If you’re planning a trip to North America, you’ll probably be interested to know about ways to connect to the internet once you’re there. Thanks to eSIM cards, you won’t have to worry about not being able to enjoy a good data plan while you’re on the other side of the world. You will be able to choose between different data plans of shorter or longer duration at different prices to connect to the internet in North America, depending on what you need. But which brand offers the best eSIM cards?
In this article we tell you how to find the best eSIM for North America depending on the type of trip you are taking. You can find a wide variety of brands with different features such as speed, data limit, technical support, price or duration of the plans. In this post you can discover the main brands such as Holafly, Truphone or SimOptions, among others, and we will tell you their advantages and disadvantages to help you make a decision. We already tell you that unlimited data eSIM cards like those of Holafly are a safe bet with which there will be no extra charges, and you will also have 24h support.
Comparison of eSIMs for a trip to North America
We should consider all the qualities that will determine whether the card is appropriate for our trip when comparing different eSIM brands. We have created this summary table with all the necessary information about Holafly, Simoptions and Truphone, the only companies that offer data plans for North America. We’ll go into more detail about each eSIM brand later on to make sure you have all the information you need.
| Brand | Plan duration | Data sharing | Unlimited Data | App | GB per plan | Support | Price | Trustpilot | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holafly | 5, 7, 10, 15, 20, 30, 60 and 90 days | No | Yes | + | Unlimited Data in all plans | English, direct chat and WhatsApp | 29 – 217€ | 4,7 | 4,3 |
| Truphone | 1 y 30 days | Yes | No | + | 100MB, 1GB, 2GB, 5GB | In English, by email or via the App | 7€ – 25€ | 1,8 | 3,8 |
| Simoptions | 10 y 30 days | No | No | – | 1GB, 6GB y 20GB | in English via chat | 4,9$ – 34,9$ | 4,4 | 3,5 |
| Airalo | 7, 15 and 30 days | Yes | No | + | 1GB, 2GB, 3GB, 5GB and 10GB | In English via chat | 6,5$ – 46$ | 2,6 | 3,8 |
1. Holafly, eSIM for North America with unlimited data and customer support in English
| Advantages | They offer data packages by continent and for countries. Holafly’s eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install with QR code or manually. A wide variety of eSIM cards with different prices and contract durations. They have eSIM cards for 160 destinations. Most of their eSIM plans have unlimited data. Technical support 24/7 in Spanish, English, German, French, Italian and Japanese. Very flexible prices. Payable in euros, dollars and Mexican pesos. Flexible duration of data plans: 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 60 and 90 days. It has an App where you can check consumption and the days remaining on the contract. |
| Disadvantages | Their eSIM cards do not include calls or sms. They are one of the most expensive options on the market, but it’s worth it because you don’t run out of data and you don’t have to recharge. Holafly’s North American eSIM card does not allow data sharing. They do not allow data sharing with other devices. You cannot do the installation through their App. |
Holafly is considered one of the best companies to contract an internet plan in North America, as it not only offers a 24-hour customer service in Spanish, English, German, French, Italian and Japanese, but also offers technical support that responds in less than a minute via chat or WhatsApp. In addition, it is the best customer rated company on Trustpilot with a score of 4.7.
For North America, the Holafly you will find 8 unlimited data plans.
| Data plan | Euro | Dollars | Canadian Dollars | Pounds | Australian Dollars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 days – unlimited | 29€ | 29$ | 37$ | 22£ | 42$ |
| 7 days – unlimited | 37€ | 37$ | 47$ | 28£ | 53$ |
| 10 days – unlimited | 47€ | 47$ | 60$ | 36£ | 69$ |
| 15 days – unlimited | 57€ | 57$ | 74$ | 44£ | 841$ |
| 20 days – unlimited | 69€ | 69$ | 88$ | 52£ | 100$ |
| 30 days – unlimited | 87€ | 87$ | 120$ | 71£ | 136$ |
| 60 days – unlimited | 147€ | 147$ | 199$ | 118£ | 226$ |
| 90 days – unlimited | 217€ | 217$ | 296$ | 176£ | 336$ |
In order to install it on your mobile phone, you just need to scan the QR code that will be sent to you by email once you have made the purchase to install the Holafly eSIM. Another way to do it is the manual installation, which you can do without a computer, you only need to enter a code in the settings of your mobile. This code will be sent by email, but you can also consult it in the Holafly App, which is a very useful tool for managing the duration of the data plan.
