How to Check China Unicom Balance Online: 5 Easy Methods (2026)

Updated 2026 · Step-by-step guide with screenshots

Hand holding a smartphone showing China Unicom account balance, data, voice and SMS usage, with the Shanghai skyline in the background

Whether you're topping up before a trip or just keeping an eye on spending, checking your China Unicom balance takes under a minute once you know the right method. Below are five ways to do it — from a free SMS shortcode that works instantly, to the full China Unicom website and App setup for ongoing account access.

Fastest method: Free SMS shortcode

If you just want your balance right now and you're in China (or your SIM has China Unicom roaming), send a blank text:

  • Text 101 to 10010 → airtime balance
  • Text 2082 to 10010 → data balance

Both texts are free of charge and reply within seconds. This works for standard China Unicom SIM cards, including Talktiko SIM cards.

Jump to a method:
  1. China Unicom App (recommended for regular use)
  2. Free SMS / USSD shortcodes
  3. China Unicom website login
  4. WeChat & Alipay mini-programs
  5. Calling 10010 customer service
Which method should you use?
MethodWorks outside China?Setup neededSpeed
AppYesDownload + register onceInstant, ongoing
SMS shortcodeNo (China SIM signal only)NoneInstant
WebsiteYes (after setup)Password reset in China firstInstant, ongoing
WeChat/AlipayYesLink number in mini-programInstant
Call 10010International rates apply abroadNone2–5 min wait

Method 1: China Unicom Official App Best for regular checks

The China Unicom App (中国联通APP) is the most convenient long-term option — once linked to your number, you can check balance, data usage, and billing from anywhere in the world, not just while in China.

  1. Download "中国联通" (China Unicom) from the App Store or Google Play.
  2. Register with your China Unicom number while you have signal in China — you'll receive a verification code by SMS.
  3. Set a login password (6 digits, avoid obvious sequences).
  4. Once logged in, your balance, current plan, and monthly spending appear on the home screen automatically.
China Unicom App home screen showing account balance, data usage, and monthly spending

After this one-time setup, you can reopen the App anytime — including overseas on Wi-Fi — to check your balance.

Method 2: Free SMS & USSD Shortcodes Fastest, no setup

This is the quickest option if you're currently in China and just need a number, not ongoing account access.

  • Airtime balance: text 101 to 10010
  • Data balance: text 2082 to 10010
  • USSD alternative: dial *100# to see remaining data, voice minutes, and SMS in one screen (works on most handsets without opening the messaging app)

These texts and USSD codes are free of charge. The reply message includes your balance in RMB (¥), labelled 余额 (yú'é).

Note: SMS and USSD shortcodes only work while your phone has a live China Unicom signal — they will not work if you've already left China and are texting from an overseas number or roaming SIM without a China Unicom connection. If your China Unicom SIM has international roaming turned on, you can still text 101 to 10010 from abroad, but it's no longer free — expect around ¥0.36 per message (roughly $0.06 USD), billed at your roaming SMS rate rather than the free domestic rate.

Method 3: China Unicom Website Login

Good for checking your balance from a computer, and required if you want detailed billing history rather than just a balance figure.

  1. While in China, turn on your phone with the China Unicom SIM card installed — you'll need to receive a text message during setup.
  2. Go to the China Unicom password reset page and enter your number plus the on-screen verification code, then click Next.
    3. China Unicom account password reset form showing phone number field and verification code entry
  3. A verification code is sent to your phone by SMS. Enter it on the website.
  4. Choose a 6-digit password that's hard to guess and confirm it.
    5. China Unicom online account screen for choosing and confirming a new 6-digit password
  5. Your password is now set.
    6. China Unicom confirmation screen showing password reset successful
  6. Click the login link in the top-left corner of the China Unicom homepage.
    7. China Unicom homepage with the account login link highlighted in the top-left corner
  7. Enter your China Unicom number and the password you just created, then log in.
    8. China Unicom account login form with phone number and password fields
  8. Click your account icon to open the account overview, where your balance, this month's spending, and monthly charge are all displayed.
    9. China Unicom account overview screen showing balance, monthly spending, and current plan charge
You must complete the password reset step while your phone is in China, since the verification code is sent by SMS to a China Unicom number and won't arrive once you've left the country. Once your password is set, you can log in from any country afterward.

Method 4: WeChat & Alipay Mini-Programs

If you already use WeChat or Alipay in China, you can check your balance without installing a separate carrier app.

  1. Open WeChat or Alipay and search the built-in mini-program search for "中国联通" (China Unicom) or "手机充值" (mobile top-up).
  2. Link your China Unicom number the first time you use it — a bank card is required if you also want to top up from the same screen.
  3. Your current balance and data usage display on the mini-program's main page.

Method 5: Call China Unicom Customer Service

Dial 10010 from your China Unicom number and follow the voice prompts, or ask a live agent for your current balance. From outside China, dial +86 10010, though international call charges will apply unless you're using a China number with international add-on minutes.

Related China Unicom services

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check my China Unicom balance from outside China?
Use the China Unicom App, the website (after you've set up your password while still in China), or WeChat/Alipay if your number is already linked. The free SMS shortcodes (101/2082 to 10010) still work if your SIM has international roaming enabled, but you'll be billed roughly ¥0.36 (~$0.06 USD) per message instead of texting for free.
Is there a fee to check my China Unicom balance by SMS?
No. Texting 101 or 2082 to 10010, and dialing the *100# USSD code, are all free of charge.
What does 余额 mean in a China Unicom balance text?
余额 (yú'é) means "balance" in Chinese. The number immediately after it in the reply SMS is your remaining balance in RMB.
I forgot my China Unicom account password — what now?
Use the password reset page while your phone has a live China Unicom connection, since the verification code is sent by SMS. You cannot reset the password once you've left China without a working China Unicom signal.
Does this work for a Talktiko SIM card?
Yes. Talktiko SIM cards run on the China Unicom network, so the free SMS shortcodes (101/2082 to 10010) work the same way.




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