Are you planning your trip and looking for the best eSIM for the USA? Then you’ve come to the right place! I myself have travelled across the USA multiple times and have asked myself exactly the same question as you are right now.
I have tested (and bought!) several eSIMs for America over the years. In my table, you can compare the most important 👉 eSIM for the USA. I have two recommendations for you.
Below you will find my 👉 USA eSIM Finder: Simply answer 4 questions and it will show you the best options for you from over 80 tariffs from 8 providers.
My tip: If you are not sure, just write me an email with your questions!
eSIM USA comparison 2025
Which providers offer the best eSim rates for the USA? What does an eSIM cost? And which services are included in the price? This is shown in my tabular comparison of the eSIM for the USA!
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Holafly eSIM USA |
airalo eSIM USA |
maya mobile USA eSIM |
Saily USA eSIM |
ETravelSIM USA |
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My personal rating |
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My test winner on my trip across the USA! Great reception, fast network and best of all: no data limit! |
Ideal if you know exactly how many GB of data you need. I didn’t have any problems in the US. |
maya mobile is a popular option. They are very similar to airalo cards, although airalo offers more choice. |
The ratings from external platforms like TrustPilot look quite good! |
The prices are very reasonable, but there have been some customer complaints recently. |
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from 53,000+ reviews on Trustpilot
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from 3,000+ reviews on Trustpilot
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from 8.500+ reviews on Trustpilot
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from 2,500+ reviews on Trustpilot
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from 400+ reviews on Trustpilot
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saily esim review |
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Buy eSIM |
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Discount code? |
Yes! Code
LOVINGNEWYORK5. |
No. |
No. |
No. |
No. |
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Money back? |
Yes, 6 months. |
Not specified. |
Yes, contact is made by email. |
Yes, up to 30 days after purchase if not used. |
Not specified. |
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Valid for: |
Individually from 1 to 90 days. |
7, 15 or 30 days |
5, 10, 15, 30 to 180 days |
7 or 30 days |
7, 10, 15 or 30 days |
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Unlimited data? |
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/ |
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Plans with up to 2 GB? |
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Plans with up to 5 GB? |
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Plans with up to 10 GB? |
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Plans with up to 20 GB? |
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Tarife über 20 GB? |
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3G/4G/LTE/5G? |
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T-Mobile USA |
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AT&T |
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Verizon |
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Hotspot (Tethering)? |
Teilweise. Kein Hotspot bei Unlimited-Verträgen möglich. |
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WhatsApp number remains? |
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Is my smartphone compatible? |
Notes on the comparison of eSIM for the USA
The provider varies depending on the tariff. T-Mobile, AT&T or Verizon or a combination is used. You can see this when you select a tariff.
I was surprised by the Trustpilot rating of airalo. Because I had absolutely no problems in the US – and I had travelled on the east coast, in Arizona, Utah and on the west coast. I compared the pure data tariffs here – you can book phone calls and free minutes with some providers.
You can see which ones they are in my table 👆
Why should you choose an eSIM for the USA?
✅ Online immediately upon arrival
With an eSIM, you’re ready to go as soon as you leave the plane – no searching for a shop, no waiting, no activation on the ground. Simply book in advance, install and get started right away.
✅ No physical delivery or SIM card change
You receive your eSIM digitally, usually via QR code or link – without any postal delivery or additional hardware. This is particularly useful for spontaneous trips or when you are already on the road.
✅ Easy and quick setup
Activating the eSIM only takes a few minutes: scan the QR code or enter the data manually – done. No prior technical knowledge is required, and most providers provide step-by-step instructions.
✅ Full cost control and no roaming fees
eSIM tariffs are easy to calculate: You book a data package with a defined term and know exactly what you get. Unlike expensive international roaming, there are no nasty surprises on the bill.
✅ Flexible, environmentally friendly and usable in parallel
You don’t need a plastic SIM or a tool to switch. Many smartphones allow you to use the eSIM in addition to the normal SIM – ideal for staying connected while surfing locally, for example.
How much data do I need in the US?
Many travellers are unsure how much data they will need during their stay in the USA. The answer depends largely on how intensively you use your smartphone. For orientation, you can find typical applications and how much data they consume here:
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Activity |
Consumption per hour |
with ‘normal’ use |
|---|---|---|
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WhatsApp messages (text messages) |
approx. 3 MB |
approx. 0,003 GB |
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WhatsApp Call (voice messages) |
approx. 40 MB |
approx. 0,04 GB |
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WhatsApp Call (video) |
approx. 150 MB |
approx. 0,15 GB |
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Google Maps Navigation |
approx. 8 MB |
approx. 0,04 GB |
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Google Maps Navigation with traffic data |
approx. 20 MB |
approx. 0,10 GB |
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Web browsing |
approx. 60 MB |
approx. 0,20 GB |
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approx. 250 MB |
approx. 0,25 GB |
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YouTube or Netflix in HD |
approx. 1 GB |
approx. 2–3 GB |
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Video call (e.g. FaceTime, Zoom) |
approx. 600 MB |
approx. 0,60 GB |
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Music streaming (e.g. Spotify) |
approx. 100 MB |
approx. 0,15 GB |
My recommendations
Which eSim for the USA?
First of all: you can’t go wrong with any of the top providers. I can recommend the Holafly eSIM and the airalo eSIM. Holafly is ingenious because you don’t have to worry about data usage, because every tariff they offer is an unlimited package. I found that reassuring on my road trips, because I also used my phone as a navigation system the whole time.
You can buy the Holafly eSIM here.
The airalo eSIM has had the same good reception – here you should always keep an eye on your data usage. Because they don’t offer any real unlimited packages. However, this is not a problem if, for example, you are travelling in the USA for a week or primarily in large cities like New York City. Why? The days are easy to calculate!
Here you can buy the airalo eSIM.
Which eSIM for the USA is the best?
Missing or invalid Meeag-Advisor ID!
My tips for the right eSIM for your USA trip
How do you find the right eSIM for your USA trip? Here are my tips:
Tip #1: It’s better to plan for a little more data volume. The surcharge is minimal and you can be more confident that you will have internet, Google Maps or WhatsApp available through your plan for the duration of your trip. In my experience, the 1GB or 2GB packages are very, very small and I used up within a few hours.
Tip #2: Can’t decide between two similar tariffs? Then my decision criterion is what others say (trust seals like Trustpilot or ratings in the app stores). You can also refer to my personal experiences at Holafly and Airalo. I can recommend both of them.