Best Travel SIMs for US, Canada, and Mexico

Hopping between America, Mexico, and Canada, and looking for a SIM card to answer your connectivity needs? Join us as we explore some of the available options that you have to staying connected throughout your travels!

Best Travel SIMs for USA

If you were traveling to the USA, one of the most popular options of staying connected include getting a Tourist Plan from Ultra Mobile (in partnership with T-mobile), which offers you unlimited data and domestic talk time for 3-weeks at just USD30. Other alternatives include getting a prepaid card from AT&T; or if you will be staying for a longer period of time (at least 3 months), consider getting a SIM card from Mint Mobile instead.

When choosing a travel prepaid SIM card in the USA, it is important that you check that your phone is unlocked and compatible with the local network.

Aside from getting a prepaid SIM card, getting an eSIM should also be an option to consider, provided you have a device that is eSIM-compatible. All things considered, if you were looking for an eSIM that is the best for your trip to USA, Nomad is definitely one of your options.

Best Travel SIMs for Mexico

Moving on to Mexico, the three major mobile network operators in Mexico are Telcel, AT&T, and Movistar. All providers offer various prepaid SIM card options for tourists, with relatively good and reliable coverage throughout the country.

Of the three operators, Telcel is the biggest with the most extensive coverage. AT&T and Movistar also provide rather extensive coverage in the city areas, but connectivity could be less stable int he rural areas. However, AT&T and Movistar often have plans that are much cheaper than Telcel. The prepaid data plans offered by all three providers usually also include unlimited data for social media and messaging apps.

Best Travel SIMs for Canada

One thing to note about getting data in Canada is that it is going to be expensive — mobile data rates for Canada is one of the highest (if not the highest) in the world. And if you are looking to get a local prepaid SIM card, you should also check that the plan you are getting includes data, as some of the available prepaid options include only text and voice calls.

The major operators in Canada are Telus, Bell Canada, and Rogers, and there are a number of MVNOs that ride on the network and infrastructure of these main players. Telus is generally known to be the best carrier in Canada with wide coverage and good speed, but Rogers offers plans that are slightly more affordable.

Travel SIMs for US, Mexico, and Canada

Now that we have looked at the options that you might have if you were to travel to US, Mexico, or Canada, what about an option that covers all three destinations?

Of course, there is the option of getting individual local SIMs at each of these destinations — but trust us, the math isn't going to add up, especially when there are more affordable options out there. Furthermore, this option will mean that you will have to repeatedly change out your SIM cards to stay connected as you travel, which really can be a hassle.

Get a local SIM that supports roaming

There are some local providers that would provide options that support roaming across all three countries. One such provider would be AT&T, which has an option that includes data and connectivity in US, Mexico, and Canada. However, the option is relatively expensive at 65USD per month.

Get an international travel SIM

There are many providers of international travel SIMs that also offer multi-country and regional plans. Examples of such providers include ICC or Simify. With these travel SIMs, not only will you be able to stay connected as you jump across countries, you will be able to get data at a much more affordable price than if you were to get local SIMs individually.

Get a travel eSIM

Another option - and the one we recommend - is to get a travel eSIM. There are many providers of travel eSIMs that provide multi-country or regional plans. These plans are often much more affordable than if you were to get plans for individual countries. However, the caveat is that your phone needs to be eSIM compatible.

With a single eSIM, you will be able to stay connected as you travel through the different countries. And to top it off, you don't even have to go through the hassle of changing out your physical SIM card. In just a few taps on your device, you can easily install and activate an eSIM to help you stay connected during your travels. You can also keep your primary line active as you travel (just make sure that you have configured your eSIMs and preferences so that you don't incur unnecessary roaming charges!), so you don't have to worry about being unreachable on your primary line.

Get a Nomad Regional Travel eSIM for North America

If you have an eSIM-enabled device, Nomad's Regional Plans for North America would be a great option for your trip to United States, Mexico, and Canada. With Nomad's Regional Plan for North America, you would have the benefits of a regional SIM, and more!

Nomad's North America regional plan includes coverage for all three regions, and at a very affordable rate from as low as USD 3.20 per GB. With a single plan, you will be able to stay connected as you travel through all countries for your upcoming trip. With Nomad's North America regional plan, you will save the trouble of having to switch between multiple SIM cards.

Purchasing and activating Nomad's North America regional eSIM plan is also very convenient — you don't have to worry about advance purchase or collection/delivery of the SIM card. In fact, you could complete your purchase right before your departure, or even after you arrive at your destination, so long you have an internet connection. Simply head to the Shop page and select a plan that is suitable for your trip duration and data usage habits. Upon successful purchase, you will receive a QR code to activate your data plan.