Last updated on 5 September 2026
POVNOMAD, Airalo, and Holafly each offer differently structured eSIMs for the USA. POVNOMAD data packages start at €2.50 (1 GB, 7 days), Airalo’s unlimited plans at €10.50 (3 days). The biggest difference: POVNOMAD names concrete networks — T-Mobile and Verizon — while Airalo only confirms “T-Mobile plus one more.” Check current Holafly prices directly at esim.holafly.com/de.
The comparison at a glance
| Duration | POVNOMAD (Unlimited Smart) | Airalo (Unlimited) | Holafly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 days | €5.90 | €10.50 | see esim.holafly.com/de |
| 5 days | €7.90 | €16.50 | see esim.holafly.com/de |
| 7 days | €10.90 | €22.50 | see esim.holafly.com/de |
| 10 days | €11.90 | €30.50 | see esim.holafly.com/de |
| 15 days | €18.90 | €41.00 | see esim.holafly.com/de |
| 30 days | €29.90 | €60.50 | see esim.holafly.com/de |
POVNOMAD prices as of 5 September 2026, Airalo and Holafly figures as of 1 September 2026, collected from povnomad.com, airalo.com, and esim.holafly.com (USA product pages, EUR). Fair-use details: for Unlimited Smart, POVNOMAD states both the daily high-speed threshold (1 GB) and the speed afterward (a steady 1 Mbit/s). Airalo’s own USA product page states no concrete threshold and no throttled speed for its unlimited plans. Holafly prices are deliberately left out here: the DE and EN product pages agree with each other, but a third, independent confirmation is missing, and some Holafly sub-pages quote different figures for the USA. Check Holafly prices directly and on the day at esim.holafly.com/de. As of 5 September 2026, POVNOMAD also offers Unlimited L and Unlimited XL with more daily high-speed data, see the table below. Prices are subject to change.
New since September 2026: Unlimited L and Unlimited XL
POVNOMAD adds two bigger tiers alongside Unlimited Smart: Unlimited L with 2 GB of high-speed data per day, and Unlimited XL with 3 GB per day, each followed by a steady 1 Mbit/s. Both run on standard IP, just like Unlimited Smart.
| Duration | Unlimited Smart (1 GB/day) | Unlimited L (2 GB/day) | Unlimited XL (3 GB/day) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 days | €5.90 | €7.90 | €11.90 |
| 5 days | €7.90 | €10.90 | €18.90 |
| 7 days | €10.90 | €14.90 | €24.90 |
| 10 days | €11.90 | €21.90 | €35.90 |
| 15 days | €18.90 | €30.90 | €50.90 |
| 21 days | €22.90 | €41.90 | €69.90 |
| 30 days | €29.90 | €58.90 | €97.90 |
Prices as of 5 September 2026, povnomad.com/produkt/vereinigte-staaten-esim-usa-us/. All three tiers run on standard IP.
The network difference
POVNOMAD names T-Mobile or Verizon specifically for the USA, depending on the variant you choose, nationwide and with 5G where available. Airalo’s USA product page lists “T-Mobile” and “+1 more” carrier, without naming that second one. That makes POVNOMAD the only one of the three providers that names both US networks it actually uses.
Checking Holafly’s own channels (accessed 1 September 2026) turns up an inconsistent picture: the product pages esim.holafly.com/de/esim-usa/ and esim.holafly.com/esim-usa/ name “AT&T / T-Mobile” (two networks), a Holafly blog post about O2 roaming in the USA names “AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile” (three networks), and another search-index result for a Holafly guide page names only “AT&T” (one network). These three versions contradict each other; which network(s) Holafly actually uses for the USA can’t be determined from its own channels alone.
