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The Best Smart Phones to Use When You Travel

In this post, Dave Dean from Too Many Adapters shares his best tips and advice on how to pick the best smartphone for when you travel.

As a travel tech writer, I get asked about using smartphones for travel all the time. The minute we head overseas with our phones, we’re hit with a confusing mess of technical jargon, expensive roaming agreements, conflicting advice, and nonworking gear. Trying to discuss the nuances of GSM frequency bands or iPhone unlock codes with a mobile vendor in a dusty Cambodian town isn’t my idea of fun, and I doubt it’s yours either.

Since we all want our smartphones to work when we travel, I’ve put together this guide covering everything you need to know to get your smartphone working overseas — as well as the best smartphones for travel. It’s detailed, but not too complicated, and will save you money, time, and plenty of frustration!

The Best Travel Smartphones

Traveling with a Smartphone: Tips and Advice

This is an inexpensive way to stay connected with phone and data service while you travel. The downside is that you’ll have to change SIM cards every time you change countries, so you may end up carrying a stack of SIM cards around the world with you (though I like being reminded of all the places I’ve been!).

Here are some other tips for using your phone:

1. Only use Wi-Fi when possible – Your smartphone will still connect over Wi-Fi just fine, so replace calling with Skype or Google Voice, SMS with WhatsApp, and download a bunch of offline travel apps to use when you’re away from a signal. You’ll be surprised how well that approach can work, and not getting notifications all the time is quite refreshing.

You can download Google Maps and download the map of the city online then use it without Wi-Fi. Also, you can search for your destination in Google Maps and it still works when you don’t have Wi-Fi if your location is on. You can also take screenshots and save them.

Some cities even have free public Wi-Fi in parks and public spaces like airports and train stations. If you really need it, lots of international chains like McDonald’s and Starbucks have Wi-Fi if you buy something to eat or drink. Remember to be careful with your data on these open networks (a VPN is recommended).

2. Buy a budget smartphone – While there’s a lot of junk at the bottom of the smartphone range, there are a few decent phones for travelers under $200. My current favorite is the Motorola Moto G — you’ll want to buy a microSD card for some extra storage, but other than that it’s a reasonably speedy smartphone, with a battery that lasts all day. Tip: grab the “Global” version for maximum compatibility overseas. You’ll still need to buy local SIM cards to put in it.

3. Rent a phone – You can rent phones at airports and from various companies before you leave home, but I’d only consider it for a short trip to a specific country where my usual phone didn’t work. For anything other than that, it’s cheaper just to buy a new one.

4. Rent or buy a portable hotspot – Portable hotspots are small gadgets that create a wireless network and share a cellular data connection over it — you can typically connect 5 or 10 devices to the network you create. You can rent one for short trips at an inflated daily or weekly rate, or you can buy an unlocked hotspot and stick a local SIM card in it, just as if it were a phone. Your smartphone will treat this like any other Wi-Fi network.

Getting your smartphone to work overseas without coming home to a huge bill isn’t always a straightforward task. But with a bit of time and effort, you’ll know exactly what options you’ve got when you’re on the road and you’ll be able to use your phone overseas.

Do your research, avoid the rip-offs, buy one of the above best smartphones when you travel, and you’ll be able to stay in touch, stay connected, and stay Instagramming when you travel!

Dave runs Too Many Adapters , a site devoted to technology for travelers. A geek as long as he can remember, he worked in IT for 15 years. Now based out of a backpack long term, Dave writes about travel and tech from anywhere with half-decent Internet and a great view. You can also find him talking about the life of a long-term traveler at What’s Dave Doing?  

Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner . It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld . If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• SafetyWing (best for everyone)
• Insure My Trip (for those 70 and over)
• Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Want to Travel for Free? Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.

Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip? Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.

Ready to Book Your Trip? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.

Got a comment on this article? Join the conversation on Facebook , Instagram , or Twitter and share your thoughts!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to keeping the site community supported and ad free.

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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

KlausVedfelt/DigitalVision/GettyImages

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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5 Best Ways to Use Your Phone When Traveling Abroad

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We live in an ultra-connected world. Most Americans are now accustomed to always being online, with a majority of Americans (53%) admitting to regularly using their phone in bed before going to sleep, according to a 2021 study by Contentsquare, an analytics company. 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.

Those who want to stay connected have many options for data and text messages while overseas — from using international cell phone plans to getting a local SIM or eSIM card. Here are our 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 Google Fi

Google Fi is a virtual cell phone service provider. That means that rather than owning its own towers, it 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.

When you land in an international country, you can simply turn off airplane mode and use your phone just like you do at home. You'll get unlimited free texting, and data costs the same as when you're back home and using Google Fi. The only thing that can cost extra is phone calls. You'll pay 20 cents per minute when calling overseas or traveling overseas. You'll pay this same rate whether you're calling friends or family back home or calling a hotel in the next country on your itinerary.

The downside to Google Fi: 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.

» Learn more: What to know about insurance for electronics

2. Get free overseas data using T-Mobile and Sprint

The budget option for staying connected while overseas is to use T-Mobile or Sprint as your cell phone provider. Many plans offered by these providers come with free text and data while traveling overseas. However, you get what you pay for when it comes to data speeds.

T-Mobile customers with can get unlimited 2G data, unlimited texting and calls costing 25 cents per minute across 210 destinations if they have the following plans:

New Classic.

Select Choice.

Simple Choice.

Don't expect to be able to do much on 2G data, as it’s only around twice the speed of dial-up internet. 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.

Similarly, Sprint customers get free text messages and 2G data and 25 cents per minute calling when traveling to more than 200 destinations. As with T-Mobile, Sprint customers can purchase data packages that allow 4G/LTE data roaming for as little as $5 per day.

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

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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

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 our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

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

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit 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. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1.5%-6.5% Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, 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.

$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 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.

Get smartphone savvy the easy way — join our seven-day email challenge to receive helpful tips each day.

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How to Use Your Phone Internationally With Minimal Charges

5 strategies to help you connect in other countries without paying a bundle.

If you travel to another country and use your smartphone as you would in the States — to access maps, check email, text the kids, many times a day — you could end up with hundreds of dollars in fees. To connect abroad affordably, you need a strategy. Here are your easiest options.

1. Put your phone in airplane mode to avoid charges

Aside from features such as the camera, only use the phone when you can connect to Wi-Fi. Some phones and  apps  automatically download data when the phone is on and connected, leading to charges — even if you aren’t using the phone for calls. To make calls, use apps such as WhatsApp (which is also great for texting photos to friends), FaceTime, Skype, Google Voice, Viber and Facebook Messenger.

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2. Get an international phone plan

Every phone carrier offers its customers international plans, which vary. If you use T-Mobile, for instance, your monthly plans include unlimited overseas texting and data, at no extra charge, and 25 cents per minute for phone calls. But, again, you can avoid those fees by switching to airplane mode. (See tip No. 1.) For Verizon customers, overseas options include a TravelPass plan that costs $10 per day for unlimited calling, texting and data. AT&T’s International Day Pass is also $10 per day with the same benefits. Google offers a wireless phone service called Google Fi: The plan covers texting and data, whether you’re at home or abroad, though you’ll pay 20 cents a minute for overseas calls. The  Federal Communications Commission  maintains a list of select service providers and how to contact them about their international plans (click on “Web Resources: Service Providers”). Most carriers offer cheaper options if you’re visiting Mexico or Canada.

3. Buy a prepaid SIM card to use your phone in another country

This is a slightly more complicated option: A SIM card stores your subscriber data in your phone. When you’re traveling internationally, you can replace it with one that gives you a local phone number. The first step: Ask your carrier to “unlock” your phone (a “locked” phone will only work on your carrier’s network). The unlocking process varies depending on the phone and the carrier; some new phones are unlocked by default.

You can buy a SIM card before you leave. Amazon, for example, sells SIM cards for Europe ranging from around $20-$50, typically for 30 days of use. (Before you buy, research the most used networks in the country you’re visiting and buy that brand of SIM card. In France, for example, the largest mobile company is Orange, followed by SFR and Bouygues Telecom.) The cards vary based on the amount of data, minutes and texts, and the number of countries where you can use it. You can install it after you land by following instructions that are included with the card.

Another option is to buy a SIM card at your destination — such as from a mobile provider at the airport or a local department store. The upside of buying it when you arrive: A store employee can help you choose the right data plan, install the card and make sure it’s the right one for your phone. (Older iPhones, for example, have different SIM cards than newer iPhones, which might not have SIM cards.)

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4. Try an eSIM card in your phone

Most new phones have what’s called an  eSIM card . Unlike the physical SIM card that you can remove from a phone, an eSIM is a microchip embedded in the phone’s hardware. That eSIM can be useful when you’re traveling internationally. Instead of replacing a SIM card, you can add a plan to your eSIM from a local provider in the country you’re visiting, or purchase data through eSIM providers such as Airalo, Flexiroam, GigSky and Nomad. Apple maintains an  online list  of wireless carriers and service providers that offer eSIM service. You also can find information online about eSIMs in  iPhones  and  Android  phones (including which ones support eSIMs, since Android phones vary depending on the manufacturer).

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5. Mix and match options while traveling

It’s OK to choose more than one of these options. Seattle-based travel writer Mary Jo Manzanares, 68, uses Airalo for data but makes calls with WhatsApp. Andy Gibson, 54, an IT specialist in Virginia who recently traveled to Germany, used T-Mobile for its free data but also used WhatsApp for calls. A combination of strategies can help you save money.

Editor's note: This article was originally published on Aug. 20, 2019. It's been updated to reflect new information. 

Ken Budd has written for  National Geographic Traveler , Travel+Leisure , The Washington Post Magazine  and many more. He is the author of a memoir,  The Voluntourist.

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AFAR’s Ultimate Guide to Traveling With Your Phone

What you need to know about traveling with your cell phone to any destination, domestic or international..

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Traveling abroad with a cell phone is not as easy as it might seem—here’s everything you need to know.

Photo by Céline Druguet/Unsplash

Let’s be real: Just because you’re traveling doesn’t mean you’re going to ditch your cell phone. And that’s OK! Your handset should be an integral part of any trip you take. They snap gorgeous photos, and with an ever-growing number of travel-centric apps and features ( Siri, how do I ask “where’s the bathroom” in Farsi?), phones help keep us connected.

Still, vacationing can be hazardous for your phone: pickpockets, roaming charges, and unexpected drops. And figuring out the ins and outs of international calling, like whether or not high-speed data is worth it, and the fine print behind unlimited data can be quite the task.

That’s why we’ve put together this practical guide for prepping your cell phone for travel, no matter if you’re heading to Nashville to visit your sister, attending your best friend’s wedding in France, or heading to Phnom Penh in search of the top Khmer food.

Here’s everything you need to know about traveling abroad with a cell phone:

Many cell phone carriers offer international roaming data options—for a price.

Courtesy of Unsplash/Getty Images

How to prep your phone for international travel

First things first: Before you set foot on international soil (even if it’s a quick USA to Canada getaway), call your cell phone carrier or peruse the specifics on its website to find out exactly what your plan charges for international travel. Trust us, it pays to be wary when you’re looking to maintain your phone’s status as your go-to hot spot for communication and all things digital. Cell phone companies have no issue gouging customers with extreme international roaming fees that result in bills of $5,000 and higher

That being said, many providers offer special international roaming agreements and international phone plans that you can add to your regular plan for the duration of your trip. Varying from carrier to carrier, these packages typically give you a certain amount of voice minutes, text messages, and data to use while overseas—some even offer unlimited calling. AT&T, for example, has an International Day Pass instead of an international monthly plan; it spans more than 210 destinations for $10 a day. This option offers unlimited talk, unlimited texting, and high-speed data, and plan owners are only charged for the days that the phone is used. One super-helpful add-on is the ability to extend the unlimited plan to an extra phone number for only $5 a day. But what makes this one of the best international cell phone plans is that you will only be charged for 10 days (total) per line in a single billing cycle.

