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Cheap mobile and data roaming
How to cut costs when using your phone on holiday
Whether you're a global jet-setter, or just like taking the odd holiday, this guide will show you how to use your mobile phone abroad as cheaply as possible (and how to avoid racking up a huge bill) – particularly important as some firms have recently changed how they charge for 'roaming' in Europe.
Going on holiday? Using your phone is a little different...
Using your phone abroad can be expensive and confusing, so before travelling it's important to understand your mobile plan and your provider's policy on whether it includes roaming. Most UK mobile network providers only provide coverage when you're in the country, so when you go abroad your phone will also go 'roaming'.
![1293067321 Sign reading locations such as France, Morocco and Germany.](/content/dam/Roaming%20suitcases%20sim.jpg.rendition.320.320.jpg)
What is international roaming?
'Roaming' is what it's called when your phone connects to a mobile network in another country. UK mobile network providers have agreements in place with providers in other countries, so that you don't lose connection when you go abroad.
Previously, you could roam in Europe using your existing call, text and data allowances at no extra cost (known as free roaming). But post-Brexit, three of the major providers (EE, Vodafone and Three) have re-introduced roaming charges.
If you're with a provider that charges for roaming in the country you're planning on taking a trip to, don't worry, we've got a whole host of tips to help you cut costs, whether you're heading to Europe or travelling further afield.
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Simple tips to keep roaming costs down
Whether you're going to Europe or further afield, we've got some simple tips to help you cut your mobile costs and avoid any nasty surprises when you get your post-holiday bill.
Keep on top of your mobile bill
Wanna know how to slash your mobile costs - and when to do it? The MSE App has a new tool called Bill Buster – give us a few details about your mobile bill & we’ll track it, alert you when your contract's ending, then show you the cheapest deals based on how much data you need.
Travelling within Europe? Roaming charges are back for many, but there are ways to beat 'em...
Previously, anyone could use their UK allowance of minutes, texts and data without paying any extra charges in one of 30 countries (subject to 'fair usage' limits), under the 'Roam Like At Home' rules introduced by the EU.
However, since Brexit, many firms have now brought back roaming fees in Europe, including major providers EE, Vodafone and Three. We've a full breakdown of what each firm is doing:
Provider | Extra charges | Fair use data cap (1) |
EE | £2.47/day £2.50/day (£10 for 7 days) for pay-as-you-go. |
50GB |
O2 | None | 25GB |
Three | £2/day for contracts (or 3-day pass for £5, 7-day pass for £12, 14-day pass for £24). None for pay-as-you-go. If you need more than your UK data allowance, you can buy a Data Passport for £5 for unlimited data in 89 countries. |
12GB |
Vodafone | £2.42/day (or £12 for 8 days or £17 for 15 days) for contracts. From £9 for 3GB for 8 days for pay-as-you-go. |
25GB |
Asda Mobile | None |
5GB |
Giffgaff | None | 5GB |
iD Mobile | None | 30GB (5) |
Lebara | None | 30GB |
Lycamobile | None | Depends on your plan |
Sky | £2/day | No set limit |
Smarty | None | 12GB |
Superdrug Mobile | None | 12GB |
Talkmobile | None. If you need more than your UK allowance you can buy a Euro Holiday Booster which gives you 15GB of data plus unlimited calls and texts to the UK and other European destinations (£2.25/day, £10 for 8 days, £15 for 15 days). | 15GB or 5GB (2) |
Tesco Mobile | None until 2026 (3) | N/A |
Voxi | £2.45 a day for 1 day, £4.50 for 2 days, £12 for 8 days, or £17 for 15 days (4) | 20GB |
Correct as of January 2025. (1) Most firms limit the amount of data you can use abroad – see all providers' fair use policies for full info. (2) The lower limit applies to customers who joined on or after 14 March 2023. (3) All Tesco pay-monthly and pay-as-you-go customers, including new customers, will be able to use their call, text and data allowances in 48 European destinations at no extra cost until 2026. (4) You must buy a roaming pass to use your allowance in Europe with Voxi. (5) If you joined or upgraded on or after 21 June 2023. Otherwise there's no set limit.
