Travel eSIM vs Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile international day passes
US carriers let you use your plan abroad for a daily fee. A prepaid travel eSIM is a separate data plan you buy once for the trip. Which costs less depends on how many days you need data and how much you use. This page lists each carrier's published rate so you can do the sum for your own trip.
Carrier day passes (checked October 31, 2026)
| Carrier option | Published price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon TravelPass | US$12 per day in most TravelPass countries, US$6 per day in Mexico and Canada. High-speed data for the first 5 GB a day, then 3G speeds for the rest of the session. | verizon.com |
| AT&T International Day Pass | US$12 per day on land, US$6 for each additional line used the same calendar day. One fee per 24-hour period. | att.com |
| T-Mobile International 1 Day Pass | US$10 for 1 day with 2 GB of data. T-Mobile also sells longer passes; see its page for those. | t-mobile.com |
Carrier rates and included data change. Check your carrier's page before you travel.
How to compare for your trip
- Count the days you will use data abroad. With a day pass, each of those days is charged.
- Multiply that number by your carrier's daily fee. Add the fee for every line that will use it.
- Open the travel eSIM plan for your destination and compare its one-off US dollar price, data allowance and validity with that total.
For example, a 7-day trip to Japan with a US$12 day pass used every day is 7 × US$12 = US$84 for one line. The Japan eSIM page shows each plan's price in US dollars.
What a travel eSIM does and does not do
- Data only. A Telroo eSIM gives your phone mobile data. It does not include a phone number, standard calls or SMS.
- Keep your US number. Your US SIM or eSIM can stay on for calls and texts. Any charges on that line depend on your own carrier, so check its roaming rules for calls and texts.
- When the plan starts. Your plan's validity starts when you first use it in a covered destination, not when you install it. Install on Wi-Fi before you fly.
- Phone check. Your phone must support eSIM and be carrier-unlocked. Check phone compatibility.
When a day pass can make sense
- You are away for only a day or two and want your normal plan, number and texts to work as usual.
- You need your US number for calls and texts all day and do not want to manage two lines.
Destination guides
- Mexico eSIM for US travelers
- Canada eSIM for US travelers
- Japan eSIM for US travelers
- Europe eSIM for US travelers
Telroo sells travel eSIMs. This page compares published prices; it is not a coverage or speed test.