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USA SIM card for tourists: Best options in 2026
Find the best prepaid SIM card USA travelers can buy, with carrier plans from AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon, where to get one, and what it costs.
Getting a US SIM card as a traveler takes three steps: pick a carrier, buy the SIM at a carrier store, a retailer, or online, and choose a plan. Most plans open to visitors are prepaid, run for 30 days, and include unlimited talk and text, so they also suit shorter trips. Below, you’ll find current plans and prices from popular US carriers, where to buy a SIM, and how a postpaid plan differs from a prepaid SIM card USA carriers sell. We’ll also cover Holafly’s eSIM for the USA, with unlimited data and 24/7 support.
Ditch plastic cards
An eSIM is fully digital and leaves no negative trace in the environment. Get yours today.
Can a tourist get a SIM card in the USA?
Yes, you can get a SIM card as a tourist in the USA. SIM cards in the US are sold at airports, mobile carrier stores, and shopping centers like Walmart or Best Buy. Monthly plans typically cost $15 to $70, not counting promotional prices, depending on how much data you need, and most have a validity period of 30 days.
A prepaid SIM card from a major telecom company will usually include unlimited calls and texts within the US. Meanwhile, most online retailers and travel eSIMs offer data-only prepaid plans.
Can you buy a SIM card without a plan in the US?
Yes, you can buy a SIM card in the US without a plan. Typically, these prepaid SIM cards are available from major mobile carriers like T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon, or from retailers like Best Buy and grocery stores.
However, you will usually need to purchase a plan when you activate the prepaid SIM. Otherwise, you won’t be able to make calls, use data, or send texts on your own phone.
Many providers also sell a US pay as you go SIM, such as Black Wireless with plans from $10 for a month of talk and text, so you can choose a flexible plan without a long-term contract.
In other words, while you can buy a SIM card without a plan, it won’t work until you activate it with one.
Disclaimer: The data in this article is accurate as of November 5, 2026, and is subject to change.
Best tourist SIM cards for the USA
There’s no shortage of offers when buying a physical US SIM card. Here are six US SIM card companies to keep you connected, from the three major networks to lower-cost MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators), each with a USA prepaid SIM card for short and longer stays.
1. AT&T
Best known for postpaid plans aimed at US residents, AT&T also sells prepaid plans that work as a temporary SIM card USA visitors can use for a month or longer:
- Unlimited talk, text, and data: $25/month (30 GB at max 3 Mbps, then slowed to 1.5 Mbps; online only)
- Unlimited Saver: $35/month (30 GB at max 3 Mbps, then slowed to 1.5 Mbps)
- Unlimited Enhanced Plus: $45/month, with 5G and 10 GB of hotspot data
- Unlimited Ultra: $45/month for the first 6 months, then $60/month (online only), with 30 GB of hotspot data and 500 international minutes to over 30 countries
- 12-month unlimited: $20/month when you prepay $240, with 10 GB of hotspot data (slowed to 1.5 Mbps after 16 GB)
All plans include unlimited talk and text, plus unlimited texting from the US to over 230 countries and territories. Unlimited Enhanced Plus and Unlimited Ultra also cover Mexico and Canada, with a 25 GB monthly limit in Canada. Taxes and fees are extra, and some plans require a new single line.
2. T-Mobile
T-Mobile’s prepaid monthly plans come with unlimited talk and text and a 5-year price guarantee, with no contracts. If you need a US SIM card for 1 month, these are the prices for one line with AutoPay:
- Starter Monthly: $40/month ($45 for the first month), with 15 GB of high-speed data you can share as a hotspot
- Unlimited Monthly: $45/month ($50 for the first month), with unlimited 5G data, 50 GB of premium data, and unlimited 3G hotspot
- Unlimited Plus Monthly: $60/month ($65 for the first month), with 50 GB of premium data, 5 GB of high-speed hotspot data, unlimited texting to 215+ countries, and talk and text to and from Mexico and Canada
Taxes and fees are extra and can differ depending on the state you’re in. Heavy data users (over 50 GB a month) may notice lower speeds when the network is busy.
