Best eSIM for USA travel: Top 4 options

Heading to the US soon? While planning your itinerary, don’t forget to sort out how you'll stay connected and navigate during your trip.

An eSIM is a great way to avoid roaming fees and ensure seamless connectivity throughout your travels. In this guide, we’ll explore various options and compare their key features to help you choose the best eSIM card for USA travel.

Also, if you need a cost-effective way to handle your finances across borders, check out the Wise card. You can pay and withdraw cash like a local for low fees* and at the mid-market exchange rate. Open a Wise account online or in-app and hold and exchange 40+ currencies, including pounds and US dollars.

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Table of contents

What is an eSIM? Why use an eSIM for travelling to the USA? Best eSIM providers for USA travel in 2025 Airalo Holafly Nomad Maya Mobile How to choose the best eSIM for your USA trip How to set up and activate an eSIM for USA Travel Save on holiday spending with the Wise card FAQs about using an eSIM in the USA Should I activate my eSIM before travelling? Do I need to remove my primary eSIM when travelling? How can I avoid roaming charges? Can I use the same eSIM on multiple devices?

What is an eSIM?

An eSIM is an alternative to physical SIMs. It’s embedded into your phone and it works digitally, but it has the same purpose as traditional SIM cards.¹

Using an eSIM allows you to connect to mobile networks, browse the internet and use calling and messaging apps, unless you get a plan with minutes and texts. This can be a great way to avoid roaming charges when travelling abroad.¹

Why use an eSIM for travelling to the USA?

There are numerous benefits to using eSIMs when travelling compared to traditional SIM cards. Here are some of them:

• They’re more convenient
• You won’t have to visit a store to get one
• You can keep your phone number
• They make it easier to switch networks
• You can’t damage or lose it
• They’re better for the environment

Best eSIM providers for USA travel in 2025

Let’s go through some options to help you find the best eSIM for USA travel.

Airalo

Airalo offers seven data-only eSIMs for the United States, along with six plans that include calls and texts. This includes a free 500 MB welcome eSIM that you can use for three days. When it comes to the plans that include calls, they include between 20 and 400 minutes.²

Here are the main features of Airalo’s eSIMs:

• Pricing: Their eSIM plans are priced between £4 and £39.50
• Validity: Airalo’s US eSIMs can be used between 3 days and a month
• Network coverage: T-Mobile, Verizon³
• Data plans: For example, the £6.50 plan with 2 GB of data or the £21 deal with 10 GB
• Pros and cons: A free eSIM is available, as well as calls and texts, but validity options are limited²

💡 Read more: Airalo eSIM review

Holafly

Holafly has unlimited data plans and you can create your preferred package by picking the duration. You can share up to 1 GB per day with your fellow travellers via hotspot, which could be a great way to save money.⁴

Here are the main features of Holafly’s eSIMs:

• Pricing: The plans are priced between £6 and £116 and the daily price lowers if you take more days
• Validity: Between 1 day and 90 days
• Network coverage: T-Mobile, Verizon
• Data plans: Unlimited data
• Pros and cons: Unlimited data and data sharing, flexible plans, but no options with calls⁴

💡 Read more: Holafly eSIM review

Nomad

Nomad has seven fixed data-only eSIM plans and daily high-speed data plans which reset every 24 hours. So, there are options for those who don’t know exactly how long they’ll be staying in the US.⁵

Here are the main features of Nomad’s eSIMs:

• Pricing: The plans cost between £3.50 and £38, while the daily plans start at £3
• Validity: Between 5 day and 180 days
• Network coverage: Verizon, AT&T
• Data plans: Examples include a £10 deal with 5 GB of data and a £17 plan with 20 GB of data
• Pros and cons: Both fixed and daily options are available, but the daily plans are much more expensive⁵

💡 Read more: Nomad eSIM review

Maya Mobile

At Maya Mobile, there are five different data options for US eSIMs, ranging from 3 GB to daily unlimited data. Unlimited plans also include data sharing via hotspot, so your travel group can stay connected even if only one person has an eSIM.⁶

Here are the main features of Maya Mobile eSIMs:

