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AT&T International Phone Plans – Countries, Coverage, Rates, and More

Andrew Kunesh

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Free International Roaming in Canada And Mexico

Which at&t data package is right for you, how to sign up for an international data package, at&t’s supported countries, pros of at&t’s international data plans:, cons of at&t’s international data plans:, final thoughts.

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At Upgraded Points, we’re a team of travelers . Some of us travel abroad multiple times per year, and some of us travel full-time. However, all of us have 1 thing in common: we need an international data plan to stay connected to our work when we’re globetrotting.

With this in mind, we’ve spent a lot of time looking at the best U.S. mobile data plans for international roaming . The right plan will let us stay connected to our work when traveling, breaking us free from the hold of constantly searching for free Wi-Fi.

In past articles, we’ve looked at T-Mobile and Google Fi’s assortment of international data plans. And while these were some of our favorites, it’s time for us to turn our focus to mobile giant AT&T’s international roaming options. And at first glance, you may be in for a bit of a disappointment.

AT&T doesn’t offer free international roaming outside of North America, and it’s international roaming options can get pricey quickly. So in this article, we’ll dive deep and take a look at all of AT&T’s different roaming options. We’ll start by looking at what options are available to you, and then end with a list of pros and cons.

Use the information presented in this article to see if AT&T is the right cell phone provider for you as an international traveler. And if you’re already an AT&T subscriber, you can use this information to avoid any billing surprises on your next trip abroad.

Let’s get started!

Breaking Down AT&T’s International Data Plans

As discussed in the intro, there’s no free international roaming outside of North America included with any of AT&T’s post-paid cell phone plans.

Thankfully, though, there are 3 different ways you can use your AT&T mobile plan when you’re traveling abroad. One is paying per megabyte for data, and the other 2 options are roaming plans. We’ve outlined each and their respective pricing in the paragraphs below:

Pay Per Use International Data

The first option available to you is also the riskiest: paying per megabyte for international mobile data.

AT&T will let you use international mobile data at a rate of $2.05 per megabyte in most countries. Your exact usage is actually billed per kilobyte, so if you use 100.2 MB of data during your trip, you won’t be rounded up to 101 MB for billing purposes.

This is a very risky (and expensive) way to use international mobile data. For example, sending a 3 MB photo on WhatsApp would cost a whopping $6.15! Further, modern smartphones use a lot of data in the background — think automatic updates and fetching new email — so you could end up paying hundreds of dollars in extra charges just for keeping your cell phone turned on!

We highly recommend staying away from this option. It’s too risky to be deemed practical — especially when you consider how data-intensive even the most basic smartphone tasks are.

AT&T International Day Pass

Plan on using a lot of data during your trip? You may want to consider the International Day Plan .

This plan lets you continue using your AT&T plan abroad. If you have an unlimited plan at home, you can continue using this plan and your data allocation when traveling in 200+ countries. Plus, you also get unlimited texting, calling to the U.S., and calling to 100+ Day Pass countries.

This plan is charged at a rate of $10 per day on top of your existing AT&T plan. If you’d like to add multiple devices to this plan, you’ll be charged $5 each for additional devices. Thankfully, AT&T will only charge you for days you actually use, and there’s no minimum number of days you need to purchase. Plus, the maximum you’ll be charged is $100 per billing cycle. After the first 10 days charged at $10 each, you’ll be able to access the international plan free of charge for the remainder of the billing cycle.

These daily plans are charged per 24-hour period and don’t start until you’ve used data, sent or received a text, or made a call. So if your flight lands at 3:30 p.m. in London and you make a call at 4:00 p.m., your 24-hour period will expire at 4:00 pm the next day. This plan works in any of AT&T’s International Day Pass-supported countries, and you can use your plan in multiple countries without having to buy an additional pass.

Once you add International Day Pass to your AT&T account, you will be automatically charged you for a full day whenever you use your phone in a supported country. This means that you don’t need to enroll in the plan more than once — just set it and forget it.

