carrier travel italy

Mobile SIM Networks in Italy: Which One Is Best For You?

Choosing a new mobile network is not an easy task here in Italy. There are so many options that you even don’t know where to start. Every deal seems the same, so you may end up getting the wrong one. But don’t worry, I’m here to help you find the best provider for your needs.

So, what is the best mobile carrier in Italy?

• Best Mobile Network for Coverage: Vodafone
• Best Mobile Network for Speed: TIM
• Best Trustworthiness: Wind
• Best Value for Money: Iliad Italia
• Best Customer Service: Tre
• Best Virtual Network: PosteMobile

It is common for people to pick the wrong mobile provider in Italy. So, I advise you to keep reading if you want to make the best decision. There is still plenty of information that you should have in mind.

Table of Contents

Which Mobile Network Should You Choose?

Everyone has different needs when it comes to data. In fact, the best mobile network doesn’t really exist. Each provider has some pros and cons, so it entirely depends on you.

However, I have enough experience to give you some directions. My family and I have changed a lot of carriers in Italy. We jumped from provider to provider without any success at all. It seemed like no one could offer us what we were seeking.

You must identify what your needs are. It is essential to have clarity before buying a service. If you don’t have any idea, it can be hard to find the right one. But don’t worry, I will cover it as well.  

What To Consider Before Choosing a Network

There are many aspects to consider before choosing a carrier. But the most important ones are coverage, speed, customer service, and prices. You should also review the terms and their transparency.

The best thing you can do is to know your behaviors. Ask yourself these questions: What do you do online regularly? What places do you plan to visit? How much are you willing to pay? Is it essential for you to have a good connection?

Don’t feel bad if you struggle to answer these questions. Here are some examples that will help you to do so:

When Do You Need The Best Coverage?

Probably, this is the most crucial factor to consider when choosing a provider. It is useless to have the best speed if there is no signal in your zone. Always look if the operator offers reliable coverage in the area.

If you are going to the hills or beaches, then you will probably need the best coverage. Don’t risk choosing an operator that doesn’t have reliable coverage. It is best to pay a little bit more to ensure the provider works.

However, the cheaper operator sometimes works better in some places. The signal heavily depends on the area itself. But on average, the more expensive providers have better network quality.

When Do You Need The Best Speed?

Another thing you should have in mind is the speed. You are unlikely to have a slow connection in Italy. Most Italian carriers have a decent rate for the average customer. Usually, it will be at least 20mbps or more.

It makes sense to get a faster operator if you do heavy things online. But make sure you check out the other conditions. 

When Do You Need The Best Price?

Most people are only looking for the best price and offer. There is nothing wrong with that, but I suggest you see all the terms. If you are going to save some money, make sure there isn’t any extra cost hidden.

If you travel on a budget or you just want an operator to stay connected, go for it. You won’t have any problem even with affordable carriers. Most of them offer great coverage and speed throughout Italy.

How Do Plans Work in Italy?

All plans will renew automatically the same day you activate it due to the Law N. 172/17 . For example, if you enable your SIM card on the 10th of March, it will renew on 10th April.

Why Is It Important to Have Customer Service

There are situations that you may have to call your carrier. Many people ignore it, but it has the same importance as other factors. It is not fun to have a problem, and no one replies to you. It also happened to my father! He had to call many times to get his credit back. Every operator was saying a different thing, so we chose to switch to another carrier.

Only a few companies give excellent customer service in Italy. Most of the time, you will need to wait for a while to get answered. Also, you may have to call a lot of numbers before contacting the operator.

Don’t get me wrong; I’m not saying that every operator has lousy service. They will usually solve the problem as soon as possible. But it is stressful and time-consuming dealing with them, especially if you are not a native.

If you plan to visit Italy without speaking Italian, make sure to check out this post . You will find how to get around without being able to speak in Italian.

What About Unlimited Data?

There is no unlimited data in Italy for prices between €10 and €20. Most Italian providers only offer unlimited voice and SMS. 

General View of Mobile Networks in Italy

All mobile networks are pretty similar in Italy, and the market is pretty broad. They offer almost the same costs, speeds, and coverage. There is a lot of competition, so the prices are decreasing every year.

The four largest mobile providers are Vodafone, TIM, Wind, and Tre Italia. They own an extensive infrastructure, so the quality is better compared to others. Also, there is Iliad, which is starting to build its own bases.

You will also find  virtual operators,  which resell the signal of other networks. Usually, their plans are more convenient than the rest. But you could have issues with the coverage in specific zones. Some examples are ho. Mobile, Kena Mobile, Poste Mobile, and CoopVoce.

According to the latest report of the  Italian Communication Authority  (AGCOM), mobile networks are increasing. The number of SIM cards rose by 0.5 million in 2019. Also, most people prefer prepaid contracts.

What Carrier Do People Prefer?

According to the Italian Communications Guarantees Authority (AGCOM), TIM is the most popular network in Italy. Then follow Vodafone, Fastweb, and Wind. However, more people are switching to Iliad and virtual operators every day.

I recently asked on social media what is the best mobile provider in Italy. I created a poll on an Italian group with 71.850 members . They only took part in 54 people, but it is enough to have an idea. As you can see in the picture, Vodafone won the first position. Then they follow TIM and Wind, respectively.

Overall, Vodafone is the best mobile network in Italy. It has one of the most reliable coverages in the entire market. Also, Vodafone has some of the best internet plans specifically designed for tourists starting from €14,99.

Vodafone is also one of the biggest mobile networks in all of Europe. It has more than 30,000,000 mobile clients only in Italy.

What defines Vodafone is the high-performance connection. You are unlikely to face slowing down with them. Its infrastructure is huge, and it covers most Italian cities. 

As I already said, Vodafone’s coverage and speed are excellent. For many years, it has been the operator with the most coverage. It works in remote areas such as hills and small towns with consistency.  Make sure to check how is the coverage in your area using the links below the images.

As for roaming, Vodafone works in almost all of the European countries. You will be able to use some of your data without additional charges.

The Internet speed of Vodafone is impressive. They offer 4G (LTE/LTE ADVANCE), 3G (HSDPA/UMTS/DC-HSPA+), 2G, and even 5G connection. It is possible to have a 4G+ rate in both rural and urban areas. You will be able to watch videos or series in Ultra HD without interruptions.

When it comes to 5G, it works only in specific areas. You can find it in Milan, Rome, Turin, and Naples. But you may have to buy special plans in order to get the highest speeds.

Vodafone average speeds (2G/3G/4G) according to independent testing and analytic agency n P erf :

• Success Rate: 93.32%
• Average Download Speed: 36.10 Mb/sec
• Average Upload Speed: 12.47 MB/sec
• Latency: 46.10 ms
• Browsing Efficiency: 72.45%
• YouTube Streaming Efficiency: 84.06%

Vodafone prices are very high, and bundles aren’t so convenient. However, the coverage and speed justify the costs. If you are on a tight budget, you may have to look further. Most plans give unlimited data for apps like Facebook, Whatsapp, and Spotify.

The main reason why I don’t choose Vodafone is for the terms. The deal conditions constantly change, and you end up paying more than you thought. Also, you will have to stay with them for many years if you sign a contract. 

I did some research to see what plan is best for tourists. I picked up the only ones that I would recommend. These bundles don’t have any bond, so you can disable them when you want.

Dolce Vita  is an exclusive plan for tourists from any country. It automatically renews every month for €24,99. If you want to deactivate it, call  42071  or visit the Vodafone website. If you finish your GBs, the connection will stop working. The activation is free.

As for  Shake It Easy,  the activation cost is €5,00 for the first month.  They both support 5G.

Customer Service

Vodafone customer service is just  okay . Call support does not have many positive reviews. But the app My Vodafone is complete, and you can do many tasks with it. Also, it has customer support on Facebook.

Some useful numbers:

• 190: Contact number
• 42010:  Top-up service
• 42070:  Activate or change services
• 42626:  Vodafone Happy
• 42246:  Activate SMS services for a fee (quiz, ringtones, etc.)
• 40333 : Special Offers
• 892000 (Charged):  Traveling Information (Restaurants, Flights, Hotels, etc.)
• 414 (Charged):  Meter check
• 41745:  Telephone Directory Information

If coverage is a must-have for you, go for Vodafone. It offers the strongest connection across all of Italy. However, the prices are pretty high, and they might increase over time. The customer support is not the most reliable. Personally, I would go for the offer  Shake It Easy.  

TIM is very similar to Vodafone in terms of speed and coverage. It is the greatest network in Italy. Also, TIM offers several bundles for all kinds of people and needs. 

Some of the strengths of TIM are the ultra-fast speeds and solid coverage. TIM is expanding the coverture of 5G in all the territory. It promises to give the best 5G rates even in touristic areas.

Similarly to Vodafone, TIM has one of the best coverage in Italy. Most of the time, you will have full signal bars on your phone. You can’t get wrong with TIM if you are looking for reliable coverage. 4G connection works 96% of the time in all places.

If you are a TIM client, you can use some of your plans (voice calls, SMS, data) in Europe. There is an option called “Viaggio Pass” to use it in the USA and get extra GB.

TIM has one of the fastest networks in the Italian market. Right now, they offer 2G, 3G (UMTS/HSPA), and 4G (LTE/LTE ADVANCE). 5G connections work in Bari, Rome, Turin, Milan, Florence, and more. The speed limits can reach 2 Gbps so that you will have the latest speed technologies. It is comparable to Vodafone’s rates.

Tim average speeds (2G/3G/4G) according to nPerf:

• Success Rate: 93.57%
• Average Download Speed: 29.70 Mb/sec
• Average Upload Speed: 11.79 MB/sec
• Latency: 46.89 ms
• Browsing Efficiency: 73.19%
• YouTube Streaming Efficiency: 84.25%

Remember that the speed limit depends on your plan. Some bundles such as TIM Mercury 50GB can reach only  150Mbps . So, make sure your package covers it before making the deal.

TIM has different price ranges, but most of them are pretty expensive. Also, make sure you review the terms. They regularly change the conditions of the deal. Some people see an increase in prices after a few months. Remember to ask for how long the contract is valid as well.

Another thing you must consider is the hidden cost. You may receive spamming messages about football, horoscopes, tests, etc. Make sure you deactivate all of them as soon as possible. They are futile, and you will never need these services. Also, you should disable some extra services like “LoSai and ChiamaOra di TIM.”

Some foreigner plans that I found:

In order to get TIM International, you must confirm that you are not born in Italy. They will accept any document that shows your birthplace, such as a passport or driver’s license. 

The activation for both plans cost €5,00, but it is free online. Also, the SIM costs an additional €20. The 300 minutes to call abroad are valid for the USA, Canada, Mexico, India, China, and more. You are limited to 150 Mbps in download.

TIM’s customer support is just fine, but it may be slow to get answered. The best way to contact them is through social media. They regularly reply after a few hours and in English. Don’t expect to get the fastest answer via the call center.

If it is not a critical problem, you can visit the FAQ section on the official website. Usually, you will find all the answers there. There is also the app MyTIM, which you can use to check your balance.

• 119: Contact number
• 187: Toll-free number
• 409169:  Check your balance and manage active offers
• 4088:  PayForMe (Loan to call or send SMS)
• 456:  Check network provider of other numbers
• 119 (SMS):  Send “Ciao” to check your balance
• 40916:  Recharge your balance
• 40920:  Customize services

TIM is the best option for people who want the fastest network. Most bundles are not cheap, and you may have to sign a long term contract. Personally, I would go for  TIM International Senza Limiti,  but there are other options. Make sure to review all the terms  in detail .

