Comparisons
SIM card for the United States: every option, with its drawbacks
A physical SIM bought there, a prepaid SIM ordered before you go, or an eSIM installed before you fly. What wins in each case and what you need to know about your phone.
Tomás Berruezo 7 min Photo by Michael Discenza on Unsplash Searching for a SIM card for the United States and ending up reading about eSIM is confusing, so let's take it in order: there are three ways to have data over there and all three still exist. The difference is when you get it and what you have to do for it.
Option 1: buy the card there
You buy it in operator shops, in big stores and in some airports. It is the closest thing to how it has always been done, and it has three known drawbacks: opening hours, the language of the process, and having to take your usual card out of the phone.
On top of that, some local plans ask for billing details from an address in the country, which complicates signing up as a visitor.
Option 2: order a prepaid SIM before you leave
You order it online and it arrives at home, so you travel with it already in. It works well and has two catches: you have to order it days in advance, and it is still a physical card that has to be swapped, with the classic risk of losing your own.
Option 3: an eSIM
You buy and install it from home, and it lives alongside your usual line without taking anything out of the phone. It needs two things: a phone that supports eSIM and one that is not carrier-locked.
How to check both in under a minute is in how to tell whether your phone supports eSIM.
The three, compared
| SIM there | SIM by post | eSIM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| When you have data | On arrival | Before you leave | Before you leave |
| Your usual card | Out of the phone | Out of the phone | Stays inside |
| Paperwork involved | Yes, at the destination | Order it in advance | None |
| Compatible phone | Any unlocked one | Any unlocked one | Compatible and unlocked |
| Local number | Yes | Usually yes | Depends on the plan |
The detail about American iPhones
The iPhones sold in the United States from the 14 onwards have no card tray: they are eSIM only. If you buy the phone there, the physical card option disappears and your usual line will have to be in eSIM format too.
And what does not change between the three
The coverage. All three connect to the same masts of the same American operators, so in the national parks there will be no signal with any of them. What changes is how the line reaches your phone.
What to expect from the coverage area by area is in the guide to internet in the United States.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I buy a SIM card for the United States?
In operator shops and big stores over there, online before travelling so it arrives at home, or as an eSIM, which installs from home with nothing to receive.
Do I need an American number?
For almost nothing. Bookings, transport and messaging go over data. A local number helps if you are going to call small businesses.
Can I use my own phone there?
Yes, as long as it is from the last few years and not carrier-locked. The frequency bands are compatible on modern handsets.
What if I buy an iPhone in the United States?
From the 14 onwards, the ones sold there have no card tray: they are eSIM only, so your usual line will have to be in that format.
Will I have coverage in the national parks?
Usually not, with any of the three options. The coverage comes from the country's masts, not from the card.
