Top SIM Cards for USA Travel

A travel SIM card for USA travel is an indispensable item in travel luggage on a USA trip. In particular, if you come to a modern, luxury country like the US, you will definitely need to buy a USA SIM card right away to avoid expensive expenses from roaming fees. Let’s check out the top 8 providers offering SIM cards for USA travel.

1. What is a SIM Card for the USA? 

US cards for travel are a type of SIM card that meets the needs of tourists or people who come to work in the US. Travel SIM cards usually have fast and stable internet speeds in the US. As a result, travelers can stay connected throughout their trip.

US travel SIM cards are always appreciated with a variety of high-speed data plans so you can consider choosing the right plan for your trip.

2. Why do You Need to Buy a US Travel SIM Card?

Nowadays, WiFi is available almost everywhere, but when visiting the USA, you’ll want to stay connected outside of your hotel room as well. Consider utilizing an app to get a taxi, identify nearby eateries that come highly rated, get directions using Google Maps, or just remain in touch by checking your email and social networking apps.

Traveling is so much safer and easier when you have internet access! Avoid getting stranded because your phone’s data connection is down.

It is simple to purchase a SIM card for the USA; it only takes a few minutes, and you may immediately connect. When you insert the SIM card into your phone, it immediately functions.

Additionally, don’t rely on free WiFi. The internet speed is not guaranteed, and it can change. Additionally, keep in mind that using free WiFi to browse the web uses an unsecured connection. In these situations, a VPN should be used.

3. Benefits of USA SIM Cards for Travel

Owning a US travel SIM card is an affordable and extremely practical alternative for customers because international roaming rates and call charges are incredibly expensive. Here are some advantages of purchasing a European travel SIM that you should be aware of:

• No roaming fees: International roaming is frequently integrated with travel SIMs, enabling free calls.
• Affordable service fees: While abroad, you can prepay for mobile internet, incoming calls, and messaging so that you can enjoy your trip without worrying about mobile network issues or how to save money.
• More reasonable costs: All types of US travel SIMs have reasonable costs and are much more economical than roaming charges.
• Easy compatibility: Typically, travel SIM cards work with a wide range of devices, including smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, and more. To prevent wasting money and time, you should check in advance to see if the US SIM card you want to purchase is compatible with your device. A quick check on list of eSIM compatible devices.
• More features: The travel SIM has many useful features built-in, including a 4G network plan with a high internet access speed and quick web browsing with less waiting. Additionally, you receive free texting, calling, high-quality calls, assurance of a steady and quick transmission connection, etc. All of these are included in a travel SIM at a very affordable price.
• Easy purchase and use: The activation process for the SIM card is fairly straightforward; you can either actively learn how to use it or seek assistance from the consultant who helped you purchase the USA travel SIM card.

4. Types of Travel SIM for the USA

Depending on the form of the SIM, you can consider choosing an eSIM or a traditional physical SIM.

SIM card	eSIM
– Physical SIM card. – Insert the SIM card into the phone when using. – Need to pay a fixed SIM card cost. – Must purchase before departure for timely delivery. – Offered by almost all carriers.	– Digital SIM. – Activate via a convenient QR code. – Cost savings. – Buy whenever, even on departure, and get eSIM quickly. – There are not too many eSIM application carriers.

In addition, when choosing to buy a US travel SIM card, you can also consider it based on the plans of the SIM card. Depending on your usage needs, you can choose low-cost small packages or unlimited high-speed data packages.

If you do not use too much, you can consider small and medium data plans. Or you can also buy unlimited data packages if you need to use a lot of data and even make a mobile hotspot to share data with other devices.

5. Where to Buy US SIM Cards or Data Plans?

You have 3 main options when it comes to buying a SIM card or data plan for the US:

5.1. Buy an eSIM Data Plan (Easiest)

An eSIM data plan is the simplest to purchase for US travel because you may activate it quickly and avoid paying shipping costs. Once you are in the US, all you need to do is purchase the service and activate it.

When you come to a foreign country, if you want peace of mind and prepare everything in advance, you can choose to buy a GIGAGO eSIM right in your country.

Not all phones are eSIM compatible (most modern phones are compatible) so keep that in mind. Check out eSIM-compatible devices here.

5.2. Buy a SIM Card Online (Easy)

You can purchase your SIM card before you depart if you want to arrange your data plan in advance of your vacation so that you may start using it right away (i.e. no tracking down a SIM card once you arrive in the US). Almost travel SIM card providers offer SIM cards online on their websites.

The primary drawback is that you’ll have to wait for the SIM card to arrive and pay to ship; therefore, if you require a SIM card immediately, this may not be the best alternative.

