mobile phone in europe for travel

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Using A Cell Phone In Europe Made Easy and Affordable

What you need to know about how to save money using a cell phone in Europe, SIM cards, and data roaming.

Here are our best travel tips for getting fast, reliable data in Europe as you travel.

Using A Cell Phone In Europe: How to Save Time, Money and Hassle

Having fast, reliable cellular data on your mobile phone is a must when traveling Europe.

Are you wondering “ Can I buy a phone in the US and use it in Europe ?” The short answer is yes, you can use your own phone and phone plan, but it might be incredibly expensive.

Can I use my American or Canadian cell phone in Europe?

Almost all modern mobile devices are compatible with European cellular networks, so you should be able to use your phone in European countries without interruption. So yes, you can buy a phone in the US and use it in Europe.

In a hurry? Try one of these quick solutions to start saving money.

• Solo traveler? Get an affordable Keepgo eSIM for pay-as-you-go wireless internet
• In a group? Pick up a Skyroam Solis WiFi Hotspot ! Use with up to 10 devices!

However, you may get dinged pretty hard with unwelcome, and expensive, roaming fees from your home cell phone plan.*

If you just want to use your American smartphone and buy a local SIM card, you’ll also need to make sure your phone is unlocked however more on that later.

* Some budget cell phone plans don’t allow European roaming, like our cell plan in Canada with Public Mobile (though they do offer USA-based roaming add-ons).

Can I use my Verizon cell phone in Europe?

Smartphones on the Verizon network in the USA should work perfectly well in Europe, using Verizon’s international roaming plans.

The problem is that Verizon’s roaming tends to be pretty darn expensive. You can get the Verizon TravelPass plan, which works in over 185 counties. The TravelPass plan currently costs $10 per line per day, which is great for really short trips, but adds up pretty quickly if you’re gone for a week or longer. On this international plan, you’ll get unlimited calls, unlimited texts, and whatever data allowance you had on your domestic plan.

There’s also an International Monthly Plan for longer trips that lets you add a bundle of minutes, texts and data. The International Monthly Plan costs $100 /line per month, which is definitely cheaper than the TravelPass for longer trips. You’ll get 250 minutes, 1000 sent SMS, unlimited received SMS, and 5 GB data total. Sure, 5 GB of data sounds like a lot for day to day things however Netflix says you’ll use 1 GB of data (per device) for every hour you stream a Standard Definition show.

Will my cell phone work in Europe on AT&T?

Your AT&T phone should work perfectly well in Europe, using an AT&T roaming plan. However, AT&T doesn’t offer a lot of roaming options, and the AT&T International Day Pass is a little expensive for my taste. You’ll pay $10/day for the AT&T International Day Pass, which gives you unlimited data, talk and text in over 210 destinations.

How to unlock a smartphone

If you want to avoid expensive roaming fees, you can remove your American or Canadian phone’s SIM card and replace it with a European carrier’s SIM card. For most travelers, this may be the best way to use your phone in Europe.

Back to basics: What’s a SIM card?

A SIM card is basically a thumbnail sized card or chip in a slot in your phone. Your SIM card is what stores your phone number and cellular data plan. If you remove your phone’s SIM card, you’ll no longer be able to make phone calls, or use your cellular data plan, but you can still use your phone on Wi-Fi (you just won’t have a cell number or data). You can remove your SIM, and replace it with a European SIM, which will give you a European cell number and data plan (assuming data is included).

International travel eSIM for Europe

Before we get into the basics of SIM cards, let’s talk about one of the best ways to save money with a local SIM in Europe: eSIMs.

An eSIM is exactly what it sounds like: an electronic SIM card. However, an eSIM is embedded in your phone (meaning it’s not removable), and it can be reprogrammed easily.

An eSIM lets you change your wireless carrier, data, or service plan through software, without removing a physical chip, and inserting a new one. Most times, all you need to do is scan a simple QR code to switch your eSIM from one carrier to another. An eSIM can also let you use two different cell lines on the same device (like a home and work line), or let you switch between different plans depending on where you are in the world.

Several companies offer eSIMs for travelers, such as Holafly.

However, not all phones are compatible with an eSIM unfortunately, though it is arguably the best way to use cell phone in Europe. All three major US carriers support eSIM on recent iPhone and Google Pixel models, but not on Samsung models sold in the USA or Canada. So, when choosing an International eSIM for travel, first make sure that your phone is compatible.

Here’s what’s cool though: iPads and some laptops support eSIMs. Apples iPads have an easy eSIM interface, where you can simply choose your plan and provider from a menu on the iPad. Some laptops from Dell, Asus, Acer, Lenovo, Samsung and Microsoft laptops support eSIM, but Apple laptops don’t support eSIM at this time.

Important: your phone must also be carrier-unlocked to use an eSIM.

Using an eSIM in Europe is pretty simple for most users. First, make sure your device is eSIM compatible, then buy the eSIM online, and finally scan a QR code and turn on data roaming from your settings. When signing up for a eSIM service, you’ll also need an email address to get your QR code.

After that, you can call and message all your existing contacts on a bunch of free chat providers like WhatsApp or Skype, as if you’re in the same country. You can even keep your original SIM for phone calls if you wanted to continue using your existing provider.

Buying a Physical SIM card for Europe

If your phone does not support eSIM technology, you still can buy a physical SIM card for your travels. You may need to swap out your existing SIM card, but if you’re lucky, your phone will have two SIM card slots.

If you get a foreign SIM , make sure:

• your phone has a SIM card slot, and that the European SIM you buy fits your phone.
• your phone is unlocked. If your phone is locked, you will have to choose from European cell phones rather than use your own.

So, how do you choose the best SIM card for Europe with data?

There’s a little more to choosing a good European SIM card than simply picking the cheapest option.

First, determine which size of SIM card your phone takes.

There are regular, micro, or nano sized SIM cards. Most European SIM card companies carry all three sizes, so that shouldn’t be a problem. A European SIM card for an iPhone will likely be nano or micro.

Next, buy extra texting, talk or data plans that you need.

It is possible to buy a bare bones SIM card without any data. If this happens, you may have a cell phone with a number, but no added minutes, no texting, and no internet data plan. Be sure you get the data and/or text and talk plan that fits your needs. The good news is that cell service in Europe is generally great, and high speed data plans for travelers are usually affordable.

Finally, insert your SIM card in your phone.

The location of the SIM card slot is different for different phones. However, it’s generally a small and fiddly process that requires good lighting, and a table so you don’t drop the SIM on the floor. SIM cards are tiny, and easily lost and damaged. You’ll likely need a paper clip, pin, or special tool to open the SIM card slot however all phones come with one and if you can’t find yours just grab a paperclip or you can buy them online fairly cheaply.

Looking for other options for how to use your cell phone in Europe?

If you don’t want to pay for roaming fees from your home carrier, and don’t want to fuss with getting a European SIM card, another option is to only use wifi on your phone.

While it can be tricky to get high speed Wi-Fi when traveling , it’s definitely possible. You can use apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Google Chat to get the most out of your mobile phone when traveling , rather than relying on a data connection.

To travel Europe using Wi-Fi only, just use Wi-Fi at hotels, airports, restaurants and even malls or you can bring along a Wi-Fi hotspot, like the Solis or Glocalme . A lot of apps these days from Netflix to YouTube to Spotify to Google Maps also allow offline saving so you while you can’t connect with family and friends while on the go like with an eSIM or regular SIM card, you can at least enjoy your media on the go.

Some European companies even rent cell phones in Europe, however since most modern North American phones will work fine with European carriers, it may just be easier to take your phone overseas and use an eSim.

Looking for some more travel tech tips? Read these articles:

• How not to fry your electronics overseas
• Ways to share your mobile data connection
• The best iPad drawing apps for kids

Great website! Thanks for hosting.

Hi. We are going to Paris and London next month for 10 days each. I can’t bring my phone or change the plan because work pays for my phone. My wife doesn’t work, so she just uses Tracfone, which doesn’t have an international plan. We are thinking of buying a prepaid phone for one month that works in both France and the UK. Would just be using to text home and use Google Maps. Any suggestions?

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9 Best Prepaid Sim Cards for Europe in 2024

Planning your trip to Europe and wondering what is the best way to stay connected? Don't get stuck with high roaming costs or slow overseas data roaming packages! Get yourself a sim card for traveling in Europe. This is a guide for finding the best European sim card for your trip.

Whether you need a physical prepaid sim card or an eSIM cards for Europe in this guide you will find them both. Find out where to order one, up to date prices as per August 2024 and everything else you need to know before ordering a sim card for traveling to Europe in 2024

Buying a sim card on the internet is easy and convenient, but you can also buy a prepaid sim card for tourists on arrival in Europe .

On Traveltomtom you can find specific guides for buying a local prepaid sim cards in  Spain ,  Italy , Switzerland , Greece ,  Ireland , Portugal , Germany ,  Poland , France ,  Sweden , UK , Hungary , Croatia , Austria , Finland , Norway , Netherlands , Belgium , Bulgaria  and every other European country.

Traveltomtom also wrote a specific  guide for the best Europe eSIMs in 2024 .

Traveltomtom's favorite sim card providers are Airalo and SimOptions. Why? Traveltomtom has personally used Airalo and SimOptions sim cards for more than 5 years and never faced an issue. But are they still the best and cheapest?

There is nowadays also Nomad, Sim Local, Holafly, Jetpac and even Amazon sells sim cards for Europe.

All the sim cards listed in this article are European sim cards with data that you can order online before your trip. The international physical prepaid sim cards will be delivered to your home address before your trip and are activated automatically from its first use. eSIM cards for Europe obviously are delivered via email.

Some links in this article about the best travel sim cards for Europe are affiliate links. If you buy any of the products after using an affiliate links I earn a small commission. Don't worry this is at absolutely no extra cost to you!

My recommendation

Buying a local prepaid sim card on arrival is in general the cheapest way to stay connected when traveling to Europe in 2024. But wouldn't it be easy to be online and have data on your phone as soon as the plane lands?

Don't waste your precious holiday time on arrival in Europe standing in line at a sim card shop on the airport or in a local phone store. No more language barriers. Order a sim card for Europe online before your trip!

Here are Traveltomtom's top picks for 2024.

Best eSIM cards for Europe

1. holiday europe esim with 100 gb data.

The Holiday Europe eSIM is available via  SimOptions for $59 USD.

Sim Local sells the Holiday Europe eSIM for $59 USD. Plus Traveltomtom readers get an extra 15% discount.

When ordering an eSIM via  Sim Local  then apply the coupon code: TRAVELTOMTOM at check out to get 15% off all eSIMs.

2. Bouygues Telecom Travel Basic+ with 20 GB data

This Bouygues Telecom eSIM is available via SimOptions for $23.90 USD

In my comparison below you will find physical prepaid sim cards and eSIMs from SimOptions, Jetpac, Holafly, Airalo, Nomad, Sim Local, etc.

Click here for a complete guide focussed only on the  best eSIMs for Europe in 2024 , including all detailed eSIM specifications.

Best physical prepaid sim card for Europe

• Bouygues Telecom My European SIM with 30 GB data - $44.90 USD

If your phone is not eSIM compatible then Traveltomtom recommends a Bouygues Telecom physical prepaid sim card. This is the best physical prepaid sim card for visiting Europe in 2024, also available via SimOptions.

In fact SimOptions is the only website that sells physical prepaid sim cards. Airalo, Jetpac, Holafly, Sim Local as well as Nomad only offer eSIM cards.

Traveltomtom also recommends world sim cards with global coverage. Check out my article with a comparison of the  best international sim cards for travelling in 2024  if you for example continue your trip to Europe to Turkey, Asia or the Middle East.

Comparison of the best Europe sim cards

The best ones are ranked first...

The best sim card deals for Europe are only available as eSIMs and unfortunately not anymore as physical prepaid sim cards.

1. Orange Holiday Europe eSIM with 100 GB

UPDATED for Summer 2024. The Orange Holiday Europe eSIM now give you DOUBLE DATA. So not 50 GB but a whooping 100 GB!

This is the latest addition to the family of the Orange sim cards for traveling in Europe. It is the bigger brother of the Orange Holiday Europe sim card. At the moment this sim card is only available as an eSIM card and not as physical prepaid sim card.

This Orange Holiday Europe 100 GB eSIM is the only proper 5G ready sim card for Europe. The rate of only $0.6 USD per Gigabyte makes this the best-buy eSIM card for Europe in 2024.

Price: $59.90 USD

• 100 GB data in all of the EU including Switzerland, UK, Iceland and Norway
• Unlimited calling & texting in Europe
• 120 minutes to anywhere in the world
• 1000 sms to anywhere in the world
• Valid 28 days
• Automatically activated from the first time it connects to a supported network in Europe
• Top up available
• ID verification/registration is NOT required
• Sim card comes with a phone number from France starting with +33

Click here to order the Orange Holiday Europe eSIM card via SimOptions .

Traveltomtom rates the Orange Holiday Europe eSIM as the best Europe sim card in 2024. For $59.90 USD you get 100 GB data which is just $0.6 USD per Gigabyte. This is basically an eSIM with unlimited data and best thing is that this eSIM card is 5G ready, where most of the physical prepaid and eSIM cards for Europe only support 4G/LTE.

On top of that you get unlimited calls and text within Europe and 120 international minutes to any phone number in the world. It leaves no doubt why the Orange Holiday Europe eSIM is ranked as the best eSIM for traveling to Europe in 2024.

2. Bouygues Telecom Travel Basic+ with 20 GB  (eSIM)

Bouygues Telecom has several eSIM card plans for Europe travel. This European sim card is for those travelers who don't need so much data and stay for 2 weeks, because this eSIM is only valid for 15 days.

Price: $23.90 USD

• 20 GB data in all of the EU countries including UK, Norway, Iceland
• Switzerland is NOT included
• Valid for 15 days
• Top up is possible
• eSIM card comes with a phone number from France starting with +33
• Can receive sms and calls
• You have to activate the eSIM card within 1 year after purchase
• Automatically activates from the first time it connects to a supported network in Europe

Click here for more info or to  order this Bouygues Telecom eSIM card for Europe via SimOptions .

This Bouygues Telecom eSIM card for Europe is perfect for those travelers that don't need so much data. It is much cheaper than the Orange eSIM above, but you also get much less. However, with a rate of $1.2 USD per Gigabyte you still get a very good rate.

The Bouygues Telecom eSIM is also available via SimOptions, but only as eSIM not as physical sim card.

3. Jetpac (eSIM)

Jetpac is a fairly new eSIM provider and is trying to conquer the market with some incredible eSIM card plans for traveling to Europe. 

