Mobile internet in the USA: What is the best option?

Traveling to the United States is thrilling — bustling cities, stunning landscapes, and let’s not forget, all those bucket-list adventures. But none of that’s as fun if you’re stuck with zero bars of signal, navigating the subway, or checking your travel plans. 

With options like eSIMs, local SIMs, pocket WiFi, and free WiFi hotspots, you’ve got plenty of ways to keep your phone buzzing.

This guide will help you choose the best option for your trip, so you can focus on what matters — like finding the nearest taco truck or sharing that perfect skyline photo.

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How to get internet in the USA as a tourist

There are several ways to access mobile internet, each with its own pros and cons. From roaming to eSIMs, pocket WiFi, and public hotspots, this section will help you find the option that best suits your needs.

Here’s a quick comparison of the main options:

Roaming with your local carrier

Data roaming with your home carrier is the easiest way to stay connected in the US. Your phone connects the moment you land — no setup, no swapping SIMs. But that ease comes at a cost. 

Most carriers offer two ways to roam: pay-as-you-go, where you’re charged per MB/GB used, or an international travel pass, which gives you a set amount of data for a daily or weekly fee.

Some providers include roaming in certain plans, while others require activating it before your trip. 

Here’s how major providers from English-speaking countries handle roaming in the US:

Roaming in the US with a UK SIM

If you’re visiting from the UK, Three and Vodafone are two of the biggest mobile providers offering roaming options. 

Three’s Go Roam Pass for the US:

Three offers a Go Roam Pass for the US, which lets you use your UK allowances while abroad. The cost and limits depend on your plan type:

• Pay Monthly plans: Includes 56 free daily roaming passes per year. After that, it costs £5 per day to use your UK data (up to 12GB fair usage), calls, and texts. If you go over your allowance, data costs 1p per MB, calls to the UK cost £1.40 per minute, and texts cost 2p per text.
• Pay As You Go (PAYG): Roaming is free if you have an active Data Pack or Add-on, but once you use it up, data costs 10p per MB, calls to UK numbers cost 35p per minute, and texts cost 15p per text.
• Mobile Broadband Pay Monthly: Costs £5 per day, allowing you to use up to 12 GB of your UK data plan.
• Mobile Broadband PAYG: No extra charge if you have a Data Pack, but you’re limited to 12 GB of usage.

Vodafone UK Roaming in the US:

• Pay Monthly Xtra Plans: Some Xtra plans include free roaming in 83 destinations, including the US. If roaming isn’t included, you’ll need to buy a Roaming Extra or pay per use. If you pay per use, calls cost 60p per minute (~$0.75), receiving calls costs 36p per minute (~$0.45), texts cost 8p each (~$0.10), and data costs 12p per MB (~$0.15).
• Pay As You Go (PAYG): You must buy a roaming Extra to use your phone in the US. Without an Extra, you’ll pay standard roaming rates. The 8-day pass costs £17 (~$22) and includes 2GB of data, 100 minutes, and 100 texts, while the 15-day pass costs £27 (~$35) and includes 4GB of data, 200 minutes, and 200 texts. There are also smaller packs, like 8-day 100 minutes for £7 ($9), 8-day 2GB data for £12 ($15), and 8-day 100 texts for £6 (~$8).

Roaming in the US with an Australian SIM

Telstra offers three main roaming options depending on whether you’re on an Upfront Plan, Pre-Paid Plan, or Pay-as-You-Go (PAYG).

• Upfront Plans: International Day Pass: For $5 per day (~$3.25 USD), you get 2 GB of data, unlimited calls, and unlimited texts in the US (Zone 1). If you go over your 2 GB daily limit, you can buy a Data Top-Up for $10 (~$6.50 USD) to add 2 GB, valid for 31 days.
• Pre-Paid Plans – International Roaming Pack: If you’re on Pre-Paid, you need to buy an International Roaming Pack:
  • $10 (~$6.50 USD) for 3 days: 40 MB data, 15 texts, 15 minutes of calls.
  • $15 (~$10 USD) for 7 days: 2 GB data, 25 texts, 25 minutes of calls.
  • $25 (~$16 USD) for 14 days: 4 GB data, 50 texts, 50 minutes of calls.
• Pay-as-You-Go (PAYG) Roaming: This is the most expensive option. You’ll pay $3 per MB (~$2 USD) of data used, which can add up quickly. For example, a one-minute standard-definition video call uses around 3.75 MB, costing ~$11 USD per minute. PAYG is not available for Upfront Plans.

Buy a SIM card for USA

If you are traveling to the United States, it is likely that your local cellular operator will offer international roaming so that you can continue to use your data plan.

However, despite the contract agreements these operators have to use US networks, this service is often very expensive, affecting your travel budget.