While roaming fees aren't huge, if your provider has brought them back, there are a few ways you can get around it.
![2144606071 eSim.](/content/dam/eSim.jpg.rendition.320.320.jpg)
- Don't want a new number? Try an international eSim. An eSim ("embedded Sim") is a digital version of the plastic physical Sim cards we all have that control our call and data allowances. If you've got one of the latest iPhone, Google or Samsung smartphones, it's likely to be compatible with an eSim.
An eSim plan for many destinations can be a lot cheaper than using your home network and buying roaming add-ons whilst abroad, as eSims work as if you were a local. You can buy and load one onto your phone before you leave the UK.
But be aware, international eSims generally only give you data – so you can't make calls or texts, though you can make calls and send messages using internet-based apps, like WhatsApp, Skype and Facetime.
As it's a digital Sim, it can be added to your phone alongside your UK Sim (whether physical or digital), so you can keep your same mobile number and get calls and texts as normal (though you may be charged pricey international rates to receive these). Then you can just use the prepaid eSim for data.
There are plenty of providers online offering eSims for virtually every country, and you can get ones that cover multiple countries if you're off on a world tour. For an idea of how much they cost, we looked at buying at least 10GB of data in the US and India. See our full eSims guide for more info.
![593304311 Sign reading locations such as Brazil, Japan, Mexico and China.](/content/dam/mobile%20roaming.jpg.rendition.320.320.jpg)
- Switch to a provider that still offers free roaming in Europe. While three of the big four firms have reintroduced charges for roaming in Europe, O2 and some smaller networks haven't yet. If you take out a new contract now, it's likely you'll keep the roaming benefits for the length of the contract, even if the firm introduces charges later.
To find the cheapest Sim-only deals, use our Cheap Mobile Finder tool. You can also bag the same signal you'd get with Three, Vodafone or EE by using a firm that piggybacks on their network.
- Don't want to switch? Ensure you're on your provider's cheapest plan. If you're happy with your provider, and don't mind paying a bit extra to use your allowance in Europe, check how much yours charges in Europe.
Most charge around £2 per day, but if you're going away for longer, it can be cheaper to buy a bundle. For example, with Vodafone it's £12 for 8 days or £17 for 15 days. See our full firm-by-firm roaming charges list above.
- Grab a separate Sim (with no contract) that allows roaming in Europe at no extra cost for less than a £2 a month. Some firms offer rolling one-month Sim contracts, which include European roaming at no extra cost, so you could grab one of these before you go, pay for one month to use the Sim while abroad, then cancel (remember to diarise cancelling it when you get home).
Some providers offer Sim-only deals for less than a quid a month. For example, right now you could get a Sim with 5GB of data for £1.55 a month for six months (rising to £4.90 after six months) from Lebara.
And to be clear, this is about getting an additional Sim with a new number to pop in your phone to use for roaming abroad, not replacing your current one (though if you are paying more than £8 a month for a Sim-only plan, you could save by switching to one of these cheaper deals).
- Use a Three pay-as-you-go Sim for roaming at no extra cost. While Three has scrapped free roaming for pay-monthly customers, it still offers it on its pay-as-you-go Sims. While it's unlikely to beat a cheap rolling one-month Sim, it could still work out cheaper than paying daily rates some firms charge to use your allowance. Check out our tip to roam for no extra cost with Three in Europe and beyond.
![](/content/dam/mse/migrated/dealshunter/deals-homepage-sim-card.png.rendition.320.320.png)
- Pick up a local prepaid Sim card at your destination for cheap data, local calls and texts. This is usually a cheap way of using your phone in one country. You can grab a cheap prepaid Sim card for a local mobile network in your destination. Getting a local Sim card might save you a few pounds, but you'll get a local number (so calling home might be pricey) and you'll need to swap it out for your current Sim.
