A SIM card for Miami: The complete guide

Do you need a physical SIM card for Miami?

The honest truth is, getting a new physical SIM card isn’t the only (or even the best) way to go online on your phone abroad. Some carriers now offer very attractive international data packages to clients, and there is a wide selection of eSIM services that sell pre-paid data plans on the cheap. Here’s what you should consider before you rush off to buy a physical SIM card.

Pros of a physical SIM card for Miami

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  Good compatibility. Even with the rise of eSIMs, the vast majority of cellphones still have SIM card slots. In most cases, going online with a physical SIM card is as simple as slotting one into your device.

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  Good offline availability. Physical SIM cards are available at airports, supermarkets, electronic stores, and even street vendors — although keep in mind that many places sell SIM cards at grossly inflated prices and only carry a limited selection.

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  Data carries between devices. Very few physical SIM cards key themselves to a specific device upon activation. If you want to go online on your 5G tablet for a while, it’s as simple as swapping the SIM card between devices.

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  Often includes local calls and texts. Many physical SIM cards, especially those sold by major carriers, give you a local phone number for calling and texting. By contrast, other options like eSIMs may only give you mobile data.

Cons of a physical SIM card for Miami

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  Some phones are eSIM-only. Some of the latest smartphones, most notably Apple’s iPhone 14 and 15 lines in the US, no longer have a physical SIM card slot. While the number of eSIM-only devices is currently small, it looks set to balloon in the future. 

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  Activation fees. US carriers and retailers may charge you a separate fee for activating a newly purchased SIM card, which is usually not listed alongside the plan you’re interested in. These fees range from $5 to $35, greatly inflating the price tag of physical SIMs. While some carriers will waive activation fees if you purchase the SIM card online, this defeats one of the biggest pros of physical SIMs — that you simply buy one at any store when you need it.

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  Can be lost or damaged. A SIM card is a delicate little thing, perfect for losing in your bags or dropping on the ground as you try to slot it in. The same applies in reverse — when you swap out your regular SIM card, you’ll need a safe place to store it.

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  May have higher costs. Airport shops and major retailers often charge a premium for the convenience of buying things you need right there and then — including SIM cards, which are highly sought after by tourists in Miami.

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  May expire unexpectedly. The plan you got with your physical SIM card will only work for so long — and may give up on you when you least expect it. Not all SIM cards allow easy top-ups, with some even charging higher rates after the initial period.

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  Not as flexible as eSIMs. With physical SIM cards, you’re limited by what the local vendors have — and they often want to hawk overpriced plans to desperate tourists. In addition, major US carriers offer only 30 day prepaid plans, so you’ll end up paying for nothing if your stay is shorter.

Best SIM providers and plans for Miami

If you’re looking for the best prepaid SIM card for Miami, it’s smart to stick to the Big Three — the largest mobile operators in the US. While smaller operators (such as Mint and Cricket) do cover the Miami area, they have few if any retail stores for in-person assistance and frequently piggyback off of the Big Three’s networks anyway. 

T-Mobile

T-Mobile has some of the best 5G coverage in the country, including great reception nearly everywhere in Miami. When it comes to plans for physical SIM cards, T-Mobile lets you choose between getting mobile data only and getting data with calls and texts. All plans last 30 days and have the option to enable AutoPay, which automatically extends the plan with a small discount.

T-Mobile is interesting because all of its plans technically offer unlimited data — but the catch is, once you go over the prescribed limit, your speed slows down to a crawl. The cheapest data-only plan costs just $10 plus tax, but also only gives you 2 GB of premium data. If you want to talk and text, you’re looking at $45 plus tax for 15 GB of premium data — but for just $5 more, the cap jumps to 50 GB.      

AT&T

AT&T is best known for the contract (also known as “postpaid”) plans it offers US residents, but it also offers SIM card plans to tourists in Miami. AT&T gets good signal throughout the city, although its reception is less touted than that of T-Mobile.

All AT&T plans last 30 days and come with unlimited talk and text, with the cheapest clocking in at $30 plus tax for 5 GB of mobile data. To get unlimited data, you’ll need to shell out $45 plus tax — but this plan only comes with 30 GB of “premium” data, after which your speed is cut to 1.5Mbps. And if you’re a veritable data hog, you have the option to get all the data you want without any speed limits for $75. 

Verizon

Verizon is more known for its extensive 4G LTE network throughout the US, although its 5G coverage is rapidly spreading throughout the country, including Miami. Verizon is generally pricier than the competition — the cheapest prepaid SIM plan as of July 2025 cost $45 plus tax and came with just 15 GB of data (but no limits on calls and texts). If you want unlimited data, you’ll have to fork out at least $60 plus tax.

Where to buy a SIM card for Miami

The good news is, you’re never far from a SIM card vendor in Miami — as one of the top tourist destinations on the planet, the city has disposable SIMs being sold on every corner. Here are a few locations where you can buy a prepaid SIM card:

• Miami International Airport (MIA). You can buy a SIM card the moment you walk past border controls at the MIA. Both International Currency Exchange (ICE) and InMotion stores are known to sell SIM cards — to find out where they are, connect to the internet using the Miami airport Wi-Fi and check the airport’s map. However, keep in mind that SIMs (just like everything else) may be significantly more expensive at the airport than other locations. 

• Local retail stores. Major retailers that stock electronics, like Walmart and Best Buy, usually keep some SIM cards in stock for tourists. You can find SIMs at the mobile accessory section or at the checkout — and if you can’t find them, politely ask a store employee for directions. 

• Local carrier shops. All major US carriers (including AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon) have stores sprinkled throughout Miami. These shops frequently have a much broader selection of SIM cards than regular retail outlets, but they only offer plans from a single carrier.   

• Online. If you don’t fancy roaming the streets in search of a prepaid SIM card, you can order one online using your hotel’s Wi-Fi and have it delivered to the reception. But if you’re already shopping online for mobile data, you might as well just get an eSIM — you’ll likely save some money and will be able to use it right away.

Required documents to get a SIM card in Miami

If you’re looking to pop out of your hotel to check the nearby stores for SIM cards, make sure to bring your passport with you. While not all vendors will ask you for a valid ID to sell you a prepaid SIM card, you will need some identification to buy and register a mobile plan. If you’re lucky, you might get away with a driver’s license, but your passport’s always a safe bet.

Alternatives to using a SIM card in Miami

There are two real alternatives to using physical SIM cards in Miami for travelers — getting a US data package plan from their own carrier or buying an eSIM. Both options have their own pros and cons.

Buying a data pack from your contracted carrier is the easiest option — you don’t need to swap out your existing SIM card, configure any settings, or install any new apps. In essence, what you’re doing is simply removing roaming fees from a set amount of data. Unfortunately, not all national carriers offer US mobile data packs — and even when they do, they can be quite pricey.

eSIMs offer the optimum balance between price and convenience. In most cases, you only need to download the eSIM app and buy the US data plan you want. You don’t have to deal with activation fees, price gouging at the airport, or juggling multiple physical SIMs throughout the trip. eSIM plans are frequently cheaper and more flexible than data packs from your carrier, letting you pick both how much data you need and how long the plan will last.