URL: https://esimworld.co.uk/sim-card/united-states/
Buy: https://esimworld.co.uk/esim-united-states/
Source: eSIM World (esimworld.co.uk)
Author: Nadezhda Semenova, entrepreneur, co-founder of the Trippy travel service, https://esimworld.co.uk/author/
Updated: 25 October 2026
Prices: in pounds (GBP) at the rate of 31 Oct; the site shows the rate of the day.

# Best eSIM for the USA from the UK: roaming passes, America SIM cards and eSIMs compared

The best eSIM for the USA depends first on what your UK network charges there. EE's pass costs £26.50 for 7 days, Sky £2 per 24 hours and Tesco Mobile 1p a MB (checked on 24 October 2026, [EE price guide](https://ee.co.uk/content/dam/help/terms-and-conditions/price-plans/mobile/sim-only-price-plans/_ee-pay-monthly-standard-and-non-standard-price-guide-31st_March_2026_1.1.pdf)). Our USA eSIM is £2.99 for 1 GB over 7 days, data only. You have four ways to stay connected: your UK network, a travel eSIM, a local SIM or pocket Wi-Fi.

This site is not affiliated with any of the networks mentioned here; we sell eSIMs. [How we compare](https://esimworld.co.uk/how-we-compare/)

This page is for people travelling from the UK to the USA. You may not need an eSIM: Tesco charges 1p a MB there, Sky VIP Diamond customers roam free, and Vodafone Global Roam, Three Complete and some O2 plans include the USA.

[See the USA eSIM](https://esimworld.co.uk/esim-united-states/)

## What do UK networks charge in the USA?

UK networks charge from 1p a MB on Tesco to £8 a day on Vodafone and Three, and each puts the USA in its own zone (checked on 24 October 2026, links in the table).

