What Carriers Support eSIM 2023?

The newest phones on the market are eSIM only. While many cell phone users still use physical SIMs, the number of people switching to eSIMS is steadily increasing. eSIM phone plans are especially popular among people who want a second account on their device, like those with a separate work number or travel number.  Carriers currently support both physical SIM cards and eSIM cards, and the quality of service is the same for each one. You have the opportunity to choose which one suits you the best. 

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This article will list all the carriers that currently support eSIM phone plans as well as our favorite plan from their offerings. 

What Carriers Support eSIM? 

All of the major wireless networks in the US support eSIM phone plans, but several MVNOs still have not added that compatibility. eSIM cards are still a new technology, especially for cell phone providers, so there’s a greater chance of bumps in the road as you get your new plan up and running. 

AT&T

The eSIM activation process at AT&T is simple. Since you don’t need to order a physical SIM card and wait for delivery, you can start the process anytime. The process varies by phone make and model, but the basic process follows the same steps. As long as everything is proceeding well, you should be able to activate your new eSIM card by following the on-screen instructions on your device. 

Google Fi

The eSIM activation process is similar to AT&T’s and should not cause trouble. Their eSIM compatibility only extends to a handful of iPhone models, but there are some neat benefits to utilizing an eSIM phone plan! The setup is easy, making it easy to create a dual-SIM active device.

FirstNet

FirstNet is a small MVNO that has great eSIM compatibility with a wide variety of devices. The setup process is similar to the others, and, importantly, it is a network designed for first responders and the public safety community. If you are not in that community, you are not eligible for that service.  Since their service is tailored to emergency responders and public safety, their phone plan comes with features and priority service for those on the job. 

Mint Mobile

If you switch to Mint Mobile, activating your eSIM phone plan is a piece of cake! There are not too many significant variations in the activation process, but make sure to follow the instructions from the provider to complete the process without any mistakes.

T-Mobile

T-Mobile eSIM activation is a straightforward process. When activating your new account, you should follow the onscreen instructions to activate your eSIM phone plan, and from there, you will be good to go! 

Spectrum Mobile

Spectrum Mobile is another limited-use phone service because it is only available to Spectrum Internet users. If you have Spectrum Internet, then Spectrum Mobile is amazing. They have a bundle where you get huge monthly savings on your Internet and Mobile plan costs.

US Mobile

As long as your phone is eSIM compatible, you should be able to start up and run in just two minutes. US Mobile’s switching process is streamlined for ease of use, but how do their plans hold up? We shall see in the next section.

US Cellular

US Cellular utilizes a customer service line to assist in eSIM activation. This process will likely take a bit longer than the others, but the live agent will help you through the process and reduce the chance that something goes wrong.

Visible

Visible is one of our very favorite MVNOs. You can check your phone’s eligibility right here, and if your phone is good to go, then you can get up and running in just a few minutes.

Verizon

The last of the big three is Verizon, and their eSIM activation process is a breeze. As long as you have an eSIM-compatible phone, you should not run into any problems. 

Xfinity Mobile

Last but not least we have Xfinity Mobile. It should come as no surprise that their eSIM activation process is simple. Let’s jump into their cell phone plans. 

Our Favorite eSIM-Compatible Cell Phone Plans

After looking at what carriers support eSIM and their eSIM activation basics, let’s jump into their plans. There are a lot of phone plans out there, and it is important to figure out which one fits best with what you need. For instance, the AT&T Unlimited Premium Plan provides unlimited premium data, 50 GB hotspot data, and UHD streaming. It is way more expensive than MVNOs, but if you use all the features the plan offers, the price point is worth it. We’ve sorted these plans by the cost of a single line of service. 

AT&T Unlimited Premium Plan

Quick Facts: 

• $85/75/60/50/45 a month
• Unlimited talk, text, and premium data
• 50 GB high-speed hotspot data
• 4k UHD Streaming
• No contract 

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Out of the three major wireless companies, we like AT&T the best for its premium wireless plan. Premium high-speed data means they can never slow down your data speeds. This is great for people who value their data speed or rely on it for everyday activities.

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This plan is for people who want unlimited premium high-speed data and use it daily. 

