What does it cost to keep a US phone number from China? ENC, Ultra PayGo, Tello, Red Pocket and MollySIM compared (2026)
Keeping a US number while living in China costs two separate amounts: the upfront price of getting a working number, and the monthly cost of keeping it afterwards.
On this page
Comparing only monthly fees misses the cost of the SIM and activation; comparing only SIM prices misses every month after that. This guide puts six common options side by side on the same basis.
If you want a SIM that works as soon as it arrives in China, the case for the US T-Mobile physical SIM (ENC) is: $28 (about ¥199) upfront including the first month's 30 minutes and 100 texts, shipped to China and tested before dispatch, then ¥66–99 a month including tax, renewed by email.
Prices and rules are as of 22 October 2026, taken from each provider's own website or product page; if a page changes, the page on the day wins. Yuan figures use about ¥7.1 per US dollar; "plus tax" means US state tax is extra.
The short version: upfront price, monthly cost and first-year cost
| Option | Upfront | Monthly afterwards | First year, roughly | Getting it working from China |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US T-Mobile physical SIM (ENC) | $28 (about ¥199), SIM plus first month's 30 minutes and 100 texts | ¥66–99 including state tax, topped up by support on request by email | ¥925–1,288 | Shipped to China and tested first; turn on Wi-Fi Calling on Wi-Fi, about 5 minutes |
| ENC Mobile direct | Free SIM, free delivery to China; first month needs a plan from $10 plus tax | Plans from $10; after a plan ends, keep-number at $3 per 30 days, up to 120 days at a time | About $54–120 plus tax (from about ¥380–850) | Order on the ENC site; you register and manage the account yourself |
| MollySIM T-Mobile $3/mo SIM | $64.99 (about ¥461), including the first month's 30 minutes and 30 texts, number pre-activated | $3 a month plus tax once moved to the $3 tier | From about $98 plus tax (from about ¥696) | Shipped by courier; use with Wi-Fi Calling on Wi-Fi |
| Ultra Mobile PayGo | Ultra says PayGo is sold on eBay and at select T-Mobile stores; one JD.com listing on 15 October started at ¥368 plus shipping | $3 for 100 minutes, 100 texts and 100MB; receiving a text in China costs $0.10 | From about ¥624, plus texting charges | Buy through a channel and activate per Ultra's steps; cancelled 60 days after the last payment |
| Tello | Order online; first activation must happen in the US | Custom plans from $5 plus tax | From about $60 plus tax (about ¥426) | Tello's help centre says the first activation must connect to its US network |
| Red Pocket | Annual 360-day plans from the equivalent of $5 a month; SIMs ship to US addresses only | Paid upfront for 360 days | From about $60 (about ¥426) | Activate within 90 days of the order; physical SIMs are not shipped abroad |
Why upfront and monthly costs are counted separately
A US number costs money in two stages. The first is getting a working number: the SIM, the first month's plan, delivery to China and activation. The second is what you pay every month so the number is not cancelled.
- check_circleMonthly fees alone hide the setup cost: Ultra PayGo and MollySIM both charge $3 a month, but one has to be bought through a channel and the other costs $64.99 upfront.
- check_circleSIM prices alone hide the monthly cost: ENC's direct SIM is free, but you buy a plan, start keep-number only after the plan ends, and renew a full plan every 120 days.
- check_circleFrom China, activation rules bite before price does: Tello's first activation must happen in the US and Red Pocket only ships SIMs to US addresses, so however cheap their first year is, they are hard to start from China.
The direct ENC account maths is worked through in What it costs to keep an ENC number: about $120 a year on the $10 plan all year, or about $54 a year alternating one plan month with 120 days of keep-number, both plus tax.
The six options one by one
US T-Mobile physical SIM (ENC)
$28 (about ¥199) covers the SIM and the first month (30 US minutes plus 100 texts, no data) on a real T-Mobile +1 number.
It cannot be topped up yourself; before the plan ends, email support to renew the same plan for ¥66–99 a month depending on the number's state taxes. The number is cancelled after 30 days suspended.
ENC also sells SIMs directly, delivers free to China and accepts Alipay and WeChat Pay; plans cost $10–50 a month plus tax.