| Network | USA charge | Condition | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| [EE](https://ee.co.uk/content/dam/help/terms-and-conditions/price-plans/mobile/sim-only-price-plans/_ee-pay-monthly-standard-and-non-standard-price-guide-31st_March_2026_1.1.pdf) | £5.50 for 24 hours, £26.50 for 7 days | Rest of World Zone 1; the pass uses your UK allowance, and the 24-hour pass runs from the moment you buy it; no data without a pass | 24 October 2026 |
| [Vodafone](https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/smart-living/everything-you-need-to-know-about/roaming-with-vodafone-in-2022-everything-you-need-to-know/) | £8 a day of use | Zone C, pay monthly plans from 11 August 2021 (£6 on earlier plans), per Vodafone's roaming guide; Global Roam plans include Zone C up to the 25GB fair use limit | 24 October 2026 |
| [O2](https://www.o2.co.uk/international/data-roaming-bolt-ons) | O2 Travel £7 per 24 hours of use; Data Roaming Bolt On 1GB £6, 3GB £13, 5GB £18 | Zone 1, Pay Monthly only; included on Volt and selected Plus plans (Travel Inclusive Zone) and on Ultimate; with neither, data stops | 24 October 2026 |
| [Three](https://www.three.co.uk/content/dam/threedigital/terms-and-conditions/price-guides/latest-price-guides/threeyourwayplans-priceguide-post19apr2026-12102026.pdf) | £8 a day; 7-day pass £30, 14-day pass £60 | Go Roam Around the World, on Lite and Lite+ plans joined or upgraded on or after 18 December 2025; included on Complete; passes use your UK allowance up to 12GB | 24 October 2026 |
| [iD Mobile](https://www.idmobile.co.uk/help-and-support/roaming) | Roam Beyond add-on: 2GB for £5 over 1 day, 10GB for £20 over 5 days, 20GB for £35 over 10 days; 30p per MB without one | The USA is a Roam Beyond destination | 24 October 2026 |
| [Lebara](https://www.lebara.co.uk/en/roaming-add-on/p/44000067.html) | 4GB for £5 over 8 days, 7GB for £10 over 15 days | Zone 4 add-on, valid until 23:59 of the last day | 24 October 2026 |
| [giffgaff](https://www.giffgaff.com/roaming) | 20p per MB; travel data add-on of 1GB, 5GB or 10GB for 30 days, "From £4" | Zone A; the USA add-on price is in the app only, and its 30 days run from purchase | 24 October 2026 |
| [Tesco Mobile](https://www.tescomobile.com/roaming) | 1p per MB | Region 3, Alaska and Hawaii included; pay monthly and pay as you go | 24 October 2026 |
| [Sky Mobile](https://www.sky.com/shop/mobile/roaming) | £2 per 24 hours | Roaming Passport Plus, uses your UK plan; a call you make, a text you send or more than 10MB starts the 24 hours; free for Sky VIP Diamond | 24 October 2026 |
| [VOXI](https://www.voxi.co.uk/help/articles/what-are-global-roaming-extras-and-how-do-they-work----2cc71973-bb4a-436f-a6cd-1497441ed34d) | 2GB for £16 over 8 days, 4GB for £26.60 over 15 days | Global Roaming Extra, with minutes and texts; counts down from the day you buy it | 24 October 2026 |
| [SMARTY](https://cdn.smarty.co.uk/files/SMARTY-Price-Guide.pdf) | 10p per MB | Roaming 1, paid from out-of-plan add-ons; with none loaded, data does not work | 24 October 2026 |
| [Talkmobile](https://talkmobile.co.uk/booster-details) | 500MB for £5 over 1 day, 5GB for £20 over 8 days, 8GB for £30 over 15 days | World Holiday Booster, Zone B; no data without one | 24 October 2026 |
| [Lyca Mobile](https://www.lycamobile.co.uk/en/roaming/) | 3GB for £10 over 7 days, 7GB for £20 over 14 days | Pay as you go country pass, bought with top-up credit; up to 5 in 30 days | 24 October 2026 |
| [BT Mobile](https://www.bt.com/help/mobile/going-abroad/buying-mobile-data-add-ons-to-use-abroad/bt-mobile-travel-data-pass-add-on) | Travel Data Pass, 500MB for 24 hours | The USA is one of 12 countries on the pass; BT's own pages show three different prices, so we print none | 24 October 2026 |
| [Asda Mobile](https://mobile.asda.com/roaming-calling-abroad) | 20p per MB | The same rate as Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Switzerland | 24 October 2026 |

A per-MB rate stays small only at 1p: 1,000MB costs £10 on Tesco and £200 at 20p a MB on Asda or giffgaff (our sum).

The Vodafone and Three daily charge in the USA is the same £8. Seven days at £8 come to £56; Three's 7-day pass is £30 (our arithmetic).

Full rates: [EE](https://esimworld.co.uk/roaming/ee/), [Vodafone](https://esimworld.co.uk/roaming/vodafone/), [O2](https://esimworld.co.uk/roaming/o2/), [Three](https://esimworld.co.uk/roaming/three/), [Tesco Mobile](https://esimworld.co.uk/roaming/tesco-mobile/), [Sky](https://esimworld.co.uk/roaming/sky-mobile/).

## A fortnight in Florida or New York: the sums

Fourteen days of use in the USA come to £28 on Sky, £53 on EE, £60 on Three's 14-day pass and £112 on Vodafone's daily charge (our arithmetic, checked on 24 October 2026). Our 5 GB plan covers 30 days for £9.99, data only.

Residents of Great Britain made 3,306,000 visits to the USA in 2025, staying 11.7 nights on average ([ONS Travel trends 2025](https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/leisureandtourism/articles/traveltrends/2025)).

