Moldtelecom
eSIMMoldova's largest carrier — a €0.4/year-to-keep EU-adjacent number, no ID required
Best for: Extreme-budget keep-alive users: a working roaming number in China for under ¥1/year after entry.
Overview
Moldtelecom is Moldova's oldest and largest telecom operator. Its eSIM (activation now handled inside the My Moldtelecom app; pricing no longer shown on the public page — 40 MDL per the 2025-09 review) ships a Moldovan number that roams in mainland China with free SMS receiving for 6 months plus a 6-month grace period. Keep the number alive with a 1 MDL top-up every 6 months — roughly ¥0.82/year (per the 2025-09 review; not stated on the current landing page). No real-name registration; Visa/Mastercard payment.
Moldtelecom's eSIM is the cheapest documented keep-alive number in this catalogue: the entry eSIM plan cost 40 MDL (~¥17.35) at the 2025-09 review — since then pricing has moved in-app and the public landing page shows no price; activation now runs inside the My Moldtelecom app (open app → verify device → Activare → email code → pick number → pay → QR by email), and the number works in mainland China right after activation — receiving SMS is free, though calls and outgoing SMS are not supported on the default balance (further top-up required even to test).
Validity: 6 months after activation plus a 6-month grace period during which the number can still receive SMS and dial special numbers (200/300/700) and 112; after the grace period the number is recycled.
Keep-alive: 1 MDL minimum top-up every 6 months — about ¥0.82 per year, the lowest recurring cost reviewed on this site (per the 2025-09 review; the current esimplu landing page no longer states validity terms, which now live in the app/FAQ).
Purchase flow (2025-09 source review; flow now app-first per the 2026-09-16 landing page — steps live inside the My Moldtelecom app, QR single-use with no expiry): verify by email code, choose a number (with an 'other numbers' reshuffle option), skip optional add-on packs, pay by card; three emails arrive (invoice, number info, eSIM QR code). Works on native-eSIM phones via the QR code, or via eSIM-chip readers like Xesim on ordinary phones.
Caveats: no calls/outgoing SMS in China roaming per the source test; Moldova is outside the EU so this is not an EU number for regulatory purposes; and the storefront is Moldovan — expect a mostly non-English checkout.
Popular plans
| Plan | Data from | Validity | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| eSIM simple plan (My Moldtelecom app) | Pay per use | 6 months + 6-month grace; 1 MDL top-up renews 6 months | App-based pricing (no longer shown on the public landing page) |
Pricing moved into the My Moldtelecom app and is no longer listed on the public page (re-checked 2026-09-16). Figures below are from the last public review (2025-09) — verify in-app before purchase.
Pros
- Lowest yearly keep-alive cost catalogued (~¥0.82/year)
- No real-name ID; email-code verification only
- Free SMS receiving in China roaming, 12 usable months per cycle
- Number picker with reshuffle at checkout
Things to note
- No calls or outgoing SMS in China roaming on default balance (source test)
- Moldovan storefront, largely non-English checkout
- Moldova is outside the EU — not an EU number
- Carrier support practical only via email
Key features
- App-first eSIM activation (My Moldtelecom app); pricing no longer public
- Keep-alive: 1 MDL top-up per 6 months (~¥0.82/year)
- Free SMS receiving while roaming in mainland China
- No real-name registration; 6-month grace period