Instabridge

Instabridge, headquartered in Stockholm, spans 190 countries with pay-as-you-go pricing that charges only for the data you actually consume in China. The platform includes a data compression browser that shrinks bandwidth use by compressing content before it reaches your phone, useful in areas with spotty signals. Instabridge also lets you earn credits by watching ads within the app, offsetting some of the eSIM cost.

The service appeals to budget-conscious travelers who don't mind ad engagement in exchange for lower data costs, or those visiting China for extended periods where even compressed data adds up. The pay-per-usage model removes any question of whether you've bought too much or too little.