Best eSIM carriers for travelers in USA

A couple is holding smartphones and figuring out which is the best eSIM carriers for travelers in USA

As a frequent traveler, it is essential to consider how you are going to use data in the USA. With huge lands and various things to see depending on the coast people are traveling to, people tend to travel a week or more days in the USA. This is why it is important to have a reliable mobile carrier. One of the best solutions for travelers to use data is an eSIM, so if you want to use eSIM while traveling America, it is also crucial to learn which mobile carrier connects well with eSIM too. In this article, we will discuss the best eSIM carriers for travelers in the USA. 

List of Mobile Carriers in USA

There are four major carriers in the USA, T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint. Since the United States consists of states that have various geographical and cultural features, people choose different network carriers depending on their preference. Let’s briefly describe these carriers’ features and facts.

1. T-Mobile

T-Mobile Coverage Map Screenshot in March 2022
T-Mobile Coverage Map Screenshot in March 2022

T-Mobile is known for its fastest connection and upload and download speeds. Even though network performance and coverage varies by location, T-mobile provides the best 5G coverage and is slowly expanding market share all over the country. T-mobile download and upload speeds are far above the average and their high speed data is available in various locations more than any other carriers. 

Also, they have the highest customer satisfaction rate among the major four carriers and won the Fastest Mobile Network award from PC mag in 2021. They are also known for their excellent customer service. T-Mobile is the second-largest carrier in the USA, with a 22.4% market share in 2022 according to Statista, and also supports eSIM connectivity. If you want to check T-Mobile’s coverage in detail, you can visit T-Mobile Coverage map.

 2. AT&T

AT&T Coverage Map Screenshot in March 2022
AT&T Coverage Map Screenshot in March 2022

AT&T is the second-largest carrier in the USA, with a 28.4% market share in 2022. They are known for their extensive coverage and strong connectivity. They are a great option for people who frequently travel to rural areas, since they won top honors for offering the most consistent service outside urban areas from Ookla. According to mobile network experience reports, AT&T users are highly satisfied with the 4G LTE connectivity compared to all other network carriers. AT&T supports local networks for eSIM, but AT&T has significantly less 5G coverage than other carriers with 29%. If you want to check AT & T’s coverage in detail, you can visit AT&T Coverage map.

 3. Verizon

Verizon Coverage Map Screenshot in March 2022
Verizon Coverage Map Screenshot in March 2022

Verizon is the largest carrier in the USA, with a 31.7% market share in 2022. They are known for their reliable coverage. Verizon is also famous to people who use data in rural areas with great coverage. They also support extensive 4G coverage all over the country. You can visit Verizon’s Coverage map to find out about service availability in detail.

4. Sprint

Sprint is the smallest carrier among the four major carriers in the USA, with a 9.9% market share in 2022. They are known for their cheaper prices and unlimited data plans. However, they have the lowest customer satisfaction rate among the four carriers.

5. MVNOs

There are also many Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) that operate in the USA, such as Mint Mobile, Tello, Visible, US Mobile and more. They are companies that don’t own their network but use the network of the major carriers. They are usually cheaper than the major carriers and are a good option for people who don’t need a lot of data. However, not all MVNOs support eSIM plans for travelers in the USA.

Comparing major carriers vs. MVNOs, the major carriers offer better coverage and faster speeds. MVNOs offer similar coverage to their parent carriers but maybe have slower speeds. Also, every major carrier has eSIM plans for local people. On the other hand, eSIM plan offers depend on each carrier for MVNO companies.

University students holding smartphones are finding out which is the best eSIM carriers in USA

Which is the best eSIM carriers in USA

T-Mobile and AT&T are the two best eSIM carriers in the USA. Both carriers offer excellent coverage, speeds and eSIM connectivity. However, there are some differences that travelers should consider when choosing between the two carriers.

Which carrier has the best coverage?

T-Mobile has excellent coverage in urban areas, while AT&T has better coverage in rural areas. T-Mobile is the best option for people who frequently travel to urban areas, while AT&T is the best option for people who frequently travel to rural areas.

Which carrier has the best speed? 

T-Mobile is well known for its download and upload speed and also for the 5G connectivity. AT&T offers similar speeds to T-Mobile in urban areas, but has stronger signals in rural areas. If upload and download speed is a top priority for you, then T-Mobile is the better option whereas AT&T can be the better option if you are staying in rural areas.

Which carrier should I connect to, T-Mobile or AT&T?

Since T-Mobile offers the fastest download speeds, it will be suitable for users who want to stream like Youtube or Netflix. Also, with the widest 5G coverage, it might be good for you to try T-Mobile’s high speed data, if your device is compatible with 5G.

One of the biggest advantages of AT&T is its coverage in rural areas. They have invested heavily in their network infrastructure to provide better coverage in areas where other carriers struggle to provide service. This makes AT&T the best option for people who frequently travel to rural areas.

Both T-Mobile or AT&T have been in the mobile carrier industry for a long time and have built a solid reputation for providing reliable service. For people who use T-Mobile or AT&T as a primary carrier, they offer their own auto international roaming in various destinations, making it an option for people who frequently travel abroad. 

However, the major and minor network carriers in the USA mostly focus on providing service for domestic customers. It is essential to compare international travelers’ data plans and features from various providers to determine which one best suits your needs and budget for travel to the US. 

Best eSIM choice for travelers, eSIM USA

Although many network carriers support and provide their own eSIM plans, most local carriers only focus on selling cellular plans for local people. It is hard for travelers to contact large local carriers directly and get a short-term data plan. Not only that, you will only be connected to a designated network if you purchase a data plan from a certain local carrier.

However, if you purchase an eSIM data plan from an online eSIM provider like eSIM USA, you will be automatically connected to the best local carrier in the area by default. If you are not satisfied with the network you connected to, you can easily switch network carriers. By using eSIM USA, without changing SIM cards, you will be seamlessly connected to the top two USA carriers, T-mobile and AT&T, in every 50 states.

eSIM USA offers a variety of data plans for travelers. They offer plans for short-term or long-term stays in the USA. They also offer plans with unlimited data, as well as plans with fixed data for those who don’t need much data. You can choose a plan that fits your needs and budget.

Final Thoughts

Using eSIM while traveling in the USA is convenient because you don’t have to change SIM cards. You will be automatically connected to the best local carrier in the area by default, and you can easily switch between carriers if you are not satisfied. T-Mobile and AT&T are the two best eSIM carriers in the USA, and both carriers offer excellent coverage and fast speeds. However, choosing the best carrier for you depends on your needs and preferences.

eSIM USA is the best eSIM provider for US travelers because they offer a variety of data plans for short-term or long-term stays in the USA, and you will be connected to the top two carriers, T-mobile and AT&T, in every 50 states. With eSIM USA, you can use data in the USA without any hassle.

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2 Replies on Best eSIM carriers for travelers in USA

  • Liam says:

    I find it impossible to find an eSIM with voice for a limited time in the USA. This service is available in other parts of the world at very reasonable prices?

    • ESIM USA says:

      Hi Liam,
      Thank you for sharing your experience! I understand that finding eSIMs with voice for a limited time in the USA can be challenging. It’s true that some other parts of the world offer more competitive options. For instance, our eSIM Europe and eSIM Thailand have suitable eSIM plans with local data and voice included.
      While the eSIM market in the USA is still evolving, I recommend checking with local carriers or exploring virtual operators that might offer flexible voice and data plans. Additionally, as technology advances, we hope to see more affordable and accessible options for travelers. We will surely update and let people know if there is affordable and useful eSIM USA plan with voice included. Let us know if you have any questions!

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