Prepaid Sim card for the USA

ayers

Hello,

I am going to New York for a week and wondered if it's better to buy a prepaid sim card for the US from the UK or is it best to get it in New York when I arrive? 

jbrassy

I believe SIM cards in the USA are expensive. If it was me, I would order a Three pay as you go sim which you can use in the USA at no extra cost (up to 12GB). 10GB will cost you £10 with Three. Doubt you'll find anything better in the New York.

https://www.three.co.uk/pay-as-you-go/payg-data-packs

ayers

Thank you ever so much for your advice and recommendation!

PHK

T-Mobile US do a tourist SIM which will give you unlimited calls, texts and data for about £25 for a month. 

There are other providers which will do the same but for shorter periods and so cheaper. eg £5 for 3Gb over 10 days. 

Three is okay unless you need calls as well as data as it only includes calls back to the UK and not within the US. 

If your phone will take an eSIM then something like airalo will give you US calls and data plus calls back to the UK. 

ayers

Thank you. Really appreciate your reply. 

jbrassy

It's true that a Three PAYG will only include minutes to UK numbers and not US numbers. One workaround (which is common nowadays) is to contact US numbers using Whatsapp. Alternatively, if you absolutely have to call a US landline or mobile, you can use an app such as Rebtel. This will still be much cheaper than a local US sim or an esim. 

531063

Have a look at "viber out"

ayers

Thank you jbrassy and 531063.

jimjames

Another option if your phone takes eSim is via EasySim. I've just set one up for £10 which gives 10Gb of data for 30 days

easySim.global

ayers

Thanks, I will use this for next time. Sounds very good!

jimjames

ayers said:

Thanks, I will use this for next time. Sounds very good!

The MSE offer has expired so I've also taken one out with Breaze which was the same £10 as the original offer.