Data Roaming SIM Cards

Key points

• Data roaming lets you use your mobile data abroad by connecting to a local network in the country you're visiting.
• Roaming costs vary widely by network and destination. Some UK providers still offer free EU roaming or include it in certain plans, while others charge daily fees or offer roaming add-ons.
• Roaming outside the EU is usually more expensive, so check your network's policy, fair usage limits and any available passes or bundles before you travel.
• There are ways to avoid unexpected charges, including using a data roaming SIM card and sticking to Wi-Fi if you can.

What is data roaming?

Data roaming lets you use your mobile data abroad to access the internet abroad. Your phone can't connect to your usual network when you travel outside of the UK. Instead, it connects to a local network in the country you're visiting so you can keep using mobile data.

Once your phone connects to that foreign network, you're officially roaming. Depending on your plan, you might face higher or additional charges.

You can then use your phone to browse the web, find your way on maps, post on social media or send messages on apps like WhatsApp.

How to switch on data roaming on iPhone

Most iPhones have data roaming switched on by default. If yours doesn't, you can turn it on with a few quick taps:

• Go to Settings > Mobile Service > Mobile Data Options > toggle Data Roaming on

How to switch on data roaming on Android phones

Most Android phones automatically enable data roaming. If yours doesn't, you can switch it on in the settings.

The exact steps might vary slightly depending on which phone you have. For example, on a Samsung Galaxy handset, follow these steps:

• Go to Settings > Connections > Mobile Networks > toggle Data Roaming on

What are roaming charges?

Roaming charges are the extra fees your mobile provider might charge when your phone connects to a network abroad. As well as paying more to use your mobile data, you could also pay more for calls and texts, depending on your provider and the plan you're on.

Unless you've got a roaming perk with your monthly plan, it usually costs more than using your phone at home. If you don't check details before you travel, you could come home to a much bigger bill than expected.

There are a few ways to avoid unexpected roaming charges (find out more below). If you want to keep costs down and stay connected while you're away, it's worth comparing short-term SIM only deals before your trip. Some data roaming SIM plans include free roaming in certain countries, while others offer cheaper rates while you're abroad.

Roaming in the EU

Roaming in the EU is generally cheaper than roaming in the rest of the world. That said, your costs will depend on your network provider and what's included with your phone or SIM only contract.

Some providers let you use your phone in Europe at no extra cost. This means you can call, text and use data just like you would at home, provided you stay within your monthly allowance or your network's fair usage policy. Others charge daily fees or extra rates for roaming unless you buy a fixed-fee data bundle or add-on.

You'll find a comparison of each network's roaming policies in Europe and beyond further down this page.

Roaming in Ireland

If you're travelling to the Republic of Ireland, you don't have to pay roaming charges with UK mobile networks.

That means you can use your usual allowance of calls, texts and data just like you would at home. You won't face extra fees, whichever network you use, as long as you stay within your normal monthly allowance.

Roaming outside the EU

Roaming outside the EU usually costs more than roaming within Europe. There are a few tariffs that include free roaming in certain locations, such as the US, Canada or Australia. But the majority of plans will charge you extra.

The amount you'll need to pay depends on your mobile network, your plan and where you're travelling to. Always check the details before you travel. You might have the choice of a roaming data bundle or add-on, or just daily charges added to your bill.

Roaming in the US

To roam in the US, your phone needs to support VoLTE roaming (also called 4G Calling abroad). You'll also need to switch on VoLTE in your phone settings. This is because the main US mobile providers switched off their 2G and 3G networks in 2022 to prioritise faster 4G and 5G coverage.

Most modern phones already support this, including:

• The Apple iPhone 7 and newer models (running iOS 15 or later)
• The Samsung Galaxy S10 and newer models
• The Google Pixel 3 and newer models

If you're not sure, check your phone's mobile data or network settings to see if VoLTE is available.

What is my network's standard data roaming policy?

If you don't have a roaming benefit included in your plan, or you don't buy a dedicated roaming add-on for your travels, these are the charges you could face (correct as of March 2026).

What roaming options do different networks offer?