Data packages instead of unlimited
For anyone who doesn’t need unlimited data, POVNOMAD offers fixed data packages in two IP variants: standard IP and US IP (a US-based IP address, useful for services that require a US location).
| Data volume | Duration | Standard IP | US IP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 7 days | €2.50 | €2.90 |
| 3 GB | 15 days | €4.90 | €5.90 |
| 3 GB | 30 days | €5.00 | €6.00 |
| 5 GB | 30 days | €6.90 | €7.90 |
| 10 GB | 30 days | €10.90 | €12.90 |
| 20 GB | 30 days | €17.90 | €19.90 |
| 20 GB | 90 days | €19.90 | — |
| 50 GB | 30 days | €37.90 | — |
| 50 GB | 180 days | €47.90 | — |
Prices as of 1 September 2026, povnomad.com/produkt/vereinigte-staaten-esim-usa-us/. “—” = no US IP variant currently exists for this volume/duration. Two packages are especially well suited to longer stretches without unlimited data: 20 GB for 90 days at €19.90 and 50 GB for 180 days at €47.90. Hotspot is included with every POVNOMAD eSIM for the USA, and the validity period starts with the first connection to the network.
Which plan for which trip
For a one-week city trip, say to New York or Miami, a fixed package like 5 GB for 30 days (€6.90) usually covers it, or, with heavy map use and streaming, Unlimited Smart for 7 days (€10.90). For a two- to three-week road trip across several states, 20 GB for 30 days (€17.90 standard IP, €19.90 US IP) or Unlimited Smart for 15 days (€18.90) fits better; for an overview of individual regions, see the USA regions guide. Anyone preparing for a longer stay, say ahead of moving abroad or a study stint, gets through weeks without topping up using the long-term packages 20 GB for 90 days (€19.90) or 50 GB for 180 days (€47.90). Anyone who streams a lot on the road or runs frequent video calls gets more out of Unlimited L (2 GB of high-speed data per day, from €7.90 for 3 days) than Unlimited Smart. Families sharing a hotspot or streaming nonstop get the biggest buffer from Unlimited XL (3 GB per day, from €11.90 for 3 days).
Frequently asked questions
Which network does the USA eSIM use?
POVNOMAD names T-Mobile or Verizon specifically for the USA, depending on the variant you choose, nationwide and with 5G where available. Airalo’s USA product page names “T-Mobile plus one more” network without giving the second name. Holafly’s own pages give inconsistent information on this (one to three networks, depending on the sub-page).
What does an unlimited eSIM for the USA cost?
POVNOMAD offers three tiers of unlimited data for the USA: Unlimited Smart from €5.90 (3 days) with 1 GB of high-speed data per day, Unlimited L from €7.90 (3 days) with 2 GB per day, and Unlimited XL from €11.90 (3 days) with 3 GB per day, each followed by a steady 1 Mbit/s; all three tiers run up to 30 days. Airalo lists unlimited plans from €10.50 for 3 days to €60.50 for 30 days, but states no concrete high-speed threshold or throttled speed. Check current Holafly prices for the USA at esim.holafly.com/de. As of 5 September 2026.
Can I use a hotspot with the USA eSIM?
Yes, hotspot (tethering) is included with every POVNOMAD eSIM for the USA, whether it’s a data package or Unlimited Smart.
Does the eSIM also work in Hawaii?
The POVNOMAD eSIM for the USA works nationwide via T-Mobile or Verizon, and that includes Hawaii. There’s no guarantee for individual states or locations, though — network coverage depends on the specific location, as with any mobile network.
Is there a separate eSIM for Puerto Rico?
Yes, POVNOMAD offers a separate eSIM for Puerto Rico, independent of the USA product, from €1.00 (POVNOMAD eSIM for Puerto Rico).
What’s the difference between standard IP and US IP?
With the standard IP variant, the connection runs through a regular IP address; with the US IP variant, through a US-based IP address. That matters when a service requires a US location. The network, validity logic, and hotspot are identical between the two variants — the US IP packages just cost a bit more than the standard IP packages.
Separate comparisons cover Canada and Mexico: Canada eSIM with unlimited data and Mexico eSIM: unlimited or data package? (as of 4 September 2026).
All prices as of 1 September 2026, sources: povnomad.com, airalo.com, esim.holafly.com. Prices are subject to change.
📦 Matching eSIM plan
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More help
Not sure how much data you need? Use the data calculator.
You can also buy and manage everything in the app: POVNOMAD App.
