Having quick and dependable high-speed information on your cellphone is basically a requirement whenever you journey to the USA however guests are sometimes stunned that pay as you go SIM information plans aren’t as broadly out there or as reasonably priced as of their house nation.
In this information, I’ll cowl every little thing you have to learn about shopping for a SIM Card within the US and how you can purchase the perfect US pay as you go cellular information plans at the perfect value.
Important Note About Prepaid SIM Card Data Plans within the US
Getting a pay as you go information plan in America is a irritating expertise—particularly for worldwide guests. Mobile service is mostly far more costly within the US than in the remainder of the world so vacationers are sometimes stunned once they arrive anticipating quick access to low-cost information.
Why?
Prepaid information plans aren’t frequent within the US as a result of most Americans have year-long cellphone service contracts. To make issues extra sophisticated, just a few companies additionally require that you just use a US bank card in case you’re shopping for a month-to-month plan.
That’s why many vacationers have points in terms of shopping for an information plan once they arrive within the US as a result of it’s important to exit of your method to discover pay as you go service within the US.
Even main airports like New York’s JFK have only a few choices and those you’ll discover are pricey and never handy.
I’ll cowl all this extra in-depth later on this article however I wished to get this out of the way in which up entrance.
In quick, I extremely advocate shopping for an information plan earlier than arriving within the US in case you don’t need to take care of the effort. Check out SimOptions (bodily SIM playing cards and eSIM) or Holafly (eSIM solely) for just a few totally different choices—I like to recommend shopping for an eSIM information plan in case your cellphone is suitable.
How To Buy A Prepaid Data Plan For The US
You have three principal choices in terms of shopping for an information plan for the US:
Prepurchase an eSIM Data Plan (Easiest)
The easiest method to purchase an information plan for the US is to purchase an eSIM information plan as a result of you’ll be able to activate it immediately so that you don’t should pay for delivery. All it’s important to do is purchase the service after which activate it when you’re within the US.
I’ve used SimOptions up to now to purchase worldwide information plans.
Here’s a fast video displaying you ways straightforward eSIMs are:
Not all telephones are eSIM suitable (most trendy telephones are suitable) so preserve that in thoughts.
Prepurchase a SIM Data Plan (Easy)
If you need to kind out your information plan previous to your journey, I like to recommend shopping for your SIM card earlier than you permit so that you’ll have information as quickly as you arrive (i.e. no monitoring down a SIM card when you arrive within the US).
The principal draw back is that you just’ll have to attend for the SIM card to reach and pay for delivery so it won’t be an amazing choice in case you want your SIM Card instantly.
Wait Until You’re In The US To Buy A SIM Card (Most Difficult)
The third choice is to attend till you arrive within the US to purchase your information plan. As I discussed earlier, pay as you go information plans aren’t highly regarded within the US so that you’ll should exit of your method to discover them.
I’ll cowl this in additional depth additional down on this article.
The Best Prepaid SIM Card and eSIM Data Plan You Can Buy Before Arriving In The US
Here’s a listing of each pay as you go eSIM information plans and bodily SIM card information plans that can work within the US.
I’ve tried to record each professionals and cons of every plan so spend somewhat time studying up on every as a result of some have just a few quirks.
Three 30-Day Pass (Digital eSIM Plan)
Plan Specs:
- PRICE: $35
- DATA: 20GB
- INCLUDES TEXTS OR CALLS?: NO
- CREDIT VALID FOR: 30 Days
If your cellphone is eSIM suitable, the Three 30-Day Pass is difficult to beat for the worth and information allowance. This information plan offers you 20GB of information for $35 and it’s legitimate for a month.
And since that is an eSIM, you get prompt supply by way of electronic mail and also you don’t should pay for delivery.
Holafly US Data Plans (Unlimited Data eSIM)
Holafly is a brand new data-only eSIM startup that I’ve personally used on a latest journey and located labored surprisingly properly (learn my Holafly eSIM Review to be taught extra).
Unlike different firms, Holafly’s plans provide you with limitless information (they may throttle your information in case you use extreme information however this received’t be a problem for many customers) and their plans run from 5 to 90 days. Holafly additionally connects to each the AT&T and T-Mobile networks—that are two of the biggest cellular carriers within the US.
- Prices For Unlimited Data (Check Holafly for particulars)
- 5 Days: $19
- 10 Days: $34
- 15 Days: $47
- 20 Days: $54
- 30 Days: $64
- 60 Days: $84
- 90 Days: $99
- Service Speed: 4G/LTE
- Calls: None
- Texts/SMS: None
- Tethering: No
Smart Traveller eSIM (Digital eSIM Plan)
Plan Specs:
- PRICE: $18
- DATA: 6GB
- INCLUDES TEXTS OR CALLS?: NO
- CREDIT VALID FOR: 10 Days
The Smart Traveller eSIM is an efficient funds choice for shorter journeys because it’s solely legitimate for 10 days. If you’re visiting for longer than 10 days, it is sensible to go together with the Three 30-Day Pass for $35.
