Should you keep your old US number or get a new one?
If you can, keep your existing US carrier number on a cheap plan for the accounts that depend on it, at least until you have moved those accounts. Add a virtual number for everyday calls with US contacts. Many people move gradually: first share the new number, then update services one by one. Our guide on keeping your US number or getting a new one covers porting, parking and moving two-step logins.
What should you move to the new number?
- Family and friends: they can call your +1 number at domestic rates.
- Doctors, schools, landlords, deliveries: appointment calls and reminder texts arrive in the app.
- Apps and online accounts: verification codes from apps, including WhatsApp and banking apps, arrive in the app. TripoSIM tested 22 popular apps.
What does it not do?
- Sending texts. The number receives texts but cannot send them.
- 911 or emergency calls. Keep a local mobile line for emergencies.
What does it cost over a year abroad?
The yearly plan is $100, with 300 minutes a month to the US and Canada and $5 of credit for travel eSIM data. That is usually far less than keeping a US mobile plan with international roaming.