The Jetpac eSIMs work in 28 countries in Europe: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Vatican City.

Pretty much in all popular tourist destinations in Europe, however not in: Poland, Ukraine, Slovakia, Romania, Albania, Cyprus, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

If you are visiting the Balkan on your trip to Europe then Jetpac is not the perfect eSIM for your trip.

Prices and rates Jetpac Europe

Jetpac Global is at the moment the cheapest eSIM card for Europe as they have an offer for just $1 USD. Here are all the eSIM card plans from Jetpac for 2024:

• 1 GB data for 30 days = $1 USD
• 3 GB data for 30 days = $8.5 USD
• 5 GB data for 30 days = $14 USD
• 10 GB data for 30 days = $18 USD
• 15 GB data for 30 days = $28 USD
• 20 GB data for 30 days = $34 USD
• 25 GB data for 30 days = $38 USD
• 30 GB data for 30 days = $40 USD
• 40 GB data for 30 days = $60 USD

Click here to  order a Jetpac eSIM card for Europe .

The rate of the best Jetpac eSIM is 40 GB data for $60 USD which comes down to $1.25 USD per Gigabyte. That makes the Jetpac Europe eSIM cards more expensive than the SimOptions eSIMs above.

The Jetpac Global eSIM card plans are valid for 30 days and the validity starts automatically when it connects for the first time to a network in a country where you can use Jetpac and the data pack is valid 1 year from date of purchase.

Jetpac Global is only available as an eSIM card and not as a physical prepaid sim card. The Jetpac Global eSIM cards are data-only and incoming and outgoing calls are not supported.

The reason Jetpac is ranked as one of the best eSIMs for Europe is that it comes with a couple extra advantages. Jetpac Europe eSIMs provide free lounge access if your flight is delayed. However, you will have to register your flight before you travel and in case of a delayed or canceled flight a LoungeKey voucher will automatically be provided. This is a complimentary service that no other eSIM cards offer. Also they now offer a free VPN service included with their sim card.

For more info check out the Jetpack website .

4. Bouygues Telecom My Europe eSIM with 30 GB data  (physical and eSIM)

The Bouygues Telecom prepaid sim card for tourists was always rated as one the best sim card for traveling to Europe in 2024 but since Orange came with this crazy offer of 100 GB data the Bouygues Telecom tourist sim card went down in ranking.

Price: $44.90 USD

• 30 GB data in all of the EU countries including UK, Norway, Iceland
• Valid for 30 days

Click here to  directly order a Bouygues Telecom eSIM card for Europe via SimOptions .

This Bouygues Telecom eSIM card package is called My European eSIM and with $1.5 USD per Gigabyte it is still among the best value sim cards for Europe. On top of that this eSIM card is valid for 30 days but unfortunately not 5G ready.

5. Eurolink eSIM from Airalo

Airalo is a trusted eSIM card provider that offers eSIM cards for pretty much every country in the world. Airalo is definitely a favorite of Traveltomtom however, their Europe eSIM card plans are much more expensive than other eSIM cards for Europe.

But Airalo has a solution for slow travelers to Europe as they offer eSIMs for 90 days as well as eSIMs for 180 days.

Big advantage is that the Airalo eSIM cards for Europe are partially 5G ready, meaning in most countries you are able to use 5G and in some countries you will have to it with 4G/LTE. It is a 70/30 I would say.

5G is available in: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK. All other countries there is only 4G/LTE network available.

Eurolink eSIM cards also have plans for 3 months and even for 6 months, which could be a very interesting eSIM for travelers visiting Europe for more than 1 month.

• 1 GB data for 7 days = $5 USD
• 3 GB data for 30 days = $13 USD
• 5 GB data for 30 days = $20 USD
• 10 GB data for 30 days = $37 USD
• 50 GB data for 90 days = $100 USD
• 100 GB data for 180 days = $185 USD

Click here for more info or to order a Eurolink eSIM card for Europe via Airalo .

Eurolink eSIM cards are valid in all of Europe including Iceland, Norway, UK, Switzerland, Ukraine and even in Turkey !

Traveltomtom uses Airalo eSIM cards a lot, but their rates per Gigabyte for Europe are more expensive than the other sim cards mentioned above.

Traveltomtom sometimes uses an Airalo eSIM card for Europe when I continue my Europe trip to Istanbul. Airalo is the best eSIM card for traveling to Europe and Turkey on one trip.

Especially for people looking for eSIM cards for Europe that are valid for 3 or 6 months Airalo is one of the best eSIM cards for Europe.

6. Nomad eSIM for Europe

Nomad has some of the cheapest eSIM cards for traveling in Europe with some amazing value plans. They go as low as $1.3 USD per GB data. The Nomad eSIM cards are from eSIM Go and they support 5G in some countries, not yet everywhere.

• 5 GB data for 30 days = $15 USD
• 10 GB data for 30 days = $22 USD
• 20 GB data for 30 days = $45 USD

Click here to order a Nomad eSIM card for traveling in Europe .

The Nomad eSIM cards are data-only and do not come with a phone number. Incoming and outgoing calls are not supported. The Nomad eSIMs are 5G ready for Europe. But compared to other eSIM providers Nomad Europe eSIMs are more expensive and therefore not rated high in this list of the best eSIMs for Europe.

7.  O2 Go Card Prepaid sim card with 10 GB  (physical and eSIM)

This O2 sim card plan from Czech Republic is available as a physical prepaid sim card as well as an eSIM card. Big plus about the O2 Go Card is that it is one of the few 5G ready sim cards for Europe.

Price: $24.90 USD

• 10 GB data in all of Europe (Switzerland NOT included)
• $2 credit for calls in Europe (top up online available only for EU citizens. For non-EU citizens only within Czech Republic)
• $2 credit for sms in Europe
• Receiving unlimited calls in all of the covered countries in Europe
• Valid for 30 days from its installation, even if not in Europe yet
• It comes with a Czech number starting with +420

Click here to order an O2 Go Card as a physical prepaid sim card and here as an eSIM card .

Holafly sells eSIM cards for Europe with unlimited data. Traveltomtom is not a fan of eSIM cards with 'unlimited' data and I explain you below why.

However, if you want a sim card for Europe with unlimited data then Holafly is your best bid. It is pretty expensive and I recommend you to read the fine print and read about how unlimited your eSIM with unlimited data actually is.

• 1 day 'unlimited' data = $6 USD
• 2 days 'unlimited' data = $10 USD
• 3 days 'unlimited' data = $13 USD
• 4 days 'unlimited' data = $16 USD
• 5 days 'unlimited' data = $21 USD
• 6 days 'unlimited' data = $25 USD
• 7 days 'unlimited' data = $29 USD
• 8 days 'unlimited' data = $31 USD
• 9 days 'unlimited' data = $35 USD
• 10 days 'unlimited' data = $37 USD
• 11 days 'unlimited' data = $40 USD
• 14 days 'unlimited' data = $48 USD
• 20 days 'unlimited' data = $64 USD
• 30 days 'unlimited' data = $75 USD

The Holafly eSIM cards for Europe are data-only and incoming and outgoing calls/sms are NOT supported. These eSIMs do also not come with a phone number. The Holafly eSIMs are 5G ready, but not in every country in Europe. The Holafly Europe eSIM has been tested by the Traveltomtom Team with mixed results. Some good, some average reviews.

You can use a hotspot on Holafly Europe eSIM cards of up to 500 MB per day.

The Holafly Europe eSIMs are valid in the following 32 countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, and Ukraine.

Why does Traveltomtom not recommend eSIMs with unlimited data? Because unlimited is only truly unlimited is there is no FUP per day. An FUP means a Fair Use Policy and that means after you used an X amount of data on 1 day they will slow down your data speed. Your eSIM becomes basically useless, only WhatsApp will work until the data speed is restored.

Traveltomtom has had bad experiences with this in the past. Imagine being on a 10 hour bus or train ride and using a lot of data. Then suddenly your data speed is reduced because you used too much data. This can be extremely frustrating on days you need a lot of data, like travel days.

Also the connection and the network strength on Holafly eSIM cards has been pretty disappointing. Inside buildings the Traveltomtom Team has reported that there was often with just 1 bar phone signal as well as slow data speed on peak hours.

If I hate something then it is slow data speed. Therefore Traveltomtom's is not a fan of eSIM cards with 'unlimited' data. Holafly does NOT specify what is the exact data speed, but the Traveltomtom Team found out that this is sometimes at 2 GB data per day and in some countries 3 GB data per day.

For this reason Holafly eSIM cards are not ranked high in this list of the best sim cards for traveling to Europe in 2024. After you reach the FUP per day you will have to deal with data speed as fast as an E signal. Trust me, not fun and therefore not recommended.

Of course you can also order sim cards for traveling to Europe on Amazon. When searching for 'Sim Card for Europe' on Amazon you will get a long list of available physical prepaid sim cards as well as eSIMs. Good list finding one that will suit your trip to Europe, it is a jungle and personally I would not recommend it.

Here are some examples:

• Orange: 16 GB data (not in UK, Switzerland) + 800 minutes for 28 day = $28 USD + tax
• Three: 10 GB data + unlimited calls/sms for 30 days = $19 USD + tax
• Sim2Roam: 3 GB data for 30 days = $16 USD + tax
• Vodafone: 12 GB data for 14 days = $17 USD + tax

I listed Amazon as a last option because Traveltomtom does not directly recommend it. The offers vary, the availability is not guaranteed and you will have to activate the sim card yourself with a proper guideline once the sim card will be delivered to your home address

On top of that Amazon has delivery fees and taxes which makes buying a sim card from Amazon sometimes really expensive.

EU data roaming on European sim cards

The European Union came in 2017 finally with the genius idea to let go of roaming charges within the EU countries. Therefore in 2017 people can use their sim card from Spain in Italy and their Germany sim card in Sweden without any extra charges. For people looking for a sim card for Europe travel this was the best news ever of course.

Therefore upon arrival in Europe you can potentially buy a local prepaid sim card for tourists and be connected to the internet in all other countries you visit in Europe. However, there are a lot of exceptions, so keep reading…

The biggest exceptions are: UK, Switzerland, Iceland and Norway. As you might know these are countries in Europe, but they are NOT all part of the European Union, which means roaming costs can apply for these countries.

Brexit threw the UK out of the European Union and one of the major problems is the free EU roaming on UK prepaid sim cards. Most of the prepaid and eSIM cards you buy in the UK do not include free EU roaming anymore. For more info see my guide for buying a sim card in the UK in 2024 .

Why buying a sim card for Europe

A very simple question... Do you need a prepaid sim card when visiting Europe? First of all you want to avoid high roaming costs. Always turn off data roaming on your sim card from home. Data roaming without a plan can be ridiculously expensive. Charges of up to $3 USD per MEGABYTE are very common. That means opening the Instagram app only will cost you $100 USD.

To avoid roaming costs you can also opt for an international plan from your home provider. These plans are alway more expensive than prepaid sim cards for Europe. Don't pay $5 - $10 USD per day to have internet on your phone in Europe!

Although there is WiFi everywhere in Europe, just don't rely on it. Definitely when traveling on busses, trains and road trips make sure you have internet on your phone.

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First of all public WiFi can not be trusted in speed, signal and security. What if the signal in your hotel room is weak and you can't change rooms? Or the WiFi is too slow to upload an Instagram story. Having a working data connection on your phone makes traveling so much easier and also much more fun!

Also another reminder that surfing the internet on public WiFi is through an UNSECURED network. The use of a VPN is recommended in these cases to protect your privacy.

Think about ordering a cab on the streets through a taxi app, or getting directions from Google Maps and finding a nearby restaurants with good reviews or finding out the train schedule to get back to your hotel. So many reasons Traveltomtom recommends getting a sim card for your trip to Europe.

Sim cards for Europe with unlimited data

Traveltomtom does not recommend sim cards for Europe with unlimited data. With most of these sim cards you will end up frustrated! Always double check at what speed you get unlimited data, because in reality 'unlimited' is mostly not really unlimited.

There is pretty much always a FUP (Fair Use Policy) on these Europe sim cards with unlimited data.

For example Holafly sells eSIM cards with unlimited data for Europe, but in the small letters you will find this:  the eSIM includes unlimited data for the contracted time. However, please note that the carrier may reserve the right to apply a Fair Usage Policy.

This literally means that if the operator thinks you are using too much data on a day, they reduce your data speed. Holafly does not specify what the FUP is. From my own experience I can tell you that this already applies sometimes after using 2 GB data per day.

When this happens your data speed is reduced to something like 512 Kbps which means you can barely send a photo through WhatsApp and your social media apps won't work for a full 24 hours.

To avoid all this hassle, Traveltomtom does not recommend sim cards for Europe with unlimited data, unless the Fair Use Policy is clearly mentioned and it is per month rather than per day. An FUP per day can be really frustrating!

Local prepaid sim cards vs. European sim cards

All sim cards mentioned in this article are sim cards including FREE EU data roaming intended for those that visit several countries in Europe. However, if you only visit one countries in Europe you might be better off buying a local sim card on arrival.

Local sim cards are mostly valid in 1 country only. Especially for a trip to Eastern Europe I would recommend buying a local sim card, rather than a European sim card if you want to save money.

For a complete overview of all sim card prices per country have a look at my guide for how to buy a local prepaid sim card in Europe in 2024 .

I love traveling in Europe off the beaten path , have a look at my 12 secret places to visit. I bet some of them you have never even heard of.

Getting connected is the first thing I do when I get to a new country. Depending on the length of my trip that means either buying a local prepaid sim card on arrival or ordering an eSIM card online. Must say that the last years on all my trips to Europe I bought an eSIM card since it is just much easier and less hassle.

Buying a local sim card on arrival in Europe

Sometimes the best European sim card deals you get on arrival in Europe. In France for example you get 150 GB data for €20 EUR ($22 USD) and data bundles in Italy are also very affordable with lots of data. Most countries in Eastern Europe offer amazing local prepaid sim card deals with sometimes more than 50 GB data for less than $10 USD but these local prepaid sim cards often do NOT offer free EU data roaming or very limited.

Therefore I recommend you to check my complete guide for buying a local sim card in Europe in 2024 , with a specific list of every country in Europe and what prices to expect on arrival before buying a sim card for Europe.

Traveltomtom also wrote sim card guides for all major airports in Europe: Zurich ,  London Heathrow , London Gatwick , Copenhagen , Amsterdam , Paris , Frankfurt , Dublin , Madrid , Manchester , Lisbon , Rome , Milan , Venice , Vienna , Oslo , Athens , Barcelona ,  Berlin , Budapest , Geneva , Bucharest , Tirana , Budapest , Prague , Brussels  and many more.

