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Three Go Roam

Go Roam is a service which allows Three customers to use their devices abroad at either no extra cost or a low daily cost (depending on their plan) in over 160 destinations, including much of Europe plus the US, Australia, and many more places.

You can text, call and even browse the internet abroad without suffering high fees, it all just comes out of your standard monthly allowance.

Below, we’ve detailed everything you need to know about Go Roam and roaming in general on Three.

WHICH PLANS COME WITH GO ROAM?

We've summarised which Three plans come with Go Roam in the table below. You'll find further details about the specific roaming policies below.

Pay Monthly plans

If you take out a new SIM Only or handset Three plan then you’ll need to get either a Value plan or a Complete plan to get inclusive roaming.

Three’s Value plans let you roam in over 160 destinations for 14 days each year if you’re on a 12-month plan or 28 days if you’re on a 24-month plan, at no extra cost. That should be enough for most people, as that’s almost a month.

If however you travel a lot then you should consider a Complete plan, which lets you roam in the same selection of destinations for 28 days on a 12-month plan or 56 days on a 24-month one each year, at no additional cost. Though of course these plans cost more to begin with.

Handily however, Pay As You Go plans comes with Go Roam as standard (other than Go Roam Around the World Extra destinations), and if you’re an existing customer who joined Three or last upgraded before the 1st of October, 2021 then you’ll also be able to roam for free.

HOW MUCH DOES ROAMING COST IF IT’S NOT PART OF MY PLAN?

If you don’t have roaming included in your plan or you’ve used up your inclusive roaming days, then you can roam for £2 per day in 49 Go Roam in Europe destinations, £5 per day for 22 Go Roam Around the World destinations, and £7 per day for 92 Go Roam Around the World Extra destinations.

That charge gives you 24 hours of roaming, and it will be applied automatically as soon as you use any of your allowances in a Go Roam destination.

WHAT COUNTRIES ARE INCLUDED?

The following 71 countries are part of Three's “ Go Roam in Europe” and “ Go Roam Around the World” services. These are included on Pay Monthly Value and Complete plans, along with Pay As You Go plans.

Pay Monthly Value and Complete plans also include roaming in the following additional “ Go Roam Around the World Extra” destinations, but these aren't included with Pay As You Go plans.

92 Go Roam Around the World Extra destinations:

Albania, Andorra, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba (Netherlands Antilles), Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire (Netherlands Antilles), Bosnia and Herzegovina, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cayman Islands, China, Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Curacao (Netherlands Antilles), Cyprus, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Faroe Islands, Gabon, Georgia, Ghana, Greenland, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Montserrat, Morocco, Myanmar, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Rwanda, Saba (Netherlands Antilles), Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sint Eustatius (Netherlands Antilles), Sint Maarten (Netherlands Antilles), South Africa, South Korea, Suriname, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Uzbekistan, and Zambia.

OTHER COUNTRIES

Is the country you were looking for not listed above? You can find out how much roaming costs in countries outside your allowances and those not covered by Go Roam quickly and easily here .

WHAT’S INCLUDED WITH GO ROAM?"

All calls and texts to the UK (within your standard allowance).
Use your data allowance abroad.
It's always free to receive calls and texts in a Go Roam destination. When calling back to the UK you need to replace the first 0 with +44
You can stream and connect to Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).
You can make calls between Go Roam in Europe destinations.

ARE THERE ANY RESTRICTIONS?

Tethering is not allowed at all in a Go Roam Around the World or Around the World Extra destination, unless you purchase a Data Passport.
You can’t use more than 12GB of data.
When using Go Roam Around The World or Around the World Extra you can send up to 5000 texts back to the UK (or 3000 if on Pay As You Go) and make up to 3000 minutes of calls back to the UK each month.
If you exceed the text or minutes fair use limits for any 2 months in a 12-month rolling period, you risk getting international roaming suspended on your account.
Numbers that start with 070, 084, 087, 09 and 118 are not included in your allowance.
You can’t use your minutes allowance to make calls to local or other international numbers unless you’re in a Go Roam in Europe location, in which case you can call numbers in that location, or in other Go Roam in Europe locations (but not in the expanded Go Roam Around the World or Around the World Extra list of locations).
Three may restrict file sharing and the downloading of large files when in a Go Roam Around the World location.

HOW DO I ACTIVATE GO ROAM ROAMING?

You’re likely already set up for roaming, but before you travel you should check that it’s enabled on your phone. To do this on iPhone, head to Settings > Mobile Service > Mobile Data Options > Data roaming. On Android you’ll want to head to Settings > Mobile Network > Data Roaming > All networks. Note that the exact process on Android may differ from this depending on what phone you have.

Once you arrive in your destination, you’ll then get a text confirming the roaming charges for the country you are in.

I’M ALREADY A THREE CUSTOMER, DO I HAVE GO ROAM?

That depends on when you joined Three and what type of plan you have.

If you have a Value or Complete plan (previously known as Plus and Premium plans) then you can use Go Roam for a variable number of days (detailed above) at no extra cost.
If you joined Three before 1st October 2021 and haven’t changed or upgraded your plan since then you will be able to make free use of Go Roam.
If you have a Pay As You Go plan then you’ll be able to use Go Roam for free (other than Go Roam Around the World Extra locations).
If Three has written to you to confirm that you’re exempt from Go Roam charges then you have it at no extra cost.
Everyone else will have to pay a daily charge to use Go Roam.
If you are in any doubt you can login to your My3 Account to view plan details.

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Three Go Roam (71 Destinations): Countries, Coverage & Roaming Fees

Three offers international roaming for a fixed daily fee in 71 destinations (free on Pay As You Go plans).

The Go Roam offer (also known as Go Roam Around The World ) allows you to use your normal UK plan allowances when you travel abroad. This includes your minutes, texts and mobile data (up to 12GB per month).

In this article, we’ll review the Go Roam offer including the countries it’s available in and the best Go Roam SIM cards. We’ll also look at Three’s international coverage and the limitations of the Go Roam offer including fair use limits when abroad.

1 Go Roam Countries
2 Plans with Go Roam
3 International Coverage
4.1 Tethering Is Chargeable Outside Europe
4.2 Fair Usage Policy
4.3 International Calls Are Not Included
4.4 Living Abroad
4.5 Data Speeds
5 Data Passport
6 Keeping Your Phone Number
7 Frequently Asked Questions
8 More Information

Go Roam Countries

In the UK, Three now includes Go Roam Around The World as an added feature on all of their plans. This allows you to use your normal plan allowances for a fixed daily charge when travelling to the following 71 destinations:

British Isles (free on Pay Monthly & Pay As You Go) :

Isle of Man
Republic of Ireland

Europe (£2 per day on Pay Monthly, free on Pay As You Go) :

Czech Republic
Liechtenstein
Netherlands
Switzerland

† Includes the Canary Islands (Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote) and the Balearic Islands (Majorca, Minorca, Ibiza, Formentera).

Asia & Middle East (£5 per day on Pay Monthly, free on Pay As You Go) :

North America (£5 per day on Pay Monthly, free on Pay As You Go) :

United States of America

Central & South America (£5 per day on Pay Monthly, free on Pay As You Go) :

El Salvador

Oceania (£5 per day on Pay Monthly, free on Pay As You Go) :

New Zealand

If you previously signed up to an Essential Pay Monthly plan between July 2016 and September 2018, you’ll only have Go Roam in Europe included on your plan.

All new plans taken out since September 2018 will give you access to the full Go Roam Around The World offer. This includes Three’s SIM-only deals , Pay Monthly contracts and Pay As You Go plans .

If your Pay Monthly plan started before the 1st October 2021, you’ll still be able to use your allowances abroad at no extra cost until the end of your contract.

Plans with Go Roam

If you choose a Lite Pay Monthly plan , you’ll pay £2 per day when you’re travelling in Europe and £5 per day when you’re travelling in other Go Roam Around The World countries.

If you choose a Value Pay Monthly plan , you’ll get 14 days of inclusive Go Roam for each year of your contract. If you go abroad for more than 14 days per year, you’ll pay the fixed daily fee.

Meanwhile, if you choose a Complete Pay Monthly plan , you’ll get 28 days of inclusive Go Roam for each year of your plan. If you go abroad for more than 28 days per year, you’ll pay the fixed daily fee in Go Roam destinations.

The following table shows Three’s most popular SIM-only deals with 25GB data per month:

See all Three SIM Only plans →

International Coverage

Unfortunately, Three stopped publishing the full list of their partner mobile networks during 2020. The following table shows their international coverage as published in 2020, but things may have changed since then:

For more information, you can enter the name of the country you’re visiting on Three’s website .

Limitations & Restrictions

With the Go Roam offer on Three, there are five key limitations worth being aware of:

Tethering and personal hotspot are chargeable when you’re travelling to a Go Roam country outside Europe.
Data usage is limited to 12GB per month in Go Roam countries.
Inclusive minutes and texts can only be used for contacting UK-based numbers, as well as EU-based numbers when travelling in Europe.
There are restrictions in place so you can’t use the service exclusively abroad.
Although 4G coverage is now available in most Go Roam countries, download speeds might be slower when you’re abroad.

