2 weeks ago
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We get it, there are way too many eSIM operators out there these days and we know you’re asking yourself, “which eSIM should I get for travel to the United States?”. We’ve done the work of analyzing each of the major players so you don’t have to.
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In this article, we break down of each eSIM provider and the key things you need to know about them, limitations, advantages, disadvantages, and available discounts.
eSIM Company Comparison Chart
To start things off, it’s easiest to look at all the main USA eSIM providers together to get a sense for how they’re different and in what areas they are better or worse.
Now that we’ve seen them all together, let’s break down each one including their pros and cons.
A heads up to look out for the promo codes that are available for each company.
OUR TOP TRAVEL TIPS
- Where to stay – We use Booking.com for all of our stays and use the Genius discount to get great deals on our hotel bookings. Alternatively, you can always see if hotel corporate codes might work for you.
- Car rentals – Often having a rental car always makes life easier and allows you to travel at your own pace. Make sure you know about ways to save money with car rental coupon codes and always start your search with Discover Cars and RentalCars so you know what the best deals are.
- Flights – Use the Skyscanner “Everywhere” feature to find the best deals to your destination from your local airport. Check how much it would be for you to get to your next vacation!
- Insurance – Not always required but always recommended! Make sure you’re covered with the best travel insurance. Our go-to is always HeyMondo for good all-around coverage at reasonable prices, also if you use our link, you automatically get 5% discount.
- Hottest deals – Never be without our frequently updated travel deals page.
Airalo
Airalo has certainly taken the market by storm as one of the earliest players in the market. We’ve used them on numerous occassions and it’s always been a smooth process and easy to use.
While we have an extremely positive impression of Airalo, as we’ve done a deeper dive into other companies in our original article on finding the cheapest eSIMs for travel, we’ve certainly noticed that their prices aren’t necessarily the best.
That said, one thing that’s undeniable with Airalo is that their service, app, and coverage is always good. The small hesitation I might have is in Alaska where it says there’s limited availability but it’s possible that they’re much more forthcoming than other providers.
- Coverage: 200+ countries.
- Data: From 1GB to 50GB and unlimited.
- Days Coverage: 3 days to 30 days.
- Connection Speed: 4G LTE and 5G coverage (where available).
- Carrier: T-Mobile, Verizon, and U.S. Cellular.
- eSIM Download: Different eSIM for each package. Unlimited plans and regional plans are a single eSIM.
- Unlimited Throttle Policy: 3 GB usage per day, after which the speed will drop to 1 Mbps.
- Hotspot Limitations: Not explicitly stated but should be unlimited.
- Geographic Coverage: United States and Puerto Rico, with limited availability in Alaska.
- Data Transfer: No.
Reliable service, intuitive app, excellent customer support.
Slightly pricier than some competitors, limited service in Alaska, no global unlimited plans.
Use code WILLIA9500 to get $3 credit for your first purchase.
aloSIM
aloSIM is another one that we’ve used often thanks to the StackSocial offer that runs periodically throughout the year which effectively gives you 50% off.
When looking at the price comparison table below, and our more detailed spreadsheet that you can get by signing up, the US eSIM prices are on the higher end but if you halve it, it gets close to the lowest price which is a title held by eSIMx.
Quality of service wise, the app was easy to use, the connection speeds were stable, and didn’t encounter any problems so
- Coverage: 200+ countries.
- Data: From 1GB to 50GB and unlimited.
- Days Coverage: 7 days to 30 days.
- Connection Speed: 4G LTE and 5G coverage (where available).
- Carrier: AT&T (through Cingular Wireless) and Verizon.
- eSIM Download: Different eSIM for each package. Unlimited plans and regional plans are a single eSIM.
- Unlimited Throttle Policy: 1.5 GB usage per day, after which the speed will drop to 512 Kbps.
- Hotspot Limitations: Not explicitly stated but should be unlimited.
- Geographic Coverage: United States (no limitations mentioned).
- Data Transfer: No.
Affordable, sometimes supports 5G depending on network.
