eSIM New York: My Honest Test After Nearly 30 Trips

I’ve tested a lot of eSIMs in New York, so I can tell you right away which one I’d take: Holafly Unlimited. You get unlimited data on AT&T’s 5G network, and my code LOVINGNEWYORK5 saves you 5%.

On my last trip with my family, the four of us tested four eSIM providers on four phones at the same time. I paid for all of them myself.

New York is my favorite city. I’ve been there nearly 30 times. On my last trips, Google Maps ran all day, I booked restaurants on the way and unlocked Citi Bikes in the app. Hotel Wi-Fi doesn’t help with any of that.

What is the best eSIM for New York?

Holafly Unlimited is the best eSIM for most New York trips, because the data on your phone is unlimited and the code LOVINGNEWYORK5 saves you 5%. Airalo is the cheaper eSIM for travelers who mostly stay on Wi-Fi.

Holafly

Network in NYC: AT&T, T-Mobile as backup
Data: unlimited
Hotspot: 500 MB per day on day plans, unlimited with Holafly Plans Unlimited
US phone number: only with Holafly Plans Unlimited
Setup: Holafly app, no QR code needed
Best for: using your phone like at home
Price per day: [check current price in USD]

Airalo

Network in NYC: shown in the app per plan
Data: fixed GB packages
Hotspot: yes, within your GB
US phone number: no
Setup: Airalo app
Best for: short trips, mostly on Wi-Fi
Price per day: [check current price in USD]

T-Mobile prepaid

Network in NYC: T-Mobile
Data: depends on plan
Hotspot: depends on plan
US phone number: yes
Setup: app or store
Best for: longer stays with a US number
Price per day: [check current price in USD]

I’d pick Airalo for a long weekend with evenings in the hotel and maps during the day.

For a week of photos and Instagram Stories, Holafly is the better eSIM, because you stop counting gigabytes.

Which network does Holafly use in New York?

Holafly uses AT&T in New York, with T-Mobile as a backup network. Both networks offer 5G in New York City.

On my trips, Google Maps and bookings simply worked all day long.

The one place where I noticed weaker reception was the Financial District. The streets there are extremely narrow and the skyscrapers extremely tall, and the signal kept dropping now and then. That happened with the other providers in our test as well, so the cause is the neighborhood itself.

My tip: If the signal drops, open your phone’s network settings and pick the network manually. That’s often faster than waiting.

Does an eSIM work in the New York subway?

An eSIM works in every underground New York subway station, because all stations have cell service and Wi-Fi. Between stations, most subway tunnels still have no signal: as of October 2026, only a few tunnel sections are wired.

Subway tunnel sections with cell service (October 2026)

42nd St Shuttle (S), Grand Central to Times Square: all major carriers
L, Bedford Av to 1st Av (Canarsie tunnel): all major carriers
4/5, Bowling Green to Fulton St, plus the Joralemon St tunnel to Borough Hall: AT&T
G, Court Sq to Hoyt-Schermerhorn: AT&T

Boldyn, the MTA’s wireless partner, plans to cover all 418 miles of subway track by 2032. Until then, download offline maps and your tickets before you go underground.

My tip: You don’t need data to ride the subway. Tap your phone or card at the OMNY reader. Contactless payment works offline.

When should I install and activate my eSIM for New York?

Install your eSIM for New York at home one or two days before the flight and activate it after landing at JFK or Newark. The plan then doesn’t start counting days early, and you’re online before baggage claim.

On my first Holafly trip I still needed a second device to scan the QR code, so I used my iPad. Today the Holafly app installs the eSIM directly on your phone.

Buy the plan in the Holafly app and install the eSIM at home.
Set the Holafly eSIM as your line for mobile data.
Set your home SIM to calls and texts only, with data roaming off.
After landing, switch on the Holafly line and its data roaming.

How do I avoid roaming charges with an eSIM in New York?

To avoid roaming charges in New York, set your home SIM to calls and texts only and turn off its data roaming, so all mobile data runs through the eSIM. If your home SIM stays on data, your own carrier can charge roaming fees even with the eSIM active.

For me, this was the one setup step that really mattered.

Holafly points it out as well: a home SIM left active can cost you roaming fees for calls and texts. If the eSIM seems dead after landing, first check which line your phone uses for mobile data.

How much mobile data do I need in New York?

Most New York visitors need about 1 to 2 GB of mobile data per day, which is the estimate the eSIM provider Yesim gives for moderate use. If you post Stories and videos every day, you’ll need more.

This typically runs on your phone during a New York day:

Google Maps for walking routes and subway connections
restaurant bookings on the go
the Citi Bike app to unlock a bike
photos and Instagram Stories

Maps and messages need little data. Video uploads use a lot.

I use unlimited data in New York because I want my phone to work like at home, without checking the remaining data before every Story. If your evenings are on hotel Wi-Fi and you only need maps during the day, a fixed Airalo package is enough.

Do I need a US phone number in New York?

Most visitors don’t need a US phone number on a New York trip of under 30 days, because WhatsApp and FaceTime run over any eSIM data plan. For stays of 30 days or longer, Holafly Plans Unlimited includes a local US number.

Your home number stays active on your physical SIM for texts from your bank. Restaurants mostly take bookings through apps such as Resy or OpenTable.

A US number helps on longer stays, since some US services only send verification codes to US numbers. Holafly’s day plans for short trips are data only.

What is Holafly Plans?

Holafly Plans is a monthly eSIM subscription that covers more than 160 destinations with one eSIM. Light costs $49.90 per month for 25 GB, and Unlimited costs $64.90 per month with unlimited data, unlimited hotspot and a local US, UK or Canadian phone number.

