Are you planning a trip to the U.S. in 2025? You’ll likely have a lot to prepare and pack, flights and hotels to reserve, and such. You can’t forget a reliable internet connection to ensure you have a smooth trip. An eSIM can help you immensely and for a really affordable price, too.
Don’t worry if you’ve never heard about eSIMs. In this article, you’ll learn the basics of what they are, how they work, and why you should choose one. You’ll learn about some of the providers you have available in the U.S. and what the main cons and pros are, as well as how to install and activate your eSIM once you have it.
What is an eSIM?
An embedded SIM or eSIM is the more modern version of the traditional SIM card. They were first introduced in 2016 and have gained a lot of popularity since then. Now, you don’t have to fiddle with a physical card. Instead, you just buy and activate them through the internet.
How is it different than a traditional SIM?
Since you’re traveling to the U.S., where you’ll have access to both, you’ll probably be curious about their differences. Which one is best for you? They have the exact same basic functionality, allowing your phone to connect to the networks and the internet, but they differ in how.
You can find a deeper comparison in this article from our blog, but in general, it can be resumed as follows:
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Availability: Both are easy to find in the U.S., but for physical SIMs, you need to go to a store, while the eSIM can be purchased through the internet.
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Multiple plans: With traditional SIMs, there is usually only one country per card. With eSIM, you have the option to buy only one and use it in multiple countries.
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Activation: Both are simple enough, but it can be uncomfortable opening up your phone to insert a new card. On the other hand, eSIMs do not need to be inserted since they only exist digitally.
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Compatibility: Physical SIMs are compatible with every phone that’s unlocked, while eSIMs only work with modern models that are specifically made to be compatible.
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Environmental Impact: Physical SIMs are made of hard plastic, so they do have an impact on the environment, eSIMs are more eco-friendly.
Why Choose an eSIM for Traveling in the U.S.?
Save on roaming fees
Technically, you can use your regular SIM in any country to access the internet. But this will not be cheap. Traditional roaming can be as high as $5 per MB! So, no matter how little data you spend per day, you can end up with a $300 bill at the end of the month. This is simply too much money for almost nothing.
Instead, use an eSIM to access local data plans and pay for your internet as little as the locals do. For example, if you went to the U.S., the same amount of data that can cost you more than $300 in roaming fees could be just $30 with an eSIM. That’s a 90% saving!
You can learn more in our article about the benefits of an eSIM over international roaming.
Instant setup
Now, you don’t have to get to the airport and remember to find a store that sells physical SIMs anymore. You don’t even have to open your smartphone with the risk of damaging your own SIM or the new one. You can just set everything up before you reach the U.S. Just buy an eSIM on the internet, and it will activate automatically when you set foot in the U.S.
Travel more with regional eSIM
The United States is a great country, but maybe you’ll like to travel a bit more now that you have the chance. Be it you want to go North to the cold Canada or South to the warm Mexico, you can keep just one single eSIM for the three of them! It’s definitely more convenient to keep buying physical cards that you have to dispose of after.
Help the planet with an eSIM
As we already said, physical SIMs are made of hard plastic, which is a big problem for the planet. Every single year, over 1 billion plastic cards are produced, and even worse, most travelers who buy one immediately get rid of them after their trip. If you don’t want to keep that trend, help the planet and the natural beauties of the U.S. by choosing the eco-friendly eSIM.
Stay connected in remote areas
The United States is a huge country. It has almost 10 million square kilometers of cities, forests, mountains, and lakes. With 4310 km from the west coast to the east and 2546 km from north to south, and that’s without Alaska!
So it’s easy to understand how important it is to get a good provider that will guarantee you get 4G/5G even if you decide to explore the Arctic regions, the Rocky Mountains, or the Mojave Desert.
Picture by Connor McManus on Pexels
How to Choose the Best eSIM for the U.S.?
Assess network coverage
Given the size of the U.S., the question of how much coverage any given eSIM provider offers is extremely important. You probably won’t have much problem in the main metropolitan areas like California, New York, or Washington. But if you plan to explore remote areas, you need a strong provider that works with a network widely available in said area, like AT&T, -Mobil,e or Verizon.