3. Verizon
Verizon Prepaid plans come with a 3-year price lock and no credit check. Enrolling in AutoPay saves $10/month per line, and these are the prices with AutoPay:
- Talk & Text: $30/month, for talk, text, and light data use
- 15 GB: $35/month ($45 for the first month)
- Unlimited: $50/month ($60 for the first month), with 5 GB of hotspot data
- Unlimited Plus: $60/month ($70 for the first month), with 5G Ultra Wideband, 50 GB of premium network access, 25 GB of premium hotspot data, and Global Choice for one country
All plans include unlimited talk and text, international texting, and talk, text, and data in Mexico and Canada. That makes Verizon a practical USA SIM card for trips that cross either border. Additional taxes and fees may apply.
4. Lycamobile
Lycamobile is a budget-friendly MVNO with monthly plans that each last 30 days:
- 1 GB: $15
- 5 GB: $19
- 8 GB: $23
- 15 GB: $29
- 18 GB: $33
- 25 GB: $39
- Unlimited Plus (first 50 GB at full speed): $49
- Unlimited Pro (first 50 GB at full speed): $59
Several plans run promotional prices for the first 6 to 12 months, from $7.50 for 18 GB to $29.50 for Unlimited Pro. Long-term plans paid for 3, 6, or 12 months upfront cost less per month. Every plan includes unlimited talk and text nationwide plus unlimited international talk and text to 100 countries. That makes Lycamobile a local SIM card that also covers calls home.
5. Black Wireless
Black Wireless is another US-based MVNO. The SIM card costs a one-time $10, or you can activate with an eSIM. You can keep your number or get a new one, so it also works as a prepaid SIM card with phone number included. Its monthly plans come with unlimited talk and text, direct-dial international calling to up to 50 countries, and free international minutes, with slower speeds once your data runs out:
- 1 GB at 5G: $20/month
- 10 GB at 5G: $50/month
- 22 GB at 5G: $70/month
For a data SIM card USA visitors can use for 30 days, Black Wireless sells data-only plans from $20 for 3 GB to $75 for 20 GB. It also has a pay as you go SIM card USA travelers can keep for longer: $10 for 1 month, $30 for 3 months, or $100 for 12 months of unlimited talk and text, with airtime charges on calls and messages.
6. Mint Mobile
Mint Mobile is a low-cost MVNO that sells its plans upfront for 3, 6, or 12 months. New customers currently pay $15/month on every plan for the first term:
- 6 GB/month
- 17 GB/month
- 23 GB/month
- Unlimited
That works out to $45 upfront for 3 months, $90 for 6 months, or $180 for 12 months, and full-price plans apply after that. All plans include unlimited talk and text, mobile hotspot, and calls to Mexico, Canada, and the UK. Unlimited customers who use over 50 GB a month may notice slower speeds when the network is busy.
Holafly eSIM for the USA
Holafly’s eSIM USA plans give you unlimited data from the moment your flight lands, with 24/7 support whether you’re in Manhattan or halfway along Route 66. You set the exact number of days your trip lasts and install the eSIM by scanning a QR code before you board.
Adding Toronto or Cancún to the itinerary? Holafly’s eSIM for North America keeps one plan working across the border. Spending a semester, a work placement, or a long sabbatical in the States? Holafly Plans is a monthly subscription in Unlimited or Light, valid in 160+ destinations, that you can stop in any month you no longer need it. For extra protection, Holafly Ultra pairs monthly data with data privacy and real-life support benefits. And if a delayed flight home stretches your trip past the last day of your plan, Always On helps you cover maps and messages in 150+ destinations. It’s 1 GB of backup data at no added cost.
How do I get a US SIM card?
