Best eSIMs for New York travel in 2025

Installing a New York eSIM doesn’t replace your existing SIM card and phone plan from your carrier at home; instead, it adds a secondary data plan. You can choose from a number of eSIM providers for New York, with prices varying between $1 (for new user) and $139 from Saily, Airalo, Jetpac, aloSIM, and Nomad. These eSIMs offer between 1 GB and Unlimited data plans for local use in New York or for regional and global use, depending on the place you choose.

After testing more than 20 eSIM providers in the US, Saily, Airalo, and Jetpac were the best of the available New York eSIMs thanks to their high-speed connections, varied data plans, and simple activation process. A handful of other providers stood out and made the ranking, too. Below, I discuss and compare the best eSIMs for New York, sharing my recommendations and tips to ensure you’re always connected on your trip.

Top 5 New York eSIMs: our shortlist

1. Saily

   Overall best eSIM for New York
   9.6
2. Airalo

   New York eSIM card with included phone number
   9.3
3. Jetpac

   Affordable New York eSIM with high data
   9.2
4. aloSIM

   Simple top-up eSIM for New York travel
   8.8
5. Nomad

   Unlimited prepaid eSIM New York for tourists
   8.4

Overview of best New York eSIM plans

• New York eSIMs tend to vary between $1 - $45, though more expensive plans offer completely unlimited data for around $140
• Jetpac offers the most affordable eSIM, costing $1 for 1 GB/4 days (only to new users) – but it won’t be enough for many New York tourists
• Saily is the overall best New York eSIM and offers 1 GB for 7 days at just $3.79 – or get 3 GB / 30 days for $8.54

The cost of your New York eSIM is influenced by the plan’s validity period and data allowance, which can range from 1 GB to 50 GB. However, unlimited plans are also available at a premium if you need to stream or share social media content. While shorter plans are cheaper, running out of data and reverting to your home carrier’s network can cost a fortune. Conversely, choosing a mid-length or longer plan with more data usually works out cheaper when compared to short-term plans.

Here’s an overview of the best eSIMs for New York and their key facts, including data allowances, plan lengths, and the price you can expect to pay:

If you’re looking for total flexibility with unlimited data, Nomad is a solid choice with customizable plans and unlimited data on day plans. Jetpac offers the cheapest overall eSIM for $1, but it’s only available to new users. While it could be suitable for short domestic trips, the 4-day duration is unlikely to suit most tourists. However, after narrowing down providers and comparing the 5 best options, Saily is the best eSIM for New York, balancing affordability, coverage, and plan variety.

Best New York eSIM providers: detailed guide

I tested more than 20 eSIM providers, narrowing down the list to the top 5 best eSIMs for New York. To determine which providers were best, I looked at factors like coverage, device compatibility, simplicity of activation, the variety of data plans on offer, and affordability. Following my in-house tests, the best eSIMs for New York come from Saily, Airalo, Jetpac, aloSIM, and Nomad – my results with each provider follow below.

1. Saily - overall best eSIM for USA and New York travel

Saily is the overall best eSIM for New York and for the USA in general, offering a variety of data plans, high-speed mobile connectivity, and affordable pricing.

Plan variety: Saily's New York eSIMs cover the entire US, allowing you to take a data plan ranging from 1 GB – 20 GB with 7 or 30-day validity. Packages offer 1, 3, 5, 10, or 20 GB; the 1 GB plan is available for 7 days, while all other plans are valid for a month. For avid streamers and social media fans, there's an additional Unlimited plan that doesn't cap your data. Since Saily doesn’t give you an international phone number, I found the Unlimited plan very useful, as it let me make Wi-Fi calls and WhatsApp calls without any risk of using up my data allowance.

Cost of New York eSIM plan: While reviewing Saily, we found plans to be highly affordable, starting at $3.79 for a 1 GB/7-day plan and $35.14 for a 20 GB/30-day plan ($0.57 per Gigabyte). The Unlimited plan costs $47.49. If you run out of data during your trip, it’s also possible to navigate to the Saily app and simply top up your eSIM with a fresh data allowance.

Activation process: Activating my Saily plan during in-house tests was very straightforward. Within the Saily app, I chose a New York eSIM plan and completed the checkout process. From here, tapping on "Install eSIM" directed me to the iOS Settings app where I could enable my eSIM. However, if you purchased Saily on the website, the process is just as simple – Saily sends you a QR code by email, and you can scan the code to complete the activation process.

