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

Traveling to the United States is thrilling with its bustling cities, stunning landscapes, and bucket-list adventures. To make sure you have a good time, you’ll need reliable mobile internet in the USA. 

The most popular options include a travel eSIM for the USA, local SIM cards, pocket WiFi devices, and public WiFi. This guide will help you choose the best option for your trip, so you can focus on what matters.

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How to get internet in the USA as a tourist

There are several ways to get international internet access in the USA, 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 you to activate 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 international roaming in 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 cost 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 international roaming options depend 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

It is likely that your local cellular operator will offer international roaming in the USA so you can continue using your data plan.

However, despite contractual agreements, these operators must use US networks, and the service is often very expensive, affecting your travel budget.

Alternatively, you can also buy a prepaid SIM card for the USA 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 and text, 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, offering an eSIM for the USA with unlimited data. Holafly’s eSIM offers customizable, unlimited data plans for the days you need them.

Activation is easy. You can set it up with a simple QR code or manually if needed. Turn on the eSIM’s data roaming when you arrive in the USA, and you’re good to go. 

Compatible with eSIM phones, 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 with a single travel eSIM.

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 and enjoy up to 1 GB per day via a hotspot. Visit Holafly’s website for eSIM for the USA to learn more about prices. 

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Holafly Plans: A smarter option than expensive roaming

Avoid high roaming fees while traveling in the USA with Holafly Plans, a monthly eSIM subscription service that offers stable, reliable coverage in over 170 destinations worldwide on a single eSIM. 

• Easy setup process  – Set up your plan within minutes with no SIM swaps required.
• Transparent pricing – Enjoy a fixed monthly rate with no hidden fees.
• WiFi hotspot feature – Share your connection across all your devices
• Total flexibility – Change or cancel your plan anytime, depending on your travel needs, with no cancellation fees or long-term contracts.

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 for the 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.

Use WiFi hotspots

The United States has countless places with free WiFi — from airports and public parks to restaurants, cafes, and even libraries — and most public places offer free hotspots you can use to access the internet. 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. With providers like Holafly, you can get unlimited data and 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 if you’re carrying a laptop (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 eSIM for the USA before your trip and stay connected with friends and family from anywhere in the United States. You also get 1 GB of Always On backup data with every eSIM purchase. Simply keep the Holafly eSIM installed on your device to stay connected whenever travel gets difficult.

Full-coverage, high-speed internet

Enjoy uninterrupted internet from the minute you land in the United States.

Buy an eSIM for the USA

The USA is known for fast connectivity, and if you’re moving around North America, these destinations also ensure reliable mobile internet coverage:

• Mobile internet in Canada
• Mobile internet in Mexico
• Mobile internet in New York
• Mobile internet in Los Angeles

Frequently Asked Questions about mobile internet in the USA

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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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