What is data roaming?
Data roaming is when a device connects to a network that isn’t its home network. For example, if you have a contract with a carrier like T-Mobile or Verizon, and you travel outside of the United States, you will connect to a cell network that belongs to another operator, and you’ll be on data roaming. Roaming can also apply to phone calls and SMS messages.
Data roaming can get expensive fast. Some operators do offer mobile data in foreign countries with their plans, but cheaper plans don’t come with any data roaming allowances. T-Mobile charges US$1.00 per megabyte of usage in Spain, for example, while Verizon’s per-megabyte price is US$2.05. Prices vary by destination, but paying per megabyte when you use a lot of data will leave you with a steep phone bill.
The high per-megabyte data roaming prices drive consumers to search for alternatives while they travel. One of those alternatives is a travel eSIM app like Saily, which offers specific destination, regional, and Global data plans that cost less than paying for data as you go. Consider getting an unlimited data plan if you’re on a work trip because roaming for business is also expensive.
Should data roaming be on or off?
Whether you should keep data roaming on or off mainly depends on the country you’re traveling to and your mobile plan.
When to keep data roaming on
You should keep data roaming on if:
Your phone plan includes data roaming. T-Mobile’s Experience Beyond 2.0 offers 15 GB of high-speed data, and Experience More 2.0 has 5 GB — both in over 215 destinations. AT&T’s Elite 2.0 plan with 20 GB of international roaming data is available in over 210 destinations, while Verizon’s Unlimited Ultimate offers 15 GB of monthly data in over 210 destinations. All three plans’ limits are for high-speed data, and your internet speeds will be throttled once you use more data than you’re given with your plan.
You’re a European Union (EU) citizen with a mobile plan from a local operator. In June 2017, the EU’s roaming regulations within the European Economic Area (EEA) went into effect, and the “Roam like at home” regulations eliminated roaming fees across the EEA. The EU’s current roaming regulations are set to expire in 2032.
You’re a citizen of a country that is part of a roaming-free zone. Similar to the roaming-free zone in the EEA, Western Balkans countries — Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia — have their own “Roam like at home” regulations. On July 1, 2021, the six countries abolished roaming charges for their citizens traveling within the region, and they could join the EU’s roaming-free zone as soon as the end of 2026. Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru also have a roaming-free arrangement that went into effect on January 1, 2022.
When to keep data roaming off
You should turn off data roaming if:
Your mobile plan doesn’t include international roaming data. International roaming fees add up fast, especially if you use a lot of data. To avoid experiencing bill shock, check that you have coverage in your destination, and if you don’t, turn off data roaming.
You’re staying near a border area. Phones connect to the nearest cell towers – and near a border, that tower may be on the other side of it. As a result, you can rack up expensive charges while on a foreign carrier’s network.
You’re on a cruise. Out at sea, cruise ships rely mostly on satellite connections. Use the ship’s Wi-Fi or a cruise eSIM plan, but don’t forget to turn off data roaming to avoid an expensive phone bill when you get home.
You’re using a travel eSIM. When you install a new eSIM profile on your smartphone, your primary phone line — whether a physical SIM card or an eSIM — might still have data roaming on. Your primary SIM will connect to a local operator’s network, and without a plan that has international data roaming, you will face a high phone bill. Remember to set up your eSIM before you depart for your destination and turn off your primary SIM’s data roaming.
Data roaming vs. mobile data vs. Wi-Fi
The telco lingo can get confusing. To clear up some of that confusion, here’s a simple breakdown of data roaming, mobile data/cellular data, and Wi-Fi, as well as their benefits and drawbacks when traveling:
In general, when comparing the three connectivity methods, using a travel eSIM with a mobile data plan is the best option when traveling. An eSIM data plan costs less than roaming fees. And, knowing how vulnerable public Wi-Fi networks are to cyberattacks, a travel eSIM is the safer option. Saily’s built-in security features — like an ad blocker, virtual location, and web protection — provide an additional layer of protection for your personal data.
How much does data roaming cost?
International data roaming costs vary by operator. For example, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon have a per-megabyte price ranging from US$1.00 to US$2.05, and it can get even more expensive. The final per-megabyte price will depend on your destination.
Mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) like Google Fi or Mint Mobile, use the cell tower networks of MNOs, and offer different options for those who want to use international data roaming while traveling. Google Fi’s Flexible Plan prices data roaming at US$10.00/1 GB — or US$0.0098 for 1 MB — while Mint Mobile has three different international passes for sale. Mint Mobile’s one-day plan with 1 GB of high-speed data is US$5, a three-day plan with 3 GB of high-speed data is US$10, and a 10-day plan with 10 GB of high-speed data is US$20.
How does that compare to an eSIM? Saily’s cheapest plan in Spain is US$3.99, providing 1 GB of data. The per-megabyte price comes out to US$0.004, which is cheaper than using AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, or the two MVNOs’ international data roaming solutions.
How do you turn data roaming on or off?
Remember — unless you turn off data roaming before you land, your phone will start using data on a local network once you arrive at your destination, unless you turn off data roaming before you land. Here’s how you turn data roaming on or off on different devices:
How to turn data roaming on or off on an iPhone
Turning roaming on or off only takes a few taps on an iPhone:
Open "Settings."
Tap "Cellular" (or "Mobile service") > "Cellular/Mobile data options."
Find the "Data roaming" section.
Toggle the switch on or off as needed.
If you’re traveling, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on how much data you’ve used. You can check it in your phone’s settings in the "Data roaming" section. To check the current-period roaming data on an iPhone, go to "Cellular/Mobile service" and look for "Current period roaming" — it will show you the exact amount of data used.
How to turn data roaming on or off on an Android device
Here’s how you can turn data roaming on or off on a Samsung:
Go to the phone’s “Settings” and tap “Connections.”
Tap “Mobile networks.”
Tap “SIM manager.”
Toggle “Data roaming” for a physical SIM or eSIM.
While the steps above show how to turn off international roaming on a Samsung device, other Android devices will have similar user flows. On a Google Pixel, tap on the “Settings” app, go to “Network & internet,” select the SIM or eSIM for you want to change, and toggle “Mobile data” off.
How to avoid roaming charges when traveling
One of the simplest ways to avoid roaming charges while traveling is to turn off data roaming in your phone’s settings. You can also turn off mobile data or toggle airplane mode on, which will prevent your phone from connecting to a cell tower at your destination.
But if you do insist on using data roaming, one tip would be to monitor your data usage. The more data you use, the more costly your roaming charges will be. On an iPhone, navigate to “Settings,” “Cellular” or “Mobile service,” and scroll down to “Reset statistics.” After resetting, monitor the data as you travel and see how much data you’ve actually used.
On a Samsung device, go to “Settings,” “Connections,” and “Data usage.” Here, several settings can help you adjust your data usage, which in turn will reduce your roaming charges. You can adjust the billing cycle for each of your SIMs — or eSIMs — and data usage warnings. You can also turn on “Data saver,” which prevents apps from using data in the background, and, by navigating to “Allowed networks for apps,” pick which apps can connect to the internet using mobile data, Wi-Fi, both, or none.
Alternatives to data roaming
Data roaming has several alternatives, many of which are cheaper and easier to use, even for someone who isn’t too tech-savvy:
eSIMs
Using an eSIM is one of the best alternatives to data roaming. In addition to being cheaper than roaming, you can purchase eSIM plans that include several gigabytes of data or unlimited data. If you’re unsure how much mobile data you will need while traveling, use a data usage calculator to estimate how much you’ll need for your trip.
Choosing between eSIMs can be tricky, but our suggestion is Saily. Before you leave for your trip, download the Saily eSIM app, purchase a mobile data plan for your destination (regional and Global plans are also available), and using the on-screen instructions, install the eSIM profile on your phone to set your connectivity up.
Travel eSIMs work much like roaming — both connect to local MNOs’ cell towers. But travel eSIMs are cheaper than the per-megabyte roaming fees.
If you’re having trouble with your eSIM, you can use some of the same steps that you’d use to troubleshoot cellular data. Restart your phone, toggle airplane mode, or turn on and off the eSIM profile (don’t uninstall it, though), and your eSIM should be up and running once again. If your eSIM is still not providing you with mobile data, reach out to your provider’s customer support for help.
Data roaming: Key takeaways
Data roaming is a simple concept: your smartphone — or any other mobile device — uses a non-native network to connect to the internet. Unless you’re traveling within a roaming-free zone with a local phone plan, like the EEA/EU, data roaming will come at a price.
So, if you’re traveling from the US to the EU, expect roaming fees. Your options to avoid those fees are plentiful, but getting a travel eSIM like Saily is a great option to have internet while you’re traveling. In addition, one of the benefits of an eSIM is that the setup is easy compared to a physical SIM card, with which you’ll have to fiddle around once you arrive at your destination, or a pocket Wi-Fi device, which involves additional logistical challenges of picking up and returning the device.
