Planning on visiting the United States soon? Make sure to know what to expect when it comes to purchasing a USA SIM card.
When visiting the USA, one of the first things youāll need to do is buy a sim card for your phone. This will allow you to make calls and use the internet while in the country.
There are several different providers to choose from, each with its own plans and pricing structures. In this guide, youāll find everything you need to know about buying a SIM card in the USA.
Weāll explain where to buy a SIM card in the United States in person and online.
Weāll also talk about eSIM for the USA if youāre looking for a way to purchase mobile data online. Itās the most convenient way to get Internet on arrival.
Before you start reading this guide, you may be wondering if you actually need a SIM card in the USA.
If you donāt mind not having Internet, youāll likely find free Wifi in restaurants, shopping malls, and hotels.
That said, if you wish to drive a car around, call a Uber, and get access to the Internet at all times ā you may want to get a SIM card for your travels in the US.
Best SIM Cards In The United States
The United States is a huge country and there are several mobile providers. The two biggest ones are T-Mobile and Verizon.
Youāll find other popular networks such as AT&T, Google Fi, and more.
We recommend using a SIM card from T-Mobile or Verizon. Alternatively, you could get an eSIM for your travels in America.
Iāll get back to this later, so keep reading to learn more.
How To Buy A SIM Card In The United States
You can either buy a USA prepaid SIM card in person in some international airports, in mobile provider stores, in a convenience store, or on Amazon.
Usually, you can expect higher costs and low data offers at the airport, so we donāt recommend buying a SIM card at the airport. That said, some airports donāt sell SIM cards, so you could be disappointed if you need data fast.
Iād recommend buying a SIM card directly from the mobile provider store. Note that you may need your passport in order to buy one.
Itās also important to note that SIM cards in the United States are not among the cheapest. Most providers offer long-term plans, and if youāre only there for a few weeks or months, it wonāt be worth it for you.
Alternatively, you can buy a US SIM card online on Amazon. You can get unlimited data for 30 days for about $45. You can see your options on Amazon. Weāll cover more options to buy SIM cards online below.
If youāre searching for a bigger data plan that is affordable, Iād recommend using an eSIM instead. (Skip to the eSIM card section to learn more about Airalo and Holafly.)
How To Buy A USA Prepaid SIM Card Online
If you wish to have your SIM card ready for your arrival, you could purchase it online on websites like Amazon or SimOptions.
For example, you could get a SIM card for North America like the North America TravSIM from T-Mobile.
This SIM card offers 50 GB to use in the United States, but also adds 5GB in Canada and Mexico. So, if youāre planning on visiting Canada and Mexico too, it could be a great option for you.
The cost is around $45 and the card is valid for 30 days. Alternatively, you can get the T-Mobile prepaid card for the USA only.
Alternatively, you could buy an eSIM card for the USA. I believe itās one of the easiest options.
How To Buy An eSIM Card For USA
eSIM is a new concept allowing you to have a virtual SIM card inside your phone. If your mobile phone supports eSIM cards ā itās definitely the best option to get data in the United States.
Curious? Learn more about eSIM for travelers.
I started using eSIM as soon as my mobile phone supported it.
To buy an eSIM, I use mostly Airalo. But there are many USA eSIM providers you can use.
Nomad USA
Nomad offers data plans in 100+ countries. Their offer plans are in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. They also have regional and global plans.
Iāve tried Nomad, and it worked well. Although, itās not my favorite because they only have short-term plans (up to 60 days, but mostly 30 days).
Hereās an overview of the plans available in the United States:
- 1GB, valid for 7 days for $4
- 3GB, valid for 15 days for $10
- 5GB, valid for 15 days for $14
- 10GB, valid for 30 days for $24
- 12GB, valid for 30 days for $26
- 15GB, valid for 30 days for $30
- 20GB, valid for 30 days for $33
- 30GB, valid for 30 days for $50
- 40GB, valid for 30 days for $65
- 50GB, valid for 30 days for $80
- 100GB, valid for 60 days for $240
Holafly USA
Hereās an overview of the options available on Holafly:
- Unlimited data, valid for 5 days for $21
- Unlimited data, valid for 7 days for $29
- Unlimited data, valid for 10 days for $37
- Unlimited data, valid for 15 days for $51
- Unlimited data, valid for 20 days for $62
- Unlimited data, valid for 30 days for $75
- Unlimited data, valid for 60 days for $107
- Unlimited data, valid for 90 days for $139
You can get a 5% discount on your first purchase with my discount code: ABROKENBACKPACK
As you can see, the longer, the cheaper. If youāre traveling for three months, you can snag a great deal with Holafly.
