Visitors to the USA can buy a prepaid SIM or eSIM from AT&T, Verizon or T-Mobile, and none of the three requires a credit check for prepaid service. You will need an unlocked phone, and for an eSIM a compatible handset. A data only travel eSIM is an alternative if you want to keep your home SIM for calls, texts and bank codes.
Prepaid SIM card USA: your options as a visitor
You have three practical routes: a prepaid SIM or eSIM from a US carrier, a data only travel eSIM bought before you fly, or roaming on your home SIM. The US carriers sell prepaid with no annual contract, but you must arrange a shop visit, delivery or an app based activation. A travel eSIM is data only, so your home SIM stays in the phone for calls and texts.
AT&T says new prepaid customers can get a SIM card or eSIM activation kit by post, or from an AT&T store. Verizon Prepaid can be activated on an eSIM phone through Verizon's Bring Your Own Device activation page, or in a Verizon store. T-Mobile's Prepaid eSIM app activates new prepaid service on an iPhone or Android phone with eSIM, provided the phone was bought from T-Mobile or is SIM unlocked first.
A data only eSIM from Slashtel works differently: it gives no local phone number and no calls or SMS, but WhatsApp and other internet calls work over the data. You keep your home SIM in the phone for calls and bank codes, and turn off data roaming on it to avoid roaming charges. If you are weighing the two formats, read eSIM vs physical SIM.
Do you need ID or an SSN for a US prepaid SIM?
No Social Security number is needed for prepaid service with the three nationwide carriers. Verizon Prepaid states there is no credit check, no deposit and no annual contract, and AT&T states that AT&T Prepaid will not check your credit. T-Mobile says it has prepaid and postpaid offerings for customers who do not currently have a Social Security number.
The T-Mobile Prepaid eSIM app shows what is actually asked for: an email address, a 6 to 15 digit PIN, a US ZIP code and payment card details. An SSN is not listed among the steps. That makes app based prepaid activation a realistic option for a visitor with a card and an unlocked eSIM phone.
Two practical points follow. First, a US ZIP code is part of the T-Mobile app flow, so have the address of where you are staying to hand. Second, an SSN is not the same as ID: the carriers' statements above cover credit checks and SSNs, so keep your passport with you if you buy in a store and staff ask to see identification.
US networks and coverage
The three nationwide US networks are AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile, and many prepaid brands such as Cricket, Boost and Straight Talk run on these networks. Coverage depends on which network your plan uses and on the bands your phone supports, so check both before you buy.
Network technology matters for older handsets. AT&T began shutting down its 3G network in February 2022, T-Mobile shut down Sprint's 3G CDMA network on 31 March 2022 and its own 3G UMTS network on 1 July 2022, and Verizon phased out its 3G network by 31 December 2022, a date confirmed in a 2024 FCC order. The FCC warns that older phones relying on 3G cannot make or receive calls and texts, including calls to 911, or use data where 3G has been shut down.
Band support matters too. AT&T requires IoT devices to support at least LTE bands 2, 4 and 12, and says missing any of these leads to coverage gaps on its network. AT&T also notes some older 4G LTE devices cannot reach LTE speeds in regional markets using 850 MHz (band 5) and 1900 MHz (band 2), and may fall back to HSPA+. T-Mobile offers an online IMEI check so visitors can confirm their phone works on its prepaid network before buying.
Prepaid SIM, eSIM or roaming: which suits your trip
Roaming keeps your home number working with no setup but is charged at your home network's rate. A US prepaid SIM or eSIM gives you a US number and local data but needs a shop, a delivery or an app activation. A travel eSIM gives data only, bought online, with no US number.
Choose roaming if the trip is short and your home network's price is acceptable. Choose a US prepaid plan if you want a US phone number for local calls and texts, and you are happy to activate in a store, by post or through a carrier app. Choose a data only travel eSIM if data is the priority and you want to keep your home SIM active for calls, texts and bank codes.
Slashtel eSIMs are data only. The eSIM is bought online with an email address and a card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, and the QR code arrives by email within minutes. Validity starts when the eSIM first connects at the destination, so it can be bought and installed at home before the flight. The network is chosen automatically and cannot be picked by hand. For a side by side view, see eSIM vs roaming.
Do you need a US phone number?
It depends on what you will do with it. A US number is useful for local calls, texts and some local services, and T-Mobile's prepaid web eSIM activation shows the new US phone number on the welcome screen once activation completes. A data only eSIM has no number at all.
If you need a US number, a carrier prepaid plan is the route: AT&T Prepaid sells SIM and eSIM activation kits and also offers data only plans, which you order as a SIM card and then activate at att.com/activateprepaid. Verizon Prepaid and T-Mobile Prepaid both provide US numbers with prepaid service.
If you do not need a US number, a data only eSIM covers maps, messaging, email and internet calls. Keep your home SIM in the phone for calls, texts and bank codes. On iPhone, Dual SIM lets you keep your home number active for calls and texts while a second line handles data, and only one line can use cellular data at a time. Apple notes that if data roaming is on for the data number, the voice only number disables Visual Voicemail and MMS. For the detail, read calls, texts, OTPs and data on eSIM.
Make sure your phone is unlocked
An eSIM or a SIM from another carrier will not work on a phone that is locked to its original network. Apple says that to use a SIM or eSIM from another carrier abroad, the iPhone must not be locked to a carrier, and you can check Settings > General > About > Carrier Lock for No SIM restrictions.