Verizon also offers TravelPass , which offers a very similar package. The main difference: You’ll pay $5 a day for using your phone in Mexico and Canada, as opposed to $10 a day for other international destinations. By noting the days you use the service (especially if you use autopay), you can make sure you aren’t overcharged.

And keep this question top of mind: Based on your destination, what kind of data speeds should you expect? “Unlimited data” sounds great in theory, but that doesn’t actually address how accessible the Wi-Fi, texting, or calling may be.

For those who know they’ll be abroad for a long time, prepaid phones are a convenient option.

Back to the specifics: Do you have AT&T , T-Mobile , Google Fi? Good news! That means your cell phone will likely work in most foreign countries. These three carriers use the GSM network, which is standard in Europe and widely used in Africa, most parts of Asia, the Middle East, South America, and Oceania.

If you have Verizon, your phone works with the local CDMA network to set up data usage, which is not as common overseas. Japan and South Korea both widely use the network, as do India and many parts of South America and the Caribbean. As always, it’s a smart idea to check with your carrier to find out specifically where your phone will function and which data plan makes the most sense.

Prepaid phones are a good option if you’re going to be abroad for an extended time and don’t want to rack up international data charges or if your cell phone isn’t compatible with an overseas network. It’s simple: You purchase a relatively inexpensive handset ($50–$200) and load up prepaid voice minutes, texts, and data. Consider this more of a pay-as-you-go option. While you can pick up a prepaid phone in practically any country you visit, we recommend using services such as onesimcard.com , which can provide everything from handsets to prepaid plans.

It’s also possible to unlock your cell phone so that any local SIM card, foreign or domestic, will work with it. While there are numerous videos online detailing exactly how to unlock a phone, it’s best to proceed down this road with caution because unlocking your phone can sometimes void your warranty. For the best option, consider how you generally use data and try to estimate how much you’ll need on your travels.

Websites like opensignal.com can help users figure out which carriers offer the best coverage in remote areas.

Photo by Max van den Oetelaar/Unsplash

How to prep your phone for domestic trips

What carriers don’t tell you is where, exactly, their coverage works. Most often, you’ll find references to coverage promises in European countries, or even larger areas of land. Most carriers like to claim they have vast swaths of the nation covered—but in reality, coverage can often change from block to block.

That’s why we like resources like opensignal.com . If you’re a fan of studies, data, and graphs, the site goes above and beyond. Just punch in a location on the site—it can be somewhere as remote as Yosemite—and this online service will show you which of the major carriers have the strongest coverage (plus all kinds of other information, like broadband coverage and regular updates on service improvement). As a bonus, it will also display data on the number of cell towers and cell networks in the area, signal readings, and Wi-Fi points.

How to get your phone to take better pictures and video

The optics fitted into the cameras of today’s cell phones are more advanced than ever. The Apple iPhone 15 Pro has the ability to record videos in 4K resolution with a 120 mm zoom, while the Google Pixel 8 shoots images at a whopping 50 megapixels. But there are still multiple things you can do to improve the shots your camera takes.

The photo-editing apps that come preloaded on most phones are steadily getting better. However, we like the advanced options found on photo-editing apps like Adobe Lightroom , VSCO , and Camera+ for iOS. Apps like Snapseed , Bazaart Photo , and Camera FV-5 will help you create stunning images and video on Android-based phones.

If you want to improve your camera’s zoom and macro abilities, we recommend an additional lens clip. We love the Olloclip , a small lens system for iPhone, iPad, and Samsung Galaxy that adds capabilities for macro zoom, fish-eye view, and telephoto.

What to do if your phone is lost, broken, or stolen

Your handset has just been snatched by a pickpocket/launched into an active volcano/trampled by a herd of wildebeest. Remember the wise council of Douglas Adams and DON’T PANIC. With a little bit of prep work, a missing or wrecked phone can be merely a minor inconvenience.

A few weeks (better yet, months) before your trip, ring your carrier and see what the current rates are on mobile phone insurance. Most offer plans that will replace or fix a phone for a relatively small deductible. Read the fine print first though: Many plans don’t cover things like natural phenomena or will replace your equipment with secondhand devices.

Getting your phone stolen is a major headache—but with the right steps and a little luck, it could be only a minor inconvenience.

Courtesy of karl muscat/Unsplash

Third-party insurance also exists from companies like Asurion and SquareTrade (owned by AllState). While usually a tad more expensive, they’ll often replace your handset with a brand-new version in the event of damage. Again, read the fine print, since sometimes these companies require you to have the remains of your phone to make a claim. There’s also a chance that your general travel insurance will cover phone theft or damage—it usually takes a more comprehensive plan that comes with an extra cost to cover this, but it’s worth looking into before you purchase.

If you’re shooting pics with your cell phone, make sure to connect to the Internet and upload the photos every so often during your trip. Many phones and services automatically do this through services like iCloud, but it’s a good idea to sync your device to make sure the uploads go through.

Finally, be sure to activate location-based services like Find My iPhone and Where’s My Droid , which can help locate a handset in the event of loss/theft.

This article originally appeared online in 2015; it was most recently updated on December 13, 2023, to include current information.

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The Best International Cell Phone Plans For Travelers [Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, Google Fi]

James Larounis

Senior Content Contributor

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Keri Stooksbury

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What Phones Can You Use Internationally?

Alternative choice: google fi, connect to wi-fi, use a hotspot, turn off your cellular data when you aren’t using it, final thoughts.

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Your phone is your map, source of information, and a translator. These modern conveniences have made international travel easier and safer. Whether you’re leaving for a year abroad, going off to become an expat, or are just heading for a long weekend in Mexico, you’ll need to sort out what you want to do for an international cell phone plan.

Similar to figuring out how international plugs work, making sure your passport is ready , and deciding on what to pack , your phone requires some preparation before you leave to travel internationally.

If you decide to stick to your current carrier or switch cell phone providers, the company you work with may charge you extra for your travels. Make sure you understand your plan carefully and know what it will cost to use your data, minutes, and texts — and what happens when you go over.

Which plans work the best, what do they offer, and what do they cost? These are some important questions you’ll need to consider when looking at what options will work best for you.

In this post, we’ll take a look at:

• What a world phone is, and how to equip yourself for international travel
• What international plans each of the major cell phone carriers offer
• What the pros and cons of each service are
• Who each cell phone plan service is best for

Once a few technical words get thrown around, many people think they won’t be able to understand how any of this works. Don’t worry, using a phone overseas isn’t as difficult as it can sometimes sound.

The first thing to understand is that different companies and countries all use their own technologies and frequencies. You need a phone that is compatible with these technologies.

Verizon uses a technology called CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access). Most other carriers and the world use what’s called GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication). There are phones on Verizon that also support GSM, but those that don’t won’t work as world phones.

Rather than explain the technical differences between GSM and CDMA, which often confuses folks, it’s important to understand that carriers use different technologies, and different parts of the world use different systems — what is relevant for you is which plans and carriers you can use abroad.

Hot Tip: If you bought a phone advertised as “unlocked” or “SIM-free,” it should be designed to be ready to use on global GSM networks.

Every carrier offers a list of popular models of “world phones,” including such options as the iPhone XRS Max and Samsung Galaxy S10.

Many of the phones you get for free or discounted in exchange for signing up for a service contract are locked. This means they are locked to the network the contract is with. Your cell phone provider prevents your phone from using another network, and it may not be able to work internationally.

Hot Tip: If your phone is locked, try asking your cell phone company if they will unlock it for you.

The Best International Cell Phone Plans

Unfortunately, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all option for international cell phone plans. Below, you’ll find information on all the major carriers and their plan options, along with the pros and cons of each. Use this to sort out what will work best for you and go with your gut.

Be aware that your needs will be different if you are traveling short-term versus a month or more. Plans like Verizon’s Above Unlimited have restrictions when you use more than 50% of your talk, text, or data while you’re traveling internationally (meaning, you shouldn’t use a U.S.-based plan when abroad full-time). They sometimes severely limit (or even cancel) your cell phone service when this happens. Keep this in mind when you’re reviewing your options.

Your first option on Verizon is its TravelPass plan , which gives you the option to take your regular talk, text, and data with you on your trip (meaning, you use whatever amount of talk, text and data speeds you regularly use within the United States).

You will be charged $5 a day (on every line) for days you use your service in Mexico and Canada. There is a list of 130 additional countries where you can use your phone at a rate of $10 per day. Most popular countries are included in this list, such as Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, the Netherlands, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and more.

Activating your TravelPass through the Verizon Wireless app is all you need to do to have coverage and it’s a simple add-on to your normal monthly bill.

When you arrive at an international location, your phone will automatically recognize where you are and will connect to the local signal. Once it does, your TravelPass kicks in and it won’t renew or use another pass until 24 hours (not a full calendar day) have elapsed. If you land in a foreign country at 2 p.m. on one day and leave at 11 a.m. the next day, you only use 1 TravelPass.

If you use a lot of data uploading photos and using maps while you’re traveling, then you should be aware that the 4G speeds you rely on with Verizon are only available for your first 512 MB on the TravelPass. Once you’ve passed 512 MB, Verizon will throttle your speed down to 2G.

The Verizon Wireless Above Unlimited plan will offer you unlimited data, no contract, for $95 per month. You can receive a $5 a month discount if you set your payments to auto-pay.

This plan isn’t an add-on, but is one that you can use when you’re on brief trips abroad when you feel like it. Essentially, instead of charging you separate per-use days like the TravelPass add-on, the passes are built-in to the plan itself.

Talk, text, and data are included while you’re in Mexico and Canada (no extra charge) and the plan comes with 5 TravelPasses every month. This means you can use a TravelPass for talk, text, and data in 130 countries for 5 days per month with no extra expense. If you exceed the 5 free days a month, then you’ll continue at the normal rate of $10 per additional day.

Again, once you’ve used 512 MB of 4G speeds, you’ll be throttled down to 2G.

For comparison, if you decide to pay as you go on Verizon while abroad, you’ll be charged top rates. It costs $.99 a minute for calling in Canada and Mexico, $1.79+ in most other countries, $.50 for every text you send, $.05 for every text you receive and $2.05 for every MB of data you use. A simple app download or directions on a map can cost you several hundreds of dollars, so keep this in mind if you decide to pay as you go.

For cruise ships, there’s a fairly basic plan that’s included with your basic service. It will cost $2.99 a minute for calling, $.50 to send a text, and $.05 to receive a text; no data capabilities are available while at sea.

• You don’t have to worry about unlocking a phone because you’re still on the Verizon network.
• It’s easy to add for short trips.
• The Verizon U.S. LTE coverage has been great for a long time.
• The unlimited plan includes the 5 TravelPasses, as well as free talk and text in Mexico and Canada.
• Your personal number stays the same at no extra cost.
• This option can be pricey. The $5-$10 a day TravelPasses add up quickly, especially with multiple lines and on long trips.
• While there are many places covered in its 130 locations, there are also many that still aren’t, so you’ll want to check to be sure you’ll have coverage for your specific trip before signing up.

Bottom Line: This Plan Is Great For: People who already use Verizon and don’t want to have to call to add an international add-on. If you take frequent and short trips abroad in areas where it has service, the Above Unlimited is a great choice.

