📲Best SIMs and eSIMs for the USA | 2026 Comparison + Discounts |

Best SIM Cards and eSIMs for the USA: A Quick Comparison

Although we’ll go over all the options in detail throughout this article, if you want to get straight to the point, we’ve put together this table comparing all the eSIMs and SIM cards for travel to the United States. In it, you’ll find the price, data plan, which network they use, and what type of traveler each option is best suited for.

To compare prices, let's say, for example, that you need internet access for a 15-day trip to the United States.

eSIM vs. SIM vs. Wi-Fi vs. Roaming: Which Is the Best Option?

If you're wondering what is the best option for getting internet access in the United States, it really depends on the type of trip you're planning, your budget, and the type of cell phone you have.

Even so, you should be aware that none of the options is 100% effective, because you may encounter areas in the United States where there is no coverage no matter which option you choose, especially in remote areas and national parks.

Best eSIMs for the USA: Which One to Choose

What everyone wants is to set foot in the United States and have internet access right away. Without a doubt, this is the most convenient option, and the way to do it is by buying an eSIM for travel to the U.S. before you leave. Just make sure your phone is compatible!

An eSIM is an electronic SIM that eliminates the need for a physical card. Getting one is a very quick process, both in terms of purchase and installation. Once you purchase it online, you’ll receive an email with all the installation instructions. You can set it up by scanning a QR code or pasting a code into your phone’s settings—it takes less than 2 minutes.

You must always have the eSIM installed on your device before boarding the plane, since you'll need an internet connection to complete the setup process. That way, as soon as you arrive in the United States, all you have to do is activate it, and you'll have internet access right away.

💡Remember to turn on roaming on your cell phone so it can get service when you arrive in the United States.

What is the best eSIM for the USA?

There are countless eSIM providers—and the number keeps growing. There are so many that it’s hard to choose! We recommend 4, and although we’ll go into detail about each one later, here’s a brief summary to help you make a quick decision:

🛜Holafly ➡️ Unlimited data eSIM for the USA with the best coverage. Get 5% off here.
💸eSIMFlag ➡️ The cheapest eSIM with unlimited data for the USA. Get 20% off here.
😉SIM Local ➡️ Best limited-data eSIM for the USA. Get 10% off here.
📲SimOptions ➡️ Best physical SIM for the USA if your phone doesn’t support eSIM. Get 10% off here with the code TRIPTOUSA.

🥇 Holafly, unlimited data eSIM for the USA with the best coverage

Holafly is the best-known eSIM provider on the market and one of the first to emerge, making it the most well-known.

It only offers an unlimited data plan for the United States, and it has the best coverage in the country because it uses the networks of AT&T and T-Mobile—two of the three major U.S. cell phone providers. This means you're more likely to have coverage in remote areas.

The price of their eSIMs is calculated on a daily basis, and you can choose a plan ranging from 1 day to an unlimited number of days (the more days you choose, the cheaper it is). The price is usually around $3.3 per day. In addition, they’ve recently added the “Always On” option, so that when your data plan runs out, you’ll have 1GB of backup data.

If, in addition to the United States, you plan to visit any of its neighboring countries, Holafly offers plans for North America that provide internet access in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. That way, you won’t have to worry about activating another eSIM when you cross the border.

🥈 eSIMFlag, the cheapest unlimited data eSIM for the USA

This company offers unlimited data plans for the USA. In this case, it works exclusively with Verizon, which may result in slightly limited coverage.

With them, you can purchase an eSIM for anywhere from 1 day up to a maximum of 30 days; the more days you choose, the cheaper it gets. The price per day is usually around $3.9, but since we can offer you a bigger discount than Holafly, the final price is lower. They also have plans for North America, in case you’re planning to travel to Mexico or Canada.

🥉 SIM Local, best eSIM with limited data for the USA

The difference between SIM Local and the previous companies is that it offers both unlimited and limited data plans, being more affordable in some cases. We think this is ideal if you don't plan on using the internet much during your trip and just need a few GB, or for short trips.

Depending on the eSIM you choose, the networks may be AT&T + Verizon or just T-Mobile, so coverage is usually extensive.

In addition, for the U.S., there’s a package that also includes calls and text messages, which we think is a great feature and a real differentiator, since there are often times when you need to make calls (to a hotel, a restaurant, etc.).

🏅 SimOptions, best card if your phone isn't compatible with eSIMs

We discovered this company because it offers shipping of physical SIM cards for the USA to your home. This is ideal if your phone isn't compatible with eSIMs and you want to get everything set up from home without wasting time during your trip looking for stores.

In addition to this service, they also offer limited-data eSIMs ranging from 1GB to 50GB that you can use for 30 days and are very reasonably priced.

They operate on the AT&T network, and unlike the previous providers, they don't offer unlimited data. Their data plans are actually very reasonably priced; they're among the cheapest options on the market if you're not looking for an unlimited plan.

