What Do You Need to Stay Connected on a USA Trip? The eSIM + US Number Kit (2026)

A trip to the US runs on your phone: maps, ride apps, tickets, restaurant bookings and calls with people you meet. Here's the complete kit, what each part does, and how to set it up before you fly.

Part 1: Data with a USA travel eSIM

Data is the part everyone needs. A travel eSIM is a data plan you install on your phone before you fly. It connects to a US mobile network when you land, so your maps, ride apps, WhatsApp and email work straight away, without roaming charges.

• Install it at home on Wi-Fi. The QR code arrives by email straight away.
• Keep its line off until you land. Your plan starts when the eSIM first connects to a network in the US, so installing early loses nothing.
• Pick the right size. Light use (maps, messages, email) is around 1 GB a week. Video calls and streaming need more.

See plans on the USA eSIM page, or read our USA eSIM guide. Visiting Canada too? See the Canada eSIM page.

Our travel eSIMs are data-only. They don't come with a phone number, which is where Part 2 comes in.

Part 2: A US phone number, if you need one

With data alone, you can call people on WhatsApp or FaceTime. But in the US, many people and businesses still use normal phone numbers:

• Hotels, holiday rental hosts and tour companies that want a number to call.
• Restaurants where you want to call to book or check a table.
• Car rental desks, schools, clinics and offices that only call US numbers.
• New friends and colleagues who don't use WhatsApp.

The TripoSIM US Number gives you your own US number in the TripoSIM app. It works over your eSIM data or any Wi-Fi:

• 300 outgoing minutes a month to US and Canadian numbers.
• Incoming calls with fair use up to 300 minutes a month, then voicemail.
• Voicemail included, and incoming texts from US and Canadian senders.
• $100 a year, and a $5 eSIM credit as a welcome bonus.

Do you really need a US number for a short trip?

Be honest with yourself. The US Number is a yearly plan. For a one-week holiday where you only call family on WhatsApp, data alone is often enough. Read do you need a local phone number when traveling?

A US number makes the most sense if you:

• Visit the US several times a year, or stay for months.
• Have family, friends, clients or a school in the US.
• Want a number for US bookings and calls you can keep between trips.

Part 3: Keep your home number

Your home SIM stays in your phone. Keep its line on so you still get calls and texts on your usual number, including bank codes, but turn its data roaming off so it can't charge you for data. Your WhatsApp number doesn't change either. See can you receive OTP codes with a travel eSIM?

Your kit at a glance

How to set up the kit before you fly

1. Check your phone supports eSIM: most recent iPhones, Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones do. See our compatibility list.
2. Buy and install your USA eSIM: install it at home on Wi-Fi and keep its line off until you land.
3. Get your US number: choose a number by state or area code at /us-virtual-number.
4. Set up the TripoSIM app: sign in, then allow notifications and the microphone so calls can ring and people can hear you.
5. Test a call at home: ask someone to call your US number while your phone is locked.
6. Land and switch on: turn on your eSIM line, choose it for mobile data, and turn data roaming off on your home line.

Good to know

• No 911. The US Number can't call emergency services. In an emergency, use your phone's normal dialer and a mobile line, not the app.
• Verification codes aren't guaranteed. Many banks and apps, including WhatsApp, refuse internet numbers. Keep codes on your home number.
• Calls use little data: about 0.5 to 1 MB per minute.
• You can't send texts from the US Number, only receive them.
• Calls go to the US and Canada only. Use WhatsApp or FaceTime for other countries.

Frequently asked questions

Does a USA travel eSIM come with a phone number?

No. Our travel eSIMs are data-only. If you need a US number, add the TripoSIM US Number, which works over your eSIM data.

Can I use the US number in Canada too?

Yes, over the internet, and your outgoing minutes cover calls to both US and Canadian numbers.

Will my US number still work after the trip?

Yes. It's yours for the year you paid for, wherever you are, as long as you have internet. You can use it to stay in touch with people you met.

How much data do I need for calls?

Voice calls use about 0.5 to 1 MB per minute. One hour of calls is well under 100 MB.

Can I call a US restaurant or hotel with it?

Yes. Calls to US and Canadian numbers use your 300 outgoing minutes a month. Each call is rounded up to the next full minute, and unanswered calls are free.

The bottom line

For a USA trip, data comes first: get a USA eSIM and install it before you fly. If you visit the US often or have people there who call you, add a US number to the same app. Keep your home SIM for bank texts, and you're connected from the moment you land.