Wind is the network provider that I’m using right now. It doesn’t have the same coverage as TIM and Vodafone, but it covers most areas. What I like about Wind is its professional and clean service. I always feel confident when I’m making a deal with them.

I rarely had an issue with Wind, so they have built trust in me. This is why my family currently uses Wind too. In 2019, we bought four new SIM cards the same week since the old ones had expired. We got the same bundle; All-Inclusive Young, 30 GB, Unlimited Voice, 200 SMS for €11,99. 

Wind has great coverage in most areas, including touristic locations. But it may don’t work in remote places such as hills or rural areas. If you are going to some of these places, Wind may isn’t the best option.

Wind’s coverage might not be the same as other big network providers. But remember that signal heavily relies on the location itself. Sometimes Wind gets more signal than Vodafone and TIM. As for roaming, you can use some of your data for free in the EU. 

Currently, Wind is at a similar level as Vodafone and TIM in terms of speed. Wind offers 4G in 98.1% of the Italian territory. The limit speed is  1Gbps , and it is available in many large cities. You are unlikely to feel a slow-down while browsing. Wind doesn’t offer 5G at the moment.

Wind average speeds (2G/3G/4G) according to nPerf:

• Success Rate: 90.02%
• Average Download Speed: 28.88 Mb/sec
• Average Upload Speed: 10.01 MB/sec
• Latency: 70.33 ms
• Browsing Efficiency: 66.01%
• YouTube Streaming Efficiency: 80.97%

Wind’s prices are quite affordable, and the bundles are attractive. Most plans have a decent amount of GB and unlimited voice. They offer packages for families, foreigners, and even for specific ages. The prices are fixed so that you won’t find any surprises on your bill.

The customer service is pretty good, and the operators reply in a short time. However, you may need to wait for a few days to get your problem solved. You can contact Wind on social media or via the call center .  Also, the app MyWind and the official website work fine on all platforms.

• 155: Call Center, check prices, offers, etc. (It works for everything)
• 1928: Business queries

Wind is the ideal option if you want great bundles for an affordable price. For most people, speed and coverage won’t be an issue. The network quality is not the best (depending on the area), but it is very reliable and stable. Overall, it is a solid choice for everyone.

I recommend you pick the bundle  Wind All Inclusive Young Easy Pay (under 30) . I find myself very comfortable with it. If you are over 30, you could pick  Wind All-Digital  for the fastest speed.

Tre and Wind became the same company in 2016 and created the name “Wind Tre.” However, they work separately for now. I owned Tre for a couple of years, and I was happy with the service in general. I bought a SIM card for €15,00 with 30GB (1GB per day), unlimited voice & SMS.

Tre’s coverage has improved a lot since the agreement with Wind. Most of the time, you will get the same signal as Wind. But it may be a little bit worse in specific areas. You may have some problems in remote places, but you will be safe in the city.

Roaming works perfectly fine in all of Europe. You can use some of your data without any additional charge. It is one of the few mobile networks that allows you to receive calls abroad. There are plans designed to travel in the European Union.

The network speeds of Tre are almost the same as Wind. You will have access to 4G/LTE (150Mbps max), and 4.5G in multiple cities. The 5G is called  “Super Rete,”  and it can reach 1000Mbps. But it is only available in large towns.

Tre average speeds (2G/3G/4G) according to Nperf (the same as Wind):

Tre has pretty handy prices, and there are plans for all needs. The most popular bundle is called “All-IN,” which includes a bunch of data. Make sure you review the terms; some packages have daily or weekly limits. Also, there is “GIGA Bank,” which allows you to save GB that you didn’t use.

Tre has some extra services for a fee such as “Ti ho cercato.” So, remember to disable all of them after you make the deal. You will often receive promoting messages, 

Interesting deals:

I highly recommend Tre if you are going to buy a new phone in monthly fees. The plans for smartphones are flexible and handy. I purchased a midrange 2016 Samsung, and it is still working great! All Tre cell phones are unlocked.

From my experience, Tre has one of the best customer services on the market. The operators are super fast and efficient. Usually, they will solve your problem within one or two days. They are kind and helpful in most cases. I received a reply even when I was outside of Italy.

• 4030 (Prepaid Clients): Check balance, top-ups, and tariff options
• 4034 (Subscription Clients): Check tariff plan status, the active payment method, and invoices
• 4133:  Telephone Answering Machine (from overseas  +39 393 393 4133 )
• 4040:  Manage services options individually
• 803133:  Offers and promotions information
• 800832323:  Suspend the SIM in case of loss

Tre is a valid option for people who want an acceptable quality for a low price. Coverage mostly works in the city and not in rural areas. Customer support is excellent, and they quickly answer you. It is the safest option if you are going to travel across Europe. Also, I recommend it if you want to buy a new phone with a plan. 

Iliad is one of the newest mobile networks in Italy. It was officially launched in spring 2018 by the French operator “Free Mobile.” Iliad has completely changed the market in terms of prices. All operators had to reduce the price list for their services.

Iliad’s coverage is decent, and most of the time, it will work. The company is building its own network, but right now it is only available in some cities. Iliad uses WindTre signal in order to work in other areas. So, expect to have similar coverage as Tre and Wind. Don’t pick Iliad if you are looking for coverage or at least verify if it works in your zone.

When it comes to roaming, Iliad is not a great option. There are still a few operators who partner with the company. It doesn’t work even in France where there is the head office. Also, you will have the limitation of a 3G connection. 

Iliad offers 2G, 3G, 4G, and 4G+ without any speed limitations. You won’t have the same rates as Vodafone and TIM, but it isn’t a big deal. Most people won’t even notice the difference anyway. Iliad doesn’t give 5G speed, but it will be available soon.

Iliad average speeds (2G/3G/4G) according to nPerf:

• Success Rate: 90.01%
• Average Download Speed: 27.84 Mb/sec
• Average Upload Speed: 9.93 MB/sec
• Latency: 84.52 ms
• Browsing Efficiency: 61.53%
• YouTube Streaming Efficiency: 80.87%

Iliad’s prices are one of the best in the Italian network market. The bundles include unlimited voice & SMS and a bunch of data. Also, you won’t find any extra cost or price increase in your bill. Iliad is a sincere company with customers.

Currently, Iliad only has two offers, but they are both excellent:

The operators are very kind, but often they strive with specific questions. Also, they are slow replying on social media. Iliad doesn’t have an app, but the official website is responsive for mobile. 

• 177: Contact center (open Monday to Friday from 8.00 AM to 10:00 PM and the other days from 9:00 AM to 08:00 PM)

If you want to save money but still have an incredible bundle, Iliad is for you. It is a transparent company, and you won’t have any issues with prices. However, its coverage isn’t the best, and you may have some problems with it. Iliad has great potential to grow and become the best mobile network.

PosteMobile

PosteMobile is the most popular virtual network in Italy, with over 4,2 million SIMs. It is from the group “Poste Italiane,” which is the largest Italian mail. Also, it offers services for companies and public administration.

Poste Mobile used to rely on the Vodafone network, but then it switched to Wind Tre. The coverage is great in most areas, but it could suffer. You will always have coverage if you stay in the city. Remember, it is an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator), so it doesn’t own infrastructures. In European countries, you can use your package, but it may be a bit slow.

The speed is average, with 42,2Mpbs in 3G and 150Mbps in 4G/LTE. It has the same rate as Wind, so it is enough for most people. You can use 4G in 99% of the Italian population. Poste Mobile doesn’t allow 4.5G and 5G.

Poste Mobile plans are cheap compared to other networks. The prices include all the services like “Call Back Now.” Also, you are free to leave when you want without paying charges. There are no contractual obligations.

Every 10GB that you don’t use, you will get €1,00 back with CREAMI offers.

PosteMobile’s customer service is excellent in all means. You can go to Poste Italiane offices and solve your problem personally. Usually, the offices are very crowded, but the staff is competent.

Some useful numbers and contacts:

• 160: Call center
• +39 371 1000 160:  Customer service from overseas.
• 401214 (or from overseas +39 371 1000 214): Check your roaming tariff balance. 
• 401212:  Free Do-It-Yourself service, active 24/7 only for Poste Mobile SIM cards.
• FAX:  800242626
• E-mail: [email protected]

Poste Mobile is the perfect option if you want a flexible plan. Most prices are lower than €10, and they are very convenient. Go for it if you don’t have many holds in terms of speed and coverage. It is the best MVNO for quality right now. Personally, I would go for  PosteMobile CREAMI RELAX100.

Ho. Mobile is the cheaper brand of Vodafone and arises to overcome Iliad’s prices. This virtual network has nearly 20 million customers in Italy. The slogan “ho tutto chiaro” means “I have everything clear,” referrer to its plans.

Ho. Mobile has exceptional coverage since it relies on the Vodafone network. There are no coverage differences between  ho  and Vodafone. They both work amazingly, even in remote and rural zones. You will be able to use your phone all most everywhere. You can use your package in the EU on roaming.

Unlike Vodafone, ho. Mobile speed isn’t that great. Even though it has the same coverage, the rates will be so much slower in 99% of cases. You have a limit of 30Mbps with most plans, and the connection doesn’t exactly run in 4G.

Don’t get me wrong; I’m not saying that Ho’s speed is unusable. For most people, 30Mbps will be enough with regular usage. But you could feel the difference when watching videos or streamings in high definition.

Ho. Mobile prices are competitive and without hidden costs. You don’t have to stay with them, and you can pay as you wish. Also, there is the option “Restart,” which allows you to buy GB a month in advance.  Some offers are not fixed.

Most bundles are specifically for Iliad’s clients and other virtual operators. There aren’t many offers for new customers. Also, there is a daily limitation to buy a SIM online, and often it is confusing.

Ho. Mobile’s customer service is not complete. It is difficult to contact an operator, and they don’t answer directly. However, there is a community called “Hofficina”, where members can help each other. The mobile app is probably the best that you will find.

• 192121: Contact service
• 800688788: Call center for no Iliad numbers (free)
• 421111: Portability status information
• 42121: Check balance, top-ups, and tariff options
• +39 346 4448 421:  Check balance, top-ups, and tariff options abroad
• +39 346 4448 921: Abroad contact service

If you want the same coverage as Vodafone for a lower price, go for ho. But remember that you will have limitations in speed and support. You will have to pay €9,00 to create a new phone number with them. It is only convenient if you already have a network and you want to change it.

CoopVoce is the first MVNO in Italy, and it is one of the most famous as well. It is a brand from the supermarket “Coop,” which is one of the biggest in Italy. CoopVoce currently has more than 1,3 million customers.  

CoopVoce works with the TIM network, so it is reliable in most zones. However, it may don’t work in many isolated places like hills or rural areas. Don’t expect to have the same coverage as TIM. When it comes to roaming, it works just fine in European countries. 

CoopVoce has decent speed, and you won’t notice any slowdown when browsing. The network allows rates up to about 150 Mbps/Download and up to 50 Mbps/Upload in 4G. In most places, you will have a 4G connection.

CoopVoce’s bundles are complete and without compromises. However, they are a bit more expensive compared to other MVNOs. All packages are fixed, and there isn’t any hidden cost. Coop is always crystal clear with prices.

Some bundles:

Customer support is fast, and the operators are always ready to help you. It is easy to contact the call center, and they quickly answer to you. Also, there is an online chat, which is very efficient if you don’t have much time. CoopVoce has one a complete customer service.

