How to get internet with an eSIM in the United States?

If you’re planning a trip to the USA, you’re probably looking for the best option to have internet during your holiday, so you can find places to eat in New York, text your family from Los Angeles, or share the experience with your friends as you climb the Statue of Liberty or hike Route 66. If so, you’ve probably already heard of eSIM cards, which allow you to connect to the internet instantly without paying huge bills like roaming, or putting your data at risk on public wifi networks.

In this article we tell you how to find the best eSIM for the USA depending on the type of trip you are making. There are a wide variety of brands on the market with different features such as speed, data limit, technical support, price or duration of plans, so we have compared the main brands such as Holafly, Airalo or Simoptions, among others, and we tell you their advantages and disadvantages to help you make a decision. We already tell you that the eSIM cards without data limit 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 the US

When comparing different brands of eSIM we must take into account all the features that will determine whether the card fits the needs of our trip. That’s why we have prepared this table with all the essential information about each brand to help you choose. We’ll go into more detail on each eSIM brand below, so you won’t miss any of the information.

Brand	Plan duration	Data sharing	Unlimited Data	App	GB per plan	Support	Price	Trustpilot	Score
Holafly	5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 60 and 90 days	No	Yes	+	Unlimited data on all plans	In English, direct chat and WhatsApp	19€ -99€	4.6	4.3
Airalo	7, 15 and 30 days	Yes	No	+	1GB, 2GB, 3GB and 5GB	In English, via bot	8€ – 33€	3.9	3.8
Maya Mobile	30 days	Yes	Yes	–	1GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10GB and unlimited	In English, via bot	13€ – 141€	4.5	3.2
Nomad	7, 30 days	Yes	No	+	1GB, 3GB, 5GB, 20GB, 30GB, 40GB and 50GB	In English, by email or via the App	6€ – 225€	3.1	3.6
Simoptions	10, 15 and 30 days	No	No	–	1GB, 6GB, 10GB and 20GB	English chat	10.9€ – 39€	3.5	3
Ubigi	1, 30 days or 12 months	Yes	No	+	500 MB, 1GB, 5GB, 10GB, 20GB and 50GB:	In English by email	$2.9 – $68.	4.2	4.1

1. Holafly, eSIM for USA with Unlimited Data and customer service in English

Advantages

They offer data packages by continent and by country. Holafly’s eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install with QR code or manually. They offer 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. 24/7 technical support in Spanish, English, German, French, Italian and Japanese. Very flexible pricing. They offer eSIM cards for all of North America: Canada, Mexico and the USA. Payment can be made in euros, dollars and Mexican pesos. Flexible duration of data plans: 5, 10, 15, 15, 20, 30, 60 and 90 days. They have an App where you can check your usage and the days left on your 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 US eSIM card does not allow data sharing. It cannot be installed via their App.

Holafly is one of the best options for buying eSIM cards, as all its plans have unlimited data for those who want to travel without worrying about running out of internet. In addition, the brand offers a 24-hour customer service in English, German, French, Spanish, Italian and Japanese that responds in less than a minute via chat or WhatsApp, and is currently the best rated company on Trustpilot with a score of 4.6.

On the website of Holafly you can find 7 unlimited data plans ranging from €19 to €99 depending on the length of the contract, which can be 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 60 and 90 days. It is perfect for long stays, as well as for digital nomads or express trips to the United States. It is used, for example, by Youtubers such as Molaviajar or Viviendo de viaje. On their website you can also find an eSIM card for all of North America (Canada, Mexico and USA), so you can move from one country to another without having to change your eSIM.

Data plan	Euros	Dollars	Mexican Pesos
5 days – unlimited data	€19	$19	$339
10 days – unlimited data	€34	$34	$899
20 days – unlimited data	€57	$57	$1199
30 days – unlimited data	€69	$69	$1399
60 days – unlimited data	€87	$87	$1699
90 days – unlimited data unlimited data	€99	$99	$1999

Holafly eSIM cards can be easily installed by scanning the QR code that will be sent to your email once you have completed the purchase. The installation can also be done manually without the need for a computer, simply by writing a code in the settings of your mobile that you can consult in the mail or in your App, which is very convenient to control 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, but in the end they are very cost-effective as all their plans have unlimited data, and you won’t need to top up at any time during your trip. Here is a ranking where we rate from 1 to 5 all the features of Holafly’s eSIM cards for the US 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’s eSIM.