Customer support: You can get support from Saily 24/7 via live chat; this is usually my preference, as it offers the fastest responses. There's also an online help center on the Saily website that features troubleshooting guides and FAQs.

2. Airalo - best eSIM for New York with available text and call plans

Airalo is the best eSIM for New York if you require a phone number for SMS and call functionality, helping you to stay connected without eating through your data quickly.

Plan variety: You can get a free Welcome SIM from Airalo that's valid for 3 days and awards 500 MB data. Otherwise, paid data plans start from 1 GB for 7 days and scale up to 20 GB for 30 days on the Local eSIM plans. However, Airalo also has Regional eSIM plans that cover 3 destinations in North America. If you need an international phone number, they’re usually only available as part of the Discover+ Global eSIM plans that cover 138 countries – however, the US eSIMs include data, voice, and text services from T-Mobile. You can learn more about that in our detailed Airalo review.

Cost of New York eSIM plan: Local eSIMs for the United States start at $4.50 for 1 GB/7 days and scale up to $42.00 for 20 GB/30 days ($0.48/Gigabyte). Regional eSIMs for New York vary from $6.50 to $46.00, while the Global eSIMs range from $9.00 to $69.00. What’s more, Airalo eSIMs allow you to top up your SIM card, but you’ll need to check first that you’ve purchased a rechargeable eSIM.

Activation process: I set up my Airalo eSIM quickly by using the QR code that's emailed to you after you purchase a data plan. Installation instructions are found within "My eSIMs" in the dedicated app, where you'll find your QR code. Save that to your device, then add it through your phone's settings by selecting the image. Overall, I found the process less beginner-friendly than with Saily, but it was still fairly quick to get through.

Customer support: Airalo provides 24/7 customer assistance via live chat and email, though some customers have reported a wait time of several hours for chat support. During my tests, I noticed that you also have the option of contacting Airalo on social media platforms like Messenger for troubleshooting tips.

3. JetPAC - affordable New York eSIM for high data needs

Jetpac is the best New York eSIM for people who need a high amount of data – stream, share photos on social media, or make calls over Wi-Fi without worrying about your data allowance. Free, unique travel perks sweeten an already-solid deal.

Plan variety: Jetpac offers a variety of eSIM plans for the US, including New York. New users can get a 1 GB eSIM for 4 days. Otherwise, get 3 GB for 7 days, or 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, or 40 GB for up to 30 days' validity. For high-volume users, there is an additional 50 GB / 10-day plan that supports streaming and content sharing. Jetpac doesn’t typically offer phone numbers, but some plans have started to include a free phone number from their sister app, Hushed, so be sure to check whether it’s included in your preferred plan.

Cost of New York eSIM plan: Jetpac's prices are very competitive, with new users on a short trip able to pay just $1 for the 1 GB / 4-day plan. Otherwise, general pricing starts at $5 and scales up to $33.00 for the 40 GB / 30-day plan. The 50 GB plan is a bit of an outlier and an incredible deal in my opinion, costing just $25.00 for the full 10-day trip. Jetpac also gives free airport lounge passes, making the value for money even better.

Activation process: This eSIM activation was very straightforward during my tests, requiring you to scan the QR code you'll receive after purchasing a plan. As soon as you scan the code, you'll be able to designate Jetpac as an active data plan that activates as soon as you arrive in New York.

Customer support: Jetpac's customer support is available via live chat, email, and a dedicated Help Center on the official website. I found live chat response times to be very fast, and the agents who handled my queries seemed to know their product well. The guides available on the website covered any other questions I had around activation.

4. aloSIM - prepaid eSIM for New York with easy top-ups

aloSIM is the best eSIM for New York when you need a fast and simple top-up process, allowing you to add more data onto your plan at a moment’s notice. Plans also include a free international phone number from Hushed for keeping in touch with contacts.

Plan variety: aloSIM's New York data plans offer 1 GB valid for 7 days, 2 GB for 15 days, or 3-20 GB for 30 days. The 2 GB/15-day plan is the most popular, covering most tourist trips with enough data for browsing, messenger apps, and emails. What’s more, most plans come with a free phone number via the Hushed app.