• 188: Contact service
• +39 334 4188 188: Abroad contact service
• 4243688: Auto contact service
• 4244320: Service management

If you are looking for a reliable company, CoopVoce is for you. However, the prices are not competitive, and rivals have better bundles. It is an excellent option if you regularly shop in Coop grocery stores. Foreigners may not have permission to make the deal. The best pick overall is  CoopVoce Smart 15.

Kena Mobile

Kena Mobile is a budget brand of TIM, and it is the direct competitor of ho. Mobile. However, TIM is not giving so much attention to the trademark. Many people define it as an “unfinished project.” 

Kena Mobile runs with TIM’s signal, so expect to have  similar  coverage. However, it has some data connectivity issues. The coverage is great, but it is not the same as TIM. This is because TIM gives more interest to its main customers. Also, you will have to configure the APN manually when introducing the SIM.

Kena is not recommendable for roaming in Europe. You may have a hard time trying to connect to the network. It will work for some minutes, but then you will need to restart your phone. If you are going to visit more countries, it isn’t a good option. But you are unlikely to face coverage issues in Italy.

Kena Mobile’s speeds are weak and very limited. Similarly to ho, you will have a rate limit of 30Mbps in download. However, the maximum upload speed is only 5.76Mbps, and it could be a problem for some people. You won’t feel any difference when scrolling on social media, but when watching videos. For most people, it isn’t a huge problem.

When it comes to prices, Kena has very aggressive offers. Many packages include more than 50 GB. But the most suitable bundles are only for people coming from another carrier. There isn’t any hidden cost, the prices are fixed, and you can leave when you want.

Sometimes it is challenging to contact Kena Mobile’s customer service. But usually, operators are timely to fix the problem. Plus, its Facebook page has a high response rate, and it is very useful. Kena’s website is simple to use, and you can do many tasks with it.

• 181: Contact number
• 40181: Check the balance recharge your credit
• 800181181: Fax for specific requests
• +39 350 5999 181: Abroad customer service
• E-mail: [email protected]

Kena Mobile is the mobile network with the best prices on the market. But remember that you will get modest speeds and coverage. Also, you won’t be able to use it outside Italy. I would buy it as a second SIM since it isn’t very stable. Kena always stays a decent choice to consider. No doubt, the best bundles are  Kena Flash 5,99  and  Kena 8,99  for new numbers.

Very Mobile

Very Mobile is the newest Wind Tre’s brand, similarly to what TIM and Vodafone did. It was officially launched on February 20th, 2020, and it has really good support. Very Mobile promises to give affordable prices with transparency and decent quality.

Very Mobile has the same coverage as Wind Tre, so it should work in most situations. However, it is still a really new company, and we can’t conclude without first having enough data. You shouldn’t have any problem with coverage since Wind Tre has a secure connection. Roaming works in all Europe with zero extra costs, but you can only use 2.4GB.

You will have some limitations if you decide to buy a Very Mobile SIM card. The maximum speed is 30Mbps in download and 30Mbps in the upload. If you don’t do heavy works online, you will probably be okay. Sometimes it even exceeds the speed limits, but it is rare.

Currently, Very Mobile doesn’t have a great variety of bundles. There is only a package for the first 20,000 people , which includes 30GB, unlimited data, and SMS for €4,99 without bonds. The price includes everything except the activation cost, which is €25. 

Very Mobile is at the same level as Wind Tre when it comes to customer support. You can get assistance through the call center and Facebook page. Finally, the mobile app has a user-friendly design, and it is easy to use.

• 1929: Contact number
• 800 99 4444: Toll-free number

Very Mobile offers similar prices, speeds, and coverage as other cheap options such as ho and Kena. If you want the same reliability as Wind Tre for a lower price, go for it. But Iliad remains the best value for the money network.

Nicolas Mascolo

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On the heels of Americans being cleared to fly into Italy once again , a new Italian airline is set to launch this fall in the European country.

The new carrier is currently without an official name but going by the temporary moniker Italia Trasporto Aero (ITA). It's a new iteration of Alitalia, the embattled national flag carrier that has been bankrupt and in government administration since 2017. Essentially, ITA is raising capital to buy the best assets of Alitalia, like its planes and some of its staff, but the new airline will be fully independent of its bankrupt predecessor. That means ITA won't be held liable for the millions of euros of aid sunk into Alitalia should Italy or the E.U. demand it be paid back. 

ITA is set to launch on October 15, just one day after Alitalia shutters operations for good. Before its name is finalized, the new outfit will—confusingly—even have an opportunity to bid on the Alitalia brand, which it reportedly plans to do.

Here's what else we know about the new Italian airline.

A handful of transatlantic routes

The relaunched version of Alitalia will have bases in both Rome and Milan. According to Reuters, ITA will acquire 85 percent of the Alitalia flight slots at Milan Linate airport and 43 percent of those at Rome's Leonardo da Vinci airport.

The airline says it will focus on regional routes within Europe first, such as Paris , London, Frankfurt, Brussels, and Geneva, the AP reports . 

Longer haul international routes are expected to be offered in the initial months after launch (as long as COVID restrictions roll back). ITA plans to fly from Rome and Milan to New York, and from Rome to Boston, Miami, and Tokyo , according to the AP. Additional international routes—including Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Buenos Aires, and São Paulo could be added by summer 2022, according to Airline Weekly . 

‘Next generation’ planes

In October, ITA plans to launch operations with a fleet of seven wide-body and 45 narrow-body former Alitalia aircraft, according to the AP.

Additionally, ITA is looking to buy $5.3 billion worth in new aircraft from either Boeing or Airbus, according to reports in Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera . Airbus is currently ahead in the bidding process to deliver 81 next-generation (or most modern type) jets, three people briefed on the matter told the Italian daily paper. The new planes are supposed to begin arriving next year, and by the end of 2025 the new aircraft will bring ITA's fleet up to 105 planes total.

Competitive fares

ITA's fares haven't yet gone on sale, and it's not clear how cheap—or expensive—they might be. But one thing is for certain: The new airline will have stiff competition with European low-cost carriers that have encroached in Italy. 

Ultra-budget airlines like Ryanair and Wizz Air have taken a larger share of the Italian market since the pandemic. "Ryanair, Europe's largest budget airline, is expanding to more than 100 domestic routes this summer from 60 before the pandemic," according to Reuters . 

Likewise, Wizz Air is “set to grow from zero to 10 percent of the domestic market this summer,” Reuters says, quoting a memo from AlixPartners analysts. Since the pandemic began, Wizz has unveiled bases in Naples, Palermo , and Rome, according to Airline Weekly .

While ITA hasn't committed to offering the same type of dirt cheap fares, it will be walking a tight rope even if it does. Previous Italian carriers, such as Air Italy for instance, simply couldn't compete with said short-haul, low-cost carriers. Air Italy was forced to liquidate in February 2020, before the pandemic downturn was even a factor. Regardless, according to the economic plan ITA submitted to the E.U., ITA expects to start turning a profit by the third quarter of 2023, Corriere Della Sera says. 

On the long-haul side of its operations, ITA will be taking on heavy hitters like United, American, Delta. Although it could find an ally on that front: The nascent airline is said to be in partnership discussions with both Delta and Lufthansa, according to Airline Weekly. Seeing as Delta was Alitalia's partner in the SkyTeam alliance for two decades, the scales could tip in Delta's favor there, which would make it easier for U.S. passengers with Delta SkyMiles to book with the new Italian carrier.

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Here's What It's Like to Fly ITA Airways — Italy's Newest Airline

I flew Italy's newest airline, ITA Airways — here's what my experience was like before, during, and after the flight.

ITA Airways — the new Italian flag carrier — took over from the bankrupt Alitalia on Oct. 15, 2021, with 52 planes and 2,800 staff members, compared to Alitalia's respective 110 and 10,500. Many thought that, reduced fleet aside, nothing would change.

In fact, that's what the staff at Venice airport told me as I checked in for my flight to Rome on Oct. 16, barely 24 hours into the airline's life.

The new ITA logo blazed behind the old Alitalia check-in desk — an eye-catching three letters, striped green, white, and red for the colors of the Italian tricolore flag. Other than that, it was all as it had been the day before: Alitalia signs designating the check-in lanes, Alitalia hand luggage measurers, and Alitalia uniformed staff.

"I booked this to see what's changed," I said to the agent at check-in. She smiled. "Nothing's changed," she assured me.

Two days earlier, when ITA bought the Alitalia brand name for €90 million (about $104 million), it was widely assumed that the new airline would maintain the old moniker.

But on launch day, revealing a brand-new blue livery, president Alfredo Altavilla said ITA had always been the new airline's name — they were just buying the Alitalia brand to stop others from using it. They would continue to use Alitalia-branded products and planes until their own were sorted, he said.

For my day two flight, there was little difference compared to the old days as we boarded the Alitalia plane. There was an hour-long delay for my flight, and when I emailed the dedicated inbox requesting a seat change that the website wouldn't save, I got no reply.

What stood out on board, though, even on day two, was the customer service. For example, when the aircraft made a wheezing sound, and I got nervous, the off-duty flight attendant in the row behind talked me through the noises and kept checking on me throughout the flight.

ITA will incentivize its staff by paying them according to customer satisfaction, as well as company performance, Altavilla said — and it showed.

Though the plane was decidedly worn (Alitalia's average fleet age was 14 years), the atmosphere was warm. And so, instead of flying my usual airline between Italy and the U.K., I booked another flight: Milan Linate (ITA's second hub, after Rome Fiumicino) to London Heathrow.

A Few Pre-flight Snafus

ITA's website is hard to navigate. Between temporarily losing my booking, rejecting the (Italian) country code for my phone number, and not allowing me to link the flight to my account with Volare, the new frequent flier program , there were some kinks that needed to be ironed out. But that's perhaps true of many new companies.

At Linate, a lovely airport renovated right before the pandemic, the former Alitalia lounge was closed due to the pandemic, staff noted. However, the airport's other lounge was open, and all other airlines seemed to be using it. Instead, ITA gives business class ticket holders a voucher for one soft drink and one sandwich or sweet treat at the airport bar.

Limoncello in the Skies

Pre-flight mix-ups aside, when I boarded the plane, ITA rocketed onto the runway of all-time top flights.

For starters, it was the welcome. Rarely do greetings feel as genuine as they did from purser Stefano and cabin crew members Massimo and Andrea. They coddled a nervous flier and enforced masks with polite insistence. Their assiduousness made flying during a pandemic a whole lot less stressful.

On ITA's short-haul flights, economy passengers get free soft drinks and delicious Italian cookies. In business class, we got a tray full of centopercento Italian food: a tasty vegetarian lasagne, crisp salad, crusty bread, and a Sicilian cannolo .

Then came the crowning glory: grappa and limoncello , high-class brands at that, poured straight from the bottle into our cups. Halfway to London, I felt like I was still in Italy.

By bringing the dolce vita to the skies, ITA could really shine. And that's exactly what the airline is planning to do — Altavilla said they're in talks with big brands to make every single thing, from the maintenance cars to the seats in the lounge, Italian.

For now, ITA's biggest asset is its thoughtful, attentive staff. So, if the crew stays as they are, and ITA fixes the glitches on its website, gets its new fleet, and fills those planes with all-Italian brands and frills, this could be a very exciting airline. In bocca al lupo , as the Italians say — good luck.

Cell Phone Service When Traveling in Italy

Cell phones are handy to have when traveling in Italy. Whether you want to stay in touch with people at home, phone ahead for reservations, or just have a phone for emergencies, taking a cell phone with you when you travel is a good idea.

