Airalo vs Holafly for China: Which eSIM Is Better?

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Planning a trip to China and wondering which eSIM to get?

During my recent 11-day trip to China, I ended up using both Holafly and Airalo, so I thought this would be a great opportunity to compare the two and to tell you about my experience. While I originally arrived with a Holafly eSIM, I eventually had to switch to Airalo after experiencing connectivity issues in Beijing.

After testing both providers across Shanghai, Hangzhou and Beijing, I definitely have a favourite.

In this guide, I’ll compare Airalo vs Holafly for China, share my personal experience using both, and explain which eSIM I would choose if I visited China again.

Quick Answer: Which Is the Best eSIM for China?

If you’re short on time, I’d recommend Airalo.

While both eSIMs allow you to bypass China’s internet restrictions and access apps like Google, Instagram, and WhatsApp, I found Airalo to be significantly more reliable during my trip.

Holafly worked reasonably well in Shanghai and Hangzhou, but completely stopped working properly once I arrived in Beijing. I then had to get another eSIM when I was already in Beijing, and went for Airalo. Which, on the other hand, worked perfectly from the moment I activated it. During another trip where I had a long layover in Guangzhou, I also had an Airalo eSIM and that also worked really well back then.

That being said, this is based on my personal experience travelling through China. I’ve actually had the opposite experience in some other countries, where Airalo wasn’t my favourite option.

For China specifically, though, I had no issues at all. Purchase your Airalo eSIM for China now!

Why You Absolutely Need an eSIM in China

Before comparing the two providers, it’s important to understand that having mobile data in China isn’t just convenient, it’s essential.

China is one of the most digital countries I’ve ever visited. And you constantly need internet access for things like:

• Paying with Alipay
• Translating menus and signs
• Looking up metro routes
• Booking tickets
• Communicating with hotels
• Accessing maps

In most places, cash isn’t commonly used anymore, and foreign bank cards are also not really accepted anywhere. Most locals pay using Alipay or WeChat Pay. You can set that up before you travel to China and link it to your bank card. In that way, whenever you pay using Alipay it goes off directly of your normal bank account.

If your internet stops working, paying suddenly becomes a lot more difficult. So I guess you can see why you will need data on your phone by getting an eSIM.

Another huge advantage is that most travel eSIMs automatically bypass China’s Great Firewall. Since a lot of Western apps are blocked, you won’t be able to access any of these if you are connected to the Wifi instead.

This means with an eSIM you can still access:

• Google
• Gmail
• Instagram
• WhatsApp
• Facebook
• ChatGPT
• Google Translate

Without an eSIM in China, you’d need to rely on hotel Wi-Fi and a separate VPN. Unfortunately, many VPNs don’t work reliably in China.

I personally used NordVPN as a backup and it did not really work for me, which made having a working eSIM even more important.

My Experience Using Holafly in China

I arrived in China with a Holafly eSIM already installed.

For my trip, I purchased an 11-day unlimited plan for €36.90 beforehand. The prices differ a bit based on the duration that you will need your eSIM for, but in general it’s around 3.90 USD a day for unlimited data.

Holafly eSIM also offers a cashback programme where you earn coins on purchases. I received 180 coins, which equals roughly 5% cashback that can be used towards future eSIM purchases. But it does seem like most eSIM providers seem to offer some sort of cashback programme or loyalty programme.

Holafly in Shanghai

I started of my China trip in Shanghai, and in Shanghai, Holafly worked reasonably well.

I could use Alipay, access Google services, browse social media and navigate around the city without any major issues.

However, I did notice that the internet speed wasn’t always particularly fast but it was okay still. It’s not like I wanted to spend the entire day on my phone watching TikToks rather than getting to see the city.

It wasn’t unusable by any means, but it wasn’t amazing either.

If you are heading to Shanghai, make sure to check out my guide on Solo Female Travel in Shanghai!

Holafly in Hangzhou

Things were pretty similar in Hangzhou. The eSIM still worked, but data speeds often felt slower than I expected. It was still fine; I never had any issues with not being able to pay or anything but for other apps it often would not load.

Again, it was enough for navigation, payments and messaging, but it could have been better.

Holafly in Beijing

This is where the problems started. As soon as I arrived in Beijing, my connection became extremely unreliable.

