Best eSIM for the USA in 2026: 6 Providers Compared (Real Prices)
By Sophie Hartley · Aug 8, 2026 · 7 min read
Key prices on this page are pulled live and update automatically
I've landed at JFK, LAX, and O'Hare more times than I can count, and the eSIM aisle of my brain is more crowded than most people's actual carry-on. The US is one of the most-searched eSIM destinations on the planet, which also means it's one of the most confusing — six major providers, four different pricing philosophies, and a genuine range in what you'll pay for the same 10GB. We checked live pricing across 125 providers we track for the US so you don't have to.
The quick answer
If you just want the picks and don't need the reasoning:
- Cheapest unlimited data, any length of trip: Maya Mobile. Its flat global rate undercuts every US-specific competitor at every duration we checked.
- Best value if you don't need unlimited: Ubigi. Its US fixed-data tiers are startlingly cheap once you look past the homepage.
- Best if you want calls and texts bundled in, not just data: Airalo, which sells combined data-plus-voice-plus-SMS tiers for the US specifically.
- Best for a single-day layover or short stop: Ubigi's 500MB/1-day plan at currently unavailable, or GigSky's genuine 1-day unlimited at $4.99 if you want to stop tracking data entirely.
United States price comparison
Full comparison →
Comparison by eSIMKart
Now the actual numbers, provider by provider.
Live United States deals right now
Public promo codes from providers selling United States eSIMs — pulled live from our deals list, so this section updates itself and disappears when nothing is running.
"Off to the US? Skip the pricey airport SIM cards. Get 12% off high-speed data using code USADES12 on purchases above $10."
Stay connected in 200+ countries the moment you land — skip the roaming bills and SIM swaps on your very first trip.
New customers only, first order; the discount is capped at $3 per Airalo's terms.
What you'll actually pay: six providers compared
Airalo
Airalo is the only one of the six that sells a genuine data-plus-calls-plus-SMS lineup for the US, which matters if you want to make the occasional local call rather than relying on WhatsApp for everything. Its pure-data unlimited tiers run from $11.50 for 3 days up to $68.00 for a full month — on the higher end of the unlimited comparison, but Airalo separately sells voice-and-SMS-bundled versions of most of its data tiers for a bit more, worth checking if calling is part of your plan.
Nomad eSIM
Nomad eSIM splits its US lineup cleanly between unlimited-by-duration ($11.00 for 3 days up through currently unavailable for 20 days) and fixed-data-by-the-month ($5.00 for 1GB/7-days, up through a genuinely unusual 100GB/365-days plan at $120.00 for anyone basing themselves in the US long-term). Its 30-day tier tops out as a 50GB plan at $30.00 rather than a true unlimited option. Real discount code active:
15% off, single-use per customer. Excludes plans under $5, sale plans, add-on data, unlimited plans, and the Thailand 50GB plan.
Saily
Saily (from the team behind NordVPN) prices its unlimited plans in fairly fine-grained duration steps — 5, 7, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 days — starting at $18.99 for 5 days and topping out at $59.99 for a full month. Its fixed-data side is worth a look too: a 1GB/7-day starter plan at $3.99 is one of the cheapest short-trip options in this whole comparison. Real discount code active:
Ubigi
Ubigi is the one most people skip past because its homepage doesn't shout about price — and that's a mistake for the US specifically. Its fixed-data tiers are aggressively cheap: 5GB for 30 days is $6.00, 20GB for 30 days is $15.00, and a single day of 500MB is currently unavailable, one of the cheapest entry points of any provider we track for any duration. Ubigi also sells annual allowances if you're a frequent US visitor: 24GB spread over 12 months for currently unavailable, or 60GB over 12 months for $42.00. Its unlimited tiers (from $8.00 for a single day to $62.00 for 30 days) are competitive too. Real discount code active:
Maya Mobile
Maya Mobile doesn't price by country at all — it's one flat global rate across 165+ destinations, and for the US that turns out to be the best deal in this entire comparison for anyone who wants unlimited data. $9.99 for 3 days, $19.99 for a week, $27.99 for two weeks, $49.99 for a full month. That 30-day price beats every other unlimited option here. The trade-off is that Maya's eSIM is designed to live on your phone permanently and get topped up for every future trip — great if you travel often, less relevant if the US is a one-off. Real discount code active:
GigSky
GigSky's real standout for the US is a genuine 1-day unlimited plan at $4.99 — most providers don't price single days at all. Its 1GB/7-day fixed tier at $2.99 is the cheapest structured entry point on this list too. Real discount code active:
Why the prices are all over the place
If you've compared eSIM prices before and wondered why one plan is $9.99 and another is well over $70 for what sounds like the same thing, it comes down to a few different pricing philosophies. Maya Mobile charges one flat rate everywhere it operates — which is why it wins on price here despite not being US-specialized at all. Airalo, Nomad eSIM, Saily, and Ubigi mix fixed-data tiers with unlimited options, which means the "best" plan depends entirely on how much data you'll actually use rather than just picking the cheapest headline number. And Ubigi in particular prices per-GB far more aggressively than its unlimited tiers would suggest, which is exactly why it's easy to overlook if you only skim the front page.
