Data only eSIMs
Travel eSIM United States
Be real - it’s 2026. You deserve data that doesn’t bankrupt you. Enter: our United States eSIM.
4.9
(415)
Set up in a few minutes
Unlimited hotspotting
Add more data with top ups
Install before travel
Set up in a few minutes
Unlimited hotspotting
Add more data with top ups
Install before travel
Plans & prices
United States plans
Skip the roaming fees entirely. Install your eSIM for the USA instantly via QR code or one-tap in our app, connect to T-Mobile for the strongest signal wherever you land, and hotspot to your laptop or mates with zero limits.
$25 AUD
$37 AUD
$45 AUD
$79 AUD
$89 AUD
$2.97/day
limited to 1 Mbps
Set up in a few minutes
Unlimited hotspotting
Add more data with top ups
Install before travel
Say whaaaaat
All pros, no cons
100% money back guarantee
Plans changed, device incompatible or locked, can't get it working, we've got you covered - see our .
Data-only eSIM - no phone number
Use internet based apps like WhatsApp and Messenger as normal. Note: you can't make traditional calls or SMS (yet).
Reliable 4G/5G connection
Powered by the best networks in United States including T-Mobile.
Multiple data options
We have plans for 5, 15 or 30 days starting at only 1GB right up to unlimited for most destinations.
Unlimited hotspotting (tethering)
Hotspot to your laptop, tablet, to your friends, to whoever with our limitless hotspotting.
Auto-activates on arrival
Automatically activates when you arrive in United States. Just update settings (we'll send instructions), and you're connected.
Install up to 90 days before travel
Install your United States eSIM anytime within 90 days before you travel, the plan won't start until you arrive in United States.
Keep your current number
You can have multiple eSIMs installed and switch them on and off as you like.
How to use travel esims
How it works
If you haven't used a travel eSIM before, you're in for a treat. It only takes a few minutes to setup and it's a fraction of the cost of roaming! See WTF is eSIM.
1. Quick phone check
Let's make sure your phone's on board. Our eSIM compatibility checker has all of the answers.
2. Choose a plan, enter your details
Choose a plan for your destination, enter your details and your payment information.
4. Auto-activated on arrival
Update settings on arrival (we'll email these to you) and boom, you're connected. Check your usage in the ZenSim app.
The nitty gritty
United States eSIM FAQs
That depends on your plan size, phone and budget, so rather than guess here, check out our in-depth guide on the best eSIM for the USA, where we break it all down and compare providers properly.
Yes, especially compared to what your home carrier will try to charge you for roaming. A USA travel eSIM gets you affordable prepaid data with no physical SIM swap required, so you keep your home number active while still having fast mobile data in the USA for maps, messaging and social media. It installs before you even leave home and auto-activates on arrival, so there's no faffing about at the airport.
You can, but sorting a USA travel eSIM online before you fly has real advantages over buying once you land. You can compare plans and pricing properly, check genuine reviews before you commit, and message us directly on WhatsApp if you have any questions, rather than dealing with a language barrier at a carrier counter. It also means it's installed and ready to go on arrival, rather than something to figure out while jet-lagged at the airport.
Generally yes. International roaming rates from most home carriers are charged per day or per MB and add up fast, while a USA travel eSIM is a single prepaid cost you know upfront before you fly. The exact saving depends on your home carrier's rates and how much data you use, but for most travellers it works out more affordable and a lot more predictable than roaming.
Coverage in major US cities and popular tourist routes, including New York, LA, Las Vegas, Miami and San Francisco, is generally strong and reliable. As with any network anywhere in the world, more remote rural stretches and national parks can occasionally see patchier signal, so it's worth downloading offline maps if you're heading somewhere properly off the beaten path.
These eSIMs don’t include voice minutes - data only. For any calling or texting, you’ll need to rely on VoIP or messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Viber, or Messenger.