In the following section, we’ll discuss each of these limitations in more detail.

Tethering Is Chargeable Outside Europe

If you’re travelling to a Go Roam country in Europe, tethering can be used as normal when you’re abroad. You can tether from your normal plan allowance, or at a rate of 1p/MB or 5p/MB when your allowances run out (the out-of-allowance charge will depend on your plan).

If you’re travelling outside Europe, tethering is prohibited unless you buy a £5 per day Data Passport add-on. There’s more information about this on Three’s website :

You can’t use your phone as a Personal Hotspot in our Go Roam Around the World destinations. … If you want to use your device as a Personal Hotspot [in a Go Roam Around The World destination] or to stream or connect to Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) at faster speeds, you can choose to purchase our Data Passport, which gives you unlimited, unrestricted data to use until midnight (UK time) on the day of purchase for just £5. You can use this unlimited data allowance to tether or stream to your heart’s content and connect to VPNs.

Fair Usage Policy

If you use more than 12GB of data in Europe during one month, you’ll be surcharged for further usage at the rate of 0.3p/MB. You’ll never lose access to your mobile phone service for exceeding the fair usage policy in Europe.

When using Go Roam outside Europe, there’s a fair usage policy of 3000 minutes, 5000 texts and 12GB of data. Outside Europe, this is a hard limit. If you exceed it, your data usage abroad will be blocked for the rest of the monthly billing period. If you exceed the fair usage limit outside Europe twice in a rolling 12-month period, Three says they reserve the right to suspend international roaming on your account.

International Calls Are Not Included

If you’re using Go Roam in Europe, Three will also allow you to call and text other phone numbers based in the EU using your allowance. This might include phone calls to your hotel, a local taxi firm or more.

If you’re using the Go Roam offer outside Europe, you’ll only be able to call and text other UK-based phone numbers with your allowance. This doesn’t include phone numbers in the country you’re travelling in. For instance, if you’re travelling in the US, you won’t be able to call US-based phone numbers with your allowance. Instead, you’ll need to pay up to £1.40 per minute when you make these calls.

Living Abroad

When using Go Roam in Europe, Three will look at the balance of your usage over a rolling 4-month period. If over the 4-month period, you spend the majority of your time abroad in Europe and if you also use more of your allowances there than you do in the UK, Three reserves the right to add a surcharge to your plan. The surcharge is up to 3p/minute, 1p/text and 0.3p/MB (or 10p/minute, 10p/text and 5p/MB for New Pay As You Go customers). You’ll be given at least two weeks notice before a surcharge is applied to your account.

When using Go Roam outside of Europe, a different limit applies to your usage there. Here, Three will look at the number of “complete months” you spend abroad in a Go Roam Around The World country. By complete months, this means you’ve spent the entire month abroad in a Go Roam country. If you’ve also used your phone inside the UK or in a non-Go Roam country, it will not count as a complete month towards your limit. Customers mustn’t spend more than two complete months abroad per year in a Go Roam Around The World country:

Go Roam is intended for our UK customers who are UK residents or have stable links with the UK (e.g. full-time employment or study in the UK) who are visiting one of the destinations for short periods, like holidays or business trips. It isn’t designed for people who live abroad or stay for extended periods. If you roam exclusively in a Go Roam Around the World destination for any two complete months in a rolling 12-month period, we may suspend International Roaming on your account, meaning you will no longer be able to use your phone or device abroad. Of course, we will let you know in advance if this is likely to happen. If you spend a full month abroad but some of that time is spent in a destination that isn’t included in Go Roam, the restriction won’t apply.

These restrictions are listed in Three’s price guide .

Data Speeds

Despite the ability to access 4G coverage, download speeds may still be slower when you’re abroad in a Go Roam country. For instance, while streaming and Virtual Private Network (VPN) services should work when abroad, the experience may be “slower” than it is in the UK:

You’ll be able to stream and connect to Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) while in a Feel At Home destination, but both of these may be slower than they are in the UK.

If you’d like to access faster download speeds when abroad, you can buy Three’s £5/day Data Passport add-on. This gives you unrestricted speeds for streaming and VPN, along with the ability to use your phone as a Personal Hotspot outside Europe.

Data Passport

There are three reasons why you might want to buy a Data Passport add-on:

Data Passport Countries (£5 per day ) :

Saudi Arabia
South Korea
United Arab Emirates

plus all Go Roam countries and the UK

Data Passport gives you unrestricted usage in Go Roam destinations. If you add the £5/day Data Passport add-on, you’ll get unrestricted speeds for streaming video and music when abroad. You’ll also be able to use your phone as a hotspot and will be able to connect to Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).
Data Passport can be used when you run out of data on your plan. You can buy a Data Passport for additional data if you run out of your core data allowances when abroad.

For more information about Data Passport, see Three’s official website .

Keeping Your Phone Number

Start by asking your current mobile network to provide you with a PAC Code . You can get one through your mobile network’s website or app, or by texting PAC to 65075. Once you have it, you can order your new phone or SIM card from Three’s website.

Once your new phone or SIM card arrives, fill out this form on Three’s website . After you submit your PAC Code, Three will schedule the transfer of your phone number (normally for the next working day). In the meantime, you’ll continue receiving a service from your old mobile network.

For step-by-step instructions on transferring a phone number to Three , please select your current mobile network:

Select your current mobile network:

Your current mobile network... BT Mobile EE giffgaff O2 Sky Mobile Three Virgin Mobile Vodafone 1pMobile ASDA Mobile Honest Mobile iD Mobile Lebara Mobile Lycamobile Orange Plusnet Mobile Smarty Superdrug Mobile Talk Home Talkmobile TalkTalk Mobile Tesco Mobile T-Mobile Vectone Mobile VOXI

More Options

If you’re only using Three on a temporary basis, it’s best to set up call forwarding from your current mobile network instead. If you transfer your phone number using a PAC Code, the account on your old mobile network will be closed automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

More information.

For more information about the Go Roam offer, please see Three’s official website . You may also find it useful to consult their international roaming price guide .

Your Comments 580 so far

We'd love to hear your thoughts and any questions you may have. So far, we've received 580 comments from readers. You can add your own comment here .

Thanks Ken! said:

Good day. If i already consume 12gb data limit here on US (roam) could i purchase any add ons? Or it will be useless? Thanks!

Ken replied:

Hi there, Unfortunately, there’s no way to extend the 12GB monthly fair usage limit 🙁 Ken

Hello. Is the 12gb data limit applicable to any top up plan or do you have to take a plan with data plan higher than 12gb to avail this? Thank you

Hi Jade, Thanks for your comment. You’ll need a plan with at least 12GB data per month to get the full 12GB allowance. In other words, you can use up your plan allowance or 12GB per month, whichever is lower. Hope this helps, Ken

Anthony said:

Seems this is coming to an end with 3 now. EU roaming at least

Colin Agnew replied:

From 23rd May I think, there will be a £5 daily charge to use their Go Roam service.

Backwards step.

Colin replied:

Unsure if PAYG customers are going to get hit by the £5 daily charge…can anyone clarify?

Hi Colin, Thanks for the comment. My understanding is that PAYG users will continue to get Go Roam for free, at least for the time being. Ken

Alex4D replied:

Nope, the page you linked to for the PAYG deal says:

“Daily roaming charge of £2 applies to unlock your UK allowances in Go Roam in Europe destinations, and £5 in Go Roam Around the World.”

Hi Alex, Thanks for your comment. You’re absolutely right, though there’s also a bit of information below that: “If you’re on Pay As You Go, or your Pay Monthly plan started before 1 October 2021, these charges won’t apply. ” Hope this helps, Ken

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Three roaming charges: Everything you need to know before using your phone abroad

Max Figgett

Heading on holiday or a work trip? We run through the Three roaming charges and explain how to make the most of your allowance

Whether you’re jetting off to somewhere warm, visiting friends abroad or traveling for work, you’ll need to understand the Three roaming charges to avoid getting a nasty shock. That’s especially the case if you’re going to mainland Europe, where fees have changed markedly for new mobile network customers since Brexit. We’re here to help, though, and have broken down everything you need to know about Three’s roaming charges into manageable chunks.

Luckily, the various Three plans are easy to understand and cover dozens of countries around the world for a reasonable fee. You’ll also only pay the 24-hour Go Roam fees to access your allowance if there’s a “chargeable event”, meaning that you’ve called a number, sent a text or used data. It will cover you for a period of 24 hours, irrespective of the time zone.

Three roaming charges: The basics

1. customers who signed up before 1 october 2021.

If your Three pay-monthly plan began before 1 October 2021, the 24-hour roaming charges below won’t apply. Instead, you’ll be able to use your data, minute and text allowances as normal in 71 countries around the world . However, be aware that hefty charges will apply if you go over your allowance or call non-UK numbers.

As a popular example, here’s what you’ll pay in the US if you were a pay-monthly customer before 1 October 2021.

