Are you planning a trip to San Fransisco and wondering if you can buy a sim card for traveling in the USA on arrival at San Fransisco International Airport? The answer is yes! But does Traveltomtom advice to do so… keep reading!
This is a complete guide for buying a prepaid sim card at San Fransisco Airport including up to date prices as per September 2024, my recommendation, where to buy a sim card, more about eSIMs for the USA and everything else you need to know before buying a sim card at SFO - San Fransisco Airport.
Traveling without a data connection makes life so much more complicated. Stay connected abroad, but avoid high roaming charges.
To save money on high roaming costs you can buy a prepaid sim card on arrival in the USA or order a sim card for the USA on the internet. Getting an eSIM is super convenient and in fact the easiest way to stay connected when traveling to San Fransisco.
Heads up: you can NOT buy an eSIM at San Fransisco Airport, only physical prepaid sim cards for tourists are available.
On Traveltomtom you can find more than 200 sim card guides from all around the world: Bali, Guatemala, Mexico, French Polynesia, Casablanca, Rabat, Hurghada, Europe, Dubai, Japan, China, world travel sim cards, etc.
Traveltomtom also wrote an extensive guide on how to buy a prepaid sim card for tourists in the USA as well as a USA eSIM Guide and sim card guides for Newark Airport, JFK Airport New York, Miami Airport, Los Angeles Airport.
From pretty much every tourist destination in the world you can find a sim card guide on Traveltomtom.
Next time you are planning your trip abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid and eSIM advice for your holiday destination. Bookmark me and let me help you save money!
Some links in this article about buying a sim card at San Fransisco Airport are affiliate links. If you buy any product after clicking on an affiliate link I will earn a small commission. Don't worry this is at absolutely no extra cost to you!
My recommendation
Traveltomtom does NOT recommend buying a sim card at San Fransisco SFO Airport. Prices for prepaid sim cards for tourists start from $79 USD and that is the cheapest. Now you understand why at Traveltomtom we strongly discourage you to buy a sim card at San Fransisco Airport.
So what next? Well, there are lots of ways to get data on your phone that are much cheaper than buying a sim card at San Fransisco Airport.
For example, going to a sim card store in San Fransisco city center and buy a local prepaid sim card from either Verizon, AT&T or T-Mobile. Check out Traveltomtom's guide on how to buy a prepaid sim card in the USA.
Or what about eSIMs for the USA? You can also easily order an eSIM for the USA online and get already 10 GB data for just $18 USD.
USA eSIMs start from just $1 USD. Staying connected in the USA does not need to be super expensive.
Be aware that the local prepaid sim cards you buy in San Fransisco, as well as eSIMs and international sim cards only work in unlocked phones. If your phone is locked make sure to unlock your phone before your trip to San Fransisco. Contact your mobile internet provider in your home country if you are unsure about this.
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 San Fransisco is by ordering an eSIM for the USA on the internet.
No need to buy a sim card at San Fransisco Airport SFO, with an eSIM you are online as soon as the plane lands.
Order an eSIM for San Fransisco 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.
Arrival at San Fransisco International Airport SFO
SFO is undoubtedly one of the busiest airports in the USA and a big hub for planes arriving from Asia/Pacific and South and Central America. There are also direct flights from Europe and Middle East to San Fransisco SFO Airport.
That said, the San Fransisco SFO Airport is not that big, but rather spread out. There are about 5 or even more terminals. Good thing is that all international flight arrive and depart in the same terminal, of course named: International Terminal.
Great thing about arriving at SFO Airport in San Fransisco is that there is fast free WiFi. However, keep in mind that surfing the internet on public WiFi is through an UNSECURED network and the use of a VPN is recommended.
Just like every airport in the USA San Fransisco International Airport SFO is nothing fancy. The international terminal though is easy to navigate and very easy-going for a US airport. I have been there now 2 times and arrival was always very smooth and easy, no long waiting lines.
Straight behind passport control you will find the luggage belts. There are not too many luggage belts, I would say about 6-7 if I am not mistaken. Everything went pretty fast and smooth. Walking out of the luggage claim hall into the arrival hall you pass the last customs bag check and then you set foot in a small arrival hall.
A typical no-frills arrival hall, standard in the USA. No shops, cafes, bars, supermarkets or car rentals. There is just one store and surprisingly that is a phone store, which is NOT common in the USA.
Most airports in the USA don't even have a sim card shop at all.
-VLOG COMING SOON-
Check out my YouTube vlog about how to arrive at San Fransisco Airport and where to buy a tourist sim card.
Where to buy a sim card at San Fransisco Airport
As mentioned above there is only one store in the whole arrival hall of the International Terminal. Luckily that is a phone store that sells prepaid sim cards for tourists.
The store is called TripTel Mobile Services, see the picture above. It is pretty much right in front of you as soon as you walk into the arrival hall.
The TripTel Mobile Services phone store at San Fransisco Airport SFO is open from 08.00 AM to 09.00 PM.
