How to Use Your Phone Abroad Without a Huge Bill
Using your phone abroad can cost a fortune if you're not prepared. This guide compares carrier day passes, plans with roaming included, travel eSIMs, local SIM cards and Wi-Fi, with real cost examples, how to check your phone is ready, how much data you need, keeping your number for calls and security codes, and how to avoid surprise charges.
By Pond.com editors Updated 6 min read
Quick answer
- Check your plan first; some US plans include data abroad, while others charge a daily fee, often around $10 to $12 a day.
- A travel eSIM is usually the cheapest way to get data abroad if your phone is unlocked and supports eSIM.
- You can keep your regular number active for calls and texts while using an eSIM for data.
- Turn off data roaming on your home line until your plan is set up, and use Wi-Fi for big downloads.
- Download offline maps, translation packs and boarding passes before you go.
Your phone is your map, translator, boarding pass and camera when you travel. But without a plan, using it abroad can add a surprise charge to your next bill. A few minutes of setup before you leave can save a lot of money.
This guide is general information. Plans and prices change often, so check current details with your carrier or provider before you travel.
How roaming charges work
When you use your phone outside the US, it connects to a local network, and your carrier pays that network. Depending on your plan, you might:
- Pay nothing extra, if your plan includes roaming in that country
- Pay a daily fee the first time you use your phone each day, whether you use a little or a lot
- Pay by the minute, text or megabyte, which can get very expensive very fast
Many US plans now include Mexico and Canada, and some higher-priced plans include some data in 200 or more countries, often at reduced speeds after a set amount.
Your main options
| Option | How it works | Typical cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plan with roaming included | Some plans include texts and data abroad | Included, but often slow after a limit | Frequent travelers on the right plan |
| Carrier day pass | Use your normal plan abroad for a daily fee | Often around $10 to $12 a day per phone | Short trips; keeping things simple |
| Carrier monthly international plan | A set amount of data, calls and texts for a month | Often around $100 a month | Long trips with your own number |
| Travel eSIM | Buy a data plan for a country or region and install it digitally | Often $15 to $35 for 10GB in Europe | Most trips; usually cheapest data |
| Local SIM card | Buy a physical SIM at your destination | Varies by country; often low | Longer stays |
| Wi-Fi only | Use Wi-Fi at hotels, cafes and airports | Free | Very light users |
How the main US carriers handle data abroad, from plans with roaming included to daily passes.
| Provider | Price | High-speed data | Where | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T International Day Pass, opens in a new tab Charged only on days you use your phone abroad. $20 a day on cruise ships. | $12 a day; $6 for each extra line | Uses your plan's data | 210+ destinations | Charged only on days you use your phone abroad. $20 a day on cruise ships. Visit site AT&T International Day Pass, opens in a new tab |
| Google Fi Unlimited Premium plan, opens in a new tab No day passes needed; calls abroad included. | Included ($65 a month plan) | 50GB abroad | 200+ destinations | No day passes needed; calls abroad included. Visit site Google Fi Unlimited Premium plan, opens in a new tab |
| T-Mobile Experience Beyond plan, opens in a new tab 30GB in Mexico and Canada. Calls $0.50 a minute in most countries. | Included in plan | 15GB, then slower | 215+ countries | 30GB in Mexico and Canada. Calls $0.50 a minute in most countries. Visit site T-Mobile Experience Beyond plan, opens in a new tab |
| T-Mobile Experience More plan, opens in a new tab 15GB in Mexico and Canada. Calls $0.50 a minute in most countries. | Included in plan | 5GB, then slower | 215+ countries | 15GB in Mexico and Canada. Calls $0.50 a minute in most countries. Visit site T-Mobile Experience More plan, opens in a new tab |
| T-Mobile International Pass, opens in a new tab Adds high-speed data to eligible plans and includes unlimited calling. | $5 a day, $50 for 10 days or $75 for 30 days | 512MB, 15GB or 30GB | 215+ countries | Adds high-speed data to eligible plans and includes unlimited calling. Visit site T-Mobile International Pass, opens in a new tab |
| Verizon TravelPass, opens in a new tab Charged only on days you use your phone abroad. | $12 a day ($6 in Mexico and Canada) | 5GB, then slower | 210+ countries | Charged only on days you use your phone abroad. Visit site Verizon TravelPass, opens in a new tab |
| Visible Global Pass, opens in a new tab Visible+ includes 1 free day a month and Visible+ Pro 2. | $10 a day | 2GB a day | 140+ countries | Visible+ includes 1 free day a month and Visible+ Pro 2. Visit site Visible Global Pass, opens in a new tab |
How we chose these
We included the main US carriers and two popular lower-cost carriers, with the international option most travelers would use on each, from each carrier's own website. Carriers are listed alphabetically. Plans change often, so check your own plan's details before you travel. Pond.com isn't paid by any carrier listed here.
Prices are per line, before taxes and fees. Mexico and Canada are often included or cheaper on many US plans. High-speed data is usually followed by slower data for the rest of the day or plan period.
For information only, not a recommendation. Rates and terms change often and may depend on where you live; check the details with the provider before you apply. Pond.com isn't paid by any provider listed here.
What a trip might cost
Here's a rough example for one phone on a seven-day trip to Europe:
| Choice | Rough cost for the week |
|---|---|
| Carrier day pass at $12 a day | About $84 |
| Travel eSIM with 10GB | About $20 to $35 |
| Plan with roaming included | $0 extra, if you can live with the speed or data limit |
| Wi-Fi only | $0, but no maps or messages away from Wi-Fi |
For a family of four on day passes, the cost multiplies, though some carriers charge less for additional lines.
Is your phone ready?