| Network or plan | 14 days | How we added it up |
|---|---|---|
| EE, Zone 1 | £53 | 2 weekly passes at £26.50 |
| Vodafone, pay monthly from 11 August 2021 | £112 | £8 a day of use; £0 extra on Global Roam |
| O2, Pay Monthly | £98, or £18 for 5GB | 14 days of O2 Travel at £7, or one 5GB Data Roaming Bolt On |
| Three, Lite and Lite+ from 18 December 2025 | £60 | one 14-day Around the World pass |
| Sky, not VIP Diamond | £28 | 14 passes of 24 hours at £2 |
| Talkmobile | £30 | one 15-day World Holiday Booster with 8GB |
| VOXI | £26.60 | one 15-day Global Roaming Extra with 4GB |
| Lyca, pay as you go | £20 | one 14-day pass with 7GB |
| Lebara | £10 | one 15-day add-on with 7GB |
| Tesco, 1p per MB | £10 per 1,000MB | £50 for 5,000MB; no day charge |
| Our USA plans, data only | 5 GB, £9.99 | one 30-day plan; 10 GB is £14.99, 20 GB is £22.99 |

Source: each network's own price page, checked on 24 October 2026. The prices are the networks'; the totals are ours.

These are different products. Every network row keeps your own number; the passes use your UK allowance, the add-ons carry only the GB shown. Ours is a data-only eSIM on a second line. [Roaming or eSIM](https://esimworld.co.uk/roaming-or-esim/) walks through the choice.

EE Roam Abroad Pass vs eSIM is another question: that pass comes with Full Works plans taken after 29 August 2024, and EE's help pages do not confirm what it covers.

## How we compared eSIMs for the USA (checked on the date shown)

Our methodology is a dated comparison of data-only plans with the same GB and days. For 1 GB over 7 days, four sellers charged £2.99 to £3.74 on 24 October 2026; ours is £2.99. Promotions and US-dollar prices are left out, and no seller is named. Disclosure of interest: we sell the plans in the right-hand column.

| Plan | Sellers' range, 24 October 2026 | Sellers in range | Our plan, data only |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB, 7 days | £2.99 to £3.74 | 4 | £2.99 |
| 3 GB, 30 days | £3.74 to £9.99 | 4 | £5.99 |
| 5 GB, 30 days | £6.73 to £10.99 | 4 | £9.99 |
| 10 GB, 30 days | £9.72 to £17.50 | 4 | £14.99 |
| 20 GB, 30 days | £23.99 to £28.50 | 3 | £22.99 |

There is no single best eSIM for the USA on price alone. Compare price per GB in £, speed after fair use, and hotspot allowed or not; our USA plan data states no hotspot rule, so we promise none.

Plans without a GB total have fair-use limits: one large seller slows to 1 Mbps after 3 to 5GB a day, another to 5 Mbps after 5GB. Our plans without a GB total give 5 GB a day at full speed, then 1 Mbps.

The network used in the USA for our data plans is T-Mobile and Verizon, both marked 5G in the listing; we give no speeds. They cover the United States, Hawaii and Puerto Rico, with limited availability in Alaska, but not Canada ([Canada eSIM](https://esimworld.co.uk/esim-canada/)).

Each plan starts on first connection in the USA and can be installed up to 365 days after purchase. Size it by what your phone uses in a week at home.

## America SIM card bought in the UK, or an eSIM?

You can buy an America SIM card in the UK as a posted physical SIM or as an eSIM. A posted SIM takes days to arrive and needs a slot; an eSIM installs at home on Wi-Fi.

A physical SIM takes your UK SIM's place unless the phone has two slots. An eSIM needs an unlocked, eSIM-compatible phone: dial *#06#, and an EID on screen means yes. See [eSIM or physical SIM](https://esimworld.co.uk/esim-vs-physical-sim/); [how to install an eSIM](https://esimworld.co.uk/how-to-install-esim/) and [transfer an eSIM](https://esimworld.co.uk/help/transfer-esim/) give the menu paths.

A SIM from a US network, bought after you land, comes with a US number; we have not checked its prices.

Install the eSIM at home before you travel; it starts only in the USA. On arrival, pick the travel line for mobile data, turn [data roaming on](https://esimworld.co.uk/help/data-roaming-settings/) for it, and keep data roaming off on your UK line.

That stops data charges, not every charge. On Sky a call you make or a text you send still starts the £2 pass, receiving does not; on EE, calls without a pass cost £2.46 a minute and texts 98p.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) publishes travel advice for the USA on GOV.UK. Read the [FCDO travel advice for the USA](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/usa) before you book (checked on 25 October 2026).