After testing Holafly’s eSIM cards, we can say that they are one of the most expensive options on the market. However, it is still one of the most chosen for its good technical support and data plan performance. Here we leave you this ranking where we evaluate from 1 to 5 all the features of Holafly’s eSIM cards for North America based on our experience.
In this post, you can read about our experience with Holafly eSIM cards and some user reviews: Our thoughts on Holafly eSIM.
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Sharing data | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 4,5 | 4,8 | 3 | 3,5 | 4,8 | 0 | 4,5 | 3,5 |
2. SimOptions, an eSIM marketplace
| Advantages | Offering regional, country or global data packages. Sim Options eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install. A wide variety of eSIM cards with different duration, price and gigabytes. They have eSIM cards for 160 countries. Some plans include calls and SMS. |
| Disadvantages | Gigabytes are limited to 20GB or less and they do not have unlimited data cards. Short-term plans have very limited gigabytes. The features of eSIMs for the same country vary according to the brand contracted. The duration of data plans is limited to 10 and 30 days. Not all eSIM cards allow data top-up. Technical support depends on each brand and good customer service cannot be guaranteed. Speed depends on each brand of eSIM card. There is no App to monitor data consumption. |
SimOptions is a company that offers a wide comparison of eSIM cards, with a choice of different phone brands. The brand has offices in Paris, Thailand and Hong Kong, and offers data plans for eSIM cards in more than 160 countries. They also have regional and global plans.
For North America, you’ll find several data plans ranging in length from 10 to 30 days, with data options between 1GB, 6GB and 20GB. The price ranges from 4,9$ to $34.9. Some of the cards available also include calls.
The main drawback of SimOptions is that its website is a bit chaotic and the data plans, as they are from different brands, are very disparate, and their features vary a lot, not only price, speed or duration, but also technical support, the possibility of recharging or sharing data. This will force you to look in detail at each brand and will make it harder for you to make a decision.
| Data plan | Price in Dollars |
|---|---|
| 6 GB – 10 days | 17,9$ |
| 1 GB -30 days | 4,9$ |
| 1 GB – 30 days | 29,9$ |
| 20 GB – 30 days | 34,9$ |
Our personal experience is that with SimOptions cards you waste a lot of time comparing between cards. In addition, the price is high, you can only pay in dollars, and they don’t give you the guarantee of good technical support. Here we leave you this ranking where we rate SimOptions eSIM cards from 1 to 5 and in this post you can read about our opinion and that of other customers about the brand: Our opinion about SimOptions: is it worth it?
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Data sharing | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 4 | 3 | 3,5 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3,5 |
3. Truphone and its App
| Advantages | They offer regional, country or global data packages. Truphone eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install in your App. They have eSIM cards for 188 countries. Support both in the app and on the web 24/7. Very affordable prices. You can top up data from the App. No need to scan QR code. Only some devices can share data. Offer data plans for Apple Watch. Offer 100 MB free 1-day trial. |
| Disadvantages | Gigabytes are limited to 5GB, no unlimited data cards. Short-term plans have very limited gigabytes (1GB) You cannot make purchases on the web, only from mobile. The duration of data plans is limited to 1 or 30 days. Services and technical support are exclusively in English. |
Truphone is a UK-based company known for offering eSIM cards to connect to the internet in over 160 countries. It was a pioneer in the sector and thefirst global operator to launch eSIM for iPad, Apple Watch and Google Pixel devices. It has also been a technology partner of Apple since 2016, which gives it a great competitive advantage and makes it easier to install eSIMs on its devices.
Fortunately, the company offers North America-only internet plans, as well as a couple of global plans that can also be used on your trip to the country, with 1-30 day options with 1GB, 2GB and 5GB data limits. Prices will range from €10, €20 or €35 depending on the amount of data. However, one of the problems with this brand is that their data plans have very few gigabytes (maximum 5GB), so you could run out of internet in the middle of your trip.
| Data plan | Euro | Dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GB – 1 day | 10€ | 10$ |
| 2 GB – 30 days | 20€ | 21$ |
| 5 GB – 30 days | 35€ | 38$ |
Although on the website you can check out the data plans and all the details about their eSIMs, to buy the eSIM card you will need to download the mobile app. Once downloaded you will need to create an account by entering your details directly or via Google or Facebook. You can then choose the country and data plan you need for your trip and pay securely. A great advantage of the App is that it detects if your mobile is compatible with eSIM before allowing you to make the purchase.