The practical takeaway: don't just compare "unlimited" prices across providers and assume that's the full picture. If you know roughly how much data you use in a normal week — most people are surprised how little it actually is once they're not tethering a laptop — a fixed-data plan often beats unlimited by a wide margin.
How to pick based on your trip
A weekend or a few days: Ubigi's 500MB/1-day plan at currently unavailable or Saily's 1GB/7-day plan at $3.99 will comfortably cover maps, messaging, and social media without you paying for a week of unlimited you won't use.
A one- or two-week vacation: Maya Mobile at $19.99 (7 days) or $27.99 (14 days) is the cheapest unlimited option we found for this length of trip, and it's genuinely unlimited rather than a large-but-capped allowance.
A full month, and you don't need unlimited: Ubigi's 20GB/30-day plan at $15.00 is very hard to beat — most travelers use nowhere near 20GB in a month unless they're streaming heavily.
A full month, and you do need unlimited: Maya Mobile at $49.99 again comes out ahead of every US-specific competitor.
You want to make local calls, not just use data: Airalo is the only one of the six with genuine voice-and-SMS bundles for the US.
A few things worth knowing before you buy
None of these are full phone-number replacements — you're buying data (and, with Airalo, some calls and texts), not a US SIM with your own local number. Keep your regular SIM active for calls if you need to be reachable on your existing number; most modern phones handle two active SIMs (one physical, one eSIM) without issue.
Buy before you fly if you can. Every provider here lets you install the eSIM at home and activate it only once you land, so there's no reason to wait until you're standing in an airport with spotty wifi trying to scan a QR code.
Check your phone is eSIM-compatible and carrier-unlocked before you buy anything — it's a five-minute check that saves a refund request later. Our beginner's guide to eSIMs walks through exactly how to check.
See the full, live list of United States eSIM plans from every provider we track, sorted by price, if you want to compare exact tiers side by side.
Cheapest United States eSIM plans right now
Live prices-
Roamable100MB · 7 daysGet eSIM$0.10 -
abesteSIMUnlimited · 1 dayGet eSIM$0.35 -
ASimGoUnlimited · 1 dayGet eSIM$0.50 -
Yesim500MB · 1 dayGet eSIM$0.50
Sophie has been living out of a suitcase since 2014, filing travel-tech dispatches from over 60 countries. She buys and tests eSIMs the way other people collect passport stamps — obsessively, and usually the day before a flight.
Frequently asked questions about United States eSIMs
What is the cheapest eSIM for United States?
Right now the cheapest United States eSIM on eSIMKart is abesteSIM's Unlimited plan for 1 day at $0.35. Prices from 125 providers are re-checked automatically every day, so this answer updates itself.
Is there an unlimited data eSIM for United States?
Yes — 3140 unlimited-data plans cover United States. The cheapest is abesteSIM's 1 day unlimited plan at $0.35. Most unlimited plans apply a fair-use speed cap after heavy daily use, so check the provider's terms.
How many providers sell eSIMs for United States?
125 providers currently list 10089 plans for United States, from $0.35 to $995.80. Every plan links straight to the provider's own checkout — eSIMKart compares, it doesn't resell.
How long does a United States eSIM last?
Validity ranges from 1 to 730 days. Pick a plan that covers your whole stay — validity usually starts on first connection, and most plans can't be paused.
Which United States eSIM providers offer 5G?
abesteSIM, AirPlans, ASimGo, co:sim, Dingo, eSIM Florida, Esimatic, eSimHero, eSIMzio, Eskimo, ETravelSim, Flysimio, GigSky, Globie, JamboSim, Lempart Flex, Maya Mobile, MegaEsim, MicroEsim, MoodSIM, PikaSim, Roamable, Roamix, Roamless, Sim Local, Simbye, SimOptions, SimSmash, Skyalo, Textr eSIM, Tripuck, TropiTrade, Virgin Connect, Yatelo (34) report 5G access in United States where the local network supports it. Other providers may also offer 5G but haven't published network details.
Can I use a multi-country eSIM in United States?
Yes — 4882 regional or global plans listed here also work in United States. They cost a little more per GB but save you from buying a separate eSIM for each country on a multi-stop trip.
Will my phone work with a United States eSIM?
You need an unlocked, eSIM-compatible phone — most iPhones from XS onward and most recent Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel models qualify. Use our free eSIM compatibility checker to confirm your exact model before buying.
Things to do there
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