Best Prepaid Sim Cards For USA (Connect On The Go)
Staying connected while traveling is essential. Let’s be honest, these days our phones are an integral part of our lives and to travel without being able to use the internet, make calls, use apps and message loved ones at home simply isn’t an option.
A great way to ensure your mobile phone stays connected in the USA is by buying a prepaid sim card. But, which USA sim cards are the best, and which one is right for you?
Join me as I run through the best-prepaid sim cards for the USA so that you can find the best prepaid sim card for your travels there. Let’s dive in!
T-Mobile Prepaid Sim Card
T-Mobile is the second largest mobile provider in the USA which means you will have excellent coverage and fast connection speeds with a T-Mobile sim card.
In fact, they have almost 40% of the USA is covered with 5G NR, so you’ll be uploading and downloading faster than ever.
T-Mobile offers three prepaid sim cards to choose from. All the prepaid plans come with unlimited local calls and texts plus quite a bit of data, here they are.
- 30 days/10GB data usage/unlimited calls and SMS – $40
- 30 days/Unlimited data allowance/unlimited calls and SMS/unlimited 3G hotspot – $50
- 30 days/Unlimited data allowance/unlimited calls and SMS/10GB 5G hotspot then unlimited 3G hotspot – $50
As you can see, T-Mobile offers some excellent prepaid USA sim card plans for you to choose from with more than enough data allowance for your trip.
You can even add “Talk, Text, and up to 5GB of 4G data in Mexico & Canada” to your plan for $5 a month.
Pros
- Excellent coverage
- 5G in most parts of the USA
- Unlimited data options
- Unlimited calls and texts
- Hotspots allowed
- A range of plans to choose from
Cons
- A little expensive
LycaMobile Prepaid Sim Card
LycaMobile is an MVNO (mobile virtual network operator) and it uses the T-Mobile network to provide a connection for its prepaid USA sim cards.
This means you will get a fast 5G connection in 40% of the country and 4G everywhere else with a LycaMobikle sim card for the USA.
LycaMobile is all about providing calls and SMS to international countries and all their plans come with unlimited local calls and SMS as well as unlimited calls and SMS to 85 countries around the world.
Each of their plans comes with a varying amount of data and all last for 30 days minimum but you can buy 1,3,6 or 12 months as you prefer.
Their plans start at $15 for 250 MB high-speed data and go up to unlimited data with 15GB at up to 4G/5G speed for $39 and 60GB data at up to 5G speed for $59.
Pros
- Unlimited local calls & texts
- Unlimited calls & texts to 85 countries
- A range of data plans to choose from
- Very affordable
- Great coverage and speeds
Cons
- None I can find
AT&T Prepaid Sim Card
AT & T is the third largest mobile operator in the USA after T-Mobile and Verizon. They have pretty solid coverage all over the country with 5G speeds available but if you are in Alaska, Maine, Arizona, Nevada & Wyoming coverage can be spotty.
AT&T offers two types of USA sim card, data-only sim cards and combo prepaid sim cards. Their data-only sim card is designed for use with tablets but works just as well in a mobile phone.
Their combo plans include unlimited text from the U.S. to over 230 countries and unlimited talk and text in the USA. You can also use a mobile hotspot with AT&T in line with your data allowance. Here are the combo plans:
- $30/5GB data/30 days
- $65/unlimited data/30 days
Their data-only plans are as follows:
- $35/15GB data/30 days
- $55/100GB data/30 days
As you can see, their plans are solid but a little expensive compared to others.
Pros
- Solid coverage
- Good speeds
- A range of plans to choose from
Cons
- Coverage is not as good as other providers
- A bit expensive
Orange Holiday World Sim Card
The Orange Holiday World Sim Card is a prepaid sim card for the USA and the rest of the world. Orange is a French network that partners with local mobile operators in each country to provide great coverage and a 4G connection.
There is just one plan with this prepaid sim card for the USA and it works in all countries in the world too.
You get 10GB of data in the USA and 65 other countries for 14 days for $49.90. The allowance then goes down depending on the countries you are in.
Overall, it is a great data-only global sim card but is a bit expensive for the USA and it only lasts for 14 days.
Pros
- Works all over the world
- Up to 10GB of data
- Good coverage and connection speeds
- Order online before travel
Cons
- Only lasts 14 days
- A little expensive
- Data only, no local calls or sms
- No 5G
Three Prepaid Sim Card
The Three Prepaid Sim Card might just be the best-prepaid sim card for the USA if you are looking for an affordable data-only connection, plus it works in 70 other countries too.
For just $18.95 you get 12GB of data for 30 days, which is a great deal. On top of this comes 3000 voice mins and 3000 texts to use in Europe and for European numbers.
The service is provided by T-Mobile so you will have excellent coverage and access to 5G across most of the USA.
The only downsides are that hotspots and video streaming are not allowed.
Pros
- Very affordable
- A good amount of data
- Pre-order online
- Works in 71 countries
- Solid coverage
- Fast speeds
Cons
- No hotspot allowed
- No video streaming allowed
Google Fi
Google Fi is also an MVNO (mobile virtual network operator) operating on T-Mobile’s network. T-Mobile has some of the best coverage and 5G speeds in the USA so you will always have a reliable connection.
Google Fi offers 3 prepaid sim card plans and all of them allow you to use a mobile hotspot and include unlimited calls and sms in/to US, Canada, & Mexico.