No global unlimited plans, and 1.5GB daily cap before throttling for unlimited plans
Use code GOINGAWESOMEPLACES to save 15% off your first order.
For a limited time, pay $24.97 for a $50 credit on aloSIM. We’ve purchased this several times as it effectively gives you 50% off their already excellent prices on eSIMs.
SAVE 50% OFFAmigo SIM
They might not be a company you’ve heard of but when looking at their prices, we were really impressed with how cheap their global fixed-data plans are. For United States data packages, we woudl say that their prices are middle of the pack.
As a UK-based company, they have a unique collaboration with the cellular provider Three. This means that you’ll get a UK number although it doesn’t matter too much since these are data-only plans. They also offer their own in-house plans as well.
The only unfortunate thing about them is that they don’t offer any unlimited plans.
- Coverage: 194+ countries and regions.
- Data: From 1GB to 30GB. No unlimited.
- Days Coverage: 7 days to 30 days.
- Connection Speed: 4G LTE and 5G coverage (where available).
- Carrier: Amigo Plans are with Verizon and AT&T. Three is with Three and roaming partners.
- eSIM Downloads: Different eSIM for each package. Regional plans are a single eSIM.
- Hotspot Limitations: Unlimited.
- Geographic Coverage: United States (no limitations mentioned).
- Data Transfer: No.
They are one of the few eSIM companies that also provide calling as well in some cases and they have access to 5G.
Does not offer unlimited plans, and any eSIMs that use the Three UK network, you’ll get a UK number whether you want it or not.
Use code GOINGAWESOMEPLACES for 25% off all orders.
Eskimo
Eskimo might not be a household eSIM brand but we initially heard about it because they were offering free global eSIMs on sign up.
What sets Eskimo apart are three things: 1) The default validity of eSIMs is 2 years which is best-in-class, 2) they use a single eSIM, 3) data rollover, and 4) data transfer.
Single eSIM is significant because for most companies, you’re required to install a different eSIM per region or country.
Data rollover is another that many will appreciate. If you have an unsed data, they can roll it over to future top-ups.
Lastly, data transfer is something that a few companies have started to offer. If someone in your travel group has Eskimo accounts and an active Eskimo eSIM installed (fixed-data only), you can transfer a minimum of 500MB of data. This allows you to buy a larger plan (cheaper) and split it amongst or top up friends/family during a trip if they run out.
- Coverage: 140+ countries.
- Data: From 1GB to 30GB and unlimited.
- Days Coverage: 2 years.
- Connection Speed: 4G LTE and 5G coverage (where available).
- Carrier: AT&T and T-Mobile.
- eSIM Download: Single eSIM.
- Unlimited Throttle Policy: 1 GB usage per day (will be increasing soon), after which the speed will drop to 1 Mbps.
- Hotspot Limitations: Unlimited.
- Geographic Coverage: United States (no limitations mentioned).
- Data Transfer: Yes.
Incredibly long 2 year validity which shatters the competition, is affordable, offers data rollover, data sharing, and is compatible with most devices. Also uniquely uses a single eSIM across the board. Get free 500MB global eSIM with referral code.
Set up instructions aren’t the most detailed.
Use gift code GAP1GB to get 1GB of global data for free. Also, every first purchase is 50% off if made within 30 days (up to $15).
eSIMx
If you read our article on the cheapest eSIMs for travel, you’ll see that they offer the best prices and this remains when we look at eSIMS for USA travel.
Overall, I’d say eSIMx is a bit more no-frills. They do have an app but when comparing with other companies, it just feels a tad less polished.
At the end of the day though, you can’t beat their prices. It’s wild that you can get 10GB for less than $10.
The trade off is that you won’t get 5G service. That said, I’ll say that so far, I have not been a fan of 5G service as I’ve found it to be much less consistent and slower in real-life if signal is poor.
- Coverage: 200+ digital SIM cards.
- Data: From 1GB to 20GB. No unlimited.
- Days Coverage: 7 days to 30 days.
- Connection Speed: 4G LTE coverage.
- Carrier: eSIMX, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon.
- eSIM Download: Different eSIM for each package. Regional plans are a single eSIM.
