Best eSIM for the USA: Stay Connected Across All 50 States

What is an eSIM?

Although eSIM-compatible devices have been on the market since 2016, it’s only recently that the use of this technology really took off.

Given this, many people will ask: what is an eSIM?

Put simply, an eSIM is a digital SIM card that lets you reliably access data networks around the world. Using the preinstalled software on your compatible device, eSIMs are easy to install and connect.

Whereas the physical SIM card you likely received from your cell phone provider had to be manually installed into your device, an eSIM only exists in a digital form, so nothing needs to be physically added or removed from your device for it to work.

An eSIM can be installed onto any compatible device in a few quick steps by scanning the QR code provided during your purchase.

Once the installation is complete, you can immediately start enjoying data access in the destinations you’ve chosen. Additionally, depending on which eSIM you choose, you may also be able to enjoy texts and calls in addition to data access.

Why Get an eSIM?

Stay connected

Having reliable access to data lets you use data-based messaging apps like WhatsApp to stay in touch with friends and family and contact your hotel, Airbnb host or tour guide.

Get around safely

With data, you can use ride-share apps like Uber, Lyft, and more to explore the further reaches of your destination.
An eSIM also means that you don’t have to rely on Wi-Fi, so you can have consistent access to maps on your phone, helping you navigate safely.

Access information

With an eSIM, you can access all your important travel details. This might include things like tour information, reservation numbers, and flight times.

Connect better

Not only does an eSIM let you use translation apps to better understand menus, signs, and more, but you can also use these features to strike up a conversation with the locals, helping you deepen your experience in this new place.

Although, perhaps you studied hard and learned a bunch of the local language through the Babbel app before your trip, and now you mostly just need your eSIM to keep track of all the new friends you’re making!

Best eSIM for USA

The USA is a big country with a diversity of adventures to be had. Regardless of whether you’re a city lover exploring the hustle and bustle in New York City, a nature fanatic taking in the majesty of Hawaii, or fan of epic drives through legendary places like the American West, this country has something for everyone.

When choosing the best eSIM for the USA, you’ll need to consider two main things:

• How many days are you travelling for? – You can typically get eSIM data plans ranging from a single day all the way up to 365 days in length, but they will get more expensive the more days you want.
• How much data do you want? – Think about how much data you might use on your trip. You can do this by looking back over your normal usage at home and then doing the math to guess how much you might need while travelling.

Compare available eSIM plans for your destination, trip length and data needs.

Saily eSIMs

Our first recommendation for the best eSIM for the USA is the plans available from Saily.

With Saily, you can choose from the following data plans:

Saily’s eSIMs are incredibly easy to download and install, and they will reliably connect you to the best available partner network across all of the US.

As an added bonus, a Saily eSIM comes with built-in VPN services, which is not surprising given that Saily is part of Nord Security, which owns NordVPN.

NordVPN is one of the best and more reliable VPN services in the world, and we’ve written extensively about how they work in our guides to NordVPN offers and how to keep your data secure with NordVPN travel services.

If you do happen to have any problems with your eSIM, Saily has excellent customer service, and their support team can help you troubleshoot issues such as installation, data access, connectivity, and more.

Additionally, Saily also lets you earn Saily credits with every eSIM purchase, and you can Refer-a-Friend to Saily’s eSIM plans to get an additional $5 USD credit towards your next purchase.

Saily eSIMs are priced and sold in US dollars, so when purchasing it’s a good idea to use a credit card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction (FX) conversion fees, like the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card.

By choosing a credit card with no conversion fee, you can enjoy savings on your Saily eSIM purchase, and you can continue saving the 2.5% fee while you travel and spend money abroad.

Check out Saily eSIM review to learn even more about what this company offers.

Airalo eSIMs

In terms of the best eSIM for the USA, our second recommendation is to look at the eSIMs available through Airalo.

Not only is Airalo one of the most reliable eSIM vendors on the market, but they’re also one of the only ones that lets you choose from both data-only options AND options with data, texting, and calling.

You can learn even more about this unique option in our review of the Airalo eSIM card.

To explore Airalo’s plans, lets first look at the current data-only eSIM plans for the USA:

Comparatively, if you want to add some calling and texting capability to your eSIM data plan, Airalo offers the following options:

As you can see, there’s no price difference between the data-only plans and the data/text/calls plans for the USA, so there’s really no reason not to choose the added convenience of the latter option.

Pleasantly, Airalo also has a loyalty rewards program that gives you Airmoney every time you purchase an eSIM, letting you then redeem this amount to lessen the cost of your next purchase.

Holafly eSIMs

For travellers who don’t want to worry about running out of data in the middle of their trip and having to buy top-up packages, our third vendor recommendation may be the best choice.

All of Holafly‘s eSIM plans come with unlimited data, making them some of the best eSIMs for the USA.

Plus, Holafly also lets you choose exactly how many days you want your eSIM to be active, so you can tailor your data plan to your exact travel itinerary.

Whether you’re exploring the USA for a long weekend or for a few months, Holafly always lets you enjoy unlimited data.

You can purchase an Holafly eSIM plan ranging from 1 to 90 days in length, with the price adjusting according to the number of days purchased.

To illustrate the potential cost for your trip to the USA, let’s look at some common data plan price examples:

• 1 day = $3.79 CAD
• 7 days = $40.00 CAD
• 14 days = $65.00 CAD
• 30 days = $103.00 CAD

Get a special discount using the code MILESOPEDIA at checkout!

For more information on Holafly eSIMs, make sure to check out our product review.

Bottom Line

Having an eSIM while travelling in the US will help you be safer and enjoy your experiences more fully, so make sure to get this important travel companion before you head out on the road.

Thankfully, with excellent vendors like Saily, Airalo and Holafly offering a variety of data plans to fit all travel styles, getting an eSIM has never been easier.

In preparation for your trip to the US or further abroad, consider our guides to two-factor authentication while travelling, how to get free a Gigsky eSIM with Visa, and how to get a free FlexiRoam eSIM with Mastercard.

You can also check out our many guides for destinations in the US to give yourself even more great locations to explore.

FAQs

Do eSIMs work in the USA?

Yes, eSIMs work in the USA. Depending on local network partnerships, there may be parts of the country where your eSIM is not able to always access a connection; however, these instances are fairly limited and tend to occur in more remote areas.

How do I get an eSIM for the USA?

You can purchase an eSIM for the USA from a reliable online vendor such as Saily, Airalo, and Holafly.

To use your new eSIM, it’s preferable to install it onto your device prior to departing, and then activate it when you arrive at your destination to access the local data network. However, you can install it anywhere with reliable wi-fi connection.

How do I find out if my phone is eSIM compatible?

Most smartphones made in recent years are eSIM compatible.

To check that your device is compatible, you can look for eSIM options under “Settings,” or you can check for the device’s name on eSIM-compatible list provided by vendors like Saily, Airalo, and Holafly.

What’s the difference between a physical SIM card and an eSIM?

An eSIM is entirely digital and uses pre-installed software found on your device. A physical SIM is a small microchip that is physically inserted into your connected device.

Since an eSIM is entirely digital, it can be installed onto your eSIM-compatible device similarly to how you would add a new app.