One quick thing to note: most AT&T post-paid plans include complimentary roaming in Canada and Mexico.

When roaming to these countries, you’ll simply use your voice, text, and data plan from home. According to AT&T’s website, your phone will work at full-speed when roaming in these countries (or until 22 GB on unlimited plans, then throttled speeds), so there’s no need to worry about being throttled just for traveling. You can even use mobile hotspot — something super helpful for those that want to work remotely when traveling within North America.

The following plans include North American roaming:

• Unlimited &More
• Unlimited &More premium
• Unlimited Choice
• Unlimited Choice Enhanced
• Unlimited Plus
• Unlimited Plus Enhanced

Further, a handful of plans include roaming in Mexico but not Canada:

• Mobile Share Advantage (10 GB or higher)
• Mobile Share Flex (10 GB or higher)
• Mobile Share Plus
• Mobile Share Value (15 GB or higher)

Other AT&T plans can add a special Roam North America plan to their account. The price of this plan is not published publicly, so you’ll have to call AT&T to receive a quote and have it added to your AT&T account.

Now that you know what international plans AT&T offers, let’s help you pick which is best for you. Here’s a look at why you might pick 1 plan over another:

Stick with pay-per-megabyte roaming if you…

• Plan on keeping your phone in airplane mode or buying a local SIM card — it’s not worth risking a huge bill when you get home!

Sign up for the International Day Pass if you…

• Are on a short trip — $10 per day can add up quickly.
• Only plan on using data on certain days of your trip.
• Have a large U.S. data plan; remember, the data you use will be pulled from your standard data allowance.
• Need a plan to hold you over until you purchase a local SIM card.

Signing up for an AT&T international data plan is easy. You’ll be automatically enrolled in pay per megabyte — so the minute you land, you’ll start being charged for roaming.

On the other hand, an International Day Pass can be added from the myAT&T portal. Just head over to AT&T’s website , sign in, and head to this link.  You can remove an international plan from this page as well.

Hot Tip: You can call AT&T to have them disable the international data plan feature if you’d like. We actually recommend doing this so that you don’t end up with a massive bill for accidentally taking your phone out of airplane mode.

AT&T has a wide range of supported countries for its International Day Pass, but unfortunately, it’s not quite as extensive as T-Mobile or even Google Fi.

Some notable examples of countries not supported by International Day Pass include:

• French Polynesia
• Philippines
• United Arab Emirates
• A handful of others

You can view the entire list of supported countries for both plans on AT&T’s website . We recommend studying this list before you make a choice on what plan is right for you. After all, there’s nothing worse than landing in a new country and not having phone service to call an Uber!

Pros and Cons of AT&T’s International Data Plans

Obviously, there are ups and downs to picking an AT&T international data plan over a competitor — unfortunately, though, we believe there are more downsides. To prove it, here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons of AT&T’s international data plans.

Don’t worry: we’ll bring these together in the Final Thoughts section, giving you a well-rounded look as to whether AT&T’s international data plans are right for you.

• 2 different options for international roaming, giving you flexibility in how you choose to roam
• Complimentary roaming in North America for most AT&T plans
• International Day Pass provides flexibility and peace of mind as it automatically re-enrolls when you use your phone abroad
• No complimentary international data like T-Mobile or Google Fi
• Limited roaming countries, especially on the International Day Pass plan
• Expensive pay-per-megabyte roaming
• International Day Pass can add up on long trips
• Not all plans include North American roaming

All in all, AT&T’s international data plans are not the best option for most travelers. For example, Google Fi’s Unlimited plan costs just $70 per month per line and includes unlimited high-speed international data. With AT&T, you’d pay a similar price for U.S. data and still have to buy an additional international plan.

Further, AT&T doesn’t have the global coverage that other carriers offer. And while AT&T does cover most of Asia and Europe, those traveling off the beaten path will eventually stumble upon a country where an AT&T plan won’t connect.