- Hotspot Limitations: Unknown.
- Geographic Coverage: United States (no limitations mentioned).
- Data Transfer: No.
Cheapest prices on the market and all-around solid service.
No 5G service, limited global data options, and no unlimited packages.
Use code ESIMX10 for 10% off all orders.
Flexiroam
For those that are Mastercard users, this is one that you should consider having set up. Flexiroam has a special partnership with them where you can get a permanent 20% discount on all packages. Certain World and World Elite cards also get 1 or 3 1GB Global Data Plan (5 days) eSIMs.
The main gripe I have with them is that they don’t commit to any particular speeds so we couldn’t even tell you if they have access to 5G. Alongside with that, their fair use policy also doesn’t specify what speeds you’ll drop down to after exceeding 3GB per day on an unlimited package.
Price-wise, Flexiroam has good fixed-data prices for the United States when comparing with the other companies but that’s not the case for unlimited plans. We also wish they had more variety of data sizes as they only have 10GB, 20GB, 50GB, and 100GB.
Lastly, they also have a FlexiShare feature. Similar with Eskimo, you can transfer fixed-data plans to other members in your group that also have an active Flexiroam eSIM (has to be the same data plan).
- Coverage: 200+ countries and regions.
- Data: From 10GB to 100GB and unlimited.
- Days Coverage: 3 days to 15 days.
- Connection Speed: Will automatically connect to the strongest signal in your destination country from the available operators so they do not promise any speeds.
- Carrier: Unknown.
- eSIM Download: Different eSIM for each package. Unlimited plans and regional plans are a single eSIM.
- Unlimited Throttle Policy: 3 GB usage per day, after which “either a low speed will prevail, or services will cease until the following day.”
- Hotspot Limitations: Not explicitly stated but should be unlimited.
- Geographic Coverage: United States (no limitations mentioned).
- Data Transfer: Yes.
Mid-range pricing, decent coverage. They also have a partnership with Mastercard so if you have one of the premium cards, you’ll be eligible for 20% off. They also have a Flexishare feature if two people have the same fixed data plan.
Mostly 4G/LTE and limited global data options and don’t love that they can cut your data for their unlimited packages. The eligible Mastercard cards (see the full list in our cheapest eSIM article) seems much more restrictive than the Visas for Gigsky. Lastly, the 10GB package validity for 3 days is very short.
Use code FLEX20 to save 20% off of your first plan.
Gigsky
Similar to Flexiroam above, Gigsky has a similar arrangement with Visa. The main benefit is for a 1GB (Canada) or 3GB (USA) global plan that you can redeem once a year.
We used Gigsky for a recent trip to Germany thanks to their free eSIM offer. If you’re signing up as a new customer, you’ll also get 500MB (7 days) right off the bat as well.
Beyond the free eSIMs are some of the highest in the market so you really do need to rely our discount code or the Visa benefit to bring their prices down.
- Coverage: 190+ countries.
- Data: From 100MB to 100GB and unlimited.
- Days Coverage: 7 days to 180 days.
- Connection Speed: Primarily 5G, though some regions in the United States may be at 4G or 3G speeds.
- Carrier: Unknown.
- eSIM Download: Different eSIM for each package. Unlimited plans and regional plans are a single eSIM.
- Unlimited Throttle Policy: 2.5 GB usage per day, after which the speed will drop until the start of the next 24 hour duration from when you activated the plan. The reduced speed may vary depending on network coverage and traffic congestion.
- Hotspot Limitations: Unlimited.
- Geographic Coverage: United States (no limitations mentioned).
- Data Transfer: No.
Their Visa program is a standout especially because for some programs the eSIMs refresh every 6 months. The 20% discount we have also puts their prices closer to par with the competitors.
Not necessarily the cheapest in price.
Use code GOINGAWESOME to save 20% off of all eSIM orders. Also use TANG149 to get $3 USD when you first sign up.
Holafly
Holafly is an unlimited data package specialist. Unique to them is that you literally have full flexibility on how many days you’re interested in whereas other companies only offer specific number of days.