Buy an International Phone Plan or a GSM Cell Phone

Cell phone plans can be confusing and using your own U.S. or Canadian cell phone can be expensive. Unless you’ve set up an international package with your provider, it's expensive to use your phone (either making calls or using data to browse the web) in Italy. It's important to call and check with your provider before you go to figure out how to arrange more affordable cell phone usage while abroad. Using hotel phones to call home is expensive and relying on pay phones can be difficult. For more information about the kind of phone you'll need, read more about buying the right GSM cell phone for Europe .

Buy a SIM Card

One easy solution is to purchase a SIM card for use with an unlocked GSM cell phone or renting and buying an unlocked GSM cell phone and prepaid SIM card from Cellular Abroad. You'll have a local Italian number for calls in Italy, free incoming calls, and a fixed low rate for calls to the United States or Canada. All the menus are in English and there's 24 hour a day service in English as well. They even include foreign adapters for the charger.

Phone cards come with a small prepaid initial credit. If you know you'll be using the phone a lot, you can buy additional prepaid time directly from Cellular Abroad when you place your order. You can also easily add time when you're in Italy. If you're traveling to other countries, you can purchase SIM cards for them as well.

Cellular Abroad phones use UNO Mobile service. Service is available everywhere, even in some surprisingly remote areas. International calls and calls to the US are usually very clear, sometimes clearer than landlines.

Learn more information about purchasing Italian SIM cards and cellular phones from Cellular Abroad.

How to Call People While Abroad

If you're trying to call a restaurant, hotel, or person in Italy (from the U.S. or any non-Italian phone), dial +39 and then the rest of the number as usual. On the flip side, let's say you bought an Italian phone or SIM card and want to make a call back to family and friends in America or a country outside of Italy. First, dial 00 then for the U.S., dial 1 (the U.S. country code) and the rest of the number. If you're calling a different country, dial 00 then that country's code (44 for England, for example).

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

James Larounis

Senior Content Contributor

547 Published Articles 1 Edited Article

Countries Visited: 30 U.S. States Visited: 35

Keri Stooksbury

Editor-in-Chief

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Countries Visited: 47 U.S. States Visited: 28

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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How To Get Cellular Service in Italy (and still have money left over for that Armani suit)

Will my current cell phone even work in Italy?

How do I use my current cell phone while I’m in Italy?

Okay, I’ve unlocked my current mobile phone – now what?

• The Uno Mobile SIM card is already registered (no passport information required), has English prompts and customer service. The rates are as follows; free incoming, 0.18 Euros per minute for calls within Italy and 0.35 Euros per minute calling to the US or Canada.
• The TIM service offers free incoming calls, 0.55 to call to North America and local calls vary depending on the “profile” you get. Furthermore, you need to scan your passport in order to activate your SIM card.

As the Uno Mobile SIM card was created for the English-speaking traveler to Italy, it is certainly much more convenient than other services and less expensive to use. It is available online through Amazon.com and Buy.com and others as well as through CellularAbroad.com (my company – we specialize in international SIM cards and can give better customer service than Amazon, Buy.com, etc.).

My current cell phone won’t work in Italy, or I don’t want to unlock it – what are my options?

What about data plans for mobile phones in Italy?

As far as data goes, there are some excellent data plans on Italian carriers’ networks. Italy is one of the most expensive countries for calling with your cell phone within the country, but one of the least expensive for data service. Don’t ask me why. For data service, you can pay by the megabyte, by the hour, by the week, or even by the month. For about $30-$40, you should be able to get unlimited data for 30 days.

Special Cellular Abroad Offer for WhyGo Italy Readers

Using Your Cell Phone in Italy (Without Spending a Fortune)

I really like hearing from readers, especially when you report back after using my advice or you pose questions that would make great articles for the blog. This article is the result of the latter, a question that came to me from reader Emily C.

“I’d love to see an article about how to use your smartphone (voice, text, and data) while on vacation in Italy. What providers are available without a contract, how much does it cost, and just exactly how do you make your U.S. phone work on an Italian data plan (do you need a new SIM card, which providers give instructions in English, etc.). I’ve seen suggestions that a disposable phone bought in Italy or at an airport kiosk is the way to go, but I would very much like specific information and recommendations.” Thank you so much for the question, Emily!

When I first started spending a significant amount of time in Italy, the answer to this question was pretty straightforward – don’t turn on your U.S. cell phone, period, because it’ll cost a small fortune. Instead, the advice was to buy a cheap mobile phone in Italy and equip it with a prepaid SIM card to make local calls. Times have changed, though, and that’s rarely the best idea anymore.

How to Use Your Cell Phone in Italy

The good news is that you have a lot of options when it comes to keeping in touch via mobile phone when you’re traveling in Italy. The bad news is that there isn’t a blanket statement I can make that authoritatively says one option is always best. So here are some of the things you can do, as well as some things to consider, when you’re planning to use your cell phone in Italy.

Enable an International Plan

This is the option I’ve personally chosen for many years now. The plans themselves have changed – they’ve gotten better and cost less – but the gist is the same. You first ask your cellular carrier if your phone model will work in Italy (if not, you can stop reading this section now), then alert your phone provider that you’ll be traveling to Italy, and they’ll turn on an international plan of some kind. Sometimes that’s a package deal with a certain amount of data usage for a flat fee (no matter how much data you actually use), sometimes you’ll only pay for what you use. This option is super easy, since you don’t need to get a separate phone or deal with a SIM card, you just use your phone like you normally would at home.

In my experience, phone calls still cost enough per minute that I avoid making calls if possible (though it’s nice to have the option for emergencies), but even that’s changing. International calls with my current carrier, XFINITY Mobile, are only 10¢ per minute from Italy (I remember seeing $2 per-minute charges on Verizon years ago!). I still probably won’t be making oodles of calls, but the cost is significantly less than it used to be.

Not only does every carrier have different plans for international cell phone use, the rates differ depending on where you’re traveling. (And yes, I assume you’re going to Italy if you’re reading this, but you might also be visiting France or Switzerland on the same trip – or occasionally travel to other countries besides Italy! – so you’d need to know each country’s rates.)

The bottom line here is that you’ll need to check with your cell phone company to find out what their international plan options and rates are so you’ll know if your particular phone model will work in Italy and then whether (and how much) you want to use your phone or tablet in Italy. Pay attention to things like costs for calls or text made vs. calls or texts received, which are sometimes different.

Sidebar: It’s important to note that when you use your non-Italian cell phone to make calls from Italy, every single call is considered an international call. Calls to Italian numbers, calls back home – all of them. Which means you’ll need to include the plus sign (+) and the country code at the beginning of each phone number. Italian numbers begin with +39, U.S. numbers with +1. (Find a complete list of country codes here .) To add the + to the start of every phone number, press and hold the zero until you see multiple options pop up, then choose the plus sign.

Get an Italian SIM Card for Your Phone

If your phone is unlocked, you can purchase an Italian SIM card when you arrive in Italy and swap your main SIM card to use your phone while you’re traveling. You’ll know if your phone is unlocked if you can open the back or side of it and pull out the existing SIM card, or you can check with your carrier. (And if you’re not sure what the heck a SIM card is or what it does, read this .)

I’ve never gone this route – I’ve never had an unlocked U.S. phone with me on Italy trips – but I know this is a great option for many travelers. It might be right for you if you plan to make lots of calls to Italy numbers, or if you need to have an Italian phone number so people in Italy can call you without the expense of an international call. And since all calls made on your home cell phone will be international calls (see “Sidebar” above), having an Italian SIM also saves you money on every single local call you make.

To get a SIM card in Italy, bring your passport to one of the mobile phone shops – it doesn’t matter which you choose, just know that you’ll need to purchase prepaid cards for that particular company when you need more minutes. The three major brands are Wind, TIM, and Vodafone. SIM cards usually come with a few euro already on them, but that runs out quickly. Most tobacco shops sell the prepaid cards (called a “ricarica” in Italian) so you can add more to your SIM – again, just know which company’s SIM is in your phone.

(Note that SIM cards are blasted tiny little buggers, so be careful when you’re swapping them. Also, make sure you’ve got a secure place to store them when not in use.)

Buy a Cheap Mobile Phone in Italy

This used to be what I’d do for anything more than a week or two in Italy, partly because I didn’t have an unlocked phone and partly because the international plans were still mind-bogglingly expensive. Nowadays I don’t think I’d recommend this to many people, unless your phone isn’t unlocked (or you don’t have a mobile phone to bring on your trip in the first place).

As is the case with getting an Italian SIM card, when you buy a cheap phone in Italy it’ll usually come with some credit already on its SIM card. You can top it off the same way you’d top off any SIM card in Italy, by purchasing a prepaid card at a tabaccaio that’s made by the same company that made your SIM card.

Keep in mind I’m not talking about buying a fancy smartphone as your Italian cell phone – the one I bought years ago is from the era when all you could do on a cell phone was call or text (and just barely, since you’d have to press a key three times to get to the third letter). It’s hardly ideal for quick texting, but it’s a good option for making or receiving cheap local calls.

How to Minimize International Roaming Charges on Your Phone

No matter what option you choose, using a mobile device from home when you’re in Italy can cost a pretty penny if you aren’t careful. Here are a few ways to limit your smartphone or tablet use, which will keep your phone bill low.

Stick to WiFi Use Only

This is the no-brainer option. If you keep your phone in airplane mode with the WiFi enabled for your entire trip, you’ll never run the risk of using data if you haven’t gotten an international roaming plan. Your hotel is likely to have WiFi (sometimes free, sometimes not), so you can log in to update social media or check train schedules before you start your sightseeing or when you’re back in your room at day’s end. Some public places have WiFi, too, though it’s not as common in Italy as you might be accustomed to at home.

Unfortunately, even if you’re staying in a fancy hotel, WiFi isn’t necessarily going to be very speedy. I recall one exceptionally nice Amalfi hotel I stayed in that offered free WiFi, but the fact that it was located in an historic building with walls 2-3 feet thick meant that if you were outside the main lobby the signal was essentially non-existent. In other words, don’t expect to upload a day’s worth of photos to Instagram in a flash.

If you absolutely must have reliable WiFi in Italy, consider getting a Mifi device .

Download Tools to Use Offline

Having access to maps is one of the great perks of using your smartphone when traveling. Those maps, though, are major data users. I try to keep my mobile map usage limited, and download city maps to use offline instead. There are lots of app options for this, some free and some paid, and some of them are pretty big files – but the benefit is that you can use them to your heart’s content without fear of a map slurping up all your data. No, you won’t have the little blue dot telling you precisely where you are at all times, but you can always navigate the old-fashioned way – using your eyeballs.

Other handy travel tools that work offline are currency converters, Italian-to-English dictionaries, and walking tours. Browse your app store of choice to see what’s available – just be sure to look for the app’s offline capabilities.

And keep in mind that with Amazon’s Kindle app you can download my Italy guidebooks right to your smartphone or tablet and use them completely offline!

Use Apps to Stay in Touch

Here’s something you might not expect – texting is expensive for Italians, too, so they try to avoid it at all costs. Instead, most Italians use WhatsApp . It functions exactly like texting, except that it uses much less data than normal texting. Whether you think you’ll be texting a bunch of Italians or not, it’s a good idea to have WhatsApp on your phone. You may need it to send a note to a tour guide you’re meeting, for instance. Note that both you and the person you’re texting with need to have downloaded and signed into the app in order for it to work.

To connect with friends and family while you’re traveling, consider using apps like FaceTime or Google Hangouts. These are free to use with WiFi, the only caveat being that both people on a call need to be using the same program – FaceTime for Apple products and Google Hangouts for Android products. As long as you’ve got that box checked, you can text and have video chats for free on WiFi.

