Tick the apps you can't live without, tell us how you'll get online, and get a personal verdict — what works, what breaks, and what to set up before you fly.
App status last verified: 2026-07-11
Why a checker, when Google already says “WhatsApp is blocked”?
Because “is it blocked?” is the wrong question. The answer that actually matters is “will it work for me, on the connection I'll be using?” — and that answer flips depending on one detail almost every summary skips: on international roaming or a travel eSIM, your data routes through your home carrier and never passes through China's firewall. The same WhatsApp that is dead on hotel WiFi works perfectly on a travel eSIM, with no VPN involved.
This checker crosses your app list against your connection type and gives you the full picture in one shot — including the traps that aren't about blocking at all, like Google Maps loading fine but navigating you into the wrong alley, or your bank freezing your card because of an unfamiliar IP address.
How the app checker works
1. Tick your apps
Pick from 30 everyday apps — messaging, maps, social, work, banking.
2. Pick your connection
Travel eSIM / roaming, a Chinese SIM card, or hotel WiFi — the answer changes completely depending on this.
3. Get your verdict
What works, what breaks, what to replace — plus a before-you-fly checklist you can copy.
The one rule that changes everything: roaming data skips the firewall
China's firewall filters traffic on Chinese networks. When your phone is on international roaming, your data is tunneled back to your home carrier and exits to the internet from there; on a travel eSIM it exits through the provider's network abroad (typically Singapore or Hong Kong). Either way it never passes through the firewall — so blocked apps behave exactly like they do at home. This is why two travellers standing in the same Shanghai hotel lobby can have opposite experiences: the one on hotel WiFi can't open Instagram, while the one on an Airalo-style eSIM posts stories in real time.
The trade-offs: roaming data costs more per GB than a local SIM, and a data-only eSIM can't receive the SMS codes your bank might send. The checker's before-you-fly checklist covers both. For plans, prices and setup steps, see our full China eSIM guide.
Frequently asked questions
- Does WhatsApp work in China?
- Not on Chinese networks — WhatsApp has been blocked by the firewall since 2017, so it won't connect on a local SIM card or hotel WiFi. But there is a big exception: on international roaming or a travel eSIM, your data exits through your home carrier's network (or your eSIM provider's, typically in Singapore or Hong Kong) and never touches the firewall, so WhatsApp works normally. That single detail changes the answer for most apps, which is exactly what this checker sorts out for you.
- Does Google Maps work in China?
- It's blocked on Chinese networks, and even when you can load it (on roaming or a travel eSIM), the map data inside China is outdated and GPS coordinates are visibly offset — walking navigation can be hundreds of meters off. For actual navigation, Apple Maps works surprisingly well in China (it uses local Amap data), or use Amap itself.
- Can I use WhatsApp in China with roaming?
- Yes. When you're on international roaming, your mobile data exits through your home carrier's network; on a travel eSIM it exits through the provider's network abroad. Either way the traffic never passes through China's firewall, so blocked apps like WhatsApp, Instagram and Gmail work normally — no VPN needed. This is the main reason most first-time visitors choose a travel eSIM over a local SIM card.
- Do I need a VPN for my trip to China?
- If you use a travel eSIM or international roaming for data, you generally don't — blocked apps already work because your traffic never passes through the firewall. A VPN only becomes relevant if you'll rely on Chinese WiFi or a local SIM for long stretches. Note that VPN reliability in China shifts constantly, so if your trip depends on staying reachable, a travel eSIM is the simpler and more dependable route.
- Which everyday apps are NOT blocked in China?
- More than most people expect: iMessage and FaceTime work normally, Apple Maps navigates well (it uses local map data), Zoom generally works, and Bing search is available. And the two apps you'll actually need — WeChat and Alipay — work everywhere and handle payments, messaging and bookings for foreign visitors.
- Is this checker official? Does it cost anything?
- No and no — it's a free planning tool, not a government or carrier service. The block status behind it was last verified on 2026-07-11, and access rules in China can change without notice. The checker is free, needs no account or email, and runs entirely in your browser.