The Best SIM Cards for Travel in Hong Kong
Traveling to Hong Kong is incredibly exciting! It’s an enormous city with a lot to offer. Choosing the right prepaid SIM Card for your trip to Hong Kong makes everything so much easier. You’ll have all your social media to share amazing pictures, the ability to live stream on Instagram and look up any information on the fly.
Having recently been to Hong Kong, there are a few things you’ll need to consider before choosing a SIM Card. Are you planning on visiting Macau or Mainland China? If yes, for how long? It may be worth it to pick up a roaming SIM from Hong Kong. However, I recommend picking up another SIM Card in mainland China if you are traveling there for an extended period.
SIM Cards Available in Hong Kong
Choosing the right SIM Card is a personal choice, luckily Hong Kong has a lot of options available for each type of traveler. Unlike the countries we covered in our SIM Cards of South Asia article, Hong Kong has a lot of competitors with many different offers. You can choose based on what is the best price, or the best value for the data you need, or simply the option with the most data you can get. For student exchanges or travelers going to China, a 3 in 1 SIM Card for HK, Macau and China may be the right fit.
Where to Buy a SIM Card?
Some SIM Cards are available for pre-purchase from official websites like Prepaid.com.hk, HKsimcard.com, SIMeasy or on amazon. The prices tend to be inflated compared to buying on site, by at least $10 USD, if not three times the price.
Most of these SIM Cards are available at local 7-eleven, Vango, 1010 Centers, Circle K or the carrier shops in Hong Kong while others may be harder to find. So buyer beware. We found cards that sell for 80 HK ($10 USD) in Hong Kong on sale online down from $25 USD to $19.99 USD which is ridiculous. Obviously convenience has a price, but double is silly if not predatory towards tourists. We will include links for pre-purchase for each SIM below if they are reasonable. At Hong Kong int. airport, you can find a 7-eleven and ask to see the SIM Cards, it’s super easy.
Hong Kong SIM Card Requirements
Hong Kong doesn’t have any restrictions on the prepaid SIM Cards. But If you are planning a short trip to Shenzhen, Guangzhou or Macau, you’ll want to pick one with decent roaming rates. Hong Kong’s cell networks are completely independent from mainland China and even Macau. Ask for a “One-Card-Two Numbers” prepaid SIM Card. Note: Hong Kong SIMs Roaming in Mainland China are not subject to the Chinese Firewall! So you won’t need a VPN.
You need an unlocked phone to access these networks!
The Price of the SIM and available credit to add Data packages may be different. I’ll point these out in the options below.
Best Value SIM Cards
Top Choice: SmarTone – Local Prepaid SIM
- Pre-purchase Online: No.
- Available Locations: SmarTone Stores, 7-eleven, Circle K
- Top Ups: Yes, online here and with Vouchers at shops in Hong Kong
- Note: Data can be used in Macau. Data Throttled at 384 kbps after cap
- SIM Card Account is Valid for 180 Days
SIM Price
- 98 HK ($12.49 USD) for the SIM + 98 HK in credit towards a Data Package
- 3 GB Data Package for 7 days at 68 HK in credits.
- Must input *111*203# to get 3 GB Data Package
- Remaining credits can be used to buy unlimited Wi-Fi at 5 HK/day. (Input Code *111*161#), Or another Data package afterwards.
The SmarTone Prepaid SIM is our second choice overall because it offers enough Data at 3 GB for 7 Days for most travelers without having to worry about overuse or time-limits. It’s easy to use, throttled when you go over the cap, not just cut off. Most importantly the Data can be used in Macau without roaming charges.
Best Price SIM Cards
Top Choice: China Mobile – 4G/3G Individual Traveler SIM
- Pre-purchase Online: Yes, China Mobile Website but must pick up at an outlet store if not a resident of Hong Kong.
- Available Locations: CMHK Shops,
- Top Ups: Yes, 50 HK with a 30% bonus in credits.
- Note: You’ll need to call-free #193193 to set the language to English.
- Note 2: SIM Card Account is Valid for 30 Days, No registration required
SIM Price
- 51 HK ($6.68 USD) online, or 68 HK ($8.66 USD) in stores for 3 GB for 5 Days. Includes 18 HK credit for calls and text.
Runner Up: Three – 2 Day Data SIM
- Pre-purchase Online: No.