If you live in an area where AT&T is your only option for getting solid coverage, we recommend picking up one of AT&T’s two different international data plans when you do travel abroad. These will keep your international data bill manageable and ensure that you can stay connected no matter where you are in the world.

Long story short: we recommend strongly considering the competition before you settle on AT&T. You’ll likely find a better deal with more international coverage options.

Safe travels!

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my phone work when traveling abroad.

Thankfully, most modern smartphones are properly configured to work internationally. If you’re unsure, refer to your phone’s owner’s manual or call AT&T to check if your cell phone works outside of the U.S.

Can I call international numbers when in the U.S.?

Yes, you can call international numbers from the U.S. with your AT&T phone service. You can see international calling rates on AT&T’s website .

What is the best credit card for paying my AT&T bill?

There are a number of credit cards that offer bonus points and other benefits for paying your phone bill. To see these options, check out our full guide to the best credit cards for paying your cell phone bill.

What countries does AT&T support?

AT&T’s international data plans work in over 100 countries — but remember, certain countries are not supported. Check the full list of supported countries on AT&T’s website .

Can I bring my current smartphone if I switch to AT&T?

Yes, your phone may be eligible. Use this tool on AT&T’s website to see if your existing smartphone is AT&T-compatible.

Was this page helpful?

About Andrew Kunesh

Andrew was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs and now splits his time between Chicago and New York City.

He’s a lifelong traveler and took his first solo trip to San Francisco at the age of 16. Fast forward a few years, and Andrew now travels just over 100,000 miles a year, with over 25 countries, 10 business class products, and 2 airline statuses (United and Alaska) under his belt. Andrew formerly worked for The Points Guy and is now Senior Money Editor at CNN Underscored.

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Cruising or traveling abroad this summer? Why these cellphone packages can be your best travel companion

Whether you're taking a Caribbean cruise , sightseeing in European cities or trekking through South America , staying connected on your mobile phone can be a game changer.

Some travelers value the ability to use their mobile phone overseas because it allows them to stay in touch with family 24/7.

Others find it crucial to have access to a GPS when lost in a medieval town's bewildering alleyways.

Then, there's the ease of checking in for a flight via an airline app, scheduling an early-morning ride to the airport on an app or simply asking your phone's virtual assistant, "What's a great restaurant or museum nearby?" The amount of information we need at our fingertips when traveling abroad is hard to overstate.

Roaming overseas used to be an expensive proposition. However, in recent years, major U.S. wireless carriers have made it easier than ever for customers to keep data streaming on personal devices without incurring exorbitant pay-per-use fees.

Among them, AT&T offers some of the best options for travelers on both land and sea with AT&T International Day Pass and AT&T Cruise packages .

Here are the details on each and how they can help you stay connected on your summer travels.

AT&T International Day Pass

For many travelers, the most seamless option for using your mobile phone while abroad is to connect your device to a local cellular network and use that connection to make calls, send texts, surf the internet and use apps, just as you would at home. AT&T International Day Pass lets you do just that.

Adding AT&T International Day Pass to your eligible wireless plan is simple. You can sign up before your leave, or it'll get added for you as soon as you arrive at your destination. It's also cost-effective and reliable, with no complicated setup or SIM swaps necessary.

While the feature is on your account, you can talk, send a text, or use data in any of the included countries; you will be charged $10 per day on the first line used and $5 for each additional line on the same account used the same calendar day.

The other aspect that makes this feature appealing versus the competition? It caps the number of days charged to your account at 10 per line, per monthly billing cycle. This means you'll only pay for, at most, 10 days per line per bill, regardless of how long your trip is. It doesn't matter which borders you cross — as long as you're in one of the carrier's 210-plus destinations.

The plan includes spots like England, Spain, Aruba, Cambodia and Botswana. While most popular destinations are included, a few far-flung locations, such as the Maldives and Antarctica, are not covered.

