When it comes to traveling savvy, eSIMS are my new favorite recommendation.
After years of stressing over finding a local sim *every* time I entered a new county (frustrating when you’re doing a lot of countries in one time period!), I no longer have to worry because of the convenience of eSIMS.
Now that there are SO many eSIMS on offer, it can be a little overwhelming. However, because there is so much competition, the quality and price have gotten better overall.
When in the USA, data can be quite restrictive, but these eSIMS will help make your travels throughout the USA a lot easier.
My current network in the UK (O2) does provide me with some data in the USA (as part of my monthly plan), but I cannot hotspot that data to my laptop, which is imperative to me running an online business.
We spent over 3 months in the USA, so I've been able to test out a variety of eSIMs!
& I'm going back in October, where I'll be testing out some more and I'll update this list.
So let’s have a look at what eSIMS are on offer for the USA!
In this guide I’m going to take you through:
Let’s get started …
If you’re after freedom to roam across North America without worrying about data caps, Simify’s “Unlimited Data – USA + Canada + Mexico” eSIM is a strong contender. You download it via QR code, land connected, and enjoy one plan across three countries—perfect for a month of spontaneous road-trips, beach days or city hops.
I recently tested this eSIM throughout a roadtrip in Florida, and I really had a great experience.
Pricing was good, set up easy and I stayed connected through the entire state. Some spots, like deep in the Everglades, there was some patchy signal, but that was to be expected. I actually ended up staying in an Airbnb in the Florida "countryside" (close to some of the most popular springs), which didn't have any WiFi (I didn't realise this before booking) and I was able to use my Simify eSIM to hotspot my laptop so I could do some admin work!
If you don't need unlimited data, then don't worry, that's not the only option available with Simify.
They have a range of eSIMs to suit data needs and durations of stay.
Some examples include:
Who it’s best for
For travellers who use a lot of data, hotspot their laptop, upload plenty of content or move between states/countries, this plan delivers high value. If you’re a light user (maps + WhatsApp) staying in one city, a smaller data plan might be more cost-effective.
With so many eSIMs available, how can a company stand out? How about offering FREE data?
Yes, you read that right!
Firsty is a unique eSIM provider that believes everyone should have access to global data.
Firsty automatically connects you to every mobile provider worldwide as soon as you land, so there's no need to switch eSIMs or buy expensive data bundles every time you enter a new location.
You might be wondering, what's the catch? There isn’t one.
Firsty offers 3 different plans:
Firsty Free: The free plan provides a basic global data connection.
With Firsty Free, you enjoy free data while traveling and can use Whatsapp, E-mail, imessage, Uber, and other apps without any hidden costs.
Simply watch a short advertisement to use, and hey, aren't we all used to watching ads by now!?
Comfort Plus and First Class, which differ in their data allowances and speed limitations:
Typically provides around 750MB of high-speed data, with 1GB available per day depending on the region. After that, you can still access data at a lower speed. It's perfect to use for regular usage such as streaming for a few hours, video calls, and of course, social media.
What's quite smart about the system is that Comfort+ will change the speed depending on the types of applications you use. i.e. slower speed for streaming. This means you can get more out of your data and it'll stretch further!
The cost of Comfort Plus? Only €1 per day.
This is perfect if you need more data for more heavy use stuff. You'll get a whopping 5GB of highspeed data per day!
This is perfect for those who want extended streaming or social media activity. After the 5GB, you'll still have access to internet, just at lowered speed. Another big bonus with First Class is that you can use it as a hotspot. So for me, this would be a perfect option for days when I'm doing stuff on my laptop, and don't have access to WIFI!
Plus, you don’t even need a credit card! If you think the fast plan must be expensive, you'd be wrong again. It's just €2.50 per day.
That's 2.50 EURO A DAY, for 5GB of fast data. That is an amazing deal.
But to make it even better, they're giving you 10% off with my discount code: DBTF10
How do they keep prices so low?
They have access to every provider worldwide, making it easier to negotiate better rates. Firsty is currently available in 160 countries!
-Free data: It’s free, hassle-free, and doesn’t require credit card information. You’ve got nothing to lose by trying it! You'll get unlimited data a day all all you'll need to do is watch a 30 second add for 60 minutes of free data. With this basic connection you can WhatsApp, email, iMessage, use Maps and Google Maps, order a rideshare like Uber, Lyft, and Grab
- 24/7 customer support: Firsty's customer service is top-notch and supported in over 80 languages.
- Firsty Pause: This feature lets you pause your fast data when you're not using it, so you don't waste data. For example, if you're on a cruise from Denmark to Iceland, you can pause your fast data while on the ferry and restart it when you reach land. Meanwhile, you'll still have basic connectivity thanks to Firsty Free. I recently did this trip, and this feature would have been incredibly useful.
- Fewer countries than other global eSIM plans: While Firsty is expanding, it currently offers coverage in fewer countries than some other global data eSIM providers. However, what they lack in countries, they make up for in price and service!
Next we have SimOptions, who are another highly-trusted company that offers plans and coverage in over 200 nations worldwide.
One of the biggest benefits of using SimOptions is that they are very flexible, and support the use of multiple eSIMS on the same device.
This means you can have one for data and also another for local calls if this is something that you’ll need during your trip.
Their cheapest eSIM starts at just $4.90, which includes 1GB data for a total duration of 30 days. Their longest (and most expensive plan) costs $34.90, which includes 20GB and also lasts for 30 days. All of these eSIM options support the use of hotspotting too which is useful.