2. Customers who signed up on or after 1 October 2021

If you began your pay-monthly Three plan on or after 1 October 2021, you have to pay a 24-hour fee to use your allowance in a country in Europe or other selected destinations around the world – but not until 23 May 2022 . This charge covers you for 24 hours, regardless of time zones, and will only kick in if you make a call, text or use data. The plans are known as Go Roam in Europe and Go Roam Around the World, which we’ll examine in more detail below. However, let’s run through a couple of examples first.

Here’s what you’ll pay in France after 23 May 2022, if you signed up for a pay-monthly Three plan on or after 1 October 2021.

And here are the fees for Australia after 23 May 2022, if your plan post-dates 1 October 2021.

Three’s latest pay-monthly offers

Three roaming charges: Go Roam in Europe

This means you can text and call any UK or EU numbers for £2 for 24 hours, as well as use up to 12GB of your data allowance. However, if you go over your allowance, you’ll end up paying extra fees. For example, here are the costs for Italy:

It’s worth bearing in mind that both the Go Roam in Europe and Go Road Around the World features are designed for short-term use. If you use them for more than two months in any 12-month period, Three might suspend international roaming on your account. We’d always recommend picking up a local SIM card if you’re staying somewhere for a length of time, though, as it will save you a lot of money.

Three’s latest PAYG offers

Three roaming charges: Go Roam Around the World

You can find a full list of the Go Roam Around the World destinations with their individual tariffs here and, again, remember this isn’t a long-term solution: you can only use the feature for two months in 12. As an example, here are the pay-monthly roaming costs for Singapore:

Three roaming charges: Data Passport

If you need a quick data boost for finding directions abroad, seeking out the best restaurants nearby or uploading precious holiday snaps, look no further than Three’s Data Passport. It gives you all-you-can-use internet for a day (until midnight UK time) in 89 destinations worldwide for £5.

It’s ideal for users who don’t usually have an unlimited plan and is valid in countries such as the US, Australia, Mexico, South Korea, Canada and many others. It also means you can use your phone as a portable hotspot and share the data with, say, your laptop. To enable it, either follow the instructions here or click the link that will automatically land in your text inbox when you arrive in the country.

Three’s latest SIM-only offers

Three roaming charges: Exceptions

But what about the places that aren’t covered by Three’s Go Roam in Europe, Go Roam Around the World or Data Passport? Well, unfortunately, they’ll be a lot more expensive to visit because they rely on steep traditional roaming fees. For instance, here are the costs for India:

With prices per megabyte rising to as high as £6 in countries such as Nigeria, it really is worth seeking out a local SIM for the length of your stay or using your existing one as sparingly as possible. Three also has some top tips for saving money on roaming, which we’ve rounded up in the next section.

Three’s latest pay monthly offers

Three roaming charges: How to reduce costs

Whether you’re in a country that isn’t covered by Three’s daily roaming fees or you simply want to reduce the amount you use your phone to avoid going over your allowance, the mobile network has a handful of pointers. We’ve summarised them below.

Use Wi-Fi wherever possible and download files such as tickets, music or videos to your device in advance. You can also keep in touch with home via apps such as WhatsApp or Signal, which let you call over Wi-Fi.
Switch on Flight mode. This is a good solution if you don’t want to use any data at all, while still using your phone for taking photos or getting directions via GPS.
Buy a local SIM. As we’ve mentioned above, this is the best way to save money if you’re abroad for a decent amount of time. Just make sure you do your research to avoid signing up for extras you don’t need.
Avoid data-hungry apps. If you’re in a beautiful part of the world, it can be tempting to constantly post photos to Instagram or Facebook. However, these consume a lot of data so it’s worth doing so sparingly or, again, waiting until you’ve got a trustworthy Wi-Fi connection to upload your beach selfies.
Turn off automatic updates. Apps can download updates in the background, hoovering up data, so it’s worth switching these off where possible.

Three roaming charges: Deals

Like the look of Three’s roaming plans and are thinking of switching to the network or upgrading your existing contract with the company? We’ve collected all of this month’s best Three deals in one place to help you nab a bargain.

And, if you’d like to size up the competition, why not head to our roundups of the best SIM-only deals , best unlimited data SIMs and best PAYG SIMs too?

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The 10 Best Tips For Using A Cell Phone During International Travel

Traveling abroad? Use these tips to stay connected without going broke

Western Sydney University
Switching from Android

iPhones and Android smartphones will work in any country you travel to, but their functionality can be limited depending on your current mobile plan, whether you want to rent a SIM card or portale Wi-Fi devices upon arrival, and how well you prepare your apps before your departure.

Here are 10 things you need to know to save some money and get the most out of your smartphone when traveling internationally.

Confirm International Texting, Calling, And Data Fees

By far the most-important thing you need to do before traveling abroad is to check with your service provider about their current policies relating to international cell phone use and what your current contract already allows.

Global roaming functionality used to be an extra feature that users would have to manually opt into using for an additional fee. This has now changed and many cell phone service providers such as Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile now activate international texting, calling, and data features automatically as soon as the handset is used in a foreign country.

This activation usually incurs a pricey fee that's recharged on a daily basis and can get very expensive if you're planning to travel for a long period of time. Metro PCS' World Calling is another popular service many people use for making international phone calls while traveling.

Mobile providers frequently update their international roaming services with new prices, features, and payment options. Verizon , AT&T , and T-Mobile each have dedicated pages on their official websites that detail their current options. However, you may have signed up for a contract that was created before the current model launched so the updated information on their sites may not apply to you. The best advice for cell phone usage when going abroad is to talk to a customer service representative over the phone or in person about your specific mobile phone contract.

Check If Your Smartphone's Unlocked

guvendemir/GettyImagesPlus

If you're planning to use an international cell phone plan with your current provider while traveling overseas, you don't really need to worry about whether your smartphone is unlocked or not. If you're thinking of renting a SIM card once you arrive at your target destination though, this bit of information is incredibly important.

Having a locked phone means that it can only be used on one specific provider's cellular network and this means that you won't be able to use that phone in a country where that network doesn't exist. If your phone is unlocked, you can use it on other cellular networks both in your home country and abroad.

Rent A SIM Card For International Cell Phone Use

Juanma Domínguez/Moment/GettyImages

SIM card rental allows you to use all of your phone's features, such as phone calls, text messages, and cellular data, by swapping out your current SIM card for one that's compatible with the country you're visiting.

While using another SIM card, your phone will be unable to receive texts or calls to your regular phone number as the SIM card will give your phone a new number. Due to this side effect, it's recommended to tell friends and family to contact you via email or a chat app like Facebook Messenger while you're traveling.

SIM card rental is available in most regions and can be done at specialized stores in major airports and at cell phone company branches. Renting a SIM card is generally much cheaper than paying for an international roaming service, especially for those planning to travel abroad for several days or weeks.

Rent A Portable Wi-Fi Device Instead

If you don't need texting or phone calls while traveling overseas and you think you'll be fine using your smartphone's apps for communication and navigation, a popular alternative to rental SIMs is a portable Wi-Fi device .

These Wi-Fi devices are about the size of a deck of cards and can be carried in your pocket or handbag. They broadcast a strong Wi-Fi signal to which you can connect your smartphone and other devices while traveling.

Such devices can usually be rented at airports and in telephone service provider stores. Some tourist information buildings also offer them to travelers.

Invest In A Quality Battery Pack

Odds are when you're traveling overseas, you're going to be using your phone a lot more than usual to navigate and to take photos and video. Your phone will also likely be going longer without chance to recharge and all of this extra usage will use up its battery power a lot faster than normal.

To prevent you from ending up with a dead phone while on the road, some good advice for smartphone owners is to invest in a good quality battery pack that can hold a significant amount of power. These typically feature at least one USB slot which can be used to recharge your smartphone, tablet, or other electronic accessories. A quality battery pack is a solid addition to any travel tech kit.

While most battery packs can be charged by being plugged into a wall, a growing number also boast solar panels which lets them be charged by the sun. These can be useful when traveling anywhere really but they're particularly practical for travelers that go camping.

Buy A Modern USB Power Adapter

A traditional power adapter with old-school power sockets for your chargers and laptop is a necessary purchase if you want to keep your electronics charged while traveling. If you're planning to buy a new adapter though, it's worth investing in a modern model which has at least one built-in USB port .

A USB port in an adapter will save you a lot of space when packing as USB cables generally take up much less room than cables with wall plugs on one end. USB charging cables will also likely work with more than one of your devices so you won't have to bring a separate cable for everything you own.

Pre-Download Media For Long Flights

Caiaimage/AgnieszkaOlek/GettyImages

When using your cell phone for international travel, you're bound to experience significant periods of time when you have access to neither a cellular nor Wi-Fi network and accessing online content will be almost impossible.

Because of this, it's a good idea to download some content before you travel so you have something to keep you entertained during your flight or after you arrive in a foreign country. The Netflix smartphone app lets you download many of its movies and TV shows, while the official YouTube apps have the ability to download your favorite videos if you're a YouTube Premium subscriber .

