eSIM for the USA from the UK: prices in pounds, roaming costs and bank codes (2026)
What a US travel eSIM costs in pounds, what EE, Vodafone, Three, O2 and Sky charge in the USA, how to keep your UK number for bank codes, and what size to buy.
· 9 min read
For a UK traveller, a US travel eSIM usually costs a fraction of your network's US roaming charge. A two-week trip needs about 10 GB, which costs $12.08 (roughly £9.14) with Cabin Mode. The same fortnight on a £7 or £8-a-day roaming add-on comes to £98 to £112. Your UK SIM stays in the phone, so bank codes still arrive by text.
This guide covers US plan prices in pounds, what each UK network charges in the USA as of September 2026, how to set up your iPhone so your UK number keeps working, and what size of plan to buy for one to three weeks.
US eSIM prices in pounds
| Data | Valid for | Price (USD) | Approx. GBP | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 7 days | $1.66 | £1.26 | A layover or a Wi-Fi-heavy weekend |
| 3 GB | 15 days | $4.40 | £3.33 | A light week in one city |
| 5 GB | 30 days | $6.62 | £5.01 | One week, normal use |
| 10 GB | 30 days | $12.08 | £9.14 | Two weeks, normal use |
| 15 GB | 30 days | $17.00 | £12.86 | Three weeks, or two with a road trip |
| 20 GB | 30 days | $23.18 | £17.53 | Three weeks of heavy use |
| 20 GB | 90 days | $28.54 | £21.59 | Longer stays |
| 50 GB | 180 days | $70.00 | £52.95 | A semester or a season |
Prices checked 25 September 2026 and can change. The sterling figures use the 24 September 2026 reference rate and are approximate; Cabin Mode charges in the currency shown in the app. See every US plan.
US data costs a little more per GB than Europe. 10 GB for 30 days is $8.56 in the UK or Spain, compared with $12.08 in the US. Even so, it's far cheaper than roaming.
Most US plans start when your iPhone first connects to a network in the United States, so you can install before you leave Heathrow or Manchester. A few start at install; the plan listing shows which.
What UK networks charge in the USA
Each figure below comes from the network's own website, as of September 2026. The USA is outside every network's Europe zone, so EU roaming allowances don't apply.
| Network | USA charge | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| EE | £6 for a 24-hour pass, or £30 for a 7-day pass | USA is in EE's Zone 1; uses your UK allowances |
| Vodafone | £8 a day | For plans started on or after 11 August 2021 (Zone C). Included on Xtra Global Roam plans |
| Three | £8 a day if you joined or upgraded on or after 18 December 2025; £7 if you joined from 1 October 2021 to 17 December 2025 | Go Roam Around the World. Three's support pages also list passes; check the Three app for your plan's price |
| O2 | £7 a day with the O2 Travel Bolt On, only on days you use it | Unlimited minutes, texts and data, but data speed capped at 2Mbps. Some plans include the USA in the Travel Inclusive Zone |
| Sky Mobile | £2 a day, only on days you use your phone | The USA is in Sky's standard roaming zone; 25 GB fair use per billing cycle |
What a trip costs on each
Assuming you use your phone every day:
| 7 days | 14 days | 21 days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EE | £30 (7-day pass) | £60 (two passes) | £90 (three passes) |
| Vodafone | £56 | £112 | £168 |
| Three (£8 rate) | £56 | £112 | £168 |
| O2 Travel Bolt On | £49 | £98 | £147 |
| Sky Mobile | £14 | £28 | £42 |
| Cabin Mode US eSIM | £5.01 (5 GB) | £9.14 (10 GB) | £12.86 (15 GB) |
Sky Mobile is the notable exception: at £2 a day with your UK allowance, it's worth comparing directly. For a week, Sky roaming is £14 against about £5 for the eSIM. If you're on an O2 plan that includes the USA in its Travel Inclusive Zone, or a Vodafone Xtra Global Roam plan, you're already covered and may not need an eSIM at all.
For everyone else, the eSIM is the cheaper way to get data. The roaming add-ons do include your UK calls and texts, and Cabin Mode plans are data only, with no US number and no SMS. Most people cover that with WhatsApp, FaceTime or similar apps over the eSIM's data.
Keeping your UK number for bank codes
The reason most UK travellers hesitate over an eSIM is the bank. Your bank sends one-time passcodes by text to your UK number, and you need them to approve card payments or log in.
A data-only travel eSIM doesn't change that. Your iPhone runs two lines at once: the UK SIM for calls and texts, and the travel eSIM for data. Texts to your UK number still arrive in the USA.
What receiving a text costs
- Three lists receiving texts in its Around the World destinations, including the USA, as free.
- O2 says its £7 Travel Bolt On is triggered by making a call, sending a text or using data, but not by receiving calls or texts.
