Which sim card for USA & Canada?

[cougar_df]

I'll be travelling to USA and Canada (mostly Canada) for a total of 6 weeks early next year.

Can anyone recommend a sim card which works in both these countries? Am looking for generous data allowance (average 1GB per day). Unlimited text and some free calls within the US and Canada would be great.

I believe most sim packages are valid for 30 days use only so I could be "unconnected" the last 2 weeks of my travel unless I do a top up, but I can live with that.

I've also heard different opinions of whether these sims should be purchased before travel or purchased upon landing in the USA/Canada. In other countries I've travelled to, I preferred to buy the local sim when I land so that any issues can be addressed on the spot before I pay for it and leave the store.

All advice/suggestions welcome. Thanks.

 

[Renato1]

When I visited the USA last year, I got an American number for my Ekit Sim Card (which came with a UK number) that I had bought from Flight Centre, which is cheaper than getting it direct from Ekit. Unfortunately, American mobile phones use different bands, so that with my phone that works fine in Australia and Europe, it hardly registered a signal in New York and was useless there, but it worked fine in California.

And thus I learned, one really needs to look at a SIM card and an American phone for 100% reliability.
Regards,
Renato

 

[Denali]

Last trip we bought a USA/Canada sim & data from Sim Corner at the Sydney airport so we had data & calls on arrival.

Will buy from them again.

 

[bosox76]

I too used a T-mobile sim bought via sim corner (I did it online). Worked perfectly. Lots of data and free calls in USA. Also works for Canada and Mexico (at least it used too, best check T&C's). Not sure if there's some sort of limit on how much can be used in Canada vs USA given its a USA based sim. I even activated it in Canada as it was out first port of call, without issues.

 

[Cynicor]

I am in USA currently. As I was leaving main towns I needed better reception. I purchased a samsung galaxy express 3 for $20 on an AT+T GO prepaid plan. You would probably want the unlimited data and roaming version which is $60 per month. It's been great, I'm on the 6gb $45 version. Works in USA and Canada and Mexico with no issues. Except remote Newfoundland actually, as AT+T roam with Rogers, who roam themselves in smaller parts of NL.

 

[tgh]

We are currently in the US and using phone sim and ipad data sim from Sim Corner.
I made a bit of a welter of it one day in Canada and had my wings clipped for a few days (see the fair use clause)
Didn't think I really deserved my time out , but stuff happens.
I have been with at least five carriers so far , all attaching to the t-mobile sims.
Pretty happy overall and would probably do the same again

 

[n7of9]

Regarding different phone bands between AU and USA, the general rule is*: if you're on Telstra is AU, get an AT&T sim; if you're on Optus, get a T-Mobile sim

*though you can just look up your phone's specs and compare it with the US telco specs

 

[Cynicor]

Regarding different phone bands between AU and USA, the general rule is*: if you're on Telstra is AU, get an AT&T sim; if you're on Optus, get a T-Mobile sim

*though you can just look up your phone's specs and compare it with the US telco specs

That doesn't really make sense as the phones are the same. Would suggest that is outdated info. The bands are important to compare to your phone, but the carrier in AU is irrelevant. I would just buy a cheap phone in the US. Mine was $20 and is excellent, plus it gives me wifi/tethering.

 

[Denali]

..... I would just buy a cheap phone in the US. Mine was $20 and is excellent, plus it gives me wifi/tethering.

We take 2 phones each. One stays on our aussie sim (Vodafone $5 per day roaming) and the 2nd one with the local sim. Make sure your phone with overseas sim is unlocked.

 

[Cynicor]

If you have a local sim, why bother with the roaming plans on the other phones? I have my normal phone on, but it's tethered. The only costs are the occasional roaming call. Unless work is paying for the roaming charges?

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

I am in USA currently..... I purchased a samsung galaxy express 3 for $20 on an AT+T GO prepaid plan. You would probably want the unlimited data and roaming version which is $60 per month. It's been great, I'm on the 6gb $45 version.....

We have got several trips to the USA, Canada and mexico in the next 15 months, so want to get a phone that works in all 3 countries. We want to buy a phone that we can use for these trips, and also asia. So is better to buy a phone in the US or buy an unlocked one here before we go ? And buy sim cards from the Sim Corner shop ??

Cynicor where did you buy your phone ? What will happen to your SIM card if you don't use it for a couple of months ? I looked at the Sim Corner website and it says " However, if your USA prepaid sim card has been inactive for 4 months, your sim card will expire." Will that happen to the phone sim you got from AT&T ?

Any answers to my questions need to be explained in the KIS manner ( like you are telling your grandmother ) thanks !