Absolutely! You can install your United States travel eSIM up to 30 days before departure. Installing early means it will automatically activate once you land.
Rest assured, installing before you leave won’t start your data or count down your plan days until you arrive in United States.
If you see an activation error on iPhone when installing before arriving, you can ignore it-learn more in our eSIM Troubleshooting Guide.
No - our United States travel eSIMs are data-only, so they don’t come with a voice line or phone number. Any calls or texts must go through internet apps like WhatsApp or Messenger.
Your eSIM will activate automatically when you land in United States. However, we recommend installing the United States Travel eSIM beforehand (activation happens on arrival).
Simply scan the QR code provided or install the eSIM via the ZenSim app while on WiFi. Once you touch down in United States, the eSIM will go live.
Trouble activating? See our eSIM Troubleshooting Guide or contact us for help ☺️
Your United States eSIM will start working the moment you land in United States-it auto-activates if installed prior to departure.
If you install it after arrival, it will connect immediately.
Trouble connecting? Visit our eSIM Troubleshooting Guide or contact us for help.
Absolutely - using a travel eSIM beats roaming in United States for several reasons:
Cost Efficiency: Our United States local data rates are much cheaper than pay-as-you-go roaming fees.
Instant Activation: No need to wait for a SIM card; your eSIM goes live as soon as you land.
Data Visibility: Monitor exactly how much you’ve consumed, so there are no hidden surprises on your bill.
No, your plan only starts upon landing in United States. Installing beforehand ensures you’re ready to go as the activation will happen automatically.
You’ll need WiFi for installation, so do it before departure and this way you will be connected as soon as you arrive.
If you run into any issues, our eSIM Troubleshooting Guide can help, or contact us directly.
Yes! Our eSIMs cover more than 200 countries, including United States. We even provide regional eSIMs that span multiple countries in one package - head over to our Travel eSIMs page to learn more.
Connection Problems: If your United States eSIM isn’t loading data, check our troubleshooting post. If that doesn’t do it, contact us and we’ll get you fixed up.
Installation Questions: Need help installing your eSIM? Visit our how-to guide, or shoot us a message at Contact Us and we’ll sort it out.
Anything Else: Got other queries? Visit our contact page and we’ll be right with you.
Absolutely. Nearly all of our Travel eSIMs can be extended directly inside the ZenSim app in just a few taps. You can top up extra data, more days, or even include an additional country on the same eSIM, you’ll find everything in the Zen Garden top up section.
Just sign in, head to the Zen Garden, and you’ll spot the option to top up your eSIM straight away.
Top up plan details: The United States options mirror the website plans, with an added 10% savings.
Longer trips: If your adventure goes beyond 30 days, you can stack as many top ups as you like. Each one activates only after the previous plan ends, so you can buy them in advance without affecting your current eSIM.
Add more countries: Many of our eSIMs now support multi country top ups. For example, if you're using a Europe eSIM and have a stopover in Dubai, simply add a Dubai top up and it will activate automatically when you land without needing a new installation.
Once activated in United States, your eSIM typically won’t function outside that country.
If you're planning to hop between countries, we recommend checking out our regional Travel eSIMs - they’re made for multi-country use and cover most major regions.
Yep, you can, can you should! For every friend or family member you refer to purchase a United States eSIM, you will earn a A$5 voucher to use on your next purchase AND they will save A$5 on their purchase.
All you have to do is share your unique referral URL with them, which you can access after purchase, and if they click it and purchase the savings are automatic.
You can monitor your referrals and find your personal referral URL directly in the ZenSim app. Read our terms for full details.
Only on unlimited plans, and only past 3GB in a single day - which is a generous amount, considering most travellers use less than 1GB daily.
If you do go past 3GB, your speed will be limited to 1Mbps until midnight, when it resets and you're back to full speed again.
Fixed-data plans (10GB, 20GB, etc.) don't have any daily throttling - you're free to use your data at whatever pace suits you until the plan's used up. We'll flag it before you run out, and topping up takes just a couple of taps in the ZenSim app.