- EE, Vodafone and Sky: check your network's roaming page for incoming texts before you rely on them.
Sending a text or making a call from your UK line abroad will usually start the day's charge, so read the code and don't reply.
Set up your iPhone before you fly
- Install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi. How to install an eSIM on iPhone has the steps.
- When you land, go to Settings › Cellular › Cellular Data and pick the travel eSIM.
- In Settings › Cellular, tap the travel eSIM and turn Data Roaming on (on some iOS versions it sits under Cellular Data Options).
- Tap your UK line and turn Data Roaming off. Leave the line itself on so texts arrive.
- Leave Allow Cellular Data Switching off, so your UK line isn't used for data during calls.
Bank app approvals
Many UK banks now approve payments in their app rather than by text. HSBC UK, for example, confirms online card purchases in the app, and only sends a text code if you haven't registered for the app. App approvals work over the travel eSIM's data, so they're more reliable abroad than SMS. Before you fly:
- Log in to each banking app on your phone and check app approvals are switched on.
- Don't change the phone number your bank holds to a US one. Some banks say a new number can take days to work for verification.
- Tell your bank you're travelling if its app asks.
Keeping your number, WhatsApp and bank codes working abroad covers this in more depth.
How much data for a US trip
The US is big and car-based, and that affects data use more than anything else.
One week
A city break in New York, Chicago or San Francisco: maps, subway and ride-hailing apps, restaurant searches, messaging and photos. That's roughly 500 MB to 1 GB a day. Buy 5 GB ($6.62, about £5.01). If you'll be on hotel Wi-Fi most evenings, 3 GB for 15 days ($4.40, about £3.33) can be enough.
Two weeks
A fortnight in Florida, or New York plus Washington DC. Buy 10 GB ($12.08, about £9.14). If there's a lot of driving with streamed music and navigation, take 15 GB.
Three weeks
A west coast road trip, from San Francisco down Highway 1 to Los Angeles and out to Las Vegas and the national parks. Navigation and streaming in the car add up. Buy 15 GB ($17.00, about £12.86), or 20 GB ($23.18, about £17.53) if you stream a lot. Top up in the app if you run low; the data lands on the same eSIM.
Where coverage runs out
US networks cover cities, suburbs and interstates well. National parks are the usual gap: much of Yellowstone, Yosemite, Death Valley and the Grand Canyon's backcountry has little or no signal on any network. Download offline maps before you drive in, and screenshot hotel and park reservations. The best eSIM for the USA covers US coverage in more detail.
Canada or Mexico on the same trip
The US plan covers the United States only. If you're crossing into Canada for Niagara Falls or Vancouver, look at the USA and Canada plans. For a trip that also includes Mexico, the North America plan covers all three: 10 GB for 30 days is $30.40, about £23.00. That's more than double the US-only price, so for a one-day crossing, a small separate plan for the other country is usually cheaper.
When not to use a US eSIM
- Your UK plan already includes the USA. Some O2 and Vodafone plans do; check yours.
- You need a US phone number, for example to receive texts from a US employer or US-only services. Cabin Mode plans are data only.
- Your iPhone is locked to your UK network. Ask your network to unlock it before you travel. Cabin Mode is iPhone only, and works on the iPhone XR and later.
- A very short trip on Sky. A couple of days at £2 a day is little different from a small eSIM.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an eSIM for the USA from the UK?
You don't need one, but it's usually cheaper than roaming. Most UK networks charge £6 to £8 a day in the USA as of September 2026, while 10 GB of US data for 30 days costs about £9.14. Check first if your plan includes the USA.
How much does EE charge in the USA?
As of September 2026, EE charges £6 for a 24-hour pass or £30 for a 7-day pass in Zone 1, which includes the USA. Both let you use your UK allowances.
Will I still get bank texts in America with an eSIM?
Yes. The eSIM carries your data, while your UK SIM stays active for calls and texts, so SMS codes still reach your UK number. Turn off Data Roaming on your UK line, and check what your network charges to receive texts in the USA.
How much data do I need for two weeks in the USA?
About 10 GB for normal use: maps, ride-hailing, messaging and social media. Take 15 GB if you'll be driving long distances with streamed music or navigation.
Can I use WhatsApp in the USA with a data-only eSIM?
Yes. WhatsApp stays linked to your UK number and runs over the eSIM's data, so messages and calls work as normal. iMessage and FaceTime work the same way.
Is Sky Mobile roaming in the USA cheaper than an eSIM?
Sky charges £2 a day in the USA, only on days you use your phone. That's cheaper than the other big networks. Over a week it's £14, compared with about £5 for 5 GB on a US eSIM.
Does the US eSIM work in Canada?
No, the US plan covers the United States only. For Canada, use a USA and Canada plan, the North America plan, or add a separate Canada plan.