T-Mobile is a great option for international travel because its plans make things simple.

The T-Mobile One plan for unlimited data lets you keep your unlimited data and texting when you travel to 210 locations. However, it caps your data at a shockingly low 128 kbps. This means that even just browsing web pages (exclusive of video) you’ll be throttled down to 2G speeds. It also charges for international phone calls, so if you talk a lot on your phone this can become expensive quickly.

To combat these downsides, T-Mobile offers International Passes for faster data while you’re abroad. Its 5 GB pass keeps you on the 4G network for 10 days with unlimited calling at a cost of $35. It  also has an option for 15 GB for 30 full days at $50.

Another option is a $5 pass with 512 MB of high-speed data and unlimited calling. This is much more limited, but if you’re traveling for a short period and don’t believe you’ll be making many calls on FaceTime or another data-consuming app, this can be a simple add-on with enough to get online at faster speeds.

Cruise rates vary depending on the ship or destination you’re traveling to (you can check here for rates ), but as an example, if you choose to travel on the Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas which sails in the South Pacific, your at-home T-Mobile plan includes no data on the cruise ship, $.50 for sent texts, and $5.99 a minute for calls.

• The 2G speed data is free with your regular plan.
• Expansive coverage in 210 locations, which basically means almost everywhere.
• While it covers a great many countries, when you get beyond major U.S. cities the coverage can be spotty.
• International phone calls can become very expensive very fast since they are not included.

Bottom Line: This Plan Is Great For:  People who travel frequently and want international service included at no additional expense. This plan is cheapest when you don’t mind super slow 2G speeds when traveling abroad.

On both the Unlimited & More and the Unlimited & More Premium plans on AT&T , you will be able to travel to Mexico and Canada with all of your talk, data, and text already paid for. Its Mobile Share Plus plans allow you to use your talk, text, and data when you are in Mexico.

In 100+ other countries, AT&T offers an International Day Pass for $10 a day, offering the unlimited talk, text, and data already in your regular plan.

This charge can add up quickly when you’re on longer trips, though. The AT&T Passport plan lets you use your normal within-U.S. plan for 30 days while you’re out of the country. AT&T recently redid this plan, since the old AT&T passport option only offered 200 MB of data, which is just not enough for most people.

The Passport plan costs $60 for 30 days and offers 1 GB of data and unlimited texting. You can raise this to 3 GB of data for $120 for the month. At that point, you should never go any further if you value your budget, because it charges you $50 for every GB over the 3 GB. Phone calls are not included and you will be charged $.35 per minute.

If you’re headed onto a cruise , AT&T also has you covered with 2 plans. Its $100-a-month plan includes unlimited talk and text and 200 MB of data, with additional data costing $2 per MB. Its $50-a-month cruise package includes 50 minutes of talk (overages charged at $2 per minute), unlimited texting, and no data.

Data on cruising is expensive no matter which plan you choose, so if you can, subscribe to the onboard Wi-Fi that your cruise ship may offer.

For comparison, if you don’t choose one of these plans, you’re charged at insane rates: $3 per minute for talk, $.50 for each text sent and over $6 for every MB of data you use. Yikes!

• It’s easy to use and add to your account.
• You are staying on the AT&T network so you don’t need to find an unlocked phone.
• There isn’t any data speed throttling, which is common on other networks.
• You can take phone calls on your regular number without paying any extra fees.
• If you’re on a share plan, you’ll need to monitor the data usage.
• While there are many places that are covered (over 100), there are many that still aren’t.
• The $10 fee every day for every line will add up very quickly. If you go on a family trip with 4 lines and are traveling for 5 days you could see an additional $200 on your monthly bill.

Looking for more information? See our detailed piece dedicated to AT&T International Phone Plans including countries, coverage rates, and more.

Bottom Line: This Plan Is Great For:  People who love data and texting, but aren’t big on making phone calls. It’s not the best if you are on a shared plan and going to be buying an International Day Pass for everyone in your group, but the 30-day plans with unlimited data are excellent for users who mostly need its phones for data or texting while on an extended trip.

Google Fi doesn’t come up as an option as a major carrier (yet). While it may not yet be a mainstream option, it is one that is becoming increasingly popular with frequent travelers.

Google Fi treats international data and domestic data the same. It uses the cell towers of T-Mobile and US Cellular and covers over 200 locations.

Internationally, your calls will cost $.20 , unless you are on Wi-Fi, which will be free. You still have unlimited text messages while traveling internationally.

Its plans cost $20 for a month of unlimited talk and text and every 1 GB of data is $10 a month. The data is rounded off to the nearest MB meaning you only pay for the data you actually use. If you are a heavy data user, it stops charging you at 6 GB. This means your bill will never be over $80 a month.

Google Fi offers a few phones, but it is also open to using most phones you’ve purchased elsewhere, including the iPhone. Buying one of its  phones (like the Google Pixel or some of the Moto and LG phones) makes it so that you can switch between cell networks and hotspots easier.

If you’re using Google Fi aboard a cruise ship, make sure to connect to the onboard Wi-Fi for free calls.

• International data and domestic data are treated the same.
• Google Fi covers 170+ destinations.
• There is no contract; you pay monthly.
• To sign up for Google-Fi, it sometimes offer great incentives such as high-dollar gift cards or freebies.
• Even with the combination of T-Mobile and US Cellular cell phone towers, your coverage at home may vary.
• Some users have found Google-Fi difficult to sign up for.

Bottom Line: This Plan Is Great For:  Frequent travelers and those who have an approved phone or who are interested in buying a Google Pixel (or other phone sold by Google). It’s important that the T-Mobile/US Cellular cell towers work well for you in your local area when you’re back at home.

Saving on International Rates

There’s no doubt that using your phone outside of the U.S. can be a bit pricey — most major plans cost more than you pay for your domestic service. To save on these costs while outside of the country, there are a few things you can do:

This may sound obvious, but it’s one of the biggest ways you can save money. Most phone plans can make calls over Wi-Fi for no extra cost , and you are able to download movies, music, or check emails without using cellular data.

Most branded hotels offer some type of complimentary Wi-Fi for a daily nominal rate. When you’re in your hotel, enable your phone to automatically connect to the hotel’s signal so that you won’t have to think about whether or not your phone is using international roaming rates. Outside of the hotel, many museums , restaurants, and even public spaces offer complimentary Wi-Fi.

There are several major hotspots designed for traveling. One of the largest brands is Skyroam . For as little as $9 a day, you can enjoy unlimited data. The hotspots offer a flat daily rate so you don’t have to worry about different charges for different areas or overages.

Since a hotspot usually provides unlimited data, it is more than likely cheaper than your traditional cell phone plan international service. You can connect your phone to this hotspot signal to make calls over Wi-Fi, download any necessary emails, and use your phone as a GPS, all without worrying about eating up precious data.

The only downside to using a hotspot is that it is an extra device you will have to carry with you when you are out. Some travelers clip the hotspot onto their belt, or stuff it in a backpack .

Many cell phone plans charge for every day you use talk, text, and data abroad — and the more days you use it, the higher your charges. There may be some days, however, where you don’t need data as much — for example, you might be inside all day where you can connect to Wi-Fi, or you may be flying between countries where you will be away from a cell signal.

Whatever the case, if you shut off your cellular signal (or turn your phone in Airplane Mode, as many people do), your phone won’t connect to a network and you won’t be charged for that day’s worth of usage.

The best international cell phone plan will be an individual decision.

While Google Fi isn’t one of the major mainstream U.S. carriers, it shouldn’t be overlooked as it is one of the strongest options for international plans, especially those who rely heavily on data.

T-Mobile’s plans are a strong option for those who need great coverage at home and internationally for frequent trips. AT&T’s plan for travel is great for trips to Canada and Mexico since both are included in the most basic version.

Consider what your travel plans are — where you are going and how often, what your needs are at home, and whether voice, data, or texting is most important to you. When you know what your needs are, it’s easier to make a decision on which are the best plans to get you the most coverage for the best price.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can i use my cell phone in a different country.

Most modern cell phones are equipped to work internationally, however, to be able to actually talk, text or use data, you need to contact your wireless carrier to ensure that your phone can connect to a network abroad. Usually, this requires you to subscribe to your wireless carrier’s international cellular plan, which may cost a few dollars a day.

Does AT&T have an international plan?

AT&T offers 2 international plans – a day pass type plan that charges by the day, and a Passport plan that allows the user to use their phone abroad for a month for a set price.

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About James Larounis

James (Jamie) started The Forward Cabin blog to educate readers about points, miles, and loyalty programs. He’s spoken at Princeton University and The New York Times Travel Show and has been quoted in dozens of travel publications.

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

Using your phone abroad for isn't always as simple as popping in a SIM card. Here are a few tips to keep in mind and plans to consider if you're looking 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. While 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 that 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 paying the roaming fees and keeping your trade-in credits for more valuable things than paying to unlock your phone. 

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

Sound confusing? Let's clear things up. 

What are the best phone plans with international roaming? 

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."

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.

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. 

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 the 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 an 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 the wireless carriers, their offerings and their performance. 

Since choosing a provider is unique, we focus on larger plans and the value they provide -- as well as calling out ways you can test the different networks in your area for yourself so you can make the best pick.

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 worth 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.

What if I have an unlocked phone?

If you have an unlocked device, looking at a local SIM card could be much cheaper. eSIM options, which allow you to virtually add a SIM card to your phone, mean you could load up a local provider's SIM card into your phone through apps like  Airalo  or  Ubigi  before you even leave home, so you'll be good to go once you reach your destination. 

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.

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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.

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Using A Cell Phone In Europe Made Easy and Affordable

What you need to know about how to save money using a cell phone in Europe, SIM cards, and data roaming.

Here are our best travel tips for getting fast, reliable data in Europe as you travel.

Using A Cell Phone In Europe: How to Save Time, Money and Hassle

Having fast, reliable cellular data on your mobile phone is a must when traveling Europe.

Are you wondering “ Can I buy a phone in the US and use it in Europe ?” The short answer is yes, you can use your own phone and phone plan, but it might be incredibly expensive.

Can I use my American or Canadian cell phone in Europe?

Almost all modern mobile devices are compatible with European cellular networks, so you should be able to use your phone in European countries without interruption. So yes, you can buy a phone in the US and use it in Europe.

In a hurry? Try one of these quick solutions to start saving money.

• Solo traveler? Get an affordable Keepgo eSIM for pay-as-you-go wireless internet
• In a group? Pick up a Skyroam Solis WiFi Hotspot ! Use with up to 10 devices!

However, you may get dinged pretty hard with unwelcome, and expensive, roaming fees from your home cell phone plan.*

If you just want to use your American smartphone and buy a local SIM card, you’ll also need to make sure your phone is unlocked however more on that later.

* Some budget cell phone plans don’t allow European roaming, like our cell plan in Canada with Public Mobile (though they do offer USA-based roaming add-ons).

Can I use my Verizon cell phone in Europe?

Smartphones on the Verizon network in the USA should work perfectly well in Europe, using Verizon’s international roaming plans.

The problem is that Verizon’s roaming tends to be pretty darn expensive. You can get the Verizon TravelPass plan, which works in over 185 counties. The TravelPass plan currently costs $10 per line per day, which is great for really short trips, but adds up pretty quickly if you’re gone for a week or longer. On this international plan, you’ll get unlimited calls, unlimited texts, and whatever data allowance you had on your domestic plan.

