Travel eSIMs · Deals checked today
Best eSIM for the USA: cheapest data plans compared
The quick answer
The lowest price for a USA eSIM on 26 Oct 2026 is £2.61 from Yesim: USA unlimited data, 1 days (Unlimited data · 1 days · USA). The table compares 35 prices from 6 sellers, read from each seller's own site. Cheapest by size: 5GB £6.73 (Nomad, 30 days), 10GB £9.72 (Nomad, 30 days), 20GB £15.70 (Nomad, 30 days).
Cheapest planAffiliate
Yesim
USA unlimited data, 1 days
Unlimited data · 1 days · USA
Price
£2.61
35 deals · best value first
The deals, ranked by what you really pay
AffiliateRanked by price, read from each seller's own site. Prices checked on each provider's own site, 26 Oct 2026.
How to pick a USA eSIM
Pick a USA eSIM with enough data for every day of your trip. Count your days first, then check the data each plan gives you.
Maps, rideshare apps and photo uploads all use data. Allow some spare for busy days so you do not run out.
Next, compare the price per GB. Divide each plan's price by its GB so you compare like with like. Then check the days. A cheap plan that expires early can cost more.
Choose a data-only eSIM. It gives you internet with no phone number of its own. Keep your UK SIM on for calls and texts. WhatsApp, FaceTime and other internet calling apps still work over data.
Our tables rank plans cheapest first. Start at the top of the table on this page and check the data and days.
eSIM or your UK plan's roaming?
Many UK mobile plans charge a daily fee to use your data further afield, including in the USA. A USA eSIM can be the cheaper choice for your trip.
To find out, add up your plan's daily fee for every day you'll be away. Then compare that total with the USA eSIM prices in our table. If the eSIM costs less, it saves you money.
Check your own plan before you travel. Look up its roaming charges on your provider's website or app. Then choose: pay the daily fee, or add a travel eSIM and keep your UK SIM on for calls and texts.
Compare travel eSIM deals to see every provider side by side.
Set it up before you fly
- Install your travel eSIM at home, on Wi-Fi, before you fly. The plan's days usually start when it first connects at your destination.
- When you land, switch your phone's data line to the travel eSIM in your settings.
- Turn off data roaming on your UK SIM. This stops your UK network from charging roaming fees.
- Keep your UK SIM on for calls and texts. Most travel eSIMs are data only, so your UK number still works.
Your phone needs to support eSIM and be unlocked. Check that first, and you're ready to fly.
Straight answers
Questions people ask
- What is the best eSIM for the USA?
- The best eSIM for the USA is the cheapest plan that gives you enough data for your trip. Our table ranks every plan by price, cheapest first, so the top row is the best value in our table today. Most travel eSIMs are data only, so keep your UK SIM on for calls and texts.
- Does a travel eSIM work in every US state?
- A travel eSIM gives you mobile data in the USA for a set number of days, if your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked. Check the provider's own page for the areas its plan covers before you buy. Every deal in our tables is read from that site, and each table shows the date it was last checked.
- Can I make calls with a USA travel eSIM?
- Usually not. Most travel eSIMs are data only, so they have no phone number of their own. Keep your UK SIM switched on for calls and texts, and use WhatsApp, FaceTime or other internet calling apps over the eSIM's data.
- Can I use a travel eSIM on a locked phone?
- No, your phone must be unlocked before you can use a travel eSIM. Check this in your phone's settings, or ask your network whether your phone is unlocked. Your phone must also support eSIM, which most recent iPhones, Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones do.
- Can a travel eSIM receive texts?
- Most travel eSIMs cannot receive texts on their own, because they are data only and have no phone number. Keep your UK SIM switched on, and texts sent to your UK number will still reach it. You can also message people over the eSIM data using WhatsApp, FaceTime and other internet apps.
- Can I use a travel eSIM as a hotspot?
- It depends on the plan, so check before you buy. Some travel eSIM sellers limit hotspot use on certain plans, so a plan that works for your phone may not allow sharing with a laptop. Open the plan page and read the hotspot rules before you pay. Then sort the table by price to compare your options.
Keep comparing
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