How much does an eSIM for the United States cost?

This comparison table of eSIMs for the USA shows you the plans and prices for each one, so you can easily compare them:

TRAVEL INSURANCE
FOR THE UNITED STATES

💸 Healthcare in the U.S. is very expensive, and any accident or illness can cost you a fortune.

That's why we recommend getting travel insurance that covers you in case anything goes wrong, so you don't have to pay anything up front.

💡 We always travel with Heymondo because it offers excellent medical coverage at a great price. Plus, you can get 5% OFF*!

GET IT HERE WITH DISCOUNT

🤓 Take a look at: Best travel insurances for the USA | Comparison + Discounts |

* Non-US residents only

Is it worth paying for unlimited data in the United States?

We, having traveled throughout the United States for several months straight, have to tell you that it’s a country where we constantly use the internet to:

• 🗺️Navigate with Google Maps
• ⛽Find gas stations with the lowest prices using Google Maps or the GasBuddy app
• 🍽️Search for restaurants and read reviews, as well as supermarkets
• 🚕Ordering an Uber in a city
• 🚇Getting around by public transportation in cities like New York or San Francisco
• 🏨Contact your hotel if you're going to arrive earlier or later than expected
• 🏔️Check the official national park websites to see if there are any restrictions or road closures

👉🏼 Personally, it’s not worth it for us to constantly have to keep track of how many GB of data we have left. We want to be able to navigate whenever we feel like it, check social media, make video calls with family, and so on. For all these reasons, we think it’s definitely worth buying for unlimited data eSIM for the USA, since the price difference isn’t that big and it lets us enjoy our trip without any worries.

Which eSIM for the United States to Choose Based on Your Type of Trip

A five-day trip to New York City isn't the same as a two-week road trip through the U.S. Southwest. Every trip has its own needs and unique characteristics, so your internet usage will vary depending on that.

👉🏼 Here's a guide on which eSIM to choose for each type of trip to the U.S.:

• 🗽 eSIM for cities in the United States ➡️ A limited-data plan from SIM Local or SimOptions (use code TRIPTOUSA for a discount) may be enough if you combine it with public Wi-Fi. If you want unlimited data, eSIMFlag is the cheapest option.
• 🚙 eSIM for a road trip through the United States ➡️ Holafly, since you'll need constant internet access and you'll want the best coverage and unlimited data.
• 💻 eSIM for business trips to the United States ➡️ Holafly or eSIMFlag, since you'll need a lot of data.
• 🏔️ eSIM for visiting U.S. national parks ➡️ Holafly, since you'll want the best coverage.
• 📞 eSIM that includes calls to the United States ➡️ SIM Local offers a package with 18 GB + calls + text messages.

Brutally Honest Reviews of eSIMs for the USA

If you're looking for reviews of eSIMs for travel to the United States, we can tell you firsthand about Holafly, eSIMFlag, and Sim Local, since we've used them all. SimOptions is a recent discovery, and we haven't had a chance to try it yet.

As for the ones we’ve actually tried, we can’t say a bad thing about any of them, since they’ve all worked perfectly for us during our trips (not just in the United States). With Holafly, we even had to contact customer service once, and they helped us quickly and efficiently—it turned out to be an issue with our cell phone’s network settings. It was fixed in 10 minutes.

 💡 Holafly is the eSIM with the highest rating and the most reviews

In this table, we've listed the reviews and ratings for each company on Trustpilot, along with the highlights from both the positive and negative comments:

Travel SIMs for the USA

If you're not convinced by eSIMs or your phone isn't compatible, the most traditional alternative for getting internet access in the United States without relying on Wi-Fi is to buy a SIM card for travel to the USA. Although in other countries this is a cheaper option than eSIMs, in the case of the US this isn't usually the case.

In most countries, it's common to buy a prepaid SIM card at the airport upon arrival so that you can have internet access as soon as possible, but the peculiarity of the USA is that many of its airports don't have physical phone stores. Some only have SIM card vending machines, which offer quite expensive plans.

For this reason, it's very likely that in the US you'll have to wait until you arrive in the city to buy your SIM card.

📱If your phone doesn't accept eSIMs and you don't want to waste time searching for a physical SIM card in the US, with SimOptions you can order a SIM and have it delivered to your home. They offer 10GB of data, and while you have to pay for shipping, it's a cheaper option than the local plans we've listed below.

Advantages of prepaid SIM cards in the USA

• They allow you to make national calls and send sms. Sometimes also to Mexico and Canada, and with extra charges to other countries.

Disadvantages of prepaid SIM cards in the USA

• You have to worry about finding a store where you can buy a SIM card when you arrive, as well as communicating in English (if you aren't fluent) and understanding what plans are available.
• In the US, they tend to be more expensive than eSIMs.
• Prices never include taxes or fees (this is standard throughout the US), so the cost you see on websites is not the final price.
• Sometimes long-term contracts are drawn up and then it's a hassle to cancel the service. Be very careful with this because otherwise they'll continue to charge you month after month and once you're at home it's very difficult to make a claim.