I hope all the above tips for finding the best sim card for your trip to Europe in 2024 were helpful. If you still have questions please don't hesitate to leave me a comment below.

Looking for off the beaten path destinations in Europe then click on the link and I bet most of those places you have never even heard of. Let me fuel you with some more wanderlust.

Because Traveltomtom would also like to visit every country in the world  you can already find more than 200 sim card guides on Traveltomtom from all around the world: USA , Canada , Mexico , Colombia , South Africa , Asia , Turkey ,  Saudi Arabia ,  Hong Kong , Thailand , Singapore , Brazil , Philippines , Egypt , China , Australia , New Zealand  and many more!

So next time you plan your adventure abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid sim card and eSIM card advice for your next holiday destination. Bookmark me!

If interested check out my Instagram profile @traveltomtom to see more of my journey to visit every country in the world . As of August 2024 I have traveled to more than 155 countries, but no rush to reach 197.

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

Enjoy your trip to Europe!

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• eastern europe
• europe sim card

Travel Europe on a Budget

The Savvy Backpacker

City Guides .\33 a132798-3f3b-4585-954d-7e70cf863447{fill:#231f20}

Guide to using smartphones, sim cards, and data plans in europe.

What you need to know about using smartphones, high-speed data plans, and SIM cards in Europe — without spending a fortune.

phones and technology

Having a high-speed data plan while traveling Europe is almost a necessity these days—especially for using Google Maps and finding restaurants. Unfortunately, using iPhones and Android smartphones in Europe can be confusing and expensive  if you’re not careful.

In this guide, I’ll cover everything you need to know about using smartphones in Europe—including how to buy cheap high-speed data plans, how to buy SIM cards in Europe, and other strategies for using your smartphone abroad.

Will Your Smartphone Work In Europe: The Basics

Virtually all modern smartphones (iPhone 7 and newer) are compatible with Europe’s mobile infrastructure and every major US carrier has international data plans—so your smartphone should automatically work once you arrive in Europe.

Furthermore, all the major US carriers have partnerships with local European carriers so your phone will connect to the internet.

However, many of these international plans offered by US mobile carriers are expensive so you might get hit with costly international data roaming if you’re not careful (and the speeds can be slow so you’re not getting much for your money).

Your other option is to buy a prepaid European SIM Card or eSIM data plan [Note: eSIM is quickly becoming the standard]. These prepaid data plans are a much cheaper option and you get better service, but there can sometimes be quirks and technical issues.

Both methods have pros and cons (as well as a few quirks) so keep reading as I’ll try to cover all the different options below.

Using Your American Mobile Data Plan In Europe

The easiest way to use your American phone in Europe is to add an international data plan to your current mobile service—every major carrier lets you do this. Simply call them up or go online and they’ll gladly upgrade your account to work with European carriers they have service agreements with. In many cases, your phone will automatically connect without you needing to do anything.

The major downside is extremely high costs and not great service—you often get slow speeds and limited data. For example, some of these data plans charge you $15 a day for 100MB of data at 3G or 2G speeds. Calls are still around $1/minute and texts can cost as much as $.25 per message. So yeah, it’s pretty terrible…

If you want actual high-speed data while traveling in Europe that won’t cost a fortune you’ll need a European prepaid data plan—don’t worry, it’s a very easy process. Click here to skip to the “ How To Buy A SIM Card With High-Speed Data in Europe ” section of this article.

I’ve listed out the international data plan details of the biggest US carriers:

NOTE: Many US carriers claim to give you 4G/LTE speeds in Europe with their International Plans but most users experience 3G or even 2G speeds (I can personally attest to this). For reference, even 3G speeds will struggle with Google Maps or even simple web browsing.

Using T-Mobile In Europe

T-Mobile made headlines a few years ago when it started offering free and unlimited international data, text, and cheap international calls with most of its plans. This made T-Mobile a very popular choice for budget travelers.

Customers with Magenta and Magenta MAX phone plans get unlimited texting and data in 210+ countries and up to 5GB of 4G LTE data (unlimited 2G speeds thereafter). 5GB of data is a good amount for web browsing, e-mail, social media, and the occasional use of certain features like GPS/maps. But, if you’re going on a longer trip then you might eat up all your data before your travel is finished.

If you need more data, you can add an International Pass to receive additional high-speed data:

• International Pass: 512MB of high-speed data at up to LTE speeds and unlimited calling, to be used for up to 24 hours, for $5/day.
• 5GB International Pass: 5GB of high-speed data at up to LTE speeds and unlimited calling, to be used for up to 10 days, for $35.
• 15GB International Pass: 15GB of high-speed data at up to LTE speeds and unlimited calling, to be used for up to 30 days, for $50.

Customers also get unlimited texting and Wi-Fi when they fly with Gogo in-flight on Alaska, Delta, and American Airlines flights to/from/within the US.

Visit the T-Mobile website for more information.

Using Verizon In Europe

Verizon isn’t great when it comes to international data travelers because their plans are expensive and you don’t get much data.

• For an extra $10/day you can take your normal Verizon plan and use it in Europe. You do get 4G speed on the first 2GB of data per day but then the speed is throttled down to 2G after that.
• Verizon’s monthly international travel plan is an extra $100/month and it gives you a total of 5GB of data for the entire month. After you hit your limit your speeds are throttled down.
• You can also pay as you go but it’s extremely expensive. Data is $2.05/MB and texts cost $.50 each.

Visit the Verizon website for more information.

Using AT&T In Europe

AT&T is decent when it comes to using their data plans in Europe but it still isn’t great.

• For an extra $10/day you can take your existing AT&T plan and use it in Europe. Data will be drawn from your domestic plan allowance with the same data and speed restrictions so that’s pretty nice if you have a good US plan. There are some other conditions so read up on those.
• AT&T automatically opts you into the Internation Day Pass as soon as your phone tries to access data (many apps connect to data in the background) so make sure you don’t accidentally use any data because you’ll be charged the $10/day.
• The AT&T Passport is a monthly plan that comes in two options — $70/month for 2GB of data or $140/month for 6GB of data.
• Note: They charge a hefty overage of $30/GB so watch your data usage.

Check out the AT&T website for more information.

How To Buy A SIM Card With A High-Speed Data Plan In Europe

You can also use your American smartphone in Europe by replacing your phone’s physical SIM card with a SIM card of a European mobile carrier so your phone will operate on a European network.

UPDATE: Most new phones are eSIM compatible—which doesn’t require you to install a new physical SIM card. You simply buy the prepaid data plan, scan a QR code that’s sent to your email to install the digital “card” instantly, and you’re ready to go. I’ll cover eSIM Data Plans later in this article or you can read my Guide To The Best eSIM Data Plans for Europe .

There are dozens of mobile phone carriers in Europe so competition is fierce—which keeps the prices down and the service competitive. That’s why using a European mobile carrier is much cheaper, the data speeds are much faster, and you’ll get much more data allowances compared to US plans.

For example, you can often find prepaid data plans that offer 20GB of high-speed data for €20/month and the service works in any EU country. Additionally, nearly every plan will also come with talk and text as part of the package.

NOTE: By law, there are no international roaming charges within the European Union so if you buy your SIM card within the EU then that service will work in any other EU country with no extra charges.

The downsides of buying a European SIM card are the hassle of buying the SIM, activating the service, and dealing with any potential tech issues (which are becoming rarer but they still happen). That said, getting your service set up is usually very straightforward and should only take a few minutes.

NOTE: Using a European SIM card will give you a European phone number so people won’t be able to call your US number until you reinstall your original SIM card (unless you have a phone with two SIM Card slots). Additionally, some apps and other services sometimes use two-factor authentication that’s tied to your phone number so these won’t work since your phone number will be changed when the new SIM is installed.

HOWEVER: This isn’t the case if you use an eSIM because eSIMs let you use both your original SIM card and the eSIM at the same time.

How To Unlock Your Smartphone

Many American mobile phone companies use software to “lock” their smartphones to their network so the phone won’t work if you install a SIM card from another company.

However, you can unlock your phone by calling your mobile carrier and asking them to unlock it because you’re going to travel abroad (you might need to visit a store to get it unlocked).

Unlocking your smartphone can be a hassle because some carriers make you jump through hoops and they have different criteria about which customers are “eligible” to unlock their phone. So contact your carrier to see what you need to do—I recommend not waiting until the last minute in case there are issues.

What If Your Mobile Carrier Won’t Unlock Your Smartphone?

Unfortunately, some mobile carriers refuse to unlock phones while they’re still under contract. In this case, I recommend using an old smartphone that you don’t use anymore or using the company’s international data plan.

Old phones make great travel phones since it’s not a huge deal if they get lost/stolen/broken. You can often find people selling factory-unlocked phones or cheap older-model smartphones online that will be perfectly capable of basic things like texting, Google Maps, and light web browsing.

Remember, you can still use your current smartphone in Europe for photos and then hop into a coffee shop to upload stuff via their WiFi.

Buying A SIM Card Before You Travel

The easiest option is to buy a prepaid European SIM card before you travel and have it mailed to your home address—this way you’re ready to go the second you arrive in Europe. The prices are typically a little higher than buying in Europe but it’s a more convenient option.

UPDATE: If your phone is eSIM compatible, I recommend buying an eSIM instead of a physical SIM card because it’s way more convenient, you get to keep your original SIM card in your phone, and delivery is instant so you don’t have to pay for shipping. Check out the eSIM data plans at SimOptions and Holafly  for popular eSIM plans.

As an added bonus, many of the SIM cards I’ve listed have little/no activation so the service starts the second you install the SIM card. But others might have you register them online when you get the card but it’s usually pretty simple.

I’m a fan of SimOptions because they are authorized resellers of multiple SIM card plans (and eSIM plans) from many of Europe’s largest mobile providers like Orange, Three UK, Bouygues Telecom, and 02.

ORANGE HOLIDAY EUROPE PREPAID SIM CARD

The  Orange Holiday Europe Prepaid SIM Card  is probably the best all-around option for SIM cards that can be purchased abroad because it offers a lot of data for a good price — and it includes a lot of worldwide calls and text.

Additionally, Orange is one of the largest mobile companies in Europe and they have great coverage throughout most of Europe (which isn’t always the case with smaller European carriers).

Plan Specs:

• PRICE:  $50
• DATA:  30GB
• CALLS:  Unlimted in Europe and 1200 minutes worldwide
• TEXT:  Unlimted in Europe and 1000 worldwide
• CAN BE USED AS A MOBILE HOTSPOT?:  Yes
• CREDIT VALID FOR:  14 Days

The Orange Holiday Europe plan is good because it gives you a lot of mobile data for a decent price but the only possible drawback is the 14-day validity period — which doesn’t matter if your trip is less than two weeks. That said, you can buy an extra 10GB of credit after the two weeks are up for around $25.

If you need less data and want to save a little money, check out the  $30 Orange Holiday plan  that gives you 8GB of data for 14 days.

The Orange Holiday plans are also available as an eSIM—which means you don’t have to wait for delivery or pay for shipping (assuming your phone is eSIM compatible). Check out the  eSIM data plans at SimOptions  to get the details on both the Orange Holiday Europe eSIM and the Orange Holiday Zen eSIM plans. Learn more about eSIM data plans and see if your phone accepts eSIM cards in my  Guide to Prepaid eSIM Data Plans in Europe .

BOUYGUES TELECOM VACATION PREPAID SIM CARD

The  Bouygues Telecom Vacation Prepaid Plan  is very similar to the Orange Holiday Zen but the Bouygues plan must be activated in France — so that’s a huge drawback.

• DATA:  20GB
• CALLS:  Unlimted in Europe
• TEXT:  Unlimted in Europe
• USED AS MOBILE HOTSPOT?:  NO
• CREDIT VALID FOR:  30 Days
• Must be activated in France but can be used anywhere in the EU.

Bouygues now offers their Bouygues My European eSIM prepaid data plan to compete with the Orange Holiday Europe eSIM. It comes with 30GB of data and it is valid for 30 days so it’s worth checking out. Visit  SimOptions.com  to get all the details.

Holafly Unlimited Data eSIM

Holafly is an eSIM startup I’ve also personally used in Europe—the service was great and I got very fast data speeds (read my Holafly eSIM Review to learn more). Unlike other companies, Holafly’s plans give you unlimited data but they might throttle your data if you use excessive data. Holafly’s plans come in set durations of 5 to 90 days so it’s convenient for multiple trip lengths.

Holafly eSIM plans now come with an Austrian phone number that gives you 60 minutes of calls to and from other European phone numbers. It doesn’t come with SMS text messages but you can send iMessages between iPhones or use WhatsApp.

• 5 Days: $19
• 10 Days: $34
• 15 Days: $47
• 20 Days: $54
• 30 Days: $64
• 60 Days: $84
• 90 Days: $99
• Service Speed: 5G/4G/LTE
• Calls: Includes an Austrian phone number that comes with 60 minutes of calls to/from European numbers (except Iceland, Norway, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Ukraine, and Turkey).
• Texts/SMS: None
• Tethering: No

THREE UK PAYG AIO15

Three UK is another large European mobile carrier and their  PAYG AIO15  plan is a good value for people who don’t need the 20GB offered by the Orange Holiday Europe plan. I like how the plan has a validity period of 30 days so it’s good for longer trips.

• PRICE:  $30
• DATA:  10GB
• USED AS A MOBILE HOTSPOT?:  No

Where To Buy A SIM Card in Europe

Buying a European SIM card is easy because they’re sold virtually everywhere — including airports, vending machines, grocery stores, and more. If you have an eSIM, you can buy them online from SimOptions and Holafly .

Here are a few of the most popular places you’ll find SIM cards:

• Carrier-Specific Shops: The major mobile carriers will have their own stores where they’ll help get your service set up. Most employees should speak some English but they install SIM cards all day so they’ll be able to set you up without much communication needed.
• Third-Party Phone Shops: Many mobile phone shops sell a range of phone plans from multiple companies. Employees might be able to offer some help getting set up but service probably won’t be as good as carrier-specific shops.
• Newsstands, Tobacco Shops, Vending Machines, etc: You can find SIM cards in multiple smaller shops at airports, train stations, and randomly throughout most cities but don’t expect any customer service.

Types Of Prepaid Mobile Data Plans in Europe

There are dozens of mobile carriers and each will have multiple plans (either pay-as-you-go or bundled ) so just pick one that best fits your needs — I recommend sticking with the major carriers since they’re typically the most user-friendly and should give you the best speed/coverage.

Pay-As-You-Go Mobile Data

With Pay-As-You-Go plans, you buy a set amount of credit that you add to your account and then you reload more money onto your account once your credit runs out. Service with pay-as-you-go plans is more expensive but it’s the cheapest option if you use your phone sparingly.