The installation and activation processes are done through the App, so you won’t need to scan any QR code. Please note, however, that you will need internet to perform the operation.
If you go to Trustpilot, you will see that Truphone has over 100 reviews and a rating of 1.9, one of the lowest among eSIM card providers. We have also rated the Truphone eSIM card based on our experience, and these are our findings.
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Data Sharing | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,5 | 3,5 | 4 | 3,5 | 4,5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3,8 |
If you want to know more about our experience with Truphone eSIM cards and what other users have to say about them check out this post: Our opinion of the Truphone eSIMhone.
4. Airalo, the cheapest eSIM for North America
| Advantages | They offer regional, country or global data packages. Airalo eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install. It is the cheapest brand in the market. They offer a wide variety of eSIM cards with different duration, price and gigabytes. They have eSIM cards for 190 countries. Their eSIM card allows sharing data with other devices. They allow you to recharge the eSIM. They have App and you can buy and install the eSIM from it. |
| Disadvantages | Gigabytes are limited to 10GB or less and do not have unlimited data cards. Short-term plans have very limited gigabytes. Their eSIM cards do not include calls and sms. The duration of the data plans is limited to 7, 15 and 30 days. Their services and technical support is exclusively in English and takes a long time to respond. |
Airalo is along with Holafly one of the best-known brands in the world to buy an international travel eSIM. This company, founded in Singapore in 2019 by Turkish entrepreneurs Abraham Burak and Ahmet Bahadir Özdemir, was one of the first to offer these services, and has a wide coverage of countries where they offer eSIM cards.
Although Airalo is one of the cheapest brands on the market, the truth is that in the long run it can get expensive as their data plans have very limited gigabytes that can run out at any time, and their technical service takes a long time to respond.
Airalo’s eSIM card data plans for North America are for 7, 15 and 30 days, and prices range from $6.5 to $46.
| Data plans | Price in Dollars |
|---|---|
| 7 days – 1 GB | 6,5$ |
| 15 days – 2 GB | 12$ |
| 30 days – 3 GB | 17$ |
| 30 days – 5 GB | 25,5$ |
| 30 days – 10 GB | 46$ |
Airalo’s eSIM for North America offers 5 data plans so you can choose the one that best suits your trip. We compared customer reviews and feedback on Trustpilot and found that Airalo has one of the lowest scores at 2.6. Here you have the ranking of each aspect of Airalo and in this post you can also read about our opinion of the brand: Our opinion of Airalo: is it worth it?
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Share data | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 3 | 4.5 | 4 | 4 | 4,5 | 3 | 3,8 |
Conclusion on which is the best eSIM for North America
As we have seen in this post, there are many important factors to consider when comparing eSIM cards, as connection requirements will vary depending on the type of travel you do. After evaluating several North American eSIM card companies, we came to our own conclusions. In this section, we’ll tell you which eSIM card is best for which type of travel.
Since no one wants to run out of data in the middle of a trip, we’ve opted for those eSIM with unlimited internet plans as the best option if you want to travel without worry. Holafly is the only eSIM company that offers unlimited data plans, so you don’t have to worry about recharging data or paying extra money.
If you choose an eSIM with limited data, the following table tells you how many gigabytes you will need, depending on your usage.
| Platform | Gigabyte consumption per hour |
| 0,12 GB – 0,18 GB | |
| 0,12 GB – 0,18 GB | |
| 0,06 GB | |
| Tiktok | 0,18 GB – 0,8 GB |
| Netflix | 0,3 GB – 7 GB |
| YouTube | 0,14 GB – 1,7 GB |
| Amazon Prime | 0,8 GB – 6 GB |
The installation process for eSIM cards is always simple and quick, but it is true that some companies make it even easier. The first thing to do is to check if your mobile is compatible with the brand’s eSIM. You can check this information on each provider’s website.