Alternatively, you can also buy prepaid physical SIM cards after you land at:

• A kiosk in an international airport
• Some grocery stores and retail stores like BestBuy 
• Train stations in big cities like New York or San Francisco

Mobile internet providers in the US

In the United States, there are three main SIM card companies — AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. Here’s how they compare:

For tourists, we recommend T-Mobile — they’ve got good prices, unlimited talk time and text messages, and faster data than AT&T and Verizon.

Also, activation fees may be waived with certain plan purchases, so be sure to check when buying a SIM card.

But if you’re looking at coverage area: then AT&T and Verizon have better coverage in remote areas. If you’re planning to visit some offbeat places, we recommend Verizon. While it’s more expensive than AT&T, you still get high-speed data. 

Physical SIMs have some downsides, though. They can be expensive, especially with activation fees, and if you don’t have a dual SIM phone, you’ll have to swap out your regular number — making it tricky for people back home to contact you. 

Buy an eSIM card for USA

An eSIM is built into your phone, so there’s no physical chip to swap and you can buy one and activate it virtually.

Holafly is the best example of quality after-sales service and coverage with its unlimited eSIM USA. Hoalfly’s eSIM gives you unlimited data plans and are customizable based on the days you need it.

You can choose any number of days between 1 and 90. You can use top-ups to recharge your service and extend your days of use.

Once purchased (from Hoalfy’s app for Android and iOS), your eSIM is delivered instantly to your email. You can set it up with a simple QR code or manually if needed.

Activation is easy — just turn on the eSIM’s data roaming when you arrive in the USA, and you’re good to go. 

Compatible with eSIM-enabled smartphones, this solution lets you enjoy unlimited data at high speeds (3G/4G/LTE/5G).

With reliable coverage in most major cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Miami, you’ll stay connected for all your travel needs.

Keep in mind, areas like Baja California and remote spots like the Grand Canyon might have limited coverage, but Holafly’s 24/7 customer service is always there to assist. Plus, you can share your connection with others, enjoying up to 1 GB per day through a hotspot.

So how much does an eSIM for the USA cost?

Rent a pocket WiFi

The next option — especially if you have several devices or are traveling as a group — is pocket WiFi. They’re quite compact (like a small mouse), and most last up to six to seven hours on a single charge. 

You can rent portable WiFi hotspots at most major US airports upon arrival, or order one in advance for delivery (though it may take a few days).

When leaving, you can either drop it off at the airport or any post office, depending on your service provider. 

The top pocket WIFi providers for mobile internet (USA) are TravelWiFi, MioWiFi, Skygo, and My Webspot. Here’s how they compare:

All four providers offer damage insurance, which we highly recommend. Accidents happen — you could drop the device, spill a drink, or have it stolen.

Knowing you’re covered by insurance allows you to relax and enjoy your trip without worrying about potential mishaps. 

Use WiFi hotspots

The United States has countless places with free WiFi — from airports and public parks to restaurants, cafes, and even libraries — most public places have free hotspots that you can use to access the internet for free. You can use an app like WiFi Map to find free WiFi hotspots in a particular city.

However, free WiFi isn’t secure. It comes with slower speeds and time limits, and can be risky for sensitive information like banking details.

If you must use it, don’t access such data, and use a VPN for added protection.

What’s the best option for travel internet in the USA?

So, how do you pick a mobile internet option for your trip to the United States? Here are some tips:

• eSIMs are a great, budget-friendly option for anyone with a compatible cell phone and who doesn‘t require a local phone number. You get unlimited data and, often, tethering benefits so you can share your data with other devices like smartwatches and iPads.
• Physical SIMs are useful for local numbers, calls, and texts. However, they can be expensive for data and often come with throttling limits — reducing your speed after a certain amount of usage.
• Pocket WiFi can be useful if you’re traveling as a group (so you split the cost) or are carrying a laptop with you (for business trips).
• While you can take advantage of free WiFi hotspots — especially if you’re using a local SIM with limited data — consider them only as a backup plan for non-sensitive browsing. 

Travel stress-free in the USA with Holafly eSIMs

We hope we’ve answered your questions about mobile internet in the USA for tourists. As we mentioned earlier, if you have a compatible device, go for an eSIM.

They’re more affordable than traditional SIMs, offer flexible plans, and have no hidden fees. Plus, you can top up your plan — or cancel anytime — from the mobile app. 

Buy a Holafly USA eSIM before your trip and stay connected with friends and family from anywhere in the United States. 

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Based in Mumbai, Sharan Kaur Phillora has 6+ years of experience in the B2B writing industry. She has written for brands like Pocket52, Nexweave, Maze, NaNLABS, and Userpilot. When she's not working, Sharan can be found immersed in murder mystery novels or exploring Mumbai's streets on her bicycle in search of the perfect slice of pizza.

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