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Travelling outside of Europe? You'll usually pay MUCH more
Outside the EU, bundles are more expensive and some providers charge a gobsmacking £7 a megabyte for data and nearly £4 a minute to make or receive a call, so if you're not careful your mobile bill could set you back a lot.
If you're a pay-monthly customer, it's worth checking if you can get an overseas data bundle from your network, as these can often work out cheaper than its standard rates. We list the major providers' offerings below – bear in mind though that even buying an add-on data bundle can work out expensive (a two-week trip could set you back £80+), so it might just be better to keep your phone off or stick to free Wi-Fi.
You're charged for many of these add-ons on a recurring basis, so you'll continue to pay until you cancel. If you're only going away for a short time, remember to cancel once you get home.
Provider | Add-ons for international roaming |
EE | EE charges between £5 and £15 a day (£25 or £37.50 for 7 days) depending on the destination.
Customers with Roam Further, Roam Abroad, or a Full Works plan can use their UK allowance in Australia, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand and the USA, for an extra £25/mth on a rolling 30-day contract. |
O2 | O2 offers O2 Travel*, giving you unlimited data, minutes and texts for an extra £6/day. It covers destinations including, Australia, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, and USA. O2 also has an O2 Travel Inclusive Zone for selected 'Plus Plan' customers, which allows you to roam at no extra cost in 75 destinations worldwide, including USA, Mexico, Canada, New Zealand, Argentina and Australia. |
Three | Three charges £5 or £7 a day (depending on the destination) to use your UK allowance in over 100 Go Roam (1) destinations, including the USA and New Zealand.
Alternatively, you can get a Data Passport for £5 which gives you unlimited data in 89 countries (valid until midnight after activating to a maximum of 24 hours). Otherwise, you'll be charged its expensive standard roaming rates. Check how much your destination would cost before you travel and see which countries Data Passports are available. |
Vodafone | Vodafone offers Roam Further* – use your UK allowance in 105 destinations (link opens PDF) for an extra £7.39 a day. (2) |
Lebara | You can use your UK allowance for free in India and China (as well as Europe). To make calls, use data or send a text while outside the EU roaming countries and India, you can buy an 8 or 15 day roaming add-on for your selected country, but it's valid from the time you buy it so buy as close to your travel date as possible. you'll need to buy additional top-up credit and standard roaming charges will apply. Prices and allowances vary depending on country. Check how much it would cost for a Lebara roaming add-on. Alternatively, you can buy additional top-up credit and standard roaming charges will apply. |
Sky | For Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Turkey, USA and the UAE, you can use your UK plan for a £2/day fee. You don't need to do anything to get this service. Find out more about the Roaming Passport Plus pass. |
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 January 2025. (1) Go Roam is available for free if you signed up before 1 October 2021 or are on one of its pay-as-you-go plans. (2) If you bought your phone before 11 August 2021 roaming costs £6/day.
![2128277303 2128277303](/content/dam/eSim%20roaming.jpg.rendition.320.320.jpg)
- Trick to beat the roaming charges charges outside of Europe – roam in in 41 countries (plus Europe) for no extra charge. While Three has scrapped free roaming for pay-monthly customers, it still offers free roaming on its pay-as-you-go Sims. This means, even if you're not a Three customer, you can buy a pay-as-you-go Sim that lets you make calls and texts back home (or to other UK numbers), and use data in 71 destinations – 41 additional locations outside of Europe – including Australia and the USA.
Grab one of its free pay-as-you-go Sims, top it up (you can get with 10GB, with unlimited calls and texts for £10, for example) and then pop it into your handset while you're away. You'll have to use the new number (and have an unlocked phone), and you need to activate it, top it up, and use it in the UK at least once first. You'll also need to use it once every six months to keep it active. Be aware, there's little point in paying for more than 12GB if it's solely for using abroad, as Three has a fair use policy which caps data roaming to 12GB a month.
