Are you planning your trip and looking for the best eSIM for the USA? Then you’ve come to the right place! I myself have travelled across the USA multiple times and have asked myself exactly the same question as you are right now.

I have tested (and bought!) several eSIMs for America over the years. In my table, you can compare the most important 👉 eSIM for the USA. I have two recommendations for you.

My tip: If you are not sure, just write me an email with your questions!

eSIM USA comparison 2025

Which providers offer the best eSim rates for the USA? What does an eSIM cost? And which services are included in the price? This is shown in my tabular comparison of the eSIM for the USA!

Notes on the comparison of eSIM for the USA

The provider varies depending on the tariff. T-Mobile, AT&T or Verizon or a combination is used. You can see this when you select a tariff.

I was surprised by the Trustpilot rating of airalo. Because I had absolutely no problems in the US – and I had travelled on the east coast, in Arizona, Utah and on the west coast. I compared the pure data tariffs here – you can book phone calls and free minutes with some providers.

You can see which ones they are in my table 👆

Why should you choose an eSIM for the USA?

✅ Online immediately upon arrival

With an eSIM, you’re ready to go as soon as you leave the plane – no searching for a shop, no waiting, no activation on the ground. Simply book in advance, install and get started right away.

✅ No physical delivery or SIM card change

You receive your eSIM digitally, usually via QR code or link – without any postal delivery or additional hardware. This is particularly useful for spontaneous trips or when you are already on the road.

✅ Easy and quick setup

Activating the eSIM only takes a few minutes: scan the QR code or enter the data manually – done. No prior technical knowledge is required, and most providers provide step-by-step instructions.

✅ Full cost control and no roaming fees

eSIM tariffs are easy to calculate: You book a data package with a defined term and know exactly what you get. Unlike expensive international roaming, there are no nasty surprises on the bill.

✅ Flexible, environmentally friendly and usable in parallel

You don’t need a plastic SIM or a tool to switch. Many smartphones allow you to use the eSIM in addition to the normal SIM – ideal for staying connected while surfing locally, for example.

How much data do I need in the US?

Many travellers are unsure how much data they will need during their stay in the USA. The answer depends largely on how intensively you use your smartphone. For orientation, you can find typical applications and how much data they consume here:

What is the best eSim for the USA?

First of all: you can’t go wrong with any of the top providers. I can recommend the Holafly eSIM and the airalo eSIM. Holafly is ingenious because you don’t have to worry about data usage, because every tariff they offer is an unlimited package. I found that reassuring on my road trips, because I also used my phone as a navigation system the whole time.

You can buy the Holafly eSIM here.

The airalo eSIM has had the same good reception – here you should always keep an eye on your data usage. Because they don’t offer any real unlimited packages. However, this is not a problem if, for example, you are travelling in the USA for a week or primarily in large cities like New York City. Why? The days are easy to calculate!

Here you can buy the airalo eSIM.

How to find the best eSIM for the USA

Here are my tips:

Tip #1: It’s better to plan for a little more data volume. The surcharge is minimal and you can be more confident that you will have internet, Google Maps or WhatsApp available through your plan for the duration of your trip. In my experience, the 1GB or 2GB packages are very, very small and I used up within a few hours.

Tip #2: Can’t decide between two similar tariffs? Then my decision criterion is what others say (trust seals like Trustpilot or ratings in the app stores). You can also refer to my personal experiences at Holafly and Airalo. I can recommend both of them.