Bundle Mobile Data Plans

A Bundle Mobile plan is the best option for extremely heavy data users since you pay a lot less per gigabyte of data. Most carriers offer multiple bundle plans so just pick the one that fits you best. That said, many Bundle Plans come with a monthly contract so it doesn’t make sense for the average traveler since it’s geared toward residents.

How Much Do Mobile Data Plans Cost in Europe?

Mobile data plan prices in Europe vary widely based on the country, plan options, and various deals at the time—so it’s hard to accurately predict how much you’ll pay. However, here are some example prices so you can have a better idea of how much you’ll potentially pay:

• SFR (French) offers a €20 plan with 25 GB of mobile data that’s good for 30 days or a €10 plan with 10 GB good for 8 days.
• Orange Prepaid Holiday SIM Card (French) costs around €40 and it gives you 20 GB of mobile data good for 14 days (you can add more credit as you go). While it is more expensive, you can have this SIM card shipped to your US address before you leave. Good throughout the EU.
• TIM (Italian) has a tourist-specific plan called  Tim Tourist  for €20 (+ €10 for the SIM) that includes 15 GB of data in Italy and up to 6 GB in the EU for 30 days.
• Vodafone (Italian) has its  Dolce Vita  tourist plan for €25/month which includes 30 GB in Italy (15 GB in the EU).
• Orange Holidays Spain (Spain) Orange’s Holidays Spain is their tourist plan that is €20/month for 30 GB of data in Spain/EU.

How To Install A SIM Card And Activate Your Service

Installing a SIM card is simple and only takes a minute — all you need to do is take the old SIM out and put the new one in.

• Installing SIM Card In An iPhone: On an iPhone, the SIM card is located in a little slot on the side of the phone. You pop it out with a SIM card tool or a paper clip. Simply take the old SIM out and put the new one in (put your old SIM card in a safe place).
• Installing SIM Card In An Android Phone: Android phones typically have the SIM card located where the battery is located or in a slot like the iPhone. Simply take the old SIM card out and put the new one in (put your old SIM card in a safe place).

Typically the phone will recognize the new SIM card and it should automatically connect to the new carrier’s network (it may prompt you to restart the phone after installing).

Your SIM card will come with instructions in English on how to finish setting up your service. Typically, you can either add credit to “pay as you go” or you can buy a pre-paid monthly plan that gives you a bundle of services (data, talk, text, etc.).

NOTE: Some countries require that you register your SIM card so you may have to show your passport and/or list a local address (you can often use your hotel or rental apartment address).

How To Top Up Your SIM Card

Once you run out of credit you’ll need to “top up” your SIM card to add more credit to your account. Most companies let you top up via their website or you can buy credit at newsstands, grocery stores, etc. Typically you’re given a code that you enter into your phone and that is how the credit is added.

Possible Problems Using A European SIM Card

As mentioned previously, some people have problems activating their European SIM cards/mobile service. Here are a few of the most common issues:

Needing An Address/Passport: Some countries require that all SIM cards must be registered and that usually means needing to give them a local address when you activate the service. Often you can just put in any address (like a hotel, etc.) but some places require you to show your passport as well.

Technical Trouble: For the best service, it’s recommended to buy your SIM directly from a mobile company’s physical store. This way they’ll be able to get everything activated right there. Some cheaper companies make you phone them to activate and they might not have any English speakers. The store might not have English speakers but it’s much easier to get stuff done in person.

Getting The Correct Size SIM Card: SIM cards come in different physical sizes so make sure you get the size that matches your phone’s specs.

Stick With Major Carriers: Europe has a ton of smaller mobile carriers but the major players usually have the best service and speeds. You might end up paying a little more but it’s probably worth the cost to avoid issues.

More Tips On Using Your Mobile Phone In Europe

Buy A Portable Battery Charger

Using apps like Google Maps and taking photos kills your phone battery so a portable battery is a must-have. I use  Anker PowerCore 10000  because it’s tiny and affordable but there are multiple options.

Using Free WiFi While Traveling Europe

I think people overestimate how easy it is to find free wifi in Europe. Yes, free wifi is becoming more prevalent throughout Europe. However, it’s hard to rely exclusively on free wifi since it can be a pain to find a free network when you need it.

The best places to find free wifi are McDonald’s, Starbucks, cafés, coffee shops, and hostels/hotels — but getting connected is rarely super convenient, reliable, or fast.

Relying on free wifi fails when it comes to day-to-day stuff like using Google Maps, looking up restaurant reviews via Google/Trip Advisor/Yelp, using random apps, using Uber, booking e-tickets, using email, etc. because these are things you typically do spur of the moment. That’s why I prefer to have the option of having mobile data because having to seek out a coffee shop every time I want to use the internet gets tiring very quickly.

How To Lower Your Mobile Data Usage

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

Block Data to Specific Apps

Many smartphone apps continue to access data in the background so you can use data without even realizing it.

That’s why I go into the settings and disable data access to individual apps that I know I won’t be using.

Download Offline Maps

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

Make Calls Over WiFi

WhatsApp is an excellent app for free calling and text messages — I’ve found that many Europeans exclusively use WhatsApp to communicate (including many Airbnb hosts).

More Europe Travel Advice From The Savvy Backpacker

I’ve written about budget travel in Europe since 2010 and here are a few articles to help you save money:

• How Much to Budget For Backpacking Through Europe
• How Much It Costs To Travel Europe  (For Multiple Travel Styles)
• Backpacking Europe Packing List
• Travel Europe Packing List for Women
• Guide to Prepaid eSIM Data Plans in Europe .
• Traveling outside Europe, too? Check out our guide to the best International SIM cards .
• Recent Posts

• How To Buy Train Tickets in France | Guide To Buying French Train Tickets - July 26, 2024
• France Train Guide — How To Travel France By Train - July 25, 2024
• Best Prepaid USA eSIM Data Plans For Travelers | eSIM Buyer’s Guide - July 3, 2024

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Thanks For Reading! — James

Questions? Learn more about our Strict Advertising Policy and How To Support Us .

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The Best Smart Phones to Use When You Travel

In this post, Dave Dean from Too Many Adapters shares his best tips and advice on how to pick the best smartphone for when you travel.

As a travel tech writer, I get asked about using smartphones for travel all the time. The minute we head overseas with our phones, we’re hit with a confusing mess of technical jargon, expensive roaming agreements, conflicting advice, and nonworking gear. Trying to discuss the nuances of GSM frequency bands or iPhone unlock codes with a mobile vendor in a dusty Cambodian town isn’t my idea of fun, and I doubt it’s yours either.

Since we all want our smartphones to work when we travel, I’ve put together this guide covering everything you need to know to get your smartphone working overseas — as well as the best smartphones for travel. It’s detailed, but not too complicated, and will save you money, time, and plenty of frustration!

The Best Travel Smartphones

Traveling with a Smartphone: Tips and Advice

This is an inexpensive way to stay connected with phone and data service while you travel. The downside is that you’ll have to change SIM cards every time you change countries, so you may end up carrying a stack of SIM cards around the world with you (though I like being reminded of all the places I’ve been!).

Here are some other tips for using your phone:

1. Only use Wi-Fi when possible – Your smartphone will still connect over Wi-Fi just fine, so replace calling with Skype or Google Voice, SMS with WhatsApp, and download a bunch of offline travel apps to use when you’re away from a signal. You’ll be surprised how well that approach can work, and not getting notifications all the time is quite refreshing.

You can download Google Maps and download the map of the city online then use it without Wi-Fi. Also, you can search for your destination in Google Maps and it still works when you don’t have Wi-Fi if your location is on. You can also take screenshots and save them.

Some cities even have free public Wi-Fi in parks and public spaces like airports and train stations. If you really need it, lots of international chains like McDonald’s and Starbucks have Wi-Fi if you buy something to eat or drink. Remember to be careful with your data on these open networks (a VPN is recommended).

2. Buy a budget smartphone – While there’s a lot of junk at the bottom of the smartphone range, there are a few decent phones for travelers under $200. My current favorite is the Motorola Moto G — you’ll want to buy a microSD card for some extra storage, but other than that it’s a reasonably speedy smartphone, with a battery that lasts all day. Tip: grab the “Global” version for maximum compatibility overseas. You’ll still need to buy local SIM cards to put in it.

3. Rent a phone – You can rent phones at airports and from various companies before you leave home, but I’d only consider it for a short trip to a specific country where my usual phone didn’t work. For anything other than that, it’s cheaper just to buy a new one.

4. Rent or buy a portable hotspot – Portable hotspots are small gadgets that create a wireless network and share a cellular data connection over it — you can typically connect 5 or 10 devices to the network you create. You can rent one for short trips at an inflated daily or weekly rate, or you can buy an unlocked hotspot and stick a local SIM card in it, just as if it were a phone. Your smartphone will treat this like any other Wi-Fi network.

Getting your smartphone to work overseas without coming home to a huge bill isn’t always a straightforward task. But with a bit of time and effort, you’ll know exactly what options you’ve got when you’re on the road and you’ll be able to use your phone overseas.

Do your research, avoid the rip-offs, buy one of the above best smartphones when you travel, and you’ll be able to stay in touch, stay connected, and stay Instagramming when you travel!

Dave runs Too Many Adapters , a site devoted to technology for travelers. A geek as long as he can remember, he worked in IT for 15 years. Now based out of a backpack long term, Dave writes about travel and tech from anywhere with half-decent Internet and a great view. You can also find him talking about the life of a long-term traveler at What’s Dave Doing?  

Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner . It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld . If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• SafetyWing (best for everyone)
• InsureMyTrip (for those 70 and over)
• Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Want to Travel for Free? Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.

Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip? Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.

Got a comment on this article? Join the conversation on Facebook , Instagram , or Twitter and share your thoughts!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to keeping the site community supported and ad free.

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How to Buy a Prepaid Phone in Europe

Last Updated: March 28, 2024

Buy a New Phone & SIM

Bring your phone & buy a sim.

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Christopher M. Osborne, PhD . Christopher Osborne has been a wikiHow Content Creator since 2015. He is also a historian who holds a PhD from The University of Notre Dame and has taught at universities in and around Pittsburgh, PA. His scholarly publications and presentations focus on his research interests in early American history, but Chris also enjoys the challenges and rewards of writing wikiHow articles on a wide range of subjects. This article has been viewed 209,661 times. Learn more...

If you’re travelling to Europe from North America or parts of Asia, your mobile phone may not work in Europe. And, even if it does, you may find it cheaper and more convenient to buy a prepaid phone there. You can actually either buy both a phone and SIM card in Europe, or bring a compatible phone and buy a SIM card that works with it. In either case, do some online research to figure out the specific processes for buying SIM cards (with or without phones) in your European destination(s). In many cases, thankfully, it’s as easy as walking into a convenience store and handing over some Euros!

Prepaid Cell Phones for European Travel

• If your phone is unlocked and GSM-compatible, you can buy a SIM card for your destination country.
• If you're already traveling, visit a local cell phone store to buy a prepaid European phone and SIM card.
• For a simple affordable option, buy a no-frills cell phone with a built-in SIM that you can reload as needed.

• All European mobile phones (EU and non-EU) operate on the GSM system, as opposed to the CDMA system used in North America and some parts of Asia. CDMA-only phones won’t work in Europe.
• GSM phones always require an installed SIM card that’s affiliated with a mobile carrier in order to operate on a mobile network.
• You can buy a new SIM card (with or without a phone) in each country you visit, or use the same SIM card throughout the EU without incurring roaming charges—up to a set limit.
• SIM cards are easy to buy in most European countries, but some, like Germany, have significant security-related restrictions that make the process much less convenient for tourists.

• The shops at your arrival airport usually sell phones and SIM cards, but the prices may be a bit higher.

• These carrier-specific shops, of course, only sell phones and SIM cards linked to their network. This means you’ll have fewer options and may end up paying more as a result.

• If you prefer a prepaid basic-model smartphone, expect the starting price point to be closer to $100 USD.

• An unlocked feature phone (without SIM card) may start as low as $40 USD. A basic unlocked smartphone may be $100-300, while higher-end phones tend to be in the $500-$900 USD range.

• If you buy the phone and SIM card separately, you’ll have to first install the card in the appropriate slot.
• Make sure the phone is set to your preferred language. The clerk should be able to help with that if needed.

• Some mobile carriers in Europe permit you to “top off” your talk/text/data online instead. Check the package and/or inserts that come with your phone-plus-SIM card combo to see if this is an option.

• Some carriers do not permit phones on their network to be unlocked. This is more likely if you purchased your phone as part of a 2-year (or alternate time period) contract.
• You’ll still need to buy at least one SIM card that is compatible for use in Europe once you arrive.

• Don’t buy a SIM card with the phone, unless it is clearly labeled as compatible with a particular European mobile phone carrier. SIM cards intended for use in North America, for instance, normally won’t work in Europe.
• Buying a phone at home to bring to Europe versus buying a phone in Europe really comes down to personal choice. The prices are usually fairly comparable.

• If you’re travelling to multiple European Union (EU) member nations, you can buy your SIM card in a country where it’s easy to get one and use it throughout the EU. There won’t be any roaming charges until you reach a predetermined usage limit.

• You’ll still find SIM cards for sale throughout Germany, but you have to provide both a valid photo ID and proof of a German mailing address, then wait for the SIM card to be mailed to that address. [12] X Research source

• Also make sure that the SIM card fits your phone! The standard SIM card is a common size that fits most phones, but some newer phones use micro SIM cards. Compatible major phone brands should be listed on the SIM card package.

• Do this while you’re still in the store where you bought the SIM card. Ask the clerk for help with installation or troubleshooting if necessary.

• You’ll get a new number every time you buy a new SIM card.
• Calls to your normal number will go to voicemail, and you won’t be able to access these voicemails unless your mobile provider at home offers a means for getting them online.

Community Q&A

• In some cases, you can use a North American SIM card in Europe depending on the type of rate plan and international features you have. Contact your mobile phone provider to verify rates and to check if your rate plan supports your ability to roam on networks in Europe. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Although prices and rates may vary between all options, using prepaid European SIM cards is generally the less expensive option compared to using a North American SIM card. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• You may need to purchase a plug adapter for your mobile phone if you are using a North American phone in Europe, or if you want to charge your European phone in North America before you travel. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.german-way.com/travel-and-tourism/telephone-tips-for-germany/cell-phones-in-europe/
• ↑ https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/phones-tech/cell-phone-europe
• ↑ https://thewirecutter.com/blog/burner-phone-international-travel/

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How to Buy a Cell Phone in Europe and Avoid Roaming Charges

Bronek Kaminski/Getty Images

Europe has adopted GSM ( Global System for Mobile Communications ) as its mobile communications standard unlike the United States, which left companies to create their own standards, resulting in largely incompatible networks.