There’s also an International Monthly Plan for longer trips that lets you add a bundle of minutes, texts and data. The International Monthly Plan costs $100 /line per month, which is definitely cheaper than the TravelPass for longer trips. You’ll get 250 minutes, 1000 sent SMS, unlimited received SMS, and 5 GB data total. Sure, 5 GB of data sounds like a lot for day to day things however Netflix says you’ll use 1 GB of data (per device) for every hour you stream a Standard Definition show.

Will my cell phone work in Europe on AT&T?

Your AT&T phone should work perfectly well in Europe, using an AT&T roaming plan. However, AT&T doesn’t offer a lot of roaming options, and the AT&T International Day Pass is a little expensive for my taste. You’ll pay $10/day for the AT&T International Day Pass, which gives you unlimited data, talk and text in over 210 destinations.

How to unlock a smartphone

If you want to avoid expensive roaming fees, you can remove your American or Canadian phone’s SIM card and replace it with a European carrier’s SIM card. For most travelers, this may be the best way to use your phone in Europe.

Back to basics: What’s a SIM card?

A SIM card is basically a thumbnail sized card or chip in a slot in your phone. Your SIM card is what stores your phone number and cellular data plan. If you remove your phone’s SIM card, you’ll no longer be able to make phone calls, or use your cellular data plan, but you can still use your phone on Wi-Fi (you just won’t have a cell number or data). You can remove your SIM, and replace it with a European SIM, which will give you a European cell number and data plan (assuming data is included).

International travel eSIM for Europe

Before we get into the basics of SIM cards, let’s talk about one of the best ways to save money with a local SIM in Europe: eSIMs.

An eSIM is exactly what it sounds like: an electronic SIM card. However, an eSIM is embedded in your phone (meaning it’s not removable), and it can be reprogrammed easily.

An eSIM lets you change your wireless carrier, data, or service plan through software, without removing a physical chip, and inserting a new one. Most times, all you need to do is scan a simple QR code to switch your eSIM from one carrier to another. An eSIM can also let you use two different cell lines on the same device (like a home and work line), or let you switch between different plans depending on where you are in the world.

Several companies offer eSIMs for travelers, such as Holafly.

However, not all phones are compatible with an eSIM unfortunately, though it is arguably the best way to use cell phone in Europe. All three major US carriers support eSIM on recent iPhone and Google Pixel models, but not on Samsung models sold in the USA or Canada. So, when choosing an International eSIM for travel, first make sure that your phone is compatible.

Here’s what’s cool though: iPads and some laptops support eSIMs. Apples iPads have an easy eSIM interface, where you can simply choose your plan and provider from a menu on the iPad. Some laptops from Dell, Asus, Acer, Lenovo, Samsung and Microsoft laptops support eSIM, but Apple laptops don’t support eSIM at this time.

Important: your phone must also be carrier-unlocked to use an eSIM.

Using an eSIM in Europe is pretty simple for most users. First, make sure your device is eSIM compatible, then buy the eSIM online, and finally scan a QR code and turn on data roaming from your settings. When signing up for a eSIM service, you’ll also need an email address to get your QR code.

After that, you can call and message all your existing contacts on a bunch of free chat providers like WhatsApp or Skype, as if you’re in the same country. You can even keep your original SIM for phone calls if you wanted to continue using your existing provider.

Buying a Physical SIM card for Europe

If your phone does not support eSIM technology, you still can buy a physical SIM card for your travels. You may need to swap out your existing SIM card, but if you’re lucky, your phone will have two SIM card slots.

If you get a foreign SIM , make sure:

• your phone has a SIM card slot, and that the European SIM you buy fits your phone.
• your phone is unlocked. If your phone is locked, you will have to choose from European cell phones rather than use your own.

So, how do you choose the best SIM card for Europe with data?

There’s a little more to choosing a good European SIM card than simply picking the cheapest option.

First, determine which size of SIM card your phone takes.

There are regular, micro, or nano sized SIM cards. Most European SIM card companies carry all three sizes, so that shouldn’t be a problem. A European SIM card for an iPhone will likely be nano or micro.

Next, buy extra texting, talk or data plans that you need.

It is possible to buy a bare bones SIM card without any data. If this happens, you may have a cell phone with a number, but no added minutes, no texting, and no internet data plan. Be sure you get the data and/or text and talk plan that fits your needs. The good news is that cell service in Europe is generally great, and high speed data plans for travelers are usually affordable.

Finally, insert your SIM card in your phone.

The location of the SIM card slot is different for different phones. However, it’s generally a small and fiddly process that requires good lighting, and a table so you don’t drop the SIM on the floor. SIM cards are tiny, and easily lost and damaged. You’ll likely need a paper clip, pin, or special tool to open the SIM card slot however all phones come with one and if you can’t find yours just grab a paperclip or you can buy them online fairly cheaply.

Looking for other options for how to use your cell phone in Europe?

If you don’t want to pay for roaming fees from your home carrier, and don’t want to fuss with getting a European SIM card, another option is to only use wifi on your phone.

While it can be tricky to get high speed Wi-Fi when traveling , it’s definitely possible. You can use apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Google Chat to get the most out of your mobile phone when traveling , rather than relying on a data connection.

To travel Europe using Wi-Fi only, just use Wi-Fi at hotels, airports, restaurants and even malls or you can bring along a Wi-Fi hotspot, like the Solis or Glocalme . A lot of apps these days from Netflix to YouTube to Spotify to Google Maps also allow offline saving so you while you can’t connect with family and friends while on the go like with an eSIM or regular SIM card, you can at least enjoy your media on the go.

Some European companies even rent cell phones in Europe, however since most modern North American phones will work fine with European carriers, it may just be easier to take your phone overseas and use an eSim.

Looking for some more travel tech tips? Read these articles:

• How not to fry your electronics overseas
• Ways to share your mobile data connection
• The best iPad drawing apps for kids

Great website! Thanks for hosting.

Hi. We are going to Paris and London next month for 10 days each. I can’t bring my phone or change the plan because work pays for my phone. My wife doesn’t work, so she just uses Tracfone, which doesn’t have an international plan. We are thinking of buying a prepaid phone for one month that works in both France and the UK. Would just be using to text home and use Google Maps. Any suggestions?

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Best international phone plans in 2024 — what travelers need to know

Heading overseas? Find out what your cellphone provider charges if you use your phone

• T-Mobile phone plans
• Verizon phone plans
• AT&T phone plans
• Google Fi plans
• Other options
• Device compatibility and eSims
• 5G coverage when traveling

Before your summer travels overseas, you should look into whether you've got one of the best international phone plans for staying connected during your upcoming adventures. In the U.S., all the major wireless carriers offer some kind of travel benefit with their best cell phone plans , but they also have supplementary packages for travelers to augment the data plan you already have in place. The trick is to make sure those options keep you covered around the globe.

1. T-Mobile : Best choice for travelers 2. Verizon : TravelPass options 3. AT&T : Best for travel in Latin and Central America 4. Google Fi : An underrated traveling companion 5. Other options : Other international phone plans to consider

The best international phone plans will let you make calls and browse the web when you're in another country (though there might be a fee on top of your normal monthly rate, depending on which carrier you use). Different plans might cover different countries, and how long you plan on traveling could also impact your choice of plans. Your method of travel — be it by plane or cruise ship — also affects which plan is best for you.

All of these are things for globetrotters to consider when shopping for wireless coverage. You're going to want one of the best unlimited data plans since they tend to offer the most travel-related perks. If you haven't travelled internationally in a while, it's smart to double-check what options are out there since the best phone carriers have overhauled their plans and packages available to travelers.

Here’s a look at the travel policies and perks for the three top U.S carriers along with information on Google Fi, which offers a plan that definitely appeals to frequent travelers.

T-Mobile international phone plans

T-Mobile offers an expanded array of plans, though most of its unlimited data plan options have some benefits for overseas travel. Subscribe to Magenta, Magenta Max, Go5G, Go5G Plus or Go5G Next, and you enjoy unlimited data and texting in more than 215 countries around the world. If you want to place or receive calls, you’ll be subject to the local rate depending on where you want to go. You don’t need to notify T-Mobile of your travel for your overseas benefits to kick in.

T-Mobile Go5G Plus Plan | Unlimited Data | $90/month T-Mobile's Go5G Plus plan has the edge over Magenta Max for world travelers, even if the latter plan is $5 cheaper for a single line. That's because Go5G Plus customers get more data when traveling in Mexico and Canada (15GB vs. 10GB for Magenta Max) and 10GB more hotspot data. Otherwise, the two plans are identical: You can use your data in 215-plus countries at no extra cost. The first 5GB of data you use use will be high-speed data (with 5G speeds supported where available). The cheaper Go5G and Magenta plans ($75/month and $70/month, respectively) also feature travel benefits, including high-speed data in 11 European countries. Otherwise, data speeds are capped at 256 kbps.

Travel perks in current plans: As part of T-Mobile's Beyond Connected program, data speeds now reach 256 kbps when you're overseas. If you subscribe to either the standard Magenta or Go5G plans and you're in one of 11 European countries, you can enjoy 5GB of high-speed data every month, thanks to a partnership with T-Mobile parent Deutsche Telecom.

The perk gets better when you upgrade to either Magenta Max or Go5G Plus, both of which cost $15 more a month than their respective base plans. In that case, you can benefit from 5GB of high-speed data in 215 countries.

Go5G Next, T-Mobile's most expensive plan at $100/month for a single line, has the same travel benefits as Go5G Plus, but adds the ability to upgrade your phone every year. If that's not important to you, stick with Go5G Plus and pay $10 less each month on your wireless bill.

T-Mobile customers can take advantage of free Wi-Fi on American, Delta, Alaska Airlines and United flights. Magenta Max and Go5G Plus subscribers get full texting and Wi-Fi with streaming during flights, where wireless is available. If you go with the standard Magenta or Go5G option, you're covered on four flights per year with full streaming, plus unlimited texting; after those four flights, you can stream one hour of video. Delta SkyMiles members also get free Wi-Fi on domestic U.S. flights courtesy of T-Mobile — even if they get their wireless service from another carrier.

In Mexico and Canada, T-Mobile allows you to use up to 5GB of data whether you've got Magenta or Magenta Max; speeds are slowed to 2G after that. Go5G customers get 10GB of data in those two countries, while Go5G Plus members enjoy 15GB.

T-Mobile includes travel benefits in two of its remaining senior plans, with identical travel perks between the $100 Go5G Plus 55 option and the $120 Go5G Next 55 plan. (Note that those monthly prices cover two lines of data; one line of either Plus or Next cost $70 and $80, respectively.) Travel perks include high-speed data and text when you travel abroad, plus unlimited in-flight connectivity. When you travel to Canada or Mexico, you get 15GB of high-speed data. Both plans also include a year's membership to AAA for road travel in the U.S.

If you opt for T-Mobile's lower cost Essentials unlimited plan, you'll get 2G roaming in Canada and Mexico, but have to pay for data elsewhere.

Trip-specific passes: T-Mobile offers International Pass options for travelers who want high-speed data during lengthier stays overseas. A 5GB International Pass gives you that much high-speed data along with unlimited calling for 10 days. It costs $35. T-Mobile's $50 International Pass increases high-speed data to 15GB and extends the length of the pass to 30 days. The carrier also offers a $5 daily pass that gives you 512MB of high-speed data, and unlimited calling between the 215 or so Simple Global destinations. 

Cruise rates: Pricing on cruises will vary according to which cruise you’re taking. You can check T-Mobile’s site to see what your pricing will be.

