Free eSIM for the United States 
3 GB of free mobile data across the US — New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and every airport terminal in between. Install before your transatlantic flight and connect to T-Mobile or Verizon the moment you clear customs. No trip to a Best Buy Mobile counter, no $50 tourist SIM.
Free for new users · Credit card for identity verification only — never charged · Valid 3 days
Why skip a T-Mobile Tourist SIM
US tourist SIMs have a reputation for being expensive and hard to find. T-Mobile's 'Tourist Plan' is $30 for 2 GB; Verizon prepaid is $45 for the first month with 15 GB but requires a US address and debit card. AT&T prepaid needs an ID scan. A 99esim eSIM costs you nothing and activates before you land — useful if your first US stop is immigration at JFK and you want Uber, Google Maps and Airbnb messaging live as you clear customs. 3 GB is enough for a short urban trip, and the paid plan makes sense for longer road-trip itineraries.
- No US address or SSN required (standard tourist SIM blockers)
- Connects at major airport immigration halls automatically
- Works in NYC subway, Chicago L, LA Metro where DAS is installed
- 3 GB covers ~4 days of typical urban tourist use
How US networks treat 99esim
The US has three national operators after the T-Mobile/Sprint merger: Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile US. 99esim routes preferentially through T-Mobile US (widest 5G coverage and best for international roamers), with fallback to Verizon for rural and Appalachia coverage. 5G is live in all major metros and along most interstates. Rural dead zones remain in parts of Nevada, Wyoming, Alaska and Maine — see tips.
Arriving at a US airport
US airports all have dense mobile coverage at gates, baggage claim, and ground transportation. Your eSIM activates the moment you disable airplane mode — useful for the long immigration queues at JFK, Miami and LAX where you can use data while waiting.
Main transatlantic gateway. AirTrain to Jamaica (E/J/Z subway) keeps 5G throughout. Terminal 4 is fully 5G from gate to immigration hall — plan your Uber while waiting in the CBP line.
Notoriously long taxi lines — use the LAX-it shuttle + app booking instead. 5G strong across Tom Bradley (TBIT) and all domestic terminals.
Full 5G in Terminal 5 (international) and all domestic. CTA Blue Line downtown keeps 4G end-to-end (~45 min). Good signal for booking rides at baggage claim.
Massive airport — the Skylink train between terminals has 5G throughout. DART Orange Line to downtown Dallas keeps signal the full route.
World's busiest airport by passenger count. Full 5G across all concourses and MARTA train to downtown Atlanta (20 min).
BART from the airport to downtown SF keeps 5G in the tunnels (post-2020 upgrade). Tom Bradley-tier signal across International Terminal.
Where your free eSIM works best
What 3 GB covers in the US
The US is massive — a Florida-to-California drive would easily exhaust 3 GB on maps alone. For a 3-4 day urban trip or a weekend in one city, 3 GB is comfortable. For longer road-trip itineraries or extended stays, the paid upgrade plan is the honest recommendation.
US-specific travel tips
Mind the geographic scale
A Miami-to-LA road trip is 2,700 miles — roughly Paris to Tehran. 3 GB won't cover that with Google Maps + Spotify running. For any multi-state road trip plan to upgrade to a paid eSIM plan (25 GB+) or lean heavily on hotel WiFi for offline map downloads.
Rural dead zones are real
I-80 through Nevada, parts of Wyoming, Appalachia, and most of Alaska have genuine cellular gaps stretching 20-50 miles. Verizon has the best rural footprint, and your 99esim falls back to it automatically. Still: pre-download offline maps before any national park visit.
Alaska and Hawaii work but expect spottiness
Alaska's Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau have 4G. Inland roads (Denali, Kenai Peninsula) have long unserved stretches. Hawaii is well-covered on Oahu (Honolulu, Waikiki) and main tourist areas on the other islands — less so in Molokai and the inland Big Island.
Subway coverage is improving
NYC Subway now has 4G in 100% of underground stations (Transit Wireless finished rollout 2022). Washington DC Metro and SF BART also covered. Chicago L is mixed. Boston MBTA has 4G on the Red/Orange/Blue lines. LA Metro is rolling out.
WhatsApp isn't the default
Americans primarily text via iMessage (iPhone-to-iPhone) or SMS. Your family back home on WhatsApp is fine, but Americans may just text you instead. Your eSIM handles SMS normally, and you can use your home number as the primary line for voice if needed.
Travelers who used 99esim in United States
"Flew JFK for a four-day New York trip. eSIM was live before I left the jet bridge. Uber, Maps, WhatsApp — all working while I queued at immigration."
"Road-tripped LA to Vegas to Zion with the free 3 GB. Ran out on day two as expected — upgraded to the 25 GB plan in the app in 30 seconds."
"Three days in Chicago. eSIM worked everywhere — L train tunnels, Millennium Park, down to Hyde Park. Didn't touch my home carrier's roaming rates."
Frequently asked — United States edition
Is the free 3 GB enough for a typical US trip?
For a 3–4 day stay in one city, yes. For a week-long multi-city trip or any road trip spanning multiple states, plan to upgrade to a paid eSIM plan — US geography genuinely eats data. Urban tourists rarely run out; road trippers almost always do.
Does the eSIM work in the NYC subway?
Yes. The MTA completed Transit Wireless rollout across all underground stations in 2022. You'll have 4G at every subway platform and reliable signal between stations on most lines. Above-ground stretches (7 train to Queens, R to Brooklyn) have full 5G.
Will it work in Alaska or Hawaii?
Yes, though coverage thins outside major cities. Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Honolulu, Maui (Kahului, Lahaina) and Waikiki all have solid 4G/5G. Denali interior, Kenai backcountry, Molokai and the Big Island's Mauna Kea have long dead zones.
Can I use tethering to share my data with a laptop?
Yes, tethering is enabled. Remember 3 GB goes quickly when a laptop is tethered — a single Zoom meeting can use 500 MB+. For a workcation, the paid plan makes more sense.
What about Canada and Mexico border crossings?
Canada and Mexico are not included in the 39-country free European plan. If you're driving across the border, your data will pause unless you have a North America add-on or global plan. Coming soon: Americas regional plans.
Does it work on cruise ships leaving from Miami or NYC?
At port, yes. Once the ship leaves port and connects to a satellite/maritime carrier, you'll be roaming off-network and charges may apply. Turn off data roaming before you sail or switch to the ship's WiFi package.
Free eSIM in other European countries
Your 3 GB works in all 39 countries. Here are a few more popular destinations:
See all 39 countries →
Ready to claim your free 3 GB in United States?
Install the 99esim app, create a free account, and your data is live in about 90 seconds.