Best eSIM for the USA in 2026: 5 providers compared
The United States is the destination where roaming from Europe costs the most per GB, apart from a few plans that already include data there. A USA eSIM installs before you leave, activates when you land in New York, Los Angeles or Miami, and you keep your usual SIM for calls.
We ran 5 providers through the same grid: price per GB, network used on the ground (Verizon, AT&T or T-Mobile), coverage outside the cities and in the national parks, support, how simple the app and the activation are, and plan flexibility. The ranking first, then each offer in detail.
voilà eSIM: the best coverage for a US road trip
Two networks instead of one, Verizon and AT&T, so the widest coverage in the comparison across national parks and the desert West, an eSIM that installs in two minutes and human support available 24/7, for €1.03/GB. Esimzon and Airalo do better on price per GB alone.
How we ranked these eSIMs
Each eSIM is scored on six criteria, weighted for the United States. Price per GB and network coverage weigh the most: the country is expensive for every provider, and coverage changes completely depending on the network once you leave the big cities for a national park or a desert road. Ubigi is absent: its US offer was not in the catalog at the time of the check. Scores are the editorial team's opinion, not an average of customer reviews.
- Price per GB25 %
Cost per gigabyte on each provider's cheapest plan, excluding one-off promotions.
- Network coverage25 %
Getting signal in cities, on the interstates, in national parks and in the desert West, not just in Manhattan.
- Reliability15 %
Connection stability, seriousness of the partner carrier and the provider's reputation.
- Support15 %
Available channels, opening hours, human or automated answers.
- Activation and app10 %
How simple the install is, how clear the app is, data usage tracking.
- Plan flexibility10 %
Choice of volumes and durations, unlimited, top-ups, tethering.
On these criteria, voilà eSIM comes out on top thanks to its two networks, its clear app and its 24/7 human support, despite a price per GB (€1.03/GB) above Esimzon and Airalo. Airalo takes second place with the most complete app, Esimzon third with the lowest prices.
Scores are the opinion of the eSIMrat editorial team, based on the criteria above, not customer reviews. eSIMrat earns a commission on links to its partners, which does not affect the ranking.
The ranking of eSIMs for the United States
The 5 eSIMs compared, from the highest to the lowest score. The price per GB shown is the cheapest per gigabyte at each provider, often a large 30-day plan: a small one-week plan costs more per GB.
- 1voilà eSIM€1.03/GBVerizon and AT&T8.1/10
- 2
Airalo€0.76/GBT-Mobile7.7/10 - 3
Esimzon€0.73/GBAT&T (Verizon and T-Mobile on unlimited)7.3/10 - 4
Yesim€0.89/GBLocal networks7.1/10 - 5
Saily€1.65/GBLocal networks6.3/10
Prices checked on September 5, 2026 on the providers' sites. eSIMrat partners' prices come from the comparator and refresh on every build.
Each USA eSIM in detail
- 8.1/10
1. voilà eSIM
€1.03/GBVerizon and AT&TData plans, 1 to 50 GBTwo networks, 24/7 human support
voilà eSIM is the only offer in the comparison to announce two networks, Verizon and AT&T. Verizon has the widest coverage in the country, especially in rural areas and national parks, AT&T is strong in the South and the Midwest: the eSIM switches to whichever has signal, a real plus on a road trip between Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley, on 4G and on 5G in the big cities.
The rate drops to €1.03/GB on the 20 GB plan, above Esimzon and Airalo on price per GB alone, but in the middle of the comparison on a 10 GB plan. Plans run from 1 to 50 GB over 7, 15, 30 or 180 days, with no commitment, and tethering is included. The ESIMRAT code gives 5% off, see the promo codes page.
It is also the easiest offer to get started with: the eSIM installs in two minutes from an easy-to-use app, and human support answers 24/7, which matters with a six-hour time difference. That value for money, coverage included, earns it first place.
Pros
- Two networks, Verizon and AT&T, the best coverage in the comparison
- Easy-to-install eSIM, easy-to-use app
- Human support, 24/7, tethering included
Cons
- Price per GB above Esimzon and Airalo on large plans
- No unlimited plan
- 7.7/10
2. Airalo
€0.76/GBT-MobileData plans, daily unlimited, regional and globalComplete app, unlimited available
Airalo, the market pioneer, states the carrier for each plan: in the United States, it is T-Mobile, the fastest and most extensive 5G network in the country, better in cities than in rural areas. Its best price per GB falls to €0.76/GB on the 50 GB plan, one of the lowest in the comparison.
Its strength remains the app, the most complete of the five, with top-ups and usage tracking, an unlimited offer billed per day, and a catalog of more than 200 destinations, handy if you chain the United States, Canada and Mexico with a North America plan. Support, in English, can be slow.