Getting a prepaid SIM card in the USA takes a few minutes. There are plenty of places that sell a travel SIM card USA visitors can use, typically with a plan that includes data, calls, and text messages. Insert the tourist SIM into your phone, activate your plan, and you’ll be able to stay connected in the US.
Buying a prepaid SIM card doesn’t require you to provide your ID or proof of address, unlike postpaid plans. Pay for the SIM by card or cash when buying in person, or use the online checkout, and you’ll be able to use it right away. Verizon Prepaid, for example, comes with no contract and no credit check.
Here are some of the most popular places where you can get a US SIM card:
- International airports: You’ll find stands by major telecom providers at international airports throughout the USA.
- Carrier stores: If you’ve already left the airport, look for a prepaid SIM card store run by a carrier like AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon. You’ll find one in most larger towns and cities in the US.
- Retail stores: You can buy a prepaid SIM card in many shopping centers, gas stations, and convenience stores, including 7-Eleven, Best Buy, Walmart, Target, CVS, and Walgreens.
- Online: You can buy a travel eSIM online and activate it on the spot, and carriers like Black Wireless also let you activate a plan with an eSIM. Some providers sell physical SIMs online too, but they might take a few days to arrive.
Prepaid vs. postpaid SIM cards
One final consideration when researching how to get a SIM card in the USA is the difference between prepaid and postpaid options.
What is a prepaid SIM card? It’s a SIM that requires upfront payment for a specific amount of data, talk time, and text messages. Prepaid plans are generally more flexible and accessible to visitors.
Postpaid SIM cards have you pay for services after usage, at the end of a billing cycle. These plans often require a credit check and are primarily aimed at US residents.
Which SIM card is best for the USA?
The answer to which SIM card is best in the USA depends on how long you’re staying, how much data you need, and whether you’ll cross into Canada or Mexico. For a month of unlimited data, AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and Lycamobile all have plans between $25 and $50, while Black Wireless and Mint Mobile suit lighter use or longer stays. Verizon includes Canada and Mexico on every plan.
If you’d rather skip the store, Holafly’s eSIM for the USA gives you unlimited data for the exact number of days you’re there.
Ditch plastic cards
An eSIM is fully digital and leaves no negative trace in the environment. Get yours today.
Traveling to the USA? Here are some other SIM card options in North America you might find useful.
FAQs about USA SIM card
Prepaid plans in the USA typically cost $15 to $70 a month, and some carriers also charge for the SIM itself, like the one-time $10 at Black Wireless. If you need a pay as you go SIM USA plan mainly for calls, Black Wireless starts at $10 a month. With Holafly’s eSIM for the USA, you pay only for the exact number of days you’re there.
Yes. Travel eSIM providers like Holafly offer eSIMs for the USA that work as a temporary SIM card with nothing to collect: they come with unlimited data and 24/7 support, and install with a QR code on any eSIM-compatible phone.
Most providers selling a SIM card USA visitors can buy run on one of three national networks, AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon, and smaller MVNOs resell access to them. Most SIMs work on a single network, so check that network’s coverage for the places you’ll visit. Holafly’s eSIM for the USA connects to local networks, with 24/7 support if anything comes up.
It depends on how much you’ll use your phone on both sides of the border. Every Verizon Prepaid plan includes talk, text, and data in Canada and Mexico, while AT&T’s Unlimited Enhanced Plus and Unlimited Ultra cover Canada with a 25 GB monthly limit. Holafly’s eSIM for North America keeps one plan working across the border.
Look for an AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon store, which you’ll find in most larger towns and cities, or a retailer like Walmart, Target, or 7-Eleven. If you’d rather skip the search, Holafly’s eSIM for the USA is bought online and installed with a QR code wherever you are.
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A senior SEO writer from Lithuania, combining my passion for writing and travel at Holafly. With years of experience in technical fields, I'm here to answer all of your questions about staying connected. I specialize in turning even the most complicated topics into something everyone can understand.