If you're not a subscriber of YouTube Premium, there's still a way to download YouTube videos to your device for offline viewing.

Other good options for offline media include the first-party digital stores for iOS , Android, and Windows 10 devices, all of which allow for the downloading of movies, songs, podcasts, and TV series. Spotify is another good choice for podcast downloads and music downloads, though you'll need a Spotify Premium membership to download songs for offline listening.

Pre-Download Maps For Offline Access

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Unless you're paying for a global roaming package when going overseas, you'll likely be arriving at your target destination with no online functionality on your phone. This can make looking up travel information on your maps app very difficult or in many cases impossible.

Some airports do offer free Wi-Fi but many don't. The airport's Wi-Fi shouldn't be relied upon either, as once you leave the airport and get in a train, bus, taxi, or Uber , your smartphone will go completely offline again.

Fortunately, many map apps allow for the downloading of maps for offline viewing before you get to your location. Google Maps supports such a feature on both Android and iOS devices while the Maps app on Windows 10 laptops and tablets also contains this functionality.

While a lot of the location data can be downloaded in map apps, most of the public transport information won't function when offline. A good alternative is to download the local public transport app for your target destination before you go. Many of these apps work completely offline and also feature some useful information on the transport services available.

Set Up Cloud Services On Your Mobile Device

Westend61 / Brand X Pictures

Having your smartphone lost, broken, or stolen during international travel is always a possibility. Fortunately, experiencing any one of these bad situations doesn't have to be as devastating as it once was due to a variety of cloud services that can back up all of your photos, videos, and app settings to the cloud for access on another phone, tablet, or computer in the future.

The iPhone and Android smartphone first-party cloud services, iCloud and Google Drive , are usually installed and enabled by default on their respective devices to save your data to their respective servers but there are also some third-party options that you may want to check out as a backup.

Dropbox and Microsoft's OneDrive two popular alternatives to the default smartphone cloud options but there are a number worth checking out. Most cloud services can work alongside each other to back up your data so if you reach your data limit on one, you can rest assured that one of the other services has picked up the slack.

Prepare For App Content Changes In Other Countries

While many apps and services can function abroad, many travelers discover that some licenced content on their cell phone's apps changes slightly despite the same app and account being used as back home.

For example, a variety of music playlists may be available in the Fitbit Coach and other fitness smartphone apps when using them in the United States but you may find your song selection to be more limited when traveling to New Zealand. Once Upon a Time and Frasier may be on your Netflix list back home, but when traveling to Australia you may find that they disappear from the Netflix app completely.

The changing of content within apps isn't necessarily always a bad thing, though. While some of your favorite shows may become unavailable in Netflix when traveling to Japan for example, you'll also gain access to a lot of great Japanese films and anime series that you wouldn't be able to watch with your Netflix account back home.

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What’s the best international phone plan right now?

On my first trip to Japan, I decided to forgo international data on my cellphone. I figured I could rely on public Wi-Fi, but I regretted not having data on my phone when I became lost. From that experience, I learned to download offline maps and a translation app beforehand if I know I won't have data.

But now, I almost always have data when I travel via my international phone plan, or through a physical SIM I buy at my destination or an eSIM I purchase online.

There are many reasons why you may want to remain connected while abroad. In this guide, I'll compare the best international phone plans. Note that many plans function differently in Canada and Mexico from other international locations. This guide focuses on the best phone plans for U.S. residents who travel outside North America.

First things first: You might not need an international phone plan. If you primarily need data, using a different SIM on your trip may be the simplest and cheapest solution. Some apps even support text and voice communication over data connections.

If your device supports eSIM, you may be able to purchase a data plan for your destination through an app like Airalo . Over the past year, I've purchased and used the following Airalo eSIMs either to gain data in a destination not served by my primary international phone plan (Google Fi) or to get less-expensive data than what Google Fi provides:

Global (84 countries) : 20 GB over 180 days for $89
Japan : 20 GB over 30 days for $26
France : 20 GB over 30 days for $36
Fiji : Three GB over 30 days for $19.50
U.S. : One GB over seven days for $4.50

If your device doesn't support eSIM, you could still purchase a local SIM card at your destination. For example, I bought a monthlong SIM card with unlimited high-speed data in Vietnam for less than $10. But data is significantly more expensive in some destinations, and it can be difficult to determine exactly what you're getting when you purchase a physical SIM card. As such, I've mostly stuck with a physical Google Fi SIM card and Airalo eSIMs instead of using local SIM cards.

If you plan to use eSIM or a local SIM card, you should ensure your phone is unlocked. A locked phone won't be able to accept any other SIM cards until it is unlocked.

Related: How TPG's Zach Griff avoids the pesky $10 daily roaming charges when traveling

Cost for one line : $20 (plus taxes and fees) per month plus data usage costs for the Flexible plan or $65 (plus taxes and fees) per month for the Unlimited Plus plan
Data abroad : $10 per GB (with free data after six GBs per month but slower speeds after 15 GBs in a month) in more than 200 destinations for the Flexible plan or free (but with slower speeds after 50 GBs in a month) in more than 200 destinations for the Unlimited Plus plan
Voice abroad : 20 cents per minute from more than 200 destinations (and calls via Wi-Fi to the U.S., Canada and Mexico are free)
Text abroad : Free from more than 200 destinations

I've used Google Fi as my primary cellphone plan for most of the past six years. I've had a few connectivity issues in the U.S. — where Google Fi currently uses the T-Mobile network — including in Tampa, Austin and New York City. However, I keep Google Fi primarily because I usually get high-speed data as soon as I turn airplane mode off, and I can seamlessly receive calls and texts on my U.S. number while traveling internationally.

You might be tempted to only use Google Fi when traveling outside the U.S., but doing so isn't a good idea. After all, the Google Fi terms of service state:

The services are offered only to residents of the United States. The Services must be primarily used in the United States (territories not included) and are not intended for extended international use. Further, the services are designed for use predominantly within our network. If your usage outside our network is excessive, abnormally high, or causes us to incur too much cost, we may, at our option and sole discretion, suspend your Google Fi account, terminate your service, or limit your use of roaming.

Google Fi has shut down some U.S. residents who used Google Fi primarily outside the U.S. So, I recommend avoiding extended international use and using Google Fi more in the U.S. than abroad if you don't want to get shut down. I buy eSIMs to decrease my Google Fi usage in some destinations, especially when I can purchase a package through Airalo for significantly less than $10 per GB (the amount I pay Google Fi for data on my Flexible plan).

Google Fi is the best international phone plan for U.S.-based travelers who want fast data without hassle while traveling abroad. Plans become slightly cheaper as you add more members. In my travels with Google Fi since 2016, I've only failed to get any service in three locations: parts of Alaska, the all-inclusive resort I lived out of for a month in the Dominican Republic and Liberia .

Related: Can you use your cellphone on a cruise?

Cost for one line : $60 per month for the Essentials plan, $70 per month for the Magenta plan, $75 per month for the Go5G plan, $85 per month for the Magenta Max plan and $90 per month for the Go 5G Plus plan
Data abroad : Free for up to five GB of high-speed data (in 11 European countries for the Magenta and Go5G plans, and in more than 215 countries and destinations for the Magenta Max and Go5G Plus plans) and then free for up to 256 kilobits per second in more than 215 countries and destinations for Magenta, Go5G, Magenta Max and Go5G Plus plans (no data outside North America is included in the Essentials plan)
Voice abroad : 25 cents per minute from more than 215 countries and destinations for the Essentials, Magenta, Go5G, Magenta Max and Go5G Plus plans
Text abroad : Free from more than 215 countries and destinations for the Essentials, Magenta, Go5G, Magenta Max and Go5G Plus plans

Before using Google Fi in 2016, I relied on T-Mobile when traveling internationally until I grew tired of slow data speeds. However, the plans have improved, and many travelers swear by T-Mobile as their international phone and data plan . T-Mobile customers can avoid slow data by purchasing international passes to add to their existing plan as follows:

International 1-day pass : 512 MB of high-speed data and unlimited calling for 24 hours for $5
Five-GB international pass : Five GB of high-speed data and unlimited calling for 10 days for $35
15-GB international pass : 15 GB of high-speed data and unlimited calling for 30 days for $50

Long-term and frequent international travelers should note that T-Mobile says the following about its plans:

Not for extended international use; you must reside in the US and primary usage must occur on our network. Device must register on our network before international use. Service may be terminated or restricted for excessive roaming.

Additionally, T-Mobile's terms and conditions state you are not permitted to use T-Mobile services if it "results in more than 50% of your voice and/or data usage being Off-Net (i.e., connected to another provider's network) for any 2 billing cycles within any 12-month period." There have been instances of T-Mobile shutting down travelers for roaming excessively . So, don't go with T-Mobile if your primary usage won't be domestically on T-Mobile's network.