This gets even better for customers on eligible unlimited plans , which offer coverage (at no additional cost) when traveling to select destinations in North and South America. Be sure to check your plan details to see whether international coverage in these countries is included and to learn more.

When you get home, you don't need to worry about removing it — you won't be charged anything until you connect to the local network on your next international trip.

AT&T Cruise Plus and AT&T Cruise Basic packages

As veteran cruisers know, using your mobile phone on a cruise is not as easy as it is at home without racking up expensive roaming charges. Once you've sailed away from the nearest land-based cell tower, your phone will usually go into roaming mode and accrue those hyper-expensive satellite roaming charges.

It is possible to switch your phone into "airplane mode" and stay connected at sea via your ship's Wi-Fi. The big-name cruise lines are making strides to improve their onboard Wi-Fi offerings, but connectivity can still be finicky and slow depending on the ship and where it sails.

Adding international, cruise-specific coverage enables connectivity at sea and can help travelers avoid unnecessary charges, including sometimes-expensive shipboard Wi-Fi plans. AT&T Cruise packages work in tandem with AT&T International Day Pass to offer a streamlined way for travelers to stay connected, even if they are toggling between journeys on land and sea.

Customers traveling internationally on cruise ships can choose between two packages: AT&T Cruise Plus ($100) and AT&T Cruise Basic ($60). For each package, the charge allows up to 30 days of usage. Choosing a package depends on your personal travel habits — how many phone calls you expect to make and how much data you generally burn through while traveling abroad (requires a compatible device with domestic wireless service).

The Basic package, for smartphones only, includes 100 minutes of talk (with an overage of $1 per minute), unlimited texts and 100MB of data (with an overage of $10 per 100MB beyond that). The more extensive Plus package, for smartphones and tablets, allows unlimited talk and text as well as 1GB of data (with an overage charge of $10 per 100MB beyond that).

Before signing up for a cruise package, always make sure that your ship is one of the more than 175 cruise ships that the package covers. The big names like Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean and Disney Cruise Line are all on the list.

It's also important to note that cruise packages only work at sea, kicking in 9 to 11 nautical miles from shore. If part of your trip involves land travel either before or after your cruise, you'll need to add the AT&T International Day Pass for those days.

Things to keep in mind when choosing an international phone plan

Below are a few more tips for choosing an international phone plan and making the most of it while you travel abroad this summer and beyond.

Sign up in advance

On land, relying on Wi-Fi is possible if you don't intend to leave your hotel much. However, at some point, the likelihood is that you will incur costly pay-per-use roaming fees if you haven't signed up for a plan with your carrier in advance. Be sure to check out your options before crossing any borders.

Turn off updates

Since so much data roaming goes on in the background — many apps continue to gobble data even when you're not actively using them — you'll often incur fees that far exceed what a day plan would cost, even just using your phone sparingly for emergencies. Turn off any unnecessary updates ahead of travel.

Consider prepaid packages

Cruisers are not beholden to typical international roaming charges (which are excessive enough). Rather, they can get hit with extremely expensive satellite roaming charges. Surfing the internet, using social media, reading emails or even just checking the weather will all use data charged at a premium rate — this can make a prepaid package very appealing.

Don't expect flawless connection on cruises

Bandwidth and connection speed are problematic at sea. Depending on where your ship is and whether anything (like a mountain range) is blocking the connection to the satellite, you may still experience lag time on calls or slow connection speeds.

Bottom line

Whether it's a Galapagos cruise or a road trip through Europe, if you plan to travel this summer with your mobile phone — and don't want to pay excessive roaming charges — an international cellphone plan can save you time and stress.

With AT&T's international features, you can use your phone just like you do at home without worrying about connecting to public Wi-Fi or obsessing about whether your phone is switched to airplane mode.

If you have the AT&T app, each package is super easy to add and remove from your existing cellphone plan and provides peace of mind and reliability. The 10-day bill cap for the AT&T International Day Pass means no matter how long you travel, it's extremely cost-effective compared to pay-per-use rates.

