Are you traveling to New York soon and looking for the best way to stay connected on your trip to the USA? In my article buying a prepaid sim card in the USA in 2024 I show you all the options, but this article zooms in specifically on buying a sim card at New York Airport JFK on arrival.
Find in this guide where to buy a sim card at JFK Airport, up to date prices as per September 2024, my recommendation, a vlog about my arrival and experiences, info about international and eSIMs for the USA and everything else you need to know.
Traveltomtom is on a mission to visit every country in the world and that is why I am constantly traveling and new visiting countries. In 2022 I visited 62 different countries and in 2023 I visited 34 countries, so imagine how many prepaid and eSIMs I used in the last 2 years.
Because the first thing I do when arriving in a new country is buying a local prepaid sim card or an eSIM to stay connected.
Therefore on Traveltomtom you can already find more than 200 prepaid sim card guides: Istanbul, Tel Aviv, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Toronto, Panama City, Costa Rica, Bogota, Colombia, Brazil, Thailand, Bangkok, Vietnam, Malaysia, Dubai, London, Paris, Rome, Portugal, Greece, Europe and many more.
I also wrote sim card guides for Los Angeles, Miami and Newark or a specific eSIM guide for the USA.
So next time when planning your next adventure abroad visit Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid sim card and eSIM advice for your holiday destination. Bookmark me!
My recommendation
Traveltomtom does NOT recommend buying a sim card at New York JFK Airport. Value for money is extremely bad and 1 GB data will cost you a minimum of $29 USD. In comparison: an eSIM for the USA with 1 GB data costs only $4.5 USD.
Check out my guide with everything you need to know about buying an eSIM for traveling to the USA in 2024.
It is also much cheaper to buy a sim card in New York city center, for more info see: buying a tourist sim card in USA in 2024.
Also very much recommended is an international sim card for traveling abroad in 2024. In the link you can find my comparison of the best travel sim cards out there. For $29.90 USD you can already get a sim card with 12 GB data in the USA.
Best eSIMs for USA
Traveltomtom strongly recommends eSIMs to stay connected when traveling to the the USA. The easiest way to get data on your phone when traveling to New York is by ordering an eSIM for the USA on the internet.
No need to buy a sim card at New York JFK Airport, with an eSIM you are online as soon as the plane lands.
Order an eSIM for New York directly on the internet, you process the payment, receive a QR code, scan it, follow the instructions and instal the eSIM in a couple simple steps. You are all set in less than 2 minutes.
For much more detailed info check out Traveltomtom's guide with everything you need to know before ordering an eSIM for the USA.
Here are some of my USA eSIM recommendations.
Jetpac
After extensively testing Jetpac the Traveltomtom Team came to the conclusion that Jetpac is more than just an eSIM solution. Check out our honest review about Jetpac eSIMs.
Jetpac also offers a free VPN subscription and much more services. But the main reasons why Jetpac is listed as one of the best eSIMs for USA are their competitive prices.
Here are Jetpac eSIM plans for USA in 2024:
- 1 GB data for 4 days = $1 USD
- 3 GB data for 7 days = $5 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $8 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $13 USD
- 15 GB data for 30 days = $17 USD
- 25 GB data for 30 days = $25 USD
- 30 GB data for 30 days = $28 USD
- 40 GB data for 30 days = $33 USD
- 50 GB data for 10 days = $25 USD
Click here to order a Jetpac eSIM for the United States.
Traveltomtom readers now get an extra 10% off on all Jetpac eSIMs when using the promo code: TOMTOM10 at check out!
All Jetpac eSIM plans are data-only and incoming and outgoing calls/sms are not supported. The Jetpac eSIMs for the USA are 5G ready.
Airalo
Airalo is another recommended eSIM provider and Traveltomtom has used Airalo eSIMs uncountable times all around the world. Airalo has now data-only eSIMs as well as eSIMs for the USA including data/calls/text.
Check out the following Airalo data-only eSIM plans for the USA:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $4.5 USD
- 2 GB data for 15 days = $8 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $11 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $16 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $26 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $42 USD
And here are the Airalo data/text/calls eSIMs plans for the USA:
- 1 GB data + 20 minutes + 10 sms for 7 days= $7 USD
- 2 GB data + 40 minutes + 20 sms for 15 days= $12.5 USD
- 3 GB data + 60 minutes + 30 sms for 30 days= $16 USD
- 5 GB data + 100 minutes + 50 sms for 30 days= $22.5 USD
- 10 GB data + 200 minutes + 100 sms for 30 days= $34.5 USD
- 20 GB data + 400 minutes + 200 sms for 30 days= $49 USD
Click here to order a USA eSIM directly via Airalo or find more info.
The Airalo eSIMs operate on the 4G/LTE/5G network of Verizon and T-Mobile and are 5G ready.
For a complete guide about using eSIMs when traveling to the USA and a comparison of the best eSIMs for USA in 2024 click on the link and read all my tips, including more eSIM offers from Roamless, SimOptions, Sim Local, Nomad, Holafly, etc.
Before ordering an eSIM for the USA make sure your phone is first of all unlocked. eSIMs only work in unlocked phones. Second, make sure your phone is e-sim compatible. Pretty much all newer smartphones are eSIM compatible.
JFK Airport New York
Although New York is most probably the most famous city in the world, its airport(s) are very much outdated. Don't expect a fancy arriving hall or anything like that. The arrival halls at JFK Airport are pretty small and regardless which international terminal you arrive it doesn't include many facilities. Unfortunately that also counts for buying a prepaid sim card at New York JFK Airport.