Related: 6 reasons why Apple's entry-level iPhone 14s are great for travelers

Other international phone plans to consider

Finally, you may want to check your current provider's options if you only occasionally travel internationally. Here are some options that are available as optional add-ons for many AT&T and Verizon plans:

AT&T international day pass : Pay an extra $10 per 24 hours for unlimited high-speed data, talk and text in more than 210 destinations. You'll only be charged for days (as determined by your local U.S. time zone) you use data, make or receive a call or send a text message while in a destination covered by the international day pass.
Verizon TravelPass : Pay an extra $10 per day per line for unlimited calls, texts and data (data speeds decrease after two GBs in a day) in more than 210 countries. You'll only be charged for days you send or receive a call, send texts or use data while abroad.
Verizon international monthly plan : Pay an extra $100 per month for 250 minutes of talk, unlimited texts and unlimited data (data speeds decrease after 20 GBs in a month) in more than 210 countries.

You could also check out U.S. Mobile's plans. U.S. Mobile plans don't include calling or texting from outside the U.S. Still, the Unlimited Premium plan offers up to 10 GB of international data, and most plans let you buy eSIMs for more than 100 countries from within the U.S. Mobile app.

Mint Mobile could also be a viable solution if you're on a budget and don't travel abroad frequently. Although Mint Mobile doesn't offer any international data, text or voice on its plans, you can purchase international roaming credits and then use them to text, talk and use data in more than 210 countries and destinations. Rates for talk, text and data vary based on the country you're visiting; they usually cost about 25 cents per minute for talk, 5 cents per text and 20 cents per MB of data. If you don't plan to use much data — after all, you'd be paying a massive $205 per GB in many countries — Mint Mobile could be a feasible option.

Most cellphone plans allow you to pay as you go for international use, but these rates are almost always excessive. As such, frequent international travelers should find a different solution because pay-as-you-go costs will add up quickly.

Related: Credit cards that cover cellphone loss and damage

Bottom line

Having a functioning international phone plan when traveling abroad is important for travelers who want to stay connected. Traveling as a digital nomad , I've found Google Fi is by far my best option for fast data, modestly priced calling and free texting in most destinations. However, I supplement my Google Fi plan with eSIMs in some destinations to gain access to less-expensive data.

If you already have T-Mobile or a plan that offers international add-ons, you may want to stick with your plan. Otherwise, it's worth considering an eSIM or a local SIM card. You can buy eSIMs ahead of your trip, and it's usually possible to pick up local SIM cards at the airport when you land in a new country.

Home > Mobile > Guide > Go Roam: what does Three's roaming service offer?

Go Roam: what does Three's roaming service offer?

Three Mobile's Go Roam service has expanded to cover 71 global destinations, with more available in the Data Passport.

In this guide:

If a customer has unlimited texts on their plan, they can send up to 5000 texts back to the UK per month
If a customer has a Pay As You Go plan, they can send up to 3000 texts back to the UK per month
If a customer has 3000 or more minutes on their plan, they can use up to 3000 minutes on calls back to the UK
If a customer has a data allowance of up to 12GB, up to this amount of data can be used per month but no data above this amount will be permitted
2p per text
3p per minute

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Still, as the article says, you should be extra careful when travelling new borders... last week I went to the Greek island Mytilene which is very close to Tukey, and I got a charge for £7.80 on internet, based on the £3 per Mb(!) cost of roaming in Turkey. This was while I was on the Greek island and without actively using my phone. It automatically switched to Turkcell and (apparently) used the internet on its own (e.g. getting notifications and what not). Given the extreme cost of data roaming in Turkey (£3 per Mb as opposed to £0.01 per Mb in EU countries when exceeding your allowance), if I was unlucky enough to be watching a YouTube video when this happened, it could cost me potentially hundreds of pounds.

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5 Best Ways to Use Your Phone When Traveling Abroad

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For some, the thought of disconnecting to go on an international trip may seem like a dream, but that idea might be a nightmare for others.

For better or for worse, we live in an ultra-connected world. But on the bright side for those who want to stay connected, there's no shortage of ways to send and receive text messages, calls and overseas.

Some are even free — or at least cheap. Whether it's tapping into an international cell phone plans, getting a local SIM or eSIM card, or maximizing the free-Wifi, here are NerdWallet's tips on the best ways to use your cell phone while abroad:

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

1. Sign up for the right international phone plan

When it comes to the best international phone plans, a few stand out: Google Fi and T-Mobile. Here's a look at the benefits and drawbacks of each of their international plans:

Google Fi is a virtual cell phone service provider. Rather than owning its own towers, Google Fi partners with local cell phone providers to provide cell, data and text services. And Google Fi didn't just stop at partnering with U.S. cell phone providers. Google Fi provides service in over 200 countries, making it incredibly convenient for frequent international travelers.

How to use Google Fi: Upon landing in an international country, simply turn off airplane mode and use your phone just like you do at home.

With Google Fi service, you'll get unlimited free texting. Meanwhile, data costs the same as when you're back home and actually using Google Fi.

Drawbacks: Phone calls cost extra, and they can add up. Expect to owe 20 cents per minute when calling overseas or traveling overseas on a Google Fi plan.

Another Google Fi drawback? Depending on the plan you choose, data prices can be quite high compared to other cell phone service options while you're in the U.S. So while it's an affordable international pick, it might not net out so affordable back at home.

» Learn more: What to know about insurance for electronics

You can't say Google Fi without saying T-Mobile. That's because Google Fi actually uses the T-Mobile network.

And you might actually be better off just using T-Mobile directly, as their service is among the best for international travelers. That's because T-Mobile offers unlimited data and texting in more than 215 countries & destinations on qualifying plans.

T-Mobile customers on Go5G Plus, Go5G Next plans, as well as Magenta MAX, get unlimited text and up to 5GB of high-speed data, then unlimited data at up to 256Kbps in 215+ countries and destinations.

In Canada and Mexico, customers on these plans also get unlimited talk and text, and up to 15GB of high-speed data, then unlimited data at up to 256Kbps.

Other plans, such as Go5G, include unlimited text and up to 5GB of high-speed data in 11 countries (plus 10GB in Canada and Mexico). After that, it's unlimited data at up to 256Kbps in 215+ countries and destinations.

T-Mobile wins not just because of how affordable it is internationally — but in the air too. T-Mobile customers have access to free in-flight Wi-Fi .

Then there are the other nice travel perks that make being a T-Mobile customer a little better. For example, T-Mobile customers get discounts at Hilton Honors hotels. And if renting a car at Dollar Car Rental, T-Mobile customers don't need to refuel their tanks.

Drawbacks: You get what you pay for when it comes to data speeds. Don't expect to be able to do much on 256Kbps. If you want faster data speeds, you'll need to purchase an International Pass that includes a limited amount of data and unlimited calling over a set number of days.

» Learn more: How to find cheap things to do in any city

2. Buy a local SIM card in your destination

Seasoned international travelers may remember when getting a local SIM card was the only way of staying connected while overseas. But even now, with all of the alternatives that we have, getting a local SIM card can still be a great option. Say you're staying in a country or region for an extended period. A local SIM card might be the best option to make local calls at affordable rates.

Depending on where you go, a local SIM card could be the most economical option. For example, when I visited Vietnam in January 2019, airport vendors offered local SIM cards with unlimited LTE data for just $8. This was cheaper than paying for even 1GB of data using Google Fi. So, I alternated between using this local SIM card for data and Google Fi for text messages.

Photo courtesy of JT Genter

3. Utilize an eSIM card

eSIM cards are a high-tech solution to getting a local number without having to hunt down a SIM card in your destination. Rather than getting a physical SIM card, you can purchase and download an eSIM on your phone to connect to cell networks and get data while overseas.

Tons of providers sell eSIMs online with options and prices depending on where you're going and how much you'll need to use your phone. So, make sure to dig around and check reviews before purchasing. But, let's take a look at one provider to show you generally how it works.

Airalo sells a variety of eSIMs that cover a combined 190+ countries and regions. You can search for eSIMs by country or region, or you can purchase a global eSIM that covers 87 countries.

Say you're heading to Europe and want to have data for navigating around the cities you're visiting. Airalo currently offers six European eSIM options:

1GB of data valid for 7 days for $5.

3GB of data valid for 30 days for $13.

5GB of data valid for 30 days for $20.

10GB of data valid for 30 days for $37.

50GB of data valid for 90 days for $100.

100GB of data valid for 180 days for $185.

As you can see, you can drop the price to just $4 per GB by buying 5GB of data or just $2 per GB by buying 50GB of data. That's very affordable compared to options like Google Fi — which can cost up to $10 per GB. However, you generally won't have access to SMS text messages through eSIMs. One option is to switch between using an eSIM for data and either Google Fi, Sprint or T-Mobile for text messages.

Airalo succinctly spells out the process that you'll need to go through when purchasing any type of eSIM. Generally you'll need to:

Download the provider's app.

Purchase the eSIM.

Install the eSIM.

Then activate the eSIM once you're ready to start using it.

One major restriction to this option: you'll need to have a phone that supports eSIMs. Also, you'll want to have some technical knowhow. As I've learned from experience, setting up an eSIM can be much harder than the Airalo screenshots make it seem.