Verizon international phone plans

Verizon phones generally work all over the world, especially if you've got a phone built in the last few years. But where you travel significantly influences how much you’ll have to pay. As for which is the best Verizon phone plan for travelers, that all depends on how frequently you go overseas. There's a clear choice for regular globetrotters, but Verizon's less expensive offerings allow you to tack on travel benefits, too.

Verizon Unlimited Ultimate | Unlimited Data | $90/month Verizon's Unlimited Ultimate plan offers the most benefits for world travelers. Verizon promises "full international connectivity," meaning you'll be able to use talk and text for free when overseas; you also get 10GB of high-speed data every month that you can use in other countries. Unlimited Ultimate is Verizon's most expensive plan, so unless you take frequent trips, you may be better served by Unlimited Plus ($80/month for one line) or Unlimited Welcome ($65/month). Those two plans can add on a $10/month Travel Pass options that provides three days of talk, text and data when you're overseas. You can drop the Travel Pass add-on from your plan in months were you don't need it. Verizon lets family plans mix and match lines so one person can get Unlimited Ultimate, while the others subscribe to the cheaper options.

Travel perks in current plans: Of Verizon's three unlimited plans, the best for frequent travelers is the Unlimited Ultimate option, which lets you use talk and text in other countries just like you would in the U.S. You also get 10GB of high-speed data to use overseas every month.

Unfortunately, Unlimited Ultimate is Verizon's most expensive plan, costing $90 a month for one line. (And that's after a discount for enrolling autopay.) There are cheaper options — Unlimited Welcome and Unlimited Plus — that include travel perks. Both plans let you text internationally to 200-plus countries. You can also use LTE data when traveling in Mexico and Canada. You're limited to 0.5GB of data consumption per day in those two countries before your speeds are slowed to 2G, and you can't use more than half of your talk, text and data in those countries over a 60-day period.

In addition to the base Welcome Unlimited and Unlimited Plus packages, you can opt for $10 monthly add-ons for your Verizon plan — some covering streaming services, another providing hotspot data and so on. The relevant package is Verizon's $10/month 3 TravelPass Days add-on, which saves you $20 a month on travel benefits as you pick up three passes during monthly billing cycles. You can accrue up to 36 passes for using talk, text and data when traveling overseas.

Unlimited Welcome starts at $65/month for one line, while Unlimited Plus is $80. If you have a family plan, you can mix and match so that different lines of data subscribe to different plans — helpful if there's one person in the family who travels a lot and would benefit from the Unlimited Ultimate perks.

Trip-specific passes: Let's talk a little bit more about the TravelPass . It's Verizon's daily option for international coverage, and it’ll cost you $5 per day per device for each day you’re out of the country if you travel to Mexico or Canada and don't have an unlimited plan. In 185 other countries — including China, France and Germany — Verizon charges $10 per device per day. TravelPass gets you 2GB of 5G data, and unlimited data at 3G speeds after that; the passes also come with unlimited talk and text.

If you know you’ll be traveling for a bit more time, consider Verizon’s monthly option, which the carrier recommends for trips lasting at least 10 days. International Monthly Plans at Verizon cost $100/month, but in exchange, you get 250 minutes of talk, unlimited texts and 20GB of high-speed data. (Use that, and you get unlimited data at 3G speeds.)

Verizon also offers pay-as-you-go pricing for international travel. You’ll pay 99 cents per minute in Canada and Mexico, Guam and the Northern Marianas Islands. Rates go up to $1.79 in 130-plus countries and $2.99 in 80 other places. Each text message you send will cost you 50 cents, and each received text will set you back 5 cents. Your data will be charged at a rate of $2.05 per megabyte no matter where you are.

Cruise rates: Pay-as-you go rates on cruise ships cost $1.99 for each minute of talk and 50 cents for every sent text message. You’ll pay 5 cents per message received. Verizon has a data plan for cruise passengers, too, with $30/day giving you 500MB of data plus unlimited texting and 50 minutes of talk time. For in-flight connectivity, you can opt for the same pay-as-you-go rates for cruise trips or you can pay $20 per day for unlimited data.

AT&T international phone plans

AT&T also comes with varied international pricing depending on where you want to go. Canada and Mexico travel is covered in many top AT&T plans, and if you pay up for the Unlimited Premium option, you can use your plan in many Central and South American countries. Traveling elsewhere? Then you had best look into AT&T's travel passes.

AT&T Unlimited Premium| Unlimited Data | $85.99/month It's AT&T's most expensive unlimited plan, but Unlimited Premium has the best perk for travelers — you can use your talk, text and data at no extra cost in 20 Latin American countries.  As with other AT&T unlimited options, you also enjoy talk, text and data coverage when traveling in Canada and Mexico.

Travel perks in current plans: If you’re heading to Mexico or Canada, AT&T already covers all of your voice, data and text with its four different unlimited plans — Starter, Extra, Premium and the entry-level Value Plus option. AT&T offers a lone tiered data plan with 4GB of data that you can use in Canada and Mexico (though roaming may be at 2G speeds). Both unlimited and tiered data plans feature unlimited texting to 120-plus countries.

The Unlimited Premium plan is the best option for travelers headed to the Americas, as you'll be able to enjoy unlimited text, talk and data at no additional cost in 20 Central and South American countries. 

If you do a lot of international calling from home, AT&T offers unlimited calling to 85-plus countries from the U.S. for $15 per month for each line. Calls to another 140-plus countries get discounted rates under this plan.

Trip-specific passes: For anyone off to Europe, the Caribbean, Latin America or the Asia Pacific region on a short jaunt, AT&T recommends its $10-a-day International Day Pass, which comes with unlimited talk and text and data governed by your plan. (Note that each device you take overseas will need its own Day Pass.) That service is available in 210-plus countries, and you can add extra phones for just $5 a day.

You'll never have to pay for more than 10 days of day passes on any one bill, even if your trip lasts longer. International Day Passes also kick in automatically when you use your phone abroad — you get a text message letting you know you're covered.

Cruise rates: On cruises , AT&T offers a $60/month Cruise Basic plan that covers 100 minutes of talk and unlimited texting while also offering 100MB of data. Need more of everything? Then try the Cruise Plus plan ($100/month), which includes 1GB of data on top of unlimited talk and text. 

Google Fi international phone plans

If you do a lot of international traveling, don't ignore Google Fi Wireless , the wireless service set up by Google that uses cellular towers of T-Mobile and US Cellular to provide coverage. International travel is built into two of Google Fi's plans — the Unlimited Plus and Flexible options.

Google Unlimited Plus| Unlimited Data | $65/month The Unlimited Plus plan is the way to go with Google Fi, as you can use your data at no extra cost when traveling overseas. Google Fi customers who pay by the gigabyte of data used are also eligible for this perk.

Travel perks in current plans: You've got two options with Google Fi — tiered data through the company's Flexible plan or a pair of unlimited data options. Flexible coverage costs $20 a month for talk and text plus $10 for each GB of data you use. (Data usage is rounded off to the nearest megabyte so you only pay for the data you consume.) Google stops charging you after you use 6GB a month, meaning you'll never pay more than $80. 

If you find unlimited data plans more appealing, Google has you covered there, too — it also offers a $65 Unlimited Plus option that rolls in unlimited talk, text and data. Unlimited Plus subscribers now get a year of YouTube Premium as a perk. 

The real benefit to either Unlimited Plus or Flexible is that those plans cover you when you're traveling in 200-plus countries. When you're overseas, Google Fi charges the same rate for data usage, whether you're on an unlimited data plan or paying by the gigabyte. Voice calls cost 20 cents (though calls placed over Wi-Fi are free) and you get unlimited SMS messaging. 

Alas, Google's $50/month Simply Unlimited plan is not eligible for the free data perk when traveling. That said, all three of Google Fi's plans let you use talk, text and data in Mexico and Canada.

Google Fi is even more appealing now that Google has opened up service to all phones, including iPhones. Note that phones optimized for Google Fi — Google's Pixel phones (currently the Pixel 8 , Pixel 8 Pro , Pixel Fold and Pixel 7a )  along with a selection of Samsung phones and Motorola budget devices — can switch seamlessly between cellular networks and Google's Wi-Fi hotspots, while other phones cannot.

Trip-specific passes: Unlike the other carriers here, Google Fi doesn't offer travel passes for extended trips. Your only option is to get coverage through the Flexible and Unlimited Plus plans.

Cruise rates: Google Fi is not available when you're at sea — only when you're on land in one of the 200-plus countries covered by the carrier.

Other international phone plan options

Discount carriers typically don't provide much in the way of benefits for travelers, but there are some exceptions. The most noteworthy alternative is Visible , which has expanded the travel perks for subscribers to its $45/month Visible Plus plan .

Visible is owned by Verizon and uses its parent company's network for coverage. The Visible Plus plan features unlimited data, including access to Verizon's high-speed 5G network. Travelers will be particularly interested in the unlimited talk, text and 2GB of daily data available through Visible Plus when traveling in Canada and Mexico. Visible Plus customers are also eligible for one free Global Pass day per month, in which they can use talk, text and data at no charge in 140 countries. Globla Passes normally cost $10.

Best international phone plan: Device compatibility and eSims

Traveling overseas used to mean checking to see if your phone would be compatible once you set foot in another country. But those days are drawing to a close now that 3G networks are shutting down, eliminating much of the distinction between phones that work on either GSM and CDMA. If you've got a recent smartphone that connects to LTE, chances are strong it's going to work just fine in other countries. (You still might want to confirm that your phone works on the LTE bands available in the country you're heading to prior to your trip, just to avoid any unpleasant surprises.)

Many phones now support electronic SIM cards or eSIM technology, where you no longer need to swap in a local SIM card to make your smartphone work with an overseas network. (Since the iPhone 14 , Apple devices sold in the U.S. only feature eSIM support — that includes the newer iPhone 15 models.) One of our editors took an international trip using an eSIM for her phone and found it easy to setup and use with a local network — in fact, she plans to use the eSIM approach on all future travel. 

That said, not every country supports eSIM. And depending on your phone carrier in the U.S., you might already have options that cover your phone use in other countries.

International phone plans: What about 5G?

As noted above, many of the plans that offer international travel either have you connect at whatever speed is available locally or at a reduced speed in cases where you're drawing from your own data plan. But what if you've got a 5G phone that can connect to faster networks overseas?

For the most part, we'd expect your phone to operate as before, either at whatever speed the local network offers or a capped speed if that's part of your carrier's travel plans. However, in a few instances, U.S. phone carriers have started making deals with overseas wireless providers that allow their customers to access 5G speeds when roaming. You should check with your carrier for information about the country you're going to travel in.

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Philip Michaels is a Managing Editor at Tom's Guide. He's been covering personal technology since 1999 and was in the building when Steve Jobs showed off the iPhone for the first time. He's been evaluating smartphones since that first iPhone debuted in 2007, and he's been following phone carriers and smartphone plans since 2015. He has strong opinions about Apple, the Oakland Athletics, old movies and proper butchery techniques. Follow him at @PhilipMichaels.

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A Guide to Cell Phone Plans for Traveling Abroad

Lauren has popped around the globe since high school graduation through 20+ countries. She has st...

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You scroll through your phone daily tapping away at your favorite apps. It’s so easy to stay connected. Your phone seems even more important during international travel. Cell phones allow you to chat with family and friends back home, post travel photos on social media, and search for top reviews while abroad. You get lost, maps! You need to communicate, translate! You are unsure of a price, currency converter! Cell phone plans for traveling abroad are a wide range, and it can be a bit overwhelming right off the bat. 

Without your travel apps, who are you?