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How to Use an AT&T Mobile Phone Internationally

Last Updated: March 28, 2024 Fact Checked

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 16 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 291,078 times. Learn more...

The majority of mobile phones offered by AT&T have built-in frequencies and features that allow them to function efficiently when you travel overseas to other countries. To use your AT&T phone overseas, you will be required to activate a roaming feature on your phone account that allows you to connect to the mobile phone towers at your overseas destination. If you do not want to activate the roaming feature or pay the additional rates for phone calls, messaging, and data capabilities, you can contact AT&T to have your phone unlocked so you can use an international prepaid Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card.

Activate AT&T's International Roaming Service

• Visit AT&T's "Travel Guide" website featured in the Sources section of this article to verify your mobile phone's functionality in other countries. If you do not have Internet access, call AT&T's International Customer Care department for assistance at 1-800-331-0500. [2] X Research source
• Select the continent and country you are traveling to and click on the "Continue" button.
• Select the manufacturer and model of your AT&T mobile phone and click on "Continue."
• Review your phone's ability for voice and data services in the country you are traveling to. Voice services include phone calls and text messaging; whereas data services include email and Internet connectivity.
• If your AT&T mobile phone will not work in the country you are traveling to, you may want to consider upgrading your phone model or renting a mobile phone when you arrive at your international destination.

• Click on the "Details" link under the "Rates and Coverage" column to view your rates for the country you are traveling to. Rates for voice calls will vary depending on the country; however, messages and data charges have fixed rates regardless where you travel to.
• Each outgoing text message will cost 50 cents (0.36 euros), whereas each outgoing picture and video message will cost 1 dollar and 30 cents (0.94 euros).
• Data services will cost 1.95 cents per kilobyte, i.e. $19.50 (~15 EUR) per megabyte; In Canada it costs 1.5 cents per kilobyte ($15.00 per megabyte).
• If you travel overseas frequently, you may want to consider signing up for an international rate plan or discount package that may provide you with lower roaming fees. Visit AT&T's International Roaming website featured in the Sources section of this article or call AT&T at 1-800-331-0500 to sign up for an international package.

• You may call AT&T's International Customer Service department at 1-800-331-0500, dial 611 directly from your mobile device, or visit an AT&T retail store.

• To make phone calls or send messages, you will be required to dial the "plus" symbol, followed by the country code, then the phone number you are calling. For example, if you are calling a United States phone number, dial the "plus" sign, enter the number "1" for the country code, then dial the 10-digit phone number you are calling.

Unlock your AT&T Mobile Phone

• AT&T can unlock your mobile phone if you meet specific eligibility requirements. You must have had active AT&T service for at least 60 days, your account must be current on payments, your phone model must be available from other service providers or companies, and an unlock code must be available from the manufacturer. [5] X Research source
• Apple iPhones cannot be unlocked; however they have the ability to function overseas using AT&T's international roaming feature.

• Prepaid SIM cards can usually be purchased from stores in airports, department stores, or from phone merchants. You may want to ask the vendor salesperson about the rates and applicable fees for your prepaid SIM card.

Community Q&A

• Call AT&T's International Customer Service line free of charge if you have questions about roaming while you travel. Dial the "plus" symbol on your phone, followed by the phone number 1-916-843-4685 to speak to an AT&T representative. [7] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• After you call them you can actually give them your local number and the AT&T representative will call you back. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.att.com/international/
• ↑ https://www.att.com/Common/merger/files/pdf/international_calling/world-quick-ref-fs-en.pdf
• ↑ https://www.att.com/international/long-distance/
• ↑ https://www.att.com/support/article/wireless/KM1009432/
• ↑ https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/
• ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/109357
• ↑ https://about.att.com/content/dam/snrdocs/ATT%20International%20Roaming%20Fast%20Facts.pdf

