Green Tea

Mobile data abroad: roaming, eSIM, SIM card or pocket WiFi?

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There are roughly five ways to get online abroad: your own carrier’s roaming, an eSIM, a travel SIM card, pocket WiFi, or a local SIM bought on arrival. None is best for everyone; it depends on your phone, how many days, and how many of you. One by one below, then a simple way to choose.

Your own carrier’s roaming

Good for

  • No SIM to change, same number
  • Switched on in your carrier’s app or shop

Watch out for

  • Usually charged by the day or by package, so long trips cost more; prices are your carrier’s
  • Check which countries are covered and when speed is cut before you switch it on

eSIM

Good for

  • Install code minutes after paying: no waiting for delivery, and you can buy it at the airport
  • Your usual SIM stays in and still gets text codes; 97 countries and regions, from $0.90
  • Chosen by data and days, paid once; one not yet installed can be refunded by you, to points

Watch out for

  • The phone must support eSIM: dial *#06#, and an EID has to show
  • It stays on the phone it was installed on; deleted usually means gone

Travel SIM card

Good for

  • Works in older phones and phones without eSIM
  • Our SIM cards work in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, from $1.90

Watch out for

  • Has to be posted: 1–3 days after ordering
  • A single-slot phone has to take the usual SIM out, and gets no home texts meanwhile

Pocket WiFi

Good for

  • One device shared by several people

Watch out for

  • Rented in advance, collected and returned at departure and arrival
  • Has to be carried and charged all day; whoever wanders off has no signal

A local SIM bought on arrival

Good for

  • Bought on the spot at the airport or in a shop

Watch out for

  • Bought in person; some places ask for your passport
  • No data from landing until you have it: finding your way or a taxi is harder

How to choose

  • Your phone supports eSIM: an eSIM is the least hassle. Install it before you go and turn on data roaming when you land.
  • No eSIM on your phone: for mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan, choose a travel SIM card; elsewhere, use your carrier’s roaming or buy a local SIM on arrival.
  • Several people travelling together who want to carry one thing: consider pocket WiFi.
  • A day or two with very little data: carrier roaming is quickest to switch on; check the price first.

Getting an eSIM

  1. Dial *#06# and check an “EID” shows.
  2. On Green Tea Mobile, choose the destination, data and days, and pay with Alipay, WeChat Pay or points.
  3. Minutes after paying, the install code appears on the order page and in My cards; install it, and turn on data roaming for this eSIM when you arrive.

Questions

How do I get a travel data plan?

With an eSIM: dial *#06# to check an EID shows, choose the destination, data and days, get the install code minutes after paying, and install it. 97 countries and regions today, from $0.90. If your phone has no eSIM, choose a travel SIM card instead, delivered 1–3 days after ordering.

Which option is cheapest?

It depends on how many days, how much data and how many people. Carrier roaming is usually charged by the day, so long trips get expensive; an eSIM or travel SIM is paid once for its data and days; pocket WiFi can suit a group. Work out the total for your trip, then choose.

Can I buy one at the airport?

Local SIMs and pocket WiFi can usually be bought or collected at the airport. An eSIM is bought online, from the airport too if you are on Wi-Fi, and the install code comes minutes after paying.

Will my home number still receive text codes abroad?

Yes. With an eSIM your usual SIM stays in the phone, and with international roaming on it can usually still receive text codes (receiving texts is usually free; check with your carrier). Keep data roaming off on that SIM and it runs up no data charges.

Can one phone use my home SIM and a travel plan at once?

With an eSIM, yes: the usual SIM stays in, the eSIM carries the data. With a travel SIM card it depends on the phone having two slots; a single-slot phone has to take the usual SIM out first.

Will I pay roaming charges abroad?

Not for data, if your home SIM’s data roaming is off and mobile data runs on the travel eSIM or SIM. Using your own carrier’s roaming is charged at your carrier’s prices.

Roaming or a local SIM: which is better?

Roaming needs nothing new and keeps one SIM, at your carrier’s prices, usually by the day: quickest for a day or two. For longer trips a travel eSIM or local SIM is usually cheaper; an eSIM can be installed before you land.

Travel SIM or pocket WiFi: which is better?

For one or two people, a travel eSIM or SIM: nothing to carry or charge, nothing to return. For a group that stays together, pocket WiFi can share one plan.