Before heading abroad, it’s important to have a grasp on travel cell phone plans, sim cards, WIFI, and all things phone related. We know your mom has been asking how to keep in touch, so keep reading!

Why it might be worth it to invest in travel cell phone plans

You board the airplane and listen to the nice flight attendant who reminds you to turn your phone on airplane mode. Hours later you arrive at your destination, turn it on, call home, and you’re good to go! False. You need to make sure that you have a phone that actually connects abroad, doesn’t cost you loads of roaming fees, and is all within your budget. It’s easy enough to find an international travel cell phone plan, but you have to do it right. 

1. Avoid roaming fees. You do not need to pay extra fees while you travel. Cell phone plans under some big name networks are great for going abroad while other carriers may load on fees outside of your home-country. Why waste precious cash on silly phone fees when you could save it for an adventurous excursion wherever you may be? 

2. Less fear of getting lost. Google maps is amazing in most countries, but there are also loads of other map apps that can help you navigate a new city. Many apps are easy to download offline so that you don’t have to waste data or rely on WIFI. Depending on where you are living or traveling overseas, you could easily pinpoint your location constantly so that you can know where to go at all times and star your new fave cafes.   

3. More connectivity to home. Mom and dad will be wondering, “How will I ever talk to you again!?” Luckily, there’s an app for that, well loads of apps for that. With data or WIFI, you can constantly check in with your parents while sending them crazy food pics. There are plenty of free chat apps to stay in touch when you travel. Some popular ones are Whatsapp, Line, Skype, Hangouts, iMessage, FB Messenger, and much more. 

4. Can help you manage your budget (especially if its prepaid). Decide your budget before you snag the first international travel cell phone plans that you find. Do you want a prepaid plan on a burner phone to last you a couple of weeks or are you wanting something more long term with unlimited data? Plan a monthly budget on how much you will spend on your travel cell phone and then stick to it! If that means giving up data, rely on public WIFI. Pro tip: Starbucks’ around the world have free WIFI—#caffeinated. It’s nice to have a phone number in case of emergency, but you likely won’t be making tons of phone calls for lengthy conversations. 

We only approve of a 15 minute phone break once a week… Because you gotta catch up on Twitter.

Things to consider

You may want to snag that first brand new shiny iPhone that’s been screaming “buy me” on all the local ads. But ask yourself what you really need when browsing through the best cell phone plans for international travel. Here are a few things to consider when shopping for a travel cell phone. 

How long will you be gone? 

Are you going abroad for just a few weeks? If so, make sure you either have free roaming or turn your smartphone on airplane mode. You can then rely on WIFI and grab a cheap burner phone for emergency calls. If you have an unlocked phone, it’s really affordable to snag a local sim. Just bring your passport to a phone shop and see what’s in your budget range.

If you plan to stay abroad for more than a month, consider a pay as you go or prepaid travel cell phone plan while you shop for the best international phone packages in your new country. Each country will offer different packages for data limits, 3G, 4G, calls, and texts. You need to decide what is right for you.

An even easier option is acquiring an eSIM before traveling, since eSIM is quickly becoming more common than physical sims. Our recommendation is Jetpac eSIM —it's a data-only option that provides coverage in tons of destinations worldwide.

Is it cheaper to buy a phone there and a local data plan? 

You likely will find that it is cheaper to go for a local plan once you are abroad. This especially depends on your destination. For example, in Thailand you can get an unlimited data sim card for just $30 over the course of four months (savings!!). The best way to go about scouting the best cell phone plans for international travel before you arrive would be to join expat community groups on Facebook that are based in your destination city. You can use the search function to find relevant information on sim cards and travel cell phone plans so that you can compare and contrast prices before you take off. 

Is your phone unlocked? 

If you see yourself traveling overseas for a while, it’s ideal to bring an unlocked phone from home. This means you are not tied down to a current phone plan and don’t owe any money on your phone. It’s possible to unlock your current phone or you can get cheap, refurbished, unlocked phones on Amazon for a great deal. Make sure that before you confirm your purchase that you research that the unlocked phone type will still work with a network abroad as not every single phone will. Having an unlocked phone is also a great idea if you are backpacking or moving through various countries because you can swap local sim almost anywhere you go. 

Option: Go so old school you just use payphones.

What type of travel are you planning for?

Are you VOLUNTEERING OR STUDYING abroad? If you are volunteering abroad, remember to minimize your screen time and fully immerse yourself in your project. Yes, it will be nice to have access to your phone during down time or to tell mom and dad what’s going on abroad. But remember that you are helping out a community and don’t need to post pics of you and the kids you’re working with constantly. 

If you are studying abroad, you likely will have WIFI connections across your university campus. If that is the case, ditch the data plan and grab a cheap phone for calls and texts. You can rely on the free WIFI for researching or staying in touch with family back home. Whether you are volunteering or studying, you won’t need to have constant data at your fingertips, so consider a cheap travel cell phone plan for emergencies or setting up study dates. 

Are you TEACHING abroad? If you’re teaching abroad, you will likely have a steady income and be able to afford a bit more while overseas. Do you need data for staying up to date on school events and lesson plans? It might be nice to have a reliable connection in your apartment and the ability to hop on the internet whenever need be. Since teaching usually requires longer contracts, you can usually get a better deal on long term international travel cell phone plans through a local provider.  

Are you WORKING OR INTERNING abroad? Is your job going to require you to constantly be connected? Do you need to be on your email even outside of the office? If working or interning abroad, consider a higher data package so that you can make sure you aren’t missing out on an important work event or an email just because you didn’t have good WIFI or slipped into the terrible world of 3G.

Are you traveling in RURAL AREAS? Will you have limited access to WIFI? Will you even have a cell signal? If traveling abroad in a rural area, you will need to see what works best once you land abroad. Even if you have an international travel cell phone plan, it may not be reliable in the middle of nowhere Cambodia. Local sims are the best plan of action in these areas. If you are really worried about being able to get data access, you can buy or rent pocket hotspots that can connect to your phone. So even if you are completely off the grid, there are options for internet access so that you can email your family back home and keep them up to date about your #nomadlifeabroad.

Are you HOSTEL-HOPPING? WIFI doesn’t grow on trees—meaning it’s not (always) free. Sometimes it is and sometimes it isn’t. But you can’t always just rely on loitering outside of a McDonald’s to connect for a quick second when you are lost. At a cafe, you will likely need to grab a coffee to access the WIFI code and at a hostel you could have an additional fee for the internet password. Keep in mind that when you are traveling it might be nice to have a sim or a travel cell phone plan with some data. 

What is your goal for having easy access to your phone?

Remember that our favorite little devices can become a crutch for escapism or a deterrent from our ability to be immersed into foreign cultures. You didn’t come all this way just to watch more Netflix, did you? Although you may get overloaded with cute doors and foreign food, not everyone is obsessed with it as you are. Put your phone away, look around, meet REAL people, and save your fingers from the arthritis that is bound to hit you sooner rather than later. Yes, we love our phones, but it shouldn’t be your bestie.

Popular phone carriers broken down by region

Each part of the world has their top carriers. The following are some recommended phone carriers for when you are looking at cell phone plans for traveling abroad. 

• Europe: Vodafone, Orange, T-Mobile
• US/Americas: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint 
• Africa: Vodafone, Telefónica, Airtel
• Australasia: NTT Docomo, China Mobile, Telstra

Make sure to consider the cost of your current plan versus the most popular carriers in your travel destination to see what is best for you.

International data plans vs. pay as you go vs. prepaid options

Always weigh the pros and cons when looking at cell phone plans for traveling abroad. 

• International data plan. This is great if you are planning to expat in one place for a longer period of time. If you are gone abroad and living in a country for a year or more, you may want to just stick with a local cell phone plan. Depending on where you live, you may find better deals through long-term packages.
• Pay as you go. Pay as you go is best for budget travel and for those scared of commitment. Pay as you go is the most flexible option because you can load up your phone with the minutes and data that you think you will use for a short period of time. On the downside, you would have to continue adding money to your plan which may be a tad inconvenient at times. Also, be cautious of the amount of texts and calls that you are using so you don’t find yourself out of fuel on a motorbike without access to a phone. 
• Prepaid options. You can get a local sim on your unlocked phone and load it up for months at a time. This gives you the opportunity to have your phone bill paid for in full and not have to worry about it for a while. This is great for people on the go who are unsure of how long they will be abroad, don’t want to commit to a data plan, but also don’t want to have to reload their prepaid cards every few weeks. 

Call me, beep me, if you wanna reach me.

Recommended travel cell phone plans

Yes, everyone has their own cup of tea, but here are some of the best cell phone plans for international travel. 

For adventure and budget travelers:

• Grab a local sim with your unlocked phone wherever you may be. This is usually very cheap, you aren’t tied down to any sort of contract, and there are a variety of plans to choose from. 
• Don’t have an unlocked phone? Whether you’re an android or iPhone person, you can find refurbished deals on Amazon for a steal. Check out the Samsung Galaxy S7 Active which is dust, shatter, and waterproof while allowing you to snap awesome quality pictures of your adventures. An iPhone will likely be more expensive, but they take great photos. Check out a refurbished iPhone 7 or 7 Plus and take advantage of the iMessage feature to keep in touch with friends and fam back home. But be warned, with iPhones you need to make sure you have the proper adapter for international travel so that you can charge your phone abroad. 
• If you can ditch the calls, consider a Tep Wireless or any sort of pocket WIFI device. This allows you to access internet only when you really need to—even in remote areas. If you’re on the go and staying at hostels or find cafes with WIFI, there’s no need to have data all the time. A pocket WIFI device is a great safety net or backup whenever you need. 

For frequent, short-term travelers:

• T-Mobile offers plans that include unlimited calls, texts, and data in over 140 countries. Keep in mind, you’ll have to make sure you have a compatible phone wherever your destination may be. Although the data speeds will be faster in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, there’s options to snag a data pass whenever you travel to get the same quality speeds that you are used to at home. 
• Sprint has a global roaming package that offers free data and text to select phones. If you have a LTE/GSM capable smartphone, you’re all set! Roam away and bring the world of data with you with no extra hassle. 
• AT&T Passport offers plans for those traveling abroad for 30 days. By prepaying before you jet off, you’ll have unlimited talk, text, and data. The Passport plan is offered in over 200 countries. 

For aspiring expats or long-term travelers:

• If you’re planning on staying abroad and settling for a while, check with your local phone shop for the best options. Keep in mind that if you are abroad long term, there’s no need to make direct phone calls home because there are free apps for that. Connectivity is easy-peasy!

Our final piece of advice

Yes, we love love love our phones—and subsequently cell phone plans for international travel. Phones give parents peace of mind while we are abroad. They allow us to share our favorite moments with friends. They help us when we are lost or in sticky situations. But no matter what, don’t forget to unplug, live in the moment, and to make real friends while abroad. No need to be constantly glued to your little device of internet magic. And most importantly, never ever text and walk. Just don’t do it! 

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Dear Wirecutter: What’s a Good Burner Phone for International Travel?

Published May 4, 2017

Q: My mother-in-law is heading to Europe for six weeks and wants to get a burner phone. She currently uses AT&T. Is there a cheap phone you can recommend? Also, would it better to get a SIM card in the US or once she’s in Germany? Will calls be forwarded from her original number?

A: If your mother is in Germany for six weeks, she should definitely get a local SIM once she’s there rather than use AT&T’s international roaming, which costs $10 a day. ( Local SIMs are also a better deal than buying a world or travel SIM in the US.) If she were on T-Mobile or Google Fi, which have much better international roaming, she’d be fine just using her regular SIM. However, if she swaps SIM cards, calls to her US number (tied to her original SIM card) won’t be forwarded to her new international number (tied to her new SIM card) unless she sets up call forwarding through AT&T, which could be expensive.

