Saily sells mainland China plans from $4.49 for 1 GB, and its app includes virtual locations, which route your traffic through a server in another country. Saily’s help centre doesn’t promise that Google, WhatsApp or Instagram will work in China, so plan for Chinese apps too.
The catch: no Saily article says its virtual locations or a separate VPN will reach apps that are restricted in China.
Many foreign apps, including Google services, WhatsApp and Instagram, are restricted in mainland China. That’s why travellers search for an eSIM with a VPN. Here is what Saily offers, and what it doesn’t claim.
Saily mainland China plans
| Data | Valid for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 7 days | $4.49 |
| 3 GB | 30 days | $10.99 |
| 5 GB Best value | 30 days | $15.99 |
| 10 GB | 30 days | $26.99 |
| 20 GB | 30 days | $39.99 |
Saily also sells unlimited China plans from 5 to 30 days; check the price for your dates on saily.com. Visiting Hong Kong too? It’s a separate country plan (from $3.99), or use the Asia and Oceania plan, which covers China, Hong Kong, Macau and 19 more countries from $4.99. See our China eSIM guide and Hong Kong and China guide.
What Saily’s virtual locations do
A virtual location re-routes your traffic through a remote server, so it looks as if you’re connecting from another country. Saily describes it as a privacy feature. To turn it on:
- Open the Saily app and tap the Virtual location tab on the home screen.
- Select the country you want to connect through.
- Saily connects you to that virtual location.
The app also has an ad blocker and web protection under Security on the home screen.
What Saily doesn’t promise
Saily’s help articles describe virtual locations as a way to protect your privacy and mask where you connect from. None of them says the feature, or any VPN, will open Google, WhatsApp or Instagram inside China. So treat any access as uncertain. Before you go, ask Saily support by live chat in the app if your trip depends on a particular app.
Using a separate VPN app such as NordVPN
You can run a VPN app over Saily data like any other connection. Saily’s own Turkey guide tells travellers to keep a VPN installed as a workaround for reaching its app. Two Saily tips apply everywhere:
- Turn the VPN off while you install the eSIM, or the install can fail.
- Turn it off while you pay, since an unusual IP address can get a payment declined.
Saily Ultra subscribers get NordVPN included. Whether a given VPN works in China is up to that VPN, so check with its provider. More on combining them: can I use Saily with NordVPN?
Get set up before you fly
- Buy your China plan and install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi.
- Turn on data roaming for the Saily line.
- Set up auto top-up so a new plan starts if you run out mid-trip.
Download offline maps and the Chinese apps you’ll need for payments and transport before you leave.
- China plans from $4.49 for 1 GB
- Virtual locations, ad blocker and web protection in the app
- Asia and Oceania plan covers China, Hong Kong and Macau
- Install before you fly
- No promise that restricted apps will work
- VPN must be off to install and pay
- Pricier than many Asian countries
FAQ
Does Saily unblock Google and WhatsApp in China?
Saily doesn’t say it does. Its virtual locations are a privacy feature, and no help article promises access to apps restricted in China.
Can I use NordVPN with a Saily eSIM?
Yes, a VPN app runs over Saily data. Turn it off while you install the eSIM and while you pay. Whether it works in China depends on the VPN.
Does the China plan cover Hong Kong?
No, Hong Kong is a separate plan. The Asia and Oceania plan covers both, plus Macau.
Plans from $4.49 for 1 GB (7 days), checked on saily.com on 24 Oct 2026.