Compare the Best Travel eSIMs for United States
Prepaid data eSIMs for visitors to United States, every plan ranked by real price per GB. This is not a United States contract or a local SIM. Updated daily.
The 3 best United States eSIMs right now
Yesim✓ Verified partner
GigSky✓ Verified partner
Ubigi✓ Verified partner
What United States data actually costs
United States travel eSIM prices look random until you convert every plan to one number: the real cost per gigabyte. Here is what that reveals right now.
The cheapest plan at each size, 30 days
| Data | Cheapest provider | Total | Price per GB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 GB | Nomad | $41 | $0.82/GB | Get plan ↗ |
| 25 GB | Ubigi | $32 | $1.28/GB | Get plan ↗🏷 10% off with code TRAVELCITY10 |
| 20 GB | Yesim | $19.35 | $0.97/GB | Get plan ↗🏷 15% off with code TRAVELCITY |
| 10 GB | Ubigi | $14 | $1.40/GB | Get plan ↗🏷 10% off with code TRAVELCITY10 |
| 5 GB | Sim Local | $9.75 | $1.95/GB | Get plan ↗🏷 10% off with code ATESIM |
| 1 GB | Yesim | $3.58 | $3.58/GB | Get plan ↗🏷 15% off with code TRAVELCITY |
Cost per GB rises from $0.82/GB at 50 GB to $3.58/GB at 1 GB. Buying a little more data than you expect to use is almost always cheaper per gigabyte than buying exactly what you need.
The "unlimited" trap
The same words, unlimited for 30 days, cover a wide price range, and most plans slow down after a daily threshold that the label hides.
| Provider | Unlimited, 30 days | Fair-use cap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maya | $49.99 | Confirming | Get plan ↗🏷 10% off with code ATESIM |
| Yesim | $51.26 | Confirming | Get plan ↗🏷 15% off with code TRAVELCITY |
| Ubigi | $65 | Confirming | Get plan ↗🏷 10% off with code TRAVELCITY10 |
| Airalo | $68 | Confirming | Get plan ↗ |
| GigSky | $69.99 | Confirming | Get plan ↗🏷 15% off with code ATESIM |
| Saily | $71.99 | Confirming | Get plan ↗ |
Unlimited 30 day plans run from $49.99 to $71.99, a spread of about 44 percent, for a label that means the same thing on paper. Check the daily cap before you buy, especially if you plan to tether a laptop.
Do not overpay for coverage you will not use
If your whole trip is in United States, a United States only plan is far cheaper per gigabyte than a North America or global plan carrying the same data. Same provider (GigSky), same 50 GB, 30 days:
| GigSky plan | Price | Price per GB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States only | $39.99 | $0.80/GB | Get plan ↗🏷 15% off with code ATESIM |
| North America | $59.99 | $1.20/GB | Get plan ↗🏷 15% off with code ATESIM |
| Global | $109.99 | $2.20/GB | Get plan ↗🏷 15% off with code ATESIM |
A United States only plan costs much less per gigabyte than a regional or global plan with the same data. Only pay for the wider plan if you are actually crossing borders on this trip.
Which network does your United States eSIM use?
This is the question that decides your real signal, and almost no comparison site answers it. Your travel eSIM connects to one or more local networks as a visitor, and that choice matters the moment you leave the big cities, because rural coverage varies a lot between them.
| Provider | Host network | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Airalo | T-Mobile as the primary network, plus one other US network | Confirmed |
| GigSky | Not publicly disclosed | Confirming |
| Ubigi | T-Mobile | Confirmed |
| Nomad | AT&T and Verizon on regular plans; own page also lists T-Mobile | Confirmed |
| Saily | Not publicly disclosed | Confirming |
| Yesim | Not publicly disclosed | Confirming |
Ubigi and Airalo name T-Mobile as their US host and Nomad names AT&T and Verizon; GigSky, Saily and Yesim do not publish a specific US carrier, and because US coverage depends so much on the host network this gap is worth checking before you buy.
