When traveling across Hong Kong, tourists and visitors need a special SIM card that supports local providers and phone calls. Yet, buying a card for a several-day visit is nonsense. Paying for huge roaming fees is also a bad idea since you won’t even get decent Internet speed. Among Internet solutions, eSIM stands as the best idea to remain connected in Hong Kong.
In your ultimate guide, explore the best eSIM for China and Hong Kong. Compare prices, coverage, speed, and customer reviews from the received month. This way, you’ll find the leading eSIM option for your stay in Hong Kong.
eSIM in Hong Kong: How Does it Work?
If you’re new to eSIM technology, don’t worry. This is a simple solution for cases when you need a virtual SIM card to scroll the Internet, make calls, and use an online connection.
Shortly, this is a digital version of a simple SIM card. You buy the data plan for Hong Kong, pay, activate it, and use the local Internet as if you had a plastic SIM card in your device. Why is it better than a traditional connection? There are multiple reasons:
- you save on roaming costs;
- eSIM is available online, so you can buy it in advance;
- eSIM providers offer way more tariffs and features than local companies;
- you save time during your trip by buying and activating the tariff in advance.Â
Answering the common question – no, a Chinese SIM card won’t suit. Although Hong Kong is a part of China, this region has its own cell providers and network. By using a Chinese SIM in Hong Kong, you activate roaming and pay fees. Now that the reasons to use eSIM are clear, let’s find the best solutions on the market and compare their pros and cons. Before that, check if your device is compatible with eSIM technology.
Yesim
The company offers eSIM solutions for 190+ countries all over the world. According to reviews, Yesim’s connection in Asian countries is the best, which is good news for Hong Kong tourists.
In Hong Kong, choose from 8 plans, both limited and unlimited:
- From $0.99 to $2 per 1 GB within prepaid plans;
- From $2 to $7.7 per day of unlimited connection.Â
Whether you travel for a day or a month, plans are versatile and created for different time period. The price is quite affordable and guarantees a 5G or 4G connection. In Hong Kong, you’ll be connected to the CSL provider. You can also buy a virtual number to make calls, but it comes as a separate service.
To activate the plan, use one of the three available methods:
- Download Yesim application and activate the riff automatically.
- Scan the QR code, sent to your mailbox, and follow the instructions.Â
- Activate manually.
Note that Yesim has soft activation conditions. You can buy and install the plan, and then start using it within 365 days.
To access several countries at once, consider regional plans. These tariffs switch you from networks in several countries, and you pay only once. Hong Kong is included in Asia Pacific, Global, Business, and the USA Global plans.
Customer Reviews
Yesim is a trusted provider with 4+ stars at Trustpilot. Reviews about Hong Kong are absent, but you can see that the connection in China and Asia overall is decent. Most likely, Hong Kong Internet is also quite good.
Airalo
Airalo is often positioned as a cheap provider, but this is not completely true. While European coverage is cost-effective, connection in Hong Kong costs even more than Yesim offers.
The price ranges from $2 to $4.5 per 1 GB. All plans are prepaid and last from 7 to 30 days. Plan activation is available in the app or via a QR code.
According to Airalo, you have access to the VPN and unlimited hotspot in Hong Kong. Additionally, you can postpone the plan’s activation. Another great feature is 24/7 support. If you have any questions about your connection, use the live chat in the Airalo application or the official website.
Apart from a single-country tariff, Hong Kong is available in Asian regional plan and “Discover” global plan. This is a great option to ensure connection in both Hong Kong and other Asian regions, including other parts of China.
Customer Reviews
Unfortunately, the connection with Airalo is not so stable. In most cases, you are connected, but issues may happen. use it if you’re ready for slight issues.
Nomad eSIM
Nomad is famous for versatile regional options and great connections. In most cases, 4G in Hong Kong is available due to JoyTelecom or Nomad Red network providers. Don’t expect 5G, though, as Nomad rarely supports it.
