Over the past two years many Chinese-speaking users have opened Estonian +372 “number-keeping” eSIMs, for four reasons: it’s cheap (about €3 to open, no monthly fee); incoming SMS are free, even while roaming in China; no ID check — pay online and get the eSIM in minutes (phones without eSIM can use a 5ber-style card); and it’s an EU number that more overseas services accept than +86.
Be clear about what it is: these numbers belong to the Estonian MVNO Top Connect and are resold by shops like esim.gg — not local Telia, Elisa or Tele2 SIMs. Numbers may be recycled, some platforms refuse to send codes, and small resellers can disappear. Use it as a verification or backup number, not the only number on your bank or Apple ID account.
esim.gg (Turtle Telecom)
Number-keeping SIM
- Network
- Top Connect (licensed Estonian MVNO), per the seller; some early blogs said Elisa
- Price
- €2.99 to open (official site, Sept 2026); users paid about €3.66–€4 in 2025; Alipay accepted
- Keeping the number
- Official: use it at least once a year and the balance never expires. Receiving SMS doesn’t count as use (seller, Feb 2025); since Feb 2026 a keep-number fee is deducted if the eSIM hasn’t connected to a network for a year — bloggers suggest keeping €5+ and going online once a year.
- ID check
- No ID required
- SMS & calls
- Incoming SMS free; outgoing SMS to China about €0.24; voice is 2G-only, so calls mostly don’t work in mainland China
Reported sign-up results
TelegramWorksXPartly limited
Pros
- Cheap to open, no monthly fee, one use a year keeps the number
- Free incoming SMS, works while roaming in China
- No ID, bought online, Alipay accepted
- Mobile data exits via an Estonian IP
Watch out
- MVNO numbers may be recycled — search the number before buying
- Google and X codes work for some users but not others (Naixi forum, April 2025)
- 2G-only voice, so calls basically don’t work in China
- Small operator, so there’s a risk it shuts down — don’t tie important accounts only to it
- Since Feb 2026 a fee is deducted if it stays offline for a year
Where to buy: esim.gg
Sources: esim.gg · x.com/CyberHono/status/2056327506102489437 · blog.yimen.org/global/esim/esim-gg-jieshao-kaika · forum.naixi.net/thread-2997-1-1.html · www.xmlsn.com/2025/08/30/esim-gg · x.com/InfiCheesy/status/2050633615864938968
ESIM Plus +372 number eSIM
Number-keeping SIM
- Network
- Not disclosed
- Price
- About €2.1 in 2024
- Keeping the number
- Advertised in 2024 as no monthly fee and a number that never expires
- ID check
- No ID (2024 articles)
- SMS & calls
- Suitable for receiving SMS only
Pros
- The cheapest option in 2024
Watch out
- Popular in 2024; esimdb now shows ESIM Plus selling only data plans for Estonia, without a number — probably discontinued, so check before buying
Where to buy: esimplus.me
Sources: www.maizimi.com/oversea/overseas_tel_estonia · esimdb.com/estonia/esimplus
Local prepaid (Telia Super / Elisa / Tele2 Smart)
Local prepaid
- Network
- Local Telia / Elisa / Tele2 networks
- Price
- From about €1, varies by operator
- Keeping the number
- Needs regular top-ups to stay active; terms differ by operator
- ID check
- Operator shops ask for a passport or ID card. The Interior Ministry drafted a ban on anonymous prepaid cards in 2023; no official confirmation that it has taken effect was found
- SMS & calls
- A normal local SIM — SMS and calls work
Pros
- Real operator number, most widely accepted by platforms
- Normal voice calls
Watch out
- Must be bought in Estonia or by someone there
- Keeping the number long-term needs ongoing top-ups
- Roaming outside the EU costs extra
Where to buy: Telia, Elisa, Tele2
Sources: www.phonetravelwiz.com/telia-estonia-super-review · www.err.ee/1609040243/siseministeerium-tahab-keelata-isikustamata-konekaardid · news.err.ee/1609121492/tech-firms-lobby-group-nothing-to-be-gained-from-pre-paid-sim-card-ban
From user and blogger reports; platform risk rules change often — treat as a guide only. This section checked 2026-09-14.