I first noticed it when I got off the train and tried to look up directions to my accommodation. The eSIM would connect briefly, usually for less than a minute, and then completely lose internet access.

I discovered that putting my phone into flight mode and turning it off again would temporarily restore the connection, but only for another minute or so.

Needless to say, trying to navigate one of the busiest train stations in China while your internet keeps disappearing isn’t exactly fun.

After doing some research, I found that other travellers had reported similar issues with Holafly in Beijing. Whether that’s due to stricter network controls in the capital or something else, I’m not sure.

What I do know is that it became unreliable enough that I needed another solution.

Also read: My guide on solo female travel in Beijing! 🇨🇳

My Experience Using Airalo in China

Luckily, I managed to get enough internet access to purchase an Airalo eSIM. I’d actually used Airalo before, when I had a long layover in Guangzhou two years earlier, and I remember I had no issues then, so I decided to give it another try.

The difference was immediate. As soon as I activated Airalo, my connection became stable and fast.

No more constantly switching flight mode on and off. No more losing signal every few minutes.

Also check out all the best apps to download for your trip to China!

Airalo in Beijing

Throughout the rest of my stay in Beijing, Airalo performed perfectly.

I used it for:

• Alipay payments
• Metro navigation
• Google Maps searches
• Google Translate
• Booking attractions
• Social media
• ChatGPT

I didn’t experience any dropouts or connection issues.

What surprised me most was that the internet actually felt noticeably faster than Holafly had in Shanghai and Hangzhou.

Airalo Pricing

I purchased two separate 3-day Airalo packages during my trip and spent approximately €23 in total. But it would have been cheaper if I would have just gotten the eSIM for a longer period of time instead. In general the price for unlimited data per is rather similar for both Airalo and Holafly.

Airalo also has a cashback programme that returns approximately 6% of your purchase as rewards that can be used on future eSIMs.

If you’re planning a longer trip, larger packages usually offer better value than purchasing multiple short-term plans like I did.

Airalo vs Holafly for China

Here’s a quick comparison based on my experience.

Which eSIM Would I Choose for China?

If I returned to China tomorrow, I would choose Airalo without hesitation.

While Holafly worked reasonably well for part of my trip, the issues I experienced in Beijing were frustrating enough that I wouldn’t want to risk relying on it again.

Airalo provided:

• Faster speeds
• More reliable connectivity
• Better value for money
• Zero issues in Beijing

For me, that makes it the clear winner. Purchase your Airalo eSIM for China now!

Other Apps You Need for China

An eSIM is only one part of travelling in China. These are the apps I found absolutely essential.

Alipay

If you download only one app before arriving in China, make it Alipay. You’ll use it multiple times a day for paying for anything. Whether it’s coffee shops, metro stations, convenience stores, or restaurants.

I honestly don’t know how I would have travelled around China without it.

Amap

Google Maps isn’t very reliable in China. Instead, I used Amap throughout my trip.

The app provided accurate public transport directions, walking routes and estimated travel times. Even though the interface isn’t as familiar as Google Maps, it’s far more useful once you’re in China.

Google Translate

Since both Airalo and Holafly bypass China’s internet restrictions, I could use Google Translate normally throughout my trip.

This was incredibly useful for:

• Reading menus
• Translating signs
• Communicating with hotel staff

Trip.com

For China, I found Trip.com to be much better than Booking.com. It offers a larger selection of hotels, trains, attractions and tours, often with more reviews and better information for Chinese destinations.

I ended up using it throughout my trip and would highly recommend downloading it before you go and also booking your accomodation beforehand via Trip.com

Final Thoughts

After using both Airalo and Holafly in China, Airalo was the clear winner for me.

Holafly was usable in Shanghai and Hangzhou, but the connection issues I experienced in Beijing made it difficult to rely on. I didn’t travel anywhere else in China during this trip, so I can’t speak for other places in China. However, since a trip to Beijing is probably included in most China trips, I think going with Airalo is the safer option.

Airalo delivered fast, stable internet throughout my time in Beijing and I could easily access any app I wanted, just as Google Translate, TikTok or Instagram.

If you’re looking for the best eSIM for China, Airalo is the one I have chosen twice now and would also purchase again next time.

Let me know if you have any questions