How much data do you need?
Think ahead and analyze your normal data usage and the characteristics of your trip. Will you be working remotely, or are you just going to take some photos and check some maps? Do you usually spend a lot of time on social media, or are you going to keep watching that Netflix series while you’re away from home?
In a general way, you can use this guide:
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Light user: Around 1GB-3GB a week should be more than enough.
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Medium user: Try to get a plan for around 5GB-10Gb for two weeks.
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Heavy user: If you use the internet a lot, you need a strong plan with a minimum of 20GB+ for a month and even an unlimited data plan.
How long is your stay?
This is important so you can choose a plan that lasts you enough, and you can choose the best provider for you. If you’re staying for a long time, you’ll benefit from a provider that lets you recharge your eSIM and has better prices for their longer packages. If you’re a frequent traveler, you might also benefit from a multi-country plan.
Are you good with just data?
If so, then there’s nothing wrong. Most eSIM plans are data-only, meaning that you’ll be relaying in apps like WhatsApp and Skype if you need to make calls or chat with someone. However, if you prefer having the option to use regular calls and SMS, just check with the providers. Some offers also offer a local phone number with call minutes.
Do you need a hotspot?
Maybe you’re not traveling alone, and having one smartphone able to access the internet and share that connection is enough. Or maybe you’re also working, and you need a reliable way to give an internet connection to your own laptop or tablet. If so, check with the providers if they support tetherin (hotspot sharing) before you buy any plans.
Prices
This is a very important aspect to keep in mind. As with any service, the pricing can vary depending on your provider and the plan that you want to purchase. You do have multiple options, so you can keep your eSIM well within your budget. For example, if you want flexibility in making your own data plan with good prices, try Yoho Mobile.
Picture by RDNE Stock project on Pexels
Best eSIM Providers for the US in 2025
Yoho Mobile
Yoho Mobile is an excellent option for travelers who will stay longer in the US. Their pricing is competitive, with 1GB for a whole month costing only $3.21 and 10GB costing $11.66. That’s only $1.16 per GB!
In addition, they offer unlimited data plans and regional eSIM options, like USA+Canada. You can also share your data with other devices or even friends if you are working on the go or traveling with friends.
Their speed and coverage are good since they’re partnered with the US major networks like T-Mobile, ensuring great performance in urban and suburban areas, which is essential if you want to travel to the far sides of the US during your trip.
Their customer services are excellent, offering 24/7 service via email and WhatsApp in multiple languages, so no matter where or when you have a problem, you’ll be well attended to.
Overall, Yoho Mobile offers the best service and eSIM plans for the US, with highly customizable plans, multi-country options, unlimited data plans, and high speed, all within reasonable pricing.
Flexiroam
Flexiroam is a good option if you want a data-only plan, with prices that are usually more affordable than traditional data roaming and physical SIMs. Their eSIM plan for all of North America (Mexico, U.S., and Canada) starts at 1GB for 7 days at $14 and goes up to $100GB for a whole year for only $454. However, they do not offer any option that includes regular calls or SMS, so you’ll have to rely on Skype and WhatsApp to stay in touch with family and friends.
It has an interesting feature called network-agnostic, meaning its eSIMs tend to switch networks automatically to use the best signal available. This works great in metropolitan areas but can have some issues in rural and remote areas. Its eSIMs also support hotspots, and their data plans can be easily top-up. They offer customer support 24/7 via live chat, e-mail, and WhatsApp, with generally good reviews.
Jetpac
If you want to stay on a budget, Jetpac offers affordable data plans. Their data plan ranges from $1 for 1GB, valid for only 4 days, to $25 for 50GB, valid for 10 days, and they support tethering and even offer free VPN services.
This is a great option for short-term travelers, so if you’re planning to stay in the US for more than a couple of weeks, maybe they’re not the best option for you.
Their coverage is pretty comprehensive, working with the T-Mobile’s 4G/LTE/5G network. They have good customer service, with 24/7 availability and a smooth setup via their mobile app, but since they’re a new eSIM provider, there is a limited amount of long-term user feedback to assess.