4. Pay for an international plan add-on

If you want to use your phone number to call and text while overseas — and you don't have Google Fi, T-Mobile or Sprint — you're likely going to need to purchase an international add-on to your plan. The rates and options for these types of services are going to vary between cell phone providers. Let's look at Verizon's options as an example.

All unlimited Verizon plans include free talk, text and data in Mexico and Canada. Just beware that data speeds are reduced to 2G speeds after 0.5 GB per day. For travels outside the U.S., Mexico and Canada, you have two options:

For $10 per day, TravelPass will let you use your phone like you do at home with unlimited talk, text and data in over 185 countries. Get the International Monthly Plan for $100 per month to get a package of minutes, data and text messages for use overseas.

» Learn more: How tech can help you travel smarter

5. Embrace airplane mode

If you don't need to access data or SMS, you might embrace airplane mode. You're expected to turn it on before takeoff anyway. But upon landing, the cheapest way to avoid international phone fees is to never turn airplane mode back on until you touchdown in the U.S. again.

When airplane mode is enabled, your phone is technically disconnected from the cellular network, preventing it from searching for and connecting to foreign carriers. This not only conserves battery life but also eliminates the risk of incurring hefty roaming charges. However, you can still access Wi-Fi networks, allowing you to connect to the internet, check emails, or use apps like Google Maps.

To send messages via internet, scout out free Wi-Fi. Luckily, most international airports and hotels have it these days. Free Wi-Fi is also easy to come by at coffee shops, restaurants, malls and major tourist attractions.

If you're looking for the best way to use your cell phone abroad

The right solution is going to depend on what cell phone service you use in the U.S., where you're going and how much data you'll need. If you just want basic data to keep up on emails and search directions, using T-Mobile or Sprint can save you from having to pay when traveling overseas.

However, if you want high-speed data, you'll want to look into options like eSIMs or purchasing a local SIM card. And for those who want the simplicity of using their cell phone just like at home no matter where they go, Google Fi or an international add-on plan can be an excellent option.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

1.5%-5% Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Up to $300 Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options

75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

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Which network is best for international roaming?

Which network is best for roaming?

That largely depends on where you like to holiday. We'll be looking at the following providers based on their costs, data allowances, and general roaming policies:

Virgin Media

Tesco mobile.

At the time of writing, Three’s Go Roam scheme covers 71 worldwide locations, more than any other network. And winningly, it includes popular destinations like the USA, Australia and Hong Kong.

However, a lot of these destinations are only available on a Three Advanced plan, which is usually more expensive than a regular Three deal.

Typically, Advanced plan contracts work out at around £3 or £4 a month more than an Essential plan. But, in addition to Three’s Feel at Home inclusive roaming scheme, an Advanced plan will also get you Go Binge , allowing you to use select streaming services without eating into your data.

Still, if you normally travel in the EU and don’t use streaming services on the go, you might be better off saving some money and going with an Essential plan instead.

Similarly, EE’s Feel at Home scheme aims to cover 80% of the destinations EE customers visit. But it’s only available on 4GEE Max plans, which generally cost a lot more.

For the extra outlay, a 4GEE Max plan will also give you EE’s fastest 4G speeds and a TNT Sports subscription for the duration of your contract. But again, you’ll have to weigh up whether those benefits are worth the extra cost.

If you’re planning a trip abroad and you’re still locked into a contract, you could get a one-month SIM-only deal or a pay-as-you-go SIM plan that comes with inclusive roaming for your destination.

If, for example, you’re heading off to the USA for a fortnight and you’re currently on an O2 pay monthly contract, you have a couple of options. You could pay £4.99 a day for an O2 bolt-on that’ll give you 120 texts, 120 minutes, and all the data you’ll need, which would cost you a total of £69.86 over your two-week holiday.

Or you could get a one-month Three Advanced plan SIM that’ll give you inclusive roaming in the US. At the time of writing, you can get 600 minutes, unlimited texts, and a generous 8GB of data for just £14 on a one-month rolling contract. If you cancel your contract with 30 days’ notice, this deal works out at £55.86 cheaper than a bolt-on.

Below, we take a look at each network to see what's on offer.

Compare network roaming plans

Roaming policies vary widely from network to network. So, how do you know whether you'll be able to use your phone when you're abroad and how much it will cost?

Luckily, we've done your leg work in this handy network-by-network guide.

This information was correct at the time of writing.

Three ’s Go Roam includes 71 global destinations where you can make calls, send texts, and use your data. This feature comes in two formats: Go Roam in Europe and Go Roam Around the World.

Acquiring a Go Roam pass, available for 3, 7, and 14 days, allows you to access your UK allowances within Go Roam in Europe and Go Roam Around the World. These passes can be purchased prior to your travels.

Unless specified otherwise, a daily roaming fee applies to activate your UK allowances in Go Roam destinations for a 24-hour period. The fee is £2 for Go Roam in Europe and £5 for Go Roam Around the World.

You'll incur charges upon using any of your plan's allowances in a Go Roam destination.

To find out how much you could save, use the special calculator on Three's website .

Want to know more? Take a look at our Three roaming FAQs .

See our latest Three SIM deals

Vodafone offers a selection of roaming schemes.

Roam-Free lets you use your regular monthly allowance for calls, texts, and data in 48 European countries at no extra cost.

Roam Further allows you to access your monthly allowance in a further 104 countries for an additional £6 per day.

There's also the Global Roaming Plus scheme. At the time of writing, it was reserved for customers on Vodafone's Red Entertainment plans. This scheme allows customers to use their UK allowances in 77 locations, including those in the EU and much further afield.

Vodafone has a 25GB cap on its roaming allowances, although that should be more than enough to see you through.

Find out more with our Vodafone roaming FAQs .

See our latest Vodafone SIM only deals

All O2 pay monthly and business customers qualify for inclusive roaming in 49 European destinations. These are deemed to be in O2's Europe Zone.

Customers who sign up for a plan with a 4GB or 15GB data allowance or more also qualify for the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On roaming in 27 locations further afield, including the USA, Australia, Argentina, and New Zealand. In these destinations, customers are granted a daily allowance of 120 texts, 120 minutes, and 150M of data.

The O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On, included on select plans, lets you roam in a further 27 international destinations. If you’re not on an eligible plan, the bolt on costs £6 per day.

If you're not on a cheaper plan that doesn't include an extended worldwide roaming scheme as standard, you can sign up for an O2 Full Travel Bolt On for £6 per day. That buys you 120 minutes and 120 texts per day and uncapped data to use in locations outside O2's Europe Zone.

Want to see which countries are covered? Have a read of our O2 roaming FAQs .

See our latest O2 SIM deals

EE customers who signed up on or after 7 July 2021 will need to pay £2 a day to roam in the EU. Anyone who is on an EE contract that started before that date won't have to pay EU roaming charges.

EE has introduced a new range of 4GEE Max plans for new and upgrading customers. These plans allow customers to use their monthly allowances across 53 destinations worldwide.

These include EU countries as well as the USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand. This covers over 80% of the time EE customers spend overseas.

Take a look at our EE roaming FAQs .

Virgin Mobile offers inclusive roaming in 43 destinations with its Roam Like Home scheme. These include 28 EU locations and locations in Europe but outside the EU, such as Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Gibraltar.

Roam Like Home also includes some countries outside Europe, such as the Canary Islands, the French Caribbean, Martinique, and Reunion.

Interested? Find out more with our Virgin Media roaming FAQs .

See our latest Virgin Mobile deals

iD Mobile offers inclusive roaming in 50 destinations in the EU and beyond with its Roam Like Home scheme.

The offer applies to SIM only contracts, pay monthly mobile phone contracts and pay as you go.

Want to know more? Check out our iD Mobile roaming FAQs .

See our latest ID Mobile SIM only deals

All Sky Mobile customers are able to use their mobile data, calls and texts in 36 European locations for £2 a day.

One major benefit of Sky Mobile as far as roaming goes is that, if you've already stored a trove of unused data in your Sky Piggybank, you can use the data when you're in Europe, too.

Find out more with our Sky Mobile roaming FAQs .

See our latest Sky Mobile SIM deals

TalkTalk customers can use their monthly allowance of calls, texts and data for no extra cost in 49 destinations.

However, it's worth bearing in mind that customers who have been with TalkTalk for less than 3 months will need to pay £25 as an advanced payment to activate roaming.

Want to see which countries are covered? Take a look at our TalkTalk roaming FAQs .

Customers on BT Mobile can enjoy inclusive roaming in 47 destinations thanks to BT's Roam Like Home scheme. This includes locations such as the Canary Islands, Norway and Switzerland.

You can use the BT Mobile app to track your usage so you can make sure you don't go over your allowance.

Want to see which other locations are covered? Read our BT Mobile roaming FAQs .

See our latest BT deals

giffgaff offers inclusive roaming for all its customers in 37 locations in the EU and beyond.

And topping up overseas is easy too. All you need to do is head to the giffgaff website, which free to access, even if you’ve run out of credit.

