Top International Phone and Data Plans: Everything You Should Know for Using Your Mobile Abroad

Having a functioning cell phone during international travel can significantly enhance your experience. Consider how frequently you rely on GPS (Which way to the metro station?), web browsing (What time does the museum close?), messaging applications (Are we still on for dinner later?), and mobile services (I'll order an Uber to meet you!) — all in just one afternoon. You'll likely need data for your upcoming overseas trip, and probably a lot of it.

However, roaming fees can be exorbitant. Even if you don't make calls or send texts while traveling, background app updates can lead to surprising roaming charges. Here’s how to steer clear of those hidden costs, along with everything else you need to understand about international plans from leading phone carriers.

Overview of Global Phone Plans

One of the simplest ways to keep using your phone while overseas is to buy an international plan from your existing carrier. This can often be the most economical choice, though it's not guaranteed. Typically, international roaming plans are ideal for infrequent phone users while abroad. The longer your travels, the greater the potential bill in many situations.

Before we delve into the details of each plan, here are a few key points to consider:

• Most plans — particularly those discussed here — only charge you after you begin using your phone internationally. However, if your cellular data is enabled (i.e., you're not in airplane mode), these international plans can be triggered by background data usage from app refreshes, email synchronization, and software updates.
• Ensure to activate these international plans on all devices you plan to use prior to your journey.
• Once you start using your phone in your destination, you should receive a text confirming that the international plan is active.
• Billing practices differ by carrier and plan; you might be charged immediately after you start using data abroad or after a full billing cycle. Generally, you won't be charged more than once every 24 hours, even if you visit multiple countries in a single day.

AT&T Global Plan

AT&T ranks as the third largest mobile service provider in the United States. If you are an AT&T customer, here are your available options:

Pay per day: Add the International Day Pass to your current plan for $10 daily, per device, allowing you to call, text, and use data just like at home in over 200 locations. Your data limits and talk minutes remain the same as your existing plan, but you'll enjoy unlimited texts to any number globally. Calls can only be made to the U.S. or countries on the IDP list. The day pass is usable for up to 10 days within a monthly billing cycle.

For extended trips: Although AT&T previously offered Passport plans for monthly payment of data, calls, and texting abroad, these were discontinued (for individual consumers, not businesses) in 2021. Currently, the International Day Pass is the only option available from AT&T for usage outside North America.

Traveling to Canada or Mexico: Most unlimited and some limited plans provide unlimited talk and text, plus access to your data plan at no additional cost within the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Customers on other plans can enhance their existing plans with the Roam North America feature to receive these benefits as well.

Verizon Global Plan

Verizon boasts the highest number of subscribers among American mobile service providers. If you're one of their customers, here are your options:

Pay per day: For $10 per day, per line, Verizon's TravelPass allows you to use your domestic talk, text, and data plans in over 200 locations outside the U.S. Calls made within the country you're visiting and back to the U.S. are included, but calls to other countries will incur additional international long-distance charges that vary by destination.

For extended trips: Verizon's International Monthly Plan is available for $100 per line, per month, providing 250 minutes of talk time, unlimited texting, and unlimited data with 20GB at high speed, followed by 3G speeds thereafter. Keep track of your minutes on this plan — overages will cost an extra $0.25 per minute.

Traveling to Canada or Mexico: All Verizon unlimited plans allow you to utilize your standard talk, text, and data limits in Canada and Mexico without extra charges. Customers on other Verizon plans can add the TravelPass for $5 per day to access services in Canada or Mexico.

T-Mobile Global Plan

T-Mobile provides various benefits for international travelers, such as:

Daily charge: With T-Mobile's International Day Pass, you receive 512MB of high-speed data and unlimited calls for just $5 each day. This plan is available in over 200 countries, referred to by T-Mobile as "Simple Global" locations.

For extended trips: T-Mobile's Magenta and Magenta MAX plans offer unlimited texting and data in Simple Global destinations at no extra cost. The standard Magenta plan provides 5GB of high-speed data in 11 European countries, after which speeds drop to 128kbps, and in other Simple Global regions. Magenta MAX allows high-speed access across T-Mobile's global network. International calls are $0.25 per minute for both plans.

Keep in mind that T-Mobile's Essentials plan, which is the most basic, includes unlimited international texting but lacks data, and prepaid plans do not offer global coverage. While T-Mobile's included coverage has slower data speeds, if you need to stream media or require faster data, purchasing an International Pass may be advisable.

A significant advantage of T-Mobile's international plans is that once you've exhausted your allotted data, you can continue using unlimited data and texting at Simple Global speeds, unlike other carriers that impose charges for data overages.

Another benefit for travelers: T-Mobile provides in-flight Wi-Fi through a collaboration with Intelsat. Enjoy one hour free with the Magenta plan or unlimited in-flight Wi-Fi with Magenta Plus.

Traveling to Canada or Mexico: Enjoy unlimited texts and data at no additional charge. However, only the Magenta and Magenta MAX plans offer high-speed data in these countries.

Sprint International Plan

Following its merger with T-Mobile in 2020, Sprint continues to provide its own mobile plans. Here’s what you can expect regarding international coverage:

Daily fee: Sprint's day pass enables you to access high-speed data in over 200 destinations. The cost varies from $5 to $10 per day depending on your location. Alternatively, you can choose a weekly rate of $25 or $50, respectively.

