Does it work on the 'L' train and Metra?

It does — the elevated 'L' keeps signal on most lines, with only brief drops in the downtown subway tunnels. Metra commuter trains out to the suburbs also stay connected, so you can track stops and plan onward journeys.

How much data do I need for a few days in Chicago?

For maps, transit apps, photos of the skyline and general browsing over a long weekend, 3–5GB is comfortable for most travellers. Bump it up if you'll be streaming or using your phone as a hotspot.

Chicago eSIM.

Name: Chicago travel eSIM
Brand: My Holiday SIM

From the Bean in Millennium Park to a deep-dish dinner, stay connected across the Windy City.

from $3.12/day · unlimited dataAll of USA →

Unlimited data5G where availableInstant QR by emailKeep your number

1 · How many days?

10 daysOther:days

2 · How much data?

3GBBest pricevalid 15 days$8.24$0.82/day

Cheapest plan covering your trip: 3GB, valid 15 days.

Travellers (one eSIM each)

1 × 3GB (valid 15 days) · 10-day trip$8.24

Good to know in Chicago

Chicago's 'L' trains run partly underground in the Loop but mostly on elevated tracks, so you'll keep signal for most journeys — handy for live arrivals in the Ventra app. Winters are brutal, so map out warm indoor routes on your phone.

Two simple ways to buy

Chicago eSIM plans: unlimited, or by the GB.

Every Chicago eSIM from My Holiday SIM is one of two straightforward types. Pick whichever fits how you travel in Chicago — you can always top up or switch on your next trip.

Traveller streaming and browsing freely on an unlimited-data travel eSIM

Unlimited plans

High-speed data, nothing to count

Priced per day — the longer you stay, the better the daily rate. Ideal for streaming, hotspot and longer trips where you'd rather not watch a data meter. A fair-use policy keeps speeds fast for everyone; see each plan for the detail.

Best for streaming, video calls & hotspot
Great for longer or open-ended trips
One price per day — no GB anxiety

By-the-GB plans

3GB10GB20GB

A set bundle, brilliant value

A fixed data allowance (say 3 GB or 10 GB) valid for your travel days. The best-value pick for lighter trips built around maps, messaging and a bit of browsing. Running low? Top up in a couple of taps — nothing to reinstall.

Best value for lighter, shorter trips
Clear allowance — pay only for what you need
Top up any time from your phone

Compare plans →Not every destination has both types — the picker shows what's available where you're headed.

Plan your data

How much data do you need in Chicago?

A rough, honest guide to sizing your Chicago eSIM so you're not guessing. Most travellers in Chicago are comfortable on 3–5 GB a week — heavy streamers just go Unlimited.

Traveller checking maps and messages on her phone using a My Holiday SIM eSIM

Not sure? Start with a 5 GB plan — you can top up in seconds if you run low.

Light

~1 GB / week

Maps, messaging & email

Google Maps, WhatsApp, email and the odd search. Plenty for a city break where you mostly need directions.

Suits 1–3 GB plans

Balanced

3–5 GB / week

Everyday holiday use

Everything above plus social scrolling, music, cloud photo backups and a little video. Where most travellers land.

Suits 5–10 GB plans

Chicago eSIM: your local data guide.

Chicago rewards walkers and 'L' riders alike, and a Chicago eSIM keeps Google Maps and the Ventra app live as you ride the Loop from Millennium Park to Wicker Park. You'll want data to photograph Cloud Gate (the Bean), book an architecture river cruise, and find the best deep-dish or Italian beef between neighbourhoods.

One eSIM for Chicago and all of USA. It's the national USA eSIM — from $3.12/day with unlimited data, working the same in Chicago as it does the moment you leave it.

Landing at O'Hare International Airport (ORD)?

Install the QR at home, then switch the eSIM on as you taxi in — you're online before you reach the arrivals hall.

Chicago eSIM pricingbest-value plan · per day

Days

Per day

Total

Saving

3 days1GB

$1.05

$3.14

—

5 days1GB

$0.63

$3.14

−40%

7 days1GB

$0.45

$3.14

−57%

10 days3GBPopular

$0.82

$8.24

−22%

15 days3GB

$0.55

$8.24

−48%

30 days5GB

$0.37

$10.98

−65%

Each trip length shows the best-value plan that covers it. Total always shown before you pay.

eSIM vs the old ways in Chicago

eSIM

ROAMING

AIRPORT SIM

Data allowance

Unlimited

Usually capped

Rarely unlimited

Price known upfront

Prepaid

Billed after

Varies at the desk

Ready when you land

Instantly

After the queue

Keep WhatsApp number

SIM swapped

Chicago eSIM from $3.12/day — the whole bill, agreed before you fly.

On the ground

Where you'll lean on data in Chicago.

The Loop & Millennium Park

Snap Cloud Gate (the Bean), check Art Institute opening hours and navigate the grid with live maps.

Navy Pier & the Riverwalk

Book an architecture boat tour and check departure times along the Chicago Riverwalk on your phone.

Wicker Park & Bucktown

Use restaurant and music-venue apps to find indie shops, bars and gigs across these lively neighbourhoods.

The 'L' train network

The Ventra app and live transit maps keep you on the right coloured line between the Loop and the suburbs.

The practical bit

Getting around Chicago on your eSIM.

Apps you'll want online in Chicago

Ventra— The official app for CTA 'L' trains, buses and Metra; load fares and passes on your phone.
Transit— Live 'L' and bus arrivals with step-by-step routing around the Loop and out to the neighbourhoods.
Uber— Ride-hailing across the city; invaluable in Chicago's brutal winter cold and for late-night trips.
Divvy— Chicago's bike-share, ideal along the Lakefront Trail; unlock and pay through the Lyft app.