If you're traveling to Europe or most Asian countries and want to use a cellular phone but also wish to avoid roaming charges, the GSM standard makes it easy to buy a phone that works, but there are some things you need to know about getting an unlocked version that works abroad.

Because you need a device that can allow for dual-band reception on a GSM and Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card and most phones sold in the United States are "locked" into one carrier and SIM card, you'll need to purchase an unlocked cell phone if you hope to get reception in Europe.

Unlocked GSM Phones and SIM Cards

To make cell phone calls in Europe you'll need an unlocked dual-band GSM phone and a SIM card . The countries of Europe use the dual-band frequencies of 900 to 1800 while America primarily uses 850 to 1900.

When shopping for an unlocked GSM phone , you'll want a tri-band 900/1800/1900 (or 850/1800/1900) or a quad-band 850-900-1800-1900 if you intend to use it in the U.S. as well as in Europe. You may use a tri-band 850-1800-1900 unlocked cell phone in Europe, but you'll be giving up coverage in the 900 band, which is the most common band for international cell phone communications.

Many companies in the US sell locked cell phones which provide only one SIM card option for use with each phone linked to one particular carrier, which means you won't be able to use these abroad. Unlocked cell phones, on the other hand, are what you need as they allow the use of any SIM card, as long as the frequency capabilities are correct.

Buying Ahead of Time

It's important to remember when traveling internationally that you should take care of all your phone-related needs before you leave U.S. soil, especially if you plan to keep your same carrier and use the same service abroad.

You can check your U.S. carrier to see what roaming costs will apply, but with the low cost of cell phones and international SIM cards, you might be better off just buying an unlocked cell phone like the LG Optimus L5, and you can also request that your carrier unlock your currently locked phone.

The postage stamp sized SIM card is the heart and brains of the cell phone and will need to be purchased from your carrier for the country you'll be traveling to before you depart. The SIM card will determine the phone's number and allow access to the services that particular SIM card supports. Prices vary with country and services, and with a prepaid card , you'll probably receive unlimited incoming calls from anywhere in the world, some free calling time, and fairly reasonable long-distance rates (around half a Euro per minute).

Where to Get Them

Not long ago you were best off purchasing your cell phone and SIM card in the United States from a dealer who specialized in selling and renting cell phones for use abroad. However, you can now typically get these from your American service provider, too.

One benefit of getting the card early is that the number of your phone is embedded in the card, so you'll be able to give that number out to family and friends and activate the SIM when you get to your destination. You can easily add calling time to the original SIM so you don't have to change numbers each time you run out of call time.

These days it's also not hard to just go to a country and buy a SIM card at a very reasonable price. The Italian cards , for instance, are good for a year, have free incoming calls and messages, and allow you to purchase minutes as you go or refill from any of the many outlets, including newsstands, that recharge phones.

You can also rent a GSM cell phone, some of which come with auto rentals and leases. However, the rent on the phone along with the high usage rate often makes purchasing a GSM phone a better deal; you can likely save enough to pay for the phone on your first trip if you make several calls.

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Dear Wirecutter: What’s a Good Burner Phone for International Travel?

Published May 4, 2017

Q: My mother-in-law is heading to Europe for six weeks and wants to get a burner phone. She currently uses AT&T. Is there a cheap phone you can recommend? Also, would it better to get a SIM card in the US or once she’s in Germany? Will calls be forwarded from her original number?

A: If your mother is in Germany for six weeks, she should definitely get a local SIM once she’s there rather than use AT&T’s international roaming, which costs $10 a day. ( Local SIMs are also a better deal than buying a world or travel SIM in the US.) If she were on T-Mobile or Google Fi, which have much better international roaming, she’d be fine just using her regular SIM. However, if she swaps SIM cards, calls to her US number (tied to her original SIM card) won’t be forwarded to her new international number (tied to her new SIM card) unless she sets up call forwarding through AT&T, which could be expensive.

To get around this, she could sign up for Google Voice while in the States and forward her US number to Google Voice . Then, when she’s on Wi-Fi or cellular data in Europe, she could at least get the voicemails and missed calls from her US number sent to her phone, and call people back using a VOIP app like Skype, Google Voice, or Viber that has a low cost per minute for international calls. (Unfortunately, Google Voice can’t forward calls from a US to an international number.)

Cheap, dual-SIM Android phone

An inexpensive Android phone with two SIM slots, so you can use both your original SIM and a local SIM from wherever you’re traveling to.

Buying Options

Because your mother-in-law is on AT&T, her phone will work in Germany if it’s unlocked or if she can get it unlocked . However, if she wants a smartphone she doesn’t have to worry about losing or breaking while she’s overseas, the Blu R1 HD , which you can get for $60 with Amazon ads if you’re an Amazon Prime member (and is now free of preinstalled spyware ), is the cheapest acceptable option. It actually has two SIM slots, which sounds convenient, because she could use a German SIM and still get calls on her AT&T number. But she’d have to pay international roaming fees if she actually picks up those calls, so it’s better to just use only the German SIM and use Google Voice for call forwarding.

The other option, if she can avoid using data or calling while in Germany, would be to bring her current phone and disable cellular features, relying solely on Wi-Fi and using Skype or similar for calls. However, given the security risks of public Wi-Fi, we recommend signing up for a good VPN if she goes this route.

If she doesn’t use a smartphone and doesn’t want to learn, PCMag’s lead mobile analyst Sascha Segan is one of the few people who still review feature phones and he gave the Blu Tank II an editor’s choice award back in 2015 . That’s probably what we’d get if we wanted a $20 feature phone. Going this route would eliminate the Google Voice option (without an additional computer or tablet), but unless she needs to be reachable from the US at any moment, she can just set her US voicemail greeting to let people know she’s out of the country.

The Wirecutter’s editors answer reader questions all the time (much more than once a week). Send an email to [email protected] , or talk to us on Twitter and Facebook . Published questions are edited for space and clarity.

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• You might not need a VPN, but if you want to add an extra layer of security to your web browsing, Mullvad has been our pick for years. The Best VPN Service  

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by Michael J Kennelly

We think a factory reset of your router is an annoying but necessary precaution to protect yourself from the VPNFilter malware.

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We cooked for months with portable induction burners and found that the Duxtop 9600LS has the best features and performance for everyday cooking.

The Gadgets We Bring on Every Trip

by Ivy Liscomb

You don't have to be a digital nomad to travel like one. Here are a few gadgets and accessories to make travel as painless as possible.

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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

Checking out the best international phone plans is as crucial for an overseas trip as making sure your passport is in order. After all, you don't want to land at your destination only to find you have no coverage — or that you have to pay through the nose for service.

Fortunately, all the major U.S. wireless carriers offer some kind of travel benefit with their best cell phone plans . And if those options aren't good enough, you can also find supplementary travel packages that augment the data plan you already have in place. The trick is to make sure those options keep you covered around the globe without busting your budget.

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 provide coverage in specific 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 has shed some of its plans, though the good news is that most of the remaining options provide some benefits for overseas travel. Subscribe to 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 the cheaper Go5G option, with better travel benefits. You get 15GB of data when you traavel in Mexico and Canada (compared to 10GB for Go5G), and you also enjoy texting and Wi-Fi on any flight where internet is available. Even better, 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). Go5G subscribers only get 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 reach 256 kbps when you're overseas. If you subscribe to the standard Go5G plan ($75 for a single line) 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 Go5G Plus, which starts at $90/month for one line of data). That plan treats you to 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. Go5G Plus subscribers get full texting and Wi-Fi with streaming during flights, where wireless is available. If you opt for Go5G, 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 10GB of data if you're a Go5G customer; speeds are slowed to 128kbps after that. Go5G Plus members enjoy 15GB, with speeds slowing to 256kbps if you use more than that amount.

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 $12-a-day International Day Pass , which comes with unlimited talk and text and data governed by your plan; service is available in 210-plus countries. Each device you take overseas needs its own Day Pass, but you can add extra phones for $6 a day, on top of the first device.

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 T-Mobile's cellular towers 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 8a )  along with a selection of Samsung phones and Motorola budget devices — can switch seamlessly between cellular coverage 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. Global 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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How to use your smartphone in Europe without incurring roaming charges

January 14, 2019 by Karen Turner 4 Comments

As an American living in Europe, I’m a bit too used to the realities of using your smartphone in Europe. If you’re traveling from North America (or elsewhere in the world), you’ll need to do a couple of things to ensure that you can use your phone in Europe. I’ll be walking you through steps for reducing the data that you’re using, buying a SIM card (if needed), and ensuring that your phone can be used with a new SIM card.

• 0.1 Does your smartphone work in Europe?
• 0.2 Does your phone plan include European or global travel?
• 0.3.1.1 Some things to keep in mind*
• 0.4 Charging your smartphone in Europe: What you need to know
• 0.5.1 Where to buy a SIM Card
• 0.5.2 Activating your SIM (with help)
• 0.5.3 Save your SIM card information to top-up later.
• 0.5.4 The best European prepaid phone carriers
• 0.6.1 Data Roaming off
• 0.6.2 Airplane Mode
• 0.6.3 Offline maps
• 0.6.4 Finding good Wi-Fi
• 1 Any questions about using your smartphone in Europe?

Does your smartphone work in Europe?

Depending on your country of origin, you might have issues where your phone does not fully work on a European phone network. Phone carriers in Europe use the GSM system while phone carriers in the United States generally use the CDMA system. This means that your phone might not have a SIM card that determines the service; your phone comes with the carrier set-up for you. This can make it harder to use your smartphone in Europe without

GSM is the standard phone service for most of the world, including Europe. Your ability to call, text, and use data is transmitted thanks to the SIM card inserted into your phone. As you might imagine, it makes it easier to change phone carriers and only a fraction of American phone carriers have GSM phones.

You will want to check with your carrier before your trip to see if you can use a SIM card with your phone and if you can unlock your smartphone to use with other carriers.

Does your phone plan include European or global travel?

I recommend checking your phone plan first to see what is included. Check the terms for international roaming, how much you pay per minute in a European country that you plan on visiting, and how much you pay per GB. Similarly, see how much your provider’s package is for international roaming if it’s not included. Roaming fees can add up quickly, so keep reading if you find the price a bit high!

For Americans: I can personally vouch for how great T-Mobile is, which includes roaming with texting/data in 210+ countries, including most European countries with normal phone plans. I’m not a T-Mobile rep, but I’ve had a good experience with them myself. If you have Google Fi, you’re covered in most European countries without extra charges.

In general, it’s likely that your phone may offer a set amount to have international calling, texts, or data depending on the package. Anything over the package might cost extra.

On average, you should expect to pay about $10 per day for basic coverage in Europe through American phone carriers. That’s a high price if you’re away for a week and you only make one phone call per day. Keep reading how to save money while using your smartphone in Europe!

An unlocked phone is key if you plan on getting a SIM card

A lot of US phone carriers lock the phones that come with plans to make it harder for you to switch carriers. For your carrier to unlock your phone for free, your phone will need to have been paid for in full via the installment plan or a two-year contract. If you have a prepaid phone, it should be able to be unlocked after 12 months. Some carriers make it easier than others.

Although there are plenty of hacks online to unlock your phone, it can get you in hot water with your carrier and invalidate your phone warranty. At the end of the day, I ended up buying a new phone for my f irst backpacking trip !

If you’re traveling for a longer time, you’re better off trying to find an old phone that should be able to be unlocked that you can use OR buying a cheaper smartphone for use abroad. I include my favorites below.

Depending on the length of your trip and your current phone plan, you might want to buy a SIM card in Europe. This is often best done once you arrive , rather than ahead of time as you’re likely to pay a lot more in your home country. I’ll discuss below the best places to buy a SIM card once you arrive in Europe!

GSM friendly prepaid phones to buy as an alternative

I needed something that would work in the US and Europe, so I bought a cheap smartphone that would work in Europe. I ended up purchasing a Huawei smartphone with a dual-SIM card slot that worked beautifully.

If you’re looking to save money, European smart phones tend to be considerably cheaper and unlocked in general. You should be able to head to an electronics store once you’re in the city center in order to find a reasonable smartphone with a decent camera for 120-200 euros new. You’ll pay even less secondhand at a used phone store or for a more basic phone (60 euros).

Some things to keep in mind*

It’s important to remember that you don’t need the best smartphone ever. You simply need something that works for calling and texting as needed. I generally find that I mostly use my phone for calling hotels (when lost), calling taxis (as needed), calling family/friends to figure out their location, texting new friends, and checking directions using Google Maps offline.

Simply, I find that I use my phone less often and mostly to coordinate important travel details. That said, Wi-Fi tends to be readily available and I find that I average about one phone call per three days. Keep reading for my tips at the bottom for minimizing phone use while abr oad.

Even if your current phone is still locked by your carrier, you should be able to bring it with you with it on international roaming off and/or airplane mode on (to prevent charges) to take photos with. You can always connect on Wi-Fi to check your messages/email on your normal phone. It’s important to remember that generations of people have managed to visit Europe without a smartphone. 😉

Charging your smartphone in Europe: What you need to know

You’ll need to have a European-friendly USB plug and/or an adapter. You’ll come across two types of plugs in Europe: the square prong plug used in the UK and Malta and the rounder two prong plug used elsewhere in Europe. You can buy individual adapters for each individual outlet , but I find it’s easy to forget the correct one this way. Similarly, I hate waiting for one device to finish!

As I often travel between the United States and Europe, I ended up replacing my adapter to buy an international adapter that could handle my laptop and that had USB ports to charge my phone with. I find that this is a far easier solution that you won’t forget at home!

Buying a SIM card 101

You’ll only need one SIM Card for most of Europe. You can thank the EU for a law that states that anyone with a European SIM card will not be charged roaming charges in other EU countries!

If you’re traveling within the EU (soon not to be the U.K…), you’ll be able to use your new European SIM card in most European countries*. The good news: your European SIM card should work in the rest of Europe without you needing to do anything.

*Not included in the country list: Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia , Kosovo , Albania , Montenegro, Russia , Ukraine, Belarus, and Moldova. If these countries are on your travel list, you’ll have a great time, but you’ll need to buy the SIM card in each country when you arrive.

Where to buy a SIM Card

Usually if you buy a SIM card at the airport, you’re going to pay a premium. If you can manage to get your accommodations without a phone, I find that it’s best to ask at your accommodations for the closest place to buy a SIM card near you.

Personally, I just usually exit the train station in the city center or close to my hotel prior to looking for a tobacco shop, mobile phone store, or supermarket as these places often carry prepaid SIM cards for a good price. (You may need to show your passport.)

