The Best eSIMs for the USA 🇺🇸
- Updated: November 13, 2022 | Published: July 2, 2022
Are you traveling to the USA, the land of opportunity? Then you should definitely not travel without an Internet connection. Whether it’s a personal trip or a business trip to the United States, you should not travel without mobile internet.
There are several options to connect to the Internet in the USA, however, an eSIM is our clear recommendation. In this article we compare different USA eSIMs.
💡 Click here to see the eSIM comparison table
We will advise you on your choice of the best eSIM USA, so that you can always travel connected while on vacation. We pay attention to price, duration, data volume, service, technical support & more.
What is an eSIM?
The eSIM is a new form of the traditional SIM card that we use every day. What makes it special is that the SIM chip is already built into the new smartphones. It is also called an “embedded” SIM, which is where the “e” of eSIM comes from. By integrating the chip inside the phone, it is possible to virtually activate the desired data tariffs.
There are two different ways to do this, either you manage the data rates with the help of an app that serves as a SIM card manager. Or you scan a QR code and the data device activates itself.
Advantages of an eSIM for the USA
The eSIM offers various advantages over the normal SIM card that you may not have thought of before. These include, for example:
- Greener: Protect the environment by buying an eSIM. Eliminate plastic cards, paper for packaging and CO2 emissions during shipping.
- Save time: Because the delivery is done by email, you save time waiting for the delivery or standing in line at the store. After two clicks you have your eSIM.
- Availability: By getting your eSIM from the online store, you are free to buy your eSIM from anywhere in the world at any time, even if you are already in the US.
How do I activate the eSIM with data plan for the USA?
We were really surprised how easy it was to use. People are sometimes a bit cautious with new technologies, but with the eSIM, you definitely don’t need to be. It’s actually as easy as everyone always says it is.
If you get the data plan in the form of a QR code, then at the appropriate time you go to your settings app on your phone. There, a camera will open up under the “Add Data Plan” section. After scanning, you label the new eSIM for the United States and select this “profile” as active.
The steps follow one after the other and you are automatically and self-explanatory redirected. Anyone can do this, even those who are not particularly technically experienced. In addition, with most eSIM providers, step-by-step instructions are also added to your email.
What do I have to consider when buying a USA eSIM?
To avoid problems later on when using your eSIM USA, it is important that you check the compatibility of your device and the product variant before buying.
Compatibility
Because the eSIM is a very new product, it does not work with all phone models. Only the newer smartphones have the new dual eSIM technologies. So that you don’t end up without data in the United States, you should check compatibility before you buy. We simply checked the list of compatible smartphones on the eSIM provider’s websites. You will actually find all the information you need there.
Which eSIM package should you choose?
You should get an overview of how much data you use on average in advance to be able to estimate which data plan is right for you. We know friends who need significantly more data volume on vacation than at home. This can happen quickly when you want to share your new experiences on Instagram from the road or Google many sights during the city tour to learn more about the history.
However, especially on vacation, you sometimes want to sit in front of screens less, which is why you consciously put your phone away. For this reason, you must first empathize with yourself and think about what you want to use the map for. If you have difficulties, you can also ask experts for advice or look for suitable articles that explain exactly how you can estimate your data consumption.
The Best eSIMs for the USA
Below you see a curated list of providers that offer eSIMs for the USA at an affordable price with a reliable internet service in the USA.
What do I do when the data on my USA eSIM is used up?
It’s good to have a data plan that’s perfect for your trip. But don’t worry if you run out of data even before your trip ends. As mentioned before, one of the advantages of the US eSIM is that you can order it regardless of your location.
This means that you can order another data plan at short notice if you realize that the planned one will not be sufficient. After all, it can always happen that you have to apply for things due to unexpected events or have to discuss a lot with your family at home.
My phone is not compatible with the USA eSIM - is there an alternative?
Too bad… If you found out that your current phone is not compatible with the eSIM, don’t worry yet. There are other internet alternatives for the US.
SIM Card
Various providers send the traditional USA prepaid SIM cards to your home before you leave. There are almost unlimited options available with different durations.
For the sake of completeness, we also mention the other alternatives for Internet in the USA. For us, these options are less of an option, but they may be just right for your needs.
Pocket WiFi
The Pocket WiFis are portable WiFi routers, which are especially well-known in Asia. You can connect several devices at the same time, just like with a normal router. However, you always have another bulky device in your luggage, which has to be recharged after 13 hours of runtime.
Public WiFi
It is definitely the cheapest option, but it must be clearly mentioned here that you are not allowed to enter any personal information, transactions or passwords while you are connected to a public WLAN.
The networks are rather insecure and many hackers use this to their advantage. We do check Instagram from time to time if we happen to come across a public wifi during our trip. However, we only use this as a supplement to the USA eSIM.
Roaming
Almost everyone knows someone, or was perhaps ready to be someone, who came home unsuspecting and found an incredibly high phone bill at home after a relaxing vacation. Since you can quickly and unintentionally get rid of half a fortune here, we clearly advise against roaming as an Internet option.
Holiday in the USA
The myth lives on: the USA is and remains the land of unlimited possibilities and therefore travelling here is a highlight without equal. The diversity offered on a holiday in the USA is breathtaking.
New York as a centre of attraction
City breaks are at the top of the list when it comes to spending a holiday in the USA. The unbeaten number one is the world metropolis of New York. A city that never sleeps and shows its guests many faces.
A sightseeing tour allows you to see the most important attractions. If you want to follow in the footsteps of the beginnings, you should start your tour of New York on Ellis Island. Once the arrival point of the first immigrants and the site of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island offers a glimpse of the founding era.
Of course, Time Square, the Empire State Building and the World Trade Center are not to be missed. Shopping in a different dimension is something you can only experience here!
Las Vegas, Miami and Co
You need a lucky hand if you find yourself in the desert city of Las Vergas. You can prove your playing talent everywhere here. With great attention to detail, you can experience wonders of the world in miniature in this dazzling city.
But Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco or Seattle are also metropolises that should be seen on a trip to the USA.
Natural wonders in abundance
A country as large as the USA naturally attracts not only city travellers, but also holidaymakers who want to see something of the indescribable nature. Yellowstone National Park is one of the most sought-after nature parks. But the Everglades in Florida also attract tourists.
The endless expanses of prairie can be admired in the states of North and South Dakota. Here you can even meet the indigenous people in the reservations, who keep their traditions and culture alive.
Wild, Wild West
What would a holiday in the USA be without having sat on the back of a horse at least once? In Colorado, many a childhood dream comes true when you choose a ranching holiday.
Accommodation in a real log cabin, rides to the cattle herds and sociable evenings around the campfire make the dream of being a cowboy come true. Here, of course, you can really lend a hand and if you want to experience the USA from this side, you should refrain from staying in a hotel in the city..
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