Skype is another great app to have, if the people you want to reach don’t have the same type of device that you do. Again, it’s free to text or make calls from one Skype user to another on WiFi.

5 responses to “Using Your Cell Phone in Italy (Without Spending a Fortune)”

Whats App is GREAT but you must tell family and friends that they need to have Whats App on their phones as well for it to work!

Yeah, I thought I mentioned that, but I now see I didn’t! I’ll fix the article now. 🙂

Great info for first timers. Thanks you for taking the time to write this article to educate us prior to travel.

You’re most welcome! I’m glad it’s helpful.

Always enjoy your advice. For the last two years I have purchased a TIM 30 day “Tim in viaggio pass” for 30 Euros. The plan changes but right now it is 10 Gid Data, 500 Min and 500 SMS in Europe and USA. Of course you need an unlocked phone to do this. The link is here. https://www.tim.it/offerte/mobile/estero/allestero/tim-viaggio-pass

Best part is take the document you receive from TIM to a TIM store. They will set up your phone and it will be workign before you leave the store. The stores are all over italy, I have used the one at Rome FCO airport and one in Milano and they are very helpful.

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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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Buying a Prepaid Sim Card for Italy in 2024

Planning your trip to Italy and wondering what is the best way to stay connected? Avoid high roaming charges and slow overseas data roaming plans. Get yourself either a local prepaid sim card on arrival in Italy or order an e-sim card on the internet. This is a complete guide for finding the best sim card for your trip to Italy in 2024.

Find out where to buy a prepaid sim card in Italy, a comparison of the mobile internet providers, the best 4G/5G network, the best e-sim cards for Italy, up to date prices as per April 2024, my recommendation, information about international prepaid sim cards and everything else you need to know.

Whenever I am planing my next trip the first thing I do is figuring out how to stay connected. In the past I always used to buy a local prepaid sim card on arrival in every country, nowadays I mostly use e-sim cards.

One of the main reasons I started this travel blog was to document all my travel tips and help other travelers save money and that is how I started writing sim card guides for every country I visited.

As Traveltomtom is aiming to travel to every country in the world I regularly get to a lot of new places and therefore on Traveltomtom you can find more than 200 sim card guides from all over the world: Europe , USA , Costa Rica , South Africa , Hong Kong , Switzerland , Canada , Colombia , Thailand , Egypt , Israel , Dubai , New York , Bali , Philippines , China , Australia and many more.

Traveltomtom also wrote a specific e-sim card guide for Italy with everything you need to know before ordering an e-sim card for traveling to Italy in 2024 .

Therefore when planning your next adventure abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid and e-sim card advice for your holiday destination. Bookmark me and let me help you save money.

Buying a prepaid sim card in Italy is affordable. All you need to do is locate a store of your preferred provider, hop into their shop, bring your passport and 5 minutes later you walk away with a new local prepaid sim card with and a working data connection on your phone.

Sounds easy, but if your phone is e-sim compatible you can arrange all of this in just a couple clicks and as soon as the plane lands you are already online.

Flying into one of the main an international airports in Italy? Click on the links for a detailed guide for buying a sim card at the airports of Milan , Venice  or  Rome .

Are you traveling onwards to other countries in Europe then you might wanna look into the best sim cards for a Europe trip in 2024 .

My recommendation

Traveltomtom recommends travelers to get a sim card from TIM or Iliad. Iliad stores are much harder to locate in Italy. TIM offers a prepaid sim card for tourists for €20 EUR ($22 USD) with 40 GB data and they have a great 4G/5G network in Italy and a TIM sim card includes free (limited) EU data roaming.

Of course does Traveltomtom also recommend e-sim cards for traveling to Italy. In fact e-sim cards are the easiest way to stay connected as you arrange everything on the internet. There are already Italy e-sim cards for just $4.5 USD.

Traveltomtom recommends ordering an e-sim card for Italy via either SimOptions , Airalo or Nomad .

For more detailed info check out Traveltomtom's list of the best e-sim cards for Italy in 2024  including all FAQ about using e-sim cards.

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Another great option for staying connected when traveling is a so called world travel sim card with global coverage. There are some amazing sim card deals for traveling in Italy. Check out my comparison of the best international sim cards for traveling in 2024  and pick the one that suits your trip the best.

Best e-sim cards for Italy

The most convenient and easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Italy in 2024 is an e-sim card. No more visiting a sim card store and swapping physical sim cards. You arrange everything online in just a couple clicks.

The whole process takes just a few minutes and can be done from anywhere in the world.

You order an e-sim card for Italy on the internet, you receive a QR code, scan it, follow the simple steps and within less than 2 minutes you have a Italy e-sim card installed on your phone.

Upon arrival in Italy it automatically connects you to an available network and you enjoy data on your phone pretty much when the plane lands.

Make sure your phone is e-sim compatible before ordering an e-sim card for Italy.

Click here to read Traveltomtom's guide with everything you need to know before buying an e-sim card for Italy in 2024 .

Reminder that on international airports in Italy you can not buy an e-sim card. They only provide physical prepaid sim cards for tourists in Italy as of April 2024. In some stores of Vodafone and TIM you can opt for an e-sim card, but not all.

Therefore if you want an e-sim card then Traveltomtom recommends ordering one on the internet before your trip.

Airalo is a reliable e-sim provider and Traveltomtom has used Airalo in more than 50 countries around the world. Check out the following Italy e-sim card deals from Airalo for 2024:

• 1 GB data for 7 days = $4.5 USD
• 2 GB data for 15 days = $8 USD
• 3 GB data for 30 days = $10 USD
• 5 GB data for 30 days = $14.5 USD
• 10 GB data for 30 days = $24 USD
• 20 GB data for 30 days = $33 USD

Click here to  order an e-sim card for Italy directly online via Airalo .

Defintiely check out Airalo as they often have ongoing promotion. Just recently they had 50% off on all their Italy e-sim card plans.

The above data-only Italy e-sim cards from Mamma Mia are only valid in Italy and do not support calling and texting. They operate on the 4G/LTE networks of TIM, Vodafone and WindTre.

SimOptions is another e-sim card provider that has e-sim cards from all over the world. SimOptions sells international e-sim cards valid in all of Europe, including Italy. These international e-sim cards also support calling and texting all over Europe and in fact are the best e-sim card deals for traveling to Italy in 2024.

• 15 GB data + unlimited calls in Europe for 15 days = $21.90 USD
• 10 GB data (5G ready) + $2 calling credit for 30 days = $24.90 USD
• 12 GB data + 30 minutes international calls + unlimited calls in Europe for 14 days = $29.90 USD
• 30 GB data + unlimited calls in Europe for 30 days = $44.90 USD
• 30 GB data + 120 minutes international calls + unlimited calls in Europe for 14 days = $49.90 USD
• 50 GB data (5G ready) + 120 minutes international calls + unlimited calls in Europe for 28 days = $59.90 USD

Click here to order an international e-sim card for Italy via SimOptions .

In my opinion these are the best tourist sim card for traveling to Italy in 2024 as they also support incoming and outgoing calls. The Nomad and Airalo are data-only e-sim cards.

Nomad is a third recommended e-sim provider that sells Italy e-sim cards for tourists. Traveltomtom has tested and reviewed Nomad e-sim cards in more than 10 countries around the world.

Great thing about some of the Nomad e-sim cards for Italy is that they are *5G ready.

These are the Italy e-sim card plans from Nomad for 2024:

• 1 GB data for 7 days = $5 USD
• 3 GB data for 30 days = $8 USD
• 5 GB data for 30 days = $14 USD
• 10 GB data for 30 days = $19 USD*
• 15 GB data for 30 days = $27 USD
• 20 GB data for 30 days = $33 USD*

Click here to order an e-sim card for traveling to Italy via Nomad .

When ordering an e-sim card for Italy make sure your phone is e-sim card compatible.

For more e-sim card plans and much more detailed information check out Traveltomtom's  comparison of the best e-sim cards for traveling to Italy in 2024 .

If your phone is not e-sim compatible then you have to order a physical prepaid sim card for Italy on the internet. SimOptions is the only provider that sells physical international prepaid sim cards for Italy. For $24.90 USD you get a sim card delivered at your home address with 12 GB data and unlimited calls/sms in Europe. Check out the physical prepaid sim cards for Italy offered by SimOptions .

Why buying a sim card in Italy

Everyone is dreaming about that romantic road trip in Italy! The food, the people, the coastline, the rolling hills, the gorgeous landscapes and the cheap Italian wines and data plans on prepaid sim cards. When traveling to Italy you want to share your romantic getaway with the world and buying a sim card for Italy is the best way to avoid high roaming costs and staying connected.

Having data on your phone when when traveling abroad makes life so much easier. I can come up with a ton of reasons, but simply ordering a taxi through an app, finding a restaurant, phone number, rooftop bar, nearby friends, whatever.

Italy sim cards are CHEAP! Why get an expensive overseas roaming bundle that limits your data speed when you can get 3 GB data for €1 EUR if you buy a prepaid sim card in Italy.

Also keep in mind that surfing the web on public WiFi is through an unsecured network. The use of a VPN is recommended in these cases. Just don't rely on WiFi in Italy!

Where to buy a sim card for Italy

Phone stores.

Traveltomtom recommends buying a sim card for Italy in the city center at an official retail store of one of the mobile internet providers in Italy and NOT at the international airport on arrival in Italy. Locate the nearest phone store near your hotel simply by using Google Maps.

International Airport on arrival

Although the airport is the most convenient place to buy a sim card for Italy, prices for these tourist sim cards are also a tourist trap, especially at Milan Airport and  Venice Airport . Prices for Italy tourist sim cards at Rome Airport are much more reasonable. 

Every tourist destination in Italy has multiple mobile phone shops, just find them on Google Maps. Go to the store, bring your passport and get yourself a local prepaid sim card for Italy.

Another option is to buy your sim card for Italy online before your trip. This way you arrive prepared and as soon as the plane lands you are online. There are some amazing e-sim card deals for Italy that start from just $4.5 USD and you can arrange everything online within just a couple minutes. No more visiting a sim card store.

Traveltomtom recommends ordering an e-sim card for Italy via either SimOptions , Airalo or Nomad .

Or for more info check out Traveltomtom's complete guide with everything you need to know before ordering an e-sim card for Italy in 2024 .

If your phone is not e-sim compatible then you want to look into ordering a physical sim card for Italy via SimOptions .

Registration process

When buying a sim card in Italy you will have to bring a valid photo ID or your passport. The sim card will be registered on your name and passport number. In the store they will take a copy of your passport or you can send them an email with a photo of your passport.

Most important when buying a sim card in Italy is that your phone needs to be unlocked. Foreign sim cards only work in unlocked phones! If you are not sure if your phone is unlocked then contact your provider in your home country. This also counts for international and e-sim cards. In general phones from Europe, Asia and Australia are unlocked. Phones from the Americas are mostly locked.

If you want to avoid the registration process for some reason then look into ordering an e-sim card for traveling to Italy on the internet. Traveltomtom recommends ordering an e-sim card for Italy via either SimOptions , Airalo or Nomad . You don't need an ID-verification to activate e-sim cards, only an email address.

Italy sim cards and EU roaming

Good news is that all the prepaid sim card in Italy allow FREE EU roaming. That means that if you buy a sim card in Rome and travel to Paris, Amsterdam, Barcelona onwards you can use your voice, text and data allowance at no extra costs. Basically there are no roaming costs within the EU. However, always check with your provider as most operators in Italy limit the EU data roaming allowance on prepaid sim cards for tourists.

