eSIM USA
eSIM USA Unlimited Data: Plans, Prices and Fair Use
Oct
Quick Answer
Yes. eSIM4 sells six US unlimited data plans, from 3 days for $9.98 up to 30 days for $66.98. Unlimited comes with a fair use limit: 3GB at full speed every 24 hours, then about 1 Mbps until midnight local time.
The 30-day plan has the lowest daily rate at $2.23 a day, against $3.33 a day on the 3-day plan. If you’ll use less than about 10GB over a month, a fixed data plan costs less.
With every eSIM4 plan
- Hotspot sharing
- Days start when the eSIM first connects
- Top up online if you run low
- Refund within 30 days if not installed
- Delivery by email
- No ID check
All Six US Unlimited Plans and What They Cost
Pick the length that matches your trip. Days count from the moment your eSIM first connects to a US network, not from the day you buy.
| Plan | Price | Price a day |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited, 3 days | $9.98 | $3.33 a day |
| Unlimited, 5 days | $16.98 | $3.40 a day |
| Unlimited, 7 days | $23.98 | $3.43 a day |
| Unlimited, 10 days | $32.98 | $3.30 a day |
| Unlimited, 15 days | $44.98 | $3.00 a day |
| Unlimited, 30 days | $66.98 | $2.23 a day |
Prices in USD from the eSIM4 shop, checked 30 September.
The 3-day plan is the cheapest way in at $9.98, and the 30-day plan has the best rate at $2.23 a day. The 7-day plan costs the most a day, so if you’re staying about a week, compare it with the 10-day plan or a fixed plan.
All six run on the same networks and follow the same fair use rules.
How Fair Use Works on Unlimited Plans
Unlimited on eSIM4 has no data cap that cuts you off. Each 24 hours you get 3GB at full speed.
Once it’s used, your speed drops to about 1 Mbps until midnight local time, then the full-speed allowance starts again. The policy is set out in the eSIM4 terms and conditions.
What 3GB a Day Covers
For most people, that’s a full day of maps, messaging, email, social media and browsing. Video is what uses it up: a few hours of streaming, or a long video call, can eat the day’s allowance on its own.
What Happens at 1 Mbps
Slow, but usable for the basics. Messages send, maps load and web pages open. Video calls and streaming don’t work well at that speed.
The limit resets every 24 hours, so a heavy day doesn’t spill into the next one, and a 30-day plan gives you 30 fresh allowances.
When a Fixed Data Plan Is the Better Buy
Unlimited is worth paying for when you can’t predict your usage, or when you’d rather never watch a data counter. If you can predict it, a fixed plan is often cheaper.
| Plan | Price | Price a day |
|---|---|---|
| 5GB, 30 days | $11.98 | $0.40 a day |
| 10GB, 30 days | $20.98 | $0.70 a day |
| 20GB, 30 days | $34.98 | $1.17 a day |
| Unlimited, 30 days | $66.98 | $2.23 a day |
Prices in USD from the eSIM4 shop, checked 30 September.
The 10GB plan works out at $2.10/GB and the 20GB plan at $1.75/GB. Both cost less than the 30-day unlimited plan, and you get the same 30 days.
A 10GB plan for 30 days ($20.98) costs less than the 7-day unlimited plan ($23.98). The 20GB plan ($34.98) costs about the same as the 10-day unlimited plan ($32.98) but lasts three times as long.
Choose unlimited if your phone is your main connection, you tether a laptop, or you stream and video call a lot. Choose a fixed plan if your days are mostly maps, messages and browsing.
For a short trip with light use, the 1GB plan at $2.98 for 7 days is the lowest entry price. Every size is in our cheap eSIM plans guide.
Networks and Where It Works
The US unlimited plans, and the US data plans, run on T-Mobile, Verizon and U.S. Cellular.
Coverage takes in the US, including Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Availability in Alaska is limited, so if Alaska is on your route, check the plan page before you buy.
Before you pay, check that your phone supports eSIM and is carrier-unlocked. US models of iPhone 14 and later have no SIM tray, so they’re eSIM-only.
For more, see our guide to eSIM availability in the USA.
