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Most AvailSim readers are Americans heading overseas. This guide is for the reverse trip: visitors choosing an eSIM for the USA. It's built from pricing, not from a trip. In September 2026 we read the United States page of every eSIM provider we track and recorded what 14 of them actually charge, which US networks each says it uses, what each allows for hotspot sharing, and which plans it still sells.
The numbers tell two stories. The first is price: buy 10 GB on a 30-day plan and you'll pay anywhere from $13.99 to $25 from a mainstream provider, and US data costs more than most of Europe — the median 10 GB across the 11 providers selling one is $21.49. The second is network access. The US has three national networks, and they are not interchangeable once you leave the cities. Which one your eSIM can use is decided by the provider, and only some of them tell you.
Before you buy: a USA plan stops at the border
A US country plan covers the United States only — not Canada, not Mexico, and not always Hawaii, Alaska, or Puerto Rico. If your trip includes Niagara Falls, Vancouver, or a day in Tijuana, you need a second plan or a multi-country eSIM. Jump to that section →
Our Top 3 eSIM Picks for the USA
Breeze
Breeze is the cheapest 30-day fixed-data plan from any provider that names its US networks: 10 GB for $13.99 ($1.40/GB), 5 GB for $9.99, and 20 GB for $23.99. It gets better at larger sizes: 50 GB for $40.99 and 100 GB for $64.99 ($0.65/GB), the cheapest 100 GB we found for the US. Breeze's coverage details name Verizon and AT&T, the two networks with the widest reach outside the cities, and hotspot sharing is included on every plan.
Best for: Most US trips, road trips especially. The honest tradeoffs: one older line of copy on Breeze's own page still says T-Mobile and AT&T rather than Verizon and AT&T, its small plans run on short clocks (1 GB is 7 days, 2 GB is 15), and its unlimited plans are poor value — the 30-day unlimited at $77.99 is the most expensive in this comparison and costs more than its own 100 GB plan.
View Breeze USA Plans→Ubigi
Ubigi matches Breeze almost to the cent at 10 GB — 10 GB for $14 over 30 days — and adds a useful option for shorter trips: 10 GB for 7 days at $12. At larger sizes it's the cheapest 50 GB from a named-network provider at $40 ($0.80/GB). Ubigi runs on T-Mobile, which has a large 5G footprint in US cities, and it's the only major provider we checked whose US plans explicitly cover Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. Data sharing is allowed.
Best for: City breaks in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, or Miami, and trips that include Hawaii or Puerto Rico. The tradeoffs: T-Mobile is the only network Ubigi names, and T-Mobile has historically trailed Verizon in remote rural areas and national parks. Ubigi's plans don't cover Alaska. Its unlimited plan slows to 2 Mbps after 25 GB.
View Ubigi USA Plans→Maya
If you genuinely want unlimited data, Maya is the cheapest way to get it in the US at every length it sells: 30 days for $49.99, against $54 from Yesim, $65 from Ubigi, $68 from Airalo, $73.90 from Holafly, and $77.99 from Breeze. It's also the cheapest week at 7 days for $19.99 and the cheapest two weeks at 14 days for $27.99. The same eSIM covers the US plus more than 160 other countries at the same prices, so on a longer trip it can come with you — check Maya's country list for Canada and Mexico if you're crossing either border.
Best for: Remote workers tethering a laptop, heavy streamers, and multi-country trips. The tradeoffs: Maya sells no fixed-data plans, doesn't name a US network, and for most visitors Breeze's 50 GB at $40.99 does the same job for less.
View Maya USA Plans→Provider Comparison
How the major providers stack up for the USA. Every price here was read directly off the provider's own United States page in September 2026:
The same 10 GB, ten different prices
Because 10 GB over 30 days is the plan most US visitors actually want, it's the cleanest way to see the spread:
Airalo, the best-known name here, names T-Mobile and Verizon and charges $8.51 more than Breeze for the same 10 GB. Nomad is the most expensive at this size, but it names all three national networks and its 50 GB for $41 is only a dollar more than Ubigi's. Yesim, at $16.80, is the cheapest 10 GB from a provider that names Verizon after Breeze. The MobiMatter marketplace lists a US-only 10 GB for $9.99 and 20 GB for $16.99 from third-party sellers, if you're comfortable buying from a lesser-known brand whose network depends on the listing.
Holafly and Maya don't sell fixed-data plans, so they aren't in this table. Holafly charges its standard unlimited prices in the US, and its 30-day plan at $73.90 costs $23.91 more than Maya's for the same month.
Which plan should you choose?