Most have roaming-inclusive plans or data add-ons and passes you can use to keep an eye on how much you're spending. You don't have to pay the standard roaming charges with most providers if you don't choose to. They usually work out a lot cheaper and give you the peace of mind of knowing you won't build up an unexpected bill.

Three

Three Your Way Complete and Value plans have either inclusive roaming or Daily Go Roam passes you can use. Log in to My3 or the Three app to check your plan.

If your plan doesn't include these, you can still buy Go Roam passes or pay the daily roaming charges listed above. There are Go Roam in Europe, Go Roam Around the World and Go Roam Around the World Extra options, depending on where you're travelling to. You can buy more than one at a time if you need to.

Three also offers a Data Passport, which gives you unlimited data for 24 hours in 89 destinations around the world. For just £7, this could be a good option if you need lots of data for a limited time.

Check out the best Three phone deals

Vodafone

All Vodafone pay monthly plans include Zone A roaming at no extra cost, covering the Republic of Ireland, the Isle of Man, Iceland and Norway. Other plans offer inclusive roaming for more EU or worldwide destinations. This includes its Xtra Global Roam plan, which gets you 84 destinations worldwide.

If you don't have inclusive roaming or you're heading somewhere not covered in your plan, you can add Extras or pay the daily charges above. Vodafone offers 8-day and 15-day European Roaming passes for a one-off charge of £15 and £20 respectively.

Check out the best Vodafone phone deals

EE

EE offers no-charge roaming in the EU with some of its premium plans such as Essentials Plus and All Rounder. Its Full Works plan includes no-charge EU and World Roaming, which covers Zone 1 countries like the USA, China and Australia.

If you don't have roaming in your plan, you can buy EE's flexible roaming passes. You can only buy these when you land at your destination, and prices differ for each zone. For example, a 7-day Zone 1 Pass costs £25, while the 24-hour pass costs £5.

Find out more about EE SIM and phone deals

O2

O2 is still the only major UK network that doesn't charge for EU roaming on any of its plans.

If you're travelling outside of Europe, selected plans offer inclusive roaming for certain destinations with O2's Travel Inclusive Zone and Travel Inclusive Zone Ultimate packages. Otherwise, you can pay £7 a day for the O2 Travel Bolt On, which gets you unlimited minutes, texts and data in 75 destinations outside Europe.

You can also get Data Roaming Bolt Ons if you're on a pay monthly plan.

If you have both an eligible Virgin Media broadband pack and an O2 pay monthly plan, you can get the Travel Inclusive Zone roaming package, covering 75 destinations worldwide, at no extra cost. This is part of Virgin Media O2's Volt benefits. You can see your eligibility and activate this in My O2 if eligible.

Check out the best O2 phone deals

iD Mobile

iD Mobile offers roaming in 50 inclusive destinations with its pay-monthly plans.

You can also stay connected in 50 other countries with their Roam Beyond data-only add-ons. Starting at just £5, you can choose add-ons lasting one, five or 10 days, with different amounts of data to suit your needs.

Check out the best iD Mobile phone deals

giffgaff

giffgaff doesn't charge any extra fees for roaming inside Europe (and a few select other countries), although the 5GB data limit is much lower than most other networks.

You can buy travel data add-ons for 61 destinations in and out of Europe. The price depends on where you're travelling and how much data you need.

Check out the best giffgaff SIM only deals

How to avoid unexpected data roaming charges abroad

Keep data roaming turned off

If you're going abroad and don't want to rack up any roaming charges, simply turn off data roaming in your settings. This stops your phone from connecting to any network once you arrive at your destination.

Catherine Hiley, managing editor for mobile and broadband, explains more:

"Data roaming lets your phone connect to networks outside your provider so you can stay online when you travel. At home, it usually makes no difference if you leave it on, and you won't face extra charges for doing so.

"But when you travel abroad, switching off data roaming can help you avoid unexpected costs. Your phone won't connect to foreign networks, so you won't rack up extra charges unless you've got roaming enabled. Turning on data roaming for a few seconds in a different country could add a daily charge to your bill. If you're worried about roaming costs, connect to Wi-Fi when you can.

"Just be mindful that public Wi-Fi isn't secure, so avoid using it to do anything sensitive, like online banking.