Coverage by where you are going
- T-Mobile has the widest mid-band 5G (Ultra Capacity) footprint of the three US carriers, so eSIMs that host on T-Mobile usually get the fastest 5G in and around cities.
- Verizon and AT&T generally keep a usable signal better than T-Mobile in remote rural areas, mountain regions and some national parks, though this varies by exact location.
- New York City has finished bringing cellular service to all underground subway stations, so eSIM data now works on platforms across the system.
- Hawaii is included on most standard US plans, but Alaska is often excluded or limited, so confirm coverage there with the provider before relying on it.
- A US-only plan does not roam into Canada or Mexico; crossing a land border needs a North America regional plan or a separate local plan.
- The US is not part of any roaming union, so every plan here is domestic US data only.
Travel eSIM vs a local United States SIM
Travel eSIMs from Airalo, GigSky, Ubigi, Nomad, Saily and Yesim are data only, with no US phone number, and they ride on one or more of the major networks. They install from an app in minutes and suit trips of a few days to a few weeks. For calls and texts you use internet apps such as WhatsApp, FaceTime or Signal.
A local prepaid SIM or eSIM gives you an actual US phone number and is often better value for longer stays. Mint Mobile runs on the T-Mobile network, Visible runs on Verizon, and US Mobile lets you pick between the major networks. These usually need an app sign up or in-store purchase and a payment method that works in the US.
Quick rule: For a short trip where you only need data, a travel eSIM is simpler. For a longer stay or if you need a US phone number, buy a local prepaid plan.
The US networks are AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon, and budget carrier Visible sells an unlimited prepaid plan on Verizon's network for about US$25 a month with no contract.
How a United States travel eSIM works
A travel eSIM replaces expensive roaming with a cheap local data plan you activate in seconds. There is no plastic SIM and no airport queue. Roaming with your home carrier can run 6 to 12 dollars a day, so a week easily tops 50 to 80 dollars for service you already pay for at home.
Three things to get right:
- Check your phone supports eSIM before you buy.
- Install the eSIM at home over WiFi, but wait to activate it until you land, because the validity period usually starts on activation.
- Keep your physical SIM in the phone for calls and texts on your normal number.
How we rank United States eSIMs
Every plan on this page is sorted by real price per GB (total price divided by included data, normalised to USD), so a cheap-looking 1 GB plan cannot outrank a better-value 10 GB one. We refresh prices daily and only list providers with a track record of activating on arrival. We earn a small affiliate commission when you buy through our links. It funds the price tracking and never changes the order you see.
United States travel eSIM FAQ
Which network will my eSIM use in the United States?
It depends on the provider. Ubigi and Airalo host on T-Mobile, and Nomad uses AT&T and Verizon on its regular plans. GigSky, Saily and Yesim do not publish a specific US carrier. Check the provider's US page before buying, because the network sets how good your coverage is.
Do these eSIMs include a US phone number?
No. All six providers sell data-only plans for the US with no local number or SMS. You can still make calls and send messages through internet apps such as WhatsApp, FaceTime or Signal.
Will my US eSIM work in Canada or Mexico?
No. These are US-only plans, and the US is not in any roaming union. If your trip crosses into Canada or Mexico, buy a North America regional plan or a separate plan for that country.
Does the eSIM cover Alaska and Hawaii?
Hawaii is included on most standard US plans. Alaska is often excluded or has limited coverage, so confirm with the provider before you count on data there.
Is 5G included?
Yes, where the host network has 5G and your phone supports it. T-Mobile has the widest mid-band 5G footprint, so eSIMs on T-Mobile tend to see fast 5G most often in cities.
What happens on an unlimited plan once I hit the daily cap?
Your speed is reduced for the rest of the day, usually to somewhere between 0.5 and 1 Mbps, then resets after 24 hours. That is enough for messaging, email and maps but too slow for smooth streaming or large downloads.