5.3. Buy a SIM Card When Arriving US (Most Difficult)

The third option is to put off purchasing your data plan until you get to the US. Prepaid data plans aren’t particularly common in the US, as I just explained, so you’ll have to look hard for them.

6. Mobile Network Carriers in the US

In the US, there are 3 main network carriers providing SIM cards for travel including T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon. 

6.1. T-Mobile

In the US, T-Mobile, a significant provider, offers widely used travel SIM cards. Tens of millions of US residents have used T-Mobile to meet their travel and relocation needs, whether they were tourists or foreign students.

T-Mobile is a difficult phone provider to match when it comes to the greatest combination of data plans, coverage, and benefits, especially after completely merging Sprint into its business. You can discover terrific data plans, great extras, and a 5G network that currently sets the bar for rival carriers at T-Mobile.

T-LTE Mobile’s download speeds are quick. Ookla’s more recent tests offer T-Mobile a perfect score for the fastest 5G and total speeds.

6.2. Verizon

Perhaps more expensive than the competition is Verizon’s plans. However, there are many positive aspects of the largest wireless carrier in the country, starting with the reach and functionality of its network. 

Verizon has consistently outperformed AT&T in our LTE speed tests, but for the second half of 2021, testing company RootMetrics (opens in new tab) ranked AT&T higher in more categories than Verizon. According to RootMetrics, Verizon has the most dependable 5G coverage, but it lags T-Mobile in terms of availability and speed.

6.3. AT&T

Despite being one of the Big Three carriers, AT&T can be overlooked due to the scale of Verizon’s network and the newsworthy announcements made by T-Mobile. However, there is much more to this phone carrier than meets the needs.

It should be noted that AT&T frequently performs admirably in performance evaluations. In the first half of 2022, according to Rootmetrics’ rankings(opens in new tab), AT&T and Verizon are tied for first position overall and for reliability, but AT&T is the lone victor in the speed category. 

Similar to Verizon, AT&T is introducing C-Band 5G, which offers faster speeds, albeit AT&T has currently only expanded this coverage to a few places. By the end of the year, C-Band 5G will have reached 70 to 75 million people, according to the carrier.

7. Which Providers Offer the Best SIM Card for US Travel?

There are many SIM card providers for travelers to choose from. You can check out the list below to decide which one will be the best for your trip. 

7.1. T-Mobile Prepaid

Brief: 

• Best Unlimited Plan: $70/month Magenta plan
• Best Prepaid Plan: $15/month 3GB plan
• Parent Network: T-Mobile

Pros:

• T-Mobile 4G LTE and 5G network
• 10GB of data
• Unlimited talk and text
• International add-ons available
• Free mobile hotspot

Cons:

• Taxes and fees aren’t included
• International calling is extra
• Speeds throttled after data is consumed

There are 4 T-Mobile prepaid plans available, but the 10GB prepaid plan for $40 per month will be the best option for the majority of visitors. This plan provides free mobile hotspot data, unlimited domestic calls, and texts, up to 10GB of high-speed data, and a music limitless feature that prevents any music you stream from using up your data.

For an additional $15, you may add international calling. Alternatively, for an additional $5, you can get speak, text and 5GB of data to use while visiting Mexico or Canada.

You might also choose T-Mobile Connect for $15 per month if you won’t need as much data while you’re there. You’ll still get unlimited call and text as well as 2.5 GB of data (or 5.5 GB for $10 more), even if you won’t have the same foreign add-on services as with the Simply Prepaid plan. For $50 or $60 a month, respectively, you may switch to T-Simply Mobile’s Prepaid Unlimited or Simply Prepaid Unlimited Plus plan if you anticipate using your data a lot.

7.2. AT&T Prepaid

Brief:

• Best Unlimited Plan: $50/month Value Plus
• Best Prepaid Plan: $25/month 16GB plan (12 months in advance)
• Parent Network: AT&T

Pros:

• 5GB of data
• Unlimited talk and text
• Unlimited text to 100+ countries
• Talk, text, and data in Mexico and Canada
• Great coverage with the AT&T network

Cons:

• Taxes and fees aren’t included
• Speeds throttled after data is consumed

In addition to having outstanding coverage, AT&T is a terrific provider to think about using to purchase a SIM card when traveling to the United States. It also offers one of the top prepaid phone plans. You may buy 5GB of high-speed data from AT&T Prepaid for $30 (plus taxes and fees), after which the speed is throttled to 128Kbps. As always, before enrolling, make sure your device is compatible with AT&T online.

