Get online in the USA the moment you land at JFK, Los Angeles, Miami or any other US airport. Install a data eSIM before you fly, keep your usual number for calls and texts, and use maps, ride apps and transit timetables from the arrivals hall onwards.
United States eSIM
United States eSIM plans
Every plan is data only, priced in US dollars, with no contract and nothing to return.
Our picks
Three plans we would buy ourselves, by the trip you are taking. Every plan we sell is listed below.
Short trip
10.5 GB
1.5 GB a day
7 days
A week or so away: maps, messages, rides and the odd video call.
$1.14 per GB
$11.99
Buy this planLong trip
22.5 GB
1.5 GB a day
15 days
Two weeks or more, with room for photos, streaming and work email.
$0.80 per GB
$17.99
Buy this planHeavy use
Unlimited data
15 days
You stream, work online or share your connection every day.
Full speed for the first 5 GB each day
$27.99
Buy this plan
Fixed data
One allowance for the whole trip, used at your own pace.
Daily data
A fresh allowance every day, slower above it until the next day.
Unlimited data
No cap on data, with a fair-use speed limit after heavy daily use.
Also covered by Global (170 countries)
One eSIM that also works in the other countries of the bundle, for a trip that crosses borders.
See every country in Global (170 countries)
Also covered by Global (75 countries)
One eSIM that also works in the other countries of the bundle, for a trip that crosses borders.
See every country in Global (75 countries)
No eSIM, no charge. If your payment goes through and we cannot issue your eSIM, we refund you in full. Refund policy
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Local networks. See which ones it uses in United States
Which US plan fits your trip
United States plans come in three shapes:
- One day, 0.6 GB. For a layover or a connection.
- Daily data, 1.5 GB a day for 3 to 30 days. Suits steady use: maps, messaging, social media. The plan details say what happens once the day's allowance is used.
- Unlimited, 3 to 15 days. For heavy users, road trips with navigation running all day, and remote work. A fair-use policy applies; the plan details say how.
Not sure how much you need? Most visitors use 0.5 to 1.5 GB a day. See fixed, daily or unlimited.
Coverage across the United States
Coverage is excellent in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, San Francisco and the other cities, and along the interstates. It thins out in rural areas, and many national parks, including large parts of Yellowstone, Yosemite, the Grand Canyon backcountry and Death Valley, have little or no signal on any network. Download offline maps before a park day or a long drive through the West.
Arriving at the airport
Install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi a day or two before you fly. When you land, turn on data roaming for the eSIM line only and keep it off on your usual SIM, so your home carrier does not charge you roaming. You can then book a ride, check the train into the city and message your hotel from the arrivals hall.
Visiting Canada too?
United States plans cover the US only. For a trip on both sides of the border, take a Canada eSIM for the Canadian days as well, or one of the global plans, which cover both countries in one install: check the country list on the plan before you buy.
Networks in United States
The United States has three national mobile networks: AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon. Travel eSIMs connect to a US network as a roaming partner, which is why data roaming must be on for the eSIM line. Coverage is excellent in cities and along the interstates; rural areas and national parks can have long stretches with no signal on any network. Want to know which network a plan uses before you buy? Ask us at support@esimlounge.com.
How to install your eSIM
Install it at home before you fly, then switch it on when you land.
Check your phone
Your phone must support eSIM and be carrier unlocked. Most phones from the last few years do.
Scan the QR code
Scan the code from your email while you still have Wi-Fi at home. It takes about two minutes.
Switch on when you land
Turn on the eSIM line and data roaming for it. Keep your usual SIM for calls and texts if you like.
United States eSIM questions
Which eSIM is best for the USA?
For a week or two of maps, ride apps and messaging, a daily plan of 1.5 GB a day suits most visitors. For a road trip with navigation running all day, remote work or streaming, an unlimited plan is simpler, and the one-day plan covers a layover. Our picks at the top of the plans show one of each.
When does my US plan start?
On most plans, the days start counting when the eSIM first connects to a network in the United States, not when you install it. Install a day or two before you fly, then switch data roaming on when you land.
Will I keep my phone number?
Yes. Your usual SIM stays in the phone for calls and texts. The eSIM only carries mobile data, so WhatsApp, iMessage and FaceTime keep working on your number.
Does the eSIM come with an American phone number?
No. These plans are data only. Restaurants, hotels and ride apps that ask for a phone number usually accept your own number.
Does a US plan work in Canada or Mexico?
No, a United States plan covers the US only. For Canada, add a Canada plan for those days, or choose a global plan that lists every country on your trip.
What if the eSIM does not connect when I land?
Check that data roaming is on for the eSIM line and that mobile data is set to it. Restart the phone, then try choosing a network by hand. Still stuck? Write to support@esimlounge.com with your order number.
United States travel guides
Our guides for getting online there.
October 22, 2026 1 min read
eSIM ran out of data? How to check your usage and get more
When a travel eSIM runs out, data stops or slows on that line. How to check what is left on iPhone and Android, who offers top-ups, and how to add a plan.
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October 20, 2026 1 min read
Optus international roaming (2026): Daily Roaming and Travel Pack prices, and when an eSIM is cheaper
Optus Daily Roaming costs $5 a day for 5GB on Choice Plus, Plus Family and Plus Promo plans; other postpaid plans pay $10 a pass for 1GB, renewed automatically. Prepaid packs, what a trip costs, and when a travel eSIM is the better buy.
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October 20, 2026 1 min read
Telstra international roaming (2026): Day Pass prices, and when an eSIM is cheaper
Telstra's International Day Pass costs $5 a day in New Zealand and the Pacific and $10 a day in 80+ destinations, with 2GB of data a day. How to turn it on, which countries are included, what a trip costs, and when a travel eSIM is the better buy.
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October 20, 2026 1 min read
Vodafone Australia roaming (2026): $5 a day in 100+ destinations, and when an eSIM is cheaper
Vodafone's $5 Roaming lets postpaid customers use their plan's data, calls and texts in more than 100 destinations for $5 a day, up to 90 days a year. Prepaid customers buy add-ons from $5. What a trip to Bali, Japan or the USA costs, and when a travel eSIM is cheaper.
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October 20, 2026 1 min read
Airtel and Jio international roaming in the USA (2026): pack prices, and when a US eSIM is cheaper
Airtel and Jio both sell international roaming packs that work in the USA, but they include little data for the price. What each pack gives you, what a 10-day trip or a 3-month family visit costs, how to keep your Indian number for OTPs, and when a US eSIM is cheaper.
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October 20, 2026 1 min read
USA SIM card for tourists (2026): eSIM, prepaid SIM or roaming from the UK, Europe and Australia
Visiting the US from the UK, Europe or Australia? A US eSIM bought before you fly is the simplest way to get data, a prepaid SIM from a US store is the second, and your home network's roaming can cost far more. Prices in dollars, pounds, euros and Australian dollars.
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