For extended journeys: Global Roaming is available with all Sprint plans, offering free international texting and basic data at up to 2G speeds without any extra fees. International calls are charged at $0.25 per minute. If you need faster data, consider purchasing the high-speed data day pass.

T-Mobile and Sprint are especially convenient as they don’t require activation before traveling. You can simply start using your phone abroad, and your included global coverage will automatically activate.

Traveling to Canada or Mexico: Texting and basic data are free across all plans. Furthermore, customers with unlimited data plans receive a high-speed allowance while in these countries—5GB for Unlimited Basic, 10GB for Unlimited Plus, and unlimited high speed for Unlimited Premium subscribers. For other plans, you can purchase high-speed data for $2 per day or $10 per week.

Buying a SIM Card While Traveling

If you plan to stay abroad for an extended time—like a year teaching English, a two-month sabbatical, or even a month-long backpacking adventure—it may be more practical (and cost-effective) to buy a SIM card in the country. To use a local or international SIM card, your phone needs to be unlocked.

An "unlocked" phone typically means you fully own it—either you've paid off all your installments or purchased it outright—and you've completed the unlocking process with your carrier, which is often as simple as following online instructions. If you bought your phone from Verizon, you might bypass this as the carrier automatically unlocks devices after 60 days.

Local vs. International SIM Cards

Local SIM cards are only functional in the country where you acquire them. This is usually the most affordable choice, as you essentially pay local rates. Local SIMs will also provide faster data since you’re using domestic networks. You can obtain a local SIM card from a vendor upon arrival in your destination—available even at the airport if you prefer.

If you intend to travel across borders, an international SIM card may be a more suitable choice, allowing you to use a single SIM in multiple countries. You can buy and set up an international SIM card before your trip, which saves you the hassle of getting one abroad. However, be sure to research, as international SIM rates can sometimes be pricier than your carrier’s international plans. Companies like WorldSIM, OneSimCard, Telestial, and Mobal provide various international SIM cards with different coverage options and pricing.

If you're heading to Europe, you can acquire a SIM card that works throughout the EU, likely making it a cheaper option than buying an international SIM card.

How Does Using a SIM Card Work?

You can purchase a local SIM card at most mobile phone stores and even at some airports or convenience shops. Some locations may require specific documents like your passport. If you're unsure about inserting the new SIM card into your phone, consider buying it from a specialist retailer so you can ask for assistance. Just be careful not to misplace your original SIM, as you’ll need it when you return home.

If you run out of minutes or data on your card, you can always return to the store for a top-up or buy additional data and minutes online. A bit of quick research can help you find out which carriers offer the best value in your destination.

Purchasing or Renting a Phone While Traveling

If your current phone is still tied to a contract, you can buy or rent a local phone at your destination—often at a low cost—from companies like Mobal or Cellular Abroad. Alternatively, if you have an old phone lying around, unlock it and use that for your travels instead.

Utilizing a Third-party Data Provider

While a local SIM is a fantastic and budget-friendly choice, most travelers don’t prioritize making calls or texting with a local number. If your main goal is to access the Internet and use apps on your phone, a third-party data-only provider could be an excellent option.

For instance, GigSky is an international eSIM (no physical card needed) that provides mobile data in over 190 destinations. It’s incredibly simple to purchase and activate—just download the app, choose a plan, download the eSIM, and you’re all set. GigSky offers four plans: 1GB of data for seven days at $8.99, 3GB for 15 days at $22.99, 5GB for 30 days at $34.99, and 10GB for 30 days at $68.99. If you run out, you can easily top up through the app.

Another option is Google Fi, which offers data through T-Mobile's network and utilizes Wi-Fi for calling and texting wherever available in over 200 destinations. There are no contracts or activation fees, with rates ranging from $20 to $65 per line, depending on how many lines you need. The basic plan includes unlimited international texting from the U.S. to other countries, unlimited data, calling, and texting in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, plus 5GB of high-speed hotspot tethering. The Plus plan includes all those features, plus international calling to over 50 destinations, data access in more than 200 destinations, and unlimited high-speed hotspot tethering. If your phone supports it, you can use an eSIM instead of a physical SIM card.

Utilizing a Portable Wi-Fi Hotspot

If you anticipate needing constant Wi-Fi access on your laptop while abroad, consider getting a portable Wi-Fi device. These devices provide internet access wherever you go and can be shared among multiple users and devices simultaneously. A great choice for international travel is the SIMO Solis Lite, available on Amazon. It’s compact enough to fit in your pocket, works in over 135 countries, connects up to 10 devices at once, and offers a VPN option for enhanced security.

Traveling Without Data

If you prefer not to spend any money using your phone abroad, keep an eye out for free Wi-Fi signals. Ideally, free, reliable Wi-Fi would be everywhere, but in reality, such networks can be scarce, and when available, they may offer slow or unreliable connections. If you decide to rely on open Wi-Fi networks, ensure your phone is in airplane mode. This allows you to connect to Wi-Fi without incurring international roaming charges from background data. For added safety, disable cellular data in your phone's settings.

Charging Your Phone While Traveling

After putting in the effort and expense to ensure your phone works overseas, the last thing you want is to arrive at your destination with an incompatible phone charger. Be sure to bring the right travel adapter with you before you leave.