Internet in the United States for travellers: which eSIM to choose
In the United States you can buy data by the gigabyte, at full speed right up to the last one, or go for the unlimited plan with 2 GB a day. And your traffic exits within the country itself, which is what makes the biggest difference there.
Which plan suits you, by trip length
On the left, what is usually enough for maps, messaging and social media. On the right, the unlimited plan for the same number of days.
| Trip | By the GB | Unlimited GB |
|---|---|---|
| 3 days | 1 GB · €3.95 | €9.95 |
| 7 days | 10 GB · €13.95 | €19.95 |
| 15 days | 20 GB · €23.95 | €36.95 |
| 30 days | 50 GB · €53.95 | €64.95 |
Prices include VAT and match the United States plan page. Validity: the 1 GB plan, 7 days; 3 to 50 GB, 30 days.
If you want to fine-tune it, work it out in two minutes.
When unlimited is worth it, and when it isn't
The United States is one of the destinations where unlimited comes closest in price to the plans sold by the gigabyte. A week costs €19.95, and for less money you get 10 GB (€13.95).
- For a week of normal use, 10 GB for €13.95 comfortably covers maps, messaging, social media and a bit of video.
- If you'll be streaming video, navigating non-stop on the road or sharing your data, unlimited for €19.95 costs only a little more and means you can stop counting.
- For a month, the gap almost disappears: 50 GB for €53.95 against €64.95 for unlimited. Here unlimited usually wins, because every day you start afresh.
Watch out on a long road trip: using your phone as the sat nav and watching video in the hotel are what eat through a plan fastest. If that's your trip, unlimited stops being expensive.
What exactly the unlimited plan includes
It gives you 2 GB a day at full speed and, once that's used up, you stay connected at 1 Mbps until the next day.
At 1 Mbps, messaging, maps and ordinary browsing still work; high-quality video suffers. We say so on the plan card, before you pay, because an "unlimited" plan without its allowance written down isn't an offer, it's a surprise. The full story is in the truth about "unlimited" data.
Where your traffic exits
In the United States, your traffic exits in the United States. That's the best situation possible.
When the exit point matches the country you're in, websites and apps see you where you really are: services that only work inside the country behave normally, search engines give local results, and you don't get odd security warnings for logging in "from somewhere else".
The network is 5G, with whatever coverage each area has.
How to activate it: install before you go, activate when you land
- Install it at home, on Wi-Fi. Installing uses no data and doesn't start the clock.
- When you land, turn on data roaming for the eSIM line.
- The days start counting from your first connection to a US network.
The steps for each phone model are in the installation guide; if you're not sure about your phone, use the compatibility checker.
Frequently asked questions about internet in the United States
Can I keep my usual number to receive texts from my bank?
Yes. The eSIM is data only and your usual SIM stays in the phone: calls and texts keep arriving on your normal number.
Will it work for a road trip?
Yes, and that's where a bigger plan makes the most difference: non-stop navigation uses data. If you'll be driving for many days, look at unlimited or a plan of 20 GB or more.
Will services that only work inside the country work for me?
Your traffic exits in the United States, so they'll see you there. We can't guarantee how every service behaves, but it's the best situation possible.
What if I'm also travelling to Mexico or Canada?
This plan covers the United States only. For several countries, look at the Americas eSIM or the global eSIM.
What happens if I run out of data?
At the moment you can't top up on the website: you'd need to buy another plan. If you're torn between two sizes, the bigger one pays off.
How does it compare with Holafly?
It's on its own page, with prices checked by hand and dated: Glowi vs Holafly in the United States.
Our recommendation for a week in the United States
The 10 GB plan for €13.95, valid for 30 days. And if your trip is all driving and video, the 7-day unlimited plan for €19.95.