 

[Denali]

Ive bought prepaid phones in the US before but the sim had 30 to 90 day expiry dates. You can keep buying more data/roll over the sim but eventually for the price, you can just buy a new phone when you get there.

 

[OzEire]

For my impending US trip I've settled on Tmobile and will buy on arrival - saving about 20% on the SimCorner equivalent, but won't have any access to phone or data until I get it - Google tells me theres a Tmobile shop right across the street from my hotel!

Not sure but I assume US carriers will have good plans for visits to Canada, so long as you remember fair use (mentioned above). The reverse is prob true of getting a Canadian based SIM.

Most modern phones are tri or quad band so travel without any issue. Still worth checking. Google your phone model and look for 850, 900, 1900, 2100 and other similar numbers (band or freq in MHz). Compare what bands your phone is capable of accessing against the Country/Carrier list here:
http://www.worldtimezone.com/gsm.html
GSM World Coverage Map- GSM Country List by frequency bands

 

[Cynicor]

Mrs DrRon:
Phone was bought from an AT+T store when getting my prepaid plan. I think it was a deal (always on offer) where you buy a phone with the plan and it is cheap.
It is best to buy the phone in the states if possible, as Aussie phones use slightly different frequencies and you will get the best coverage with a phone made for their country.
The plan expiry. This part is slightly complex. I was in the USA in April. Bought my phone and used the plan. Came home to AU until late August, so about 4 months away.
What I did was change the plan to a cost per call type plan, so it costs nothing while in Australia. If you 'load' it (add credit/money) to your account every couple of months it will not expire. I think $15 every 2 months is enough.
Because you are not using the phone when in Australia, that credit you put on the phone just sits there. Once you return to the States/mexico/canada, you change your plan back to the original plan and can use the credit you loaded earlier.
Depending on when exactly your trips are, and how far apart they are, this might not be economical to keep the SIM active, but it worked for me.
Do you know the general timing of the trips?

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

Mrs DrRon:.................................
Depending on when exactly your trips are, and how far apart they are, this might not be economical to keep the SIM active, but it worked for me.
Do you know the general timing of the trips?

Thanks for that ! December '17/Jan '18 ( 5 weeks) - just USA then April/May '18 ( 7 weeks ) US, Mexico & Canada, Sept/October '18 ( 8 weeks) just USA at the beginning and end of the trip !
So you changed your call plan on their website ?

 

[Cynicor]

I think this would work for you. It might not be the cheapest option, but it's pretty simple and you get to keep the same usa number. It has unlimited texts and calls in USA, Canada, Mexico and even texts to 100 other countries (mainly AU). I give it to all the local businesses and drivers etc.
Change plans online or via the phone really easily
In your case, I'd sign up early on, then change over when you leave (or at the end of the first month, to save $45, and just go without net for a few days). Reload in Feb $15 and in April change back to the plan for 2 months, reload in July/Aug and then change back to the plan in sept.
The best part is the website tells you when your phone/plan etc will expire so you don't need to sit and do calculations all the time.
5 monthsx45USD plus maybe $20-40 for the phone will be the outlay.
One thing to check, if you go with a different option for data is to ensure that they allow "tethering" which is where your US phone gets internet via mobile data and then can share it on WIFI to your own phones.
In America, they actually can stop phones from doing this somehow, and make it a purchaseable option!!
Obviously it is included with the AT+T prepaid plans I have discussed.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

I think this would work for you. It might not be the cheapest option, but it's pretty simple and you get to keep the same usa number. It has unlimited texts and calls in USA, Canada, Mexico and even texts to 100 other countries (mainly AU). I give it to all the local businesses and drivers etc.
Change plans online or via the phone really easily
In your case, I'd sign up early on, then change over when you leave (or at the end of the first month, to save $45, and just go without net for a few days). Reload in Feb $15 and in April change back to the plan for 2 months, reload in July/Aug and then change back to the plan in sept.
The best part is the website tells you when your phone/plan etc will expire so you don't need to sit and do calculations all the time.
5 monthsx45USD plus maybe $20-40 for the phone will be the outlay.
One thing to check, if you go with a different option for data is to ensure that they allow "tethering" which is where your US phone gets internet via mobile data and then can share it on WIFI to your own phones.
In America, they actually can stop phones from doing this somehow, and make it a purchaseable option!!
Obviously it is included with the AT+T prepaid plans I have discussed.

Simple and keeping the same number WAAAAAAY out numbers price in my books !

So I think that is our plan, on arrival in LA find a AT&T shop on the way to our hotel !

thanks Cynicor !!

 

[Cynicor]

No worries. Unless something goes terribly wrong in life, I'll still be on AFF so feel free to ask away when the time comes to actually get the plan.