Not at all - installing early doesn't use up any of your days or data, and it doesn't set a start date either. Everything stays dormant until you actually land in United States.
Once you arrive, and provided you've already installed it, your eSIM activates automatically and your plan's official start date is that moment of arrival.
The end date follows on from there - it'll expire once your data or days run out, whichever happens first (or just the days if you've gone unlimited). A 30-day plan gives you a full 30 days from the moment you land in United States, no matter how far in advance you bought or installed it.
Quickest way to check is through our eSIM compatibility checker - it'll let you know in seconds if your phone plays nicely with our United States eSIM and the networks it runs on.
If anything's unclear or you'd rather double check with a human, reach out to us anytime. And if your phone ends up not being compatible, you're covered by our refund policy - full refund, no hassle - so it's worth just giving it a go.
Yep, that's precisely why we offer a 100% money back guarantee.
Whether it's a cancelled trip, an incompatible phone, or your travel plans simply shifting, you're covered either way.
You'll find the full breakdown in our refund policy, but the gist is: can't install it, can't use it, we'll refund it in full. Simple as that.
eSIM options for other destinations
eSIM USA: Connected From JFK Onwards
An affordable USA travel eSIM with prepaid data
We provide USA travel eSIM plans with affordable prepaid mobile data, built for travellers rather than adapted from a local carrier contract. Plans range from 1GB right up to unlimited, across 5, 15 or 30 day options, so whether you're in New York for a long weekend or road-tripping across the country for a month, there's a plan sized to match your trip.
eSIM USA install: instant QR code, auto-activated on arrival
Your eSIM USA plan installs digitally in a couple of minutes, either by scanning the QR code we email you or skipping the second device entirely with a one-tap install through the ZenSim app. No physical SIM card required at any point. Install it before you fly while you're still on home WiFi, and it auto-activates the moment you land, so you're connected to mobile data in the USA without hunting down a local SIM counter after a long flight.
Mobile data in the USA on the country's most established networks
Our eSIM connects to T-Mobile, giving you a reliable 4G and 5G signal in the places travellers actually go, from the subway in New York to the Strip in Las Vegas. Network reliability matters just as much as price when you're picking an eSIM for the USA, and running on established local networks rather than a single reseller agreement means fewer dead zones when you need Google Maps most.
An eSIM for USA travel, compatible with modern iPhone and Android
Most eSIM-enabled iPhone and Android smartphones from the last few years support our USA travel eSIM without any issue. If you're not sure about yours, our eSIM compatibility checker gives you an answer in seconds, and if it turns out your device isn't compatible after buying, our refund policy has you covered. Setting up on an iPhone specifically? Our guide to installing an eSIM on iPhone walks through it step by step.
Keep your home number active with dual SIM support
Your eSIM for the USA runs as a separate data-only line alongside your existing SIM, thanks to dual SIM support built into most recent iPhone and Android devices. That means you keep your home number active for calls and texts exactly as normal, while your new eSIM quietly handles mobile data in the USA in the background.
No roaming fees, with hotspot and data sharing included
International roaming charges have a habit of turning a great trip into an expensive one fast. A USA travel eSIM means no roaming fees at all, with an affordable prepaid plan sorted before you even board. Every plan also includes hotspot and data sharing as standard, so you can tether your laptop, tablet or a friend's phone without extra fees or chewing through your own allowance.
Coverage across New York, LA, Las Vegas, Miami and San Francisco
Our eSIM covers mobile data in the USA across major destinations like New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami and San Francisco, so you're connected whether you're navigating the subway, cruising the Strip, or exploring South Beach. Coverage naturally varies a little in more remote rural stretches, as it does with any provider, but the places most travellers actually spend their time are well covered.
