How to use an iPhone in Europe without roaming charges

Ensure your iPhone will work in Europe

Before you can enjoy using your iPhone in Europe without roaming charges, you need to make sure it's compatible with European networks and that it's unlocked.

Compatibility 

To use your iPhone in Europe, it needs to be compatible with European smartphone networks. In Europe, smartphones work on the GSM or Global System for Mobile Communications network. It’s super easy to check if your iPhone is compatible with GSM.

• In your iPhone, go to “Settings.”

• Then tap on “About.”

• If your phone shows an MEID or ESN number, it will work with GSM networks. You’re ready to go.

Most iPhones are compatible with GSM, but it’s a good idea to check (or simply contact your provider to ask) if your phone will work in Europe.

Unlocked phone

The next thing you'll want to check is whether or not your iPhone is “locked.” When an iPhone is locked, it means it’s tied to a specific provider. For example, an iPhone may be locked to AT&T or Verizon.

If you want the best experience using your iPhone in Europe, you'll want an unlocked iPhone.

To check if your iPhone is locked or not, follow these steps:

• Go to “Settings” within your iPhone.

• Tap on “General” and then go to “About.”

• Scroll until you see “Carrier lock” or “Network provider lock.”

If your iPhone is locked, it will display your carrier’s name in those sections. If your iPhone isn’t locked, it will display “No SIM restrictions.”

If you bought your iPhone directly from Apple, it’s probably unlocked. An unlocked phone lets you connect to less expensive local cellular networks when using iPhones internationally.

Stay connected in Europe without additional costs

When you land in Europe, your iPhone will connect to a different cell network than the one you use at home. This keeps you connected to all your apps and services, but you might encounter additional fees.

Understanding mobile data fees

When traveling to Europe, you can get hit with two main types of fees. It's important to understand where these fees can come from, especially if you plan to text internationally on your iPhone. That way, you can avoid unwanted charges so you don’t get a surprise bill after your trip.

Roaming Fees

The first type of fee is called a roaming fee. This is when you “roam” outside of your phone’s normal network. In this case, you’re roaming in Europe, and your phone has to use a new network while you’re there.

If you don’t have a plan that includes roaming or international data, these fees are usually very high. But even if you have a roaming plan for phone calls or data, they can have high daily costs and overage fees.

Data Charges

Cellular data usage is what really drives up your total fees when roaming. This means any of your apps like Spotify, YouTube, or TikTok that take a lot of cellular data can be expensive to use.

With an international data plan, you can get a fixed data limit. If you go above that, you’ll encounter more fees.

Because of the high fees, you want to stay away from roaming data use. Below, we’ll explain the best ways to stay connected to your favorite apps while avoiding high roaming and network fees.

P.S. You can also reset statistics to see how much data you use during your trip.

Using Wi-Fi

A lot of travelers ask us “can I use my phone overseas without roaming?” The answer is yes, and you can follow a few tips to avoid roaming charges.

The easiest and least expensive way to avoid fees is to use public Wi-Fi. You want to connect to secure public Wi-Fi spots as much as possible while traveling in Europe.

Hotels, cafes, and even many tourist destinations should all have public Wi-Fi. Turn on your phone’s Wi-Fi and check your connection before using any apps or data.

Public Wi-Fi is a great way to avoid fees with cellular data, but you want to be safe as well. When using Wi-Fi, you should use a service such as a VPN. A VPN allows you to safely connect to public Wi-Fi without risking your connections being exposed.

Using a local SIM card

Another option is to use a local SIM card for phone calls and data. A local SIM card is a physical SIM card you buy when you arrive in Europe.

Local SIM cards are sold at many locations, including convenience stores, airports, and electronic stores. You can even find them in vending machines depending on the country.

The SIM card will have daily limits on cellular data usage depending on the price and the phone network it uses. Keep an eye on these limits when you choose your local SIM card so that it matches what you need.

To use the local SIM card, you just remove the SIM card your iPhone already has. Make sure to place the original SIM card in a safe place because you’ll have to put it back in when you return home.

Then, just place the local SIM card in your iPhone and turn the phone back on. Your iPhone then connects using the local cellular network. The result is that your voice, texts, and cellular data are all cheaper than if you paid roaming fees.

Downsides of a local SIM card

A local SIM card will cost you a few bucks, but it’s cheaper than roaming fees for cellular phone calls or mobile data. The downside is that it requires an unlocked iPhone to work. If your iPhone is locked, then you’re out of luck.

Another possible downside is if you’re hopping between countries on your trip. You might have to juggle a bunch of different local SIM cards as you move around. This process can be a hassle, depending on the number of countries you visit.

Using an eSIM

You may be wondering what an eSIM is and how to get one. 

An eSIM is like a virtual version of a local SIM card. The benefits of an eSIM are that you can manage your online data from a simple app on your phone. 

To use an eSIM, you first download an eSIM app like Saily. Once installed, you just browse the different countries until you find your destination. Once you select your country, you choose your plan, and you'll be ready to connect when you arrive.

An eSIM protects you from high roaming charges, and you don’t have to waste time finding a local SIM card when you arrive. If you travel to another country, simply select the new country from the Saily app, choose a plan, and you’re all set.

Additional tips for using an iPhone in Europe

Choosing an eSim will help the most if you want to save money while using your iPhone in Europe. But you can take a few steps to save more money on mobile data.

Turn off cellular data

If you know you won’t need any cellular data, you can turn it off to avoid any unexpected overages. Go into your “Settings,” then tap “Cellular,” then turn “Cellular data” off for any apps.

Those apps will only use Wi-Fi when enabled, and you won’t need to use any expensive cellular data.

Use airplane mode with Wi-Fi turned on

Another option to limit data use is to enable airplane mode but turn on Wi-Fi separately.

If you turn on airplane mode normally, you’ll have no network connection on an iPhone.

But you can turn on Wi-Fi separately so you can still use your apps and other services without accidentally using any costly cellular data.

You can do this by going into your Control Center and tapping the Wi-Fi button after you turn on airplane mode. Your voice calls won’t work with airplane mode on, but if you have a Wi-Fi signal, you can use your apps with no roaming charges. 

Download content before your trip or while connected to Wi-Fi

If you know you’re going to want to watch a movie or listen to music, try to download the content before traveling or while on Wi-Fi. You can then watch or listen to the content without using any data.

Get Saily for your next trip

Traveling to Europe is a lot of fun, but you can quickly go over your budget if you’re not careful. The last thing you want after a vacation is to come home to an expensive phone bill because of roaming charges.

If you’re traveling to Europe with an iPhone, look into an eSIM service like Saily. Once you download the app, you can check your destination and choose a plan that fits your budget and data needs.

A little preparation will help your trip stay on budget, and you’ll be able to stay connected with your friends and favorite apps wherever your travels take you.