🇺🇸 Best SIM cards for United States
Comparing 40 plans from 5 providers
💡 T-Mobile has the best combination of price, 5G coverage and value for tourists — their prepaid plans are generous and coverage reaches most rural areas. Verizon has the best rural coverage overall but is more expensive. AT&T is strong in cities and the South. Mint Mobile (T-Mobile network) is the cheapest option if you buy online in advance. Google Fi works seamlessly on most unlocked Android phones and iPhones. 5G is widely available in all major cities.
| Provider | Type | Data | Validity | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Provider Saily★ Recommended Perfect for a short trip or arrival day. | TypeeSIM | Data1.00 GB | Validity7 days | Price $3.99Best price | Get this SIM |
| Provider Saily | TypeeSIM | Data1.00 GB | Validity7 days | Price $3.99 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad | TypeeSIM | Data1.00 GB | Validity7 days | Price $5.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Holafly★ Recommended Holafly 1-day eSIM. Activate before boarding, works from the moment you land. | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity1 days | Price $5.90 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Ubigi★ Recommended Transatel network USA. All 50 states. Works on smartphones, tablets and laptops. | TypeeSIM | Data3.00 GB | Validity15 days | Price $7.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad★ Recommended | TypeeSIM | Data3.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $8.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Saily | TypeeSIM | Data3.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $8.99 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Saily Local US network. All 50 states covered including Hawaii and Alaska. | TypeeSIM | Data3.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $8.99 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity3 days | Price $11.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Holafly | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity3 days | Price $11.90 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad | TypeeSIM | Data5.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $12.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Saily | TypeeSIM | Data5.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $13.99 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Saily Best balance of data and price for the USA. | TypeeSIM | Data5.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $13.99 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Ubigi Transatel / NTT premium USA plan. Best for tablet or laptop users. | TypeeSIM | Data10.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $14.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity5 days | Price $16.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad Good value Nomad plan for the USA. T-Mobile or AT&T network. | TypeeSIM | Data10.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $18.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Holafly | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity5 days | Price $18.50 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad | TypeeSIM | Data10.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $20.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Saily Best value for USA. Full month, all states. | TypeeSIM | Data10.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $21.84 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Saily | TypeeSIM | Data10.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $22.99 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity7 days | Price $23.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Holafly | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity7 days | Price $25.50 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Airalo Unlimited on T-Mobile. 5G in all major cities. No ID required. | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity7 days | Price $27.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Holafly Unlimited in the USA. 5G in all major cities. No ID required. | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity7 days | Price $27.30 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity10 days | Price $32.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad | TypeeSIM | Data20.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $34.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Holafly | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity10 days | Price $34.90 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Saily Heavy data users — streaming, remote work. | TypeeSIM | Data20.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $35.14 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Saily | TypeeSIM | Data20.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $36.99 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad | TypeeSIM | Data50.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $41.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity15 days | Price $44.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Saily | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity15 days | Price $45.99 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Holafly | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity15 days | Price $46.90 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity20 days | Price $52.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Holafly Full month unlimited in the USA. Hotspot included. Best value Holafly US plan. | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity30 days | Price $64.90 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Holafly | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity30 days | Price $68.90 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Airalo Unlimited on T-Mobile for extended US trips. Top-ups available. | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity30 days | Price $69.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad 20 GB across Latin America: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Paraguay, Uruguay. | TypeeSIM | Data20.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $69.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad | TypeeSIM | Data75.00 GB | Validity180 days | Price $89.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad | TypeeSIM | Data100.00 GB | Validity365 days | Price $120.00 | Get this SIM |
Our recommendations for United States
For your exact trip length
Tell us how many days you're traveling and we'll find the best match.
Budget way
Activate a cheap eSIM the night before your flight. Use it on day 1 to order an Uber from the airport to your hotel. Next day, pop into a local operator store and buy a local SIM.
Day 1 eSIM (arrival)
Holafly · 1 day
Local SIM (from day 2)
Prepaid SIM from T-Mobile, AT&T or Mint Mobile
Best option if you stay more than 10 days — local SIMs are often 3–5× cheaper.
Hassle-free way
Order your eSIM before departure — nothing to buy on arrival. Works from the moment you land.
Best option for short trips or if you don't want to deal with local operator stores.
About these providers
Strengths
- +Largest selection — 200+ countries, multiple local operators per country
- +Very competitive data-capped plans (cheapest overall for data)
- +Instant QR code activation — works within seconds
- +Excellent iOS & Android app with real-time data tracking
- +Physical SIM available for some destinations
Weaknesses
- −Data-only — no calls or SMS on most plans
- −Too many options can be overwhelming
- −Prices displayed in AUD (confusing for non-Australians)
- −Customer support can be slow
Strengths
- +Unlimited data on ALL plans — no data stress ever
- +1-day plans from $5.90 — perfect for arrival day
- +Simple pricing — few options, no confusion
- +Live chat customer support
- +Social media (WhatsApp, Instagram) always free on top
Weaknesses
- −More expensive than Airalo for stays over 10 days
- −Data-only — no calls or SMS
- −No physical SIM option
Strengths
- +Best multi-country regional plans in the market
- +Global plans up to 180 days or 1 year — ideal for long trips
- +Simple, clean interface — easy to choose
- +Competitive pricing for multi-destination trips
Weaknesses
- −Fewer individual country options than Airalo
- −Data-only — no calls or SMS
- −Less name recognition than Airalo/Holafly
Strengths
- +Made by Nord Security — the NordVPN creators (trusted brand)
- +Often cheaper than Airalo for data-capped plans
- +150+ countries covered
- +Clean app with real-time data usage tracker
- +Flexible packages: 1 GB to 20 GB
Weaknesses
- −Data-capped only — no unlimited plans
- −Newer provider (launched 2023) — fewer user reviews
- −No physical SIM
Strengths
- +Made by Transatel / NTT — major global telecom infrastructure provider
- +Works on smartphones, tablets AND laptops (unique)
- +Also available in connected cars (BMW, Toyota, Fiat…)
- +190+ countries covered
- +Enterprise-grade network reliability
Weaknesses
- −More expensive than Airalo and Saily for most plans
- −Primarily aimed at business / professional travelers
- −Pricing less transparent on website
Getting a local SIM in United States
🏪Where to buy
SIMs are available at major airport terminals from T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon kiosks. In the city: Best Buy, Target, Walmart, CVS and 7-Eleven all sell prepaid SIMs. T-Mobile and AT&T have stores in every major mall and downtown area. You can also order Mint Mobile or Google Fi online before your trip and have it shipped to your hotel.
📄Documents needed
No ID required to purchase a prepaid SIM in the United States — this is one of the few countries where you can buy and activate a SIM completely anonymously. Some carriers ask for a name and zip code during activation but do not verify the information.
💡Tips & coverage
T-Mobile has the best combination of price, 5G coverage and value for tourists — their prepaid plans are generous and coverage reaches most rural areas. Verizon has the best rural coverage overall but is more expensive. AT&T is strong in cities and the South. Mint Mobile (T-Mobile network) is the cheapest option if you buy online in advance. Google Fi works seamlessly on most unlocked Android phones and iPhones. 5G is widely available in all major cities.
Local SIM prices in United States
Typical cost if you buy a physical SIM card on arrival (for comparison only).
| Data | Validity | Est. price |
|---|---|---|
| 5.00 GB | 7 days | $10.00–$20.00 |
| Unlimited | 30 days | $25.00–$50.00 |
Prices are estimates based on tourist SIM cards available locally. Actual prices vary by operator and date.