Stay online in Hong Kong from the moment you land at Chek Lap Kok. Install a data eSIM before you fly, skip the SIM counter in arrivals, and keep your usual number for calls and texts while you use maps, the MTR and WhatsApp across the city.
Hong Kong eSIM
Hong Kong eSIM plans
Every plan is data only, priced in US dollars, with no contract and nothing to return.
Our picks
Three plans we would buy ourselves, by the trip you are taking. Every plan we sell is listed below.
Short trip
4.2 GB
0.6 GB a day
7 days
A week or so away: maps, messages, rides and the odd video call.
$1.19 per GB
$4.99
Buy this planLong trip
22.5 GB
1.5 GB a day
15 days
Two weeks or more, with room for photos, streaming and work email.
$0.44 per GB
$9.99
Buy this planHeavy use
Unlimited data
15 days
You stream, work online or share your connection every day.
Full speed for the first 5 GB each day
$21.99
Buy this plan
Fixed data
One allowance for the whole trip, used at your own pace.
Daily data
A fresh allowance every day, slower above it until the next day.
Unlimited data
No cap on data, with a fair-use speed limit after heavy daily use.
Also covered by Asia Pacific
One eSIM that also works in the other countries of the bundle, for a trip that crosses borders.
See every country in Asia Pacific
Also covered by Global (170 countries)
One eSIM that also works in the other countries of the bundle, for a trip that crosses borders.
See every country in Global (170 countries)
Also covered by Global (75 countries)
One eSIM that also works in the other countries of the bundle, for a trip that crosses borders.
See every country in Global (75 countries)
Also covered by Hong Kong, Macau and China
One eSIM that also works in the other countries of the bundle, for a trip that crosses borders.
See every country in Hong Kong, Macau and China
No eSIM, no charge. If your payment goes through and we cannot issue your eSIM, we refund you in full. Refund policy
Real people. A person answers every day, 07:00 to 23:00 Paris time, within 2 hours. How we look after you
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Local networks. See which ones it uses in Hong Kong
Which Hong Kong plan fits your trip
Hong Kong plans come in three shapes. The plan cards above show the days and data on sale:
- Fixed data gives you a large allowance for the whole stay. It suits a short city break or a stopover with heavy use.
- Daily data suits steady use: maps, messages and photos every day, at the lowest price.
- Unlimited suits heavy users and business travelers on video calls. A fair-use policy applies; the plan details say how.
See fixed, daily or unlimited for how each type behaves.
Landing at Hong Kong International
Install the eSIM at home while you are on your own Wi-Fi, then turn on data roaming for the eSIM line once you are off the plane. You will have data before the baggage hall, so you can check the Airport Express, a bus route or your hotel's directions straight away. The Airport Express reaches Central in about 24 minutes.
Coverage across the city
Coverage in Hong Kong is among the best anywhere: strong across Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories, and inside the MTR, including the tunnels between stations. It can dip on hiking trails in the country parks, such as parts of Lantau and the Dragon's Back, and on outlying islands away from the villages, so download offline maps before a long hike.
Macau and mainland China
Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China are separate networks for an eSIM, so a Hong Kong plan does not automatically work across the border. If your trip continues to Macau or Shenzhen, check that the plan you buy lists every place you will visit: the regional and global plans further down cover more destinations in one install.
How much data do you need?
A typical traveler using maps, messaging and photos uses about 1 GB a day. Video calls, streaming and sharing your connection with a laptop push that up, so a business traveler is better served by a fixed plan with a large allowance or by unlimited.
Networks in Hong Kong
Hong Kong's mobile networks are CSL, China Mobile Hong Kong, SmarTone and 3 Hong Kong. A travel eSIM connects to one of them as a roaming partner, which is why data roaming must be on for the eSIM line. The partner network can differ from plan to plan, so check the plan details, or ask us at support@esimlounge.com before you buy.
How to install your eSIM
Install it at home before you fly, then switch it on when you land.
Check your phone
Your phone must support eSIM and be carrier unlocked. Most phones from the last few years do.
Scan the QR code
Scan the code from your email while you still have Wi-Fi at home. It takes about two minutes.
Switch on when you land
Turn on the eSIM line and data roaming for it. Keep your usual SIM for calls and texts if you like.
Hong Kong eSIM questions
Is an eSIM cheaper than my own carrier's roaming in Hong Kong?
Usually, yes. UK, US and Australian carriers typically charge a daily pass for each day you use your phone abroad, and over a week those passes add up to more than a plan here. Check your own plan's roaming terms to compare.
Should I buy a SIM card at Hong Kong airport instead?
For data, an eSIM is simpler: you set it up at home, skip the counter in arrivals and keep your usual SIM in the phone. Local prepaid SIM cards in Hong Kong must be registered under the real-name scheme, so buying one means registering with your passport. For maps and messaging, the eSIM does the job without any of that.
Does a Hong Kong eSIM work in Macau or mainland China?
Not automatically. Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China are separate destinations for an eSIM. Check the country list on the plan before you buy, and choose a regional or global plan if your trip crosses the border.
Does it work in the MTR?
Yes. Hong Kong's networks cover the MTR stations and the tunnels between them, so you stay online underground.
Can I use Google, WhatsApp and Instagram in Hong Kong?
Yes. Hong Kong's internet is open, so Google Maps, WhatsApp, Instagram and your usual apps work as they do at home.
Will I keep my phone number?
Yes. Your usual SIM stays in the phone for calls and texts, and the eSIM carries your mobile data. Keep data roaming off on your usual SIM to avoid roaming fees from home.
When does the plan start counting days?
On most plans the days start when the eSIM first connects to a network in Hong Kong, not when you install it. The plan details say how yours works.