For more info about free EU roaming read my guide for buying a prepaid sim card in Europe on arrival .

Mobile internet operators Italy

There are 4 different mobile internet providers in Italy:

• Windtre (former Wind &3)

In 2020 Wind and 3 Italy joined forces and became WINDTRE. Iliad is a fairly new mobile internet operator in Italy. More providers, means more competition, means cheaper prices! Prices for data sim cards in Italy are heaven and tourist sim cards give you a lot of data for little money.

Prices prepaid sim card Italy in 2024

Now let's look at the most important thing for Italy sim cards: the prices of prepaid sim cards plans and data bundles. All the info below info is updated per April 2024. Check out the below prepaid sim card deals for tourists in Italy. Prices are in Euros. $1 USD = €0.92 EUR and €1 EUR = $1.09 USD.

Tim Italy prepaid sim card

Tim Italy offers a tourist prepaid sim card for Italy:

• 50 GB data only valid in Italy + 200 minutes worldwide = €14.99 EUR - ($16.5 USD)

The above sim card deal is exclusive €10 EUR ($11 USD) activation costs. Tim does NOT offer free EU data roaming and their prepaid sim cards are NOT 5G ready, that means the max data speed is just 4G. TIM offers e-sim cards in their official retail phone stores you can get an TIM tourist plan as an e-sim card.

This Tim Italy tourist prepaid sim card is valid for 30 days. For more info check the  TIM Italy website .

Windtre Italy

Windtre is a merge of Wind and 3, the mobile internet provider from the UK. Since 2020 they are operating under the new name: Windtre. They offer the following prepaid sim card deal for tourists in Italy:

• 20 GB data (13.7 GB EU roaming) + 100 minutes in Italy and 100 international minutes for 30 days = €14.99 EUR - ($16.5 USD)

What it doesn't say in the above offer is that the sim card registration costs €10 EUR ($11 USD) extra. The Windtre prepaid sim cards for tourists are 5G ready. Wind Tre does NOT offer e-sim cards for tourists on prepaid sim card plans. 

Great offer, that personally would be one of my preferred sim card deal for Italy in 2024. For more info check this  WindTre webiste .

Vodafone Italy 

Vodafone Italy offers only one prepaid sim card for tourists:

• 30 GB data (15 GB in EU) + Unlimited social media + 600 minutes in all Europe - valid for 30 days = €24.99 EUR - ($27.5 USD)

This Vodafone prepaid sim card is 5G ready and you can also get this tourist sim card as an e-sim card. For more info check the  Vodafone Italy website .

Iliad Italy

Iliad Italy is a relatively new company (2018) and they do not have that many stores around Italy. Buying an Iliad prepaid sim card cost €9.99 EUR ($11 USD for the registration fee and they offer the following prepaid sim card data deals:

• 100 GB data in Italy (8 GB EU roaming) + unlimited minutes/sms in Europe, USA, Canada and 70 other countries - valid for 1 month = €7.99 EUR - ($9 USD)
• 150 GB data in Italy (10 GB EU roaming) + unlimited minutes/sms in Europe, USA, Canada and 70 other countries - valid for 1 month = €9.99 EUR - ($11 USD)

Be aware that there is an EU data cap outside Italy. Therefore I would not recommend an Iliad prepaid sim card for traveling in Europe. For more info check the  Iliad website . Sucks that they limit the data usage in Europe, otherwise it would even be one of the best prepaid sim cards in Europe .

The iliad Giga 150 sim card deal offers 5G, the Giga 100 sim card deal only offers a max data speed of 4G. Iliad does NOT offer e-sim cards for tourists on prepaid plans as of April 2024.

Based on all the previous Italy prepaid sim card deals we have seen it is an easy comparison that iliad offers the best prepaid sim card deal in Italy in 2024. However, there is a little catch as iliad users have reported to have been charged consecutive months after their Italy holiday. Therefore when buying an iliad sim card in Italy, always make sure that you buy a prepaid sim card and there are NO recurring payments after one month. The best would be to pay in cash and not leave your credit card details with iliad.

Some things that seem to good to be true, sometimes are, so be careful and double check in the iliad store when buying a sim card for Italy!

Best 4G/5G network in Italy in 2024

Not only the prices for prepaid sim cards and data packages are important for determining the best sim card for Italy. Traveltomtom also compared the mobile internet coverage maps of Vodafone, Wind Tre, iliad and TIM in order to find out which mobile internet proivder has the best 4G/5G network in Italy.

Is there 5G in Italy?

Yes, there is 5G in Italy and as of 2024 it is pretty good and wide spread. Pretty much all the tourist destination have either a 4G/LTE signal or even a 5G signal availabel.

Let's have a look at the mobile internet coverage maps for Italy .

Tim 4G/5G network coverage

Vodafone 4G/5G network coverage

Windtre 4G/5G network coverage

Iliad 4G/5G network coverage

Although the above mobile data network coverage maps are updated for 2024 they are not 100% accurate. However, they are a great reference to compare the 4G/5G networks of the mobile internet providers in Italy in 2024.

It is a simple conclusion that TIM has the smallest 5G network in Italy. Most important for tourists is that all Italy tourist destinations have great network coverage. Even when traveling off the beaten path in Italy you will always find a phone signal regardless your network operator.

Planning a trip to Sardinia? Then you want to buy a Vodafone or Windtre Italy sim card as they have much better network coverage in Sardinia then iliad and Tim.

From the above comparison it leaves no doubt that Windtre has the best 4G/5G network in Italy in 2024.

Best sim card for Italy in 2024

The cheapest way to get connected when traveling to Italy is an e-sim card. On top of that an e-sim card is also the easiest way to stay connected as you arrange everything online within just a couple minutes. For already $4.5 USD you get 1 GB data for traveling in Italy. Especially for people that don't need much data on their phone when traveling to Italy an e-sim card is the best and cheapest option to stay connected in Italy.

There are also e-sim cards with much bigger data plans. These plans are very convenient to buy online, but more expensive than a local prepaid sim card in Italy.

Looking for more info about Italy e-sim card plans then read my complete guide for buying an e-sim card for traveling to Italy in 2024  with all my tips about using e-sims for traveling, including answers to all FAQ about using e-sims.

Vodafone, Tim and Windtre all offer only 1 Italy prepaid sim card deal for tourists, which makes their prices for prepaid sim cards more or less set to the same price of €24.99 EUR ($27.5 USD) apart from iliad which is significantly cheaper.

The catch is that an iliad store is harder to find and for example in Rome city center there are only a few, compared to TIM, Vodafone and Windtre which you can find all over the city center. As of April 2024 I have never seen an Iliad kiosk at any international airport in Italy.

iliad is the cheapest prepaid sim card in Italy for tourists in 2024. They offer the best value for money and cover every tourist destination in Italy with a 4G signal. For €9.99 EUR ($11 USD) you get 150 GB data on their 5G network including unlimited calling minutes in Italy.

However, as said before Traveltomtom readers have reported that they were charged recurring payments from iliad on their credit card after their Italy holiday. Therefore when buying an iliad sim card in Italy, always make sure it is a prepaid sim card with a one time payment or pay cash.

If Italy is one of the stops on a trip to Europe then Traveltomtom recommends a Vodafone Italy tourist sim card. They offer 30 GB data in Italy + 15 GB free EU roaming for €24.99 EUR. However, you can find better  Europe sim card deals  online, check the link to see my comparison of the best sim cards for traveling in Europe in 2024.

Order a prepaid sim card for Italy online

If your phone is not e-sim compatible but you would like to order a sim card for traveling to Italy online before your trip then check out the following.

Arrive prepared in Italy with an international prepaid sim card. You order them online and a physical prepaid sim card will be delivered to your home address. You put this sim card in your phone and it automatically connects to an available network upon arrival in Italy, basically when the plane lands you are instantly online.

SimOptions is the only sim card provider that sells physical prepaid sim cards for Italy:

1. O2 Go Card - $24.90

• $2 calling credit (no top-up)
• valid for 30 days
• valid in 34 countries

2. Three Data Pack - $24.90

• Unlimited calls/sms
• Valid 30 days
• Valid in 56 countries

3. Orange Holiday ZEN - $29.90

• Unlimited calls/sms in Europe
• 30 minutes worldwide
• 200 sms worldwide
• Valid 14 days
• Valid in 34 countries

4. Bouygues Telecom - $44.90

• Valid in 47 countries

5.  Orange Holiday Europe - $49.90

• 120 minutes worldwide
• 1,000 sms worldwide

Click here for more info or to  order an international prepaid sim card for traveling in Italy via SimOptions .

Personally I can recommend the Orange Holiday Europe sim card for traveling in Europe. I have used it multiple times and never had a problem. Nowadays I use the e-sim card version of this sim card for traveling in Europe .

Also a last reminder that there are amazing e-sim card deals for traveling to Italy available online. If your phone is e-sim compatible then you should definitely check it out as you can arrange everything online and no need to visit a sim card shop on arrival in Italy.

There are already e-sim cards from just $4.5 USD but you can also get e-sim cards for traveling to Italy with 50 GB data. Traveltomtom recommends ordering an e-sim card for Italy via  Airalo ,  SimOptions  or  Nomad .

For more detailed info including an answer to all FAQ about using e-sim cards when traveling to Italy check out Traveltomtom's comparison of the best e-sim cards for Italy in 2024 .

I am sure some of the above tips for staying connected in Italy, my tips about Italy e-sim cards and buying a prepaid sim card in Italy were useful for your upcoming trip to Italy.

If you have any questions please leave me a comment below, I am more than happy to assist you with any travel tips for Italy as well.

Also for some Italy travel inspiration or to check out my road to visit every country in the world I can recommend you to take a quick look at my Instagram account @traveltomtom . As of April 2024 I have been to more than 155 countries, but no rush to reach 197.

      View this post on Instagram       A post shared by Adventure Travel & Blogger (@traveltomtom)

Enjoy your trip to Italy!

Some links in this article about the best ways to stay connected when traveling to Italy are affiliate links. If you buy any of the products after using an affiliate link I will earn a small commission. Don’t worry this is at absolutely no extra cost to you.

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Blog Italy Travel Tips Using Cell Phones in Italy: Dos and Don’ts

Using Cell Phones in Italy: Dos and Don’ts

Smartphones have become just as essential a travel accessory as a passport and credit card, since they now serve the purpose of everything from an HD camera to a dual-language dictionary. It’s almost unthinkable to take a trip today without all the functions of your smartphone to ease the way.

After we finish booking our clients’ hotels, tours and activities, and transportation , we send them an exhaustive pre-trip checklist that includes advice on packing, driving, travel insurance, money, and more. One of the most important items on that list is using cell phones in Italy, because we know how vital it is to have a working smartphone while you travel.

Here are our basic dos and don’ts for optimizing your cellphone while traveling to make it a tool for a successful trip.

Don’t get a burner phone or swap out your SIM card

Remember the days when you’d arrive in Europe and buy a “burner” phone? It would have a local number, which you’d send to anyone who needed to get in touch with you. After your trip, you’d throw it out or put it in a drawer to save for the next trip.

Until a few years ago, I would arrive in Italy and buy a SIM card with a local number. I’d swap it out with my US SIM and use my own phone but with an Italian phone number. It was a hassle for many reasons (US phones have to be “unlocked” by your carrier before travel, SIM cards can be tricky to get in and out of your phone, it takes time out of your trip to find a shop and purchase the SIM), but a big cost savings.

