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YOUR TRIP → BEST CHOICE
Field tip — the USA is data-hungry
Navigation across US cities and on road trips consumes more data than equivalent use in compact European destinations. Maps, Uber, Google Translate and offline hotel apps run constantly. If you plan to drive between cities or visit national parks, a 10 GB or unlimited plan is safer than a small fixed plan.
Check your starting point first
WHERE YOU TRAVEL FROM
Europe — most EU plans do not include the US. Daily roaming passes typically cost €5–15/day.
UK — check your carrier's travel pass. Some UK plans include a USA day pass at reasonable cost for short trips.
Canada — some Canadian plans include US roaming. Check your carrier before buying an eSIM.
Australia / NZ — carrier roaming in the US is typically $5–10/day. An eSIM is cheaper for stays over 4 days.
Asia, Middle East, Africa — check your operator. An eSIM is usually the more affordable option for US travel.
Airalo, Saily and Holafly for the USA
All three are data-only. Install before arrival.
AIR
Airalo
Fixed plans from ~$4. Connects via T-Mobile and Verizon. Covers all 50 states and Puerto Rico. North America regional plan available (US + Canada + Mexico).
Good for: short trips, light use, travellers visiting multiple North American countries.
Limit: Small plans run out fast if you use navigation heavily.
Check plans on Airalo
Limit: Small plans run out fast if you use navigation heavily.
SAIL
Saily
Fixed plans from ~$4 (1 GB). 10 GB / 30 days ~$23. Unlimited from ~$19 / 5 days. Connects via T-Mobile. Unlimited hotspot. Built-in ad blocker. Does not cover Alaska.
Good for: week-long trips, privacy-conscious users, hotspot sharing.
Limit: No Alaska coverage. Unlimited plan throttles at 5 GB/day.
Check plans on Saily
Limit: No Alaska coverage. Unlimited plan throttles at 5 GB/day.
HOLA
Holafly
Unlimited data only. 7 days ~$27, 30 days ~$75. Connects via AT&T and T-Mobile. Covers Alaska. Hotspot limited to ~500 MB/day.
Good for: road trips, heavy data users, travellers visiting Alaska.
Limit: Hotspot cap of ~500 MB/day — not suitable for tethering a laptop.
Check plans on Holafly
Limit: Hotspot cap of ~500 MB/day — not suitable for tethering a laptop.
Network coverage in the USA
NETWORK → COVERAGE NOTES
T-Mobile (Airalo, Saily)→Best rural and national park coverage. Strong coast to coast.
AT&T (Holafly)→Excellent in cities and the South. Strong in Miami, Houston, Atlanta.
Verizon (Airalo)→Strong in rural areas and the Northeast.
Alaska→Covered by Airalo and Holafly. Not covered by Saily.
Before you leave
Install your eSIM before the flight — US airport Wi-Fi is reliable but setup is easier at home.
Set the eSIM as your mobile data line before landing.
Turn off data roaming on your home SIM.
Download offline maps for your main destinations — US cities are large and data-intensive to navigate.
Save your first hotel address offline — useful immediately on arrival.
If you plan to drive, download your route offline in Google Maps or Apple Maps.
Roaming may be enough for very short trips
If your carrier offers a clear US day pass at $5–8/day and you're only staying 1–2 days, roaming may be simpler than setting up a new eSIM. For stays of 3+ days, a fixed eSIM plan is almost always cheaper.
Read the eSIM vs roaming guide →Complete your travel kit
eSIM for mobile data
VPN for hotel/airport Wi-Fi
Password manager
Cloud + offline docs
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