From major cities to rural regions, the U.S. offers many places to explore. Regardless of the location, a network connection is a must, whether for navigation, posting photos on social media, or staying in touch with friends and family.
Instead of purchasing a physical SIM card right after you land or getting expensive roaming packages from your local network, you can get an eSIM (digital SIM card) for extra convenience and flexibility. The only question is: which one should you choose?
In this guide, we’ll help you find the best eSIM for USA travel by discussing top-rated options and their offer.
Why You Should Choose an eSIM for USA Travel
eSIMs are becoming increasingly popular; in 2024, there were almost 600 million eSIM smartphone connections worldwide, a number over three times higher than in 2022.
Below are a few reasons why eSIMs are so widely adopted:
- Convenience: Before eSIMs, you had to either buy a physical SIM card or get roaming packages when traveling internationally, which was expensive and inconvenient. eSIMs are embedded into your device, and you can activate them remotely in a few clicks, without carrier assistance. You don’t have to deal with swapping SIM cards (which often leads to loss or damage) or pay hefty fees to stay connected.
- Simple management: eSIMs may sound complex, but they can be set up within minutes. You can have multiple eSIM profiles on your device. When traveling, you can select the best plan for your destination or combine plans from various carriers. Once you’re back home, you can simply toggle off your travel eSIMs.
- Built-in protection and security: Due to their embedded design, eSIMs can’t be lost or physically damaged, unlike their physical counterparts. They’re also less vulnerable to cyberattacks like SIM cloning.
What Is the Best eSIM for Tourists in the USA?
We’ve analyzed dozens of eSIM providers based on critical factors such as coverage, security, privacy, and customer reviews, and shortlisted the following options with the best performance:
- Cape
- Maya Mobile
- Roamless
- Verizon
1. Cape
Cape is a U.S. mobile carrier that specializes in eSIM-based services, offering premium, nationwide coverage. You can easily check whether the area you’ll be in is covered by entering the zip code or location in Cape’s map.
Cape offers more than an eSIM data plan. Besides unlimited 4G and 5G, the carrier’s package also includes unlimited texts and calls, allowing you to stay connected without relying on the internet. The plan costs $30 per month, with no hidden costs. Additionally, there are no contracts, hidden terms, or confusing fine print. You can cancel the plan before leaving the U.S., no questions asked.
Cape’s unique advantage is its commitment to privacy and security. The carrier implements strict measures and enforces policies to minimize the risk of external threats that could expose your sensitive information. It:
- Collects minimal data: Cape only needs your phone number to provide services, ensuring your privacy is protected. Hackers can’t steal the data you never disclosed.
- Offers strong security features: The carrier shields you from threats like SIM swapping, SS7 attacks, and call and text interception with advanced network-level defences.
- Operates its own network: Unlike many other U.S. carriers, Cape doesn’t rely on a legacy, trust-based infrastructure. It operates its own advanced network for complete control over authentication, policy management, and signaling protection.
The combination of excellent coverage and privacy and security capabilities makes Cape an ideal option for everyone who wants a consistent connection and strong protection against network threats.
2. Maya Mobile
Maya Mobile is a U.S.-based eSIM provider; it collaborates with two major U.S. telcos:
- Verizon
- AT&T
Both have widespread networks in the U.S. and guarantee reliable coverage. With Maya Mobile, you can choose from various package options that vary in available data and validity. In terms of validity, you have the following seven options:
- 5 days
- 10 days
- 15 days
- 30 days
- 60 days
- 90 days
- 180 days
The available data allowance ranges from five to 100 GB, depending on the plan. A package with unlimited data is also available for all validity periods. Prices range depending on the selected options; here are a few examples:
- 10 days, 5 GB of data: $6.99
- 30 days, 20 GB: $24.99
- 60 days, 50 GB: $42.99
- 90 days, unlimited data: $109.99
The activation process is straightforward; you choose a plan, pay, and receive a QR code via email. Maya Mobile provides prompts to guide you through the process and help you set up your eSIM card for the U.S. quickly and efficiently.
Customers are generally happy with Maya Mobile; one user mentions they used the provider while traveling across several U.S. states and had an excellent experience.
As for drawbacks, some users pointed out an unstable connection that affected their ability to stay online. A far more important issue is the lack of clear and comprehensive privacy and security policies; Maya Mobile doesn’t provide details on the information it collects from users and the security measures it uses to protect it.
3. Roamless
- RoamlessFix plans: Valid for a specific destination and expire in 30 days; you can choose among seven data allowance options ranging from 500 MB to 20 GB.
- Roamless Flex plans: Valid globally with no expiration date; you purchase credits and top them up whenever necessary.
