The best eSIM for North America is one that covers every country on your route, so you install one eSIM and cross borders without touching your settings. Our North America eSIM covers three countries: the USA, Canada and Mexico. It's built for trips that take in two or all three of them. Visiting just one country? A single-country eSIM usually costs less. This guide shows exactly what the plan covers, what it doesn't, and how much data you need.
Planning a trip across the USA, Canada and Mexico? These three North America plans work in all three countries and differ in data and days, so pick the one that matches your trip length.
North America (USA, Canada and Mexico) · data only · See all North America eSIMs or browse every destination
Which countries does a North America eSIM cover?
Every North America plan on our North America eSIM page, from 1 GB to 50 GB, lists the same three countries:
- The USA
- Canada
- Mexico
Your data and days are shared between the three. You can fly from Toronto to New York, then on to Cancún, on the same eSIM.
What the North America plan doesn't cover
Geographically, North America is bigger than these three countries. The plan doesn't cover:
- The Caribbean: the Bahamas, Bermuda, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and the other islands need a Caribbean eSIM or an island plan. Our Caribbean eSIM guide lists the islands each plan covers.
- Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands: they're US territories, but the plan lists the USA only, not these territories. Use the Caribbean eSIM or our Puerto Rico eSIM there.
- Central America: Guatemala, Belize, Costa Rica, Panama and their neighbors need their own plans, for example our Guatemala, Belize or Costa Rica eSIM.
- Greenland: it has its own Greenland eSIM.
Coverage lists can change, so check the countries on the plan card before you pay.
Which eSIM fits your trip?
Start with the countries on your route, then pick the plan that covers all of them.
| Your trip | Best pick | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| USA, Canada and Mexico | North America eSIM | One eSIM for all three. At 20 GB, it cost less than three country plans when we checked. |
| Two of the three | North America eSIM | At 20 GB, it cost less than two country plans when we checked. |
| One country | USA, Canada or Mexico eSIM | At 20 GB, a country plan cost less than the North America plan when we checked. |
| Plus the Caribbean or Central America | North America eSIM plus a second eSIM | No single plan of ours covers both. |
The USA, Canada and Mexico on one trip
Get the North America eSIM. One plan covers all three, so you don't need a new eSIM at each border.
Two of the three countries
The North America eSIM still keeps you on one eSIM. But if you spend most of your trip in one country and only a day or two in the other, two separate plans of different sizes can work out cheaper. Our detailed guides compare both options:
- USA and Canada: best eSIM for the USA and Canada.
- USA and Mexico: best eSIM for the USA and Mexico.
- Canada and Mexico: the North America eSIM is our only plan that covers both.
Just one country
For the USA, see our guide to the cheapest eSIM for the USA. For Canada or Mexico, see the best eSIM for Canada and the best eSIM for Mexico.
North America plus the Caribbean or Central America
Your phone can hold more than one eSIM, so pair the North America eSIM with a Caribbean or Central American country eSIM. Install both at home, then switch your mobile data line when you land.
What to look for in an eSIM for North America
Whichever provider you choose, check these before you buy:
- Every country on your route: "North America" means different things to different providers. Read the country list.
- Enough days: pick a plan whose validity covers your whole trip, or one you can top up.
- Enough data: navigation, ride apps and photo uploads add up on a multi-country trip. See the sizing guide below.
- Top-ups: if you can add data to the same eSIM, you can start smaller.
- Hotspot: handy on a road trip for a laptop or a travel partner's phone. Some unlimited plans cap how much you can share.
- Phone number: most travel eSIMs are data only. You keep your home number on your phone for texts.
Our North America eSIM: the details
Here is what the plan details on our North America eSIM page say:
- Countries: the USA, Canada and Mexico, on every plan.
- Data and days: 1 GB or 3 GB for 3 days, 5 GB or 10 GB for 7 days, 20 GB for 15 days and 50 GB for 30 days.
- Phone number: no. Data only, no calls or SMS.
- Speed: 4G/LTE.
- Hotspot: allowed on all North America plans.
- Top-ups: available.
- Activation: once installed, the eSIM activates automatically when you arrive in a covered country. Your days start then, not when you buy. If you don't use it within a year of buying it, it expires.
Because the plan is data only, keep your usual SIM or eSIM on for calls and texts. Most eSIM phones can run two lines at once (Apple: Using Dual SIM with an eSIM). You still get bank codes and texts from home, while the travel eSIM handles data.
Do you need a travel eSIM? Check your home plan first
You live in Canada
Canada's big carriers sell roaming as a daily fee or a pass, and the USA and Mexico are often priced differently. Bell, for example, charges its Roam Better daily fee separately for the US and for other destinations like Mexico, only on days you call, text or use data, and slows your data after 5 GB in a day (Bell: Roam Better FAQ). Telus and Rogers also sell daily roaming options or travel passes (Telus: Easy Roam FAQ, Rogers: Travel).
Add up your days in each country and compare. A North America eSIM gives you data at one prepaid price for the whole trip, while your Canadian number stays on your phone for texts. Turn off data roaming on your Canadian line, so it can't start a daily fee by using data.
You live in the USA
Many US plans already include Canada and Mexico. T-Mobile's "Canada & Mexico included" benefit gives you talk, text and a high-speed data allowance that depends on your plan (T-Mobile: Canada & Mexico included). With AT&T or Verizon, check what your plan includes (AT&T International, Verizon TravelPass). If your plan charges for Canada or Mexico, or its high-speed data runs out fast, a travel eSIM next to your US line gives you full-speed data.
You're coming from the UK, Europe, Australia or elsewhere
The EU's "roam like at home" rules don't cover the USA, Canada or Mexico (Your Europe: Roaming costs). Check your carrier's daily fee or pass for each country on your route and add up your days. On a long trip, that often comes to more than one prepaid eSIM.
