Despite their various promises, and with a few exceptions, inclusive roaming is now a thing of the past for European travel and beyond. Even Three, who proudly waved the flag for ‘no extra charges’ roaming in many locations outside the EU have dropped this previously distinguishing selling points. Here’s a look at what you can consider for your upcoming trips abroad.
In this post:
Which UK networks still include some form of ‘free’ roaming?
There’s a reason I’ve put parenthesis around free when it comes to roaming. Clearly, the networks have put some buffer or exclusions into their pricing to ensure that they are not out of pocket for people who roam extensively. Nothing is free but having the ability to switch your phone on and seamlessly browse the internet like home is a huge benefit for frequent travellers to Europe.
The following networks still include ‘Roam Like Home’ benefits (Source: MoneySavingExpert):
- BT Mobile and Plusnet Mobile, but not sister company EE.
- ASDA Mobile
- Giffgaff up to 5GB
- iD Mobile
- Virgin Media O2
- Lebara
- Sainsbury’s Mobile
- Smarty
If your mobile network is not on this list, then it is likely they have ended Roam Like Home privileges. These providers, such as EE, Sky and Vodafone, may either offer a daily/weekly bundle or included Roam Like Home in higher packages. If you have a contract that pre-dates the end of the free-roaming, it may still be included, but you are best checking with the mobile operator. Those such as O2 offer a hard cut off at 25GB inclusive data roaming, and after that, you are charged at the packaged rate after opting in.
What are the alternatives to using your mobile network provider?
The simplest option is utilising a secondary eSIM on your mobile phone. Popularised by Apple since the iPhone XS/XR, all iPhone devices since have featured dual SIM capability via one physical SIM and one virtual eSIM. The dual eSIM functionality can now be found on Android devices including top of the range Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel devices, amongst others.
The addition of dual SIM by utilising eSIM has made the process of roaming, particularly to long-haul destinations, a bit easier as I found on my recent trip to Asia. Before flying, load up the eSIM onto your phone, then upon boarding deactivate your UK SIM roaming to ensure you use the mobile network connection from the new virtual SIM card. This makes it far easier to connect and get you started before you’ve even arrived.
On my recent travels, I opted to use Airalo which seems to be the most effective of the bunch and with the best prices – but note there are alternatives such as Holafly and eSIM2Go which I have not used. The process is easy involving a quick sign-up process before searching for the destination country before paying and automatically installing the eSIM.
The process for installing is exceptionally quick, and I can confirm that it does work when you land.
Are there any drawbacks to using eSIM providers like Airalo?
The only gripe I have is the lack of ‘real’ mobile operators available. In most countries listed, bar notable examples such as Thailand, users are directed to install eSIMs from virtual operators that have expensive top-up prices. Comparatively, for the Philippines example above, the 3GB eSIM cost $10 while a 30-day SIM with a local network and 30GB cost roughly the same upon arrival in Manila. In many countries, it is not possible to buy a pay-as-you-go eSIM with a national network provider, making companies like Airalo one of the only options for this.
Here’s when I would roam, use an Airalo eSIM or buy a physical SIM on arrival:
- EU short trips: roam with UK provider (unlikely to be more than £10-15 for a weekend trip, if not included in your tariff).
- EU long trips: use an eSIM provider.
- Non-EU short-haul, short trips (e.g. Turkey, North Africa): use an eSIM provider.
- Non-EU short-haul, long trips and non-EU long-haul: buy a local SIM card on arrival.
Your conclusion may differ depending on your travel requirements, or if you can expense roaming costs, but for leisure travellers the use of eSIMs is likely to come in very handy. Something that is only likely to grow as eSIMs become the default option for all SIM cards – such as the most recent release of iPhones in the US.
If you wish to buy an eSIM with Airalo, feel free to use my referral code: CALLUM0050 when purchasing. Both you and I will get $3 credit to use on future purchases.
20 comments
Surely the easiest way to use a mobile phone abroad without these charges is through the local wifi when available.
I recently bought a T-Mobile pre-paid sim for a trip to the USA. It was valid for 15 days and cost £33, unlimited data, calls and texts and it worked perfectly. The only downside is that it takes 12 hours or so to activate after you put it in your phone. If you activate it before you leave home it will be working when you land but will have used up some of your duration, otherwise it was great.
I am with 3 because they used to have the most extensive roam free destinations. However now this costs £5 per day. Which with my extensive travels has been costing me £150 a month!!
I am going to Brazil for 6 weeks soon and in discussions with them they have switched me to their PAYG tariff – only £10 per month for 16GB which is plenty for me.
Worth considering.
Richard, be warned, it may be a 16GB data pack but you can only use 12GB outside the UK. And to to use a data pack you must have made at least one outgoing call at some time from that SIM card.
I used to be with 3 but when they started charging for GoRoam I moved operators. When I next travel to Brazil in
February I will move my UK sim to an e-SIM and buy a 3 PAYG sim with the £10 data pack to cover me for the time I am out there. If you think you will use than 12GB order another SIM card, put a really small credit on it to make a call to activate it properly and then you can always swap SIM cards and buy a data pack online for this simcard whilst you are away. Hope that is of help.
i.e. 3 do not charge the £5 per day access charge for PAYG customers. Only for pay monthly contract customers. Which seems a bit illogical/unfair but that’s the way it is.
Any suggestions re an esim for data only for an iPad? I currently use 3 ‘S ‘Internet with legs’ data SIM card which provides 12GB for a one off fee of approx £30 . It covers over 70 countries including Asia where I usually travel and has been fantastic.However, I am shortly to upgrade my iPad to one with esim only and therefore can no longer use the physical data SIM card. 3 are not yet ready with esims so I need to find another way to get a data esim which covers a wide range of Asian countries. Any suggestions ?
