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🇺🇸 eSIM for the United States
US roaming charges from European and Asian carriers are among the steepest anywhere, and domestic prepaid SIMs usually require a store visit and an ID check. An eSIM sidesteps both.
USA eSIM plans and prices
In short: Num sells 14 prepaid data eSIM plans for the United States, from $3.26 for 2 GB per day (1 day) up to 100 GB over 10 days at $143.29. The best value per gigabyte is 10 GB per day for 1 day at $10.15 ($1.01). It connects to AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon with 5G on every plan. Validity starts when the eSIM first connects in the United States, it installs by QR code on any eSIM-capable iPhone, and your own number keeps working.
Live prices, updated from our provider catalogue · 3G/4G/5G. These are the amounts charged at checkout — nothing is added afterwards.
| Plan | Validity | Total data | Per GB | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 GB per dayTop-up available | 1 day | 2 GB | $1.63 | $3.26 |
| 1.5 GB per dayTop-up available | 1 day | 1.5 GB | $2.19 | $3.28 |
| 1 GB per dayTop-up available | 1 day | 1 GB | $3.48 | $3.48 |
| 1 GB totalTop-up available | 7 days | 1 GB | $3.96 | $3.96 |
| 3 GB totalTop-up available | 15 days | 3 GB | $1.50 | $4.51 |
| 1 GB totalTop-up available | 30 days | 1 GB | $4.51 | $4.51 |
| 3 GB totalTop-up available | 30 days | 3 GB | $1.55 | $4.65 |
| 3 GB per dayTop-up available | 1 day | 3 GB | $1.69 | $5.08 |
| 5 GB per dayTop-up available | 1 day | 5 GB | $1.32 | $6.58 |
| 5 GB totalTop-up available | 30 days | 5 GB | $1.36 | $6.79 |
| 10 GB per dayTop-up availableBest value | 1 day | 10 GB | $1.01 | $10.15 |
| 10 GB totalTop-up available | 30 days | 10 GB | $1.24 | $12.38 |
| 1 GB totalTop-up available | 365 days | 1 GB | $14.35 | $14.35 |
| 100 GB totalTop-up available | 10 days | 100 GB | $1.43 | $143.29 |
Prices shown were generated on 2026-10-08 and can change with our provider's catalogue. The app always shows the current price before you pay.
Num vs Airalo, Saily, Nomad, Simpal, Maya: USA eSIM prices compared →
Best USA eSIM by trip length
Our pick for each trip length: the cheapest plan that lasts the whole stay and carries enough data for maps, messaging and a bit of video. Heavy streamers should go a size up.
| Trip | Our pick | Validity | Total data | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A long weekend USA eSIM for 3 days | 1 GB total | 7 days | 1 GB | $3.96 |
| One week USA eSIM for 7 days | 3 GB total | 15 days | 3 GB | $4.51 |
| Two weeks USA eSIM for 14 days | 5 GB total | 30 days | 5 GB | $6.79 |
| A month USA eSIM for 30 days | 10 GB total | 30 days | 10 GB | $12.38 |
Using your eSIM in the United States
The United States is large enough that the plan you pick is about distance more than days. Networks named on the plan: AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon. Coverage is best in cities and along interstates; expect gaps in remote national-park areas whatever provider you use, and download the map of any park before you drive in.
Who this suits: a visitor doing two or three cities, or a road trip, who does not want the store visit and ID check that a domestic prepaid SIM involves. The smallest plan is 1 GB over 1 day ($3.48); the largest is 100 GB over 10 days ($143.29). Rideshare and delivery apps are effectively mandatory in most US cities, so budget more data than the same trip would take in Europe.
All 14 plans list 5G; whether you actually see it depends on the mast you are near, not on the plan. Setup is the same as anywhere: data roaming on for the Num line, off for your home line, APN automatic. iPhones bought in the US have no SIM tray and run on eSIM alone, which is fine — the Num plan sits alongside your home eSIM rather than replacing it.
Every plan here can be topped up from the app without reinstalling anything. Install before departure if you can; if you are already in the country, any hotel or coffee-shop wi-fi is enough to scan the code. Validity starts on the first connection, not at purchase.
Practical notes for the United States
- Coverage is best in cities and along interstates; expect gaps in remote national-park areas whatever provider you use.
- If you are visiting several states, plan size matters more than validity — distances mean more mapping.
- Rideshare and delivery apps are effectively mandatory in most US cities, so budget more data than you think.
How to get connected
- Download Num and pick the United States.
- Choose a plan and pay with Apple Pay.
- Scan the QR code the app gives you — Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM.
- Turn on data roaming for the Num line when you land.
Questions about the United States
How much does an eSIM for the United States cost?
Plans start at $3.26. The table on this page shows current prices — 14 options ranging from short trips to month-long stays. These are the prices you pay in the app; there are no separate activation or delivery fees.
Will my phone work with a the United States eSIM?
Most iPhones from the XR and XS onward support eSIM, and the handset must be carrier-unlocked. Check the compatibility page for the full list before you buy.
When does the plan start counting down?
Validity begins when the eSIM first connects to a network in the coverage area, not when you buy it. You can install it before you travel and it will wait until you land.
Can I keep my normal number while using it?
Yes. The Num eSIM runs alongside your existing SIM, so calls and texts on your usual number keep working while data runs over the travel plan. Turn your normal line's data roaming off to avoid a roaming bill.
Can I add more data if I run out?
Yes — reloadable plans can be topped up from inside the app without buying a new eSIM or reinstalling anything.
Is there an unlimited data eSIM for the United States?
Num does not sell unlimited plans for the United States. The closest are the daily-allowance plans, such as 2 GB per day, which give a fixed amount each day for the length of the trip. For most travellers the fixed bundles, from 1 GB to 100 GB, are better value.
Which networks does a Num USA eSIM use?
It connects to AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon and picks the strongest available network automatically. Every plan on this page supports 5G where the network offers it.
Do I get a USA phone number with the eSIM?
No. Num eSIMs are data-only. Your own number stays active on your existing SIM for calls and texts, and WhatsApp, iMessage and other messaging apps keep working over the eSIM's data. If you need a local number, see our guide to eSIMs with a phone number.
What is the best eSIM for the United States?
It depends on how long you stay and how much you use maps and video. On this page the best value per gigabyte is 10 GB per day for 1 day at $10.15 ($1.01); the trip-length picks match a plan to a weekend, a week, two weeks and a month. The comparison page sets Num's prices against Airalo, Saily, Nomad, Simpal, Maya at matched plan sizes, including the sizes where we are not the cheapest.