Cost of New York eSIM plan: aloSIM's New York plans start at $4.50 and range up to $42.00 for the highest data plan available. At a cost of around $0.48 per Gigabyte of data on the best-value 20 GB plan, this makes it roughly comparable to Jetpac in terms of affordability. That said, during our aloSIM review we noticed that you don’t get the free airport lounge passes here.

Activation process: Like the other New York eSIMs I've tested, aloSIM's activation process was extremely straightforward. After downloading the dedicated iOS app and purchasing a New York eSIM plan, I used a QR code to configure the virtual SIM card on my phone. I noticed that aloSIM lacks any KYC (Know Your Customer) verification for North American destinations, which sped up the process.

Customer support: aloSIM offers 24/7 live chat support, which is the simplest way to resolve your queries in a hurry. However, you can also submit an email ticket or look for troubleshooting tips in the website's Help Center. When I tested live chat response times, I had a reply from a knowledgeable agent within just a couple of minutes.

5. Nomad - unlimited data eSIM for New York with user-friendly activation

Nomad is a solid eSIM for New York for beginners, making the process of signing up, activating, and managing your New York eSIM extremely simple. Highly customizable plans over any validity period make arranging your trip easier.

Plan variety: Nomad provides a range of data-only eSIM plans tailored for the United States, including New York. Options start from 1GB for 7 days at $4.50, with larger data packages available for extended stays. For instance, 10GB over 30 days is priced at $15, and 20GB at $22. All plans are prepaid, ensuring no unexpected charges, and taxes are included in the listed prices. Nomad also offers day plans with unlimited data, but keep in mind that after 1GB the speed drops to 512kbps.

Cost of New York eSIM plan: Nomad's plan cost is quite affordable. One day with unlimited data plan costs $4.10 days for $22 is the most days you can buy for the unlimited data plan. Regular plans start at 1GB for 7 days for $4.50 to 50GB for a month for only $27.

Activation process: Activation is straightforward with Nomad, allowing you to purchase plans directly from the app and use a QR code for activation. During our Nomad review, I found the process to take no more than a couple of minutes. Within the app, you can also see useful information like when your plan was activated and the amount of data you've used on the plan.

Customer support: Nomad makes customer support available via 24/7 live chat, which gave me a response within a couple of minutes. You can also use WhatsApp for rapid responses or an email ticket form. With the inclusion of a messenger app for troubleshooting help, I found Nomad’s support to be very good.

How to use eSIM in New York

If you’re set on using an eSIM for your trip to New York, then it’s time to install and activate the eSIM ahead of time so that you’re ready. Here’s a quick guide on using your new eSIM on your travels:

1. Check that your device is compatible with eSIM technology.
2. Download your chosen eSIM. I recommend Saily, the best eSIM for New York.
3. Buy a US eSIM plan that includes strong New York coverage.
4. Follow the instructions to activate your new eSIM.
5. Set the eSIM as your default when you arrive in New York City.
6. Enable data roaming in Settings to guarantee uninterrupted connectivity.

Get 5% off Saily eSIM for New York

What you need to know before buying a New York eSIM for tourists

Choosing the right eSIM for your New York trip takes a little planning so that you can be sure you have a mobile data connection that suits your travel intentions. Here are the key points to consider when buying an NYC eSIM:

• Confirm your device is compatible: Handsets manufactured prior to 2019-2020 tend to lack eSIM compatibility, but you should always check that your phone is compatible with eSIM technology before you make a purchase.
• Choose an eSIM provider: Decide what you need most in a tourist eSIM for New York. For example, some providers offer phone numbers while others do not. Decide whether you could benefit from a regional eSIM that covers not just the US, but the rest of North America too.
• Check pricing: Compare eSIM pricing and value for money by looking at any unique perks that you get. For example, some eSIMs offer free introductory data, data-saving web browsers, or an international phone number.
• Activate at the right time: You should set up your eSIM in advance of your trip and activate it just before leaving. This way, it’ll connect to a carrier network the moment you arrive, giving you instant mobile internet access.
• Ensure your eSIM is fast enough: If you want to stream or make regular video calls, you’ll need a stable, high-speed network. Make sure your chosen eSIM uses a reputable mobile carrier known for fast, reliable connections.

Get Saily, the best New York eSIM

Does my phone support eSIM?

