Yes, EE works in the USA. EE’s Roam Abroad add-on charges GBP£5 per day outside the EU for talk, text, and your home plan’s data on T-Mobile or AT&T. A 2-week USA trip costs £70 with Roam Abroad. The same trip with an eSIM costs around £10. Honest math + when keeping EE roaming on is the right call below.
This is written by Travelren, an independent eSIM brand. We sell USA plans, so this comparison has stakes. We’ve put real numbers and the cases where EE roaming is genuinely the better choice.
The quick answer
- EE Roam Abroad in USA: £5/day for unlimited calls + texts + your home plan data, only on usage days. Routes on T-Mobile or AT&T.
- Travelren eSIM, 5GB / 30 days for USA: approximately £10
- Crossover: the eSIM is cheaper for any trip 3+ days. For 1-2 day stopovers EE is competitive.
How EE actually works in the USA
The USA has three main carriers: T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T. EE’s roaming partners route to T-Mobile primarily, with AT&T as fallback. T-Mobile has the strongest 5G in the US — 5G reaches 98% of population. Speeds in NYC, LA, San Francisco, Chicago, Miami typically 80-250 Mbps on 5G.
National parks are the weakness — Yellowstone, Yosemite, Glacier, Grand Canyon all have large dead zones, and rural Montana / Wyoming / Dakotas drop to 4G or lose signal. Same applies whether you’re on EE Roam Abroad or an eSIM (both route through T-Mobile primarily).
EE Roam Abroad detail
- £5 per day for non-EU destinations (USA, Australia, Japan, Thailand, etc.)
- Free roaming in 49 EU + EEA destinations included on most plans
- Includes UK plan allowances (calls, texts, data) on activation days
- Pay-as-you-go option exists but Roam Abroad’s £5/day cap is much cheaper
- Verify your specific EE plan via the EE app — older plans may differ
What an eSIM costs for the same USA trip
Travelren USA plans (GBP as of May 2026):
- 1GB / 7 days: approximately £2.60 — light NYC stopover use
- 3GB / 30 days: approximately £6.80 — sweet spot for 1-2 weeks
- 5GB / 30 days: approximately £10 — comfortable for two-week US road trip
- 10GB / 30 days: approximately £13 — heavy use, daily video calls, tethering
- Unlimited / 30 days: approximately £24 — peace of mind
The eSIM routes on T-Mobile and Verizon — same T-Mobile primary as EE Roam Abroad. Browse the full USA eSIM range.
Break-even math
| Trip length | EE Roam Abroad | Travelren 3GB / 30 days | Cheaper option |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 day stopover (LAX transit) | £5 | £6.80 | EE cheaper by £1.80 |
| 3 days (NYC weekend) | £15 | £6.80 | eSIM saves £8.20 |
| 1 week | £35 | £6.80 | eSIM saves £28.20 |
| 2 weeks (East + West coast) | £70 | £10 (5GB) | eSIM saves £60 |
| 3 weeks (cross-country) | £105 | £13 (10GB) | eSIM saves £92 |
When EE Roam Abroad is the right call
- 1-day LAX or SFO stopovers at £5 vs £6.80 for the cheapest eSIM
- You make a lot of voice calls — Roam Abroad includes calls; the eSIM is data-only
- Single-SIM phone where you can’t dual-SIM with an eSIM + physical
- Corporate EE plan with Roam Abroad comped
- You want zero setup — EE roams automatically, eSIM needs a QR code scan
Will your phone work?
iPhone XS+, Pixel 3+, Galaxy S20+ all support eSIM. UK iPhones have physical SIM trays for dual-SIM. Exception: iPhones bought in mainland China don’t have eSIM. Device check page has the full list.
Common questions
Can I buy a SIM at LAX / JFK / ORD?
Possible but harder than in Europe — the US doesn’t have airport SIM kiosks the way LHR does. T-Mobile and AT&T sell prepaid plans through stores in town. The eSIM at £6.80 is significantly easier.
Will my phone work in Yellowstone / Grand Canyon?
Partial — interior dead zones in all major US national parks regardless of carrier. Download Google Maps offline.
Will iMessage and WhatsApp keep working?
Yes. Both tied to your Apple ID / phone number registration, not the network. Work on any data connection.
How do I call home from the US on the eSIM?
FaceTime, WhatsApp, or Signal voice calls over data. UK 0844 / 0345 numbers may have country-specific issues but standard mobile and landline UK numbers work fine through these apps.
The bottom line
For any USA trip 3+ days, an eSIM is meaningfully cheaper than EE Roam Abroad. A 2-week US trip: £10 with Travelren versus £70 with Roam Abroad — £60 saved on a couple of dinners. For 1-day stopovers Roam Abroad is slightly cheaper.
See the full Travelren USA eSIM range →