Prices depend on the selected plan. You can check out a few examples below:
- RoamlessFix 5 GB: $13.95
- RoamlessFix 20 GB: $34.95
- RoamlessFlex 5 GB: $12.25
- RoamlessFlex: $49
Roamless connects to multiple networks in most destinations. In the U.S., that’s T-Mobile and AT&T, which provide a stable connection. If one network has a weak signal in a specific area, Roamless will automatically switch to the other.
Activating a Roamless eSIM is straightforward; after making a payment, you receive a QR code that you scan to set up your internet connection in the U.S.
When it comes to customer reviews, they are mostly positive; users are satisfied with the service they get from Roamless. A drawback several users point out is the high price, reporting that the rates have significantly increased since Roamless went through upgrades.
Privacy-conscious users may want to steer clear of Roamless due to its extensive data collection policy. The company collects information about your account, website usage, location, connectivity, and communication, which many find intrusive and concerning, as there are no details on the security protocols that shield this data.
4. Verizon
Verizon is one of the three major U.S. telcos, well-known for its extensive 4G and 5G networks. Among its many services, Verizon offers prepaid eSIM plans ideal for visitors to the U.S. because they don’t require annual contracts, credit checks, or activation fees. The provider has three per-month packages:
Besides 4G and 5G internet, each plan includes unlimited talk and text, and certain security features such as:
- Call filter spam blocker: Screening incoming calls to filter spam and high-risk communication
- Verizon Protect (Basic): Safeguarding your personal information with antivirus and anti-malware
While Verizon’s website advertises reliable performance and attractive benefits, customer reviews tell another story. Users are generally dissatisfied with Verizon, reporting poor customer support, mediocre service quality, and constantly increasing prices. The issues encompass nearly every aspect of the company’s offer.
Another issue is the company's extensive data collection policies and inadequate security, which have resulted in numerous data breaches and leaks. A recent incident occurred in early 2025, exposing call history logs of Verizon Wireless customers.
The Verdict: Which eSIM for the USA Is the Best?
Determining the “right” eSIM for a trip to the U.S. depends on:
- Length of your trip
- Your data requirements
- Need for calling and texting options
- Budget
All eSIM providers on the list cater to a wide audience, offering a range of data allowance options and validity periods. The one that stands out is Cape as it provides excellent coverage but is also dedicated to your privacy and security with its:
- Transparent policies: Cape is clear about the type of data it collects, how long it stores it, and for what reasons, ensuring you have all the necessary information before signing up.
- Secure infrastructure: Cape has moved away from vulnerable legacy architecture and utilizes a cloud-based mobile core, enabling the implementation of privacy and security features that other carriers can’t due to their weak infrastructure.
- Strict policy management: Since it operates its own core, Cape can define what devices can do on the network and how they can interact with others to ensure a higher level of security.
By choosing Cape, you get the whole package: a reliable connection across the U.S. + unmatched security and privacy.
How Cape Makes Privacy Accessible for Everyday Users
Our phones carry our most personal information, yet the networks we rely on often treat that data carelessly: collecting too much, sharing too freely, and leaving users exposed to breaches, SIM swaps, and surveillance.
Cape breaks this cycle. We’re a privacy-native carrier that delivers everything you expect, including unlimited calls, texts, fast 4G/5G, and reliable nationwide coverage, without the trade-offs of traditional providers. Our network is built to minimize data collection and defend against the threats baked into legacy telecom systems.
Protection | How It Works |
Cape runs its own software-based network, giving us direct control over how data moves and enabling stronger, modern security protocols. | |
Accounts are secured with a 24-word recovery phrase that never leaves your device. Not even Cape can transfer your number without it, shutting down one of the industry’s most common attack methods. | |
Our proprietary signaling proxy scans network requests in real time, blocking attempts to track your location or intercept calls and texts. | |
We don’t ask for names or addresses. Payments are tokenized by Stripe and stored separately from your account, so financial details can’t be linked back to you. | |
Both voicemail content and metadata are encrypted, with your private key (that only lives on your device) required to access them. | |
Cape collects only the bare minimum necessary to provide service. We don’t require identifying information like your name, Social Security number, or address. |
Switch to Cape Today
Cape puts you in control of your data for $99/month. The plan includes unlimited calls, texts, and high-speed data, with no hidden fees or surprise charges. All you need is an eSIM-compatible device to get started.
Go to cape.co/get-cape to make the switch today.
Extend privacy beyond the network with our Cape x Proton partnership—subscribers get Proton Unlimited or Proton VPN Plus for just $1 for six months.
