Having fast, reliable, high-speed data for your phone is a prerequisite when traveling to the United States, but visitors are often surprised that prepaid SIM data plans aren’t as widely available or affordable as they are in their home country.
In this guide, I’ll cover everything you need to know about buying a SIM card in the US and how to buy the best prepaid mobile data plans in the US at the best price.
Important Note About Prepaid SIM Card Data Plans in the US
Getting a prepaid data plan in America can be a frustrating experience, especially for international visitors. Cell phone service is typically more expensive in the United States than in the rest of the world, so tourists are often surprised when they arrive expecting easy access to cheap data.
Why?
Prepaid data plans aren’t common in the United States because most Americans have one-year phone service contracts. To make matters even more complicated, many mobile carriers also require a U.S. credit card if you buy a monthly plan.
This is why many tourists have problems when it comes to purchasing a data plan when they arrive in the US because they have to go out of their way to find prepaid service in the US.
Even major airports like New York’s JFK have very few options, and the ones you do have are expensive and inconvenient.
I’ll cover all of this in more detail later in this article but I wanted to get this out of the way up front.
In short, I highly recommend purchasing a data plan before arriving in the US if you don’t want to deal with the hassle. Check out Simulation Options (Physical SIM cards and eSIM plans) or HolaFly (eSIM only) For a few different options – I recommend purchasing eSIM Data Plan If your phone is compatible.
How to Buy a Prepaid Data Plan for the United States
You have three main options when it comes to purchasing a US data plan:
Buy an eSIM data plan in advance (easiest)
The easiest way to buy a US data plan is to buy an eSIM data plan because you can activate it right away and you won’t have to pay shipping costs. All you have to do is purchase the service and then activate it once you arrive in the US. As an added bonus, using an eSIM allows you to keep your original phone number active on your phone.
I have personally used both. Simulation Options and HolaFly In the past, I have purchased international data plans. You can also read my guide on Best Prepaid eSIM Data Plans in USA.
Not sure what an eSIM is? Here’s a quick video showing you how easy eSIMs are to use:
Not all phones are compatible with eSIM (although most modern phones are) – so keep that in mind.
Buy a SIM data plan in advance (easy)
If you want to arrange your data plan before your trip, I recommend purchasing your SIM card before you leave so you can have data as soon as you arrive (i.e. no searching for a SIM card once you get to the US).
The main downside is that you’ll have to wait for the SIM card to arrive and pay for shipping, so it might not be a great option if you need your SIM card right away.
Wait until you get to the US to buy a SIM card (harder)
The third option is to wait until you arrive in the US to purchase your data plan. As I mentioned earlier, prepaid data plans are not very common in the US, so you will have to put in a lot of effort to find them.
I will cover this in more depth later in this article.
The Best Prepaid SIM Card and eSIM Data Plan to Buy Before You Arrive in the US
Below is a list of prepaid eSIM data plans and physical SIM data plans that will work in the US.
I’ve tried to list both the pros and cons of each plan, so spend some time reading about each one because some of them have some drawbacks.
Holafly US Data Plans (Unlimited eSIM Data)
HolaFly It’s a new data-only eSIM startup, and I personally used it on one of my recent trips and found it to work surprisingly well (read my article). Holafly eSIM Review (To learn more).
Unlike other companies, Holafly plans give you unlimited data (they will throttle your data if you use it up). exaggerated But this won’t be a problem for most users) and their plans last from 5 to 90 days. Holafly also connects to AT&T and T-Mobile networks – two of the largest mobile carriers in the US.
In short, if you don’t want to worry about monitoring your data usage while traveling, HolaFly It is your best choice.
- Unlimited Data Rates (Check) HolaFly For details)
- 5 days: $19
- 10 days: $34
- 15 days: $47
- 20 days: $54
- 30 days: $64
- 60 days: $84
- 90 days: $99
- Service speed: 4G/LTE
- Calls: no one
- Texts/SMS: no one
- Link: no
Three 30-day pass cards (digital eSIM plan)
Plan specifications:
- price: $35
- Data: 20 GB
- Includes texts or calls?: no
- Credit is valid for: 30 days
If your phone is eSIM compatible, Three tickets for 30 days It’s hard to get a better plan than this one in terms of price and amount of data. This plan gives you 20GB of data for $35, and it’s valid for a month.
