Warehouse Mobile roaming in China: costs, data, and how to save
A plain-English guide to the Warehouse Mobile international roaming, what you'll pay, and a cheaper alternative if you want one.
How Warehouse Mobile roaming works in China
A plain-English explainer of why using Warehouse Mobile overseas gets very expensive, very fast.
Warehouse Mobile doesn't sell a daily or pre-paid roaming pack. Instead, every call, text, and megabyte of data you use in China is billed at pay-as-you-go rates against your prepay balance. There's nothing to opt into and nothing to switch off in-app — the moment your SIM connects to a partner network overseas, charges start adding up per-use.
| Price per MB of data | $0.58 per megabyte in China |
|---|---|
| Cost for ~1GB of data | $580 NZD — that's just one day at KiwiSim's top speed |
| Daily pack available? | No — there is no daily or pre-paid roaming pack |
| Calls & texts | No inclusion — outgoing and incoming calls are charged per minute, and texts per message, at PAYG rates. Receiving a call in China costs noticeably less than making one, but there is no free incoming. |
| Hotspot / tethering | Allowed, but every MB tethered to another device is billed at the same per-MB PAYG rate. Hotspotting can drain your prepay balance very quickly. |
| Countries covered alongside China | Mainland China is in Warehouse Mobile’s extended roaming zone. Hong Kong and Macau are billed separately. |
| How to activate or deactivate | Nothing to activate — charges apply automatically the first time your SIM connects to a network in China. To avoid charges entirely, turn off "Data roaming" on your phone before you fly, or remove the Warehouse Mobile SIM while overseas. |
You could save big by using a KiwiSim eSIM when roaming in China, compared to using your Warehouse Mobile SIM.
KiwiSim vs Warehouse Mobile — cost over a trip
Cumulative NZD cost in China from day 1 to day 30, based on getting around 1GB of data per day from each provider at their published rates. Prices accurate as at 21 May 2026.
Daily Unlimited Plan
1GB of full-speed data every day, then unlimited data at standard speed. Resets every 24 hours.
- 1GB at top 5G speed daily, then unlimited at standard speed
- Hotspot & tethering enabled — share with any device
- Connects to China Mobile
- Activate when you land — no rush
How long is your trip?
Fixed Data Plans
Get a fixed amount of data that can be used across your entire trip as you need it.
KiwiSim vs Warehouse Mobile — feature comparison
A side-by-side look at how KiwiSim and Warehouse Mobile stack up for travel to China.
| KiwiSim | Warehouse Mobile |
|---|---|
| How data is sold | |
| Unlimited daily plan — pay by the number of days you need | Pay-as-you-go only — no daily or pre-paid pack. Charged per call, per text, and per MB of data used. |
| When the allowance runs out | |
| Continues at reduced speed for the rest of the day — still browsable. Resets every 24h. | No allowance — charges keep accumulating per use until you stop or run out of credit |
| Hotspot / tethering | |
| yes (PAYG rates apply) | |
| Networks used in China | |
| China Mobile & China Unicom 5G/4G | China Unicom partner network |
| Activation method | |
| Scan QR code, install in 2 minutes | No setup — charges apply automatically when you use the SIM overseas |
| Keeps your NZ number for calls/texts | |
| Yes — runs alongside your NZ SIM | Yes — it is your NZ SIM |
| Customer support | |
| 24/7 chat & email | NZ business hours phone + in-store at The Warehouse |
| If you cross into another country | |
| Install a new eSIM for that country | Continues working — billed at that country's PAYG rates (note: some destinations are not supported at all) |
| Feature | KiwiSim | Warehouse Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| How data is sold | Unlimited daily plan — pay by the number of days you need | Pay-as-you-go only — no daily or pre-paid pack. Charged per call, per text, and per MB of data used. |
| When the allowance runs out | Continues at reduced speed for the rest of the day — still browsable. Resets every 24h. | No allowance — charges keep accumulating per use until you stop or run out of credit |
| Hotspot / tethering | yes (PAYG rates apply) | |
| Networks used in China | China Mobile & China Unicom 5G/4G | China Unicom partner network |
| Activation method | Scan QR code, install in 2 minutes | No setup — charges apply automatically when you use the SIM overseas |
| Keeps your NZ number for calls/texts | Yes — runs alongside your NZ SIM | Yes — it is your NZ SIM |
| Customer support | 24/7 chat & email | NZ business hours phone + in-store at The Warehouse |
| If you cross into another country | Install a new eSIM for that country | Continues working — billed at that country's PAYG rates (note: some destinations are not supported at all) |
Warehouse Mobile has no daily roaming pack — every minute, text, and MB is charged at PAYG rates which add up fast. KiwiSim takes a couple of minutes to set up and replaces the unpredictable PAYG bill with a flat, known daily price.
Why KiwiSim?
Built by Kiwis, for Kiwis travelling the world.
Locally Owned & Operated
Know you're in good hands with our kiwi team
Global 5G/4G Network
Enjoy fast and reliable coverage in over 200 locations worldwide
Simple to Setup
Get globally connected in a matter of minutes, all online
Hotspot/Tethering Enabled
Share your data connection with phone, tablet, or friends - all included
Keep your NZ Number
Our data-only SIMs give you the full flexibility of still receiving calls to your NZ number
Compatible with most phones
Majority of modern phones are compatible with eSIMs - use our device checker to double-check
Regional Plans
Tripping around? Have a look at some regional plans that include China for better value.
Warehouse Mobile roaming in China — FAQ
The questions Kiwis ask before they travel — answered honestly.
Other roaming comparisons for China
Compare your other NZ carrier options for travel to China.