At least there is good, fast and reliable free public WiFi on JFK Airport for arriving and departing passengers.
Where to buy a USA sim card at New York JFK Airport
Just like many other international airports in the USA buying a prepaid sim card is a pain. There used to be 2 little kiosks but they have been abandoned now for the last couple years. Which narrows it all down to sim card vending machines. There are 4 sim card vending machines at New York JFK Airport and they are easy to find when you walk into the arrival hall.
Buying a sim card from a vending machine means you will have to do everything yourself. The activation and the registration. There is NO service included or anyone around helping you. The sim cards work based on plug and play.
The sim card vending machines accept international credit cards as well as USD notes.
Prices prepaid sim cards JFK Airport
The sim card vending machines contain 4 different prepaid sim cards with data for the USA. These sim cards are NOT from one of the main internet providers in the USA: T-Mobile or AT&T, but are international sim cards.
Travel Sim
This sim card costs $20 USD and comes with $10 USD credit, no data or calling/texting is included. You can use the credit to buy a data bundle on the Travel Sim website. The cheapest data bundle costs $19 USD which you will be able to add to your account after signing up on the Travel Sim website. You will have to follow the instructions displayed after buying the package from the vending machine.
Unlimited Data* Talk & Text
Don't be fooled by the name ‘Unlimited Data'! Unlimited data in this case means browsing on E-network (2G) after you used your data bundle allowance. Barely enough for sending emails and using WhatsApp. USELESS basically!
They offer 3 different sim cards that all include unlimited calling & texting within the USA:
- 4 GB data = $60 USD
- 6 GB data = $80 USD
- Unlimited data on 4G speed = $100 USD
All the above packages are valid for 30 days and rechargeable after.
Best prepaid sim card at New York JFK Airport in 2024
If you really want to get connected straight after you land then I recommend buying a Travel Sim card at JFK Airport. For $29 USD you will get 1 GB data, but after you plug the sim card into your phone you will have to register on their website. Complicated!
It gets much easier when you walk into any of the T-Mobile or AT&T stores in New York city or you can also buy a sim card at one of the bigger metro stations. See my article about the best prepaid sim card for the USA in 2024 for more info.
As mentioned in the beginning of this article Traveltomtom recommends an eSIM for the USA, they are MUCH CHEAPER! For $26 USD you get 10 GB data for 30 days! Click on the link above for more info. Click on the link above to directly order or check out my guide for buying a USA eSIM in 2024.
After comparing prices for sim cards at more than 100 airports around the world it still surprises me that in the USA there is barely any sim card shops. Not only in New York JFK Airport, but also in Newark, Miami and Los Angeles there are barely places where they sell prepaid sim cards for tourists.
My experiences buying a sim card at New York JFK Airport
As you can understand I did NOT buy a sim card from one of the vending machines at New York JFK Airport. I am still really surprised how the worlds most famous country does NOT cater for USA tourist sim cards on arrival at their international airports.
As of September 2024 I have visited more than 155 countries around the world and almost everywhere you can find sim card shops in the arrival hall. Well, with the rise of eSIMs I am not sure this will ever change in the USA.
If you prefer to buy a physical sim card then go to one of the T-Mobile or AT&T stores in New York City center and get your USA sim card there. You will get much more value for money, but prices are much higher than ordering an eSIM for the USA online.
See below all my experiences in my video including tips on where to go exactly when buying a sim card at JFK Airport in New york.
Order a prepaid sim card for the USA online
eSIMs are amazing, convenient and easy but not every phone is e-sim compatible. Those who do not have an e-sim compatible phone and are looking to buy a physical prepaid sim card for the USA online should check out the following international sim cards for the USA from SimOptions.
These sim cards will be shipped to your home address before your trip and are pre-activated. It is plug and play:
1. Three Data Pack - $24.90
- 10 GB data
- Valid 30 days
- Valid in 55 countries
- Incoming/outgoing calls not supported
- 4G/LTE
2. Orange Holiday World - $49.90
- 10 GB data
- Valid 14 days
- Valid in 124 countries
- Incoming/outgoing calls not supported
- 4G/LTE
Click here to directly order an international physical prepaid sim card for the USA online via SimOptions.
Personally I would recommend the sim card with 10 GB data for $24.90 USD after comparing all the above international sim cards for the USA.
As you can see buying a sim card for the USA is even cheaper on the internet than buying a sim card for the USA at JFK Airport in New York on arrival. Plus you save the hassle of going to a mobile phone shop when arriving in the USA and getting everything sorted.
However, by now you know that Traveltomtom recommends eSIMs for traveling to the USA.
How to get from JFK Airport to New York City Center
Taking an Uber is a good and safe option and you can use the free public WiFi at JFK Airport for ordering one. That said when checking the price to lower Manhattan I was quoted $77 USD and found out that a yellow taxi which you can order on the left side of the arrival hall has flat fares and turned out to be a little cheaper even after tax and the 'mandatory' tip. The yellow cabs also accept credit card payments. Uber cars are much more convenient though and next time I will take an Uber from JFK Airport to New York City Center.
I hope all the above information about buying a USA prepaid sim card at New York JFK Airport was helpful. If you have any additional questions then please leave me a comment below and I will try to help you out.
Curious what it looks like trying to visit every country in the world? Go check out my Instagram account @traveltomtom and follow along. As of September 2024 I have visited more than 155 countries, so still a long way to go, but no rush.
Enjoy your trip to New York City!