Neither of these approaches is necessary any longer. Almost all newer smartphones are compatible with Italy’s mobile infrastructure, so will automatically work once you arrive. Plus, every major US carrier has international data plans so you can use your own phone and SIM card for your trip.

Do sign up for an international plan

Do not forget to do this. If you get on an airplane, land in Italy, and turn on your cell phone without an international plan, the roaming charges will be expensive. All major US cell phone carriers offer international plans that have become very reasonably priced in the past few years. Call your carrier or visit their website to get plan details and sign up; make sure your plan includes talk, text, and data.

When I went to Italy in 2016, I purchased an international plan from my carrier (AT&T) that was about $250 for a 2-week trip. When I went to Italy in June of 2017, I paid half of that for a set amount of data. On my trip this year (2022), I paid $10/day for unlimited data…plus, I wouldn’t get charged for days that I left my phone in “airplane mode”.

Also, plans today are much less complicated to sort through. In 2016, I had to choose the amount of data I thought I would need, guesstimate minutes of phone calls, and predict the number of text messages I’d use. Now, most plans charge a flat fee per day and you can use your phone the same as you do in the US. Different carriers have different plans, but using cell phones in Italy is no longer as expensive as it once was.

One caveat to this is that sometimes the data speed isn’t great (carriers promise 4G/LTE, but often the reality is more 3G). That said, for basics like messaging, looking up information on Google, checking emails, mapping directions, etc. these slower speeds are still adequate. Just don’t plan on streaming movies on your phone.

Do learn how to dial Italian phone numbers

Chances are you’ve never needed to make a phone call to Italy, so you’ll need to know the basics of using cell phones in Italy to contact hotels, restaurants, guides, etc. while you’re here. Remember that calls to Italian numbers are international calls even if you are in Italy if you are using your US carrier’s international phone plan. 

First dial 011, the US exit code to get you to Europe. Then dial 39, the country code for Italy. Then dial the rest of the number. For example, to dial Rome’s biggest taxi company (06 3570), you need to dial 011 39 06 3570.

Do install WhatsApp

WhatsApp reigns supreme in Italy, and virtually all Italians use it to text and call as it costs less than SMS text messages or regular phone calls.

Many businesses like hotels and tour companies also use WhatsApp, even if they have a landline, to accept bookings or send confirmations. If you are traveling to Italy for any length of time, install Whatsapp before you leave as you will almost certainly need to use it to communicate with tour guides, drivers, hotels, etc. as you travel around.

If text messages are included in your international plan, by all means, text your friends, family, or travel companions. However, when you need to reach Italians, use WhatsApp instead.

Don’t run out of battery

There will be days when you leave your hotel room at 9 am and be out and about for 10 straight hours. During that time, you’ll use Google maps, take photos, post on social media, send messages, and more. The limiting factor in using cell phones in Italy is no longer data use, but battery life.

Don’t count on being able to recharge your phone during the day at a cafe or restaurant. If your phone battery won’t make it through a full day of sightseeing, bring a backup battery.

Do remember that smartphones are attractive to thieves

During your Italy trip, you should ideally take out your phone, use it, and put it away. Don’t leave it sitting on the table at an outdoor cafe if someone walking by could grab it. Don’t carry it in a shallow pocket, especially in train stations or crowded areas.

Keep your eye on it and treat it as a valuable item. Store it inside your bag, in a zipped pocket. Cell phones get stolen in Italy all the time, and rarely get recovered.

Don’t expect fast and reliable Wi-Fi at hotels (even five-star hotels)

Italy has a high cost of living, but cellphone data is one of the few exceptions. Italian cellphone plans typically cost a fraction of what they do in the US and perks like unlimited, high-speed data are common. 

This is great for Italians, but not so convenient for tourists who may be relying on Wi-Fi to get through the day. Since most Italians have great data plans, connecting to public Wi-Fi networks isn’t a priority… which means that public Wi-Fi is generally slow, unreliable, or inexistent. 

Hotels that work with international tourists are slowly improving their Wi-Fi game, but if you need a reliable and secure internet connection while in Italy, bring a Mi-Fi device .

Do take advantage of having a smartphone on your trip

Having a working smartphone in Italy can enhance your trip in a number of ways:

• Install Skype on your phone and use that to make international phone calls. Skype uses data rather than talk minutes, which are more expensive. WhatsApp can also be used to make phone calls, but only to other cellphone numbers, not landlines.
• Activate the instant translation functionality in Google Translate . You’ll then be able to point your phone’s camera at any written word for instant translation. This is the single most useful thing you can set up on your phone before you go.
• Use Google Maps to navigate (but also have a paper map). Hooray! Google maps works in Italy (although not perfectly in Venice). Also, before you go, download offline maps of cities and towns you’ll be visiting so you use less data.
• Calculate prices quickly and accurately with the XE Currency Converter app, an industry-standard live exchange rate calculator that will help you figure out how much 
• Download free Italy audio tours of main sights from Rick Steves.
• Buy the Kindle or pdf versions of guidebooks. That way you can read historical information on your phone and save the weight of carrying paper in your suitcase.

Italy Beyond the Obvious will help make your trip truly memorable. Take advantage of our Italy trip planning services for a customized itinerary.

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Best prepaid esim for italy | data plan buyer’s guide.

A guide to finding the best prepaid eSIM data plans for visiting Italy

phones and technology

Having reliable mobile data on your phone is a must when visiting Italy. But don’t be one of the many travelers who spend a fortune using their home plan’s international data service package because buying an Italian eSIM data plan is a much cheaper option.

In this guide, I’ll cover how to find the best eSIM for Italy so you have consistent high-speed mobile data without spending a lot of money.

In A Hurry? I recommend checking out both SimOptions and Holafly for the best deals on eSIM data plans for Italy. Continue reading this article for more in-depth, specific recommendations.

Why You Should Avoid Using Your Home Plan’s International Data Plan

Your current mobile phone provider will probably have an international data plan option but these plans are expensive and the service is often slow, inconsistent, and has limited data allowances.

Many TMobile plans come with free unlimited international data plans but you’re only guaranteed 2g data speeds… which will struggle to load Google Maps or even email.

For example, If you’re American, the  AT&T International Day Pass  costs $10/day,  Verizon TravelPass  is also $10/day, and many  T-Mobile plans  offer free international roaming but you’re only guaranteed 2g data speeds… which will struggle to load Google Maps or even email. Some of these plans offer “unlimited” data but you only get 1-2GB/day of 4G data before you’re throttled down to 3G speeds. Canadian and Australian carriers probably offer similar packages.

These “international data plans” are 5X as expensive as buying an Italian eSIM data plan—for example, eSIM data plans from Orange or Holafly will cost you around $2-$3/day.

On a personal note, I use T-Mobile as my domestic carrier and I’ve personally gotten very inconsistent data speeds when using their free international data roaming plan while visiting Europe. For example, I was in Barcelona in March 2024 and about 20% of the time service was slow but somewhat usable but the other 80% of the time I couldn’t even load a simple webpage or use Google Maps. After a few days, I switched to  Holafly  and had zero problems.

For more in-depth information, check out The Savvy Backpacker’s guide on How To Use Smartphones and Data Plans In Europe and The Savvy Backpacker’s Guide To Using eSIM data plans in Europe .

Comparing The Best eSIM Data Plans for Italy

There are a handful of different mobile providers that offer eSIM data plans for Italy.

The first (and most complicated) option is to buy an eSIM/SIM data plan from one of the main Italian mobile carriers ( Wintre , TIM Italy , and Vodafone Italy ). The problem for visitors is that many of these Italian plans are intended for people who live in Italy so you either need to jump through some hoops by signing up for a long-term contract or providing a local address and Codice fiscale  (tax code).

The other option is to buy a prepaid eSIM data plan that’s geared toward short-term visitors. These plans are much more “tourist-friendly” so you don’t have to mess with registration, etc.

For this guide, I’ll focus on these “tourist-friendly” eSIM plans.

Each eSIM plan will vary slightly so it’s important to pay attention to the specific details of each plan. But here are the main things to consider:

• Data Allowance: Most plans give you a set amount of mobile data (i.e. 5GB, 10GB, 30GB, etc) but others give you unlimited data over a set amount of time (5 days, 15 days, 30 days, etc).
• Plan Length: eSIM data plans can be valid anywhere from about 5 days to 90 days. It depends on your plan so it’s something you’ll want to consider when picking a plan.
• Mobile Hot Spot Tethering: Most eSIM plans don’t allow you to use your phone as a mobile hot spot.
• NOTE: You can still use iMessage to “text” between iPhones but you can’t send messages between iPhones and Android phones. Or you can download WhatsApp to send messages over data (which is what most Europeans do).

Orange Holiday Europe eSIM (50GB): $59.90

• Price:  $59.90 (Check  SimOptions  for details)
• Data:  50GB
• Service Speed:  4G/LTE
• Calls:  Unlimited within Europe and 120 min outside of Europe.
• Texts/SMS:  Unlimited within Europe and 1000 outside of Europe.
• Credit validity:  28 day
• Data Tethering:  Allowed
• Usable on any device (phones, tablets, hotspots…)
• This eSIM plan comes with a French phone number that can still be used anywhere in Europe
• Service works everywhere in the EU

If you need a ton of mobile data, consider the newly released  Orange Holiday Europe 50GB eSIM data plan  which is a more robust version of the Orange Holiday Europe eSIM. It has 50GB of data and it’s valid for 28 days (compared to 14 days with the Orange Holiday Europe plan). This eSIM also comes with many features you don’t find with other plans—including international voice calling and texts (it gives you an actual French phone number that works anywhere in Europe).

The Orange Holiday Europe eSIM plan also allows you to use your phone as a mobile hotspot so you can put that extra data allowance to good use. Orange is also one of the largest mobile companies in Europe so you’ll always get great coverage and high data speeds.

ORANGE HOLIDAY EUROPE ESIM: $49.90

• Price:  $49.90 (Check  SimOptions  for details)
• Data:  20GB (Orange often upgrades the plan to 30GB of data)
• Credit validity:  14 day
• Data Tethering: Allowed
• This eSIM plan comes with a French phone number that can still be used in Italy

The Orange Holiday Europe eSIM data plan is the most robust eSIM plan on this list because it comes with many features you don’t find with other plans—including international voice calling and texts (it gives you an actual French phone number that will work anywhere in Europe). The Orange Holiday Europe eSIM plan also allows you to use your phone as a mobile hotspot.

You’ll get 20GB of data with this plan but Orange sometimes runs a special where they give you an extra 10GB. But even 20GB should be plenty of data for most users. Orange is also one of the largest mobile companies in Europe so you’ll always get great coverage and high data speeds.

The potential downside to the Orange Holiday Europe eSIM plan is that it’s only valid for 14 days once activated so it’s not great for longer visits (but you can always buy a second plan).

I’ve personally used the Orange Holiday Europe plan while traveling through Europe and it worked flawlessly. Read my Orange Holiday Europe review to hear more.

Bouygues My European eSIM: $44.90

Bouygues is another major French telecommunications company and they’ve recently released their own prepaid eSIM data plan to compete with the popular Orange Holiday Europe eSIM plan. I used a prepaid Bouygues SIM card on a previous trip to Europe so I’m glad they’re finally offering an eSIM.

There’s a lot to like about the Bouygues My European eSIM plan—especially since it comes standard with 30GB of data and unlimited calls/texts within Europe. I also like how this Bouygues eSIM plan is valid for 30 days so it’s a great option for longer trips.