What’s odd about Holafly is that they’re the only ones that have placed a hotspot limit of 1 GB. I also wish they have a mix of carriers available in the USA instead of just relying on AT&T (consensus is Verizon is the best for 4G coverage while T-Mobile leads in 5G).
Price-wise, they are in the middle range. The 5% discount code we offer below helps but still doesn’t become the cheapest.
- Coverage: 270+ destinations.
- Data: Unlimited-only.
- Days Coverage: 1 day to 90 days.
- Connection Speed: 4G LTE and 5G coverage (where available).
- Carrier: AT&T.
- eSIM Download: Different eSIM for each country if purchased individually. Unlimited plans and regional plans are a single eSIM.
- Unlimited Throttle Policy: No explicit cap but the network reserves the right to impose restrictions if usage deemed excessive.
- Hotspot Limitations: Up to 1024 MB.
- Geographic Coverage: United States (no limitations mentioned).
- Data Transfer: No.
Great prices on unlimited data eSIM packages. In fact, the prices for individual countries vs. regions are the same so you might as well opt for a regional package.
Some travelers have had bad experiences with them, particularly around getting refunds and the countries that are covered in their regional packages. They also have a cap on how much data can be shared through your phone’s hotspot.
Use code GOINGAWESOMEPLACES to save 5% off of all eSIM orders.
KnowRoaming
We go way back with KnowRoaming as we used their sticker SIMs extensively back in the day. We also tested their eSIMs on our recent trip to Tuscany and it worked seamlessly.
They also have a partnership with Visa where eligible cards get 25% off eSIM plans. However, this only works for those in Middle East & Africa, and France.
Regarding price, they are in the middle somewhere, even with our GAP10 discount code.
- Coverage: 200+ destinations.
- Data: From 1GB to 50GB and unlimited.
- Days Coverage: 7 days to 60 days.
- Connection Speed: 4G LTE and 5G coverage (where available).
- Carrier: Unknown.
- eSIM Download: Different eSIM for each country if purchased individually. Unlimited plans and regional plans are a single eSIM.
- Unlimited Throttle Policy: 2 GB usage per day, after which the speed will drop to 500 Kbps until the start of your next 24 hour period from the time of activation.
- Hotspot Limitations: Unknown.
- Geographic Coverage: United States (no limitations mentioned).
- Data Transfer: No.
Easy to setup with the app and top up.
Slowest-in-class speed throttling for unlimited packages. Visa promo only works in Middle East & Africa and France.
Use code GAP10 to save 10% off of all eSIM orders.
Maya Mobile
They are easily the second cheapest eSIM company out there if you’ve read the article where we dove into a variety of countries and regions. When we look at USA specifically, their unlimited plans are the cheapest although they lose that spot on the 10GB plan to Holafly after discount.
As a relatively no-frills provider, you’ll be surprised they don’t have an app but the honest truth is that the apps themselves don’t actually do that much other than to check on how much data you have and topping up. With Maya Mobile, you do all of that on their website.
The one big unknown is their Acceptable Use Policy where they don’t specify a daily limit for their unlimited plan nor what their throttle speed is.
- Coverage: 200+ destinations.
- Data: From 5GB to 20GB and unlimited.
- Days Coverage: 5 days to 180 days.
- Connection Speed: 4G LTE and 5G coverage (where available).
- Carrier: AT&T and Verizon.
- eSIM Download: Different eSIM for each country if purchased individually. Unlimited plans and regional plans are a single eSIM.
- Unlimited Throttle Policy: Under their Acceptable Use Policy where certain activities may be subject to network management measures if they negatively impact network performance.
- Hotspot Limitations: Unlimited.
- Geographic Coverage: United States (no limitations mentioned).
- Data Transfer: No.
You can choose the trip length that you want and the price will adjust, providing users extra flexibility.
They do not have an app so you’ll have to manage your eSIM through their website.
Use our link to save 11% off of all eSIM orders.
Roamless
While Roamless doesn’t offer any unlimited plans, they’re unique in the space because they offer a pay-as-you-go plan. Another big advantage they have is that they currently have a promotion where you can get 3 free eSIMs.
