USA - best cheap sim

father-ted · 11 May 2025 at 16:40

Hi,

We go to the USA in a couple of weeks, we are currently only on a cheap tariff with O2, so the bolt-on for America is very expensive.
Is the best option getting a different sim to use?
Do I buy that over here befopre we go or when we get there?

Many thanks :-)

Orcvader · 13 May 2025 at 11:52

What phones do you have? If they have eSIM support you could check out this thread: https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/threads/e-sims-for-travel.18987189/

spile · 14 May 2025 at 07:41

I paid £15 for 5gb over 30 days with a Lebara add in package.

father-ted · 18 May 2025 at 14:14

Thanks guys, will get one this week.
It is for an iPhone 15 so no issues with compatibility.

Just one further question, do I take my uk sim out to use the esim, and will the phone work as normal with contacts, whatsapp etc?

father-ted · 18 May 2025 at 14:15

I don't want roaming charges on my UK sim, been stung a few times for that recently when we went to Turkey.

Orcvader · 19 May 2025 at 12:30

father-ted said:
I don't want roaming charges on my UK sim, been stung a few times for that recently when we went to Turkey.

I don't know how the iPhone does it, but just make sure roaming is turned off in the settings for that SIM.

Contacts are stored on the phone itself, so you'll still have them.

WhatsApp does use the number but not your SIM. Think of the phone number more as a username. Basically as log as WhatsApp is already enabled on the phone, it doesn't matter what SIM card is active afterwards.