I get to this later, but the two most dependable carriers in the EU are T-Mobile and Vodafone. If you can find a Vodafone store , you should be able to get an affordable SIM card with decent service in English to help you activate your new SIM card. If you have issues, you can always return to the store in person. (Just check that you’re headed to a cell phone store, not a corporate office!)

Activating your SIM (with help)

The only tricky part is that your new SIM card might involve instructions in the local language. If you can’t wait, ask the person who just sold you the SIM card to help you. Just be careful about putting your home SIM card away. (I usually carry a ziplock bag with me for my non -active SIM card.)   If you can wait, ask at your hotel and/or your guesthouse for the staff to help you activate your SIM card.

Save your SIM card information to top-up later.

Depending on how long I need my phone to work, I usually add 20 euros (or the equivalent) to the SIM card for about a month. This covers most of what I need in terms of quite a bit of calling, texting, and some data (1-2GB).

You’ll need to top-up your card at some point. Save all the relevant documents (especially the pop-out card that it came with) as well as any relevant codes that you got when you activated the SIM card as you might need this information to top-up your phone.   At worst, you can always pick-up a new SIM card if topping up your SIM seems too difficult.

The best European prepaid phone carriers

Every European country has their own local carriers, however there are some big names that you’ll see across Europe that have slightly better service. You can always get a local SIM and it should work elsewhere, however I’ve found the service for Vodafone and T-Mobile tends to be better than many other smaller carriers.

Reducing your data usage in Europe

Whether you’re using a SIM card or bringing your smartphone from home, you might want to ensure that you use less data while you’re in Europe. As someone with a fairly low data package (1gb), I have a few tips and tricks for cutting down on your smartphone data usage while in Europe.

Data Roaming off

By default, your phone might automatically connect to data while in Europe. If you’re on a budget or you only want to turn on your data when needed, you can follow these tips for shutting off your data roaming to avoid charges. That said, you will be able to receive calls and texts.

On iPhone, you can turn on your data then select the “Cellular Data Options” to select “Roaming off.” If you’re simply scaling back your phone plan to necessary calls/texts only, I find that this is a good solution to ensure that your data doesn’t get accidentally switched on.

On Android, Go to Settings -> “ Wireless & Networks ” -> More . You should see Mobile Networks . Find the “ Data Roaming ” heading and unselect the checkbox. (Alternatively, it may say Global Data Roaming Access . Tap this to shut it off.).

Airplane Mode

If you don’t want to risk paying for any extra costs while in Europe, you can turn your phone onto airplane mode to avoid data, phone calls, and texts until you’re connected to Wifi.

Offline maps

Not everyone knows that you can download Google Maps offline , so you can navigate cities with a map without ever needing to be online. It will give you walking as well as driving directions. I also like the Maps .Me app for downloading offline maps for exploring a city on foot.

Finding good Wi-Fi

This is pretty basic, however Wi-Fi is readily available across Europe! You don’t really need to work hard to find Wi-Fi although you might have to work a bit to get the password at this point.

Some old school establishments may not bother with Wi-Fi, however many Wi-Fis require agreeing to the terms and/or signing in using social media. Most restaurants are happy to give out the Wi-Fi password if you order something (it may be on the menu/board). McDonald’s, Starbucks, and other global chains are a sure bet for decent fast Wi-Fi.

Any questions about using your smartphone in Europe?

• How to use Google Translate offline
• Tips for your first Eurorailing trip around Europe
• Your perfect European itinerary (2 months)

About Karen Turner

New Yorker–born and raised. Currently living in the Hague, the Netherlands after stints in Paris and Amsterdam. Lover of travel, adventure, nature, city, dresses, and cats.

Reader Interactions

June 18, 2019 at 12:02 pm

Hi Karen, thank you for an amazing site!! I stumbled across it when looking for tips about travel to the Netherlands. I’m travelling from South Africa and arrive in The Hague on Saturday. My brother (who is already in Amsterdam) and I are attending the Dutch MotoGP (a motorcycle racing event) on Sunday, in Assen. We’re planning to visit Assen just for the day and return to our families on Sunday night, who will remain in The Hague. What would you recommend as our best way to travel on Sunday from The Hague to the TT Circuit in Assen, and back again? The racing starts mid-morning and finishes late Sunday afternoon. We’ve bought inexpensive general admission tickets online, and further travel information and tips are a bit sketchy. I was just wondering if going by rail was our best option? I sincerely hope you are able to assist with advice/recommend a site for guidance? Many thanks, Gershom

June 18, 2019 at 2:01 pm

Hi Gershom, I hope you have a great trip. Honestly, I would not recommend the train in this case given the location. It will end up being probably faster and cheaper to rent a car for the day from the Hague. Just make sure that you can drop it off late as some car rental places close early on Sunday (some allow for self-service), otherwise you might need to book it overnight. Still might be cheaper than the train!

October 28, 2021 at 8:58 pm

If you have comcast/xfinity you can get xfinity mobile which works almost anywhere with cheap txt and international phone calls – usually abut 10c/txt & 10c/min. data is expensive, tho service costs about $15/mo

[…] Then, there is the issue of using cell/smart phones in Europe.  We are ignorant on this topic and direct you to several Internet sites that are helpful.  Site Number One. […]

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The best SIM cards for travelling across Europe

Travelling across Europe and don’t want to have to stay out of touch or keep swapping SIMS? We’ve got you covered with our guide to the best international SIM cards and options for travelling in Europe.

Roaming in Europe

• Best Europe Travel eSIM
• Best Europe Travel SIM
• Best Europe Roaming SIM

Europe is a super popular destination for Australian travellers, whether it’s for business purposes or simply to take in the hundreds of years of culture across the continent – not to mention all the very fine regional food options open to you. Which is great, right up until you want to call back to the office, check your messages or simply send a photo of that amazing meal you just had to social media.

That’s where having a smart approach to your travel SIM can save you serious money. While the really bad old days where watching one YouTube video could send you into bankruptcy on your return to Australian shores are (mostly) behind us, it’s still worth weighing up your options to get the best deal, whether you plan to use a full “Travel” SIM, a local SIM option or roaming from your existing telco.

It is worth noting that if your European travel is purely within the European Union (as distinct from the wider European continent) then the EU’s roaming rules around calls, texts and data apply – but it’s worth checking if a given provider has fair use provisions for roaming use in play for data, as those can sometimes obscure hidden fees.

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Best eSIMs for Europe you can buy globally

Disclaimer: This pack only offers data roaming. No calls or SMS are included in the plan price. 

You're probably already familiar with Jetpac's parent company Circles.Life , a popular SIM provider in Australia that offers huge data-per-dollar value. Jetpac Global is the company's global travel eSIM brand that offers instant connectivity in over 100 different countries. 

Jetpac's Europe eSIM starts at just $1.50 for 4 days of coverage and includes 1GB of data to use in 28 European countries. That's fewer countries than Airalo, but most of the major regions are still covered. 

Jetpac's 30-day plans start at $22 for 5GB of data and go all the way to 40GB of data for $94. Conveniently, Jetpac plans can be purchased and activated directly through the app (iOS and Android,) no matter where you are in the world. 

Airalo Eurolink

Airalo’s business model is entirely eSIM focused based around its own app. For European travellers across a number of countries your best best is one of its Eurolink packages, covering 39 countries with coverage periods ranging from 7 days to 180 days and data inclusions from 1GB up to 100GB. If your travel needs are more constrained, Airalo also offers single country packages that may offer you more data for less money, so it’s smart to check beforehand.

The big advantage here is that you can set up the Airalo app and an account all before you ever step foot on a plane, giving you peace of mind that when you land you’ll be able to message home with confidence. The downside, however, is that you must have an eSIM-enabled handset to use Airalo’s services, which cuts out many budget phones and some older premium models entirely.

Best Europe Travel SIM you can buy in Australia

Australia post international roaming.

Honestly, buying a full “travel” SIM designed for global use is always your worst bet, financially speaking. The complexities of offering global coverage add to the costs considerably, so if you’re buying on a budget they’re rarely the cheapest option.

Travel SIMs sell on their convenience, and if you are buying on a budget and you’re more concerned with calls and text coverage, it’s hard to go past Australia’s Post’s offering. Yes, we’re as surprised as you are, but the friendly local post office might just be your best bet for very low cost roaming indeed, at just $5 for 30 days of coverage.

$5 really isn’t much to spend at all, but you are getting an utterly bare-bones experience for your money, with just 50 minutes of calls – incoming and outgoing count – and 50 texts, plus 50MB of data. That last point is the crunchy one, because you’d absolutely have to pair that up with judicious use of lots of European hotel and public Wi-Fi across your trip.

Best Australian deal for Europe roaming

Vodafone $5 roaming.

Vodafone was the first Australian telco to really get on board with roaming charges that didn’t make you feel like you’d just been run over by a 747 when you returned home. Its $5/day surcharge to access your plan’s existing inclusions remains the gold standard for ease of use and ease of understanding, though it’s worth noting that its data capped speed plans do not include the endless speed capped data once you’ve gone through your primary provision. In those cases, you’ll get hit for $5 for each additional 1GB of data you need.

Here's a selection of Vodafone plans that support $5/day international roaming

The big catch with Vodafone $5 a day roaming is that it adds up over a lengthy European sojourn, so it’s best matched for when you might be quickly travelling through Europe for just a couple of days. Anything longer than that, and travel SIMs, local SIMs and travel eSIMs quickly become a more financially prudent option.

Vodafone aren’t your only option for roaming-friendly telcos within Australia, however. Here’s a range of alternative telco options that support roaming within Europe:

It can be highly beneficial to grab a local SIM in Europe for your travels, because typically local rates are cheaper and offer larger data inclusions than just about any travel SIM or roaming deal. There’s the added benefit for the EU specifically here too that member states (plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) all support cross-border roaming at no additional cost. Look for deals from some of the bigger cross-European Telcos such as Orange or Vodafone to get the best deal for the right price.

You’ll find no shortage of local SIM providers in every single major European airport if you favour convenience, though often they sell “tourist” specific SIMs with a slight surcharge in return for that easy pickup.

If you’re staying longer in a specific country, it’s worth researching local options and storefronts to see if you can get a prepaid SIM through them. Be careful, however, as you don’t want to get stung by a monthly plan that’s no use to you once you’ve left Europe, and some providers in some countries won’t accept credit card payments for some mobile services if the credit card itself isn’t local.

If your current handset doesn’t support eSIM, then sadly, the answer is no. You absolutely need the internal circuitry for eSIM support to be present on your phone in the first place.

If your phone does support eSIMs, then it’s quite easy to set up your eSIM before you travel. We’ve got a handy guide to setting up eSIMs for Apple iPhone and Android here .

The absolute cheapest way to “roam” when overseas is to throw your phone into a canal the moment you land. But that’s environmentally unsound, so don’t do it.

The second cheapest way is to use public Wi-Fi where available. In Europe, that’s a lot of places, including most accommodation venues. Instead of throwing your phone into a canal, switch off its roaming data (or data altogether) and switch to using Wi-Fi plus services such as Facetime, FaceBook Messenger and WhatsApp as your temporary “phone” number while you’re travelling. Use the offline maps capability of services such as Google Maps for navigation, load up on offline streaming services and music, and you can survive without having to pay anything extra at all for data.

Bear in mind, however, that public networks sit outside your control, and you never know who might be doing a little not-so-idle-not-so-friendly packet sniffing to get hold of your data. If you’re planning on relying on public Wi-Fi while travelling, investing in proper secure VPN access is a must.

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The 6 best phone plans for international travel in 2024

If you’re traveling abroad, you’ll want to keep your wireless service active for many reasons, the most important being to still contact friends and family. It’s highly likely you’ll also need to use GPS, Google, and other smartphone features during your trip. Unfortunately, even with the best cell phone plan deals , most wireless plans don’t include international travel or coverage overseas. That means you’ll either have to sign up explicitly for a foreign wireless account, or you can grab a burner phone to use while you’re there. Regardless, there are a few options, and we’ve taken the liberty of hunting down the best ones and sharing them all for you right here.

The best phone plans for international travel in 2024

• Go with if you want reliable yet flexible international plans.
• Go with Google Fi for temporary coverage with existing plans.
• Go with if you’re an existing customer and want to use the daily TravelPass.
• Go with for another solid and reliable wireless option.
• Go with for the best eSIM opportunities.
• Go with for specific and affordable coverage in select countries and regions.

Best flexible option

• Price: $60 to $90 per month
• Data: Free up to 5GB depending on plan and country
• Options: Talk, text, and data

T-Mobile is one of the best international travel providers because of its extreme flexibility. In addition to its voice and text plans, you can add an international pass for up to 15GB for 30 days to secure data coverage. However, T-Mobile expressly states that its services are “not for extended international use,” meaning your primary usage must include coverage at home in the United States.

Best for temporary coverage

• Price: $20 to $65 per month
• Data: $10 per GB

If you’re a U.S. resident traveling abroad, Google Fi is an excellent option, especially if you already use the service. The cost for a single phone line is between $20 and $65  — plus taxes and fees — depending on which plan you opt for, and data abroad is about $10 per GB, with free data after 6GB per month. Talk costs about 20 cents per minute abroad in eligible countries. If you subscribe to the Unlimited Plus plan, you’ll get unlimited talk, text, and data in over 200 destinations worldwide. In some areas, Google Fi will rely on other carrier networks, like T-Mobile’s, to ensure you have widespread coverage. Basically, the most important thing to know here is that Google expressly forbids the use of Google Fi internationally if that’s your only activity. In other words, if you’re traveling abroad temporarily, it’s okay, but if you’re a permanent resident elsewhere, it’s a no-no.

Try Google Fi

Best for existing customers

• Price: Adds $10 per day to $100 per month
• Data: Unlimited

Verizon offers several options for international wireless coverage, including Verizon TravelPass and its international monthly plans. With TravelPass, you pay $10 per day, per line, for unlimited talk, text, and data, and it’s accessible in over 210 countries. TravelPass only charges you for the days you use data or send or receive calls. Alternatively, Verizon’s international monthly plan is $100 per month for 250 minutes of talk, but you get unlimited texts and data in eligible countries. The TravelPass option is excellent if Verizon is already your main wireless carrier.

Another great option

• Price: Adds $10 per day

Like the other major carriers, AT&T offers a variety of international options for existing customers. Mexico and Canada are already covered, for example, with calls up to 85-plus countries from the U.S. for $15 per month, per line, and discounted rates in an additional 140 countries. You can also take on specific international access for Europe, Asia Pacific, and other countries through a $10 per day International Day Pass. With that, you get unlimited talk, text, and data, and you can add on extra phones for just $5 per day per phone.

