Quick answer: For most Hong Kong travellers, Yoho Mobile is the cheaper travel eSIM: 10GB for 7 days costs HK$37 to HK$46 across Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and mainland China, priced in HKD. Airalo costs more but is the biggest eSIM brand, with 24/7 support in many languages. New Airalo customers can use the code AFF15NEW for 15% off. Prices below were checked on both official websites on 9 November 2026. Before buying, check your phone: many iPhones sold in Hong Kong have no eSIM.
Why Use a Travel eSIM Instead of Roaming?
An eSIM is a digital SIM card built into your phone. You buy a data plan online, scan a QR code, and your phone connects to a local network when you land. No airport counter, no tiny SIM tray.
The big advantage for Hong Kong people is that your Hong Kong number stays on. You keep receiving SMS, including the one-time passwords from your bank, while the travel eSIM handles data. For a 5 to 7 day trip, a travel eSIM usually costs a fraction of a roaming day pass from a local carrier.
Check this first: many iPhones bought in Hong Kong have no eSIM. According to Apple, Hong Kong and Macao versions of the iPhone XR, XS Max, and the iPhone 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 series use two physical nano-SIM slots instead of eSIM. The exceptions are the iPhone XS, 12 mini, 13 mini, SE (2nd and 3rd generation) and 16e. The iPhone 17 series and later support eSIM. If you bought your iPhone overseas, it probably supports eSIM.
On any phone, dial *#06# and look for an EID number. No EID usually means no eSIM. Your phone also needs to be carrier unlocked.
Yoho Mobile: Cheapest for Hong Kong Travellers
Yoho Mobile has a Traditional Chinese website for Hong Kong and shows prices in HKD, so there are no exchange rate surprises. Instead of fixed bundles, you build your own plan: pick the number of days and the amount of data.
- Price example: Japan, 7 days, 10GB costs HK$46.25. Korea, 7 days, 10GB costs HK$36.97
- Networks: Japan uses SoftBank, KDDI, docomo or Rakuten. Korea uses SKT, LG U+ or KT
- Days count from arrival: your plan starts when you connect in the destination, not when you install it
- Hotspot: supported, so you can share data with a laptop or a travel partner
- Multi-country plans: useful if you are doing Japan and Korea on one trip
Pros: much cheaper fixed data plans, HKD pricing, flexible days and data, hotspot sharing.
Cons: “unlimited” plans vary a lot. Some are full speed, others slow down after 1GB a day. The Japan full speed unlimited plan limits hotspot use to 6GB.
Best for: Budget travellers who know roughly how much data they use.
See more below
Airalo: The Big Brand With 24/7 Support
Airalo is one of the best known eSIM companies in the world, with plans for more than 200 countries and regions. Prices are shown in US dollars. Because the Hong Kong dollar is pegged at about 7.8 to the US dollar, the conversions in this article are close to what you will pay.
- Price example: Japan, 7 days, 10GB costs US$17 (about HK$133). Thailand, 7 days, 10GB costs US$10 (about HK$78)
- Unlimited plans: Japan unlimited for 7 days costs US$26.5 (about HK$207)
- Support: 24/7 customer support, including chat
- Validity: for most plans, the validity period starts when the eSIM connects to a network in its coverage area, so you can install it at home first. Check “Package details” in the app to confirm
Promo codes (from Airalo’s affiliate programme at the time of writing):
- AFF15NEW: 15% off for new customers
- AFF10ALL: 10% off for existing customers
Pros: trusted global brand, polished app, huge country list, simple fixed bundles.
Cons: fixed data plans cost two to four times more than Yoho for most Asian destinations. Refunds for a change of plans are usually given as Airmoney credit in the app rather than cash.
Best for: Travellers who value a big brand and round-the-clock support, or who are going somewhere Yoho does not cover well.