Saily
Saily offers better options for long-term travelers in comparison with Jetpac. Their pricing starts at $3.99 for a GB, valid for 7 days, and goes up to $36.99 for 20GB for a full month, so it is relatively affordable.
However, they do not offer calls or SMS, and while they do allow tethering, there’s a daily cap of 1GB. So, if you need to connect many devices or work on the go, it may be quite an inconvenience.
Customer support is a strong point of Saily, with 24/7 assistance via the Saily app and their e-mail. Even then, their setup process is specially designed to be beginner-friendly, so you shouldn’t have problems installing and managing your eSIM plans.
Airhub
Another good option if you want to keep to a budget. Airhub offers good monthly options ranging from 5GB for $16, 15GB for $25, and an unlimited plan for $50. A big downside of their monthly plans is that they do not support tethering, but their prepaid local eSIMs do. So if you’re staying in a single area, maybe they are a good match for you.
Any doubts that you have, you can contact them 24/7 via live chat and e-mail. Their responses are usually quick, although there are occasional instances of inaccurate information being provided.
How to Buy and Activate an eSIM for the U.S.
Choose your eSIM provider
Before you make your choice, you want to make sure that you’re phone is compatible with eSIMs. To make it easy, here’s a list of all the compatible models.
Go to their Store
Depending on your provider, you’ll need to get their app or use their website. Yoho Mobile, for example, works great both in app and in web.
Choose the U.S. as your destination
Now, select the country you are traveling to. In this case, it is the U.S., but if you’re planning to travel to multiple ones, choose as many as you need.
Choose your plan or customize it
If you choose Yoho Mobile, here is where you add as many days as you need, and you make a rough estimate of how many GB you’ll need for that time.
If you usually spend a lot of data, you can choose the unlimited plans. But if you’re traveling for a short amount of time, maybe a small data package, like 1-3GB for a week, is enough.
To learn more about how customizable Yoho Mobile is, we suggest you read this article.
Buy your eSIM
Check all the data you’ve entered so far, and then complete the purchase. Make sure you give a valid e-mail direction since you’ll receive the QR code with your eSIM there.
If you have a promo code, this is the time to use it. For example, Yoho Mobile offers a 12% discount to all our readers with the code YOHO12.
Then, just select your payment method and finish the transaction.
Install and Activate your eSIM
Now that you’ve finished your purchase check the e-mail directions that you put in. There, you’ll find the QR code needed to activate your eSIM. Just scan it if it activates immediately, or wait until the recorded date to do the setup.
To avoid errors, check the activation time before you scan it. For more info, you can read our article about the whole process
FAQs About Using an eSIM in the U.S.
Is an eSIM worth it in the U.S.?
Yes. The eSIM technology is currently the best method you can use to stay connected no matter where you go. And this is especially important in a country as huge as the United States. Even if you plan to visit Mexico and Canada as well, an eSIM will make the transition exponentially more smoothly and will save you time and effort. eSIMs also offer great customization and are an eco-friendly option compared to old physical SIMs.
How much data do I need for my trip to the U.S.?
This depends completely on your personal needs. If you’re a freelancer or a remote worker, you’ll likely need a bigger data plan than a traveler who is just going to spend a few days and will be mainly focused on enjoying the experience.
Does the U.S. work with eSIM?
The U.S. is renowned worldwide for being one of the places where new technologies start gaining traction. This is helped by the sheer size of the country and the fact that there are so many networks that even for their citizens, eSIMs offer a great advantage, being able to jump from one network to the other to get a better connection speed.
Can I make calls and send texts with a U.S. eSIM?
With some of them, yes, you can. But most eSIMs are data-only. So, if you prefer to have the option to make calls and send SMS, check with your eSIM provider if you want to learn more about this topic, you can check our article about the best eSIMs for call and text.
What is the best eSIM for the U.S.?
There isn’t a right and wrong answer. The absolute best eSIM for a traveler might be a migraine-inducing option for another. It completely depends on your personal needs, like budget, data usage, and length of your trip. But in general, if you want a reliable option with competitive prices and great customization of plans, check out Yoho Mobile.