Since this is an eSIM, you get instant delivery via email and don’t have to pay shipping costs.
Smart Traveler eSIM (Digital eSIM Plan)
Plan specifications:
- price: $18
- Data: 6 GB
- Includes texts or calls?: no
- Credit is valid for: 10 days
The Smart Traveler eSIM is a good budget option for short trips as it is only valid for 10 days. If you are visiting the country for longer than 10 days, it makes sense to opt for the Smart Traveler eSIM. Three tickets for 30 days For $35 or HolaFly.
Orange Holiday World (Physical SIM Card)
Plan specifications:
- price: $50
- Data: 10 GB
- Includes texts or calls?: no
- Is it used as a mobile hotspot?: Yes
- Credit is valid for: 14 days
Orange Holiday World is a very popular choice for travelers for several different reasons.
First, it’s powered by Orange – Europe’s largest mobile carrier and has partnered with major carriers in the US, so the service tends to be better than no-name SIM data plans.
Second, the Orange Holiday World plan includes 10GB of 4G/LTE data in the US. This plan also works in Canada and Mexico if they are part of your trip.
Third, there is no need to register – install a SIM card and you are ready to go.
The main downside is that the data plan only lasts for 14 days, so it’s not ideal for long trips, but you can top up the card once for €29 to get another 14 days of service with an extra 10GB of data.
Three MBB 12GB cards (physical SIM card)
Plan specifications:
- price: $60
- Data: 12 GB
- Includes texts or calls?: no
- Is it used as a mobile hotspot?: no
- Credit is valid for: 1 year
The Three UK PYAG MBB card is another popular SIM data plan option with 12GB of data for $60. It doesn’t allow data tethering and you can use it with a mobile WiFi device. This card is valid for a year after activation, so it’s a good option for longer visits to the US.
Three MBB 24GB cards (physical SIM card)
Plan specifications:
- price: $80
- Data: 24 GB
- Includes texts or calls?: no
- Is it used as a mobile hotspot?: no
- Credit is valid for: 1 year
The Three UK PAYG MBB 24GB data plan gives you 24GB of mobile data for £80, so it’s a good option for heavy data users. If you have a portable WiFi device, this could also be a good option for groups travelling together so you can split the data across multiple phones.
How to Buy a Prepaid Data Plan in the US
Most prepaid data plans offered by US carriers are charged on a monthly basis, so if you don’t cancel the plan, you’ll be charged when the new month starts. For this reason, many carriers require you to have a US credit card.
Verizon Prepaid Data Plans
Verizon is the largest mobile phone provider in the United States, and its prepaid plans start at $40 per month for 5GB of data. Verizon is also the most affordable option. Visit Verizon website To learn more.
Verizon also has a new budget service called visual But you will need a US credit card and only some phones work on their network (visit the visible site) Phone Compatibility Checker (To see if your phone works).
T-Mobile Prepaid Data Plans in the US
T-Mobile offers a prepaid monthly data plan starting at $40 per month (not including taxes and fees – a $10 SIM starter kit may be required). The $40 per month plan gives you 10GB of data, but the $50 per month plan offers unlimited data. Click here to visit T-Mobile website To learn more.
AT&T Wireless Prepaid Data Plans
AT&T Wireless offers prepaid data plans starting at $30 per month for 5GB of data. Visit AT&T Company Website To learn more.
Google Fi Prepaid Data Plans
Google Fi has a monthly plan and a pay-as-you-go plan. The monthly plan includes unlimited data for $50/month and pay-as-you-go is $20 + $10 for every 10GB of data. Visit Google Fi site To learn more.
Straight Talk Prepaid Wireless Service
Straight Talk Wireless is a budget carrier that is primarily sold at Walmart stores. The main problem is that Walmart stores are generally located outside of major cities, so you will need a car to get to the store. You can also ship the card to a US address.
Get more budget travel tips for the United States.
Here are some articles that may help you visit New York City:
Are you also traveling to Europe? Check out my guide on How to use your phone in Europe Our guide to Best SIM Cards and Data Plans for EuropeIf you have a newer phone, check out our guide to: Best Prepaid eSIM Data Plans for Europe.
James Vess is the founder of The Savvy Backpacker and author of The Savvy Backpacker’s Guide to Europe on a Budget. He has been blogging about budget travel in Europe since 2010.
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