Hotspot on a US Unlimited eSIM
Hotspot sharing is allowed on every eSIM4 plan, unlimited ones included. You can share your connection with a laptop or tablet.
Anything on your hotspot draws from the same plan as your phone, so it counts toward your 3GB of full speed for the day. A laptop on a video call will use that up quickly, and then you’re at about 1 Mbps.
If you plan to work from your hotspot most days, that’s a good reason to pick unlimited over a fixed plan. Our guide to hotspotting with an eSIM has more on the setup.
Calls, Texts and a US Number
The unlimited plans cover data. They don’t include minutes, texts or a phone number.
That’s fine for many trips. WhatsApp, FaceTime and other apps make calls and send messages over data, and your usual number keeps receiving texts if you leave your home SIM active.
If you want calls and texts in the US, there are two routes. First, eSIM4 sells some US plans with minutes and texts built in. They come with fixed data, not unlimited. Incoming calls use your minutes, and outgoing international calls aren’t allowed.
Second, buy any eSIM4 plan (unlimited included) and add a real US number in the Yabb app. It handles calls and texts, and it also covers international calling.
Our guides on making phone calls with an eSIM and whether an eSIM gives you a phone number go into more detail.
Adding Canada or Mexico to the Trip
A US plan covers the US. If you’re crossing into Canada or Mexico, you can buy a separate country plan for that leg, or a North America plan built for trips across the region. Check the country list on the plan page to confirm what it covers.
| Unlimited, 7 days | Price | Price a day |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $23.98 | $3.43 a day |
| Mexico | $23.98 | $3.43 a day |
| Canada | $35.98 | $5.14 a day |
| North America | $35.98 | $5.14 a day |
Prices in USD from the eSIM4 shop, checked 30 September.
North America unlimited is also sold for 3, 5, 10, 15 and 30 days, starting at $16.98 for 3 days. If you only spend a couple of days over the border, a small fixed plan for that country can cost less than a bigger regional plan.
For the regional plans side by side, see our guide to the best eSIM for North America.
How to Set Up Before You Fly
You can buy and install the eSIM at home. The days on your plan don’t start until the eSIM first connects to a network in the US, so buying early costs you nothing.
- Check your phone.It must support eSIM and be carrier-unlocked. iPhone XS, XS Max, XR and every later model support eSIM.
- Choose your plan.Pick the unlimited length that covers your trip, or a fixed plan if your use is light.
- Check your email.The eSIM arrives by email with setup steps for iPhone and Android.
- Install it.Follow the steps in the email while you’re on Wi-Fi. You can do this before you leave.
- Switch it on when you land.Set the eSIM as your data line and turn it on. The days start when it connects.
If you run low on data, top up online. Our step-by-step guide covers activating your eSIM in the USA.
Buying before you leave? See whether you can activate a US eSIM from outside the US. You can get a refund within 30 days if the eSIM hasn’t been installed.
FAQ
Yes. eSIM4 sells US unlimited plans for 3, 5, 7, 10, 15 and 30 days, from $9.98 for 3 days to $66.98 for 30 days.
There’s no data cap, but a fair use limit applies. You get 3GB at full speed every 24 hours, then about 1 Mbps until midnight local time. That’s fine for messages, maps and browsing, and too slow for video calls or streaming.
Yes. Hotspot sharing is allowed on every eSIM4 plan. Data used by devices on your hotspot comes from the same plan as your phone.
eSIM4’s US unlimited and data plans run on T-Mobile, Verizon and U.S. Cellular.
Coverage includes Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Availability in Alaska is limited, so check before you buy if Alaska is on your route.
The unlimited plans include no minutes or texts. For a real US number, add one in the Yabb app. eSIM4 also sells fixed-data US plans with minutes and texts built in.
For maps, messaging, social media and browsing, 3GB or 5GB covers many people. If you stream video, tether a laptop or take video calls, unlimited is the safer choice.
The days start when the eSIM first connects to a network in the US, not when you buy or install it. You can set it up before you fly.
About the author
Peter Moore, eSIM Content Writer
Peter writes eSIM4’s price guides and keeps them in line with the shop as plans change.