Prices prepaid sim cards San Fransisco Airport
All the information below is up to date as of September 2024 and prices are in USD.
All the below tourist sim cards are only available as physical prepaid sim cards, eSIMs for tourists are not available at San Fransisco SFO Airport.
Lycamobile sim cards plans
- 6 GB data + unlimited calls/text to 75 countries for 2 weeks = $99 USD
- 6 GB data + unlimited calls/text to 75 countries for 4 weeks = $119 USD
There is also a 58 days prepaid sim card that gives you 60 GB data every 29 days:
- 120 GB data + unlimited calls/text to 75 countries for 58 days = $169 USD
As well as an 88 days prepaid sim card that gives you 60 GB data every 29 days:
- 180 GB data + unlimited calls/text to 75 countries for 88 days = $199 USD
T-Mobile sim card plans
The other tourist sim cards they sell at SFO Airport are T-Mobile plans.
These are the tourist sim cards with data and calls/text:
- 3 GB data + unlimited calls/sms for 7 days = $89 USD
- 6 GB data + unlimited calls/sms for 14 days = $99 USD
- 12 GB data + unlimited calls/sms for 28 days = $109 USD
These are the data-only plans:
- 3 GB data for 28 days = $79 USD
- 6 GB data for 28 days = $89 USD
- 12 GB data for 28 days = $99 USD
These are tourist sim cards with unlimited data:
- unlimited data/calls/text for 2 weeks = $119 USD
- unlimited data/calls/text for 4 weeks = $139 USD
These are the prices WITHOUT tax even. Absolutely nuts! I really wonder who buys a prepaid sim card at San Fransisco Airport.
Best sim card for tourists at San Fransisco Airport
Well normally I would compare all the sim card plans and help you get the best sim card for your trip to San Fransisco, but for real...
Please do NOT buy a sim card at San Fransisco Airport. I would almost say these tourist sim cards are scams.
The cheapest sim card is $79 USD and only gives you 3 GB data. As a comparison an eSIM from Jetpac with 3 GB data is just $5 USD!
Therefore the simple conclusion that Traveltomtom does NOT recommend buying a sim card at San Fransisco SFO Airport.
For my research about the best USA sim cards for tourists I compared all eSIMs, international prepaid sim cards and the local prepaid sim cards from Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T.
The conclusion is that eSIMs are the cheapest way to stay connected as eSIM providers have up to 12 different eSIM plans for the USA. The local prepaid sim cards you can buy in a Verizon, AT&T or T-Mobile store only start from $35 USD and eSIM prices already start from just $1 USD.
Jetpac eSIMs for the USA give you the best value for money and you can get 10 GB data for just $13 USD. Airalo eSIMs for the USA are also recommended as they include data/calls/text.
Check out Traveltomtom's list of the best USA eSIMs for tourists in 2024 in my complete guide.
Order a prepaid sim card for San Fransisco online
Remember that eSIMs can only be used in e-sim compatible phones. If your phone is not e-sim compatible and you want to order a sim card for San Fransisco on the internet then you have to look into buying an international prepaid sim card for the United States.
These pre-activated physical prepaid sim cards will be delivered to your home address before your trip. You put them in your phone during your flight and you are online as soon as the plane touches the ground in San Fransisco. Your international sim card connects automatically to an available network.
Arrive prepared in San Fransisco with an international prepaid sim card for the USA from SimOptions:
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 order an international prepaid sim card for the USA directly online via SimOptions.
My experiences buying a sim card at San Fransisco Airport
Because of my previous trips to the USA I already had a feeling that tourist sim cards at San Fransisco SFO Airport would be super expensive so I arrived prepared and already bought and installed a USA eSIM on my phone.
In general I always have an eSIM installed on my phone from my destination. Just to be connected as soon as the plane lands and you can already get an eSIM for just $1 USD sometimes.
That said, I also tested the free WiFi at SFO Airport for you and it was pretty damn fast. So there is no immediate need for an eSIM if you are happy with the free WiFi.
But yeah, there is no need to tell you anymore that Traveltomtom did not buy a sim card at San Fransisco Airport. When traveling to the USA I always use eSIMs from either Jetpac or Airalo, depending on my needs.
How much data do you need?
I consider myself a very heavy data user, but even on a crazy day I won't use more than 5 GB per day. On average I use about 2 GB per day, mostly on social media apps like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, Snapchat, etc.
Make sure you don't have Google Drive or iCloud enabled on data, but only on WiFi. This will save you a lot of Gigabytes.
I am sure some of the above tips on how to stay connected when traveling to San Fransisco were helpful. If you have any additional questions then please leave me a comment below.
Curious what the road to 197 / visiting every country in the world looks like then head to my Instagram @traveltomtom and follow along. As of September 2024 I have visited more than 155 countries, so still more than 40 to go, but no rush.
Enjoy your trip to San Fransisco!