It's worth noting that you won't be able to use your allowance if you're visiting a country not included in giffgaff's 37 locations.

Want to know which countries are covered? Take a look at our giffgaff roaming FAQs .

See our latest giffgaff SIM only deals

All Tesco Mobile customers can use their monthly allowance of calls, texts and data for no extra charge in 48 European destinations.

Customers travelling further afield will still be able to use their phones while on holiday, but they will need to pay extra.

Want to find out which destinations are covered? Take a look at our Tesco Mobile roaming FAQs .

See our latest Tesco Mobile SIM only deals

SMARTY now lets you use your regular monthly allowance of data, calls and texts from anywhere in the EU for no extra cost.

Travelling further afield? You can buy an add-on for that.

Want to find out more? Check out our SMARTY roaming FAQs .

See our latest SMARTY SIM only deals

Want to know more? Take a look at our complete guide to roaming .

Are you unhappy with your current provider's roaming offering? Check out our travel eSIM page to save money on your phone bill while travelling abroad.

Check out our range of Travel eSIMs deals

Choose between dozens of travel eSIM data bundles on Uswitch.

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Article updated on August 7, 2024 at 6:00 AM PDT

Best Travel Phone Plans in August: How to Choose and What to Consider

Using your phone when going abroad isn't always as simple as popping in a SIM card. Here are a few tips to keep in mind and plans to consider this summer if you want to use your phone internationally.

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Traveling with your phone has gotten better in recent years, but it can still get costly. Though roaming in Canada and Mexico is included by all three major US carriers, going beyond North America can be expensive, particularly if you want faster than 3G or 2G speeds, which aren't helpful for much more than light messaging, navigation and email checks.

The rise of the eSIM has also made the need to hunt down a physical SIM card a thing of the past , as most modern phones can get you a local SIM card in seconds through an app. Though with the increased length of installment plans, you may save money by just paying the roaming fees and keeping your trade-in credits for more valuable things than paying to unlock your phone.

Sounds confusing? Let's clear things up as the summer travel season is now fully underway.

Using your phone internationally is no longer as simple as just popping in a different SIM card.

What are the best phone plans with international roaming included?

While we're going to focus this section on US carriers, many of the other tips could be applied to those traveling in from other countries.

In the US, my pick for the best plan for frequent globe-trotters is Verizon's Unlimited Ultimate. The carrier's latest, most premium unlimited plan takes a page from T-Mobile's playbook and includes international texting and data in over 210 countries (neither includes voice, though you can get around that by using WhatsApp, FaceTime or other messaging apps' voice-calling features).

Verizon, unlike T-Mobile, lets you "mix and match" plans for different lines on your account, which could be helpful for those on family plans. This means that you can have one line on Ultimate for the month when you'll be traveling while keeping the other lines on more affordable Unlimited Plus or Welcome options. You can also lower the line on an Ultimate plan down to a more affordable one when you aren't traveling, though if you also get an upgrade during this time, moving away from the Ultimate plan could affect any new phone deals you may have taken advantage of (Verizon's best upgrade offers are generally now tied to its priciest unlimited plans).

Best plan for frequent international travelers

Verizon unlimited ultimate.

In addition to international talk, text and data, Unlimited Ultimate also includes 60GB of mobile hotspot use in the US and Verizon's highest discounts on new devices. There's also unlimited talk and text from the US to Canada, Mexico and "one additional country of your choice." There are no streaming services included, though you can add a number of options, including the Disney bundle and Apple One for $10 per month, per "perk." The carrier will also let you upgrade on its best device deals (usually reserved for new customers) once every three years.

Verizon, unlike T-Mobile, lets you "mix and match" which plans are for which lines on your account. So you can have one line on Ultimate for the month when you'll be traveling while keeping the other lines on more affordable Unlimited Plus or Welcome options. You can also lower the Ultimate line down to a more affordable plan when you aren't traveling, though if you upgraded on Ultimate, lowering the plan may force you to lose your upgrade deal.

Runner up for international plans

T-mobile magenta max and go5g plus.

In addition to international data, T-Mobile's plans also include plenty of high-speed hotspot data in the US (40GB on Magenta Max, 50GB on Go5G Plus), in-flight texting and Wi-Fi, as well as subscriptions to Netflix and Apple TV Plus. T-Mobile's plans also include taxes and fees in their prices.

Some additional notes: T-Mobile requires all plans on an account to be on the same plan. If only one line needs international data, you should consider Magenta (if you only have one or two lines) or Go5G (if you need three or more lines), with the MaxUp or PlusUp $15 per line add-on. This will let your other lines get a cheaper rate while allowing you to bolster your international data to tap into the Go5G Plus or Magenta Max offerings for the lines that need it.

And as mentioned, T-Mobile's plans for one or two lines are cheaper under the Magenta option while promotions have made the Go5G plans better for those looking for three or more lines. It is worth noting that you will need to call or chat with T-Mobile to get the Magenta options.

Best for Latin America

At&t unlimited premium pl.

AT&T's top unlimited plan also includes 50GB of high-speed hotspot data. Like Verizon, the carrier also lets you put each line of your account on different unlimited plans. So if only one line out for your four is traveling to a Latin American country, you can put them on Premium PL and lthe rest on more affordable options like Unlimited Starter SL.

Factors to consider: Know your area

As we covered in our other wireless guides, to get the best deal, you need to make sure you have the coverage that you need abroad but also at home. This makes it hard to give a blanket recommendation of any one carrier. T-Mobile's service in New York may be excellent, but if you're in rural Iowa, Verizon is more reliable.

While your mileage may vary, the good news is that these networks are growing and improving all the time, particularly as the three major players race to blanket the US with 5G. It's quite possible that you left a network complaining about its sparse service a decade ago, but it's since beefed itself up because of that race to acquire customers.

If you know any friends or family in your area that already use the carrier you're considering, ask about their experience. You could also go to a carrier's store and see if they offer any free ways to try out the service before switching over, such as T-Mobile's Network Pass . Verizon offers a similar 30-day "Test Drive" program, while the Cricket prepaid service has its own trial program that lets you sample parent AT&T's network.

How we test

Picking a wireless plan and carrier is a very individualized process. What works for you and your family's needs may be vastly different from your friends or neighbors. Even geographically, some areas have better AT&T coverage while others work best on Verizon or T-Mobile (and vice versa). The picks we make are based on over a decade of covering and evaluating wireless carriers, their offerings and overall performance.

In particular, we take into account the following: 1. Coverage 2. Price 3. Value 4. Perks Since all three major providers blanket most of the country with good 4G LTE or 5G, this is largely a toss-up on a macro level and why we recommend a variety of eSIM options for figuring out what works best for you in your particular location so you can best decide what is right for you. Looking at coverage maps on each provider's website will likely show whether you can get good coverage even if your experience isn't full bars or the fastest speeds. This is also why with prepaid plans, we specify which network each prepaid provider uses as they sometimes make that a bit difficult to figure out. Value is factoring in the total experience you might get, such as how much high-speed data you get and what's included in the sticker price. Perks are add-ons beyond the core components of wireless service (talk, text and data). This could range from bundling in or discounting streaming services to extra hotspot data or the ability to use your phone internationally.

Travel phone plan FAQs

What if i don't want to change my plan.

While T-Mobile has long included even slow international data in its plans, AT&T and Verizon largely haven't. For most plans, adding this functionality will cost extra. The good news is that both have gotten a lot better on roaming rates, and depending on your trip, it could make sense to do this rather than going through the process of unlocking, finding a local SIM card and playing that game (we'll get more into this in a moment).

In the past, roaming was charged on a per-megabyte or -gigabyte used system, which could quickly lead to bills of hundreds of dollars (or more). Today, both Verizon and AT&T allow you to roam with unlimited talk, text and high-speed data for $10 per day on many of their respective unlimited plans.

If you're traveling with a family plan, AT&T will only charge that $10 to one of the lines with other members being billed at $5 per day -- and it'll only bill you for 10 days, per line per billing cycle. So if you have one line with AT&T and are traveling for two weeks, you could only end up paying $100 instead of $140 for international roaming (though if your AT&T bill resets during that window, you'd be on the hook for those days since the clock starts each billing cycle).

Verizon doesn't cap the number of days it will charge you, but it does offer a couple of different options. One is its TravelPass perk, something that is offered as part of its latest unlimited plans . With this, you can get three days of international roaming for $10 per month. If you don't use those days, you could roll them over (and bank up to 36 of them). You can similarly add it for the month you're traveling, save a little there and then get rid of the perk for all the other months you wouldn't be using it.

Verizon also offers a $100 monthly plan option that lets you get unlimited texts and data as well as 250 minutes for traditional calling (as opposed to using a messaging app like WhatsApp or FaceTime). Of the data, 20GB will be at "high speed" and the rest at "3G speeds." Note that with this plan you will need to remove it manually or else risk it being a recurring charge on your bill every month.