• Price: $44.90 (Check SimOptions for details)
• Service Speed: 4G/LTE
• Calls: Unlimited within Europe
• Texts/SMS: Unlimited within Europe
• Credit validity: 30 day
• Phone Number: This eSIM card comes with a French phone number
• Coverage : Anywhere within the European Union (except Switzerland)

ORANGE HOLIDAY ZEN ESIM: $29.90

• Price:  $29.90 (Check  SimOptions  for details)
• Data:  8GB (Orange sometimes gives you 15GB of data)
• Service Speed:  4G/LTE
• Calls:  Unlimited within Europe and 30 min outside of Europe.
• Texts/SMS:  Unlimited within Europe and 200 outside of Europe.

The Orange Holiday Zen eSIM is the budget version of the Orange Holiday Europe eSIM plan. It comes with 8GB of data and has fewer voice minutes and texts, otherwise, it’s the same as the Orange Holiday Europe eSIM plan.

Most users will use more than 8GB of data while traveling for a week or two but light data users could easily use less than 8GB of data during a typical 10-14 day trip.

HOLAFLY UNLIMITED ESIM: STARTING AT $34.00

Holafly  is a new data-only eSIM provider that I previously used while visiting Italy and had a great experience using (read my  Holafly eSIM Review  to get a more in-depth look). Holafly sells both Italy-specific plans and Europe-wide data plans. Holafly isn’t an actual mobile carrier but they rent bandwidth from a local Italian mobile provider (Wind Tre) so you’re more likely to get less priority on the Wind Tre network during peak usage times.

Unlike other mobile companies, Holafly gives you unlimited data and a local phone number with 60 minutes of credit for making/receiving calls from European numbers. I also like how Holafly’s plans come in durations from 5 to 90 days—so you don’t have to over/underbuy for your particular trip.

Holafly doesn’t allow data tethering in most cases so you won’t be able to use your phone as a mobile hotspot.

Plan Specs:

• 10 Days: $34
• 15 Days: $47
• 20 Days: $54
• 30 Days: $64
• 60 Days: $84
• 90 Days: $99
• Service Speed:  5G/4G/LTE
• Calls coverage:  60 minutes of credit make calls from all of Europe—except Iceland, Norway, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Ukraine, and Turkey. Comes with an Austrian phone number.
• SMS:  None
• Tethering:  No
• Data service works everywhere in the EU

MORE TIPS ON USING YOUR MOBILE PHONE IN ITALY

I’ve written extensively about using  smartphones and data plans in Europe  as well as tips for  buying SIM Cards For Visiting Europe  but below are some more helpful tips about using your phone in Italy.

GET A PORTABLE BATTERY CHARGER

Traveling with your phone will quickly drain your batteries so I highly recommend a portable battery. I use  Anker PowerCore 10000  because it’s tiny and affordable but there are multiple options.

TAKE STEPS TO LOWER YOUR MOBILE DATA USAGE

Data can be expensive and it’s extremely easy to unknowingly burn through a lot of data because many apps use data in the background. Facebook, email, Instagram, Snapchat… those all constantly use data throughout the day without you knowing it. That’s why it’s important to know how to limit your data usage.

USE AIRPLANE MODE AND BLOCK DATA TO SPECIFIC APPS

I’ll put my phone in Airplane Mode because that disables all data (but GPS still works in Airplane Mode). You can also go into the settings and disable data access to each individual app. I’ll go in and turn every off except for things like Google Maps or others that I’ll use more frequently — this way when I turn off Airplane Mode only those apps that will use data. Then I’ll turn Airplane Mode back on when I’m done.

DOWNLOAD OFFLINE MAPS

Google Maps lets you download entire city maps so they can be used offline. As an added bonus, GPS doesn’t use data so offline Google Maps works fairly well (but not all functionality works). Here is a good  YouTube video  that explains everything.

More Italy Travel Tips From The Savvy Backpacker

Check out more of my favorite articles to help you plan your trip to Italy and the rest of Europe:

• Backpacking Europe Packing List
• Europe Packing List for Women
• The Best Travel Shoes
• The Best Travel Backpacks  and  The Best Travel Backpacks for Women
• The Savvy Backpacker Rome Travel Guide
• The Best Things to Do In Rome
• The Savvy Backpacker Cinque Terre Travel Guide
• Recent Posts

• Best Prepaid UK eSIM | Data Plan Buyer’s Guide - April 21, 2024
• How to Avoid Pickpockets in Europe — Tips for Outsmarting the Thieves - April 19, 2024
• Best Prepaid eSIM For Italy | Data Plan Buyer’s Guide - April 18, 2024

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An Italian Mama's Guide to Italy

Baby carriers for Italy travel you’ll love

The best baby carriers for Italy: brands and models that work best on an Italian vacation

I consider a baby carrier a family travel essential when it comes to traveling to and around Italy.

I always recommend to also bring a stroller however, there are some situations when nothing but a carrier will do.

A carrier will come in handy in:

Museums – this may be a museum rule or just a practical consideration as not all museums are stroller friendly

Ancient sites – many are technically buggy-friendly but in practice much easier with a baby carrier

Cobbled streets – for short city center strolls in ancient cities and villages, carriers are better for baby and parent as they save you from lots of bumpy rides

Train trips – trains in Italy tend to have very high access steps and you need to fold the stroller once in

Public transport – especially in big cities like Rome

Hiking – if you want to go hiking in places such as the Dolomites or Cinque Terre , you will need a proper hiking carrier as strollers (standard and all terrain) simply won’t be fit for the job.

Please note: this post contains affiliate links. Should you make a purchase, we might make a small commission.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

Baby carriers for Italy travel we loved

Disclaimer: this is a personal selection of carriers we found worked well with our kids and only reflects our experience of the products.

If you want even more help or you have any questions, please in my FREE Facebook group about traveling to Italy with kids: I will be happy to have you there and the tips from me and the other members are FREE!

Baby Bjorn One – our favorite baby carrier for traveling with a baby

The very first carrier we owed was a Baby Bjorn and we all loved it.

My son settled in it like a dream and I found it was perfect for my back too.

The shoulder straps are wide and padded, the buckles easy to open and close and I could easily adjust the carrier around my hips which helped me spread the weigh well and took away strain from my shoulder and lower back.

The carrier can be worn in 3 positions (front facing you, front facing out and shoulder carry) however, I only ever used it in front, in both positions, as these were the positions that worked best for us.

According to the manufacturer, this Baby Bjorn Baby Carrier is/has:

• Max weight recommendation: 33 lbs
• 3 positions: front facing in, front facing out, shoulder carrying
• Machine washable
• Several colors available
• Support the ergonomic M shape recommended by baby wearing specialists
• Padded shoulder straps and waist belt for comfort
• Material: Outer fabric:  60% cotton, 40% polyester.  Lining:  100‍% cotton.  Padding: polyester and PU foam (straps)
• Adjustable head support for baby

I found this carrier particularly good during the first few baby months as the shaped and sized seem to fit our kids best up to 6 months of age.

Ergo Baby Original baby carrier – our favorite toddler carrier for Italy

When my daughter came along I wanted a new carrier that would be just for her and I opted for the Ergo Baby , which turned out to be one of the best baby purchases we have ever made!

the carrier can be used from birth with the use of a baby insert (sold separately) but we used this as a toddler carrier and it was outstanding.

The seat is wide and ergonomic, the shoulder straps nice and padded and the hip strap large, adjustable and very comfortable.

Very easily, I could just tighten it around my hops and then use the buckles to easily take the carrier off.

It was a super easy baby wearing experience and one that worked well on travel when you may have to get the baby out of the carrier fast for instance when passing security in the airport or entering a museum…or the Colosseum!

According to manufacturer instructions, the Ergo Baby Carrier baby carrier is/has:

• Multi position carrying: front facing you, hip, shoulder carrying
• Material: cotton
• Padded shoulder straps and supportive hip band
• Extra large zippered storage pocket
• Head cover for baby
• Max weight recommendations: 45 lbs

Deuter Kid comfort

The Deuter Kid Comfort was our hiking carrier.

We used it both here at home and on the Dolomites and it was perfect for us and our children and made us all feel safe and steady on our feet while on trails.

The carrier has a solid frame and a metal folding leg that allows it to sit up when on the ground – perfect to help you get your toddler in and out easily.

Several easy to use straps keep your toddler safe and you have padded shoulders and straps that allow you to adjust it like a backpack, spreading the weight well and avoiding back strain.

Good to know : if you have never used a hiking carrier with a toddler before, start slow! As good as the carrier can be, a toddler on your shoulders on a mountain path does get heavy fast, take your time to get used to it and start slow!

This Deuter Kid Comfort carrier is /has:

• Adjustable, Padded Shoulders straps
• Adjustable hip strap
• Aircontact Lite back system to avoid excessive perspiration
• Large back pockets for essentials
• Locking, stable kickstand 
• Step-in side access

Good to know! The Comfort series has several models, including a ‘women fit’ that promises to be designed specifically to suit a women anatomy.

You can check them our here (there is a handy comparison table too)

Other baby carriers for Italy you may like

During my quest for the best baby carrier for Italy, I came across others that caught my attention:

Ergobaby 360 All-Position Baby Carrier with Lumbar Support and Cool Air Mesh (12-45 lbs) – travel baby carrier for summer

If traveling to Italy in the hot seasons, you may want to swap your traditional baby carrier with a light, summer one.

Summers in Italy can be viciously hot and a baby attached to your body will make them even hotter, for them and for you!

A good baby carrier to consider if you think heat can be a problem is this by Ergobaby with lightweight air mesh.

It has all the characteristics of a good Ergo baby carrier including multi position carrying, lumbar support, padded shoulders and ergonomic design but it is designed specifically to help air flow, perfect for summer weather.

Baby Tula Coast Explore Mesh Baby Carrier

Another alternative we considered is the Tula Explorer Mesh , which ticks all the boxes of a nice summer carrier.

The carrier has nice padded shoulders and a hip strap and stands out for a central breathable panel that is studied for being worn in hot weather.

Tula makes many variations of its carriers and has lovely patterns so if you don’t like any of those presented so far, you may well be in luck with one of theirs! Have a look at them here .

Konny Baby Carrier Summer | Ultra-Lightweight, Hassle-Free Baby Wrap Sling

Another option you may want to consider as baby carrier for Italy in summer is this Konny Baby summer wrap sling.

Unlike others on this list, this carrier wears like a sling however (no buckles etc) however, it has a handy back panel that allows for easy positioning.

The sling is made of cool spandex air mesh and it is made specifically with the hot season in mind as it promises excellent breathability.

Baby Carrier, Eccomum Multifunction Baby Carrier Hip Seat (Ergonomic M Position) for 3-36 Month Baby

A slighly different take on the baby carrier is this one by Eccomum , which is carrier but also a hip seat that you can use with no strap a well as a standard baby wearing backpack.

The hip seat can be useful when you just need a little extra support when carrying your baby or if you want to keep weight away from your shoulders.

With 6 different carrying positions, this sounds like a good carrier fro travel when adaptability is key.

I hope you enjoyed this selection of the carriers that worked for us and it helped you find one you like.

Planning a trip to Italy? Don’t forget to also check out our 100+ Italy travel tips and our guide to planning a first trip to Italy !

Marta Correale

Marta Correale is an Italian mama of two. Born and raised in Rome, Marta has a passion for travel and especially enjoys showing off Italy to her kids, who are growing up to love it as much as she does! A classics graduate, teacher of Italian as a second language and family travel blogger, Marta launched Mama Loves Italy as a way to inspire, support and help curious visitors to make the most of a trip to Italy and learn about Italian culture on the way.

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