Holafly Plans pays off if you travel a lot or stay in New York for several weeks. For a single one-week city trip, a Holafly day plan is usually cheaper. Current prices are on the Holafly Plans page.

What is Holafly Always On?

Holafly Always On gives you 1 GB of free backup data every month for as long as your Holafly eSIM stays installed after your plan ends, and the US is one of the covered countries. Always On is included with both Holafly day plans and Holafly Plans.

1 GB won’t last a week in Manhattan. It is enough to rebook a cancelled flight at JFK or to buy your next plan in the Holafly app.

The 1 GB refreshes every month and doesn’t roll over. For countries outside the US, check the list of Always On destinations.

Is free Wi-Fi in New York enough?

Free Wi-Fi in New York is not enough for getting around the city, because the connection drops as soon as you walk away from a hotspot. LinkNYC, the largest free Wi-Fi network in New York, reaches about 750 feet (roughly 230 meters) from each kiosk.

LinkNYC kiosks also offer free calls anywhere in the US. The newer Link5G towers mostly go to the outer boroughs and to Manhattan above 96th Street.

Subway stations and most cafés have free Wi-Fi as well. In practice you log in again at each new spot, and public Wi-Fi is no place for online banking.

As an emergency option, free Wi-Fi is great.

Is Holafly really unlimited in New York?

Holafly data is unlimited on your phone in New York, while the hotspot on Holafly day plans is capped at 500 MB per day. Unlimited hotspot is only included in Holafly Plans Unlimited.

500 MB is fine for checking emails on a laptop. It is too little if the whole family wants to stream through one phone.

Speed also depends on the network. Holafly rents capacity from AT&T and T-Mobile, and busy networks can slow down. The competing provider Yesim claims that Holafly throttles heavy users.

Honestly, I never had a real problem with an eSIM in New York. The setup is simple, and what mattered most to me was not having to think about data at all. That’s exactly why Holafly works so well for me as a provider.

What are the downsides of an eSIM in New York?

The main downsides of an eSIM in New York are the higher price of unlimited plans and the need for an eSIM-compatible, unlocked phone. Holafly Unlimited costs more than a small Airalo package if you only need maps and WhatsApp.

Most iPhones from the XS onward support eSIM, as do many recent Android phones. Check the compatibility list before you buy.

With Holafly, you pay for not having to think about data. On a long weekend spent mostly on hotel Wi-Fi, that may not be worth the extra money.

Is an eSIM or a physical SIM card better for New York?

An eSIM is better than a physical SIM card for most New York trips, because you buy the eSIM before the flight and you’re online right after landing. A physical SIM card means finding a store after a long flight and swapping out your home SIM.

Travel eSIM (Holafly, Airalo)

Buy before you fly: yes
Online right after landing: yes
Home SIM stays in the phone: yes
US phone number: only with Holafly Plans Unlimited

Physical SIM card in NYC

Buy before you fly: no
Online right after landing: no, store visit first
Home SIM stays in the phone: no on single-SIM phones
US phone number: yes

T-Mobile prepaid

Buy before you fly: partly
Online right after landing: depends
Home SIM stays in the phone: yes, with eSIM
US phone number: yes

A physical SIM card only makes sense if your phone doesn’t support eSIM.

Is a T-Mobile prepaid plan better than a travel eSIM for New York?

A T-Mobile prepaid plan is only better than a travel eSIM if you need a US number from a US carrier. For a trip to New York of one or two weeks, a travel eSIM like Holafly is quicker to set up.

I’ve also tested a T-Mobile prepaid plan. The T-Mobile network is good, and you get a real US number.

Getting the T-Mobile plan running took longer than with a travel eSIM, and on a city trip the US number rarely adds much.

What else do travelers ask about eSIMs in New York?

Can I keep my WhatsApp number with an eSIM in New York?

Yes. WhatsApp stays linked to your home number, even when all mobile data runs through the eSIM.

Does a New York eSIM work in the rest of the US?

Yes. A US eSIM covers the whole country. On my road trip through Denver, Los Angeles and San Diego, the same Holafly plan ran the navigation in our camper the entire time. In remote desert and mountain areas every network has gaps, AT&T and T-Mobile included, so download offline maps for those stretches.

Does my New York eSIM work in New Jersey?

Yes.

Can I share Holafly data with my family?

Yes, through the hotspot, up to 500 MB per day on Holafly day plans. If everyone wants to stream, each person is better off with their own eSIM.

Does an eSIM work on a locked phone?

No. Your phone has to be unlocked, otherwise an eSIM from another provider won’t connect. If you bought your phone on contract, ask your carrier before the trip.

How did I test eSIMs in New York?

I tested four eSIM providers on a trip with my family: Holafly, Airalo, a T-Mobile prepaid plan and [PROVIDER 4]. There are four of us, so each phone ran a different provider at the same time.

Throughout the trip I regularly checked how good the reception was and how many signal bars each phone showed. I also checked how easy the setup is after a long flight and whether our home numbers and WhatsApp kept working.

Nobody paid me for this test. It’s a real experience report, and I paid for every eSIM myself.

I’ve also used an eSIM on a road trip through Denver, Los Angeles and San Diego, with the phone as our navigation system in the camper.

This test has limits. I haven’t tested Holafly in the new AT&T subway tunnels yet, and reception in New York varies by neighborhood, as the Financial District shows.

I earn a commission when you buy Holafly through my links. I only recommend brands I use myself, and I’ve used Holafly for years.

Der Beitrag eSIM New York: My Honest Test After Nearly 30 Trips erschien zuerst auf Loving New York.