About This Article

If you’re travelling internationally, you can still use your AT&T mobile phone with a little preparation. Visit AT&T’s travel guide website to see if their service will work in the country you’re travelling to. You can also check the roaming rates there. To activate international roaming on your account, you’ll need to call AT&T’s international customer service department. Alternatively, if you’ve had your SIM card for at least 90 days, you’re up to date on your payments, and your phone’s eligible, call customer service to have your phone unlocked. Then, buy a prepaid SIM card when you arrive at your destination. For more tips, including how to dial a U.S. number from overseas, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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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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US man returns from Europe to $143,000 T-Mobile bill for using phone overseas

Gigantic bill apparently reflected using 9.5 gigabytes of data on a phone that had not been set up for international roaming

A Florida man was stunned to come back from a European trip and – upon checking his phone bill – realize that he had been charged a staggering $143,000 by his phone company for using his device while overseas.

ABC Action News reported that Rene Remund and his wife had toured Switzerland last September and had even gone to a T-Mobile store to share his travel plan with his phone provider before leaving.

But the gigantic bill apparently reflected using some 9.5 gigabytes of data while overseas on a phone that had not been set up for international roaming.

Remund told ABC that he called T-Mobile and waited on hold while the charges were examined and the person he spoke with informed him that the bill was not a mistake and that he was liable for it.

Remund replied: “You’re kidding me?”

He then hired a lawyer, who contacted ABC for help. Shortly after T-Mobile were contacted by ABC, the company offered to credit Remund’s account.

T-Mobile told ABC : “We recommend our customers check the travel features of their plan, such as international data roaming, before departing … if a customer is on an older plan that doesn’t include international roaming for data and calling, they’ll need to make sure they’re using airplane mode and wifi when using data to be certain the device doesn’t connect to an international network.”

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

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

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

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

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

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1. Before you travel, talk to your provider

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

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

2. Use temporary data passes

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

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

3. Swap your SIM card

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

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

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

4. Get an international phone

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

5. Other options when traveling internationally

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

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

Best phone plans for international travel

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

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

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What Travelers Can Learn From Man Who Received $143,000 Bill From T-Mobile After Trip to Europe

I f you receive my travel tip newsletter , then you might remember my ordeal with T-Mobile last summer. Here's a quick recap: On my first day in Toronto, after traveling there from Los Angeles, I received a text from the phone company that said: “Free T-Mobile Msg: Final notice, your International Data Roaming charges in this bill cycle have reached $500. To avoid additional charges and possible suspension of your T-Mobile service, turn Data off. Dial #ROF# (#763#).”

It was confusing because I’ve been a loyal T-Mobile customer for about 17 years and always speak highly of them because of their generous travel plan and usually solid customer service. It was a nerve-racking ordeal, especially since I was traveling two days later for my first trip to Europe since the pandemic and if I had a huge bill from a few hours in Canada, then what kind of bill I would receive after two weeks overseas? You can read the whole story here .

However, my $500 bill looked like chump change compared to the T-Mobile bill Rene Remund of Florida received after he and his wife spent three weeks touring Switzerland.

According to Scripps News Tampa , when the couple got home, “Remund said he received his T-Mobile bill. He looked at it and thought it said $143. It wasn't until days later that he discovered the actual amount he owed. T-Mobile charged him over $143,000 for using 9.5 gigabytes of data while overseas. Five to 10 gigabytes is considered average for one month. But in this case, it was all roaming data, which cost thousands of dollars each day of his trip.”

Remund, like most consumers slapped with a ridiculous bill, immediately called T-Mobile and the representative confirmed that it was an accurate bill. What’s even crazier is that it appears the Remunds did everything right before they left on their trip; they contacted T-Mobile and alerted them of their travel plans. Remund said he visited a T-Mobile store and they said, "You’re covered."

Remund had to hire an attorney who, according to the Scripps article, “wrote letters to the president of T-Mobile but got no response. That’s when the attorney called Scripps News Tampa for help.” They contacted T-Mobile’s corporate offices and days later they credit his account for the entire amount.