Here are their plans:
- $20/10GB data/Free calls to Canada & Mexico/unlimited calls and sms in USA – 30 days
- $50/unlimited data/Free calls to Canada & Mexico/unlimited calls and sms in USA – 30 days
- $60/unlimited data/Free calls to 200 destinations/unlimited calls and sms in USA/free data in 200 countries/free texts outside US, Canada, & Mexico – 30 days
Another great thing about these plans is that you can buy them for up to a group of 6 which considerably reduces the price.
Pros
- Great range of plans to choose from
- Solid coverage and fast speeds
- Affordable
- Some plans work globally
- Calls to Mexico & Canada included
Cons
- None I can find
Is A Sim Card Essential When Traveling to the US?
In today’s world, a SIM card has become an essential item when traveling to the USA or any other place.
Our reliance on smartphones is so great that not being connected while exploring a country like the USA is not a viable option.
By having a prepaid SIM card in the USA, you can do everything you rely on your phone for without having to search for free WiFI.
You can make phone calls, book transportation, stay in touch with loved ones, use navigation apps, request Ubers, and much more.
Additionally, having a SIM card provides a sense of safety when exploring unfamiliar locations since you can make calls or send messages whenever you need to.
Furthermore, you can remain connected for almost a month in the USA for around $20 USD with a prepaid SIM card, so it is certainly worth it in my eyes.
If you are on a serious budget, you could survive on free WiFi between your accommodation, restaurants, and cafes but it is certainly not convenient.
Things to Know Before Buying A Sim Card in the USA
Is Your Phone Unlocked?
If you’re planning to use a prepaid sim card while traveling abroad your phone needs to be unlocked from your mobile provider back home. But don’t worry, it’s a straightforward process!
First, you should check if your phone is already unlocked, most likely it will be. However, if you’re unsure, give your local provider a call and ask them. They’ll be able to confirm whether or not your phone is locked.
If your phone is locked, don’t panic! Just ask your provider to unlock it, and it’ll only take a few minutes.
Are You Using A GSM Phone?
The USA has two types of mobile networks, GSM and CDMA. Only GSM phones work on GSM networks and the same goes for CDMA.
Luckily, most of the world uses GSM as do all the network providers featured above, so your GSM phone will work with all of them.
If you have a CDMA phone, then you will need to get a prepaid sim card from Verizon as they are the only network using CDMA in the USA.
How to Buy A Sim Card in the USA
Buying A Sim Card Before Traveling to the US
You can buy a prepaid sim before traveling to the US but it would have to be from a 3rd party site like SimOptions or Amazon.
It would also have to be a prepaid sim like the Orange World sim card or the Three prepaid sims, both of which are featured above.
You also have the option to buy an eSim for the USA which can be done online also.
It does make life a lot easier as you can simply put the sim card in your phone and start using it as soon as you land.
Buying A Sim Card in the USA
Buying a sim card in the USA is very easy. You do not need your passport to buy a sim and they are available at most electronics stores, mobile phone stores, and at the providers’ physical stores too.
Sadly, finding a shop that sells sim cards in the airport in the USA is rare.
How Much Does A Sim Card in the USA Cost?
The price of sim cards differs depending on the provider you are buying the sim card from. Some sim cards are free and included in the package you buy, this is the case for LycaMobile.
With other providers, you should expect to pay around $5 to $10 for your sim card.
How to Activate & Top Up Your US Sim Card
If you buy your sim from a provider’s store, they will help you to activate and top up your US sim card in the shop. This makes the process very easy.
However, if you buy your sim from a 3rd party vendor, then you will need to activate it yourself, and here is how.
- Activation – insert the SIM card into your phone and power it on. If your phone prompts you to enter a code, you can usually find it on the SIM card packaging. If not, contact the carrier’s customer service to get the activation code.
- Registration – you may need to register your SIM card with the carrier online to activate it. This process involves providing personal details like your name, address, and identification.
- Top-Up – you can usually do this online through the carrier’s website, mobile app, or by purchasing top-up vouchers from retail stores.
Managing Your Mobile Data in the USA
While managing your mobile data in the US may not be high on your list of concerns, it’s always nice to avoid running out of data in the middle of your day. Here are some tips to help you out:
- Find the perfect plan: Before purchasing a SIM card, take a look at the different plans offered by various mobile network providers. This way, you can find the perfect plan to fit your data usage and budget. Be sure to read the terms and conditions of the plan, including any data limits.
- Utilize Wi-Fi: Don’t forget to take advantage of free Wi-Fi hotspots at hotels, cafes, and public places to conserve your mobile data.
- Monitor your usage: Most smartphones have a built-in data usage tracker that lets you monitor your data usage. Set up alerts or warnings when you’re approaching your data limit to avoid overage charges.
- Disable automatic updates: Keep your mobile data in check by disabling automatic updates for apps and operating systems. Instead, manually update them when you have access to Wi-Fi.
- Use airplane mode: Keep those pesky background apps from using up your data by using airplane mode. You can still use GPS and snap photos with it on.
- Download Google Maps offline: Navigate the US without using any data by downloading Google Maps offline while connected to Wi-Fi.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest prepaid sim card in the US?
The cheapest prepaid sim card in the US is actually the Three Prepaid Sim featured above. The price per GB is better than any others but it does not come with any calls or sms included.
Can foreigners buy a sim card in the USA?
Yes, foreigners can buy a sim card in the USA without any worries. You will have to self-register your sim with your personal details afterward.
Is it easy to get a SIM card in the US?
Yes, it is very easy to get a sim card in the US as they are available at most electronics stores, mobile phone stores, and at the providers’ physical stores too. You do not need your passport or ID to buy one either.
