The United States is huge. I’ve crossed the country from west to east, taking a Greyhound bus from San Francisco to Los Angeles, flying to New Orleans, and eventually road tripping through to Miami. One thing all of those journeys had in common? I needed internet everywhere.
That’s where eSIMs have been a game-changer for me. No more messing around with physical SIM cards or waiting in line at phone shops. Just download, activate, and I’m online before I even leave the airport.
But not every eSIM provider is created equal. Coverage, speed, affordability, and ease of use all matter a lot when you’re travelling across a country as huge and varied as the USA.
After trying out different options, I found that Saily really ticks all the boxes. With just one eSIM download (that also works for over 200 destinations worldwide), it’s affordable, quick to install, offers solid speeds and coverage across the States, and even comes with built-in security features for extra peace of mind when using public Wi-Fi.
In this post, I’ll share why I recommend Saily’s eSIM for exploring the USA, along with a few takeaways from my own cross-country travels to help you get the most out of your trip.
Picking the best USA eSIM
Having internet in the USA will make everything a lot easier for you. I’ve used an eSIM to navigate the highways in a car rental, stream playlists on Spotify for long road trips, message my friends and family with updates, locate all the best events and sightseeing spots in each city, and discover all the best food.
And in order to make this happen, you’ll want an eSIM with strong nationwide coverage (since you may well cross state lines), plenty of data, and fast speeds so you’re not stuck with endless buffering.
Unsure what an eSIM actually is? Find out in this guide.
That’s exactly what you get with Saily. You can access up to 5G in internet speeds, it’s affordable, quick to set up, secure, and requires just one eSIM download (which can be topped up for future travels elsewhere).
Not to mention the additional security features like an ad blocker, which will help you seamlessly browse travel guides on the internet. Find out more about the brand in my Saily review.
Get 5% off your Saily eSIM by clicking on the link above or by using code MVT5 at checkout.
Why I use the Saily USA eSIM
Saily is a global eSIM brand, created by the team at NordVPN (my favourite VPN), offering eSIM data plans in 200 destinations. I downloaded the Saily eSIM some time ago, and haven’t had to download a new one since. I simply top up that one eSIM with new data plans in any of their covered destinations.
This alone has led me to favour Saily over other eSIMs. It can be a real faff downloading new eSIMs every time you land in a new destination. But on top of this, I find their pricing to be fair (and often some of the cheapest), the coverage to be reliable, and great internet speeds. Plus, you can use your data to hotspot to other devices freely.
Moreover, the additional security features give me peace of mind as I use my phone for online banking, work, and much more, whilst on the move.
At the time of writing, Saily offers 6 data plans for the USA. With plans offering 1GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10GB, 20GB, and unlimited data, ranging from 7 to 30 days. Read on to find out more!
Fair pricing
I find the price of Saily’s USA eSIM to be really fair, and a little cheaper than other eSIM brands. Here are some price comparisons with their two main competitors:
- Saily vs. Airalo (10GB for 30 days): Saily costs $22.99, whilst Airalo costs $23.00.
- Saily vs. Holafly (unlimited for 30 days): Saily costs $71.99, whilst Holafly costs $74.90.
I like that Saily offers both pricing options for limited and unlimited data plans. Giving you flexibility for your USA trip! Both of which are cheaper than Airalo and Holafly.
Reliable coverage
The USA is huge, and not every provider performs equally well coast to coast. With Saily, I’ve had stable coverage whether I was navigating big cities, driving long stretches of highway, or hopping between states.
Since Saily partners with trusted local networks, the signal quality has been solid for maps, rideshares, and staying connected wherever I went in the USA.
I have also been able to use their data to hotspot to other devices, which has allowed me to watch my favourite UK TV shows on my laptop whilst travelling through the USA
That being said, coverage is dependent on the local networks, which can sometimes be a little patchy in more remote areas. So if you are planning on visiting somewhere quite remote, contact Saily to find out more about the coverage in these areas!
Please note, Saily’s USA eSIM does not cover Alaska. And here is what Saily says about their USA coverage:
“Enjoy reliable internet access in various destinations across the USA, such as New York, Miami, Orlando, Las Vegas, and cities in California or Hawaii. Please note that coverage quality will depend on local network providers.“
Extra security features
Something that really sets Saily apart from other eSIM brands is their additional security features, built into their phone app. These features include:
- Ad blocker: makes browsing the internet seamless and can even save you up to 28% of data.
- Web protection: blocks your access to potentially dangerous domains with malware.
- VPN: change your virtual location and keep your private data secure when you use public WiFi networks.
You don’t need an active eSIM to use these features either!