To get around this, she could sign up for Google Voice while in the States and forward her US number to Google Voice . Then, when she’s on Wi-Fi or cellular data in Europe, she could at least get the voicemails and missed calls from her US number sent to her phone, and call people back using a VOIP app like Skype, Google Voice, or Viber that has a low cost per minute for international calls. (Unfortunately, Google Voice can’t forward calls from a US to an international number.)

Cheap, dual-SIM Android phone

An inexpensive Android phone with two SIM slots, so you can use both your original SIM and a local SIM from wherever you’re traveling to.

Buying Options

Because your mother-in-law is on AT&T, her phone will work in Germany if it’s unlocked or if she can get it unlocked . However, if she wants a smartphone she doesn’t have to worry about losing or breaking while she’s overseas, the Blu R1 HD , which you can get for $60 with Amazon ads if you’re an Amazon Prime member (and is now free of preinstalled spyware ), is the cheapest acceptable option. It actually has two SIM slots, which sounds convenient, because she could use a German SIM and still get calls on her AT&T number. But she’d have to pay international roaming fees if she actually picks up those calls, so it’s better to just use only the German SIM and use Google Voice for call forwarding.

The other option, if she can avoid using data or calling while in Germany, would be to bring her current phone and disable cellular features, relying solely on Wi-Fi and using Skype or similar for calls. However, given the security risks of public Wi-Fi, we recommend signing up for a good VPN if she goes this route.

If she doesn’t use a smartphone and doesn’t want to learn, PCMag’s lead mobile analyst Sascha Segan is one of the few people who still review feature phones and he gave the Blu Tank II an editor’s choice award back in 2015 . That’s probably what we’d get if we wanted a $20 feature phone. Going this route would eliminate the Google Voice option (without an additional computer or tablet), but unless she needs to be reachable from the US at any moment, she can just set her US voicemail greeting to let people know she’s out of the country.

The Wirecutter’s editors answer reader questions all the time (much more than once a week). Send an email to [email protected] , or talk to us on Twitter and Facebook . Published questions are edited for space and clarity.

Mentioned above

• A virtual private network (VPN) is a useful way to improve security or privacy in certain situations, but it’s difficult to find one that’s trustworthy. The Best VPN Service  

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Resetting Your Router to Stop VPNFilter, Plus Kobo’s New Ebook Reader and More Phones on Project Fi: New This Week

by Michael J Kennelly

We think a factory reset of your router is an annoying but necessary precaution to protect yourself from the VPNFilter malware.

The Best Portable Induction Cooktop

by Rachel Wharton

We cooked for months with portable induction burners and found that the Duxtop 9600LS has the best features and performance for everyday cooking.

The Gadgets We Bring on Every Trip

by Haley Perry

You don't have to be a digital nomad to travel like one. Here are a few gadgets and accessories to make travel as painless as possible.

How a Burner Browser Hides My Most Embarrassing Internet Searches

by Thorin Klosowski

A burner browser is a fast and easy way to keep your embarrassing or sensitive searches out of your browser history and detached from your online accounts.

Five Ways to Save Big On Your Phone Bill When Traveling Abroad

Traveling internationally and want to save cash? Here are five smart ways to save big on your phone bill.

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Not long ago, a man from the U.S. returned home from a trip to Europe to a $143,000 T-Mobile bill, apparently because the phone had not been set up for international roaming, according to an article in The Guardian . Considering that 1.3 billion people traveled globally in 2023, there’s a real chance you, too, may come home to a high cell phone bill, especially if you don't determine your needs (or wants) beforehand.

Although using your smartphone has become a necessary part of international travel , roaming fees alone can be exorbitant, and depending on your carrier, using data outside the U.S. is also at a premium. 

What is the right way to set up your phone when traveling internationally? Here are five tips. 

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1. Before you travel, talk to your provider

The first thing to do before traveling overseas is to check out your service provider’s policy regarding international cell phone use. Although you may want to reach out a few months before traveling, check back often, as policies can change. You may also want to see what your current contract does and doesn’t allow.

In the past, global roaming was an extra feature you could opt into for an additional fee. However, many service providers now activate international texting, calling, and data features automatically as soon as you use your phone in a foreign country. Just understand that this feature can be pricey, so if you plan on traveling for a long time, find out ahead of time if it’s worth the price.

2. Use temporary data passes

When traveling abroad , you may find you need extra data because you want a higher data speed, the ability to stream HD video, or you’ve reached your data allotment. Providers like T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T all provide temporary data passes, although they have different names — Sprint’s $5 to $10 International High-Speed Data Roaming Pass , T-Mobile’s $5 International Pass , Verizon’s $10 TravelPass , and AT&T’s $10 International Day Pass . 

They each provide a set amount of roaming data that you can use for a certain amount of time for one price. Unfortunately, these temporary data passes are expensive. But If you can’t unlock your phone, they might be your only good option. 

3. Swap your SIM card

Renting a SIM card allows you to make calls or text and use data by swapping out your current SIM card for one compatible with the country you're visiting. When you rent a new SIM card, you’ll get a new number, so you won’t be able to receive calls or texts on your regular phone number. Before you go, make sure to notify family and friends so they can contact you via Facebook Messenger or a chat app instead. Even so, renting a card is generally a much cheaper option than paying for an international roaming service. 

Specialized stores in major airports and cell phone companies often offer SIM card rental. In fact, Amazon sells SIM cards for Europe ranging from around $20-$50, typically for 30 days of use.

Another option is an eSIM card . Unlike the regular SIM cards you remove from a phone, an eSIM is a microchip embedded in the phone’s hardware and is especially useful when you’re traveling internationally. According to AARP , you can purchase data through eSIM providers such as GigSky, Airalo, Nomad and Flexiroam, or you can add an eSIM from a local provider in the country you’re visiting. 

4. Get an international phone

f you think you will make many calls or use your phone extensively while visiting another country, consider purchasing an international phone. These international mobile phones often come with reduced international roaming rates and data. 

5. Other options when traveling internationally

Besides getting a temporary data pass or swapping your SIM card, you can also mix and match other options, such as: 

• Turning off data roaming in your phone’s settings when you don’t need it. 
• Downloading maps when you have Wi-Fi or using apps like Apple or Google Maps in offline mode.
• Shutting off all non-vital apps. When apps automatically update, you are charged if they are still active.
• Deactivating texting. This stops texts from being billed as data when you're traveling aboard. 

Best phone plans for international travel

When traveling abroad, choose an unlimited data plan , which often offers the most travel-related perks. Then, depending on your needs, check out these phone plans. 

• T-Mobile : Best choice for travelers
• Verizon : TravelPass options
• AT&T : Best for travel in Latin and Central America
• Google Fi : An underrated traveling companion
• Other options : Other international phone plans to consider

Related Content

• Switch to a Smaller Mobile Provider to Cut Your Phone Bill
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• The 10 Cheapest Countries to Visit

For the past 18+ years, Kathryn has highlighted the humanity in personal finance by shaping stories that identify the opportunities and obstacles in managing a person's finances. All the same, she’ll jump on other equally important topics if needed. Kathryn graduated with a degree in Journalism and lives in Duluth, Minnesota. She joined Kiplinger in 2023 as a contributor.

Saving money can be as simple as a quick phone call.

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No, you can't, but two other REIT-like alternatives let you defer capital gains taxes while giving you exposure to institutional-quality real estate assets.

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Why using your cellphone carrier overseas will cost you more

Sandra Jones | [email protected]

April 22, 2024, 3:25 PM

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When traveling abroad, the last thing you need to worry about is whether your cellphone will work.

So, experts say you should plan ahead.

The reason? Your cellphone will automatically switch to the mobile carrier that you have, and it will mean an added cost to your trip.

“Verizon and Xfinity for example, they charge you $10 per day, per line for their day passes for international roaming. So, that’s $20 a day for a couple using two phones,” Kevin Brasler, executive director at Washington Consumer’s Checkbook , told WTOP.

But Brasler said you can cut your bill in half.

“One is to use your phone but to swap in a foreign SIM card or download an eSIM. You can buy these at countries you’re visiting and often even at the airport. This basically shifts you to a foreign service,” Brasler said.

Brasler said there are more ways to save.

“Another option is to put your phone in airplane mode for the trip and rely on Wi-Fi. In most foreign cities, free Wi-Fi is widespread, and you can still use it to send free messages, like WhatsApp, FaceTime or Teams,” Brasler said.

Some other tips for using SIMs and eSIMs:

• If your phone uses a physical SIM card, make sure to bring along a SIM needle. It resembles the end of a paper clip and is used to pop open your phone’s card tray. We’ve heard from subscribers who broke their phones using wooden toothpicks and other apparatuses trying to pry this open.
• If you swap out physical SIM cards, make sure to stash the original in a safe place after you remove it.
• Consider keeping in touch using WhatsApp so your contacts back home don’t rack up a bill texting with a foreign phone number.
• If you’re going away for a month or longer, consider freezing your account with your U.S. carrier to avoid paying double for coverage. AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon allow this for up to 90 days.

Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here .

© 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

Sandra Jones is an Anchor/Reporter for WTOP. She’s been in the news industry for more than two decades.

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Sorry, but we are discontinuing our World SIM, so you can no longer buy this product from us. If you’re an existing World SIM customer, your service will cease on Nov 30th 2023. Please check the email that we sent to you if you need more details.

Easily Keep in Touch When Overseas by Using the Mobal International Cell Phone

By using Mobal you're helping communities in Africa

Mobal customers change the world every day. How? Well, ever since we first started out, we made a simple promise - that the majority of our profits would go to charity. Today, our growing network of charity partners around the world are working hard to bring people in Malawi out of poverty and into a life of dignity and self sufficiency, through providing opportunities for work and development, building schools and educational institutions, and making sure that basic needs like food and shelter are met.

Our International Cell Phones Are Recommended in...

Mobal International Cell Phones

The Mobal International Cell Phone had been developed to make your service more dependable than ever before... We only use the best call routing possible so your calls will always be direct-dialed and crystal-clear. Significantly improved call handling means dropouts and failed calls are kept to the absolute minimum. Faster registrations mean you won’t have to wait around while your phone registers on the network. If you’re traveling to Europe and you need data, the Mobal World SIM is perfect for that too! You can now add a data bundle that gives you superfast data in any unlocked 3G/4G/5G handset in Europe, for the duration of your trip. With our new, ultra-dependable service, there’s no need to worry about your cell phone service - simply concentrate on enjoying your trip!

Optional: Europe Data Bundle

If you’re traveling to Europe, you can buy a Europe Data Bundle for your trip. You’ll get 20GB of Superfast Data to use anywhere in our Europe zone . Each data bundle lasts for 30 days and costs $39. If you’re staying for longer, you can add another bundle! You can add a Europe Data Bundle any time in your online Mobal MyAccount.

Our Europe zone includes: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus (South), Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, French Guiana, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guadeloupe, Guernsey, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland (Eire), Isle of Man, Italy, Jersey, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Martinique, Mayotte, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Reunion, Romania, Saint Martin, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Saint Barthelemy, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.

Choose Your International Cell Phone:

Basic world phone.

BLU Zoey 2.4 3G

World SIM Included

SIM comes pre-installed

190+ Countries (Excluding the US)

More Info on Basic Phone

What you get:.