Purchasing the eSIM for North America can be done via the web for some brands such as Holafly or SimOptions, or via the app such as with Truphone. Holafly’s website is very intuitive and easy to use, while SimOptions is quite complicated to understand, and you will have to do a lot of reading.
The only brands that allow installation through the App are Airalo and Truphone, and in the case of Holafly, from the App you can get the code to install the eSIM manually without using a computer. You can also do the installation by scanning a QR code that you will receive by email as soon as you have completed the purchase with Holafly, Airalo or Simoptions..
On the other hand, it is very important to consider the technical service to help you in the installation process and to solve any doubt or problem. Most brands such as Maya Mobile or Airalo have a chatbot that takes a long time to respond and only does so in English. In the case of SimOptions, technical support will depend on the brand of eSIM card you have chosen. In this aspect Holafly’s technical support is the best as it responds in less than 1 minute in Spanish, English, German, French, Italian and Japanese via web chat or WhatsApp.
Often when travelling we want to share data with other devices and only some providers such as Airalo and some Simoptions brands make this possible. However, you have to keep in mind that the eSIM data of these brands is limited, and if you share it will run out even sooner.
But one of the most important aspects is price. The cheapest brands are Airalo and Maya Mobile, however, their data plans are very limited and are likely to run out, and you’ll have to pay again with top-ups. That’s why it’s sometimes advisable to pay a little more and get an unlimited data eSIM card like Holafly’s for peace of mind and no need to recharge again.
All in all, Holafly eSIM cards are the best choice for travel to North America, with unlimited data and multilingual technical support that responds in less than a minute. With Holafly you will never run out of data on your trip.
Other options for internet in North America
eSIM cards are our preferred option for travelling abroad because of all the advantages they offer, which are detailed in this table. However, there are many other alternatives that you can also consider and that we will tell you about below so that you can decide.
| Convenience | Immediate delivery and activation upon purchase. Pre-purchase prior to travel. Easy installation; unlike SIM cards, you don’t have to remove the original card. Connection as soon as you land, no need to find a shop first. You’ll find tailor-made plans to suit the duration and needs of your trip. No dependency on batteries, as with Pocket wifi. You won’t have to carry an extra device during your trip, like the Pocket Wifi. |
| Tranquility | 24h technical support in English, unlike with a SIM or Pocket Wifi. You won’t have to worry about forgetting or losing any device other than your mobile. |
| Security | Without using public wifi networks vulnerable to hacking. Avoid entering personal data in endless forms to get Wifi. No need to open or manipulate your phone as with eSIM cards. |
1. SIM cards for North America
| Advantages | There are a variety of brands and data plans to choose from. Installation is quick. They can be purchased online or in physical shops. You can make calls and send messages with a local number. |
| Disadvantages | You have to exchange it for your regular SIM card, which can be lost or damaged. You have to open and handle the mobile phone during the installation process. When your travel SIM contract runs out, you have to replace it with another one. You have to travel to buy it or wait for the card to arrive at home. You will not be able to keep your regular phone number. |
On your North American route, you can purchase aSIM card in each European city you land in. At airports and in city shopping areas you will find shops of the major international mobile phone companies such as: Lobster or Conecty.
2. Rent a Pocket WiFi in North America
Another alternative for connecting to the internet in North America is to rent a Pocket WiFi device, a portable router that allows you to connect to many devices at once as long as they are in proximity to the device.
| Advantages | It can be used by several devices at the same time. You can choose the gigabyte package that suits you best. No need to install anything on our mobiles. |
| Disadvantages | It is one of the most expensive options. There are few brands to choose from. Long-term contracts are the norm. In addition to the data plan, you have to pay rent, insurance and shipping costs. The battery lasts at most 6 hours. If you use it with more people you have to be in the same room. You have to carry it with you wherever you go and you run the risk of losing it. |
Some companies offering this service are Mio WiFi or Hippocket WiFi. The price ranges from €6 per day plus device rental and insurance. And most limit the number of devices that can be connected.
This option is interesting when you only need internet in a very specific space or for a long period of time. They are often recommended for business trips.