• Pricing: Up to £58.49, but the daily price changes depending on the number of days⁷
• Validity: Between 5 days and 30 days, but they can be renewed up to 180 days
• Network coverage: Verizon, AT&T
• Data plans: Examples include a £6.29 deal with 3 GB of data, a £9.89 plan with 5 GB and a £10.49 plan with 10 GB of data
• Pros and cons: Both fixed and unlimited daily options are available, but the plans aren’t suitable for calls or SMS⁶

💡 Read more: Maya eSIM review

How to choose the best eSIM for your USA trip

There are some key factors to consider when picking the best eSIM for USA travel. Here’s what you should keep in mind:

• Price
• Data amount and network speed
• Validity period
• Compatibility with your phone
• Ease of activation

How to set up and activate an eSIM for USA Travel

If you have an iPhone, this is how you’ll set up your eSIM:

• Go to Settings and select Cellular or Mobile Data
• Select Add eSIM
• Choose Use QR Code
• Either Scan the QR Code or Enter Details Manually⁸

The activation process can depend on the activation policy of your eSIM, but these are the usual steps:

• Go to Settings and select Cellular or Mobile Data
• Turn off your Personal SIMs/eSIMs
• Select your eSIM
• Check whether the Turn On This Line option is activated
• Activate Data Roaming
• Go back to Cellular and tap Cellular Data
• Select your eSIM as the mobile data line⁸

The steps for setting up are similar if you have an Android:

• Go to Settings and select Connections
• Tap SIM Manager and select Add eSIM
• Choose Scan QR Code or Enter Activation Code
• If you selected the latter, copy and paste the code including LPA and colons
• Click Add⁸

And here’s how you can activate your eSIM plan:

• Go to Settings and select Connections
• Tap SIM Manager and turn on your eSIM
• Turn off the other SIMs
• Select your eSIM in Mobile Data
• Go back to Connections and tap Mobile Network
• Turn on Data Roaming of your eSIM⁸

Make sure you’re using a stable home Wi-Fi when doing this.

Save on holiday spending with the Wise card

There are many eSIM plans available for travelling in the US, but the best choice depends on your needs and habits. If you're on a short trip, there are plenty of affordable options to consider. And while you’re exploring eSIM plans, you might also want to look into convenient ways to manage your holiday spending.

The Wise international debit card can be a convenient choice. For a one-time cost of just £7, you can spend and withdraw like a local in 150+ countries, including the US. You can also send money to pay for a rental car, accommodation or the like while still in the UK.

With the Wise card, your pounds are automatically converted at the mid-market exchange rate whenever you spend. You’ll just pay a small conversion fee, or no fee if you already have the currency in your Wise account.

Sign up with Wise today 💰

FAQs about using an eSIM in the USA

Let’s quickly go over some common questions about using eSIMs while travelling in the US.

Should I activate my eSIM before travelling?

This depends on your eSIM’s activation policy. If the validity period starts at the installation, you should wait until you arrive in the US.⁹

Do I need to remove my primary eSIM when travelling?

You shouldn’t delete your primary eSIM from your phone while you’re travelling, since reinstalling it might not be possible.¹⁰

How can I avoid roaming charges?

If your primary plan is a physical SIM, the easiest way to avoid roaming charges is to remove it. You could also disable your primary SIM, try to turn off data roaming or prevent mobile data switching.¹¹

Can I use the same eSIM on multiple devices?

No, you can only use an eSIM plan on one device. Once you activate it, you can’t even transfer it to another phone.¹²

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Sources used:

1. Airalo - FAQs about eSIMs
2. Airalo - United States eSIM
3. Airalo - 1 GB United States eSIM
4. Holafly - eSIM for the USA
5. Nomad - USA eSIM
6. Maya Mobile - USA eSIM plans
7. Maya Mobile - Unlimited Max US eSIM
8. Holafly - how do I set up my eSIM?
9. Airalo - when can I install my eSIM?
10. Nomad - should I remove my primary eSIM when I travel?
11. Airalo - how can I avoid roaming charges?
12. Airalo - can I install the same eSIM on multiple devices?

Sources last checked on date: 17-Mar-2025