Most modern smartphones manufactured after 2019/2020 support eSIM technology, but it's worth checking your own specific device. On an iPhone, you can check if your phone is compatible by opening Settings, then General and About. If you see an IMEI number in the Digital SIM section, it's supported. If you're using an Android phone, go to Settings, then Connections, and SIM card manager. There should be an "Add eSIM" button that allows you to activate an eSIM for New York.

Is it better to use eSIM or physical SIM in New York?

Most smartphones manufactured after 2019-2020 will support eSIMs, though with the exception of a few more recent handsets, they will also support physical SIMs. Overall, during in-house tests I found eSIMs to be the far more convenient choice for New York travel. It’s easier to compare, choose, and activate an eSIM, as well as generally being cheaper due to the lack of any fees for the card itself.

Add in being able to transfer your eSIM between devices and top it up at a moment’s notice, and I personally prefer to choose a virtual SIM card over a physical card for any destination. I’ve presented the key differences between eSIMs and physical SIM cards below to help you make a choice:

Try Saily, the best eSIM for New York

Alternative ways to stay connected in New York

Staying connected in New York without an eSIM limits your options, but there are still a number of ways to access the internet. Here are some alternative suggestions:

• Traditional SIM cards: Physical SIM cards offer prepaid data plans with data, calls, and texts, though they can be pricier as you pay for the cost of the physical card too.
• Portable Wi-Fi devices: These pocket-sized devices can be rented at airports or online, though they need to be kept charged if you want to remain connected.
• Public Wi-Fi hotspots: Common and easy to access, though you’ll also need to subscribe to a VPN to protect your data from cyber threats.
• Tethering from a friend’s device: If you have contacts in NYC, you may have the option to piggyback off their internet connection with device tethering.
• Coworking spaces: These spaces sometimes offer a day pass, giving you access to high-speed internet when you need to get things done.

These options can help if you run out of data or don’t want to get an eSIM for any reason. However, choosing a well-reviewed and reliable eSIM for New York is the best way to ensure seamless connectivity and avoid the risk of cyberthreats.

Conclusion: Which eSIM is best for New York?

Using an eSIM for New York travel is the best way to stay connected without paying hefty data roaming charges. You can easily browse and choose from data plans for your trip before you go, activating the eSIM ahead of time so that it’s ready from the moment your trip to NYC begins. You can also get an international phone number for staying in contact with friends, family, or colleagues, and you can top up your plan if you suddenly find yourself in need of more mobile data.

Saily is the best eSIM for New York, offering the ability to top up and get a phone number with your plan. Offering 1 to 20 GB of data for up to 30 days, and with prices as low as $0.57/Gigabyte, it's backed by high-speed carrier networks and 24/7 customer assistance to ensure you’re never left without a connection.

---

---

FAQ

Does eSIM work in New York?

Yes, eSIMs work in New York City and are the best way to get cheap data in New York, giving you high-speed mobile connections from carriers including AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. Saily is the best eSIM for New York, balancing affordability with flexible data plans that help you stay connected while avoiding sky-high data roaming charges.

How much does a New York eSIM cost?

New York eSIM data plans usually range anywhere from around $3.50 to $70.00 or more, with higher data allowances and longer validity periods having the biggest impact on price. However, most providers bundle these into general “United States” eSIM plans, which means you can use your data in other US states too.

How much is a SIM card in NYC?

In NYC, you’ll find that SIM cards cost around $10, and that’s simply for the card itself without any data – data plans range from around $35 to $65, making the overall cost prohibitively expensive compared to prepaid eSIM plans. I recommend getting an eSIM that starts from around $4 for the cheapest data plan. Saily is my go-to choice for travel in NYC.

Which US carriers offer eSIM?

US carriers including AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile support eSIMs, though they aren't the most affordable way to obtain a data plan. Instead, I recommend choosing one of the best tried-and-tested providers for the US, including Saily, Airalo, and Jetpac. Online eSIM providers allow you to purchase and activate a plan before you go, while offering affordability and value for money.

How to buy eSIM for New York?

Purchasing an eSIM for New York is as simple as choosing a provider, purchasing your plan, and following a simple QR code activation process. Saily offers the easiest installation process based on my in-house tests, but Airalo, Jetpac, aloSIM, and Holafly ranked among my alternative best eSIMs for New York.