Online or in-person purchases of an AT&T SIM card and prepaid plan are also options. Although it costs more than what you would spend online, AT&T SIM cards are available at other stores including Target, Best Buy, and Walmart for about $10.

7.3. Mint Mobile

Brief:

• Best Unlimited Plan: $30/month unlimited data plan
• Best Prepaid Plan: $20/month 10GB plan
• Parent Network: T-Mobile

Pros:

• Affordable unlimited plan
• Unlimited talk and text
• Free trial available
• Free mobile hotspot
• T-Mobile 4G LTE and 5G network

Cons:

• Must sign up for at least three months
• International calling is extra
• Unlimited data is throttled at 35GB

With Mint, you must pay in advance for at least 3 months of service. The greatest prices are then provided when you sign up for 6 or 12 months. You can get unlimited talk, text, and data for 3 months on the unlimited plan for $90, as well as 5GB of the mobile hotspot and free calls to Canada and Mexico.

The prices at Mint Mobile are always reasonable and ideal for a wide range of customers. You can select, in particular, from a range of monthly data packages. It is really economical to switch to cheaper data plans if you don’t use them completely. Because there is no physical store for Mint Mobile, you can purchase the sim packages you need online to save money.

7.4. Verizon

Brief:

• Best Unlimited Plan: $80/month Play More plan
• Best Prepaid Plan: $45/month 15GB plan
• Parent Network: Verizon

Pros:

• Network has extensive reach
• Fast mmWave 5G available to more customers
• Excellent prepaid plans

Cons:

• Best unlimited plans are pricey
• Fastest 5G speeds are limited to select areas

T-Mobile offers more affordable and understandable unlimited internet plans, however, Verizon’s current plans do come with some interesting extras. The 600GB of cloud storage included in Verizon’s 5G Do More package, which costs $80 per month for 1 line (and $180 for 4), has a 50GB cap before Verizon throttles your speeds. 

Play More, which has the same price tag, also comes with either an Apple Arcade or Google Play Pass subscription, as well as access to a number of Disney streaming services (Disney Plus, ad-supported Hulu, and ESPN Plus).

7.5. Google Fi

Brief:

• Best Unlimited Plan: $65/month unlimited
• Best Tiered Data Plan: $20/month for talk and text plus $10/GB
• Parent Network: T-Mobile, US Cellular

Pros:

• Only pay for the data you use
• Use data and text overseas
• Optimized for Google Pixels, select Samsung and Moto phones

Cons:

• Cheaper unlimited data is available elsewhere

If you don’t use a lot of data, Google Fi’s plan is quite attractive. Google Fi costs $20 for unrestricted talk and text, and then only $10/GB of data is used. However, it is adjusted based on how much data you really use; for example, if you use 2.5GB, you’ll pay $25 rather than Google rounding up to $30.

Since Google reduced the cost of its two unlimited offers, unlimited data plans are now more appealing. One of the greatest international phone plans is Unlimited Plus, which costs $65 per month and allows you to use your data in more than 200 countries abroad at no additional cost. If you don’t travel much, the Simply Unlimited plan for one line of data is $50 per month.

7.6. Metro by T-Mobile

Brief:

• Best Unlimited Plan: $60/month Unlimited plan
• Best Prepaid Plan: $30 5GB plan
• Parent Network: T-Mobile

Pros:

• Many unlimited data options
• 5G coverage with compatible phones
• Uses T-Mobile’s network

Cons:

• Few perks outside of the most expensive plan
• Data speeds can be slowed if the network is busy

The most expensive unlimited data package from Metro includes an Amazon Prime subscription, 100GB of Google One storage, and 15GB of hotspot bandwidth. That last benefit is very cost-effective. You can get unlimited bandwidth and 100GB of cloud storage for $50 per month, but just 5GB of hotspot data. At Metro, a year of the ViX Plus streaming service is included with all unlimited plans.

If paying for unlimited data is out of your price range, Metro still has a 5GB plan available for $30 per month. Metro plans include taxes and fees, so you always know how much you’re going to pay.

8. SIM Card Alternatives for US Travel

Besides buying a travel SIM card when visiting the US, you can try easier alternatives, eSIM. Below are 2 eSIM providers for US travel that you can refer to:

8.1. GIGAGO eSIM

• Network Carrier: AT&T/ T-mobile
• Support 4G/3G network, the data plan will be terminated if usage exceeds the data limit of the eSIM plan
• Network sharing: supported.
• APN: internet
• Areas of application: United States / Canada / Barbados / Bermuda / Greenland / Guyana / Jamaica / Panama / Anguilla / Antigua & Barbuda / Bahamas / Cayman Islands / Dominica / Grenada / Montserrat / Peru / St.Kitts & Nevis / St. Lucia / Turks & Caicos Islands / Uruguay

Today’s most well-liked international travel SIM line is eSIM from GIGAGO. Users favor GIGAGO eSIM devices for their simplicity, affordable costs, and adaptable service plans that accommodate everyone’s demands when traveling.