Verizon Start Unlimited

Quick Facts

• $80/60/45/35 a month per line
• Postpaid Plan
• Verizon’s 4G LTE and 5G networks
• Unlimited data
• No hotspot

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This is Verizon’s most affordable plan and comes with exceptional multi-line savings. This plan is very valuable if you have enough people to enjoy $35 a month. However, $80 a month is a tough pill to swallow if you are on your own. 

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This plan is best for people with close friends or family willing to share a cell phone plan. 

T-Mobile Essentials

Quick Facts: 

• $60, $45, $30, $25 a month
• Unlimited talk and text
• Unlimited high-speed data
• 3G Hotspot
• No contract 

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Each plan on a major wireless network grants users spectacular savings with multi-line plans. We like the  T-Mobile Essentials family plan. While $60 a month for a single line is pretty pricey, savings add up fast with multiple lines. Halving the cost with the third line is spectacular, giving every plan member unlimited high-speed data. We recommend this cell phone plan for families who need a lot of data during the month.  

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This plan is best for people interested in an affordable premium data plan.

Google Fi Simply Unlimited 

Quick Facts: 

• $50 a month
• Unlimited talk and text
• 35 GB high-speed data
• No contract 
• Runs on T-Mobile and US Cellular’s network

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Next on our list is the simply unlimited plan from Google Fi. This is a great choice for people looking to use a fair amount of data without needing unlimited data. Since it only offers 35 GB of high-speed data, high-data users may find that they often run into trouble if they use up all those 35 GBs in the middle of the month. 

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This plan is for medium-data users who want a more affordable plan. 

Spectrum One

Quick Facts:

• Bundle Internet and Mobile
• $50 a month
• 300 Mbps Internet
• Unlimited talk, text, and data
• Verizon’s network

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This bundle is spectacular. A great mobile plan paired with stable internet service is hard to beat, especially at this price point. Spectrum Mobile is only offered in a few areas. You may be in an area that doesn’t support this provider, so you cannot take advantage of this amazing deal. 

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This plan is for Spectrum Internet customers looking to bundle their cell phone and internet service. 

Xfinity Mobile Unlimited Intro

Quick Facts

• $45 a month 
• Postpaid Plan
• Verizon’s 4G LTE and 5G networks
• 20 GB of high-speed data
• No hotspot

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The main draw of Xfinity Mobile’s plans is their bundles with Xfinity Internet. Similar to Spectrum, these deals may not hold up on their own, but users see tremendous savings when bundled with one of their Internet plans. 

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This plan is for Xfinity Internet customers looking to bundle their cell phone and internet service. 

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Responder Unlimited

Quick Facts:

• $40 a month
• Unlimited talk, text, and data
• Contract Optional
• Runs on AT&T’s network

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This plan is an excellent option for first responders who want a reliable phone service with unlimited data that is more affordable than what the major wireless providers can offer. This option is also popular with employers or agencies paying your phone bill. 

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This plan is for First Responders looking for an affordable cell phone plan.

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US Cellular Basic Unlimited 

Quick Facts: 

• $30 a month
• Unlimited talk, text, and data
• SD Streaming
• Operates on US Cellular’s network

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The US Cellular network has not caught up to the big three's sprawling networks, so double-check that you have a strong connection before signing with this carrier. If you do, their basic unlimited plan at thirty dollars a month is a great boon for users. Still, we recommend Visible’s option over this one due to its similar price point and operation on Verizon’s network. 

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This plan is for users interested in affordable unlimited data plans. 

Visible Wireless Unlimited Plan

Quick Facts: 

• $30 a month
• Unlimited talk and text
• Unlimited high-speed data
• No contract 
• Runs on Verizon’s network

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Their basic unlimited plan is $30 monthly per line with unlimited high-speed data. Most MVNO unlimited plans come with a limited amount of high-speed and unlimited low-speed data. That is not the case with Visible. Their unlimited high-speed data plans are competitively priced and make it to the top of our list. 

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This plan is for users looking for excellent unlimited data plans. 