Best eSIM option

• Price: Adds $10 per month
• Data: $5 per 1GB for 7 days
• Options: Data (talk and text over data)

Maybe it’s surprising to see Boost Mobile on this list, or maybe not, but it offers some great international support via the International Connect plans, and eSIM compatibility. With any existing Boost plan, $10 per month gets you International Connect for voice in over 120 countries and texting in over 200. You will need an eSIM on an unlocked phone to utilize it, however, so if your phone doesn’t support the protocol you’ll need another option. You can also add data, starting at $5 for 1GB over 7 days.

Best modular option

• Price: $36 to $89 per month
• Data: 20GB over 30 to 180 days (depending on location)

If your device supports eSIM, you can also use something like Airalo to find coverage wherever you’re traveling. Be aware that standard SMS is not available through something like this as it’s data-based only, but you can still send text and make voice calls over data connections where available. Prices vary, but they do tend to be cheaper than other options, with callouts being 20GB over 180 days for $89 in over 84 countries globally or 20GB over 30 days for $36 in France. You can buy piecemeal based on where you’ll be visiting and for how long you’ll be there.

How we chose these phone plans for international travel

The core elements of a good international wireless plan will differ greatly from local options. Speeds, for example, will be limited by what’s available in the current country or region. The same is true for wireless coverage, which can directly affect signal strength and connection experiences. That said, there are some common factors that you should look for when choosing a plan for yourself or your family.

You’re traveling, maybe even to multiple countries or locations, so you need the plan to be reliable but flexible, and the same goes for the price. The last thing you want to see is unexpected roaming or international charges because the plan didn’t offer coverage in an obscure situation or remote location.

All the plans that we have chosen are feasible in this regard, offering flexible yet accessible pricing that’s clear and easily modifiable when needed to match coverage requirements. Ultimately, these plans reduce the headaches and complexities of managing international wireless services.

Maintenance

With some plans, like a WiFi-only plan, you need to do something to activate the plan and make sure you’re getting coverage — in that case, you would need to disable your mobile activity and swap to a nearby WiFi network. Moreover, some might require you to use a specific physical SIM card, eSIM, or digital SIM card, which might require you to swap out your current one or activate the digital variant. These small maintenance tasks are important to keep in mind because it’s easy to forget the upkeep when you’re busy exploring or sightseeing. We were mindful to select wireless options that make this process as simple or virtually seamless as possible.

Plan Features

As with a local plan, international plans also have varying features. Some allow you to text, access a limited quantity of data, and make calls to supported countries. However, not all plans are created equal, which means some will restrict some of these options or charge extra for using them. It’s important to pay close attention to what you’re getting with your plan so you don’t encounter any unforeseen charges. We’ve made sure everything on our list offers a suitable arrangement of features, from text and talk to beyond.

Unlimited Data

By now, you’re probably well aware this is a thing in the wireless industry: They promise “unlimited data,” but what you’re really getting is not that. The same is true with international phone plans and coverage. When available, you might see data speeds throttled after certain thresholds, connectivity issues in various locations, or even some hidden charges associated when there shouldn’t be. There’s not much you can do about this, disingenuous on the part of wireless providers or not. But you should definitely be mindful of these concerns and keep an eye on your phone bill, just in case.

Q&A about international phone plans

If you still have some questions after reading through the guide, this is where you’ll find the answers.

Do I need to buy a new phone?

It depends on your current phone’s capabilities and what wireless provider you decide to go with abroad. Some devices are not compatible across the different carrier networks. Moreover, you might need to swap out your current SIM for another to gain access, and depending on where you purchase or acquire the card, they may not be compatible with specific carriers.

What are hidden fees?

Typically, when you sign a contract or subscribe to a plan with your wireless provider, you agree to some combination of talk, text, and data for a specific monthly rate — say, $75 per month. However, when you receive your bill, you’ll notice almost immediately that the true cost is higher than what was promised. All that extra, the additional money you’re being charged, makes up hidden fees.

Some fees come from the carriers themselves, like smartphone line access, device payments or subsidies, or usage and additional purchase charges for various services like roaming or international coverage. Other fees include the Fed Universal service charge, regulatory fees, administrative charges, local business license surcharges, taxes, and governmental surcharges, including state fees and beyond. In some cases, you can try to negotiate these charges, but you’ll still see them on your bill, regardless.

There are hidden fees associated with international wireless plans, too.

Can you use WiFi abroad?

Yes, you can use WiFi abroad and while traveling internationally. Whether or not you can access the network(s) for free depends on the provider. Just like here in the States, local coffee shops and small venues may provide free access to service. Others may charge a small fee to use their network. While we would not recommend maintaining contact with friends and family through WiFi alone and cutting off mobile service entirely, it is an alternative in areas where coverage may be spotty or unavailable.

This article is managed and created separately from the Digital Trends Editorial team.

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Briley has been writing about consumer electronics and technology for over a decade. When he's not writing about deals for Digital Trends, he's writing how-to content, and guides for Lifewire , Ideaing , and several other online publications. He's also a ghostwriter for more than one confidential SEO marketing agency. In his downtime, he's either spending time with his family, playing games, or enjoying a good ol' stogie.

The Samsung Galaxy S22 has been around a little while now, and while that may make it seem like the S22 has become irrelevant, it makes it as relevant as ever when it comes to Samsung Galaxy S22 deals. Many of the best phone deals are on models that are a generation or two old, as the features and technology of phones hold up longer than ever these days. This is certainly true of the Galaxy S22. There are plenty of Samsung Galaxy S23 deals, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra deals, Samsung Galaxy S24 deals, and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra deals to shop, but if you want the lowest prices available on a Samsung Galaxy with relatively modern capabilities and features, we’ve rounded up all of the best Samsung Galaxy S22 deals below. Samsung Galaxy S22 deals at Amazon

It's difficult to find new models of the Samsung Galaxy S22 at Amazon right now, but refurbished models have a late of savings to offer. The refurbished S22 with 128GB of storage is currently going for just $250, which is a savings of $130 from its regular price of $380. You'll also find some impressive prices on refurbished models of the Samsung Galaxy S22+.

With the popularity of Apple’s iPhone lineup it can be little difficult to find iPhone deals. Today, however, iPhone deals make for some of the best phone deals and best Apple deals to shop, as we’re seeing discounts on nearly every iPhone model. That includes the newest iPhone generation with iPhone 15 deals. It also includes iPhone 14 deals and iPhone SE deals. So if you’re looking for some savings on a new iPhone, all of the best iPhone deals worth taking a look at can be found below. You can add to your Apple savings by shopping AirPods deals or iPad deals, or if you’re looking for an entirely different software ecosystem for your next phone be sure to check out what’s going on among today’s best Samsung Galaxy S24 deals, the best Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra deals, and the best Google Pixel 8 deals. iPhone 15 128GB (AT&T) — as low as $130, was $830

The Apple iPhone 15 finally brings with it Dynamic Island which we’ve only previously seen on the Pro range. It’s a real game changer at times and is very convenient. Alongside that, the Apple iPhone 15 has the Ceramic Shield front to keep it more protected while its 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display promises to be up to two times brighter than the iPhone 14 in the sun. There’s also a 48MP main camera with 2x telephoto lens to help you take great shots. The A16 Bionic chip has plenty of processing power to aid with software adjustments.

Google Pixel 9 preorders have already started, fresh off the announcement of the new series of smartphones in the Made by Google event. For those who are on the hunt for Google Pixel 9 preorder deals, you won't have to search far and wide because the best one is coming from Google itself. From the 128GB version's original price of $799, you can get the device for effectively free -- a maximum trade-in drops its price to only $39, and you'll get $100 in Google Store credit with your preorder. There are several days left on this offer, but you'll want to confirm the transaction immediately to make sure that you don't forget about it.

  Why you should buy the Google Pixel 9 The Google Pixel 9 is the base model of Google's latest smartphone series which includes the Google Pixel 9 Pro, Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold. The device is still very powerful though, as it's equipped with the Google Tensor G4 processor and 12GB of RAM. The new design is eye-catching, with a floating camera module at the back and seamless construction across its frame and glass. Its battery can last more than 24 hours on a single charge, and up to 100 hours if you activate Extreme Battery Saver mode.

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How to Find or Buy a Cheap, Unlocked Phone For European Travel

May 3, 2022

Paige Bennett

So you’re headed to Europe for a much-needed vacation. You probably can’t wait to text or video chat your family members to tell them about your travels. And, of course, you’ll need to be snapping gorgeous photos of the main attractions to make everyone on social media jealous (or at least to capture the memories to look back on later!).

To do any of that, you’re going to need a phone. You’ve probably heard a horror story or two of people accidentally accruing international roaming charges when they totally thought they were connected to the hotel’s Wi-Fi. The best way to use a phone in Europe with peace of mind is to either set up (and confirm) an international plan with your existing phone carrier, or set up an unlocked phone with a SIM card for international use.

But what even is an unlocked phone, where do you find one, and how does the process work? Here’s everything you need to know about finding an unlocked phone on a budget for your European adventure.

EuroCheapo is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices listed are accurate at the time of publishing. Thank you!

GSM vs. CDMA

It’s important to first understand the two radio technologies that old phones rely on: GSM and CDMA. GSM stands for Global System for Mobiles, and CDMA stands for Code Division Multiple Access.

Your eyes might be glazing over while looking at this alphabet soup. While you don’t need to necessarily understand the nitty gritty of these technologies, you should at least know this — Europe once primarily relied on GSM. Many phone carriers in the U.S. formerly used CDMA. These were compatible with 2G and 3G networks, but both CDMA and GSM are soon to be a thing of the past.

That means you’ll need to check that either an old phone you already own or a new, unlocked phone you purchase for your trip will operate on 4G or 5G networks and can be used on your trip to Europe.

If you have a newer phone, it will likely not use either of these technologies, and it can actually be even easier for you to use a phone in Europe. Many carriers are switching away from GSM and CDMA, instead relying on 4G and 5G networks. If this is the case with your current carrier, you may want to consider learning more about various international plans available for using an American phone in Europe .

Purchasing an international phone plan through your existing provider is becoming more and more common. But SIM cards are still an option if you don’t want to risk running over the plan limits and incurring surprise charges on your next bill.

The Best Option? An Old Phone You Already Own

You don’t have to purchase a new phone to use a SIM card if you have an older phone that will work just as well. Raid your junk drawer for an old phone, which you may be able to use with a SIM card for Europe. Old phones are almost always unlocked, because the carrier is required to unlock a phone once the contract has ended and you’ve finalized any existing payments on the device.

How to Unlock an Old Phone

Have an older iPhone on hand? You’re in luck. An iPhone will automatically unlock itself with software updates sent out by the carrier. For other devices, you’ll need to contact your carrier.

Verizon devices unlock automatically 60 days after purchase. T-Mobile requires a 40-day waiting period after purchase, and you can unlock it by following the carrier’s instructions here . AT&T also requires 60 days of use after purchase, then you can submit a request to unlock the phone, which AT&T will respond to about two business days later (meaning don’t wait until the day before your flight to start the unlocking process!).

Once a phone is unlocked, it should be fine to work with a SIM card of your choosing. Just be sure the phone itself is compatible with European networks, meaning it is a dual band or GSM phone.

What to Look For in an Unlocked Phone for European Travel

Maybe you don’t have an old phone lying around, or the ones you do have aren’t going to work for international travel. You may need to buy a cheapo unlocked phone instead.

There are a few key terms you want to include when searching for unlocked phones. “Unlocked” simply means the phone can be used for different carriers and SIM cards. Phones are typically unlocked either because they are sold by the phone manufacturer (like buying an iPhone from Apple) or another shop (like Best Buy or Amazon).

Other terms to look for include “dual band” or “dual SIM”. “GSM” and “international” are also important to look for if you don’t see dual band options. Here are a few options to consider that you can order online for quick delivery:

• Alcatel 1 – $53.28
• ZTE Blade – $59.35
• Nokia C01 – $82.70
• Samsung Galaxy A03 – $101.76
• Samsung Galaxy A12 – $171.97

Note: Before you purchase a phone for your trip, triple-check that it will work with your SIM card or carrier and that it will work in Europe.

If you can’t find a phone that works for your budget, you may also find a more affordable option once you get to your destination. Many newsstands across Europe sell bare-bones phones, so you can at least take some photos and send off a few quick texts to friends and family.

How to Use a SIM Card While Traveling

We have entire guide to buying SIM cards in Europe , complete with detailed instructions on how to set up the SIM card. But really, it’s easy. Turn off your device. Open the small compartment that holds the SIM card. Remove the existing SIM card, if there’s one inside, then insert the new SIM card. Turn on your device, and activate the card by dialing the number included with the new SIM card packaging.

This essentially gives you a European phone number. If you took out a SIM card from the phone, make sure to store it away. If you lose it, you’ll lose your regular number in the U.S.!

You may find SIM cards for international travel, regional travel throughout Europe, or even for specific countries:

• Best SIM Cards for France
• Best SIM Cards for Spain
• Best SIM Cards for Germany

Note: If you plan to visit different countries, you shouldn’t need multiple SIM cards for your travels. EU regulations have ended roaming charges. But if you plan to visit the UK, you may need a separate SIM card, as it has recently reintroduced roaming charges.

Consider A Plan With Your Existing Provider

One of the most efficient options for using a phone in Europe is to use your existing carrier. Some carriers have international plans built right into your existing plan in the U.S.. The plan will switch into “international mode” when you touch down in your destination.

With some carriers, like AT&T and Verizon , you can simply add on an international package to your existing plan. That way, you can use your existing phone as normal for a fixed rate. AT&T charges $10 per day for up to 10 days within a billing cycle, and additional days are free until your billing cycle resets. Verizon similarly offers a $10 per day plan with unlimited texts and calls or, for longer trips, a $100 per month international plan with 1,000 sent SMS and 250 minutes of calls included.

Other carriers, like T-Mobile, have international use baked right into their U.S. phone plans. Just be sure to call your carrier and confirm what your plan includes to avoid a billing surprise later.

There are many options for using a phone in Europe. You can add an international phone package to your usual monthly bill or go the SIM card route. You don’t necessarily have to miss your weekly calls with family or lose out on posting your selfies in front of the Eiffel Tower to social media sites. Enjoy your trip while staying connected with loved ones … and do it all on the cheapo.

About the author

Paige is a Los Angeles-based freelance writer. In addition to EuroCheapo, Paige writes for Insider, HomeAdvisor, Thrillist, EcoWatch, Eat This, Not That!, and more. When she isn’t working, she loves to explore the city, cook delicious vegetarian meals and practice yoga.