Am not sure why EE isn’t on this list. The only place I have not been able to use my plan minutes and data abroad, has been South Africa. You just have to add the roaming pack to the tariff
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Roam Abroad Pass
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Hi
I use Airolo eSIM when I travel abroad. I keep my UK number switched on but switch off roaming so I can receive messages. Before I leave the UK, I divert all my UK calls to my Soft Phone with Voipfone which cost me £3.60 a month so I can receive calls from the UK at zero charge.
How did you completely not mention Three’s Go Roam?
https://www.three.co.uk/go-roam
Because it’s a paid service which used to be free and we have covered this in a previous article which was more about the different networks. Most offer some sort of pay per day option.
I am on an old EE contract and I still have roaming pretty much the same as before
Buy a Pokefi – gives you full Internet access pretty much everywhere. You have to buy data packages but they are not that expensive. Available from Hong Kong and they deliver globally…..
I have just returned from Florida and the Cell phone nightmare continues. I had 2 SIM cards in my phone but both would only connect to T-Mobile the service was very patchy and could not be relied on at all. A few years ago and bought a Lyca Mobile pre paid SIM specifically to use in the US, it used T-Mobile and again the data service was very poor. I was told that the move to 5G had meant that most of the frequencies that non US phones use in the states are no longer available. I also found out on this trip that the chances are that all non US phones with non US Sim Cards will stop working in 2023? I resorted to buying a US phone and put one of my UK SIM cards in it. Again it connected to T-Mobile and was marginally better. Next time I go to the US will buy a local pre paid SIM and hope for the best. WiFi does not solve the problem the real benefit is having a phone that Google Maps works on and being able to search for places when you are out. While I download local maps Google will not navigate without a working data connection. PS don’t ask me about being ripped off by Vodaphone in Australia to the extent that they blocked my phone and I couldn’t call the Meet and Greet driver when I got back to Manchester Airport.
Can’t say that I ever have issues in Florida using Vodafone.
Was there in January and got continuous connection.
I’ve used Airalo successfully in multiple countries now – certainly worth looking at if you don’t have roam like home
I’ve got the ultimate travelling combo. An old contract with ee which gives me free Europe roaming, ee roam further giving included roaming in USA, Canada, Mexico and New Zealand. When I’m in countries not covered by my ee deal I’ve got a pay as you go travel esim from Surfroam for data and Rebtel for cheap Voip calls via my esim
My current Vodafone deal covers EU roaming and several world wide destinations including Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the US, there’s also unlimited everything though roaming data is capped at 25gb/month which I’ve always found enough. It’s still around but if I renew it next March when it is up, it will cost me 250% of the current price so it’s a no, rip off Britain is alive and well.
The best deal I have found thus far is with ID mobile. They have an unlimited everything roaming deal for £16/month which includes all EU countries and some very strange additional places including Belarus. I think I’ll take it and just go back to doing what I used to do of buying a data sim on arrival and putting it in a Mi-Fi modem which I already have. It’s got to be cheaper than paying Vodafone 250% more each month even if it’s not as convenient.
My wife and I travel to California for an extended stay once a year to visit family and friends. I’ve always bought a replacement travel SIM. On the last two occassions (I’m in California now) I’ve bought my sim from TravSim who advertise on Amazon.co.uk. Activation has been simple and I am getting both 4 and 5G service on my Pixel 6 from both the primary US mobile providers. TravSim are unusual in offering a 60 day contract. Its essentially two 30 day contracts which roll over. I’ve yet to cross the first 30 day threshold. So can’t comment on how well that works. One thing to bear in mind. Virgin mobile have got themselves in a terrible fix. They advertise that you can switch from a physical sim to an eSim. I talked directly to customer service who confirmed the change over and emailed instructions on how to activate the eSim on my phone. The only problem being that Virgin abondoned their esim service at the end of August 2022 due to technical problems but didn’t tell their customer service team. I have to say I like my Virgin cintract but their custner srvice operation is significantly sub-optimal. I want to make my UK mobile account eSim driven so that I can just pop in a locally purcashed sim card when travelling. The problem is that with the exception of Vodaphone, all UK mobile providers require you to install a physical sim and apply for transfer to an eSim account. Vodaphone will let yo buy an eSim from the get go. One thing to bear in mind when using a different sim overseas. Some UK card issuers have strengthened their card security. Halifax Im talking to you! On my last US trip my Halifax Clarity Card was rejected. Something which has never happened before. I’d already inserted my local sim. Halifax tried phoning my HOME and UK mobile numbers to ask if I was in California. I eventually put my UK sim back in, called their security team and got the card cleared. I asked why don’t they email to check. Answer, ‘The computer says no’ I have two other credit cards and both will verify by email. The Clarity card is advertised as a great CC for overseas use. Shame their card security team didn’t talk to their card marketing team before implimenting this daft security protocal, So I’m being forced to change my mobile operator to get an eSim so I can satisfy Halifax’s daft security protocol.
My wife us on a monthly EE contract & she has not been charged, we were in Spain 2 weeks ago. I suspect its new contracts that are being charged.
eSIM roaming providers are a good option. I have had mixed experiences with Airalo and their customer services. But their pricing is competitive in most countries. Another company I have found to be easy to use is http://www.breathesim.com. Their pricing is good but ease of use was what I found most appealing. I didn’t have to use a QRCode or have multiple eSIMs for each country I go to. I tend to travel a lot for work.
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