- Available Locations: 7-eleven, 1010 centers, Circle K shops & 3ShopTop Ups: Yes, vouchers for 50 & 100 HK credits are available at 3Shops and Online by Credit Card.
- Note: Data Throttled at 384 kbps after cap. No Roaming
- SIM Card Account is Valid for 60 Days
SIM Price
- 38 HK ($4.85 USD) For 2.5 GB for 2 Days. Includes 38 HK credit for local calls and text, and unlimited Wi-Fi.
- Must input “*127*602 # ” to activate 2 day data package
- Must input “*127* 8 # ” to activate free Wi-Fi
Monster Data SIM Cards
Top Choice: CSL. – Discover Hong Kong Tourist SIM Card
- Pre-purchase Online: No.
- Available Locations: 7-eleven, 1010 centers, Circle K shops, Apple Stores & Kowloon Visitor Center by the Star Ferry.
- Top Ups: Yes, vouchers for 50 & 100 HK credits are available at CSL. kiosks and online by credit card.
- Note: SIM is Co-released by the Hong Kong Tourism Board.
- Account is Valid for 180 Days
SIM Price
- 118 HK ($15.00 USD) for 5 GB for 8 Days. Includes unlimited local calls & Wi-FI, and 48 HK credit for int. calls and text.
- Roaming package is available for Macau & Mainland China at 40 HK credits. Limited to 40 MB per day.
Runner Up: Three – 14 Day Data SIM
- Pre-purchase Online: No.
- Available Locations: 7-eleven, 1010 centers, Circle K shops & 3Shop
- Top Ups: Yes, vouchers for 50 & 100 HK credits are available at 3Shops and Online by Credit Card.
- Note: Data Throttled at 384 kbps after cap. No Roaming
- Account is Valid for 60 Days
SIM Price
- 168 HK ($21.40 USD) for 5GB for 14 Days. Includes 168 HK credit for local calls and text, and unlimited Wi-Fi.
- Must input “*127*600 # ” to activate 14 day data package
- Must input “*127* 8 # ” to activate free Wi-Fi
Hong Kong, Macau & Mainland China SIM Cards
- Pre-purchase Online: No.
- Available Locations: 7-eleven, 1010 centers, Circle K shops & 3Shop
- Top Ups: Yes, vouchers for 50 & 100 HK credits are available at 3Shops and Online by Credit Card.
- Note: Full 2 GB available for roaming! Automatic activation once inserted, no packages required.
- Account is Valid for 90 Days
SIM Price
- 88 HK ($11.20 USD) for 2 GB for 30 Days. Facevalue of $98 HK.
- Local, int. calls and text rates at $0.1 HK/ min & $0.5 HK/ SMS
Three’s China, Hong Kong & Macau Roaming SIM is our first choice overall. The SIM offers coverage in all three regions with a full 2 GB of Data. Most importantly, the SIM can be used in Mainland China without any censorship by the Great Firewall, giving travelers access to Facebook, Instagram and Google Maps in China without using a VPN (Virtual Private Network). With 30 days available, it’s perfect if Hong Kong is your starting point into a multi-week trip into China!
Runner Up: Multi-Byte Info – 365 Day 5 GB Data Package
- Pre-purchase Online: No.
- Available Locations: Hard to Find. Check Prepaid.com.hk
- Top Ups: Yes, Vouchers available for 50 – 200 HK
- Note: Mainland China company.. less user-friendly than the HK options.
- Account is Valid for 365 Days
SIM Price
- 258 HK ($32.87 USD) for 5 GB for 365 Days. Includes 98 HK credit for local, int. calls and text.
- Must input “*126*99 # ” to activate SIM
Multi-Byte SIM Cards are included in this list because they offer extended duration SIM Cards that can be used in Hong Kong and Mainland China. These SIM Cards are not censored by the China Firewall are may be a great choice for working trips for English teachers or business men. The Data on the 365 day SIM can be used anytime, so it’s perfect for people flying in and out of Hong Kong regularly who don’t want the hassle of buying a new SIM each time they go. For most travelers, this SIM Card is excessive.
More Info on Hong Kong
Hong Kong is such a cool city to visit. It was the financial hub in Asia for decades and has more 1,00 skyscrapers and more billionaires than in all of it’s former colonial power, the United Kingdom! The city also hosts one of the best film industries outside of Hollywood and a rich ecology, with over 30% of the land being allocated as protected areas. Check out our list of books, movies and documentaries, and list of articles going in depth into travel in Hong Kong.
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