See more below
Price Comparison: 7-Day Plans by Destination
| Destination | Yoho 10GB | Airalo 10GB | Yoho unlimited | Airalo unlimited |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | HK$46.25 | US$17 (about HK$133) | HK$152.44 (full speed) | US$26.5 (about HK$207) |
| Korea | HK$36.97 | US$18 (about HK$140) | HK$233.75 (full speed) | US$29 (about HK$226) |
| Taiwan | HK$45.61 | US$17.5 (about HK$137) | HK$137.16 (max 10Mbps) | US$27 (about HK$211) |
| Thailand | HK$38.01 | US$10 (about HK$78) | HK$72.58 (max 10Mbps) | US$21 (about HK$164) |
| Mainland China | HK$43.85 | US$24.5 (about HK$191) | HK$122.27 (max 10Mbps) | US$27 (about HK$211) |
Yoho also has cheaper capped “unlimited” plans, for example Japan at HK$55.46 for 7 days with full speed for the first 1GB a day and 5Mbps after that. Prices change often, so check the final price at checkout.
Which eSIM for Each Destination?
Japan. Yoho is the clear winner for fixed data: 5GB for 7 days costs HK$28.01, compared with US$10 (about HK$78) on Airalo. If you want full speed unlimited data, Yoho’s HK$152.44 plan is still cheaper than Airalo, but remember the 6GB hotspot limit.
Yoho Japan eSIM · Airalo Japan eSIM
Korea. For 10GB, Yoho costs HK$36.97 against about HK$140 on Airalo. For full speed unlimited data the two are close (HK$233.75 vs about HK$226), so Airalo is worth comparing if you stream a lot.
Yoho Korea eSIM · Airalo Korea eSIM
Taiwan. Yoho uses Chunghwa Telecom and Taiwan Mobile. 10GB for 7 days costs HK$45.61, about a third of Airalo’s price.
Yoho Taiwan eSIM · Airalo Taiwan eSIM
Thailand. Thailand is Airalo’s cheapest destination here, but Yoho is still about half the price for 10GB.
Yoho Thailand eSIM · Airalo Thailand eSIM
Mainland China. The important question is not only price but which IP address the plan uses. Many Yoho China plans route through Hong Kong or Singapore, which means Google, WhatsApp and Instagram work as they do at home. A few plans on Yoho’s site list the IP as unconfirmed, so read the plan details before you pay. On Airalo, check the package details for the same information.
Yoho China eSIM · Airalo China eSIM
How to Set Up a Travel eSIM
- At home, on Wi-Fi: buy the plan and install the eSIM by scanning the QR code (Yoho emails it to you) or through the app
- Label it: name the new line “Travel” so you do not mix it up with your Hong Kong SIM
- Before you land: set mobile data to use the travel eSIM, and leave your Hong Kong line on for calls and SMS, with its data roaming switched off
- On arrival: turn on data roaming for the travel eSIM only. It is normal for a travel eSIM to need roaming switched on
Going to Korea? Read my guide on why Seoul should be your next trip, or browse more ideas in my travel section.
FAQ
Does my phone support eSIM?
Be careful if you bought an iPhone in Hong Kong: the iPhone 11 to 16 series sold here use two physical SIM slots and have no eSIM (except the 12 mini, 13 mini, SE and 16e). The iPhone 17 series and many recent Android phones do support eSIM. Dial *#06# and look for an EID, and make sure your phone is not locked to a carrier.
Can I make calls with a travel eSIM?
Both Yoho and Airalo’s standard plans are data only. Use WhatsApp, Signal or FaceTime for calls. Your Hong Kong SIM still receives normal calls and SMS, but answering a call while abroad may cost roaming fees.
Can I share a hotspot?
Yoho supports hotspot sharing, with a 6GB limit on the Japan full speed unlimited plan. On Airalo, check the package details for your plan.
What if my trip is cancelled?
Yoho advertises a 30-day refund for unused eSIMs. Airalo usually refunds a change of plans as Airmoney credit for your next purchase, and fully used or expired eSIMs are not refundable. Do not install the eSIM until you are sure you will travel.
Disclosure: Some links in this article are affiliate links. If you buy through them, SnowRoad may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes which product I recommend.
