Do you have an unlocked phone?

In order for your mobile phone to work with the SIM card in the USA, you need an unlocked phone. If you have a SIM lock, we recommend you to contact your local internet service provider to request unlocking the phone. If your minimum contract term has already expired, you can usually unlock the phone directly from your provider for free. If the mobile phone still has a contractual obligation, you might need to pay an additional unlocking charge. Attention: Unlock your phone while you are still at home. Once you are abroad, it is much harder to organize the process with the mobile internet provider.

What happens to my mobile phone contract?

Most mobile service providers outside of the USA can no longer fulfill their service in the USA. In addition, you may face expensive roaming charges in the USA. So it makes no sense to continue your existing contract. You can better save that money and invest in sightseeing tours.

“Roam Like Home” for short trips only

“It is important to understand that the EU only demands an adjustment of the costs of short-term travel – not for permanent roaming. Thus, mobile operators have the option to observe the user behavior of their customers over a period of 4 months and then are allowed to enforce restrictions, if the customer is not or rarely in the home country. This regulation is known as the Fair Use Policy (FUP). Most providers make use of it.

The 8 Best USA Sim Cards in 2020

Traveling to the USA and looking for a Prepaid SIM Card? Just looking for a good restaurant, calling a taxi over Uber, getting travel tips or just start navigating via Google Maps? What we take for granted can quickly become very expensive due to the high roaming costs in the USA.

For your USA trip there are several ways to get around these costs and use your smartphone as usual.

Explore the USA on your own and use your smartphone as a navigation device and constant companion. Whether by car or by camper beech on the way relaxed the next hotel or the next camping ground.

The Best Prepaid SIM Card for the USA

A prepaid SIM card is the simplest and cheapest solution, because you have the full cost control and no long or opaque contracts. In addition, when booking a rental car or a hotel, a US phone number is required. Below you will find our selection of recommended SIM Cards for the USA.

Table of Contents

1. What is the best USA SIM Card?

1.1 ATT
1.2 H2O Wireless
1.3 Three
1.4 OneSimCard
1.5 KeepGo
1.6 Mobal

2. Benefits of USA SIM Card

2.1 No Roaming Charges
2.2 Like At Home
2.3 WhatsApp & Skype
2.4 Streaming
2.5 Uber in the USA
2.6 Sightseeing and cool locations in the USA

Note The offers of mobile network providers can change at any time. From time to time, we will update the USA SIM Card information and available packages given below. Disclosure: We may receive compensation when you click links on our site at NO extra cost for you.

What Is The Best USA SIM Card?

Depending on where you are in the US, it is important to select the right network in advance. In general, it can be said that AT & T provides the largest network in the USA and thus also provides the best network coverage.

The network of AT&T is in good hands in major cities such as New York, Hawaii, Las Vegas, Miami, Los Angeles and on tours in a camper or car across the States. Only in a few areas the reception is very bad.

AT&T

AT & T is one of the top top providers in the US. Best network coverage is guaranteed here. In addition to a super network, a wide range of stores is available for any technical support. The employees help with the set-up or, in the event of a defect in a SIM card, can exchange them (partly) free of charge. Unlike many other providers, AT&T relies on a world-class user experience. This includes above all the technology used for the transmission of data and the HD Voice technology.

H2O wireless

H2O Wireless is a third-party US provider that uses AT&T’s best network coverage. H2O Wireless attaches great importance to international communication. Each tariff automatically includes a landline flatrate to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands, Italy and many other European countries. In addition, there are different free minutes in foreign mobile networks. Germany is between 35 and 70, Austria 55 to 110 minutes and Switzerland between 18 and 37 minutes.

Three - Pay As You Go Sim Card

Founded in Hong Kong, but mostly known for its operations in the United Kingdom, Three has evolved to be one of the major internet service providers around the world. Today, Three provides mobile internet service to more than 130 million customers. With the SIM Cards offered by the Three and the Go Roam program, you can browse through the internet in more than 70 countries worldwide. The full coverage can be found here.

OneSimCard - USA Prepaid Sim

When it comes to international SIM Cards, we definitely cannot overlook OneSimCard. This international mobile service providers offered Prepaid SIM Cards for more than 200 countries worldwide. You can save 85% roaming charges when using their USA SIM Card outside of your home country. Furthermore, they allow free incoming calls from 162 countries. So if you need to enjoy mobile data service abroad and maybe would like to be able to receive calls, then OneSimCard is the right choice for you!

KeepGo - USA Roaming Sim Card

You may have not heard about KeepGo before but this company is an official partner of Vodafone, Telefonica and AT&T. With its offices in Israel, Netherlands and the USA, KeepGo provides products across many segments such as Broadband Internet, Smart Wearables, GPS Tracker and more. The SIM Card provided by KeepGo is valid forever – without any contract! If you need to use, you simply upload some credit and off you go. It is the most convenient option available if you are traveling across several times per year.

Mobal - USA Sim for Calls & Texts

Mobal was founded by an international traveler who became frustrated by the insane roaming costs abroad. Their focus is providing service to American travelers going to Europe. Nonetheless, they offer a wide range of Talk & Text only SIM cards that allow you to connect to mobile internet in the USA.

Benefits of a USA SIM card

No Roaming Charges

Make calls, write text messages and use the mobile data without causing high roaming charges.

Like At Home

You can continue to use your apps like Whatsapp, Skype, Netflix, Google etc. in the USA.

WhatsApp & Skype

Whatsapp can be used with a US prepaid SIM as well as at home. It is even possible to continue to use your current phone number. Thus, contacts and chats are preserved. Once Whatsapp asks if you want to use a new phone number, just deny it.

The Skype number remains as it is digitally received. Skype is easy to use with mobile internet.

Streaming

Streaming via Netflix or YouTube is no problem. But watch out for your data limits. Otherwise you might run out of mobile internet quite fast.

Uber in the USA

The service Uber belongs to the standard program in the USA. Here you have to deposit only your US phone number and you can get picked up from the airport or drive across the city.

Sightseeing and cool locations in the USA

We ourselves have had very good experience with Tripwolf. The easiest way would be here to download the respective guide already at home via WiFi. Otherwise you just use the usual suspects: Tripadivsor and Yelp

See related:

Last update on 2020-09-21 | Source: Amazon Affiliate

The 8 Best USA SIM Cards in 2020