How long to stay in Chicago

Most Chicago visits last three to four days, covering the Loop and Millennium Park, an architecture river cruise, and a couple of lively neighbourhoods like Wicker Park.

How much data for Chicago

For maps, transit apps, skyline photos and browsing over a long weekend, 3-5GB is comfortable; choose Unlimited if you'll stream or use your phone as a hotspot around the city.

Coverage in Chicago

5G and 4G are strong across the city, at O'Hare and Midway and on the mostly elevated 'L'; signal drops briefly only in the Loop's downtown subway tunnels, and stays solid on Metra to the suburbs.

Where you're headed

Discover Chicago.

Chicago, USA — skyline and landmarks · stay connected with a Chicago eSIM from My Holiday SIM

Chicago, USA — streets and everyday scenes · stay connected with a Chicago eSIM from My Holiday SIM

Chicago, USA — sights worth exploring · stay connected with a Chicago eSIM from My Holiday SIM

Chicago, USA — a travel moment · stay connected with a Chicago eSIM from My Holiday SIM

How to activate your Chicago eSIM.

Full installation guide →

A traveller happily planning her next trip with a map and phone

Buy your plan

Choose your days — the QR code arrives by email in seconds.

A traveller installing her eSIM from the sofa in two minutes

Install at home

Scan the QR on Wi-Fi before you fly. About two minutes, no app needed.

Friends laughing together while packing for a holiday

Fly relaxed

Nothing counts down yet — your days start only at first connection.

A joyful family reunion at the airport arrivals hall

Switch on in Chicago

Turn the line on when you land. Connected before baggage claim.

New to eSIM in Chicago?

What is a Chicago eSIM?

A Chicago eSIM is a digital SIM that's already built into your phone. Scan one QR code and a local Chicago data plan installs alongside your home SIM — no plastic, no tray tool, no swap. Your number and WhatsApp stay exactly where they are.

✓ 2-minute install✓ Keep your number✓ Works on phones from 2018+

How eSIM works →Check my phone

A traveller with a backpack smiling at her phone — online abroad with My Holiday SIM

Connected · 5G

Home SIM · calls & WhatsAppHoliday eSIM · unlimited data

30-day refund promiseUnused, uninstalled eSIM? Full refund, no questions.

The price is the billPrepaid and final — roaming charges can't happen.

Days start when you landInstall early with zero pressure; counting begins at first connection.

Humans, 24/7Real people answer, before, during and after the trip.

Peace of mind

Your Chicago eSIM: data-only, zero bill shock.

Your Chicago eSIM handles the internet while you travel. Your home number stays exactly where it is — no surprise roaming charges in Chicago, no swapping your real SIM out.

Keep your number & WhatsApp

The eSIM is data-only and runs alongside your home SIM. Your number, iMessage and WhatsApp keep working exactly as they do at home.

No roaming bills, ever

Turn data roaming OFF on your home SIM and ON for the eSIM. You pay once, up front — no overage, no metered surprises, no bill waiting when you land home.

One thing worth knowing

Because it's data-only, the eSIM can't receive bank verification (OTP) text codes — those still go to your home number. Keep it reachable on Wi-Fi calling, or use app-based codes.

Traveller relaxed and connected on her phone, no roaming bill to worry about

Why travellers choose My Holiday SIM for Chicago.

Instant eSIM deliveryQR code in your inbox seconds after checkout — even at the departure gate.

No physical SIMNothing to collect, lose or poke out with a paperclip. Your home SIM stays put.

Keep your WhatsApp numberData flows through us; WhatsApp stays on your home number. Family always reaches you.

A traveller at the departure gate, eSIM ready on her phone

eSIM ready in ~2 minutes

No bill shock, everOne clear price before you fly. Roaming charges simply can't happen.

Secure paymentsCards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal and Klarna — encrypted end to end.

Real human supportReal people — before, during and after your trip. Live chat and email, no bots. Easy top-ups too.

Coverage in USA.

5G where available, fast 4G everywhere else

Connected · 5G

Your eSIM joins USA's partner networks automatically — no settings to choose, no manual network hunting. If signal drops in a remote spot, toggling Airplane Mode for a few seconds forces a fresh connection.

AT&T
T-Mobile
Verizon

Popular places covered

New YorkLos AngelesMiamiLas VegasSan FranciscoOrlandoChicagoWashington DC

Keep data roaming ON for the eSIM line only — that's the switch travel eSIMs use, and it never adds charges on our plans.

Trusted networks, honest numbers.

No invented star ratings behind your Chicago eSIM — just the numbers we actually stand behind.

Friendly globe with location pins — coverage on every continent

My Holiday SIMSTAY CONNECTED. ANYWHERE.

200+

destinations — every continent covered

regions covered by a single regional eSIM

~2 min

typical install — QR to connected

Live

chat & email support

Before you fly

Chicago eSIM questions, answered.

Yes — activate before departure and you'll have data landing at either O'Hare (ORD) or Midway (MDW), ready to buy a Ventra pass for the Blue or Orange Line into the city, or book a rideshare downtown.

Your Chicago eSIM glossary.

eSIMA SIM built into your phone's hardware. Plans install onto it digitally — no plastic card involved.

QR profileThe code we email you. Scanning it downloads your holiday plan onto the eSIM. One scan per device.

Data roaming (the switch)The toggle travel eSIMs use to join partner networks abroad. On our plans it never adds charges — keep it ON for the eSIM, OFF for your home SIM.

Hotspot / tetheringSharing your phone's data with laptops and tablets. Included on our plans wherever networks allow.

Top-upExtra days added to a live plan from your account. They append to the end — nothing overlaps.

First connectionThe moment your eSIM first joins a network at the destination — that's when your days start counting, not before.

Travelling wider in USA?