Data	Duration	Support	Price	App	Speed	Sharing data	Currency	Total
5	5	4.8	3.5	3.5	4.8	3.5	4.5	4.3

2. Maya Mobile, data packages with as many GB as you need

Advantages

They offer data packages by continent and for countries. Maya Mobile eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install with QR code or manually. ESIM cards are available for 194 destinations. Data plans limited to 1GB, 3GB, 4GB, 10GB and 30GB, which can run out quickly Prices are flexible. Internet sharing is available. To recharge you can set up auto-recharge after 30 days. They allow data sharing with other devices.

Disadvantages

Their eSIM cards do not include calls or sms. No App Their unlimited data plans have a speed of 1Mbps after the first 30GB. Technical support in English via a bot. Only has 30-day data plans.

This company makes eSIM cards available for 30 days in the United States. In this case, the price of data packages varies according to gigabytes. All in all they have 5 packages of 1, 3, 5, 10 and 30 gigabytes. The price ranges from €5 to €75.

Like Holafly, Maya Mobile is characterized by the speed and simplicity of its contracting and installation process, which is also done via a QR code that arrives in the mail. In addition, they have a 100% refund policy of the purchase in the event that the data does not work, which is not usually the case as they have a minimum of two data providers in each country where they offer their services.

Data plan	Price in Dollars
30 days – 1 GB	$5
30 days – 3 GB	$12
30 days – 4 GB	$16
30 days – 10 GB	$24
30 days – 30 GB	$75

In the case of Maya Mobile we found certain drawbacks to their eSIM cards, such as that their plans are very inflexible and only last for 30 days. They also don’t offer unlimited data plans like other brands such as Holafly, which means you could run out of data in the middle of your journey. Here’s a table of how they rate each of their eSIM card features.

Data	Duration	Support	Price	App	Speed	Data sharing	Currency	Total
4	3	3	4	0	4.5	4.5	3	3.2

3. SimOptions, the perfect option for a month-long trip

Advantages

They offer regional, country or global data packages. Sim Options eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install. They offer 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 14 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.

Sim Options is an eSIM card marketplace where local mobile phone companies in each country sell their eSIM cards. The brand, with offices in Paris, Thailand and Hong Kong, offers data plans for eSIM cards in more than 160 countries and also has regional and global plans.

For the US you’ll find five 10-day, 15-day and 30-day data plans with data limits of 1GB, 6GB, 10GB and 20GB. The prices are a little higher than average and range from $10.9 to $39.9.

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
30 days – 1 GB	10.9$
10 days – 6 GB	17.9$
30 days – 10 GB	24.9$
30 days – 20 GB	34.9$
15 days – 6 GB	39.9$

Our personal experience is that with SimOptions cards, you waste a lot of time comparing 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 Sim Options: is it worth it?

Data	Duration	Attendance	Price	App	Speed	Data sharing	Currency	Total
3	4	3	3.5	0	4	4	3	3

4. Airalo, the cheapest eSIM brand

Advantages

They offer regional, country or global data packages. Airalo’s eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install. They are the cheapest brand on the market. A wide variety of eSIM cards with different duration, price and gigabytes. They have eSIM cards for 190 countries. Their eSIM card allows you to share data with other devices. They allow you to top up the eSIM. An App and you can buy and install the eSIM from it.

Disadvantages

The gigabytes are limited to 20GB or less and they do not have cards with unlimited data. Short-term plans have very limited gigabytes. Their eSIM cards do not include calls and sms. The duration of data plans is limited to 7, 14 and 30 days. Service and support is exclusively in English and takes a long time to respond.

Airalo is along with Holafly one of the world’s best-known brands for buying an international travel eSIM. The 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.

 Airalo’s eSIM card data plans for the US have durations of 7, 14 and 30 days, and prices range from $4.5 to $45. Airalo is characterized as one of the cheapest brands on the market, but its technical service leaves much to be desired and takes a long time to respond. Their data plans have very limited gigabytes, and you are likely to run out of data in the middle of your journey and have to top up, which means that in the end the costs will increase, and the cheap will be expensive.

Data plan	Price in Dollars
1 GB – 7 days	$4.5
2 GB – 15 days	$8
3 GB – 30 days	$11
5 GB – 30 days	$16
10 GB – 30 days	$26
20 GB – 30 days	$42

Although Airalo is cheap and offers a wide variety of eSIM cards whose spending can be controlled through its App, it is not one of the best options because of what we have told you above about its technical support, as you can see on Trustpilot in the user reviews and ratings. Airalo has one of the lowest scores with 3.7. Here is 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	Data sharing	Currencies	Total
4	4	3	4.5	4	4	4.5	3	3.8

5. Ubigi and its eSIM cards for smart cars

Advantages

They offer regional, country or global data packages. The Ubigi eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install via the web or app. The Ubigi eSIM is free to install from the App. A wide variety of eSIM cards with different duration, price and gigabytes. They have eSIM cards for 190 destinations. 24h real time technical support. ESIM cards for smart cars. Their eSIM cards allow data sharing. The eSIM can be recharged from the App.