Orange Holiday World (Physical SIM Card)
Plan Specs:
- PRICE: $50
- DATA: 10GB
- INCLUDES TEXTS OR CALLS?: NO
- USED AS A MOBILE HOTSPOT?: Yes
- CREDIT VALID FOR: 14 Days
The Orange Holiday World is a highly regarded selection for vacationers for just a few totally different causes.
First, it’s run by Orange—the biggest cellular service in Europe they usually’ve partnered with main US cellular carriers so the service tends to be higher than no-name SIM information plans.
Second, the Orange Holiday World plan contains 10GB of 4G/LTE information within the US. This plan additionally works in Canada and Mexico if these occur to be a part of your journey.
Third, there is no such thing as a registration wanted—merely set up the SIM and also you’re able to go.
The principal draw back is that the info plan solely lasts for 14 days so it’s not ultimate for longer journeys however you’ll be able to prime up the cardboard one time for €29 to get one other 14 days of service with a further 10GB of information.
Three PAYG MBB 12GB (Physical SIM Card)
Plan Specs:
- PRICE: $60
- DATA: 12GB
- INCLUDES TEXTS OR CALLS?: NO
- USED AS A MOBILE HOTSPOT?: NO
- CREDIT VALID FOR: 1 Year
The Three UK PYAG MBB is one other in style SIM information plan choice due to its 12GB of information for $60. It doesn’t permit information tethering and you should utilize it with a pocket WIFI. This card is legitimate for a yr after activation so it’s a pleasant choice for longer visits to the US.
Three PAYG MBB 24GB (Physical SIM Card)
Plan Specs:
- PRICE: $80
- DATA: 24GB
- INCLUDES TEXTS OR CALLS?: NO
- USED AS A MOBILE HOTSPOT?: NO
- CREDIT VALID FOR: 1 Year
The Three UK PAYG MBB 24GB information plan offers you 24GB of cellular information for $80 so this can be a good choice for heavy information customers. If you will have a pocket WIFI, this will also be a superb choice for teams touring collectively so you’ll be able to break up information over a number of telephones.
How To Buy A Prepaid Data Plan In The US
Most pay as you go information plans from US carriers are month-to-month so in case you don’t cancel the plan you’ll be charged when the brand new month begins. Because of this, many require that you’ve got a US bank card.
Verizon Prepaid Data Plans
Verizon of the biggest cellular supplier within the US and their pay as you go plans begin at $40/month for 5GB of information. Verizon can be the most costly choice. Visit the Verizon web site to be taught extra.
Verizon additionally has a brand new funds service referred to as Visible however you’ll want a US bank card and solely sure telephones work on their community (go to the Visible cellphone compatibility checker to see in case your cellphone works).
T-Mobile Prepaid US Data Plans
T-Mobile gives a month-to-month pay as you go information plan that begins at $40/month (not together with taxes and charges—a $10 SIM starter equipment could also be required). The $40/month plan will get you 10GB of information however the $50/month plan has limitless information. Click right here to go to the T-Mobile web site to be taught extra.
AT&T Wireless Prepaid Data Plans
AT&T Wireless has pay as you go information plans that begin at $30/month for 5BG of information. Visit the AT&T web site to be taught extra.
Google Fi Prepaid Data Plans
Google Fi has a month-to-month plan and a pay-as-you-go plan. The month-to-month plan has limitless information for $50/month and the pay-as-you-go is $20+$10 for each 10GB of information. Visit the Google Fi web site to be taught extra.
Straight Talk Wireless Prepaid
Straight Talk Wireless is a funds service that’s primarily offered at Walmart shops. The principal drawback is that Walmarts are typically situated exterior massive cities so that you’ll want a automotive to succeed in the shop. You may have the cardboard shipped to a US tackle.
Get More Budget Travel Tips
Here are just a few articles that can assist you go to New York City:
Traveling to Europe too? Check out my information on how you can use your cellphone in Europe and our information to the perfect SIM Cards and Data Plans for Europe. If you will have a more moderen cellphone, try our information to the perfect Prepaid eSIM Data Plans for Europe.
James Feess is the creator of The Savvy Backpacker and the writer of the guide “The Savvy Backpacker’s Guide To Europe On A Budget”. He’s been running a blog about funds journey in Europe since 2010.
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