Overall, price-wise, they aren’t the cheapest but they aren’t the highest in price either, even after using our 20% discount code..
Lastly, for pay-as-you-go, this is effectively valid around the world but you could use it for the United States specifically. Every gigabyte is $2.45. This is good for those that aren’t exactly sure what you might need but also know you won’t be using that much either.
- Coverage: 200+ countries.
- Data: From 500MB to 20GB. No unlimited but offers pay-as-you-go.
- Days Coverage: 30 days.
- Connection Speed: 4G LTE and 5G coverage (where available).
- Carrier: T-Mobile and AT&T.
- eSIM Download: Different eSIM for each country if purchased individually. Unlimited plans and regional plans are a single eSIM.
- Hotspot Limitations: Unlimited.
- Geographic Coverage: United States (no limitations mentioned).
- Data Transfer: No.
Their coverage is a flat 30 day and also has a unique pay-as-you-go option. They also offer excellent promotions for free eSIMs when signing up. Add these promo codes in this specific order: ROAM25, ROAM50, and then finally ROAM75 on the app immediately after creating a new account. App is also well-designed.
They do not offer unlimited plans.
Use AWESOME20 to save 20% on all packages.
Saily
Saily is another big player in the market now, thanks to their NordVPN pedigree and offering a lot of add-on features that other competitors don’t have.
In addition to being a data eSIM, you’re also getting getting a built-in VPN, ad blocking, and security against online threats.
Their 5GB unlimited throttle policy is also quite good but something that sticks out is that they explicitly don’t cover Alaska.
From a price perspective, even after discount, they’re in the middle somewhere but you also need to consider the bonuses they provide.
- Coverage: 200+ destinations.
- Data: From 1GB to 20GB and unlimited.
- Days Coverage: 7 days to 30 days.
- Connection Speed: 4G LTE and 5G coverage (where available).
- Carrier: Unknown.
- eSIM Download: Same eSIM can be re-used (has the option to create multiple eSIMs if you’d like).
- Unlimited Throttle Policy: 5 GB usage per day, after which the speed will drop to 1 Mbps.
- Hotspot Limitations: Unlimited.
- Geographic Coverage: Doesn’t include Alaska.
- Data Transfer: No.
You can use one eSIM for all destinations and packages. Has built-in security features such as blocking ads and malicious URLs.
USA coverage doesn’t include Alaska.
Use code GAP15 to save 15% on all orders.
Ubigi
The last provider is Ubigi. We first learned about them because they were one of the early ones that offered 5G coverage. Nowadays, 5G is an expectation for USA eSIM providers.
Now whether they’re just more forthcoming than others, something to note is they say that 5G is not available in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. We couldn’t find any documentation from other providers on this but it might be the kind of thing that isn’t disclosed for non-continental United States. Regardless, one area they definitely don’t cover is Alaska which is a big disadvantage.
An advantage that Ubigi has is that they allow the same eSIM to be re-used and their throttling only after you go beyond 60GB in 30 days which you’ll unlikely do.
Lastly, for price, their fixed-data and unlimited prices are some of the best.
- Coverage: 200+ destinations.
- Data: From 1GB to 60GB and unlimited.
- Days Coverage: 1 day to 30 days.
- Connection Speed: 4G LTE and 5G coverage (where available and only in the United States including Hawaii – 5G excluded in Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands).
- Carrier: T-Mobile.
- eSIM Download: Same eSIM can be re-used.
- Unlimited Throttle Policy: 60 GB usage per 30 days, after which the speed will drop to 1 Mbps.
- Hotspot Limitations: Unlimited.
- Geographic Coverage: Doesn’t include Alaska.
- Data Transfer: No.
They offer the largest cap before throttling for unlimited data plans and also allows for the same eSIM to be used for many packages.
Their global plans are expensive and Alaska is also not covered.
Use code AWESOME10 to save 10% on your first order.
eSIM Price Comparison Table
The below is a table we’ve constructed that lays out the fixed and unlimited packages for all of the companies we’ve analyzed. We’ve chosen arbitrary data sizes and days.