T-Mobile similarly offers the option to buy high-speed data "international passes." It has a few options here, including a 15GB of high-speed data option (to be used "up to 30 days") running $50 for the month.

Roaming vs. local SIM cards

The big reason we're focusing on roaming is because one of the most common ways US consumers still buy their phones is through wireless carriers and installment plans. To keep people from taking advantage of subsidized phones and then leaving for other providers, the carriers "lock" their phones to their networks until you finish the 24- or 36-month installment plans.

Each carrier has different policies on when they unlock. Verizon's is the best and it will automatically unlock your phone after 60 days. T-Mobile will automatically unlock phones after their installment plans are paid off, which normally is two years at the carrier. AT&T is the worst: Like Verizon, its installment plans are 36 months, and even after that period, you will still need to actually reach out to the carrier to have it unlock your device. We covered all of this here .

You could pay off the balance owed on your device to get your carrier to unlock it sooner, but doing so would forfeit the bill credits and the deal you likely got when you upgraded or switched. For example, if you purchased an iPhone 14 at AT&T last year and took advantage of its trade-in deal, paying off that phone early to unlock it would require you to shell out hundreds of dollars now and give up the deal you were given. And then you would still need to go out and get international service on top of that while still keeping your local service for when you return home.

Depending on your situation, this could make sense. If, for instance, you're traveling abroad for a couple of months and only have a month or two left on your installment plan, paying the $50 or so to your carrier to unlock your phone early so you can get a cheaper phone plan while away could make sense. But you'll want to check what you owe by heading into your account on your carrier's website and do the math before rushing to pay everything down and unlocking.

The FCC may change this in the future and make unlocking automatic even for devices purchased on AT&T or T-Mobile, but for now this is where things stand.

What if I have an unlocked phone? Can I get an eSIM?

If you have an unlocked device, looking at a local SIM card could be much cheaper. eSIM options, which allow you to add a SIM card to your phone virtually, meaning you could load up a local provider's SIM card into your phone through apps like Airalo or Ubigi before you even leave home. As eSIMs become more popular we're seeing more of these options become available, even from international carriers themselves like Vodafone and Orange (two of the larger providers in Europe).

While Apple has made eSIM more commonplace after ditching the physical SIM card slot in US iPhones with the iPhone 14 line, it has actually included the technology in iPhones dating back to 2018's iPhone XS and XR devices. A number of Samsung, Google and other Android phones have also long supported eSIMs as well so its very possible the phone you have now already supports eSIMs.

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COMMENTS

Go Roam
Daily Go Roam Passes. Our Three Your Way plans include up to 56 Daily Go Roam Passes, giving you the freedom to use your device on your travels. Once activated, the pass will unlock your UK allowance for 24 hours. On a Value plan, you can use your phone in Go Roam destinations for up to 28 days: On 12-month plans, you get 14 Daily Go Roam ...
Roaming abroad
All you need to know about Roaming Abroad with Three. All you need to know about Roaming Abroad with Three. Skip to Search Skip to Content Skip to Footer. Personal; Business; Order by phone: 0800 033 8006. Blog; ... Use up to 3000 minutes from your monthly plan to call UK standard landline and mobile numbers or your voicemail
Roaming Abroad
Go Roam destinations. Go Roam lets you call, text, and use data in over 160 destinations listed below: Pay Monthly. Pay As You Go. Go Roam Around the World. Go Roam Around the World Extra. Rest of the World.
Three Go Roam
Switzerland. United States. (including Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and US Virgin Islands) Uruguay. Vietnam. 71 Three Roaming Destinations. Pay Monthly Value and Complete plans also include roaming in the following additional " Go Roam Around the World Extra" destinations, but these aren't included with Pay As You Go plans.
Best International Phone Plans for Travel in 2024
The best cell phone plans for travel are Google Fi's Unlimited Data for 1, AT&T's Unlimited Premium PL, US Mobile's Unlimited Premium, and Mint Mobile's 5GB plan with UpRoam, all of which grant you various roaming privileges while traveling internationally. We think these travel plans are the best way to stay connected overseas or over the ...
Introducing Go Roam Around the World Extra
No problem. When visiting a Go Roam Around the World Extra destination, you can unlock your plan's data, minutes, and texts for £7 for 24hrs* or buy a 3, 7, or 14 day Go Roam Around the World Extra Pass before you travel for even better savings. You can check the rates for any roaming destination before you travel on our Roaming Support page.
Three Go Roam (71 Destinations): Countries, Coverage & Roaming Fees
Alternatively, Three Pay As You Go customers can roam abroad in 71 destinations at no extra cost. The Go Roam offer (also known as Go Roam Around The World) allows you to use your normal UK plan allowances when you travel abroad. This includes your minutes, texts and mobile data (up to 12GB per month).
Three international roaming FAQs
If you want to use your phone abroad, Three charges £2 a day for Go Roam in Europe and £5 a day for Go Roam Around the World. But, if you're a pay monthly customer whose plan started before ...
Three roaming charges: Everything you need to know before using your
24-hour Go Roam in Europe fee to access your allowance. £2. £2. It's worth bearing in mind that both the Go Roam in Europe and Go Road Around the World features are designed for short-term use. If you use them for more than two months in any 12-month period, Three might suspend international roaming on your account.
The 10 Best Tips For Using A Cell Phone During International Travel
Confirm International Texting, Calling, And Data Fees. T-Mobile. By far the most-important thing you need to do before traveling abroad is to check with your service provider about their current policies relating to international cell phone use and what your current contract already allows.
Best international phone plans for travel
U.S. Mobile plans don't include calling or texting from outside the U.S. Still, the Unlimited Premium plan offers up to 10 GB of international data, and most plans let you buy eSIMs for more than 100 countries from within the U.S. Mobile app. Mint Mobile could also be a viable solution if you're on a budget and don't travel abroad frequently.
Review of Go Roam service by Three Mobile
Three mobile broadband. Three's Go Roam has evolved over the years to become a comprehensive roaming option for customers travelling in Europe and beyond. Yet the reduction of the Go Roam in Europe fair usage limit from 20GB to 12GB was a quiet indication that even Three were willing to tweak their generous plans in the wake of the UK's exit ...
Roaming and calling abroad FAQs
To use your UK allowances for 24 hours in Go Roam destinations, you'll need to pay a daily roaming charge: £2 for Go Roam in Europe. £5 for Go Roam Around the World. £7 for Go Roam Around the World Extra. Fair use policies apply. Full details can be found on our roaming support page. Unlimited data can't be used abroad.
5 Ways to Use Your Phone When Traveling Abroad
3. Utilize an eSIM card. eSIM cards are a high-tech solution to getting a local number without having to hunt down a SIM card in your destination. Rather than getting a physical SIM card, you can ...
Cheap mobile and data roaming abroad
Voxi. You can get an 8 day Global Roaming Extra add-on to use in 73 countries, including Australia, Canada, Egypt, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, Thailand and USA. It costs £15 for 8 days (100 minutes, 100 texts, 2GB data) or £25 for 15 days (200 minutes, 200 texts, 4GB data). Table correct as of July 2024.
Best Mobile Networks for Roaming in 2024
EE. Sky Mobile. Three. Vodafone. VOXI. The change in these networks' EU roaming policy means customers now typically have to pay an extra daily fee to access their UK allowances of data, call and texts. Nevertheless, there are still networks that offer inclusive EU roaming.
Three Sim Cards in Europe & UK: How to Buy a London Sim Card
To top-up your Three SIM plan for voice calls in Europe or after your first month has ended, you can buy a top-up voucher from almost any UK convenience store or supermarket. The voucher has a one-time-only code to add credit to your account. Call 444 and go through the prompts to top-up your account. While you can also do an online top-up ...
Best network for roaming 2024
Three's Go Roam. All Advanced plans. £2 for Go Roam in Europe and £5 for Go Roam Around the World. 71. 12GB. Can spend up to 2 months in roaming zone over 12 month rolling contract period ...
Roaming and calling abroad
Hutchison 3G UK Ltd Registered address: 450 Longwater Avenue, Green Park, Reading, Berkshire, RG2 6GF Registered in England & Wales | Registered company number: 03885486
Best Travel Phone Plans in August: How to Choose and What to ...
T-Mobile Magenta Max and Go5G Plus. In addition to international data, T-Mobile's plans also include plenty of high-speed hotspot data in the US (40GB on Magenta Max, 50GB on Go5G Plus), in-flight ...
The 6 Cheapest Ways to Use Your Phone Overseas
How WhistleOut Works. 4. Use a travel plan from your U.S. carrier. Perhaps the most convenient way to use your phone is by simply using your current phone plan's included travel perks or, if there are none included, you can buy an international roaming add-on. AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon each offer international travel plans (some T-Mobile and ...
International Plans
If you're a T-Mobile customer on qualifying plan, you can add an International Pass to get more high-speed data and unlimited voice calling in 215+ countries and destinations. 1-Day (512MB) International Pass: 512MB of high-speed data and unlimited calling, to be used up to 24 hours, for $5. 10 day (5GB) International Pass: 5GB of high-speed ...