Related Posts

• Buying a SIM card in Europe: The cheapest way to use a smartphone while traveling
• The best SIM Cards for your trip to France
• The best SIM Cards in Spain for your trip
• The best Sim Cards in Germany to save on your phone bill

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5 thoughts on “How to Find or Buy a Cheap, Unlocked Phone For European Travel”

I used to buy a SIM card when I arrived in the UK. Don’t have connectivity until you have one that’s activated. About three years ago I switched to Google Fi. Unlimited voice and choice of data; $10/gig – prorated – until 6 gig, then no additional charges – or unlimited (not sure if available outside the US). On two to three week trips anywhere we’ve been in the world so far, never not had connectivity. I believe they cover about 200 countries. Never had a bill (two people) over $95 yet. Turn my phone on while taxiing – have connectivity before I’ve exited the plane. LOVE IT!

A few notes, because this article shows signs of not having been fully updated. 1. CDMA is no longer an issue. Verizon’s phones for the past several years have all include 4GLTE which is not CDMA and is interoperable with all European networks, as are its 5G phones. In fact, the Verizon CDMA networks will be turned off in December; T-Mobile has already turned off the Sprint CDMA network and repurposed the bandwidth.

2. Travelers visiting multiple European countries don’t need multiple SIMs, since EU regulations ended roaming charges a couple of years ago. But do be sure you buy ‘enough’ because some prepaid plans are cheaper to buy big than to keep topping up.

3. For T-Mobile, unlimited international data is included with most plans, and while it says 2G, that hardly ever happens because almost no European carrier has anything that slow. If you’re planning to make calls, though, at 25c a minute it can get expensive fast, and it’s worth looking at T-Mobile’s data passes (good for 10 or 30 days) that allow unlimited calling and a big chunk of high speed data before it defaults to slower.

Thank you so much for these updated tips, Paul!

Help! I use TracFone and for my everyday needs it’s fine. Going to France in 3 weeks TracFone doesn’t work there. Thinking of buying a cheap Blu ii phone and a sim card that works in France. What else do I need.

Tell me what you did and how it worked out. I also have TracFone!

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Money blog: Ticketmaster investigated after Oasis ticket sale - with fans asked for screenshots

The UK's competition watchdog has launched an investigation into Ticketmaster over the sale of Oasis tickets at the weekend. Scroll through the Money blog for this plus more personal finance and consumer posts - and listen to a Daily podcast special on the Oasis tickets debacle as you do.

Thursday 5 September 2024 21:22, UK

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Amazon has launched its AI-powered shopping assistant in the UK - after rolling out the feature in the US earlier this year. 

Chatbot Rufus has knowledge of Amazon's product catalogue and some other information from across the web and is being deployed to answer shoppers' queries.

It will be available only to a small percentage of UK users, before being rolled out to a wider base at an unspecified later date.

Fast fashion giant Primark is launching a "swap shop" for customers to exchange used and vintage clothing in its stores.

It has teamed up with circular clothing company Verte to put on a limited run of the pop-ups this month.

Customers will be able to bring up to five items of adult clothing, bags, hats or scarves in good condition - which can then be swapped for digital tokens on the Verte app.

Those tokens can then be redeemed against other pre-used clothing.

The pop-ups will only run in select stores in London, Manchester and Birmingham.

Royal Mail may not be obligated to deliver second class letters on a Saturday in future, under plans being considered by the industry regulator.

Ofcom, which launched a consultation on the company's universal service obligation (USO) earlier this year, said such a shift would protect priority deliveries, including first class mail, and help loss-making Royal Mail save cash.

Read more here ...

Millions of women working in the private sector are missing out on enhanced maternity pay compared with their peers in the public sector, according to new research.

A survey by HR data provider Brightmine found the vast majority (97%) of public sector firms offer enhanced pay, compared with 75% in the private sector.

Around 2.7 million female private sector workers are missing out on enhanced maternity pay, compared with just 149,400 in the public sector.

However, Brightmine said there were some positives, with the number of organisations offering a boosted pay package increasing by 10% in three years and more employers offering it as a day one entitlement.

The proportion of firms requiring a year of service has fallen from 37% in 2021 to 32%, it said.

Bar Huberman, Brightmine content manager for HR strategy and practice, said: "Some mothers decide to return to work much earlier than they would have liked after having a baby due to very little pay during maternity leave, which can take a toll on their health."

Firms going "above and beyond" the minimum requirement were likely to see better staff loyalty and engagement, she added.

By Ollie Cooper , Money team

Since announcing their monumental UK tour, Oasis have repeatedly warned fans against buying resold tickets from second-hand selling websites such as Viagogo - and going as far as saying the tickets would be cancelled. 

But with hundreds of listings already sold on to concertgoers, can the band actually cancel the tickets - practically and legally?

It's a question we've asked the band's management, Ignition Management and Ticketmaster, one of the major sites that sold the tickets.

We received no response. 

So we went to industry and legal experts to find out if they can make good on their threat. 

Can the band track down second-hand tickets?

Customers who bought from Ticketmaster (who could have subsequently gone on to relist them elsewhere) were not required to supply any photo ID or anything outside basic personal details. 

As a result, virtually everyone we spoke to suggested it would be difficult to identify, track down and cancel tickets that have been sold second-hand. 

Joel Crouch, chief revenue officer at Fixr , the ticketing and event platform, said: "I don't see an obvious way to do that."

Once touts have bought and listed tickets for resale, he said, there's very little that can be done. 

Some artists build resale clauses into contracts with promoters and ticket sites, meaning "we can send cease and desist letters to the platforms", but generally, "there are loopholes all over the shop" which allow the tickets to be moved on again. 

"The secondary market becomes a dark art very quickly," he added. 

'It's too late'

Benjamin Barrier, co-founder and chief strategy officer at DataDome , echoed the challenges promoters face. 

"Career fraudsters will have advanced techniques to hide their identity," he said.

"They're likely to have rented a high quality residential IP address to avoid IP tracking, and they might also have created fraudulent accounts to hide their identity, or used several illegitimate accounts at one time."

These techniques make touts "virtually untraceable", Benjamin added, "so the only way of stopping them is by spotting them before they manage to get their hands on tickets". 

"It's now too late to claw back these tickets - and promoters will struggle to make good on their threat."

What's the legal standpoint?

Whether the tickets can be cancelled if they're traced comes down to the T&Cs - somewhat predictably.

"Like members clubs and gyms, and provided their terms make it clear prior to sale, ticket sellers are allowed to provide goods and services to named buyers only - and they can lawfully cancel the contract if someone else subsequently tries to use the tickets," Prateek Swaika, partner at Boies Schiller , said. 

In theory, "this also protects consumers from ticket touts and ensures that the majority of the purchase price paid goes to the artists and authorised agents rather than to scalpers". 

However, as Benjamin from DataDome points out, it's only "likely to hit the legitimate fans who have paid thousands for second-hand tickets harder than the scammers themselves" - as they'll already have made their money. 

What does Viagogo say?

Cris Miller, global managing director at Viagogo, says: "Every order on our platform is protected by our Viagogo guarantee.

"Any attempt to cancel tickets by the original sellers would be unfair to the fans who elected to shop on secure, transparent, and highly regulated resale marketplaces. This would be a clear example of anti-consumer and retaliatory behaviour and reinforces our longstanding concerns about competition in the primary market and the detrimental impact this has on British fans. The consequences of this market dominance have been seen over the past week.

"We welcome the CMA's announcement that it will investigate these practices and we continue to support industry collaboration to create a wider competitive market to the benefit of British consumers.

"Ultimately, we recognise that a comprehensive review of the entire ticketing industry is the best path forward to create meaningful change and prioritise fans."

By James Sillars , business reporter

There is a record number of former rental homes now on the sales market, according to a property portal which believes there is a link to Labour's looming first budget.

Rightmove called for "incentives" to support the private rental sector while reporting a leap in the pace of landlords selling up, some "potentially driven by the mooted increase in capital gains tax".

Changes are widely tipped to be announced on 30 October as the new Labour government moves to fill what it says is a £22bn black hole in the public finances inherited from the Conservatives.

Rightmove said its marker data this week showed that 18% of properties now for sale were previously on the rental market, compared with a five-year average of 14%.

It reported that the figure was highest in London at 29%, followed by Scotland (19%) and the North East (19%).

Tim Bannister, Rightmove's property expert, said: "In recent years it has become more attractive for some landlords to leave the rental sector rather than to continue to invest in it, due to rising costs, taxes, and legislation.

"A healthy private rented sector needs landlord investment to provide tenants with a good choice of homes.

"We've seen over the last few years how the supply and demand imbalance can contribute to rising rents, so there is a worry that without encouragement for landlords to stay in rather than leave the rental sector, it is tenants who will pay the price."

The Labour government has scrapped plans to introduce a "British ISA" to the market, according to a report.

The initiative was one of the flagship measures unveiled in former Conservative chancellor Jeremy Hunt's March budget, and would have offered savers the chance to increase their tax-free savings pot each year from £20,000 to £25,000 if the £5,000 incremental sum was invested in UK companies.

According to the Financial Times , the plan has now been scrapped by Rachel Reeves over concerns it would "complicate the ISA landscape".

Investment platform AJ Bell, which led opposition to the idea, said Labour deserved credit for "consigning this ill-conceived idea to the policy dustbin".

It had previously criticised the British ISA plan as a "white elephant" that would fail to support UK-based companies.

Responding to the FT report, AJ Bell chief executive Michael Summersgill said: "The UK ISA was a political gimmick that was doomed to fail in its objective of boosting investment in UK Plc. 

"The new government deserves huge credit for consigning this ill-conceived idea to the policy dustbin and will hopefully now take a more sensible, long-term approach to ISA reform than their predecessors, focused on simplification for the benefit of consumers."

He said merging cash ISAs and stocks and shares ISAs was "the obvious starting point" and would make life easier for investors.

Mr Summersgill added that around £30bn in investment could be unlocked if half the money in cash ISA accounts containing £20,000 or more was invested in stocks and shares ISAs.

He also said increasing the ISA allowance to £25,000 would "naturally" drive more money towards UK firms. 

The UK's competition watchdog has launched an investigation into Ticketmaster over the sale of Oasis tickets at the weekend.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said the investigation would cover how "dynamic pricing" may have been used, and whether the ticket sale "may have breached consumer protection law".

Ticketmaster said: "We are committed to cooperating with the CMA and look forward to sharing more facts about the ticket sale with them."

Thousands of fans were left angry and frustrated in their efforts to buy tickets for the concerts in the UK and Ireland next July and August.

Many entered hours-long virtual queues to buy tickets on three websites, including Ticketmaster, only to find prices balloon into the hundreds of pounds by the time they could buy them, with others missing out completely.

The CMA investigation will also consider whether:

• Ticketmaster has "engaged in unfair commercial practices";
• Oasis fans were given "clear and timely information" explaining that tickets could be subject to "dynamic pricing", how it would operate and how much they would have to pay;
• People were "put under pressure to buy tickets within a short period of time – at a higher price than they understood they would have to pay, potentially impacting their purchasing decisions".

CMA asks fans for screenshots

The watchdog said it would be engaging with Ticketmaster and "gathering evidence from various other sources", including Oasis's management and event organisers.

As part of the probe, fans are asked to submit evidence of their ticket-buying experience through CMA connect - including screenshots if they have them.

Sarah Cardell, CMA chief executive, said it was "clear that many people felt they had a bad experience".

"We want to hear from fans who went through the process and may have encountered issues so that we can investigate whether existing consumer protection law has been breached," she said.

Spending a fair chunk on going to see your favourite big artist is not new - but it certainly feels like concert prices have entered a new stratosphere, with £350 Oasis tickets bringing the subject back into the spotlight over the last week.

So, beyond dynamic pricing, what's behind rising ticket costs? A few months ago the  Money blog  investigated some of the reasons...

Picking up a Costa coffee or grabbing a latte from Starbucks doesn't sound like an expensive habit - but one generation is spending more than £700 a year doing it.

Millennials outspend all other age groups, forking out an average of £728 a year on takeaway coffees, according to research commissioned by McDonald's. 

It found those aged between 28 and 43 spent £52 more a year than the younger Gen Z and £468 more than the older Baby boomers. 

Overall, 37% of coffee drinkers said they would even turn down a free cup at work to pay for a "nice" one outside the office. 

Those polled said a cup of coffee should cost £1.86. 

But that's almost half of what the average on-the-go coffee costs at £3.40, according to FreshGround .

Costs aside, 56% said coffee was a luxury they would not want to live without.

The study also found that the average coffee drinker spends more than £29,000 on takeaway coffee in their lifetime.

Latte was the most popular style, with 23% favouring it, followed by cappuccino on 21% and flat white on 11%. 

Marks & Spencer is targeting younger shoppers by spending more money on social media content. 

In a bid to "move with the times", the retailer has upped its spend on videos for TikTok and YouTube, with investment in social media ads up nearly 80% in the last year, according to The Telegraph . 

Some of you might have noticed recent M&S products trending online - our TikTok for you pages have been filled with people trying out the new "Big Daddy" chocolate bar. 

Its £35 Celine handbag dupe also appeared a lot last year. 

The high-street giant has also unveiled wider plans to get more shoppers buying through its website and app. 

Bosses have hailed the "beginnings of a new M&S", saying the business could grow its fashion and homeware business further on the back of strong online momentum. 

The clothing and home business saw sales grow by 5.2% in the year to March, helping to support a 58% rise in profits.

M&S clothing and home managing director Richard Price told reporters he hoped investment in the app, online personalisation and Sparks loyalty programme would help keep sales high.

He said: "We are over two years into our programme for growth and we can really start to see the beginnings of a new M&S.

"Online sales are growing ahead of the market and ahead of stores. It's driven by better product and much more effective branded social marketing.

"We continue to grow our style perceptions and are getting stronger from a value and quality perception as well."

Keep scrolling for:

• The 'Sainsbury's method': Supermarket calls in police over TikTok fraudulent voucher trend
• Cheapest supermarket revealed
• Barclays axes key perk - so what are alternative accounts?

"It tastes like burning," according to one reviewer. 

Beithir Fire is a 75% ABV beer brewed in Scotland that comes with a warning label and (for one 330ml bottle) a £45.95 price tag.

The cost takes into account that it takes more than three months to produce. 

As well as purporting to be the world's strongest beer, 88 Brewery also claims it's "the only beer with a 100-year shelf life".

TikToker Dan from  @1minutebeerreview  tasted just 35ml of the fiery beverage - the most the brewery recommends you consume at one time. 

His thoughts? 

"That's really strong. It tastes like burning. My tongue is now numb... I need to go lie down."

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