Overall SimOptions is a great option for those who want a cheap option or are on a shorter trip, although you won’t receive as much data as other companies (so you’ll need to watch your daily use).
Yesim are another well-established, well trusted eSIM provider that offer very compeitive pricing. AND they offer a variety of unlimited data plans (even a global eSIM that covers 170+ countries), or set data amounts.
With regards to the USA, they actually have two options.
Firstly, their North America eSIM offers data-only plans—both unlimited and prepaid data allotments—for travelers to Canada, Mexico, and the United States, all accessible via a single digital eSIM—no physical SIM card is needed.
But, if you don't want to opt for the North America eSIM, don't worry. They also do a USA solo eSIM, which offers great pricing.
With this option, you can get unlimited data options ranging from 1 day up to 30 days.
Like most eSIM plans, the longer you opt for, the better value it is.
Or you can opt for set allotments, which also work out great value. Personally I think the 20GB for 22 Euro is an excellent deal, and would certaintly cover all my data needs on a USA holiday.
Plus if you use the code Anyesim15 you'll get 15% off.
MobileSIM is a travel-focused eSIM provider offering prepaid data only plans for over 190 countries. Their practices emphasise instant activation, unlocked device compatibility, hotspot support and no physical SIM cards. They note that they do not currently include outgoing voice/SMS numbers in their U.S./North America data plans.
For the USA they offer several data-only eSIM packs that you can buy and install before you travel, then activate when you land.
For example, there are U.S.-only data packs starting at roughly €3.03 (≈ US$3.50) for 1 GB valid 7 days, which is a great starting rate.
They also offer more regional plans which include North America as a whole (USA + Canada + Mexico). These prices around €5.64 for 1 GB valid 7 days.
There really are a wider range of options to suit both your data usuage and your duration.
For example:
These are very reasonable rates, maybe some of the best I've come across!
Planning a trip to the United States and want to stay connected without the hassle of swapping SIM cards? GigSky's eSIM service has you covered!
With their eSIM you can enjoy instant, seamless connectivity across the U.S. with flexible data plans tailored to your needs.
What's really cool about this eSIM company, and sets them apart is not only do they have your covered AT your destination, but they can cover you getting too your destination, whether it be via plane or boat.
GigSky’s Inflight Data plans let you stay connected at 20,000 feet! Just download the GigSky app, purchase an inflight data plan, and activate it once your flight reaches cruising altitude. Available on select airlines, including Emirates and Virgin Atlantic, it’s a simple, reliable way to stay online in the sky.
Partnering with Tampnet, the leading offshore network provider, GigSky offers reliable eSIM data coverage in the North Sea and Gulf of Mexico. Whether you're working offshore or enjoying a maritime adventure, you can enjoy seamless internet access without the need for a physical SIM card.
How cool is that?!
They've got fantastic deals on USA esims including unlimited data for $26.99 for 7 days! But I think the 10GB for 30 days for $25.99 is a perfect deal as it'll definitely cover you on a standard holiday, and you'll have access to WiFi too, so 10GB is more than enough to keep you connected when getting from A to B, and all those times you don't have WiFi (or the WiFi is just crap!)
Plus, you can test the waters with a free 100MB trial so there's nothing to lose!
There's a pretty good deal if you're a VISA holder too with these guys!
We’ve all heard of a traditional SIM card, which has been around for decades and have helped immensely when traveling somewhere new.
However these had their own limitations, such as higher costs and less flexibility.
This is where the new digital eSIM comes in, which are essentially an upgrade in various ways.
They act the same way as a usual SIM card, however everything is stored electronically inside your phone (no external chip needs to be removed or added).
Essentially this means that you can immediately swap to a different mobile phone provider as soon as you arrive in a new country and get a signal, instead of having to manually find a new SIM and install it.
There are also many other benefits to using an eSIM in the USA, such as having low costs and being more versatile (we’ll explore these benefits later in this guide).
So to summarize, pretty much all phones can work with an eSIM.
There’s a good chance they can also work with multiple eSIMs at the same time too (which brings even more benefits), however you’ll want to do some independent research on the type of phone you have before.
If your current phone isn’t on this list, then most likely it will not be compatible with an eSIM.
You’ll find plenty of existing operators that allow you to use their own international plan in the USA.
Also known as Roaming, they allow you to connect to the internet without you having to physically change your SIM card.
The major downside to this is that they typically incur high charges for browsing, where you can easily spend over $15-25 a day if you’re not careful! (can be even more if you will watch videos or do any other activities that require heavy bandwidth usage).
If you’ll be working whilst traveling, then this won’t be ideal in either the short or long term, unless you don’t mind spending so much.
The other issue is that you may not have a good, consistent internet connection, and may find it drops down to 3G at times.
There’s also a cap too on your internet speed, especially if you’re using it frequently (where it can end up taking a while just to do a simple Google search).
Whenever I use O2 abroad, I am capped at around 25 GB and they will throttle my speed if I’m using it a lot.
They will also charge me more if I hotspot my connection to another device.
And that’s all for our guide on the best eSIMS to use when traveling to and around the USA.
eSIMS are a really useful tool to use when traveling abroad, and we think are a must-have when heading to the USA (or any other country for that matter).
Not only will you have high-speed connections at an affordable price, you’ll also find various plans to have distinct advantages (such as regional bundles or high data plans for hotspotting to your other devices).
In this guide we’ve covered why using an eSIM is much better than a traditional SIM card, as well as 5 of the best eSIM companies you can use when in the USA.
Which eSIM do you think you’re getting for your next trip?
Do you have a particular brand that we haven’t included?
Comment below and let us know your thoughts!
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