Will my phone work in Europe? All you need to know

Once upon a time, flying to Europe might’ve meant buying a brand new local phone. While those times are behind us, many travelers still wonder: Will my phone work in Europe? In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into European networks, communications tech, data plans, and other information you might need to know about data usage in Europe.

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12 min read

Will my phone work in Europe? All you need to know

Will my phone work in Europe?

The simple answer is that yes, your mobile phone should work in Europe — or anywhere else in the world, for that matter. Today, devices are built for a global consumer base, so whether you ask, “Will my phone work in Spain?” or “Will my phone work in Mexico?” the answer will almost always be the same (just to be clear, it’s “yes”). 

This wasn’t always the case. In the past, you had to make sure that your cell phone would be able to tap into the frequency bands used by the networks in the country you were visiting. Early mobile phones were manufactured strictly to specific regional standards — they were simply not intended to be sold abroad. 

Compatibility between American and European Networks

To understand why phones didn’t always play nice with networks in other countries, we need to talk about GSM (short for the Global System for Mobile Communications). Prior to GSM, cell networks used analog radio signals for communications, which limited what phones could do. GSM instead switched to digital radio signals, expanding network capacity and introducing data services for mobile devices. After launching in Europe in 1991, GSM quickly spread across the globe — by 2010, over 90% of all mobile networks used it in some way, shape, or form.

Trouble is, these various networks did not use GSM in quite the same way, shape, or form. GSM relies on sending compressed data over specific radio frequencies, but these frequency bands are not the same across different regions. In most European countries, the go-to frequency bands are GSM-900 and GSM-1800. The US initially did not use GSM at all, preferring the code division multiple access (CDMA) tech — and when it did hop on board, it got GSM-850 and GSM-1900.  

Since early cell phones were not built to support multiple frequencies, “will my American cell phone work in Europe?” was a valid concern for many businesspeople and tourists. That concern faded as companies developed new communications technologies (like 3G and LTE) and phones to handle multiple frequency bands. By 2016 (around the time that the iPhone 7 launched), worries over European and American network compatibility were a thing of the past.   

Checking if your phone is compatible

If you’re unsure whether your cell phone will work in Europe, the easiest way to check is to look for the information on the box that it came in or read through the manual. Under technical specifications, the packaging/manual should list the networking technology that your mobile phone uses as well as the frequency bands that it accepts. You’re specifically looking for GSM-900, GSM-1900, HSPA, LTE, or 4G/5G — these standards are widely used across European mobile networks.

If you threw away your old phone box, don’t worry — you can easily find this information online on the manufacturer’s website. 

Preparing your phone for a trip to Europe

So you’re getting ready for your trip. You’ve booked your flight, dug out your passport, and packed your bags. Now you might be thinking — “What do I need to do with my phone when I go abroad?” Don’t panic. Here’s a handy checklist of things you need to take care of to make sure your cell phone works in Europe.

  • Grab a universal adapter. The US uses mostly type A and B sockets, but different countries in Europe follow different standards — for example, you’ll need a type G plug if you’re traveling to the UK, type E if you’re planning to stay in some parts of France, and type C for touring the Nordics. Thankfully, you don’t need to buy a new charger every time you go abroad — a simple universal adapter will cover all your needs. 

  • Get your carrier to unlock your phone. If you got your cell phone from your carrier as part of your data plan, it might be carrier locked for the duration of your contract. Carrier-locked phones do not accept SIM cards from other operators, which means you can’t simply slot in a local SIM as soon as you land to enjoy cheap data abroad. Before your trip, call the carrier, explain your circumstances, and ask it to unlock the phone for you.

  • Consider enabling roaming. While the prospect of exorbitant charges is scary, you should think of roaming as a failsafe — for example, if you’ve missed the last bus from the village you’ve been exploring all day, roaming may help you find another option to go back to your hotel. 

  • Install and update apps. Apps can take a ginormous bite out of your precious mobile data abroad, so do your homework — download any apps you’ll need before you leave the house. For example, you'll probably need to pay for some purchases during your trip, so you can also learn if Apple Pay works internationally.

  • Disable automatic app updates. Once you’ve installed and updated what apps you’ll need, make sure to switch off automatic updates. You don’t want Google Play or the App Store secretly snacking on your data — when you’re abroad, each bite could cost a fortune. 

