If you're going to travel to the U.S., you should get a pre-paid sim card. If you own a phone that's unlocked for international use and compatible with local networks such as T-Mobile and AT&T, you can get a sim card online or at a local store. Some of the best pre-paid sim cards are available for US travelers and tourists.

Mint Mobile review

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If you're planning on staying in the U.S. for at least three months, Mint Mobile is a great option for you. Mint's phone compatibility is one of the best in the country, and it has a strong 5G connection.

Mint Mobile is guaranteed to give you great coverage at an affordable price if you're a student on a study abroad exchange or have relocated. You don't need to worry about topping up your data frequently.

At least three months of service is required with Mint. You can get the best deals after six months or a year. For three months, you'll pay $90 and get unlimited talk, text, and data, as well as free calls to Mexico and Canada.

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It's possible to call other international locations at a per-minute rate, but only if you use an app to call your friends.

You can sign up for a trial to get a free Mint Mobile sim card. If your phone is eligible for an eSIM, you can use it straight from your phone and keep your service if you like it. You can get a Mint card from a number of stores.

Ultra Mobile SIM card

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T-Mobile provides great coverage at a lower price with Ultra Mobile. The Ultra Mobile review had good coverage and fast speeds. The Ultra Mobile Tourist plan is perfect for people visiting the U.S. for a few weeks.

It's convenient for anyone who doesn't want to deal with the hassle of cancellation to sign up for this plan. Make sure you don't extend your stay because you won't be able to replenish your Ultra Mobile sim card.

You'll get unlimited talk, text, and data for $30 if you have a sim. 100 minutes will allow you to call friends and family back home without using a third-party app.

You can buy an Ultra Mobile Tourist plan at a T-Mobile store. You can find a store locator on the Ultra Mobile website.

AT&T store sign

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When visiting the U.S., AT&T is an excellent carrier to consider getting a sim card from since it has great coverage. If you plan to be on the road a lot, this is a great option because it has better coverage in rural areas than other carriers. AT&T will give you 5 gigabytes of high-speed data for $30, which is then capped at 128Kbps. You should check your device's compatibility with AT&T before you sign up.

You can text to more than 100 countries with this plan. You can talk, text, and use data in Mexico and Canada. If you think you need more than 5 gigabytes of data, you can always upgrade to a 15 gigabytes plan for $40, which is a great deal.

You can either buy an AT&T card online or at an AT&T store. You can buy AT&T sim cards at Target, Best Buy, and Walmart for $10, which is more than you would pay online, but always an option.

4GB10GB15GBUnlimited
3 months (introductory price)$15/mo. ($45)$20/mo. ($60)$25/mo. ($75)$30/mo. ($90)
3 months$25/mo. ($75)$35/mo. ($105)$45/mo. ($135)$40/mo. ($120)
6 months$20/mo. ($120)$25/mo. ($150)$35/mo. ($210)$35/mo. ($210)
12 months$15/mo. ($180)$20/mo. ($240)$25/mo. ($300)$30/mo. ($360)

5G connected on Zenfone 8 with Android 12

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T-Mobile offers some of the best cell phone plans you can get today, but it also has an excellent option that will suit most travelers and tourists in the U.S.

The best plan for most visitors will be T-Mobile's 10 gigabytes plan for $40 per month. This plan includes unlimited domestic talk and text, up to 10GB of high-speed data, and a music unlimited feature so that any music you stream won't eat up your data

If you're going to Mexico or Canada for a few days, you can add talk, text, and 5 gigabytes of data for an additional $5.

You might end up paying more than $50 for this plan if taxes and fees are not included. It's still a great choice if you need unlimited talk, text, and data speeds.

If you don't need a lot of data during your stay, you can get T-Mobile Connect for a fee. Even though you won't have the same international add-on features, you will still get unlimited talk and text as well as 2.5 gigabytes of data. If you think you'll use a lot of your data, you can upgrade to T-Mobile's Simply Prepaid unlimited plan for $50 and $60 per month.

You can sign up online, but you will need a US shipping address. You can purchase a T-Mobile sim card at a T-Mobile store, but you can also buy a T-Mobile kit at many popular retailers.

Cricket Coverage Map S20+

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If you don't want minutes during your stay in the U.S., you could consider a data-only plan from Cricket Wireless. For $35, you'll get 20 gigabytes to use during the month, or for $55, you'll get 100 gigabytes.

Again, this plan doesn't come with any minutes, so you'll have to make sure you're okay using apps like Facebook Messenger, orSkype to connect with family or friends. It comes with text and picture messages across the U.S., as well as usage in Mexico and Canada, if you want to visit those countries as well. It's the perfect plan for anyone who will be spending a lot of time on the road and would like to be able to stream, download, and do high-speed browsing.

You can find Cricket's online store locator if you go into a Cricket Wireless authorized store. Amazon, Target, Best Buy, and Walmart are some of the retailers that sell Universal Sim card activation kits. If you want minutes, you can always switch to another Cricket plan with the same phone number.

Lyca Mobile App On Zenfone

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In the U.S., it's anMVNO on T-Mobile's network, which makes it unique. The easiest way to find out if your phone is compatible is to use your IMEI number on the website.

Those who need unlimited nationwide talk and text and international calls and texting can choose from a number of plans. If you want to be able to call abroad whenever you want, this is the plan for you.

When it comes to the amount of data you have, you can choose between 2 and 60 gigabytes. The cheapest plan costs $19 and the top plan costs $50. If you're already signed up, you'll get 1gigabyte of data on the 2 gigabytes plan. There are slightly different bonus features in each plan, so you have to decide what makes sense for you.

It's easy to get a hold of a Lyca mobile sim card. You can find them in several retailers, but you can also use the online store locator to find the closest one.

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The right SIM depends on how long you're staying and how much data you need

While visiting the U.S., you can't go wrong with a T-Mobile or AT&T's network, but the right fit for you depends on the length of your stay and whether you need to call back home. The Ultra Mobile Tourist plan offers just enough talk, text, and data to stay connected if you travel for less than 3 weeks.

If you will be in the US for a few months, Mint Mobile will give you the best multiple-month value. If you're somewhere in the middle, a pre-paid plan from either T-Mobile or AT&T will give you good coverage.

Carrier add-ons and eSIMs

Many carriers have partnerships with international carriers. This often leads to a plan add-on that can give you a lot of data without you having to set up a new phone. The simplicity of this option will make it worth the money. If you're waiting for a connecting flight you can have a connection.

An Android phone shows Airalo U.S. plans for eSIM

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eSIM apps are one of the newer options. The built-in eSIM slot on your phone can be used by these apps to quickly pay for a phone plan without having to remove your old sim or ship a physical one. Customers can purchase as little as 1gigabyte for a week on Airalo. This is a good option if you don't need a lot of data. It works with many payment methods.

There's an official T-Mobile app that accepts credit card payments from a number of countries if you have an Apple device. There are other eSIM providers on the platform, but this app isn't one of them.

It's a good idea to confirm compatibility before you take off. There are other apps that offer a good deal on data without contacts.