I have really benefited from their built-in ad blocker, and I can really tell the difference in my data usage since using it. Moreover, as a full-time traveller, it gives me peace of mind to know that I can browse the internet securely anywhere in the world!
Easy to use
I find Saily to be one of the simplest eSIMs to use. To begin, you only need to download one eSIM to your device. This eSIM is then controlled through their app. You can add new data plans for any of the covered destinations. This data is then automatically applied to your installed eSIM.
This differs from the majority of eSIM brands, which require you to download a new eSIM each time you purchase a new data plan. No one wants that faff when travelling, nor each time they embark on a new adventure!
On top of this, I find the Saily app to be really intuitive and easy to use. It is clear how much data you have left on your eSIM, and also when it is set to expire.
Their customer service is also 24/7 (live chat) and really helpful!
Get 5% off your Saily eSIM by clicking on the link above or by using code MVT5 at checkout.
USA eSIM comparison
With there being many brands selling eSIMs for the USA, it is important to compare their offerings against Saily’s. Here I have included three of their competitors: Holafly, Airalo and GigSky. I have compared the data offerings, duration, price for 10GB of data, plus any extras:
| Brand | Data | Duration | Price for 10GB | Extras |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saily | 1GB to unlimited | 7 to 30 days (extendable) | $22.99 | One eSIM download, ad blocker, security features |
| Holafly | Unlimited (with throttling) | 1 to 90 days | N/A (unlimited only) | None |
| Airalo | 1GB to 20GB | 7 to 30 days | $23 | None |
| GigSky | 1GB to unlimited | 7 to 180 days | $28.99 | Cruise line plans |
Looking at the options, pricing is pretty similar across the board (with Saily just about being the cheapest), but with Saily offering some of the most flexibility on data, plus additional security features and just one eSIM download.
Get 5% off your Saily eSIM by clicking on the link above or by using code MVT5 at checkout.
Who should buy a Saily eSIM?
Honestly, I think almost any traveller heading to the USA can benefit from using a Saily eSIM. With flexible data plans (from 1GB up to unlimited), reliable coverage across the country, and built-in security features, it fits a wide range of travel styles.
For me, as a remote worker, having fast speeds and plenty of data has been invaluable. I’ve been able to take video calls on the go, send big files, and stay on top of work even while travelling from coast to coast. If you’re a digital nomad or someone who needs to work while exploring, Saily is a solid choice.
It’s also perfect if you’re active on social media and want to post regularly, whether that’s uploading Instagram stories from Times Square, TikToks from the Golden Gate Bridge, or sharing live updates of a road trip. With unlimited options, you won’t be stressing about data caps.
But even if you’re just a light user, the affordability makes Saily a great fit. Using Google Maps to navigate new cities, ordering Ubers, checking restaurant reviews, or keeping in touch with family on WhatsApp, it’s all smooth and hassle-free.
Please note, if you are visiting Alaska, you will not get any coverage with the Saily USA eSIM.
How to get started
Getting set up with Saily is really simple, and it only takes a few minutes. Here’s how I did it:
- Download the Saily app (available for both Apple and Android). This is where you’ll manage everything from browsing plans to activating your eSIM.
- Choose your plan. Saily offers flexible options for the USA (and 200+ other destinations). Pick the data amount and duration that best fit your trip.
- Install your eSIM. Once you’ve purchased a plan, you’ll get clear step-by-step instructions right in the app. Activation is quick, and you’ll be online almost instantly.
- Top up when you need. If you run out of data or extend your trip, you can add more without having to download a new eSIM. That’s one of the things I love most about Saily: it’s built for repeat travel.
Before you buy, double-check that your phone supports eSIM technology. Most newer iPhones and Androids do, but it’s worth confirming to avoid any surprises. Here is a useful guide from Saily 
My verdict: Why Saily is the best
After travelling across the USA, I can honestly say that having a reliable eSIM like Saily made my trips so much smoother. With just one download, I stayed connected throughout my travels.
What I love most is the combination of flexible data plans, strong nationwide coverage, fast internet speeds, and built-in security features.
I could take video calls, upload content to social media, navigate new cities, and stay in touch with family without ever worrying about losing connection or maxing out my data.
On top of that, Saily’s pricing is fair, and the convenience of having a single eSIM for multiple trips (not just the USA) is a huge time-saver. It’s one less thing to think about when planning travel, which I really appreciate!
I know that anyone travelling to the USA will benefit from the Saily eSIM. Just make sure to check out if you’ll get good enough coverage if you are travelling to more remote areas – their 24/7 customer service team are super friendly and will be able to help you with this in no time!
Get 5% off your Saily eSIM by clicking on the link above or by using code MVT5 at checkout.
Leave a Reply