SIM Card in New York: Where Visitors Buy One and What It Costs

Prefer to land with data already working? A HelloRoam eSIM for New York goes on your phone at home and starts its plan when the phone first joins a network in New York, and our support team answers 24/7.

AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile all sell prepaid plans with no contract

Every plan below includes unlimited calls and texts in the US. Prices come from AT&T's prepaid plans, Verizon's prepaid plans and T-Mobile's U.S. Pass page on the same day, before taxes and fees.

Verizon and AT&T charge by the month, so a one-week trip still pays for a month of service. Verizon's lower $35 Auto Pay price only applies from the second month.

AT&T's $25 plan has a catch for visitors. It's sold online only, and AT&T's SIM card page says new prepaid customers who order online get an eSIM activation card within 3-7 business days. The same page says its stores sell SIM card kits.

T-Mobile's U.S. Pass is made for short visits

T-Mobile says it built the U.S. Pass eSIM for short-term US visitors, and it went on sale on May 18, 2026. You buy it in the T-Mobile Prepaid eSIM app or on T-Mobile.com, with no contract and no ID. The catch: you must already be in the US, and setup needs a Wi-Fi connection.

The plan starts when you pay, and T-Mobile counts that day as day 1, so buy it on the day you need it. Your phone must support eSIM, be unlocked and work on T-Mobile's network. T-Mobile accepts international credit and debit cards from select countries, so carry a second card in case yours is turned down.

Heading on to Canada or Mexico? Each pass also covers calls, texts and 5GB of high-speed data there. The data part is a free add-on: T-Mobile sends a link by text when you arrive. Data roaming must be on in your phone's settings for the pass to work there.

JFK, LaGuardia and Newark have free Wi-Fi, and Manhattan has the carrier stores

All three airports offer free Wi-Fi, so you can set up an eSIM plan before you leave the terminal. JFK's FAQ says its free Wi-Fi is unlimited: look for "_Free JFK WiFi". At LaGuardia, the network is "_Free LGA WiFi", and at Newark it's "_Free EWR WiFi".

If a guide sends you to a SIM shop in JFK's Terminal 2, it's out of date: JFK's own terminal guide lists only Terminals 1, 4, 5, 7 and 8. For a physical SIM card, a carrier store in the city is the surer bet.

In Manhattan, AT&T's store finder lists more than 30 stores, from Wall Street to Times Square and Washington Heights. Verizon's finder lists its own Company Stores next to Authorized Retailers, whose hours and services vary. Apple notes you might be asked for ID such as a passport when you buy a plan in person, so bring yours.

Your phone must be unlocked and ready for US 4G LTE

A phone locked to your home carrier won't take a US SIM card or eSIM. On an iPhone, open Settings, tap General, then About, and look for "No SIM restrictions" next to Carrier Lock. Apple's unlock guide says only your carrier can unlock it, and that can take a few days, so ask before you fly.

Older phones are the other trap. T-Mobile's network evolution page says its 3G network was retired on July 1, 2022. Verizon's 3G retirement notice says its 3G network was shut down as of January 3, 2023. Verizon has also stopped activating 4G phones without Voice over LTE (VoLTE).

Before you pay, run your phone through the carrier's own check. Verizon and T-Mobile check compatibility by IMEI number, and AT&T's compatible phone list goes by exact model number. AT&T says one phone name can cover several versions: its list says the Galaxy S20 models G981U and G981U1 work on its network, but the G981N and G981O don't.

Underground subway stations have cell service and Wi-Fi, and the tunnels are being wired

You won't lose touch on the platform. The MTA says cell service and Wi-Fi reached every underground subway station in 2017.

Coverage between stations is still being built. Under a 2022 deal, the MTA is wiring the tunnels section by section. It counts the L train's tunnel between Brooklyn and Manhattan and the 42 St Shuttle tunnel as fully covered for AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile customers. Load your directions before the doors close.

Above ground, LinkNYC kiosks across the five boroughs offer free Wi-Fi, free calls anywhere in the US and USB charging. LinkNYC's FAQ says each kiosk's signal reaches up to 150 feet, and you register with an email the first time. Its open "LinkNYC Free Wi-Fi" network relies on websites' https encryption for privacy.

Match the SIM or eSIM to how you'll use your phone

The right pick depends on your phone and what you need it for in New York.

• You want local calls and texts: a carrier plan. The U.S. Pass covers up to 14 days, and AT&T or Verizon cover a month.
• Your phone has a SIM tray but no eSIM: a SIM card from an AT&T or Verizon store.
• You only need data and want it working when you land: a travel eSIM you install at home. Our eSIM vs SIM guide compares the two side by side.
• You're in town for a day or two: your home carrier's roaming may be simplest, since you keep your own number. Apple's travel eSIM guide suggests checking whether your plan already includes roaming.
• You live in New York and need a SIM for a trip abroad: our guide to international SIM cards for travel covers that direction.

HelloRoam's data plans for New York run on Verizon and AT&T

On October 29, 2026, our catalog listed Verizon and AT&T as the networks for HelloRoam's New York plans, and the plans give you data only. Networks can change, and the plan page lists the current ones. You install the eSIM at home, and the plan starts when your phone first connects to a network at your destination. Like the carrier eSIMs, it needs an unlocked phone that supports eSIM.

Our terms say these plans don't support voice calls, texts or emergency calls, so keep a line that can make calls. If you leave your home line on, Apple notes you might still pay roaming fees on it.

If New York is one stop on a longer US trip, our United States eSIM covers the rest of the country on the same two networks. We sell travel eSIMs, so we've pointed out where a carrier plan fits better. Here's how we handle conflicts of interest.