- Is it unlocked? You need an unlocked phone for an eSIM or local SIM. On an iPhone, look under Settings, General, About, for "No SIM restrictions." On Android, check with your carrier. Ask your carrier to unlock it if needed; it can take a day or two.
- Does it support eSIM? Most recent iPhones and many Android phones do. Look for an option to add an eSIM in your settings.
- Is your plan eligible? Check your carrier's app or website for the countries and rates that apply to your plan.
How a travel eSIM works
- Buy a plan for your destination from a travel eSIM provider, by country or region, amount of data and number of days.
- Install it before you leave, by scanning a QR code or through the provider's app, while you're on Wi-Fi.
- Turn it on when you land. Set it as your phone's data line and turn on data roaming for the eSIM only.
- Keep your regular line on for calls and texts if you want, with data roaming turned off on that line.
Most travel eSIMs are data-only, with no local phone number. You can still call and message over the internet.
What popular travel eSIMs cost for a trip to Europe, as a guide to prices elsewhere.
| Provider | 10GB for 30 days | Unlimited data | Countries | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nomad Europe eSIM, opens in a new tab Hotspot allowed. | $23.00 | $19 for 5 days; $34 for 10 days | 35 | Hotspot allowed. Visit site Nomad Europe eSIM, opens in a new tab |
| Airalo Europe eSIM, opens in a new tab | $31.00 | Not shown for Europe | 41 | Visit site Airalo Europe eSIM, opens in a new tab |
| Saily Europe eSIM, opens in a new tab Unlimited plans get 5GB a day at full speed, then slower. Hotspot allowed. | $35.99 | From $49.99 for 15 days | 35 | Unlimited plans get 5GB a day at full speed, then slower. Hotspot allowed. Visit site Saily Europe eSIM, opens in a new tab |
| Holafly Europe eSIM, opens in a new tab Hotspot limited to 1GB a day. | No data packs | $27.50 for 7 days; $76.50 for 30 days | 33 | Hotspot limited to 1GB a day. Visit site Holafly Europe eSIM, opens in a new tab |
How we chose these
We included four widely used travel eSIM providers and compared their Europe-wide plans, using prices from each provider's own website. Rows are ordered by the price of 10GB for 30 days, lowest first. Pond.com isn't paid by any provider listed here.
Prices are in US dollars for each provider's Europe-wide plan. Prices for single countries and other regions differ, and providers run frequent discounts. All these eSIMs are data-only, with no local phone number, so you call and message over the internet. Your phone must be unlocked and support eSIM.
For information only, not a recommendation. Rates and terms change often and may depend on where you live; check the details with the provider before you apply. Pond.com isn't paid by any provider listed here.
Keeping your number, calls and security codes
- Security codes: many banks send one-time codes by text. Keeping your regular line on for texts means you still receive them. Check whether your plan charges for texts abroad.
- Calls home: Wi-Fi calling, and apps like FaceTime and WhatsApp, are usually the cheapest way to call home.
- Voicemail: some carriers charge for calls that go to voicemail while roaming. Turning off voicemail or call forwarding avoids surprises.
How much data do you need?
| Use | Rough data per hour |
|---|---|
| Maps and navigation | Very little; download offline maps to use even less |
| Messaging and email | Very little |
| Web browsing and social media | Moderate |
| Video calls | High |
| Streaming video | Very high |
Many travelers get by on around 3GB to 5GB a week. Download shows and playlists at home on Wi-Fi, and save photo backups for when you're on Wi-Fi.
Before you go
- Check your plan's international options and costs.
- Unlock your phone if you want an eSIM or local SIM.
- Buy and install a travel eSIM, if using one.
- Download offline maps, translation packs, boarding passes and tickets.
- Back up your phone and note your carrier's international support number.
When you land
- Turn off data roaming on your home line unless you're using your carrier's plan.
- Switch data to your eSIM or local SIM.
- Turn off automatic app updates and background refresh to save data.
- Check your carrier's welcome text, which usually confirms the rates that apply.
On a cruise
Phones at sea can connect to satellite networks on the ship, which can cost several dollars a minute or more for calls and data, even on plans that include roaming on land. Put your phone in airplane mode as the ship leaves port, and use the ship's Wi-Fi or a carrier cruise pass if you need to stay connected.
Staying safe
- Avoid banking on public Wi-Fi. Use mobile data or a reputable VPN.
- Use a screen lock and turn on find-my-phone features.
- Keep your phone secure in crowded places.
- Carry a backup: a printed copy of key bookings and a written list of important numbers.
Paying abroad
Pair your phone with a card that has no foreign transaction fees for tap-to-pay. See how to avoid foreign transaction fees and travel money: cards, cash and avoiding fees abroad.
Common questions
An eSIM is a digital SIM card built into your phone. Travel eSIM providers sell data plans for specific countries or regions that you install by scanning a code or through an app. Your phone must be unlocked and support eSIM, and you can usually keep your regular number active for calls and texts.
Before you land, either set up your carrier's international option or an eSIM, or turn off data roaming in your phone's settings. Also turn off automatic app updates and background data, and use Wi-Fi for large downloads like videos and app updates.
Be careful. Avoid logging into banking or entering card details on public Wi-Fi. Use your mobile data or a reputable VPN for sensitive tasks, and make sure websites use secure connections.
For maps, messaging, email and some browsing, many travelers use around 3GB to 5GB a week. Video calls, streaming, hotspotting a laptop or uploading lots of photos can use much more. If you're unsure, buy a smaller plan and top up, or choose an unlimited plan for heavy use.
Yes. A phone locked to your carrier won't accept another provider's eSIM or SIM. Most carriers unlock phones that are fully paid off and have been active for a set time; ask before you travel, as it can take a day or two.