The best eSIM for USA
Data in USA currently starts at $1.8 a gigabyte — that's 20GB for $36, valid 15 days. Below is what each provider actually charges, and the fine print that decides whether the cheap one stays cheap.
Airalo pricing refreshed automatically — last updated 2026-07-20.
Why USA is different
The USA is the one destination where a travel eSIM is not automatically the obvious answer. Distances are vast, coverage between cities is genuinely patchy on some networks, and several US carriers sell prepaid tourist plans that include a real phone number — which matters more here than elsewhere, because so much American life assumes you can receive a text.
Airalo's USA plans are the exception to the data-only rule: the Change Plus line includes voice minutes and SMS, which makes it the sensible pick if you need a number. If you are road-tripping through national parks, expect long stretches with nothing at all and download maps in advance.
What 10GB costs in USA
Normalised to cost per gigabyte, because bundle sizes differ between providers and headline prices are not comparable. Airalo's figure recalculates daily from its live catalogue; the others were read by hand on 20 July 2026.
| Provider | Best value plan | Per GB | Throttled after |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airalo live pricing | 20GB · 15 days · $36 | $1.8 | 3 GB/day, then 1 Mbps |
| Saily | 10GB · 30 days · $22.99 | $2.30 | 5 GB/day, then 1 Mbps |
| GigSky | 10GB · 30 days · $21.49 | $2.15 | 3.5 GB/day, speed not published |
| Yesim | 10GB · 30 days · £12.6 | £1.26 | Not published |
| Holafly | Unlimited · 30 days · $73.9 | n/a — sold by day, not by GB | Not published; hotspot capped at 1 GB/day |
Currencies are as each provider quoted them and are not converted — Yesim and Saily geo-detect, so you may be shown a different one. Full fine print for every provider is on the main comparison.
Cheapest plans for USA right now
Affiliate links — we earn a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you. The order is purely cost per gigabyte, and Airalo pays us less than any other eSIM partner we work with.
Before you buy
Don't activate it until you land
Most plans start counting down when the eSIM first connects to a network at your destination, but some activate on installation regardless of where you are. Install the profile before you fly by all means — just leave the line switched off until you arrive, or you can lose days off a short trip before it starts.
Your bank texts won't arrive on it
These are data-only plans with no phone number, so SMS one-time codes from your bank or airline will not reach them. Move two-factor codes to an authenticator app before you travel, keep your home SIM active for texts with data roaming switched off, and turn on Wi-Fi calling.
Buy smaller and top up
Every provider here forfeits unused data at expiry — there is no rollover and no refund. Buying a modest allowance and topping up beats over-buying, though check top-ups are supported first: Airalo only offers them on plans marked rechargeable, and Holafly has withdrawn them entirely.
Check your phone is eSIM-capable and carrier-unlocked before buying. A locked handset will not accept the profile, and that is the single most common reason these fail on arrival.
Going to USA?
We track 94 small-group trips there for 18–35s, with real departure dates and prices.