## Calls and texts: data-only vs a plan with a US number

The plans in our tables are data only: no minutes, no texts. Calls stay on your UK SIM or run over apps.

Our USA page also lists plans with minutes and texts, on T-Mobile per the plan notes. They allow local calls only: "Outgoing international calls are not allowed", and incoming calls come off the minutes. A call home is not covered, and we promise no US number with any plan.

For bank codes by text, keep the UK SIM in the phone with data roaming off; [keeping your UK number](https://esimworld.co.uk/help/keep-your-uk-number/) covers the set-up.

Calling home costs 89p a minute on Tesco and £2.46 on EE without a pass (checked on 24 October 2026), so ten minutes on Tesco are £8.90 (our sum).

[Back to all SIM cards by country](https://esimworld.co.uk/sim-card/)

## Frequently asked questions

### Which eSIM is best for travel to the USA from the UK?

The one that fits your data use and trip length, not a brand. Check your UK network first: Tesco charges 1p a MB in the USA and Sky £2 per 24 hours (checked on 24 October 2026). If yours charges more, pick a data-only eSIM by GB and days and install it before you fly.

### Which SIM card is best for the USA?

For data, a travel eSIM installed at home. To keep your own number, your UK SIM on a pass or daily charge. For a US number, a SIM from a US network bought in the USA; we have not checked local SIM prices.

### Can I buy a USA SIM card in the UK?

Yes, as a posted physical SIM or as an eSIM. A posted SIM takes time to arrive and needs a free slot. An eSIM installs at home on Wi-Fi and starts on first connection in the USA.

*Sources are linked in the text; reviewed by Nadezhda Semenova. For the terms of your own contract, check with your network.*

## Sources

- [EE price guide, 31 March 2026 (PDF)](https://ee.co.uk/content/dam/help/terms-and-conditions/price-plans/mobile/sim-only-price-plans/_ee-pay-monthly-standard-and-non-standard-price-guide-31st_March_2026_1.1.pdf)
- [Vodafone roaming guide](https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/smart-living/everything-you-need-to-know-about/roaming-with-vodafone-in-2022-everything-you-need-to-know/)
- [O2 data roaming Bolt Ons](https://www.o2.co.uk/international/data-roaming-bolt-ons)
- [O2 Travel Inclusive Zone](https://www.o2.co.uk/international/travel-inclusive-zone)
- [Three Your Way price guide, post 19 April 2026 (PDF)](https://www.three.co.uk/content/dam/threedigital/terms-and-conditions/price-guides/latest-price-guides/threeyourwayplans-priceguide-post19apr2026-12102026.pdf)
- [iD Mobile roaming](https://www.idmobile.co.uk/help-and-support/roaming)
- [Lebara roaming add-on](https://www.lebara.co.uk/en/roaming-add-on/p/44000067.html)
- [giffgaff roaming](https://www.giffgaff.com/roaming)
- [Tesco Mobile roaming](https://www.tescomobile.com/roaming)
- [Sky Mobile roaming](https://www.sky.com/shop/mobile/roaming)
- [VOXI Global Roaming Extras](https://www.voxi.co.uk/help/articles/what-are-global-roaming-extras-and-how-do-they-work----2cc71973-bb4a-436f-a6cd-1497441ed34d)
- [SMARTY price guide (PDF)](https://cdn.smarty.co.uk/files/SMARTY-Price-Guide.pdf)
- [Talkmobile Booster details](https://talkmobile.co.uk/booster-details)
- [Lyca Mobile roaming](https://www.lycamobile.co.uk/en/roaming/)
- [BT Travel Data Pass](https://www.bt.com/help/mobile/going-abroad/buying-mobile-data-add-ons-to-use-abroad/bt-mobile-travel-data-pass-add-on)
- [Asda Mobile roaming](https://mobile.asda.com/roaming-calling-abroad)
- [ONS Travel trends 2025](https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/leisureandtourism/articles/traveltrends/2025)
- [FCDO: USA travel advice](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/usa)