I’ve spent a fair bit of time in North America, mostly in Mexico, plus a few trips to the US sprinkled in. The one thing I relied on heavily for all these visits was a reliable internet connection, so I could access Google Maps, WhatsApp, and all the rest, whilst on the go.
Typically, I would get an eSIM for each destination – Mexico, the USA, or Canada. But if you are travelling to more than just one country in North America, say for the FIFA World Cup this year, you may want to consider a single regional eSIM instead.
An eSIM for North America means that you can move between countries with seamless access to the internet. After trying a few different eSIMs in this area of the world, Saily is the one I keep coming back to.
In this best eSIM for North America article, I will go into more detail about eSIMs and my reasons for choosing Saily – covering their speeds, security features, coverage, and pricing.
How to pick the best eSIM for North America?
When you are crossing borders across a region, you’ll want to pick an eSIM that covers all the countries that you’ll be visiting. Therefore, I recommend opting for a regional plan.
You will also want an eSIM that provides strong coverage across the region, with plenty of data and fast speeds. Access to a US phone number for texts and calls is also a bonus!
That is what I get with Saily’s North America eSIM. Not to mention the fact that it is also great value for money, quick to set up, and runs off a single eSIM that you can easily top up for future trips.
New to eSIMs? Here is my plain English guide.
Saily eSIM
One eSIM for the USA, Canada and Mexico, with security features built in.
Why I recommend Saily North America eSIM
Saily is a global eSIM brand from the team behind NordVPN (my favourite VPN), with plans in over 200 destinations. I downloaded it once and have not needed a new eSIM since. I just add a new data plan whenever I land somewhere.
That is a big part of why I like it. Most brands make you download a new eSIM for every plan, but Saily does not. The pricing is fair, the coverage is reliable, the speeds are good, and you can hotspot to other devices for free.
The built-in security features are a bonus when you are banking and working on the move. Moreover, they have recently introduced a new phone numbers feature that gives you access to your own US phone number for just $0.99 per month, meaning you can make texts and calls whilst there!
But more than that, it can also be used to maintain your privacy whilst using online services like food delivery apps, online reservations, online marketplaces, dating apps, and newsletters – many of which require a phone number to sign up.
For North America, Saily sells one regional plan covering all three countries, plus cheaper individual plans for each. The regional plan comes in 1GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10GB, 20GB and unlimited options, from 7 to 30 days, with 3% back in Saily credits. More on pricing below!
Pros
- One plan for the USA, Canada & Mexico
- Reliable access to 4G, LTE and 5G
- Unlimited hotspot sharing
- Built-in ad blocker, web protection & virtual location
- One eSIM that also works in 200+ destinations
- 3% back in Saily credits
- New phone number feature for the USA
Cons
- No local number for Mexico or Canada yet
- Regional plan costs more than single countries
Reliable coverage
North America is vast, and no provider is identical coast to coast. Saily runs on trusted local networks in each country, and I have had stable coverage in cities and on long drives.
In Mexico City, it held up great for general navigation, through Google Maps and Uber. Plus, I was able to work from it, hotspotting to my laptop with ease, as well as streaming my favourite TV shows. Across the States, I used it heavily for working, and it worked like a dream!
Coverage depends on local networks, so it can be weaker in remote or rural areas. If you are heading somewhere off the beaten track, Saily’s 24/7 live chat can tell you what to expect before you buy.
Great speeds
A strong signal is no use if everything loads slowly, and speed is one area where Saily has always impressed me.
You get 4G, LTE and up to 5G depending on the network. In all the places that I’ve visited across North America, it has been fast enough for streaming, video calls, uploading photos and loading maps without lag. I have hotspotted to my laptop on many occasions, and it handles streaming fine.
Speeds are not identical everywhere, and any network slows down in very busy, crowded places. For everyday use in all major destinations, though, I have had no issues.
Additional security features
The security features built into the app set Saily apart from most eSIMs, and you don’t even need an active eSIM plan to use them:
- Ad blocker: smoother browsing, and it can save up to around 28% of your data.
- Web protection: blocks malicious sites before they load.
- Virtual location: keeps your data private on public WiFi.
That matters when you are on a lot of public WiFi, in airports, hotels and cafes, often while booking transport or tickets. It gives me peace of mind, and the ad blocker saving data helps when you are paying per gigabyte.
Affordable prices
Here are Saily’s current North America regional plans (prices in US dollars):
- 1GB for 7 days: $5.99
- 3GB for 30 days: $15.99
- 5GB for 30 days: $23.99
- 10GB for 30 days: $43.99 (their most popular, and what I would pick for a couple of weeks)
- 20GB for 30 days: $54.99
- Unlimited for up to 30 days: $72.99
Every plan also gives you 3% back in Saily credits, and there is a 30-day activation window, so you can buy now and it will not start until you arrive.
The regional plan is not the cheapest way to cover a single country. Saily’s individual plans start at around $3.99 for the USA, $4.99 for Mexico and $5.29 for Canada, and a single-country 10GB plan is roughly half the price of the regional one.
So if you are only visiting one country, buy that country’s plan. If you are crossing borders, the regional plan is worth the extra cost for the convenience.
Who should buy Saily’s eSIM for North America?
If you are visiting more than one host country for the World Cup, this is about as easy as it gets. One plan, three countries, nothing to do at the border.
It also suits road trips and multi-country trips. As a remote worker, I have relied on the speed and data for video calls and big uploads, so it works well for digital nomads, and the unlimited option means no worrying about caps if you post as you travel.
I also love the new US phone number feature, which is useful if you are visiting the States on your North America tour and need to make phone calls and texts.
The one exception is single-country travellers. If your whole trip is in just Mexico or just the USA, Saily’s individual plans do the same job for about half the price.
If you are travelling to even more places, outside of North America, you may want to check out Saily’s Ultra Plan – a monthly rolling subscription with data in over 120 countries worldwide, plus additional travel perks like airport lounge access and security fast track passes.
How to get started with Saily
Getting set up takes a few minutes:
- Download the Saily app from the App Store or Google Play.
- Choose your plan: the North America regional plan if you are crossing borders, or a single-country plan if not.
- Install your eSIM: The app walks you through it in a couple of minutes.
- Top up in the app if you run low; no new eSIM needed.
One tip: the 30-day activation window means you can set it up before you fly, as it only starts counting down when you arrive and activate the eSIM. Just check your phone supports eSIM first, as most recent iPhones and Androids do.
Saily eSIM
One eSIM for the USA, Canada and Mexico, with security features built in.
My verdict: The best eSIM for North America
For North America, the single regional plan from Saily, covering all three countries, is exactly what you’ll need for border hopping in the region. Particularly if you are heading that way for the World Cup!
There are so many eSIM providers available, but Saily is truly one of the best all-rounders: one eSIM download, a regional North America plan, reliable coverage, fast speeds and the security features, backed by NordVPN.
It isn’t the cheapest, but it is priced similarly to their main competitors, and they offer more useful features! Not to mention their new US phone number service, meaning you can make texts and calls whilst there.
North America eSIM FAQs
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