

Cheap Mobile and Data Roaming
Use your phone abroad for less, incl roam free trick
Whether you're a global jet-setter or just take the odd trip abroad, this guide will show how to use your phone as cheaply as possible – and how to avoid racking up a huge bill.

Mobile phone firms were banned from charging you extra fees to use your UK allowance of minutes, texts or data (some have caps) when in the European Union since 2017.
These rules no longer apply as the Brexit transition period has ended, but the big mobile providers currently say they've no plans to reintroduce charges. See Travelling within Europe? below and our Brexit guide for more.
Quick tips to use your mobile abroad for less

Free mobile roaming in European Union countries is no longer guaranteed as the Brexit transition period has now ended. Under the 'Roam Like At Home' rules introduced by the EU, you could use your UK allowance of minutes, texts and data without paying any extra charges in one of these 30 countries (those in the EU plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway), subject to 'fair usage' rules.
However, when we checked with the major firms after the trade deal was reached on 24 December 2020, they confirmed they had no plans to bring back roaming fees for now. Although this isn't an indefinite guarantee, and they could always change their approach in the future.
Here's what they told us:
- EE: "Our customers enjoy inclusive roaming in Europe and beyond, and we don't have any plans to change this based on the Brexit outcome. So our customers travelling to the EU will continue to benefit from inclusive roaming."
- O2: "We're committed to providing our customers with great connectivity and value when they travel outside the UK. We currently have no plans to change the 'Roam Like at Home' arrangements."
- Three: "Three is the global leader in international roaming and already offers roaming at no extra cost for its customers in over 70 destinations, including the US, Australia and New Zealand. We will retain this great customer benefit regardless of Brexit negotiations, allowing our customers to continue using their phones when they travel within the EU."
- Vodafone has "no plans to reintroduce roaming charges".
- Sky Mobile: "Customers will continue to be able to use their data plans as they do today in over 30 European destinations at no extra cost from 1 January 2021."
- Virgin Media: "We currently have no plans to change our 'Roam Like Home' offering. Virgin Media mobile customers can continue to enjoy their inclusive data, minutes and texts while abroad in 43 European destinations. Should we need to make any changes to our roaming services, we'll let our customers know in advance."
- Tesco Mobile is "committed to giving our customers the very best value and service wherever they use their mobile. There are currently no plans to change our Home From Home roaming at no extra cost."
- iD Mobile "remains committed to providing our customers with great value plans that they can use at home and in 50 destinations worldwide and currently have no plans to change our Roaming services.”
Do check with individual networks for the latest information though, as they may reintroduce roaming fees at a later date. Some operators also cover countries outside the 30 included in the original 'Roam like at Home' scheme, so it's always best to check with your network for its full list to be sure – and check any terms carefully.
Beware, you could still face roaming charges if you exceed data limits
While you won't be charged for using your UK allowance in the EU, some networks have a 'fair use' policy, which means it could restrict your full UK allowance – so you could run out of data quicker than at home, and be charged for using more.
In practice, the exact amount of your data allowance you can use before these extra charges kick in will vary by provider. Giffgaff customers, for example, who are used to 'Always On' unlimited data, are restricted to 20GB while away – and will be charged around £5 for every GB used on top.
We're checking that existing fair usage limits won't change in the new year, but in the meantime it is best to call your provider to check if you're travelling imminently.
Another feature of the EU roaming rules is a default €50 (£44) cap on monthly data usage when you travel anywhere in the world – not just within the EU. The idea is to protect travellers from huge unexpected mobile bills.
The UK Government has written a similar measure into UK law, which is now in effect, so this will continue to apply. It has set the limit on charges for mobile roaming data usage at £45 per monthly billing period. You'll get warnings when you reach 80% and 100% of your data usage, and once you hit the limit your data services will stop, unless you actively chose to continue spending.

Outside the EU, some providers charge a gobsmacking £8/MB for data and £3/min to make or receive a call, so if you're not careful your mobile bill could set you back more than your trip.
This includes some surprisingly common holiday hotspots, so here's our top tips to cut costs while travelling further afield.

Roam 'free' in 71 destinations, including the United States and Australia
When it comes to making roaming outside the EU affordable, Three's Go Roam* Sim has led the charge for a while now.
It allows those on 'Advanced' (but not the legacy 'Essential') pay-monthly plans and pay-as-you-go users to use their normal allowance of minutes, texts and data abroad in 71 countries and territories as standard – though there is a cap on the amount you can use and you'll be charged for calling local numbers (see how it works below). Many of the 71 countries are in the EU (and those on Essential plans can also access these), but the list also includes the United States, Australia, Switzerland and more. See the full list of countries covered*.
Though travel to a country outside of this – including Turkey – and you'll be charged its expensive standard rates, so it's not a blanket rule that Three will be the cheapest way to roam. See our round-up of the main network charges below to compare.
If you're a pay monthly contract 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 a bundle can work out expensive (a two-week trip could set you back £80+), so you may be better keeping your phone off or sticking to free Wi-Fi.

TABLE_CELL_STYLEProvider | Roaming add-ons | Standard rates (1) | ||
Data | Calls | Texts | ||
EE | For Australia, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand and the United States, you can add the Roam further pass which lets you use your UK allowance for £10/mth on a rolling 30-day contract. If you have a 'Smart' plan, you could select it as a 'swappable benefit' at no extra charge.
Alternatively, and for 11 other destinations including China, India and South Africa, it offers: Travel data pass – 500MB from £4.80 to £6/day, depending on the destination World select talk and text – unltd mins & texts for £6/day in Australia, Canada, Turkey and the USA. |
N/A (2) | £1.80/min | 60p |
O2* | If you've an O2 Refresh tariff or have a Sim only plan with more than 20GB data, check if your destination is covered by the included Travel Inclusive zone bolt on, which covers 27 further countries including Australia and the USA.
Otherwise, it offers: O2 Travel* – unltd data, 120 mins & 120 texts for £4.99/day |
£7.20/MB | £2/min | 50p |
Three* | Three's standard Go Roam includes 71 countries, including the USA and New Zealand.
Otherwise, you'll be charged its expensive standard roaming rates (see right). Check how much your destination would cost before you travel. |
£6/MB | £3/min | 35p |
Vodafone* | If you have a 'Red Entertainment' plan, check if your destination is covered by the included Global Roaming Plus, which covers 77 countries including Mexico and New Zealand.
For all other pay monthly plans, it offers: Roam Further* – use your UK allowance in 104 destinations for £6/day |
12p/MB | 60p/min | 8p |
Table correct as of August 2020. (1) Based on standard roaming rates for Morocco. (2) EE customers can't use the internet on their phone abroad unless they buy a data add-on.
Many of the fee-paying packages also bill you on a recurring basis, so you'll continue to be charged until you cancel. If you're only going away for a short time, simply cancel once you get home.
Frequent traveller? Consider switching to a specialist Sim
If you're a frequent traveller, plan to use your phone a lot or are going away for a bit longer than usual, you may be better off getting a specialist Sim.
If you're not travelling to one of the countries covered by Three's Go Roam service and can't rely on free Wi-Fi, this may be the most cost-effective way to get online. But it can be a fiddly process, and there's no easy solution to finding the best deal. With most Sims, you'll also need an unlocked mobile (or mobile device).
There are three main options:
If you're after a specialist Sim, you'll need to weigh up what's best for you. Think about the calls you are making – if they're mainly calls to the country you're in, a local Sim could be best, but then you'll have to pay international rates to phone home. Also bear in mind that it is likely to be easier to top up a global Sim online.

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