  • Limit message refreshers. In a similar vein, make sure to go to each individual app’s settings and limit how often they ping their servers for new content. While you’re out and about, enjoy the sights — you can always catch up on your apps when you find a Wi-Fi hotspot.

Mobile and data connectivity in Europe

You might be thinking — “I went through all this trouble to set up my phone, but will my phone data work in Europe?” Unfortunately, mobile plans are rarely able to cross international borders. Unless your carrier has some special deal with a local network, your unlimited data plan will be replaced with a metered connection that will quickly drain your wallet.    

That doesn’t mean that your phone is useless in between short stints at free Wi-Fi oases. You’ve got several options when it comes to getting mobile data for your phone in Europe.

Data roaming

Roaming refers to making phone calls or using mobile data outside of your carrier’s network. To give you coverage abroad, carriers need to “rent” local networks — and they pass these expenses on to you. If you’re relying on roaming data for your daily needs, prepare for your trip to get very expensive very quickly. 

To give you an idea of how much you might have to pay, some carriers charge US$2 per megabyte — and it can take over four megabytes to upload a single high-quality photo to social media! Other carriers automatically charge you a flat daily rate (usually from US$5 to US$15) in exchange for limited data and phone calls.

Using European SIM cards vs. getting an eSIM

Your best bet to use an Android or iPhone in Europe without additional charges is to ditch your carrier altogether and get a new SIM card. You’ve got two options — finding a physical SIM card at a local store or buying an eSIM online.  

SIM cards are the little chips you slot into your phone to get calls and mobile data. They’re used by the vast majority of European carriers to unlock access to their networks. And what is an eSIM, you might ask? As the “e” in front of the name suggests, an eSIM is simply a digital version of a SIM card. In the grand eSIM vs. physical SIM debate, eSIMs hold several important advantages over local SIM cards: 

  • They’re more easily accessible. Since many mobile phones now have SIM hardware baked into their frames, you don’t need to worry about hunting down a SIM card when you land. Have a look at our article on how to get an eSIM for what you need to do.

  • They’re simple to manage. If your phone doesn’t support dual SIMs, a physical SIM may require you to remove your carrier’s SIM card from your phone. And even in dual SIM setups, the second slot is often taken up by a memory card. In contrast, it only takes a few taps to activate an eSIM on your iPhone or Android — and a few more to turn the eSIM off

  • They’re more reliable. Buying an unknown carrier’s SIM card locally is like buying a lottery ticket — you could get a great deal, or you could get scammed. International eSIM services stake their reputation on their network performance, so you’re much more likely to get reliable results and good network coverage with a known brand.

  • They can work across multiple countries. Usually, local networks only cover the country that you’re visiting. This can be a problem if, for example, you’re only in Germany for a few days before moving on to Poland — you’ll have to go through the whole SIM song and dance routine again after crossing the border. In contrast, many eSIM services offer plans that cover wider regions, giving you true international SIM cards for iPhone or Android phones.    

Choosing the best eSIM

No single “best” eSIM app will fit the bill for everyone (although we do think that Saily comes pretty dang close). When weighing your options, always consider the following:

  • Does it cover the country I’m visiting? The best deals mean nothing if they don’t work where you’re going. Some cheap eSIM apps only offer plans for a few countries, greatly limiting your choices. By comparison, Saily covers over 180 destinations, including all popular locations in Europe.

  • Does it have regional (or even global) plans? Bundling is always cheaper than buying separately. For example, Saily offers a special regional plan for Europe, which could save you a pretty penny if you’re planning a trip across the continent. 

  • Will it have a fast and stable connection? Cheap data isn’t everything — if you have to wait for ages to load a single image, you might as well wait to use Wi-Fi back at the hotel. Check social media, user reviews, and expert impressions to find out how an eSIM app fares in a specific country. Saily offers reliable high-speed data almost everywhere you go.

  • Will the app be hard to manage? Not all eSIM apps are created equal. Some are a nightmare to manage, making you wish for the halcyon days of fumbling the SIM card into its slot with trembling fingers. Others, like Saily, let you easily switch between eSIMs, check your remaining data, and top up on the fly. 

FAQ

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    saily blog author petras
    Petras Borisovas

    After he became a happy father of two little angels, Petras realized how hard it is to track down free Wi-Fi abroad with tots in tow. Less time hunting down kiosks selling local SIM cards means more time for exciting sights and authentic experiences — and one less thing to worry about while packing for a family trip.