EE roaming in United States: use it or get an eSIM?
Key facts
- EE roaming rates in the US vary by plan and change over time — check the EE app before you fly, never assume.
- VoaSim charges one flat price for the United States: USD 18.90 for 5 days up to USD 106.90 for 60 days, with truly unlimited data.
- Your UK number stays active on your physical SIM; just turn EE's data roaming off and let the eSIM carry data.
- The eSIM's days start at first connection in the US, so install at home and keep the line switched off until you land.
- Coverage runs on AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon; remote national parks can be dead zones for every carrier.
See the exact price for your dates
Flying from the UK to New York, Orlando, Miami, Las Vegas or California? Your EE line will work in the United States, but only under the roaming add-on or pass attached to your plan. Those rates and daily allowances are set by EE, change by plan and by country, and you normally have to switch roaming on before you leave.
The other route is a travel eSIM you install at home. Below is an honest comparison, the exact VoaSim price for the US, and the steps to make sure you never pay for accidental roaming.
How EE roaming works in the United States
EE is a UK carrier, so in the US your phone connects to a partner network — usually AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon — and EE bills you under whatever international option your plan includes. Depending on your tariff, that can be an inclusive roaming allowance, a paid daily pass, or pay-as-you-go data.
Three things matter and only EE can confirm them for your line:
- Whether the United States is inside your plan's roaming zone or needs a paid add-on.
- The daily data allowance and what happens after it — many carrier passes slow you down or start charging once the allowance runs out.
- Whether roaming has to be activated before you fly.
Open the EE app or your account before departure and read the current terms for the US. Rates move, and we will not quote them here. If your plan already bundles the US generously and you only need light data, EE may genuinely be the simplest option — no new profile, your number stays live for calls and SMS.
VoaSim eSIM price for the United States
VoaSim charges one flat price per duration, the same for every destination. Data is truly unlimited: no GB cap, no speed throttling, no hidden fair-use clause. Prices below already include today's 15% promo.
| Duration | Price | Per day |
|---|---|---|
| 5 days | USD 18.90 | USD 3.78 |
| 7 days | USD 23.90 | USD 3.41 |
| 10 days | USD 30.90 | USD 3.09 |
| 15 days | USD 42.90 | USD 2.86 |
| 30 days | USD 61.90 | USD 2.06 |
| 60 days | USD 106.90 | USD 1.78 |
Trips of 1 to 4 days pay the 5-day package. A second eSIM in the same order gets 10% extra off — handy for a couple or a family. Maximum 90 days per eSIM. Payment is by international credit or debit card in USD through Stripe, with an invoice by email and no hidden fees. Run your dates in the price simulator to see the exact total.
Side-by-side: EE roaming vs VoaSim eSIM
| EE roaming | VoaSim eSIM | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Set by EE, varies by plan — check the app | Flat table price, from USD 18.90 |
| Data | Daily or bundled allowance, often reduced speed after | Truly unlimited, no throttling |
| Your UK number | Stays fully active for calls and SMS | Stays active on your physical SIM (data off) |
| Calls | Normal voice calls included | Data only — WhatsApp and app calls |
| Setup | Enable roaming before flying | Scan a QR code at home, minutes after purchase |
| Cost control | Depends on allowance and overage rules | Paid once, nothing else to add |
Short story: EE wins if you need your UK number for inbound calls and SMS, and your plan already covers the US. The eSIM wins if you are a heavy data user — maps, rideshare, streaming, hotspotting a laptop for work — and want a known, fixed cost. More matchups in our comparisons.
Today's prices
Today's promo prices (15% off), the same for every destination. Second eSIM in the same order: 10% extra off. Trips of 1-4 days use the 5-day package.
Coverage across the United States
A VoaSim eSIM connects automatically to local US networks — AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon, whichever is strongest where you are — on 4G and, where available, 5G. In New York, Orlando, Miami, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and San Francisco, coverage in the tourist corridors is dense.
Where it gets patchy is the same place it gets patchy for every carrier: remote stretches of national parks, desert highways and mountain roads. Death Valley, parts of Yellowstone, the back roads of Utah — expect dead zones no matter whose SIM is in your phone. Download offline maps before you drive out.
Puerto Rico works too, since it runs on US networks. The island Caribbean (Dominican Republic, Cuba, Jamaica, Bahamas, Aruba, Curaçao) is not covered right now. On a cruise, the eSIM works on land at ports, not at sea. See the full destination list if you are adding stops.
How to avoid accidental EE roaming charges
If you go the eSIM route, the golden rule is simple: keep your UK number alive for calls and SMS, but never let EE carry your data.
- Buy the eSIM and install the QR code before you fly. It arrives by email within minutes (plus a WhatsApp heads-up if you left a number).
- Keep the VoaSim line switched off until you land. On Android, do not enable the eSIM's mobile data before the trip — your days start counting at the first connection to a network in the US.
- On the plane or at the gate in the US, open Settings and turn data roaming OFF on your EE line.
- Set the VoaSim eSIM as your data line, and leave your EE SIM as the voice and SMS line.
- Check that WhatsApp still shows your UK number — it will, because WhatsApp lives on your account, not on the data line.
Do that and EE cannot bill you for data. If you also want to avoid call charges, just let calls go to voicemail and ring back over WhatsApp. Full walkthroughs in our setup guides.
Will your phone take an eSIM?
Most phones sold from 2020 onward support eSIM: iPhone XR or newer, Samsung Galaxy S20 or newer, Google Pixel 3 or newer. The universal test takes five seconds — dial *#06#. If an EID number appears alongside the IMEI, your phone handles eSIM.
One catch specific to UK buyers: if you bought the handset on contract and it is carrier-locked to EE, it must be unlocked before any other eSIM profile will work. EE unlocks eligible devices on request. VoaSim does not sell physical SIM cards, so an eSIM-capable, unlocked phone is the requirement.
If the profile installs but shows no signal once you land, the free eSIM Rescue tool runs a diagnosis — it works on any brand of eSIM, not just ours. Human support answers by chat or at hola@voasim.com. And if the eSIM will not connect and support cannot fix it, you get a 100% refund. More on how we operate on the trust page.
Why trust VoaSim?
Registered company with an invoice on every purchase, USD payment via Stripe with no hidden fees, human support and a guarantee: if the eSIM will not connect and support cannot fix it, you get 100% back.