On Android, the check is with your original network or in the phone's settings, and the T-Mobile IMEI check is a quick way to confirm a handset works on that network. If you are on iPhone, our guide on how to check if an iPhone is unlocked walks through the Carrier Lock screen.
Unlocking is not the only compatibility question. Verizon says an unlocked device may have limited functionality or may not work on another carrier's network because of differing network technologies. Apple states that iPhone 14 models or later purchased in the United States can only be activated with an eSIM, which matters if you plan to buy a handset there. Check is my phone eSIM compatible and note your EID, explained in what is an EID number, before you buy a plan.
Getting set up before you fly
Buy and install your data plan at home so it is ready when you land. A Slashtel eSIM can be installed before departure because validity starts when it first connects at the destination, and the QR code arrives by email within minutes of purchase.
Steps for a data only eSIM:
- Confirm the phone is unlocked and eSIM compatible.
- Buy the plan online. USA plans start from $6.89; see USA eSIM plans for the options.
- Install the eSIM by scanning the QR code from your email, following install eSIM on iPhone and Android.
- On arrival, turn on the eSIM line and set it as the data line.
- Keep your home SIM on for calls and texts, and turn data roaming off on it.
Someone else can buy the eSIM and enter the traveller's email, so the QR code goes straight to the person who will use it. More data can be added to the same eSIM later, with no new QR code. Work out your needs with the data calculator. Apple warns that if you use a travel eSIM alongside your home line for data, you may still pay roaming fees on the home line, so switch data roaming off there. Slashtel also sells mobile top ups to more than 100 countries, delivered in minutes, which keep a prepaid home line active, and support is on WhatsApp and email, 7 days a week.
Sources
Checked 24 October 2026. Rules and dates can change, so check the official pages before you rely on them.
- https://www.verizon.com/support/prepaid-plans-and-service-faqs/
- https://www.att.com/buy/prepaid-phones/
- https://www.t-mobile.com/cell-phone-plans/international-student-plans
- https://www.t-mobile.com/support/plans-features/t-mobile-esim-app
- https://prepaid.t-mobile.com/prepaid-plans/esim-usa-travel-plans
- https://www.att.com/support/article/wireless/KM1486952/
- https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/plan-ahead-phase-out-3g-cellular-networks-and-service
- https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-24-45A1_Rcd.pdf
- https://iotdevices.att.com/radiated_antenna_new_20240730230652418.pdf
- https://www.att.com/support/article/wireless/KM1008736/
- https://prepaid.t-mobile.com/connect/bring-your-own-phone/imei-check
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/118227
- https://www.verizon.com/about/consumer-safety/device-unlocking-policy
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/109317
- https://www.t-mobile.com/support/account/prepaid-esim-activation
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/109357
Questions, answered
Can a tourist get a prepaid SIM card in the USA without an SSN?
Yes. Verizon Prepaid states there is no credit check, no deposit and no annual contract, and AT&T states that AT&T Prepaid will not check your credit. T-Mobile says it has prepaid and postpaid offerings for customers who do not currently have a Social Security number.
What is the difference between a us sim card for visitors and a travel eSIM?
A US prepaid SIM or eSIM from a carrier gives you a US phone number and local data, but needs a shop visit, delivery or an app activation. A travel eSIM is data only, bought online and delivered as a QR code, with no local number and no calls or SMS.
How do I activate an esim usa plan from T-Mobile?
The T-Mobile Prepaid eSIM app activates new prepaid service on an iPhone or Android phone with eSIM, provided the phone was bought from T-Mobile or is SIM unlocked first. The app asks for an email address, a 6 to 15 digit PIN, a US ZIP code and payment card details.
Will my phone work on a usa travel sim?
Check two things: the phone must be unlocked, and it must support the bands the network uses. AT&T requires IoT devices to support at least LTE bands 2, 4 and 12, and T-Mobile offers an online IMEI check so visitors can confirm their phone works on its prepaid network.
Can I keep my home number while using a US data plan?
Yes, if your phone supports Dual SIM. On iPhone, Dual SIM lets you keep your home number active for calls and texts while a second line handles data, and only one line can use cellular data at a time. Turn off data roaming on the home line to avoid charges.
Do I need a us phone number for a short trip?
Not always. If you only need maps, messaging and internet calls, a data only eSIM is enough and your home SIM stays in the phone for calls and bank codes. If you need local calls and texts, a carrier prepaid plan provides a US number, shown on the welcome screen once T-Mobile prepaid eSIM activation completes.
Is roaming in the usa a good alternative to buying a SIM?
Roaming keeps your home SIM and number working with no setup, but your home network charges for data in the USA, so check its price before you travel. If the price is high, a US prepaid plan or a data only eSIM can work out better for data.
What happens to my Verizon prepaid balance if I do not use the phone?
Verizon says a prepaid phone must make a call, send a text or use data within 60 days of adding funds, or the funds are forfeited and the service disconnected. Keep that rule in mind if you plan to hold a US number between trips.
Can I install a travel eSIM before I fly?
Yes. Slashtel eSIM validity starts when the eSIM first connects at the destination, so it can be bought and installed at home before the flight. The QR code arrives by email within minutes, and more data can be added later to the same eSIM with no new QR code.
Why do older phones fail on US networks?
The 3G shutdowns removed the networks those phones rely on. AT&T began shutting down 3G in February 2022, T-Mobile closed Sprint's 3G CDMA network on 31 March 2022 and its own 3G UMTS network on 1 July 2022, and Verizon phased out 3G by 31 December 2022. The FCC warns such phones cannot call 911.