The ENC FAQ says the keep-number service costs $3 per 30 days, can only start after a plan ends and lasts up to 120 days at a time; numbers inactive for 90 consecutive days are permanently deactivated. You manage the account, renewals and rule changes yourself.
the product page lists it at $64.99 including the first month (30 minutes plus 30 texts), activated with a US number before shipping. The page says the $3 tier is a separate product: after the first month you add $3–4 and leave the line idle for about 3–4 months until it moves to $3 a month; monthly fees exclude tax. The same page lists $5, $6, $10 and $15 monthly SIMs at $23.99–25.
$3 a month for 100 minutes, 100 texts and 100MB. Ultra says PayGo is sold on eBay or at select T-Mobile stores, and the account and number are cancelled if no payment is made 60 days after the last one.
Under its roaming rates, receiving a text in China costs $0.10 and sending one $0.50. Prices through Chinese channels vary; see Purple SIM out of stock?.
build your own talk and data plan with a $5 monthly minimum, plus tax, unlimited texts on every plan. Tello's help centre says you must be in the US for the first activation, because the phone has to connect to Tello's US network for the first time.
annual 360-day plans start at the equivalent of $5 a month and are sold on its website and eBay; prepaid plans must be activated within 90 days of the order. Red Pocket says it ships SIMs only within the 50 states and Washington, D.C., not internationally.
Receiving codes in China: is there a per-text charge?
| Option | How texts arrive in China | Cost of receiving |
|---|---|---|
| US T-Mobile physical SIM (ENC) | Wi-Fi Calling on Wi-Fi | No extra charge; included in the monthly fee |
| ENC Mobile direct | Wi-Fi Calling on Wi-Fi | Under the ENC plan's rules |
| MollySIM T-Mobile SIM | The page says texts require Wi-Fi Calling | The page says texts can be received worldwide |
| Ultra Mobile PayGo | International roaming | $0.10 to receive and $0.50 to send per text, from the PayGo wallet |
If you receive many codes, per-text charges add another amount each year. Wi-Fi Calling options do not charge per text, but nothing arrives once you leave Wi-Fi, so check your connection before relying on it outside.
Why buy this US SIM from LarkSIM
The numbers show that on yearly cost alone, a direct ENC account and Ultra PayGo have lower monthly fees. This SIM's value lies elsewhere; if the following fits you, these are the reasons to order here:
- check_circleStarts from China: the physical SIM ships to your address in China and works after turning on Wi-Fi Calling, 3 steps and about 5 minutes, with no trip to the US and no one to receive it for you.
- check_circleOne clear upfront price: $28 (about ¥199) covers the SIM and the first month's 30 minutes and 100 texts, with no separate first-month plan to buy.
- check_circleTax included, fixed range: ¥66–99 a month already includes the number's state tax, so there is no US state tax to work out.
- check_circleNo US carrier account to run: no ENC account to register and no US bank card; email support before the plan ends and they renew it.
- check_circleNo per-text charges for codes: texts arrive over Wi-Fi Calling on Wi-Fi, however many codes you receive.
- check_circleTested before dispatch, Chinese support on both sides: ENC's Chinese-language line 400-990-6699 for activation and signal, LarkSIM support for orders and renewals.
Buy the US T-Mobile physical SIM (ENC) now: $28 (about ¥199) including the first month.
Pick by your situation
- check_circleHappy to run a US carrier account and focused on yearly cost: look at ENC direct or Ultra PayGo, which have lower monthly fees; Ultra needs a channel to buy the SIM and charges per text.
- check_circleGoing to the US and able to activate there: Tello and Red Pocket both start around $5 a month; Tello is monthly, Red Pocket is paid 360 days upfront.
- check_circleIn China, want a SIM that works on arrival and renewals without a US account: choose the US T-Mobile physical SIM (ENC), $28 (about ¥199) upfront including the first month, then ¥66–99 a month including tax, renewed by email.
Order the US T-Mobile physical SIM (ENC) now, put the renewal date in your calendar when it arrives, and renew on time to keep the number.
FAQ
How much does it cost per year to keep a US number from China?expand_more
Which US SIMs can be started from China?expand_more
Why does MollySIM's $3/mo SIM cost $64.99?expand_more
Ultra PayGo is $3 a month, so why does the first year cost over ¥600?expand_more
Can LarkSIM's SIM use ENC's $3 keep-number service?expand_more
Real +1 number · T-Mobile network · Card checked before dispatch
US T-Mobile physical SIM (ENC)
A real US +1 mobile number, not VoIP, delivered as a physical SIM to your address in China. Check the current price, Wi-Fi Calling and keep-number notes on the product page before ordering.