Mint Mobile 10 GB Plan

Quick Facts: 

• $20, $25, $35 a month
• Unlimited talk and text
• 10 GB high-speed data
• Three, six, or twelve-month contract 
• Runs on Verizon’s network

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Our next plan is Mint Mobile’s 10 GB cell phone plan. This is a great choice for people wanting to find a cheaper option for their cell phone service while being able to use some mobile data when out and about. Mint Mobile’s savings come from contracts. Their shortest contract is three months, with six-month and 12-month offerings. The 12-month contract ($20 a month) puts this at a fantastic price if you can swing it. Mint Mobile’s family plan lets you enjoy the lowest price without worrying about the contract. 

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This plan is for users looking for affordable low-data family plans. 

US Mobile 5GB Plan

• $15 per Month
• Unlimited talk and text
• Data shuts off when the limit is reached — no surprise overage fees
• Runs on T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless networks

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US Mobile is a spectacular low-cost cell phone plan. Just $15 a month is a great low price point, and 5 GB of data, while not much, is enough for emergencies if you spend a lot of time in WiFi zones.  

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This plan is for low-data users interested in affordable cell phone service. 

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Our Favorite eSIM-Compatible Devices

If you’re bringing your own phone to a new carrier, then as long as it’s eSIM compatible, you are good to move on to picking out your plan and switching your service. If you’ve got an older device and are considering getting a new phone, then the switch is an excellent time to do it. Alas, with so many options, it is hard to know where to start. Couple that with wireless retailers offering deals and marketing their most expensive models,  phone buying becomes just as hard as picking out a cell phone plan! We have compiled a list of some of our favorite eSIM-compatible devices to help you determine where to start your search. We’ve compiled this list in terms of high-to-low in terms of price. Let’s take a look!

iPhone 13 Series

Price:  $700 for iPhone 13

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All in all, Apple’s iPhone 13 series is a fantastic choice for a top-of-the-line eSIM-compatible device. It is cheaper than the series 14 and provides pretty amazing hardware. The camera is fantastic, the processor is tremendous, and it has a great battery life. iMessage access allows quick and efficient communication with all Apple devices. This device tops our list for users who love to stream audio, video, and game on their device. 

Samsung Galaxy S22 Series

Price: $700

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Next on our list are the Galaxy S22s. The S22 series from Samsung Galaxy are all eSIM compatible and have a fantastic suite of bells and whistles. It has a tremendous processor, a ton of memory, and a killer camera. The price tag is steep but worthwhile

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If you want a more affordable Galaxy, check out the S21s. Since this series is only available renewed, they are very affordable. As we will get into when we talk about the iPhone 11, renewed phones are often indistinguishable from new phones. 

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Google Pixel 7

Price: $600

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At the same price point is the Google Pixel 7. This model is a fantastic new phone with a lot of storage, and access to the latest and greatest that Google can put on the table. This is a great phone compared to the other high-end phones, with a great camera and excellent built-in features for photo taking and editing. This is another excellent choice for an eSIM phone if you are looking for a new phone that is more affordable than the flagship from Samsung or Apple. 

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Google puts out a great smartphone. The Google Pixel 7 is still $600. While it is more affordable than the newest phone models, it is still expensive. To round out our list of amazing eSIM-compatible phones, we want to discuss two older renewed models: the iPhone 11 and the Google Pixel 3a. 

iPhone 11 

Price: $300 on Amazon 

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The iPhone 11 is very affordable and perfect for users who want an iPhone for its convenient features like iMessage, FaceTime, Apple Pay, and Face ID without the battery life, camera, and price tag you find in the newer models. At a cool $300, the iPhone 11 has an impressive two-lens camera and the “night” mode camera shot, which lets you take a picture in the dark without using your flash. 

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Google Pixel 3a

Price (Refurbished): $200

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The price on this one changes greatly depending on the sale you get and where you look to purchase it. Right now on Amazon, the Google Pixel 3a is around $200 and is a very affordable way to get an eSIM-compatible phone. The nice thing about refurbished phones is that you can treat them without the reverence that comes with a $600+ device. While treating your phone with care is good, you can replace the device twice before it hits the dance cost as the Google Pixel 7. 

This is our list of what carriers support eSIM phone plans 

We hope this article has illuminated your options and helped you decide which phone plan is for you. Switching to the right plan will take some stress off your cell phone bill and service each month. Best of luck picking out a new plan!

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