eSIM for New York

New York: what to know before you go

Before you fly

Visitors from many countries need an electronic travel authorisation. Apply only on the official US government site, since look-alike sites charge extra.

From the airports

JFK, Newark and LaGuardia each have a rail or subway link, and ride apps and taxis are common. A map helps you pick the right exit.

The subway

You can tap a contactless card or phone at the gate. Stations have coverage, and between stations it can drop, so check your route before you go down.

Tickets

The Statue of Liberty ferry, the observation decks and Broadway shows sell tickets online, with codes on your phone.

How much data you need

A week of maps, rides and photos takes about 4 to 6 GB.

Written 24 October 2026. Opening rules, fees, prices at attractions and event dates change, so check the official site before you rely on them.

New York: when people go

1 November 2026: the New York City Marathon

More than 50,000 runners cover 26.2 miles through all five boroughs, from Staten Island to Central Park, with over a million spectators along the way. Major roads and bridges close on the route, buses reroute and subway platforms near the course fill, so download your offline map, screenshot your subway route and agree a meeting point beforehand, because mobile data can slow where the crowds are densest.

26 November 2026 to early January 2027: the holiday season

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is on 26 November 2026 and closes streets across Midtown, and the Rockefeller Center tree arrives on 7 November, is lit on 2 December 2026 and stays up into early January. The crowds around Fifth Avenue are heaviest between the lighting and Christmas, so buy Broadway and observation deck tickets online weeks ahead and keep the codes saved on your phone.

31 December 2026: New Year's Eve in Times Square

Times Square is closed to traffic from the early morning, and last year the free, first come first served viewing areas opened at 3 pm, with an estimated one million people in the area for the midnight ball drop and no public toilets nearby. The 2026 plan is not published yet and is expected to follow the same pattern, so save your subway route offline and agree a meeting point, since a crowd that size slows mobile data.

January and February 2027: the coldest months

January is usually the coldest month, with Central Park averages near 4 °C by day and minus 2 °C at night, and February is close behind. Cold drains a phone battery fast, so keep it in an inside pocket and carry a power bank, since your phone is also your subway ticket.

United States eSIM 2026: prices, network and coverage

10 plans, from $2.49 (1 GB, 7 days) to $39.49 (50 GB, 30 days). Networks: AT&T 5G and Verizon 5G.

Network

AT&T 5G, Verizon 5G

Top-up

Yes, from the app, on the same eSIM

Validity starts

At the first connection at your destination

Install by

Shown on your order. An eSIM that is never installed expires

Your number

Stays active, plans are data only

Hotspot

Uses the same plan data, no separate charge

After the daily allowance

Day passes slow down to 512 Kbps

Updated October 29, 2026

Questions about New York

Can I use my home plan in New York?

Usually yes with roaming, at your operator's price, which can be high per day or per megabyte. Check it before you go, or use a prepaid eSIM.

How much does an eSIM for New York cost?

New York uses the United States plans, because an eSIM belongs to a country and not to a city. Plans start at $2.49 for 1 GB, valid for 7 days. There are 10 plans, from 1 GB to 50 GB, plus unlimited day passes.

Do I need a local SIM card in New York?

No. The eSIM is a SIM card in digital form: you install it from a QR code before you leave, and there is nothing to buy at the airport or swap in your phone.

How is it different from roaming in New York?

With roaming, your own carrier bills the data you use abroad, usually by the day or by the megabyte, at the prices of your plan. The eSIM is prepaid: you know the cost before you leave and nothing is added later. Keep data roaming off on your usual line, so it cannot charge you.

Which networks does the New York eSIM use?

Wigoo connects to AT&T and Verizon, with 5G where it is available. Each plan lists the operators it uses.

Can I add more data?

Yes. You top up the same eSIM from the app, without installing a new one.

Do I keep my phone number?

Yes. Plans are data only, so your usual line stays active for calls and texts, and WhatsApp keeps working as always.

When do the validity days start?

Not when you buy and not when you install: the days start counting when the eSIM connects to a network at your destination for the first time. A 30 day plan gives you 30 days from that first connection.

How long do I have to install the eSIM?

An eSIM that is never installed expires. The "Install by" date is shown on your order, on the site and in the app, so you can buy ahead of your trip. Install it before that date, on Wi-Fi.

Can I use the eSIM as a hotspot?

Data used through a personal hotspot comes out of the same plan, and Wigoo does not charge it separately. A laptop uses far more data than a phone, so for work a day pass or a bigger plan is safer.

What happens when the data runs out?

Plans are prepaid, so there are no extra charges: when the data is used up, the connection stops until you add more from the app. Day passes give a daily allowance at full speed, then continue at reduced speed (512 Kbps) until the next day.

When should I install the eSIM?

Before you leave, on Wi-Fi. When you land, set the Wigoo line for mobile data and turn on data roaming for it.