Manage your USA travel eSIM easily through the ZenSim app
Once you're set up, the ZenSim app is where you keep track of everything, checking your remaining data, topping up if you're running low, or extending your plan if your trip runs longer than expected. Pick something sized for a quick city break or a longer trip touring the country, and adjust as you go, all in a couple of taps. Comparing your options first? Our best eSIM for USA guide breaks down what to look for before you buy.
Continuing your trip with an eSIM for USA, Canada and Mexico
If your itinerary takes you further afield, our North America eSIM covers the USA plus Canada and Mexico on a single plan, so you're not switching eSIMs at every border. Or check out our Canada eSIM plans or Mexico eSIM options individually if you're only crossing one border.
Top 3 Things to Do in the USA
1. Explore New York City
New York City moves at a pace all its own, and few places pack as much into a single visit. Times Square is the obvious starting point, all towering digital billboards and constant motion, but the city's real character shows up once you step away from it. Central Park offers a genuine escape from the skyscrapers, with enough walking trails, lakes and quiet corners to lose an entire afternoon in, while the High Line, a elevated park built along a disused railway, gives a completely different vantage point over the Meatpacking District and Chelsea below.
The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are worth the ferry ride out, especially for the immigration museum's look at the millions who passed through en route to a new life in America. Back on land, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and MoMA both reward a half-day each if art is your thing, and the 9/11 Memorial's twin reflecting pools offer a quieter, more sobering stop downtown.
As evening sets in, a Broadway show is hard to beat, and the neighbourhoods beyond Manhattan are just as worth exploring, from Brooklyn's waterfront parks with their skyline views back across the East River, to the food markets of Queens representing some of the most diverse cooking in the country. Whatever pace you're travelling at, New York rarely runs out of things to show you.
2. Marvel at the Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is one of those places where photos never quite prepare you for the scale of it in person. Carved by the Colorado River over millions of years, the canyon stretches 277 miles long and plunges over a mile deep in places, with layered red and orange rock walls that shift colour dramatically as the light changes throughout the day. The South Rim is the most visited and accessible section, with a network of viewpoints along Hermit Road and Desert View Drive that require little more than a short walk from the car park.
For a closer look, hiking trails like Bright Angel and South Kaibab drop down into the canyon itself, though even a short descent gives a real sense of the scale that's impossible to appreciate from the rim alone. Just be mindful that what goes down eventually has to climb back out, and the return trip is considerably tougher than it looks. A mule ride is a popular alternative for experiencing the trails without the legwork, and helicopter tours offer a completely different perspective from above.
Sunrise and sunset are when the canyon is at its most photogenic, with the rock faces glowing deep red and orange as the sun tracks low across the horizon. The North Rim, higher in elevation and considerably less crowded, is worth considering if you have the extra time to reach it, offering a quieter, more forested take on the same epic landscape.
3. Soak Up the Culture of New Orleans
New Orleans has a personality unlike anywhere else in the country, shaped by a blend of French, Spanish, African and Caribbean influences that shows up in its music, food and architecture in equal measure. The French Quarter is the natural starting point, with wrought-iron balconies overhanging narrow streets, and Bourbon Street's bars spilling music out onto the pavement well into the night. Jackson Square, with its towering St. Louis Cathedral, offers a calmer contrast just a few blocks over, ringed by street artists and fortune tellers.
Live music is genuinely everywhere, from the informal brass bands busking on street corners to the historic jazz clubs of Frenchmen Street, a slightly less touristy alternative to Bourbon Street favoured by locals. Preservation Hall, tucked into the French Quarter, has been hosting traditional jazz performances for decades in an intimate, un-air-conditioned room that's become something of an institution in its own right.
Food is just as central to the city's identity as the music, and a proper visit means working through gumbo, po' boys, beignets from Café du Monde, and genuine Cajun and Creole cooking that draws on the region's deep culinary history. A streetcar ride down St. Charles Avenue, past grand old mansions and oak-lined streets, is a good way to see a quieter, more residential side of the city beyond the Quarter's energy.