The price, as always, depends on the data volume you purchase in one check. For example, 20 GB for 45 days costs only $25, which is $1.1 per 1 GB. A single GB, meanwhile, varies from $4 to $6.
All plans are prepaid and come without a virtual number and SMS. Yet, it is a great price for a stable 4G connection during your stay. If you need more data, top the existing tariff up without activating a new one. Hotspot is also available and not limited.
To visit several countries within one plan, choose “Global”, “Global Extended” or “APAC” (Asia Pacific) plans. They cover most of the Asian countries and other destinations.
Customer Reviews
Most reviews about China and Hong Kong are extremely positive. Even if some issues with activation happen, customer support quickly sorts things out. Overall, Nomad seems a reliable companion for trips to Hong Kong.
aloSIM
Among other providers, aloSIM is the only one that includes phone calls and SMS in every plan. You don’t need to buy it separately as the service is included in the price.
Choose from 6 prepaid plans:
- 1 GB for $4.5;
- 2 GB for $6.5;
- 3 GB for $8.5;
- 5 GB for $11.5;
- 10 GB for $18;
- 20 GB for $26.
The duration differs from 7 to 30 days depending on data volume. All plans include unlimited hotspots and data-sharing options. Note, however, that aloSIM doesn’t promise 4G or 5G. It only mentions LTE, with one of the available providers supporting only 2G. Yet, it is quite fair because of low prices.
Among regional offers, choose from Asia and Asia Five (Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, and South Korea).
Customer Reviews
Unfortunately, aloSIM is a double-edged sword. The opportunity to make calls and send SMS is tempting, but the Internet connection leaves much to be desired. Cater to this option if you really need a virtual number.
The Final Comparison: Choose Your Data Offer
| The best eSIM for Hong Kong | Yesim | Airalo | Nomad | aloSIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | 1–30 days | 7–30 days | 1–45 days | 1–30 days |
| Price | From $0.99 to $2 per 1 GB | From $4.50 to $2 per 1 GB | From $1.1 to $6 per 1 GB | From $1 to $4.5 per 1 GB |
| Unlimited connection | Available (from $2 to $7 per day) | Not available | Not available | Not available |
| Phone calls and virtual numbers | Available at a separate price | Not available | Not available | Included in all tariffs |
| Coverage in Hong Kong | CSL (5G) | CSL (LTE) | JoyTelecom and Nomad Red (4G) | 1O1O / One2Free / New World Mobility / SUNMobile, New World Mobility, PCCW Mobile (2G and LTE) |
| Regional plans with Hong Kong included | Asia, Global, Business destinations, USA Global | Asia and Discover (a type of global tariff) | Global, Global Extended, Asia Pacific | Asia and Asia Five |
Which eSIM to Use in Hong Kong?
Among the leading providers, choose high-speed internet and seamless connection depending on your needs. While YeSIM offers amazing regional plans to see several countries, Airalo is a budget-friendly option. AloSIM, meanwhile, is popular for including virtual numbers and phone calls. Remember that each eSIM for Hong Kong caters to different needs, and the choice is always up to you. Share your own opinion about Hong Kong eSIM plans and your experience.
In 2025, users have prioritized Yesim, Airalo, AloSIM, and Nomad. Each offers an Internet connection with 4g/5g/LTE speeds.Â
The choice depends on your priorities. The cheapest option is Airalo, while Yesim offers the most stable Internet.Â
Nomad and Yesim have the most adequate ratio of price and quality. Although these providers are more expensive than Airalo, they offer better connections and commonly support 5G.
With eSIM, you don’t pay for roaming. Even a chinese SIM card will activation the roaming mode when you visit Hong Kong. To avoid huge fees, use local Internet with the help of eSIM options.Â
You can choose from 3 popular methods to activate an eSIM. Activation through the eSIM application is the fastest one. Alternatively, scan the QR code, sent via email. Finally, you can enter the plan’s details manually and activate it via settings.