Pros
- Among the lowest prices per GB on large plans
- Complete app, built-in top-ups, daily unlimited
- Regional and global plans for a multi-country trip
Cons
- A single network, T-Mobile, less present outside the cities
- Support in English, sometimes slow
- 7.3/10
3. Esimzon
€0.73/GBAT&T (Verizon and T-Mobile on unlimited)Data plans, 1 to 30 GB, and unlimitedThe lowest prices in the comparison
Esimzon is a prepaid reseller that plays the price card: its lowest rate per GB is €0.73/GB on the 30 GB plan, the lowest in the comparison, and it is also the cheapest on a 10 GB plan. Data plans run on AT&T, with very good nationwide coverage, and the daily unlimited plans on Verizon and T-Mobile.
The limits are elsewhere. Prices are shown in dollars on its site (the euro follows the daily rate), support is by email or chat, in English, and activation goes through a QR code, without an app as polished as the leaders'.
Pros
- The lowest price per GB in the comparison
- AT&T network, unlimited available on Verizon and T-Mobile
Cons
- Prices in dollars, support in English by email or chat
- No proper usage-tracking app
- 7.1/10
4. Yesim
€0.89/GBLocal networksDaily, data and unlimited plansReusable eSIM, daily plans
Yesim, a Swiss provider, offers the widest range: daily plans, classic data plans up to 30 GB and an unlimited offer. The best price per GB falls to €0.89/GB, in the lower-middle of the comparison.
The eSIM can be reused from one trip to the next, which saves a new install every time you leave. On the other hand, Yesim does not state which US carrier it uses before purchase, and support is limited to chat.
Pros
- Reusable eSIM across several trips
- Daily and unlimited plans available
Cons
- US carrier not stated before purchase
- Chat-only support
- 6.3/10
5. Saily
€1.65/GBLocal networksData plans, 1 to 20 GB, and unlimitedBy Nord Security, built-in security
Saily is the eSIM from Nord Security, the company behind NordVPN. The app is simple, with a built-in ad and tracker blocker and web protection, and the chat answers 24/7 in English.
In the United States, the best price per GB is €1.65/GB on the 20 GB plan: the highest rate in the comparison, with no carrier announced before purchase. For those who want the security layer above all.
Pros
- Built-in ad and tracker blocker
- 24/7 chat, unlimited available
Cons
- The highest price per GB in the comparison
- Carrier not stated before purchase
Which USA eSIM for your profile?
The eSIM we recommend for each kind of traveller.
- Road trip, national parksvoilà eSIMVerizon and AT&T on the same eSIM, the widest coverage outside the cities.
- Small budget, big volumeEsimzon€0.73/GB, the lowest price per GB in the comparison, on AT&T.
- Human supportvoilà eSIMA team that answers 24/7, time difference or not.
- Unlimited in the cityAiraloDaily unlimited on T-Mobile, complete app.
- USA, Canada, MexicoAiraloNorth America regional plan, one eSIM for three countries.
- Several trips a yearYesimReusable eSIM, daily plans.
eSIM, local SIM or your home plan in the United States?
First thing to check: your home plan. Several European operators already include data in the United States at no extra cost; Free Mobile in France leads with tens of GB a month on its 5G plan (the list is in our article on the countries included with Free Mobile). If that is your case, an eSIM is only a top-up. Otherwise, out-of-plan roaming is billed per MB and quickly becomes unaffordable.
A prepaid local SIM from T-Mobile or AT&T can be bought in a store or a supermarket, but it costs more than in Europe for a short stay, requires a shop visit on arrival and makes you lose your usual SIM if your phone has a single slot. Our rule: eSIM for a stay under a month, local SIM for an expatriation or a semester abroad. And if you continue to Asia, the same comparison exists for the best eSIM for Vietnam.
What to check on your phone before buying
Two conditions: an eSIM-compatible and carrier-unlocked phone. iPhones from the XR onwards and recent Pixel, Galaxy S and other models are; the full list is on our eSIM-compatible phones page. A phone bought subsidised from a carrier may still be locked: ask for the unlock before you leave. US 3G networks are switched off, an old phone without 4G will get no signal at all.
Once the eSIM is installed, keep your home SIM active for calls and texts, turn off its data roaming, and turn on the USA eSIM's data roaming on arrival. Every plan in the United States comparator is sold by providers that display compatibility before purchase.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best eSIM for the United States?
How much does an eSIM for the United States cost?
Which network has the best signal in the United States?
Does my home plan already cover the United States?
Should I activate the eSIM before leaving for the United States?
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