That’s similar to what happened to me but at least I didn’t have to hire an attorney. I wrote an article about it and shared it on social media and received a response in minutes. It’s unfortunate that it takes the media or bad press to get executives involved to fix a bill but that’s the power of the pen.

T-Mobile told Scripps News Tampa in an email: “ We recommend our customers check the travel features of their plan, such as international data roaming, before departing ... if a customer is on an older plan that doesn’t include international roaming for data and calling, they’ll need to make sure they’re using airplane mode and wi-fi when using data to be certain the device doesn’t connect to an international network.”

My advice is to contact T-Mobile during normal business hours before you travel and make sure the agent is based in the U.S. and is knowledgeable about all your options. If you call after hours or during a high-call volume day, the call will get rerouted overseas and in my experience, some of those agents aren’t up to speed.

I always call 611 (for T-Mobile) and ask them if the places I am traveling to are covered. But it seems you might want to double check or do it online and take a screenshot so you have a written confirmation. If you're not covered, get their international plan.

When I had my T-Mobile ordeal, they sent me a text as soon as I went over my allotted limit, which was just eight hours into my trip (it later turned out to be a technical glitch) but don’t ignore those messages. You need to get this nipped in the bud immediately so you don’t have to change your travel routine or stress out about a huge bill.

And if you’re going on a cruise like I did last summer (here's my trip report ), be sure to put your phone in airplane mode as soon as you leave port. In fact, I was so nervous, I set multiple reminders, including an alarm on my phone and an automatically generated email from FollowUpThen each day, just before our scheduled departure.

Has anything like this happened to you? If the bill is high (but not outrageously so), I wonder if some customers would just pay it without even questioning it?

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An American came back from Europe with a $143,000 phone bill after failing to set up international roaming

• A Florida man received a $143,000 phone bill from T-Mobile after an overseas trip to Switzerland.
• The charges were due to his phone not being set for international roaming, according to ABC Action News.
• After legal intervention and media coverage, T-Mobile agreed to credit the entire amount.

A Florida man returned from a trip to Switzerland with his wife last September to discover he was facing an unexpectedly massive phone bill, Tampa's ABC Action News reported.

Rene Remund said that after returning home he received his bill from T-Mobile. He initially thought he was being charged $143 for sending photos and texts to family and friends from the Alps, according to the local news outlet.

But the actual charge was much higher — around $143,000 for 9.5 gigabytes of data used overseas.

According to Forbes, the average annual salary in Florida is $55,980, making the bill more than twice what an average worker makes each year in the state.

Remund had incurred thousands of dollars in daily roaming charges because his phone was not set up for international roaming, the report said.

Most US customers' domestic plans do not cover usage abroad, according to the Federal Communications Commission.

Related stories

Remund said he contacted T-Mobile, which confirmed the bill was indeed what he owed, per ABC Action News.

Remund did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

Remund enlisted an attorney, who wrote letters to T-Mobile's president hoping for a response, the local outlet reported. The attorney also contacted ABC Action News, which subsequently contacted T-Mobiles's corporate office.

In a statement provided to BI by email, a T-Mobile spokesperson confirmed that the carrier agreed to credit Remund's account for the entire month.

"This shouldn't have happened and we fully credited the customer," the spokesperson said. "We are taking steps to avoid it from happening again. "

In a statement to ABC Action News, T-Mobile advised customers who may be on older plans to check to see if international roaming and data are included.

Remund reportedly said he always notifies T-Mobile before leaving the US for vacations, and this time visited a T-Mobile store to tell them of his travels.

He also told the news outlet that it was a huge relief to no longer be on the hook for the six-figure bill.

The amount of data Remund used isn't considered excessive. According to telecommunication company Ericsson, the North American monthly average data usage per smartphone was an estimated 25.9 gigabytes in 2023.

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