3. Free WiFi networks in North America
This is undoubtedly the most popular and least expensive option. However, we all know how difficult it can be to find Wi-Fi networks that work well, don’t require you to fill out endless forms, or don’t have a time limit.
| Advantages | It’s free. No need to install anything on our mobiles. |
| Disadvantages | It is difficult to find free wifi networks. Public wifi networks are often slow or have connection problems. You often have to fill in forms and give your personal details. Some free wifi networks are time-limited. You should always connect close to the router. They are vulnerable to hacking. |
While it is true that it is becoming easier to access public Wi-Fi networks in museums, hotels, cafés and on transport, it is true that this option should be used with great caution. Public Wifi hotspots are very vulnerable to hacking and cyber-attacks, through which your private data can be accessed. It is therefore recommended to spend as little time as possible connected, to use it for specific queries and not to expose personal data.
4. Enable roaming for North America
One of the options that is becoming increasingly less popular due to high costs is roaming. It is the simplest option as you can receive calls and connect to the internet without having to install anything or change your phone number, however, the bills are very high. The cost per MB can be as high as €6 for 1MB, which is crazy.
| Advantages | No installation on our mobile. No extra services to sign up for. You can receive calls, send messages and connect to the internet immediately. |
| Disadvantages | It is the most expensive option. Sometimes it is activated without realising it. Not all phone companies offer this service. |
In Spain there are several companies that offer roaming abroad, such as Movistar, Vodafone or Orange. If you choose this option, we recommend that you ask your carrier about the cost of roaming so that you can compare it with other services such as eSIM cards.
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This will cost you nothing but helps us offset the costs of paying our writing team. All opinions are our own. Thank you for your support 🙂 .
Frequently asked questions about having Internet in North America
eSIM cards allow you to have internet on your mobile phone when you travel abroad without having to remove your usual SIM card, as is the case with SIM cards. This is possible thanks to a chip that is built into the latest generation of mobile phones.
The purchase of the eSIM data plan can be done through the website or the App of some brands. Choose your destination, the duration and the gigabytes of the data plan and pay securely.
Once you have verified that your mobile phone is compatible with the product and chosen the data plan that best suits your needs, go to the mobile data settings on your smartphone and select “add data plan”. The camera will then open, so you can scan the QR code that you will have received in the mail after the purchase. The installation and activation of your card will then begin.
This process must be carried out with an internet connection, which is why it is recommended that you do it before setting off on your trip or as soon as you arrive at the hotel.
Most models of common brands such as Apple, Samsung, Motorola, Huawei or Google are compatible as long as they are recent models. Several iPads are also compatible. However, it is best to consult the website of each provider, where they will tell you which models are compatible.
SIM cards can be purchased in physical shops or online, with delivery times ranging from 48 to 72 hours. There are also companies that offer same-day express delivery.
Most carriers offer packages with data caps. Holafly, unlike the others, offers a wide variety of unlimited data packages.
Data cards are activated as soon as they are installed in the country of origin, i.e. when the SIM card is inserted or the QR code is scanned.
Data packages usually last for 30 days, however, there are providers such as Holafly that offer more flexible packages between 5 days and 3 months.
Unlimited data plans do not normally allow data sharing, but plans with a specific number of GBs included do.
The data on unlimited plans is really unlimited. Please note, however, that local mobile operators may temporarily reduce the speed if you use applications such as Netflix or YouTube very intensively. These limits are more intended to avoid network saturation by a few users.
Holafly is a Spanish company launched in 2018 that you can trust, it has been tested by more than 400,000 customers, travel blogs and Youtubers. Holafly has been marketing eSIMs since 2019.
Holafly has over 10,000 positive experiences posted on Trustpilot, with an “Excellent” rating and 4.7 average score.
SIM Options has both positive and negative reviews, and a lower average Trustpilot rating than Holafly at 4.4. SIM Options is a Hong Kong based company.
No, Maya actually limits the speed on its unlimited plans to only 5mbps. Once 2GB is consumed, Maya further limits the speed to 1mbps.
Maya is owned by a US company, Maya Virtual Inc. Reviews of Maya on Truspilot are good, with an average rating of 4.7.
The price varies depending on the provider, the number of gigabytes and the length of the contract. The price range is between 5€ and 190€.
Flexiroam’s reviews on Truspilot are good, with an average score of 4.2.
Airalo reviews on Truspilot are good, with an average score of 2.6.
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