Additional USA eSIM Options
Here are some other solid eSIM options to check out:
- Klook: Lesser-known as a product but popular in the activity space in Asia, they also offer low-cast eSIMs and they happen to have a USA product that’s quite cheap as you can see from the table above.
Best eSIM For Other Destinations And Topics
We’re starting to build out eSIM articles for popular questions and destinations around the world. If you’re traveling to any of these places, make sure to check out the in-depth analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What territories in the USA do eSIM packages typically include?
From our research, most companies don’t disclose this information so it’s worth reaching out to providers directly but from our experience, in addition to continental USA, it also includes Hawaii, US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Guam. That said, there are some companies that mention explicit exclusions including Alaska.
Is Alaska coverage included in USA eSIMs for travel?
In most cases yes but it is explicitly excluded with Ubigi and Saily.
Who sells the cheapest eSIM for USA?
The best price for USA eSIMs belongs to eSIMx.
Travel Resources For Your Next Trip
If you’re in the process of planning your trip and putting together your itinerary, these are genuinely the best resources that the Going Awesome Places team stands by 100%.
Credit Cards
Don’t get burned by hidden fees on top of terrible exchange rates. When we travel now, we use the Wise Card. Simply load it with the currency you need before you go and use it as a regular VISA or their digital wallet card. Use their free app to track how much you have and top up when you need to.
Flights
In our opinion, of all the booking search engines, Skyscanner is the most helpful and easy to use thanks to their Everywhere feature. Kayak is also another that’s we will often check.
Rideshare
You probably already have accounts but if you don’t, for new Lyft users, use code WILLIAM4825 to get 50% off your first 2 rides (max $10 USD per ride). Offer valid for 14 days after you take your first ride. For new Uber users, use code psuqbjg4d7rn for the same offer except it’s valid for 30 days.
eSIM
eSIM: Lately, we’ve really loved using eSIMs. We’ve tested several over the years and we have access to a few special promotions.
- AmigoSIM – Use GOINGAWESOMEPLACES to save 25% off. Code is re-useable.
- Gigsky – Use TANG149 to get $3 USD when you sign up, then use code GOINGAWESOME to save 20% on all eSIM orders.
- Airalo – Use referral code WILLIA9500 to get $3 USD credit on your first purchase.
- KnowRoaming – Use code GAP10 to save 10%.
- AloSIM – Use code GOINGAWESOMEPLACES to save 15%.
- Ubigi – AWESOME10 to save 10% on your first order.
- Holafly – Use code GOINGAWESOMEPLACES to save 5%.
- Roamless – Use code AWESOME20 to save 20.
- Saily – Use code GAP15 to save 15%.
Wifi Hotspot
We’ve been a huge fan of wifi hotspot devices such as PokeFi (use code GAP24300) because their rates are are hard to beat and it works globally. Solis is another that we recommend. Pros are that you can share the wifi with your whole group but cons are that you have to invest in a device and you have to charge it every night.
Hotels
Our go-to is Booking.com because they have the best inventory of properties including hotels and B&Bs plus they have their Genius tier discounts. Expedia is also worth using especially with their One Key rewards program which is basically like cash. The exception is Asia where Agoda always has the best prices. Always do a quick check on TripAdvisor as well.
Tours and Activities
When planning our trips, we always check both Viator and GetYourGuide to at least see what’s out there in the destination that we’re going to. They often have different offerings and prices so check both.
Travel Insurance
Learn how to buy the best travel insurance for you. This isn’t something you want to travel without.
- HeyMondo – Popular insurance provider for frequent travelers and comes with great coverage and special perks. By booking through our link to get a 5% discount!
- RATESDOTCA – Search engine Canadians looking for the cheapest insurance including multi-trip annual policies.
- SafetyWing – A perfect fit for long-term nomads.
- Medjet – Global air medical transportation.
- InsureMyTrip – Best for seniors, families, and those with pre-existing conditions.
Check Out Our Toolbox
If you need more help planning your trip, make sure to check out our Travel Toolbox where we highlight all of the gear, resources, and tools we use when traveling.
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