
Thank you for confirming the usage of local sim and VPN. I am technically challenged 😂 so a bit uneasy. I don't plan on using my cell phone sim - you are right too expensive. Sly used Astrill VPN that worked well in China. So I will get that one too.
Edited: 5:12 pm, September 13, 2023Hello, I'm not sure if this message is arriving late, but I am in China right now and using Airalo perfectly. I have used Airalo in Great Britain and four European Union countries and it works the same way: you buy the card, install the card, activate the card.
It connects to a telecom called Unicom and doesn't require a VPN to access services that don't work when you are connected to local telecoms via wifi or other sim cards. I've been using it for about a week and it's working perfectly.
If you want, you can use my code on your first purchase and get 3 USD off the price of the eSIM: ANA9602
Have a great trip!
I can second Caro's post - I'm in Shanghai just now, using Airalo and was really surprised that I didn't need to turn on my VPN. Everything is working fine including gmail, maps & translate.
If you buy a local sim card to get a number then you'll need a VPN, but it's been hit or miss for me. I have 2 services that I regularly use when travelling; 1 of them doesn't work here at all, the other has only worked about 25% of the time. I only need it on my laptop though, as mentioned before Airalo has worked flawlessly since landing.
How does this Airalo work? Should it be activated before entering China? Should i simply put the data ON and that's it? Sorry for probably stupid questions but i am not good with technologies, i have bough a sim/e-sim while traveling.
I own a redmi note 9 xiaomi, not sure e-sim could be used on this phone.
Thanks
We're in China ATM. I am using Airalo, it starts from when you first connect it abroad.It works really well but is only mobile data. This is the first time I have used an esim, you need to have a compatible phone. I had 2 VPNs, Express and Nord installed and set up just before we arrived so I could have a go and get used to them. When one doesn't work, the other has.
So data esims, they still come with phone numbers?
When I was in China in July, I had an esim but I kept my countries phone number active and the esim for data, I couldn't use my visa debit through Alipay, I had to top up my Alipay to be able to use it. Maybe the problem was from not using the esims phone number.
Anyone experienced this and figured out the problem?
Thanks
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What are forum guidelines?Just checking in.....does Airalo data SIM still work in China without a vpn?? Hoping to be able to use Google etc in Shanghai. Thanks.
Just want to know if Airalo eSim still work in China without a vpn?? Will be in Shanghai in May 2024. Thanks for any help.