Mobal World SIM Card

Multi voltage travel charger

Worldwide travel adapter set worth $18

Plus The Following Standard Accessories:

- 1 rechargeable battery - User guide

Phone Specification

Bands 2G/GSM : Band2(1900), Band3(1800), Band5(850), Band8(900) 3G/UMTS : Band1(2100), Band5(850) Phone Body Dimensions: 4.78 x 2.00 x 0.553 in Weight: 2.56 oz Phone Display TFT, 240 x 320 Size: 2.4 inch screen Sound Alert types: Vibration, MP3 ringtones Loudspeaker: Yes 3.5mm headphone jack: Yes Memory Internal: 128MB MicroSD: Up to 32GB (not included) Camera Primary: 2MP Video: Yes Battery 1000 mAh Features Messaging: SMS GPS: No Flashlight

Classic World Phone

BLU Advance L5

Data available via our optional Europe Data Bundle

More Info on Classic Phone

BLU Advance L5 Phone

Comes with:

- Protective rubber case - User guide

Bands 2G/GSM : B2(1900), B3(1800), B5(850), B8(900) 3G/UMTS : B1(2100), B2(1900), B5(850) Phone Body Dimensions: 124.8 x 65.2 x 10.4 mm Weight: 104g Phone Display TFT capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors 4.0 inches (~56.0% screen-to-body ratio) 480 x 800 pixels (~233 ppi pixel density) Sound Alert types: Vibration, MP3 ringtones Loudspeaker: Yes 3.5mm headphone jack: Yes Memory Internal: 16 GB, 512 MB RAM MicroSD: Up to 64GB (not included) Processor CPU: 1.3GHz quad core GPU: Mali-400 Operating System Android 8.1 (Go edition) Camera Primary: 5.0 MP, LED flash Secondary: 2.0 MP Video: 720@30fps Battery Li-Ion 1300 mAh battery Stand-by: Up to 400 h (2G) / Up to 450 h (3G) Talk time: Up to 18 h (2G) / Up to 13 h (3G) Features Wifi Sensors: Accelerometer GPS Browser: HTML5 Games: Yes + downloadable MP3/WMA/eAAC+ player MP4/H.263 player Document viewer Predictive text input

World SIM Only

Calls & Texts

Call & Text message rates below!

190+ Countries (Including the US!*)

Europe Data

*Please note that you'll need a 4G/5G enabled phone to use the service in the US

If you wish to use your Mobal World SIM at home in the USA, your phone needs to work on 4G or 5G bands, most other countries only need 3G. View our call rates for:

All charges are billed in US dollars per minute. The rates shown above apply to calls made to both cell phones and landlines. Calls to the Voicemail Retrieval number will be billed at the 'Calls to Mobal World Phones' rate.

Why Mobal is The Smart Choice

Mobal's GSM World Phone can be used in 190 foreign countries. Calls are charged per minute, there are no monthly fees or usage minimums Angus Fraser

Our international cell phones and SIMs have perhaps the best coverage of any international phone service. Not only in the number of countries covered, but also the number of carriers it connects to in each country - in fact, you'll get better coverage than many of the locals get, as they will be stuck using just one carrier .

I have traveled extensively throughout the world for over 25 years and have flown over 3 million air miles. I must say that the purchase of your Mobal International Cell Phone has been the biggest improvement in my travels, ever. Also, Mobal is one of the few companies that I call where a live person answers the call and answers my questions every time! I have told all of my traveling friends about it. Ray Schwartz

English Speaking Customer Support

We provide the best possible products and services with clear, simple instructions so that your service should work out of the box, but if you do have a question or a problem, we're here for you! Our online support pages give you quick, simple instructions and downloadable user guides for quick access. You get access to your own online secure account where you can check your charges, view your itemized usage and update your personal details. Plus, we've also got real, live humans available by email, social media and live chat, so we're here for you if you need a helping hand! Our staff are native English speakers, so we guarantee you'll get easy, friendly English-language support whenever you need it!

My Mobal World Phone was a great peace of mind for our trip to Italy. I was able to call my parents on their 60th anniversary as well as my father on Father's Day. Additionally we were traveling with four other couples and the phones made it very easy for us to reconnect while in larger cities. Thank you for your assistance. Mike Rowson

Money-Back Guarantee

If you are not totally delighted with your Mobal Product for any reason, you can take advantage of our Money-Back Guarantee and return it for a full, prompt, no-hassle refund.

I got my Mobal International Cell Phone for a business trip to Australia. It's easy to use as there is no frustration as with trying to use a calling card from a hotel room, so the connection to "home" is always available. The peace of mind it provides is priceless. Thank you for a great product A. Summers

Profits Go To Charity

It all started with one man's desire to make calls while traveling... Mobal was the brainchild of Chairman Tony Smith. As a lifelong international traveler, he was constantly frustrated when trying to keep in touch with family, friends & business contacts on his many trips overseas. On the back of the success of the international cell phone service he has established a number of charities with a desire to change the world. In February 2016, Tony set up Seibo, a registered Japanese non-profit organisation with a simple aim: to feed every hungry child in the world a hot meal in school! . School feeding carries many benefits - education, nutrition and health, gender equality, food security, poverty alleviation - in one single meal. The world would be changed if every hungry child in it were to receive a meal at school. Mobal guarantees that the majority of profits go to its charities, so with your Mobal SIM, you don't just travel the world, you make it a better place!

Shipping Options

Shipping to the USA & UK: $10 (2-5 business days) Shipping to rest of world: Not Available

Shipping to the USA & UK: FREE (2-5 business days) Shipping to rest of world: $10 (8-15 business days)

I just want to say that I purchased my Mobal World Phone in the beginning of December and used it for the first time on a trip to Grenoble, France the week of December 11th. It worked flawlessly and I was very pleased. It certainly saved a lot of time searching out pay phones and having to pay for phone cards. B Sorrentino

General FAQs

Who Is Mobal? If you've never heard of Mobal before, here are some of the facts about us: a) Mobal is one of the world's longest running cell phone providers and was founded in 1989 (consider that AT&T was only founded in 2001, Verizon in 2000 and T-Mobile in 1995 and that puts our long history into perspective!) b) You're in good company — the Mobal World SIM is the best selling international sim card in America today As you can see, we're a well-established company with a proven reputation.

What phone number comes with my service? Your Mobal World SIM comes with a UK number. Your phone number works in over 190 countries* around the world so your friends, family, and colleagues always dial the same number to reach you. UK numbers are relatively cheap to call compared with many other international numbers, so it means your contacts can call you without it costing them too much. *To use our service in the US you would need a 4G or 5G enabled handset.

Can I test my SIM Card before I leave? If you wish to use your Mobal World SIM at home in the USA, your phone needs to work on 4G or 5G frequencies.

Ordering and Shipping FAQs

Which size SIM do I need? Our SIMs are all multi-size (Standard, Micro and Nano size) to fit any device. When you receive your SIM, simply snap out the correct section to fit your device – no need to worry about which size SIM you need.

Can I cancel and return my Mobal SIM Card service? Yes. You are free to cancel your World SIM Card service anytime. If you decide to cancel and return within our Money-Back Guarantee period, you’ll also be refunded your purchase price.

Is this website secure to order from? Yes. This website is both SSL secure and is independently checked daily by McAfee’s Hacker Safe service.

Charges and Billing FAQs

Are there any extra or hidden charges? No. The charges quoted on this website are the exact rates you will see on your invoice.

Are there any activation, deactivation or set up fees? No. The only charges you’ll pay with Mobal are your purchase costs, and then any usage at the rate quoted on this page.

How am I billed for my usage? You will be billed for the cost of the SIM and shipping (if any) immediately when you order. When you're using your Mobal World SIM Card, your charges for the calls are taken from your credit card as and when we receive the call data from the networks. (These charges will be applied to the same credit card that you use to purchase your SIM Card. You can change the card later using your online "my account" service). Charges from Mobal will always appear on your card with the reference; "Mobal.com".

How do I see my bills? Once you’ve purchased, you’ll be sent login details for your online account. This means you can check your account 24/7 from anywhere in the world.

What currency am I billed in? You will be billed in USD.

While You Travel The World, You Can Change The World

How your money is feeding children in malawi, which phone is best for your needs, something has gone wrong..

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The one shocking mistake that led to us tourist rene remund’s staggering $143k bill.

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A US tourist has revealed the moment he received a bill of six figures after a short holiday to Switzerland went horribly wrong.

Rene Remund and his wife Linda made the trip last September, a journey the pair had been on previously given it’s where he is originally from.

As always, Remund ensured his mobile phone provider was notified of his travels, by going in-store to share his overseas movements. He said that as a customer of 30 years, he was told he was “covered.”

But while enjoying the Swiss countryside and sharing some of the magical sights of his trip via photo messages to friends and family, not once did Remund think these texts could be racking up thousands and thousands in daily roaming costs.

After returning home and receiving his T-Mobile bill, Remund thought it was for $143 which he thought to be “reasonable.”

“I get this T-Mobile bill and it doesn’t bother me very much because I was reading $143,” he explained, adding it wasn’t until he went to pay the bill that he realized a few more zeros were involved.

“I look at the bill and I say, ‘Excuse me’,” he said.

“$143,000.00 … are you guys crazy?”

According to the mobile phone bill, Remund racked up 9.5 GB of data while in Europe, costing him thousands of dollars each day.

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And while 5-10GB isn’t considered a large amount of data, not being covered by roaming fees will cause a user to run up thousands of dollars very quickly.

“I called [T-Mobile] and the girl put me on hold for a while,” he explained.

“She said let me check this out and I’ll get back to you. She gets back and says, yeah this is a good bill.

“I said, ‘What do you mean it’s a good bill?’ And she says ‘Well, this is what you owe.'”

“I said ‘You’re kidding me … you’re crazy.'”

Following confirmation his bill was to the value of around $143,000.00 — Remund hired a lawyer to argue the fact he was “covered” for international roaming to avoid such “exorbitant” charges.

His lawyer issued a letter to the president of T-Mobile, for which no reply was given until just a few days ago.

The letter from T-Mobile allegedly said that the service provider was “sorry” for the charges and that Remund would receive a “credit” to eliminate the entire phone bill.

In an email issued to local media Scripps News Tampa, T-Mobile said that customers should always “check the travel features of their plan, such as international data roaming, before departing.”

“If a customer is on an older plan that doesn’t include international roaming for data and calling, they’ll need to make sure they’re using aeroplane mode and wi-fi when using data to be certain the device doesn’t connect to an international network.”

Last year, Melbourne activist and author Sally Rugg was slapped with a little over $720.00 fee two minutes after she touched down in London.

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T-Mobile’s New Internet Plan Lets You Travel With It for $160

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Frequently roadtrippin’ people with an RV or who like to camp or are stilling clinging to #vanlife, T-Mobile has a new internet plan for you. Be warned, it is not cheap if you want unlimited data.

Called “T-Mobile Away,” this is an internet plan that costs $160 per month for access to unlimited data, includes a gateway device (that needs to be plugged in), allows for up to 64 device connections at a time, will keep you connected while in-motion, and uses all of T-Mobile’s 5G and 4G network. There’s also a $110 per month version that gets you 200GB of data. Both prices require autopay.

Who really is this plan for? T-Mobile really is suggesting it’s for “frequent travelers like RVers, campers and digital nomads.” As someone who isn’t a part of that crowd today, I don’t know what it’s like to need internet on the road 24-7. In the comparison above, I can see that there are several options to choose from, but T-Mobile is saying (of course) that it’s new Away plan is the best because of its feature set. I’ll let you decide, traveling friends.

The new plan goes live May 8.

// T-Mobile

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