Disadvantages

The gigabytes are limited to 10GB or less and they do not have unlimited data plans. Short duration plans have very limited gigabytes. Their eSIMs do not include calls or SMS. The duration of the plans is limited to 1 day or 30 days. Support service is exclusively in English.

Ubigi is a provider of eSIM cards a little different than the rest of the data plan companies for travelling abroad. While with other brands you have to choose and buy the plan and then proceed to install the eSIM, with Ubigi it’s the other way around. First you can install the eSIM for free and then add credit depending on how many gigabytes you are going to use. You can pay in dollars, euros, pounds and yen.

On its website and App you will see 8 data plans between 500 MB and 200 GB, with a duration of 1 day, 30 days and 12 months. These eSIMs are designed for people who travel a lot and for long periods of time. The downside is that all of their plans have a data limit, and you can run out of internet in the middle of your trip. They also offer America-wide and US plus Canada data plans.

Data plan	Dollars	Euros	Pounds	Yen
30 days – 5 GB	$11	€11	£10	1600¥
30 days – 3 GB	$11	€11	£10	1600¥
1 day – 500MB	$2.9	€2.9	£2.5	3400¥
30 days – 10GB	$24	€24	£22	4100¥
30 days – 20 GB	$29	€29	£26	9600¥
12 months – 24 GB	$68	€68	£59	12400¥
30 days – 200GB	200$	€200	£78	28100¥
30 days – 50GB	$88	€88	£169	12400¥

Luckily, their App works very well and as well as buying the eSIM from there, you can install it and top it up if necessary. Also, Ubigi’s eSIMs allow for data sharing with other devices

A curious thing about Ubigi’s eSIM cards is that they also work in cars with internet. Some models from Jaguar, Fiat, Land Rover, Alfa Romeo or Jeep already feature this technology.

In this table, you can see how we rate each feature of Ubigi’s eSIM cards. And if you want to know our opinion on Ubigi eSIMs, check out this post: Our Ubigi opinion: is it worth it?

Data	Duration	Support	Price	App	Speed	Data sharing	Currencies	Total
4	3.5	4	4	4.5	4	4.5	4.8	4.1

6. Nomad and its App

Advantages	They offer regional, country or global data packages. Nomad’s eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install. The App is very convenient and allows you to recharge the eSIM. A wide variety of eSIM cards with different prices and amount of gigabytes. They have eSIM cards for 112 countries. Technical support both in the app and on the web. Very affordable prices.
Disadvantages	Gigabytes are limited to 20GB or less and they do not have unlimited data cards. Short-term plans have very limited gigabytes (1GB) Their eSIM cards do not include calls or sms. The duration of data plans is limited to 7 or 30 days. Their services and technical support are exclusively in English.

Nomad is a company dedicated to selling eSIM cards so that you can have internet while travelling. Its main feature is that in addition to its website, it has an App with which its customers can contract data plans easily and quickly. It is also a marketplace like SimOptions, but the website is more intuitive and easier to use.

The brand offers data plans in more than 100 countries and also by continent so we can make use of our internet connection even if we are moving between different countries. In the case of the US, data packages have durations of 3, 5, 10, 15, 30 or 60 days, which is quite flexible. In addition, they have data limits ranging from 1 GB to 100 GB. The fact that they don’t have unlimited data plans is a big disadvantage as we will be forced to top up.

From their website and App you can also buy eSIMs from T-mobile, Truphone or AT&T. The latter option is more expensive.

Data plan	Price in Dollars
1 GB – 3 days	$4
3 GB – 5 days	$10
5 GB – 10 days	$14
10 GB – 15 days	$24
15 GB – 30 days	$30
20 GB – 30 days	$34
20 GB – 30 days	$42
50 GB – 30 days	$125
100 GB – 30 days	$240

The Nomad App is very useful for monitoring your usage and recharging in case you run out of data. You can also use it to contact customer service, which is unfortunately only in English.

Here you can see our ranking of Nomad’s eSIMs.

Data	Duration	Support	Price	App	Speed	Data sharing	Coins	Total
4	4	3.5	3.5	4	3	4	3	3.6

Conclusion on which is the best eSIM for the United States

In this post we have seen that there are many important factors to take into account when comparing eSIM cards as, for each type of travel, you will have different connection needs. That is why we have prepared this section where we tell you based on our experience which eSIM card is best for which type of travel

When we travel, we don’t want to run out of data in the middle of our holiday, so eSIM cards with unlimited data are the best option if we want to travel without worries. In this case, the only brand offering unlimited eSIM data plans is Holafly. With some companies such as Ubigi, Nomad or Airalo you can top up the eSIM already installed via their website or App, but the best thing is not having to pay again if you run out of data.