For a one- or two-week trip, 10 GB is the right size and $13.99 from Breeze is the right price — with more options on our full USA comparison. Sticking to one big city? Ubigi on T-Mobile is just as cheap. Only in the US for a few days? SimOptions sells 5 GB for 7 days at $5.90 and 10 GB for 7 days at $10.50, on AT&T and T-Mobile with unlimited hotspot sharing, though it lists 4G/LTE speeds rather than 5G. Heavy user? Breeze's 100 GB for $64.99 beats every 30-day unlimited plan except Maya's. Staying for months? GigSky sells 20 GB valid for 180 days at $29.99, and Nomad sells 100 GB valid for a full year at $120.
Verizon vs AT&T vs T-Mobile
The US has three national mobile networks. In New York, Los Angeles, or Chicago, all three are fast and you won't notice which one you're on. Across a country this large — with deserts, mountains, and national parks between the cities — the difference between them is real, and which ones your eSIM can use is decided by the provider.
Verizon
Generally regarded as having the widest coverage in rural and remote areas. Named by Breeze, Nomad, TooSim, Airalo, and Yesim.
AT&T
Strong nationwide coverage, typically close behind Verizon outside the cities. Named by Breeze, Nomad, TooSim, Holafly, SimOptions, and Yesim.
T-Mobile
The network travel eSIMs use most, with a large 5G footprint and strong speeds in cities. It has historically trailed Verizon in remote areas, though the gap has narrowed. Named by Airalo, Nomad, TooSim, Holafly, SimOptions, and — as their only US network — Ubigi and aloSIM.
Only two of the 14 providers we checked — Nomad and TooSim — name all three. Four — Saily, GigSky, Maya, and eSIMo — don't name a US carrier at all, and MobiMatter's network depends on which seller's listing you buy.
A named network means the eSIM is allowed onto it, not that you'll always be on it: your phone and the provider's roaming agreement decide which network you land on at any given moment. For a city trip, it genuinely doesn't matter. For a week between national parks, it's the reason to prefer a provider that names Verizon or AT&T.
Road Trips & National Parks
The US catches a lot of visitors out on scale. A drive from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon, or a loop through Utah's national parks, covers hundreds of miles, and the interstates are well covered while the roads off them often aren't.
In the national parks, expect long stretches with no signal on any network. Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon's back roads, Death Valley, and much of the Rockies have large dead zones, and park visitor centers and lodges are often the only places with a reliable connection. No eSIM fixes this; preparation does. Download offline maps in Google Maps or Apple Maps, and save your park reservations and trail information before you lose signal.
On the road between — the small towns, desert highways, and mountain passes — network choice starts to matter. This is where a provider that names Verizon or AT&T earns its place, and why Breeze leads this guide.
The practical rule
Cities only → buy on price (Breeze or Ubigi). Road trips and national parks → pick a provider that names Verizon or AT&T (Breeze, Nomad, or TooSim). Either way, download offline maps before you set off.
Hotspot & Fair-Use Rules
If you're sharing data with a laptop or a travel companion's phone, the hotspot policy matters as much as the price. Here's what each provider's US page says:
“Unlimited” plans also come with fair-use limits, and they vary widely:
Read the speed cap before you buy unlimited
Ubigi's unlimited plan runs at full speed for 25 GB, then slows to 2 Mbps. Saily's allows 5 GB a day at full speed, then 1 Mbps. GigSky's slows after 3.5 GB a day. Holafly lets you share only 1 GB a day over hotspot. For phone-only use, any of these is plenty; for tethering a laptop all day, a large fixed plan like Breeze's 100 GB is often more predictable.
How to Set Up Your USA eSIM
Install before you fly, on your home WiFi. Every provider in this guide lets you install the eSIM ahead of time and activate it on arrival, and doing it in the immigration line at JFK or LAX on patchy airport WiFi is how activations go wrong.
Check your phone is unlocked
Your phone must support eSIM and not be locked to your home carrier. If you bought it on a contract, check with your carrier before you travel — this is the most common reason a travel eSIM won't install.
Buy and install at home
Purchase the plan, then scan the QR code or use the provider's app to add the eSIM while you're on reliable WiFi. On most providers here, the validity clock starts when the eSIM connects to a US network, not when you install it.
Label the line
Name it something obvious like "USA" in your phone's cellular settings. You'll be switching between it and your home line, and the default labels are unhelpful.
Land, then switch over
On arrival, set the USA eSIM as your cellular data line and turn data roaming ON for that line only — the eSIM is roaming by design. Leave your home line's data roaming OFF so it can still receive texts and login codes without running up charges.
Full walkthrough with screenshots: How to Set Up an eSIM.