The eSIM enables users to quickly order, pay whenever they want, and receive purchased products right away. Simply select the proper eSIM plan, make your payment, and within minutes you’ll have a QR code and activation instructions.

You may stay connected when visiting the US at a very reasonable price with the aid of eSIM GIGAGO. The optimal time to purchase an eSIM is just before taking off. However, since the eSIM won’t be functional until it is activated, you can still order one 30 days in advance.

When choosing a US Gigago eSIM plan, you can consider one of the following service packages:

Data Plan	Duration	Price	Nation coverage
Daily1GB	7 days	$18	USA+ Canada
Daily1GB	14 days	$24
Daily1GB	30 days	$31
7GB	14 days	$21
10GB	30 days	$29
3GB	7 days	$11
3GB	14 days	$14
5GB	30 days	$19
1GB	7 days	$29	USA and 18 American countries
1GB	14 days	$32
3GB	7 days	$74
3GB	14 days	$80

When purchasing a GIGAGO eSIM, you will receive an email with a QR code attached. You just need to scan the QR code, add it to your phone, and activate it when you arrive in the US. eSIM GIGAGO makes it possible for you to share data, which is very suitable for those who travel in groups or need to use many electronic devices.

8.2. Holafly

• Network Carrier: AT&T/T-Mobile
• Speed: 4G/LTE
• Data sharing: No
• Coverage: Good coverage in major US cities like New York, Miami, Orlando, Las Vegas, etc. If you travel to mountainous or desert areas like the Page or the Grand Canyon, you may experience unstable coverage.

Holafly is a one-stop shop that offers travel eSIM packages to stay connected anywhere. Holafly supports eSIM in the US and more than 130 destinations, including North America, Europe, and Asia.

Depending on your destination, you will find different data plans and different usage time frames. For example, if you are traveling in the United States, you will have 8 different options ranging from 5 to 90 days. Depending on the number of days, you will find different data plans that are right for you.

Plan	Price
5 days	$19
10 days	$34
15 days	$47
20 days	$54
30 days	$64
60 days	$84
90 days	$90

Compared to eSIM coverage speed Gigago has a wide coverage speed and is better than Holafly. eSIM Gigago is suitable for those who use a lot of data and have a long trip because you can use unlimited data freely. Of course, the price will be much higher than the GIGAGO eSIM.

With eSIM Gigago you get 24/7 support, instant delivery via email, a better price, and suitable for short trips to the US.

9. Which Provider will be Your Best Options for US Travel?

Above are the top 8 best US travel SIM cards and eSIMs providers that you can consider choosing. Each SIM card provider has its own advantages and disadvantages, helping to meet the needs. Among them, the top 3 best SIM card providers for visitors to the US include:

USA SIM card providers	Comparison
eSIM GIGAGO	– Convenient eSIM, instant delivery, quick purchase procedure.- Stable connection with coverage in many countries.- The best competitive price in the market.- 24/7 support team.
T Mobile	– Various service packages, suitable for user needs.- Use 3G/4G network.- Relatively high prices.
AT&T	– Coverage of US states.- Using 5G network.- Relatively high prices.

T-Mobile or AT&T are very popular carriers in the US with stable connections and fast speeds. The SIM cards provided by these 2 carriers are usually ordered online to receive SỊM cards in the US. When receiving the SIM card, you will need to bring your passport to compare, spend more time waiting, and receive the SIM card.

Or simply, you can use the more optimized solution, GIGAGO eSIM. GIGAGO eSIMs also use T-mobile and AT&T networks, but you can easily activate them when using, them without having to remove your current SIM card. 

10. How to Save Money When Using US travel SIM Cards

If you choose US travel SIM cards with unlimited high-speed data, you can comfortably use them. However, when selecting limited data packages, you should use them sparingly to ensure the connection during the trip.

To use a US travel SIM card, you should only turn on data when you need to use it. In addition, you can also take advantage of public data wifi networks at restaurants and hotels to save data. However, please be careful not to connect to unknown wifi networks to ensure the safety of your phone and personal information.

When connecting to public wifi, it’s best to just do normal web surfing to minimize the risk of information.

In addition, you should also limit the download of large data files, which consume too much data to save the most. Only download, and update big data when connected to wifi.

FAQ