And to be clear, this is about getting an additional Sim just to use for roaming, not replacing your current one.
![2144606071 eSim.](/content/dam/eSim.jpg.rendition.320.320.jpg)
- Don't want a new number? Try an international eSim. An eSim ("embedded Sim") is a digital version of the plastic physical Sim cards we all have that control our call and data allowances. If you've got one of the latest iPhone, Google or Samsung smartphones, it's likely to be compatible with an eSim.
An eSim plan for many destinations can be a lot cheaper than using your home network and buying roaming add-ons whilst abroad, as eSims work as if you were a local. You can buy and load one onto your phone before you leave the UK.
But be aware, international eSims generally only give you data – so you can't make calls or texts, though you can make calls and send messages using internet-based apps, like WhatsApp, Skype and Facetime.
As it's a digital Sim, it can be added to your phone alongside your UK Sim (whether physical or digital), so you can keep your same mobile number and get calls and texts as normal (though you may be charged pricey international rates to receive these). Then you can just use the prepaid eSim for data.
There are plenty of providers online offering eSims for virtually every country, and you can get ones that cover multiple countries if you're off on a world tour. For an idea of how much they cost, we looked at buying at least 10GB of data in the US and India. See our full eSims guide for more info.
Note: We've little feedback on these firms, so can't vouch for how good the coverage or data speeds are.
eSim costs for the US and India
eSim provider | USA | India |
Airalo* | $26 (£20) for 10 GB for 30 days | $25 (£20) for 10 GB for 30 days |
Easysim* | £16 for 10 GB for 30 days | £79 for 10 GB for 30 days |
GoMoWorld | €19.99 (£17) for 30GB for 30 days | €19.99 (£17) for 20GB for 30 days |
Holafly | £59 for unlimited data for 30 days (1) | £67 for unlimited data for 30 days (1) |
Nomad | £14.50 for 10 GB for 30 days | £21 for 10 GB for 30 days |
uSwitch | £11 for 10 GB for 30 days | £56 for 10 GB for 30 days |
With the exception of Easysim, these providers offer connectivity via a single provider. Easysim offers a choice of multiple networks. (1) Holafly only offers unlimited data eSims for USA and India. For the USA, you can choose the specific number of days you require.
- Get yourself a local prepaid Sim when you arrive for cheap data, local calls and texts. You can get usually get a cheap prepaid Sim card for a local mobile network once you arrive at your destination. But unlike an eSim, you'll get a physical Sim card, which you'll need to swap out with your UK Sim while you're away. Local Sims can be worthwhile if you're there for a longer period.
Spend a long time abroad? You could consider a local Sim
![](/content/dam/hero-roaming.jpg.rendition.320.320.jpg)
A local Sim is usually a physical Sim card that you buy at your destination to connect to a local mobile provider. You can typically buy them at the airport when you arrive or just in a shop, then swap it with your UK Sim and it'll give you a local phone number, enabling you to make very cheap local calls and use data, often for less than most UK providers' roaming charges.
But there are some drawbacks. Getting a local international phone number means you might be charged pricey rates to call home, and your friends and family back home may be charged to call you. If you're outside of Europe, you'll also be charged to receive calls from a UK number, and it can cost as much as £3 a minute.
Are local Sims worth it?
If you're travelling within Europe and you'd have to pay a roaming fee, then a local Sim could be a good idea if you're going away for a long period, as charges can quickly build up. However, it's unlikely to beat switching to a firm with free roaming or picking up a second cheap rolling one-month contract that comes with inclusive roaming.
But if you're travelling outside of Europe, or going abroad for a longer period, you might be better off getting a local Sim to keep you connected – but it's usually best for data or local calls and texts, not if you want to call or message people back at home.
However, it's worth noting that finding the right local Sim can be a fiddly process, and there's no easy solution to finding the best deal.
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