If you end up opting for an eSIM with limited data, here’s a table to help you estimate how many gigabytes you’ll need based on your usual usage.

Platform	Gigabyte consumption per hour
Instagram	0.12GB – 0.18GB
Facebook	0.12GB – 0.18GB
Twitter	0.06GB
Tiktok	0.18 GB – 0.8GB
Netflix	0.3GB – 7GB
Youtube	0.14GB – 1.7GB
Amazon Prime	0.8GB – 6GB

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 the website of each provider, and in the case of Ubigi, when you download the App it informs you if your mobile is compatible.

The purchase of the eSIM for the US can be done via the web in the case of some brands such as Holafly or Simoptions, or via the app such as Nomad or Ubigi. Holafly’s website is very intuitive and easy to use, while Simoptions’ website is quite complicated to understand and you will have to read a lot.

The only brands that allow installation through the App are Nomad and Ubigi, 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, Simoptions or Nomad.

On the other hand, it is very important to consider the technical service to help you in the installation process and 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 they respond in less than 1 minute in Spanish, English, German, French and Japanese via web chat or WhatsApp.

Many times when we travel we want toshare data with other devices and only some providers like Airalo, Ubigi and some Simoptions brands make this possible.

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 you’re likely to run out and have to pay again with the top-up. That’s why it’s sometimes advisable to pay a little more and get an unlimited data eSIM card like Holafly’s to give you peace of mind and avoid having to recharge again.

All in all, Holafly’s eSIM cards are the best choice for travel to the US because of their 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 getting internet in the US

eSIM cards are undoubtedly the best option for internet in the United States, because of all the advantages and conveniences they offer, as summarized in this table. We also tell you what other options are available to you to have internet during your travels.

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. You’ll be connected 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. You won’t be dependent on batteries, as with Pocket wifi. You won’t have to carry an extra device during your trip, like the Pocket Wifi.
Tranquility	You will have 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	Avoid 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

SIM cards are one of the most widespread options today, but that doesn’t mean they are the best option, as shown below they have a number of drawbacks.

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. You have to travel to buy it or wait for the card to arrive at home. When your travel SIM contract runs out, you have to replace it with another one. You will not be able to keep your regular phone number.

The main operators where you can buy a SIM card in the US are AT&T and T-Mobile, whose shops are located in airports and shopping areas in cities. They also have an online shop.

The price of SIM cards varies greatly depending on the brand, the gigabytes available and the length of the contract. The card itself can be free, as is the case with T-mobile, from whose APP or website you can then buy the data package that best suits your needs. The price ranges from €38 to €57 depending on the gigabytes for 30 days.

Here’s a table of frequencies for the major US carriers, so you can check if your smartphone is compatible with US SIM cards:

2. Rent a Pocket WiFi

Another alternative for getting online in the US is to rent a Pocket WiFi, i.e. a portable router with which you can access the internet wherever you go.

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 6 hours at most. 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.

To give you an idea, the price is usually around €40 a month, plus the rental of the device and shipping costs. To this you have to add insurance or a fine for loss, which can be up to €100.

This option is interesting when we only need internet in a very specific space, for long periods of time or when we are travelling with more people, as everyone can benefit from the connection and share the costs.

3. Search for free WiFi networks in the US

As you can imagine, this is the cheapest option. Who hasn’t barricaded themselves behind a coffee shop table for a couple of hours to scratch wifi? However, as you may already know, it is also the most frustrating option in most cases. Slow connection, time limit or endless forms that promise WIFI after giving all your data.

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.

This is an option that should be used with caution for security reasons. Public WiFi hotspots are very vulnerable to hacks or cyber-attacks, through which your private data can be accessed. It is therefore recommended that you spend as little time as possible connected, use it for specific queries and do not expose personal data.

Here are some places where you can find WiFi on your trip to the US if you need it: airports, museums, subways, parks, cafés, restaurants and hotels. There are also APPs that tell you where to find WiFi hotspots, as well as Facebook, which also offers this service.

4. Activate roaming for the United States

One of the options that is becoming increasingly less popular due to its high costs is roaming, also known as data 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.

In Spain, there are several companies that offer roaming abroad. Some examples are Movistar, Vodafone and Orange. Before embarking on a trip, it is advisable to ask your usual carrier about the cost of roaming so that you can compare with other services such as eSIM cards.

If you decide to use another option, remember to turn off data roaming on your mobile phones or change the main line if you use an eSIM.

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 us realising. Not all telephone companies offer this service.

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Frequently asked questions about eSIM cards in the US