Crossing borders with one eSIM
Near a border, your phone can pick up a network from the other side before you cross. With a North America eSIM, that doesn't matter: it works on either side, and you don't change any settings.
- Keep the North America eSIM as your mobile data line for the whole trip, with data roaming on for it.
- Keep data roaming off on your home line, so it never connects for data on either side.
- Download offline maps before long drives, so you still have directions if the signal drops between towns (Google Maps Help: offline maps).
- On a cruise, the eSIM works in port on land networks, not on the ship's own network at sea. Our Caribbean guide has cruise tips.
Popular places in North America, and a connection tip for each
A few classic stops across the three countries. A trip that takes in several of them is exactly what the North America eSIM is for.
Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA
The Colorado River runs 277 miles through the canyon (NPS: Grand Canyon FAQ). You can take in the views from the rim, hike into the canyon or book a helicopter flight. Driving in from Las Vegas or Phoenix? Download your route and the park map before you set off, in case you lose signal on the road.
Niagara Falls, Ontario and New York
The falls sit right on the Canada-US border, and you can see them from both sides (Niagara Parks). Your phone can switch between Canadian and US networks here, which a North America plan handles for you. Take a boat tour to get close to the falls, then cross the Rainbow Bridge if your documents allow.
New York City, New York, USA
Times Square, the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Broadway and neighborhoods like Brooklyn and Queens keep you busy for days. You'll lean on your phone for the subway, maps and tickets, so pick a plan with room for daily use.
Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
Banff is part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site, with turquoise lakes, glaciers and mountain drives like the Icefields Parkway (Parks Canada: Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks). Don't count on signal everywhere: Parks Canada says cell coverage in the park is limited (Parks Canada: Banff safety). Save your maps and trail info before you head out.
Mexico City, Mexico
Mexico City mixes ancient history, museums and food. Visit the Frida Kahlo Museum, the Casa Azul in Coyoacán (Museo Frida Kahlo), walk around Roma, and take a day trip to the pyramids of Teotihuacan outside the city. Mobile data makes ride apps, translation and restaurant searches much easier here.
How much data do you need?
It depends on how long you travel and how you use your phone. As a rough guide:
- 3 to 5 days: 1 GB to 5 GB, for maps, messages and some browsing.
- 7 to 15 days: 10 GB to 20 GB, for daily maps, social media, ride apps and some video calls.
- 15 to 30 days: 20 GB to 50 GB, especially on a road trip with music streaming or hotspot sharing.
The North America 10 GB plan lasts 7 days, the 20 GB plan 15 days and the 50 GB plan 30 days. If you run low, top up instead of buying a new eSIM. Use hotel Wi-Fi for big uploads and backups.
Before you buy: check your phone and set it up
- Check eSIM support. Dial *#06#. If your phone shows an EID number, it supports eSIM. On iPhone, eSIM works on the iPhone XS, XS Max, XR and later (Apple: Using Dual SIM with an eSIM).
- Check that your phone is unlocked. A phone locked to a carrier only accepts that carrier's eSIMs.
- Install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi before you leave. On iPhone, scan the QR code with the Camera app, or on iOS 17.4 and later press and hold the code in the email and choose Add eSIM (Apple: Set up eSIM on iPhone). Step by step for iPhone and Android: how to install an eSIM.
- When you arrive, pick the travel eSIM for mobile data and turn on data roaming for it. On iPhone, go to Settings > Cellular (or Mobile Data) > Cellular Data and choose the travel eSIM.
- Turn off data roaming on your home line, so it can't use data abroad.
No signal after you arrive? Our guide on what to do when your eSIM is not activating walks you through the usual causes.
Other eSIMs for North America
SimOptions isn't your only choice. Here is what two other providers say on their own pages:
- Airalo lists its North America eSIM for 3 countries, with fixed data and unlimited packages, and says you can top up in many cases.
- Holafly sells an unlimited data plan for Canada, Mexico and the USA. It says a fair usage policy can slow your speed for up to a day, you can share up to 1 GB per day as a hotspot, and there's no phone number.
Compare the country lists first, then the data, days and hotspot rules. If you mostly use maps, messages and social media, a fixed plan sized to your trip usually does the job.
FAQs
What is the best eSIM for North America?
The one that covers every country on your route for long enough. For a trip across the USA, Canada and Mexico, a regional North America eSIM like ours means one eSIM for the whole trip. For a single country, a country eSIM usually costs less.
Which countries does the North America eSIM cover?
The USA, Canada and Mexico. Every plan, from 1 GB to 50 GB, lists the same three countries.
Does it work in Puerto Rico, the Caribbean or Central America?
No. The plan lists the USA, Canada and Mexico only. For Puerto Rico and the Caribbean islands, use a Caribbean or island eSIM. For Central America, use a country eSIM. You can keep both on your phone.
Should I get a North America eSIM for a USA-only trip?
You don't need to. When we checked, a USA eSIM cost less than a North America eSIM with the same data. Pick the North America eSIM only if you'll also use data in Canada or Mexico.
Does the North America eSIM come with a phone number?
No. It's data only. Keep your home number on your phone for texts, and use apps like WhatsApp or FaceTime for calls.
Can I share my data as a hotspot?
Yes. Our plan details say hotspot is allowed on all North America plans, which helps on a road trip with a laptop or a second phone.
When does my eSIM start counting days?
The plan activates automatically when you arrive in a covered country, so your days start on arrival, not when you buy or install it.
Can I add more data if I run out?
Yes. Top-ups are available on the North America plans, so you can add data instead of buying a new eSIM.