USA-Specific Tips
Crossing into Canada or Mexico? You need another plan
A USA plan stops at the border. Niagara Falls, the Seattle–Vancouver drive, and a day trip from San Diego to Tijuana all cross it without much ceremony. Buy a separate plan for Canada or Mexico, or use a multi-country eSIM whose coverage list names every country on your route.
Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico aren't guaranteed
Ubigi's US plans state that they cover Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands but not Alaska. Most other providers don't say either way on their US pages. If your trip goes beyond the lower 48 states, check the plan's coverage list before you buy.
Keep your home number for login codes
Every plan in this guide is data-only, with no US phone number. Keep your home SIM active as a second line with its data roaming switched off: your bank and other services can still reach you by text, and you won't pay for roaming data by accident.
Skip unlimited — big fixed plans are cheaper
Breeze sells 50 GB for $40.99 and 100 GB for $64.99, while a 30-day unlimited plan costs between $49.99 and $77.99. Unless you're tethering a laptop full-time, fixed data usually wins.
Check the validity window, not just the price
US plans are sold on very different clocks. SimOptions' cheapest tiers run 3 to 7 days. Airalo's smallest plans are 3-day plans. GigSky's 20 GB runs 180 days and its 50 GB runs 90. A cheaper headline price on a short window is no bargain if your trip outlasts it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much data do I need for a week in the USA?
More than you might expect. The US runs on apps: rideshares like Uber and Lyft, mobile tickets, restaurant waitlists, and navigation for long drives all need a live connection. For a week of city travel, 5 GB is the lean size and 10 GB is the comfortable one; for a road trip with a lot of navigation and streaming in the car, plan on 20 GB. The cheapest 10 GB with 30 days of validity from a provider that names its networks is Breeze at $13.99, and if your trip is a week or shorter, SimOptions sells 10 GB for 7 days at $10.50.
Which US network do travel eSIMs actually use?
The US has three national networks: Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. Of the 14 providers whose US pages we read for this guide, Nomad and TooSim name all three (TooSim also names US Cellular). Breeze and Yesim name Verizon and AT&T. Airalo names T-Mobile and Verizon. Holafly and SimOptions name AT&T and T-Mobile. Ubigi and aloSIM name T-Mobile only. Saily, GigSky, Maya, and eSIMo don't name a US carrier, and MobiMatter's network depends on which third-party seller you buy from.
Will a travel eSIM give me a US phone number?
No — every plan in this comparison is data-only. You can still call and message over data with WhatsApp, iMessage, FaceTime, and similar apps. Keep your home SIM active as a second line (with its data roaming off) so you still receive texts from your bank and one-time login codes. Airalo also sells a separate US package with calls and texts; we didn't include it in these price comparisons.
Does a USA eSIM work in Canada or Mexico?
No — a US country plan covers the United States only. That catches out travelers who cross at Niagara Falls, drive between Seattle and Vancouver, or take a day trip from San Diego into Tijuana. If a border crossing is on the itinerary, buy a separate plan for Canada or Mexico, or use a multi-country eSIM whose coverage list names every country you'll visit.
Do USA eSIMs cover Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico?
It depends on the provider, so check before you buy. Ubigi's US plans state that they cover Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands, but not Alaska. Some MobiMatter listings also bundle Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and Hawaii. Other providers don't spell it out on their US pages, so if you're heading to Alaska or a US territory, confirm it's on the plan's coverage list.
Is Holafly a good choice for the USA?
It's one of the more expensive ways to get unlimited data. Holafly charges its standard unlimited prices in the US — $73.90 for 30 days — and caps hotspot sharing at 1 GB a day. Maya sells 30 days of unlimited for $49.99 and Yesim for $54. Breeze's 30-day unlimited is pricier still at $77.99, but Breeze's 50 GB plan at $40.99 is the better buy for most visitors anyway.
Should I buy unlimited data for the USA?
Usually not. The cheapest 30-day unlimited plan is $49.99 (Maya), and most run $54 to $78. Breeze sells 50 GB for $40.99 and 100 GB for $64.99, which covers heavy navigation, streaming, and some laptop tethering. Unlimited makes sense if you're working remotely from your phone's hotspot every day or streaming for hours — and even then, read the fair-use terms, because several providers slow you down after a daily or monthly threshold.
Will my phone work with a US eSIM?
It needs to support eSIM and be unlocked — not tied to your home carrier. Most iPhones from the XS onward, recent Samsung Galaxy S and Z models, and Google Pixel phones from the Pixel 3 onward support eSIM. Check your phone's settings for an "Add eSIM" option before you buy, and install the plan at home on WiFi so you land with it ready.
Ready to Get Connected in the USA?
Compare eSIM plans from every major provider side by side and find the best price for your trip.
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