Airalo USA
Hereās an overview of the options available on Airalo:
- 1GB, valid for 7 days for $4.50
- 2GB, valid for 15 days for $8
- 3GB, valid for 30 days for $11
- 5GB valid for 30 days for $16
- 10GB, valid for 30 days for $26
- 20GB, valid for 30 days for $42
As you can see, these are the most affordable rates for SIM cards weāve seen so far. An eSIM card also means youāll get data right away on your arrival, which means itās very convenient.
Obviously, it also depends on your data needs. Do you only need a SIM card for emergencies? If yes, you probably donāt need a big data plan.
AloSIM USA
aloSIM is a new eSIM provider offering plans in 160+ regions and countries. Youāll find many affordable local and regional eSIM plans.
To learn more, you can read our complete aloSIM review.
Hereās an overview of the plans available in the United States:
- 1GB, valid for 7 days for $4.50
- 2GB, valid for 15 days for $8
- 3GB, valid for 30 days for $11
- 5GB, valid for 30 days for $16
- 10GB, valid for 30 days for $26
- 20GB, valid for 30 days for $42
Yoho Mobile USA
Yoho Mobile is an eSIM provider offering plans in 190+ regions and countries. Youāll also find plans in individual countries, and youāll find regional plans for Europe and Asia.
To learn more, you can read our complete Yoho Mobile review.
All the Yoho Mobile USA plans come with unlimited calls and SMS.
Hereās an overview of the plans available in the United States:
- Unlimited, valid for 5 days for $8.88
- Unlimited, valid for 7 days for $11.66
- Unlimited, valid for 10 days for $14.88
- Unlimited, valid for 15 days for $20.99
- Unlimited, valid for 20 days for $26.96
- Unlimited, valid for 25 days for $33.99
- Unlimited, valid for 30 days for $29.88
- Unlimited, valid for 60 days for $60
SimCorner USA
SimCorner offers data plans in 80+ countries. They offer both prepaid SIM cards and eSIM plans. You can pick between a local and a regional plan depending on your travel plans.
Iāve tried SimCorner, and it worked great.
However, I needed to wait a few hours to receive my eSIM. If you wish to purchase an eSIM plan on SimCorner, I recommend buying it a few days before your trip. This way, youāll have it on time for your trip.
Learn more by reading our SimCorner review.
Hereās an overview of the plans available in the United States:
- 10GB, valid for 30 days for $40, including calls and SMS for $40
- Unlimited data, valid for 30 days, including calls and SMS for $50
Ubigi USA
Ubigi offers eSIM plans in 200+ countries. You can pick between a local, regional, or global plan depending on your travel plans.
Iāve tried Ubigi, and it worked great. You can even purchase a plan in the app without WiFi or Internet, which is great. Youāll also choose if you want a one-off plan or a monthly subscription.
Learn more by reading our Ubigi review.
Hereās an overview of the plans available in the United States:
- 500MG, valid for 1 day for ā¬2.90
- 3GB, valid for 30 days for ā¬11
- 10GB, valid for 30 days for ā¬24
- 50GB, valid for 30 days for ā¬88
- 200GB, valid for 30 days for ā¬200
Final Thoughts On USA SIM Cards
I believe the United States has a lot to catch up on regarding SIM cards, and Data prepaid plans for travelers.
In many countries, you can get a SIM card at more affordable rates, easily ā but the United States makes it more complicated for travelers.
I believe the eSIM card is the most convenient way to get Data in North America so that you donāt need to commit to an expensive plan or long-term.
Traveling to the United States soon? Read one of the following blog posts:
