Vodafone roaming in the EU: What’s included, how much it costs, and how it works after Brexit

What is EU roaming, and how does Vodafone handle it?

EU roaming is a service that allows you to use your mobile phone within the European Union while staying connected to your home network. That means if you send a text, make a call, or browse the web without Wi-Fi, you’re using roaming. Your home provider partners with local networks so you can stay connected while abroad.

One of the benefits of being from an EU country is the “roam like at home” initiative because EU residents get international roaming at the same costs as their home country when they travel to an EU or European Economic Area country. Before Brexit, UK travelers also benefited from free EU roaming, regardless of their provider. However, when the United Kingdom left the European Union in 2021, this perk no longer applied to UK customers. 

Since then, Vodafone has reintroduced roaming charges for UK customers traveling to the EU. Depending on your plan and destination, you may need to get a Vodafone EU roaming pass or pay daily roaming fees. The details can be a bit confusing, but we’ll walk you through everything step by step.

Is EU roaming free for Vodafone clients?

EU roaming isn’t free for most Vodafone customers. However, some plans still include it, and Vodafone also offers separate EU roaming passes. Since EU roaming used to be included in standard monthly plans, Vodafone has continued offering it to customers who joined before Brexit:

• If your Pay Monthly plan started before 11 August 2021, you can still “roam like at home” in the EU.

• If your Pay Monthly plan started on or after 11 August 2021, you may be charged for roaming, depending on your destination.

Vodafone EU roaming charges and plan activation

Let’s take a look at Vodafone’s EU roaming costs, available plans, and how to activate data roaming on your account.

Pay monthly EU roaming charges

If you have a Vodafone Pay Monthly plan, it’s worth checking the details before you travel. Depending on your plan, you may already have EU roaming included at no extra cost.

Vodafone offers three monthly plans that come with different roaming benefits:

• Vodafone Basics. This plan includes roaming in Zone A, which covers the Republic of Ireland, the Isle of Man, Iceland, and Norway. If you’re traveling to one of these destinations, you can roam at no extra cost. For countries outside Zone A, you’ll need to get a roaming pass.

• Vodafone Unlimited Max Euro Roam. This plan includes roaming in both Zone A and Zone B, covering most European countries.

• Vodafone Unlimited Max Global Roam. This plan includes roaming in Zones A, B, and C, covering 84 countries worldwide, including all EU member states. 

If your plan doesn’t include EU roaming, your phone will work in Europe, but you’ll have to either pay the daily rate of £2.57 (US$3.40) per day to roam in the EU or buy a Vodafone EU roaming pass.

Pay-as-you-go EU roaming charges

If you’re on a Vodafone Pay As You Go (PAYG) plan, EU roaming isn’t included by default. To use your phone in Europe, you’ll need to buy a roaming add-on:

• 8-Day Europe Texts Extra (£4.25/US$5.70) — includes 200 texts

• 8-Day Europe Minutes Extra (£5.30/US$7) — includes 100 minutes

• 8-Day Europe Data Extra (£9.60/US$12.80) — includes 3 GB of data

• 8-Day Europe Extra (£12.75/US$17) — includes 3 GB of data, 100 minutes, and 200 texts (Zones A and B) 

PAYG roaming add-ons are generally more flexible than monthly plans, but the cost per minute, text, or GB is usually higher. The upside is that you can choose exactly what you need. 

Here’s a quick comparison of Vodafone’s Pay Monthly and Pay As You Go EU roaming charges:

How to activate EU roaming with Vodafone

Activating EU roaming on your Vodafone plan is easy.

1.  Log into your Vodafone account.

2. Click “Services.”

3. Select “Roaming.”

4. The app will guide you through your options and help you activate your plan.

Vodafone EU roaming zones

Vodafone organizes international roaming destinations into five zones: Zone A, Zone B, Zone C, Zone D, and the Rest of the World. EU roaming plans cover countries in Zone A and Zone B, which together include 51 destinations. Some European countries fall into Zones C, D, or the Rest of the World, but these are mostly non-EU members.

Zone A: Free for Vodafone customers

Roaming in Zone A is included at no extra cost for Vodafone’s Pay Monthly customers. If you travel to any of the four destinations in Zone A — the Republic of Ireland, the Isle of Man, Iceland, and Norway — you won’t pay extra as long as you stay within your plan’s data limits.

If you’re on a Pay As You Go (PAYG) plan, you’ll still need to buy a Euro Roam add-on to use your phone in Zone A.

Zone B: EU roaming charges may apply

Zone B is included in Vodafone’s EU roaming plans, such as Vodafone Unlimited Max Euro Roam, European Roaming Passes, and Europe Extra add-ons. It covers 47 countries, including 24 EU member states and a few other European destinations.

Zone B includes these destinations:

• The Aland Islands

• Austria

• Azores

• The Balearic Islands

• Belgium

• Bulgaria

• The Canary Islands

• Corsica

• Croatia

• Cyprus (except Northern Cyprus)

• The Czech Republic

• Denmark

• Estonia

• The Faroe Islands

• Finland

• France

• French Guinea

• Germany

• Gibraltar

• Greece

• Guadeloupe

• Guernsey

• Hungary

• Italy

• Jersey

• Kosovo

• Latvia

• Lichtenstein

• Lithuania

• Luxembourg

• Madeira

• Malta

• Martinique

• Mayotte

• Monaco

• The Netherlands

• Poland

• Portugal

• Reunion

• Romania

• San Marino

• Slovakia

• Slovenia

• Spain

• St. Barthelemy

• St. Martin

• Sweden

• Switzerland

• Vatican City

Roaming outside the EU

Most European countries fall under Zones A and B, but some European nations aren’t part of the EU and sit in other Vodafone roaming zones. These destinations aren’t covered by Vodafone’s EU roaming plans, passes, or add-ons, so you’ll need to pay extra if you use your phone there.

Alternatives to Vodafone EU roaming to avoid high costs

If you want to stay connected while traveling in the EU, Vodafone EU roaming isn’t your only choice. Using your home provider can be convenient, but it’s not always the cheapest option. Let’s look at some smart ways to keep your phone bill under control, no matter where your adventures take you.

Practical tips for reducing roaming costs

If you’re looking to reduce roaming costs, try these simple steps:

• Check your Vodafone plan to see if roaming is included at your destination.

• Review Vodafone’s fair use rules so you know your data caps and any throttling limits.

• Use a data usage calculator to estimate how much data you’ll need while abroad.

• Keep an eye on your usage in real time with the Vodafone app.

• Turn off background data so apps don’t gobble up data when you’re not using them.

• Avoid high-data tasks, like streaming videos or downloading large files, and download any necessary files before your trip.

• Use Wi-Fi whenever you can, but be careful on public networks. Always use a VPN on unsecured connections.

• Turn off data roaming when you don’t need it. 

An eSIM as an alternative option

If you want to stay connected while traveling in the EU, an eSIM is your strongest alternative to a Vodafone EU roaming plan. eSIMs use preinstalled technology in your smartphone to help you connect to international carriers instead of paying Vodafone’s roaming rates.

The benefits of eSIMs include:

• Avoiding high roaming fees

• Choosing the right data plan for your needs

• Easily activating your plan at any point in your trip

• Using one eSIM provider for multiple countries

• Topping off your data on-the-go with just a few clicks

If you want to maximize fun and minimize stress, trusted eSIM apps like Saily can help you get the data you need.

Why is the Saily eSIM app the best alternative for Vodafone EU roaming?

If you want to skip the hassle (and the high cost) of Vodafone EU roaming, the Saily eSIM app makes staying connected simple and stress-free.

With an eSIM for Europe, you get:

• Consistent, high-speed data coverage

• Affordable plans that meet your specific data needs, including Saily Ultra for travelers who need unlimited data all over the world

• Instant activation as soon as you arrive at your destination

• Extra peace of mind with built-in security features like ad blocking, tracking protection, and location shielding

You don’t need to queue at the airport, fumble with physical SIM cards, or change your phone number. The Saily eSIM app will work alongside your home provider’s existing SIM. With Saily, using data in the EU doesn’t have to be complicated or costly! Download an eSIM app and enjoy seamless, low-cost data across the EU instantly.

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