"Of course, if your network doesn't charge extra for roaming, you've added a roaming bolt-on, or you're just happy to pay extra daily charges, leave data roaming switched on. You won't be able to use any data, calls or texts on your phone unless you do."

Use Wi-Fi wherever you can

Wi-Fi hotspots can be handy if you're travelling. Many give free internet access, so you can avoid paying extra roaming charges and save your mobile data allowance while you're abroad.

If you need to get online, find your nearest hotspot and check if it has a usage limit. Some kick you off after just 30 minutes. You'll often find free Wi-Fi in hotels, coffee shops, gyms, airports and shopping centres, so it's usually easy to get online without using your mobile data.

That said, public Wi-Fi networks are less secure than private ones. Because anyone can join them, other users could potentially intercept and access your data. To stay safe, avoid entering sensitive information while you're connected, especially things like bank details or passport information.

Use apps to call

If you have access to Wi-Fi, make the most of it. Instead of using your call allowance, make calls over Wi-Fi with apps like FaceTime or WhatsApp. As long as you stay connected to Wi-Fi, you can usually call for free without eating into your minutes.

Video calls also make things a bit more personal. Your friends and family can see your face, not just hear your voice. And you can show them exactly what you're getting up to on your trip.

Set a spending cap

All network providers now let you set your own spending cap, as required by Ofcom since 2018. This limits how much you can spend on additional services, like data roaming, beyond your usual monthly tariff.

Once you reach your spending cap limit, your network stops extra charges, helping you avoid an unexpected bill when you get home. A spending cap set to £0 should stop any extra charges on your account. That said, this isn't the case if you intentionally buy an add-on or incur any penalty fees.

Most networks let you set or change your cap in their app or your online account. It only takes a minute and can give you extra peace of mind while you're away.

Download before you go

It's worth loading your phone or tablet with things to watch, read and listen to before you leave. Most streaming apps, like Netflix and BBC iPlayer, let you download films and shows to watch later.

Once you download them, you can enjoy them offline, keeping you entertained without racking up any roaming fees. You won't even have to worry about needing a signal.

Use your home Wi-Fi to download everything before you travel. It could cost less and it's usually much faster than mobile data.

Stay within the fair use policy

Most mobile networks have something called a fair use policy when you roam. This sets a limit on how much data you can use abroad, even if your plan includes roaming. If you go over that limit, your provider might charge you extra.

Find out your network's fair usage policy before you leave and keep this limit in mind.

Don't go beyond your allowance

Free EU roaming doesn't mean unlimited use for most networks. Unless you have a roaming data add-on, your usual monthly allowance still applies while you travel.

If you go over your allowance, your network will charge the same out-of-bundle rates you'd pay at home. That means your bill probably won't reach the eye-watering levels you hear in some holiday horror stories, although it could still come as an unwelcome surprise.

Check your messages

Mobile providers must notify you when you start roaming on another network. Ofcom introduced this rule in October 2024 to protect you and other consumers. Networks should also give you clear information about any charges that might apply.

Your network should text you when you reach 80% of your data allowance and again when you hit 100%.

Keep an eye out for these alerts. If you ignore them and don't have a suitable spending cap in place, you could easily run over your limit and end up with a bigger bill than you expected.

Try a data roaming SIM card

Some network providers now offer rolling monthly SIM only deals, including plenty of data and free EU roaming, many for less than £10 per month. If you're okay with using a new number while you're away, roaming SIMs might be one of the easiest and cheapest ways to stay connected.

All you have to do is get one before you go and pay for the month, or longer, that you're abroad. Just don't forget to cancel when you get back. Compare deals with us and see if you could pay less.

You could also choose a Pay As You Go SIM. Some networks include free roaming alongside the option to buy data bundles on their PAYG plans. Check the details first, so you know exactly what you'll get.

With these options, you'll need to use a new number while you travel. As long as you share it with the people who need it, that shouldn't cause any problems, except you'll need to add the new number to any WhatsApp groups you want to be in while you're away. You might also need to activate, and top up for PAYG, the SIM in the UK before you go.

An eSIM is another option and you won't need to replace your physical SIM card. These offer a more convenient data roaming SIM option for longer, multi-destination trips, particularly outside the EU. You can find out more in our FAQs below.

