Where to buy international sim cards in usa

But for all their benefits and advantages, local SIM cards may not be the best solution for every type of travel situation. International SIM cards are SIM cards that aren't tied to any particular country and will give you data, calls and texts to use in over different countries around the world. Using an international SIM card is nearly always cheaper than roaming with your home carrier but is normally more expensive than using a local SIM card.

So why would travellers not always stick to using local SIM cards? The rule of thumb is that the shorter the trip, the more economical and expedient international SIM cards become.

For business trips. You want to be able to hit the ground running. For fast-paced leisure trips. Sure, it may not take too long to get set up with a new SIM at an airport kiosk, but what if you're travelling overland and you can't buy a local SIM card anywhere near the border crossing?

You can try to find an official company store, but that will likely consume precious holiday time. For example, when I first arrived in Taipei, Taiwan I attempted to buy a Chunghwa Telecom SIM card from an official company store, but none of the employees working in the store could speak a word of English. It ended up being a rather stressful and drawn-out process with an English-speaking Taiwanese guy on the phone having to mediate between myself and one of the store clerks.

I did get my phone set up with a SIM card and a data plan in the end, but not before enduring a lot of hassle and trouble. For longer trips sometimes.

Not having data when you first arrive in a country can be a major disadvantage, since this tends to be the time when you need an Internet connection the most. Sure, you might be able to use the free airport Wi-Fi sometimes to book a room or order a taxi but can you trust it to always work, and what about once you step outside the airport terminal to try to find your Uber driver? Having an international SIM card means that your phone is always able to serve you when you need it most - the moment you arrive in a new country.

Below we've rounded up 7 of the best-known international SIM card providers for We've compared their costs, features and benefits to help you decide which provider will suit your needs best. The card is triple-punched so it will fit standard, micro and nano SIM card slots. The card itself is free and you only pay for any credit that you add to it. You can add more phone numbers for a monthly fee for over 50 different countries using the Virtual Numbers service.

You can also use this same service to roam on your existing mobile number without any roaming charges. The card works in countries worldwide, and you can receive free incoming calls from family and friends in countries. See this page for up-to-date bundle prices for each country. As well as bundles, you can also buy credit. Rates for data, texts and calls also vary widely depending on the countries involved.

S number. It also has a voicemail service with free delivery to your email. Are you just doing a little banger holiday in Europe and need a SIM card for your travels? Orange has got you covered. The Orange Holiday Zen is for light usage or a short trip. It looks exactly like a normal belt except for a SECRET interior pocket perfectly designed to hide a wad of cash or a passport copy.

Never get caught with your pants down again! Unless you want to. That depends on how you travel. However, for the people that an international SIM card suits the travelling style and needs of, then yes, definitely. Skip the lines and skip the painful errand days in a foreign city.

Buy one of the best international SIM cards you can and have yourself connected before you even touchdown on the landing. But we do it because we love it — we love providing epic and free content.

We love the knowledge that our content keeps you adventuring. That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Again, thank you! Very useful! My main concern is regarding how long do the sim cards remain active if you are not buying credit regularly.

I usually travel at least once or twice to congresses per year, but I wonder if some of these cards would stop working after a long time inactive. Is that information available for the cards discussed here?

Heya, absolutely you can find that info! Good question though! You guys should definitely include DENT, a block chain based international E-Sim card, that offers flexibel data exchange.

You can sell your unused data and always find the cheapest offer worldwide and cross boarder operational. Dude — hectic! Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. More information. After all that, you may end just up getting scammed anyway.

Just ask India or Israel. Table of Contents Show. Buy an eSIM! Basically you with an international SIM card. Why yes, I am conducting some serious business! Photo: Pressmaster Shutterstock. Learn More Now! View on OneSim. View on TravelSim. View on GoSim. View on WorldSIM.

View on Amazon. View on Surfroam. Travel with peace of mind. Travel WITH a security belt. If you want to be able to call as soon as you land, you can have a SIM delivered to you before you leave through one of the many online stores.

Some of the stores include:. If you know which carrier you want to use, SIM cards are also available on sites like Amazon and Ebay. You can also purchase a SIM once you get to your host country.

Depending upon your location, it may not be easy to find places that sell SIMs without a phone. This wikia site is a wealth of information from travelers and expats on where to find SIMs in practically every country in the world, as well as rates and carriers. Be aware that most of these prepaid SIMs are paid monthly with a talk, text and data package, rather than buying pay-as-you-go credits.

Some of them offer strict PAYGO rates, but this is probably only economical if your usage is very low. Also note that unlike most other countries, US prepaid SIMs do not include free incoming calls and texts. The difficulty with using SIM cards abroad starts with the mobile phone. Many people want to continue to use their phone even after moving abroad because their contacts are stored on the device, as well as tons of other personalized apps and data.

However, there are several obstacles to bringing your current phone abroad with you. Anyone trying to sell a cheap unlocked newer model phone might be trying to sell you a stolen phone. Unlocked phones were once a rare commodity in the US, but they are becoming more and more easy to find- especially if you shop around for deals. Cheaper, older models can be found in used cell phone stores and of course, sites like Amazon and Ebay.

An easy way to get an unlocked smartphone is to take over a phone from someone you know that is upgrading. Many carriers in the US offer their customers the ability to upgrade their phone on a regular basis. Another option is rent a phone for use in your host country. Many companies that sell SIM cards also offer daily or monthly cell phone rentals.