There're 3 internet providers in the US: T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T. Ideally, you should go directly to one of their official stores, as they're familiar with their plans and can help you with activation. You can easily find them using Google Maps. For example, all three are located in Times Square in New York City.

⚠️Remember that to purchase a SIM card in any country, you must bring your passport to register; the company will keep a copy. Also bring with you some of the best travel cards for the USA in order to avoid any currency fees.

Another alternative is to buy a SIM card for USA for tourists at supermarkets such as Walmart or 7-Eleven. These stores usually sell SIM cards from prepaid mobile operators called MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators), which use the coverage of one of the three main companies. There're several (Racfone, Straight Talk, Mobile X, Mint Mobile, Boost, Lycamobile, etc.), although this is usually a more expensive option.

RENT A CAR IN THE UNITED STATES

The best way to explore the United States is by car, giving you the freedom to travel at your own pace.

🚗 Whether you’re looking for a convertible Mustang, a 4x4, or a regular car, we recommend to book through this car rental search engine

💸 This is where we find the best prices, both on the rental car itself and on full coverage insurance!

BOOK HERE YOUR RENTAL CAR

Here are the plans and prices offered by each of the 3 companies, although it's best to check their respective websites in case there have been any changes:

T-Mobile plans and prices

These are T-Mobile's prices and plans. Remember that there is a $10 activation fee (ask if there is any way to avoid paying it) and taxes and fees may be added. All plans include calls and texts within the United States. For us, T-Mobile is the best and cheapest sim card for the USA!

• Starter: $45 for 15GB, then unlimited data at 2G speed.
• Unlimited: $50 for unlimited data with 50GB of premium data (at faster speeds).
• Unlimited Plus: $65 for unlimited data with 50GB of premium data + international text messages + unlimited calls and text messages to and from the US, Mexico, and Canada.

Verizon plans and prices

These are Verizon's prices and plans. Remember that there is a $35 activation fee (ask if there is any way to avoid paying it). All plans include calls and texts within the United States (remember that taxes and fees may be added):

• 15GB Plan: $45 for 15GB.
• Unlimited: unlimited data for $60.
• Unlimited Plus: unlimited data for $70. Includes unlimited calls to Mexico and Canada + 180 minutes to another country of your choice.

AT&T plans and prices

These are AT&T's prices and plans. Remember that there is a $15 activation fee (ask if there is any way to avoid it) and taxes and fees may be added:

• 15GB Plan: $40 with 15GB of data and unlimited calls/texts.
• Unlimited Essentials: $50 with unlimited data, calls, and texts.
• Unlimited MAX: $65 with unlimited data, calls, and texts + 25GB to share.

Roaming in the USA with your provider

Did you know that some national internet providers offer roaming in the United States? If you have a contract with one of them, check the conditions for browsing in the United States and see if it's worth it or not.

Of course we don't know every company in the world, as every country has its own providers, so we can't show you case per case. Usually, in their websites they have all the information regarding roaming!

💡If you decide not to buy an eSIM or SIM card and just use Wi-Fi, remember to disable roaming on your phone. Otherwise, it'll connect to the local network and you'll start using data without meaning to. The prices are no joke!

FAQs about internet in the United States

What’s the best option for getting internet in the U.S.?

It depends on your phone, but the most convenient option is to purchase an eSIM in advance for the duration of your trip.

Will my phone work in the U.S.?

Yes, as long as your phone is unlocked. When you install your physical SIM or eSIM, remember to enable data roaming to get internet access.

Do I need a specific phone to use an eSIM?

Yes, it must be an eSIM-compatible phone. The vast majority of the latest models already have this feature, but it’s best to check.

Is a physical SIM or an eSIM better for traveling to the USA?

An eSIM is more convenient because it activates instantly and you have internet access as soon as you arrive, plus the prices are even better than the phone plans offered by American carriers. If your phone doesn’t support eSIM, then you’ll have no choice but to use a physical SIM.

What is the best eSIM for the USA?

The best eSIM will depend on your type of trip and budget, although in general, we recommend Holafly because it’s the most reputable provider, it offers the best coverage and it has unlimited plans.

How much does an eSIM for the USA cost?

The price will vary depending on how many days you need the eSIM for and the type of plan you choose. Unlimited data plans typically cost around $3 per day, while limited-data plans are more affordable.

Does internet work well in the USA?

It works very well in cities and developed areas, but there’s usually no coverage in national parks and remote natural areas.

Can you share internet (tethering) in the USA?

Yes, the vast majority of companies allow data sharing, but some have limits. It’s best to check the terms and conditions.

Is roaming expensive in the USA?

Yes, roaming in the USA is very expensive.

We hope we've cleared up your doubts and that you can choose the best SIM card or eSIM for the USA!