Or buy a local SIM

You might also find a cheap, prepaid SIM card from a local network at your destination. It can take research, yet you might find it's much cheaper if you plan to stay in one country for a while.

You'll need to remove your usual SIM and insert the new one, which means you can't use your regular number while the local SIM is in your phone.

Be aware of roaming costs on cruises

Things get extra tricky out at sea. You could unknowingly connect to another country's network, which you have no intention of ever visiting. You could even connect to a maritime network. Your provider might not include either in your roaming plan, and that could cost you.

To stay on the safe side, connect to the ship's Wi-Fi and switch off data roaming until you reach dry land again.

Data roaming and SIM card FAQs

What's the difference between a SIM card and an eSIM?

An eSIM works like a digital version of a traditional SIM card. Instead of inserting a physical card into your phone, your handset uses a tiny chip built into the device to perform the same functions.

With a traditional SIM, you place a physical card into your phone's SIM slot. Most phones only hold one SIM at a time, although some dual-SIM models can handle two. Because an eSIM is digital, you can have several mobile plans on the same device. That means you can switch between networks or numbers without swapping SIM cards.

If you're travelling, you can use an eSIM to access a local network when you arrive abroad instead of paying higher roaming charges with your usual provider on your current SIM. You might also find it useful to keep personal and work numbers on the same phone.

Before you choose this option for travel overseas, do some research. Check which local networks operate in your destination and compare their prices with your provider's roaming costs. If something goes wrong with billing, resolving the issue with an overseas provider could be more complicated.

You'll also need a compatible phone. Most modern iPhones and Android phones from 2018 support eSIMs.

If you want to learn more, check out our guide explaining what an eSIM is and how it works.

Did Brexit affect roaming charges?

Yes, it did. In 2017, the EU scrapped roaming charges across its member countries. While the UK was part of the EU, UK networks had to let you use your phone in Europe without extra fees, as long as you stayed within your allowance.

Brexit changed that. Once the UK left the EU, mobile providers started to bring roaming charges back.

The current situation is a bit confusing. Some networks still offer European roaming at no extra cost, like O2, iD Mobile and SMARTY. But most other networks charge daily fees, sell add-ons or set different data limits depending on where you travel.

If you're going abroad, check your provider's roaming policy before you go. That way, you'll know exactly what to expect and if you need to sort anything before you leave.

Can my mobile network provider change its data roaming charges at any time?

Yes, it can. That said, the law says providers must give you at least one month's notice before it changes anything in your contract, including roaming charges.

Although your network will usually send a text message to tell you about the change, always double-check before you travel, so you know what you'll pay if you use your phone abroad.

Do calls to the EU from the UK count as data roaming?

No. Roaming only applies when you use your phone abroad. If you call someone in the EU while you're still in the UK, your network usually treats it as an international call, not roaming.

That doesn't mean it's free, though. Many mobile plans don't include international calls in your monthly allowance. You might need to pay extra or buy an international add-on to make overseas calls.

Costs vary by provider and your mobile plan. Some providers, like Lebara, specialise in low-cost international calls, while many of the main networks offer dedicated add-ons or standard rates.

How can I find out how much my mobile provider charges for roaming?

Most UK networks list their roaming charges on their websites. Some even let you search by destination. This lets you quickly see the cost of using your phone in a specific country.

Prices can vary. Some providers charge different roaming rates depending on when you started your contract.

If you can't find the information you need, contact your network directly. You can usually reach them by phone, email or live chat through their website.

You could also try messaging them on social media platforms like X, formerly Twitter. Many providers will respond quickly because they want to resolve issues before they turn into public complaints.

What's the difference between mobile data and data roaming?

Mobile data is what your phone uses to connect to the internet wirelessly. Data roaming is when you use your mobile data while connected to a mobile network in another country.

You can use mobile data to check emails, use social media, play music or send messages using chat apps like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger. If you want to do these things while you're in France, for example, you'll have to connect to a French mobile network to use your data, as well as make calls and send texts. That's data roaming.

Depending on your provider, your mobile plan and where you travel to, using data abroad could mean extra charges. That's why it's always worth checking your network's roaming policy before you go.

More useful guides and links

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