I'm visiting the US and Canada in a few weeks and I could do with a pre paid data sim, rather than paying outrageous roaming charges.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Whats the best pre paid data sim in the US and/or Canada?
- Thread starter hankkosovo
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
StraightTalk is a popular choice for folks in the US wanting to save some money every month. It is $45 for unlimited voice and messaging. Data is "unlimited" but you're actually capped around 2GB. I think you need to some weird T-Mobile SIM card swap to get data working, which for a visitor to the US is impractical.
Depending on your length of stay you can consider AT&T and T-Mobile prepaid. T-Mobile does not have 3G that works on the iPhone in most of their coverage areas, but they do offer true unlimited data (since it only works on Edge, it won't be very fast). Configuration is easy and often they will do it for you in the store.
AT&T prepaid has an unlimited plan, but the data that plan comes with does not work on the iPhone. You would need to buy buckets (prepaid amount) of data which is $25 for 1GB. If you tell the store you want to use it with an iPhone, you won't sell it to you or you will, but won't help you further. This is because AT&T's policy is sell the iPhone with a post-paid (contract) plan, and for a visitor that's not practical. If you want to use AT&T (which has 3G everywhere), you need to follow instructions here:
http://www.dargadgetz.com/how-to-use-iphone-5-on-att-gophoneprepaid-with-4g-data-speeds-payasyougo/
Just a heads up when buying a prepaid SIM card in the US. You can use cash or whatever to pay. When they ask for your name, if you can choose to give any name you want. They're not suppose to ask for ID or anything. No need to identify yourself as a visitor
Depending on your length of stay you can consider AT&T and T-Mobile prepaid. T-Mobile does not have 3G that works on the iPhone in most of their coverage areas, but they do offer true unlimited data (since it only works on Edge, it won't be very fast). Configuration is easy and often they will do it for you in the store.
AT&T prepaid has an unlimited plan, but the data that plan comes with does not work on the iPhone. You would need to buy buckets (prepaid amount) of data which is $25 for 1GB. If you tell the store you want to use it with an iPhone, you won't sell it to you or you will, but won't help you further. This is because AT&T's policy is sell the iPhone with a post-paid (contract) plan, and for a visitor that's not practical. If you want to use AT&T (which has 3G everywhere), you need to follow instructions here:
http://www.dargadgetz.com/how-to-use-iphone-5-on-att-gophoneprepaid-with-4g-data-speeds-payasyougo/
Just a heads up when buying a prepaid SIM card in the US. You can use cash or whatever to pay. When they ask for your name, if you can choose to give any name you want. They're not suppose to ask for ID or anything. No need to identify yourself as a visitor
Straight Talk is the best overall option. Works on AT&T towers and gets 3G in most areas. I believe you have to go online to order the sim card from them though.
AT&T themselves are another option if you would rather go into a store and just buy a sim card.
T-Mobile you can go into a store and buy the card too and they're cheaper than AT&T but you will not get 3G on the iPhone in most areas until they finish upgrading their network.
AT&T themselves are another option if you would rather go into a store and just buy a sim card.
T-Mobile you can go into a store and buy the card too and they're cheaper than AT&T but you will not get 3G on the iPhone in most areas until they finish upgrading their network.