Best Disposable Burner Phones for Travel

Whether you're going to a nearby beach, heading to another state, or flying overseas, a burner phone is a worthy consideration. You can pop a SIM card into a cheap mobile device rather than using your beloved daily driver phone. That way, you can leave your nice smartphone at home or in the safety of your hotel room. 

But you'll need the right handset for your needs and budget. There's everything from affordable basic phones to inexpensive Android and iPhone options. Let's dive into the best disposable phones for travel, so you vacation with ease and leave your flagship phone at home.

Best disposable phones for travel in 2026

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You've got plenty of options for travel-worthy burner phones, from smartphones to "dumb" devices. Here are our favorite disposable cell phones for travel:

• Nokia 6300: Best cheap basic phone
• CAT S22: A great rugged flip phone that's portable and durable
• OnePlus Nord N200: An Android handset that doesn't break the bank (and you won't be out much if it breaks)
• Apple iPhone SE (2022): Best budget iPhone

Why you should buy a burner phone for international travel

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Traveling abroad, or even locally to the mountains and beach, can be a blast. However, it can be pretty nerve-wracking if you're toting around a nearly $2,000 premium handset like the Google Pixel Fold or iPhone 17. Whether you're worried about drops, water damage, forgetting your device on the subway, it being searched at a border crossing, or getting pickpocketed, a lot can happen to your phone. Thus, a temporary phone for international travel is a great idea.

As a frequent flier, I spend a lot of time hopping around countries like Peru, Lebanon, Sierra Leone, and the UK. Instead of using my nice cell phone, I simply toted around a cheap prepaid international burner phone most of the time. However, I've even used budget-priced unlocked Android handsets.

What to look for in a burner phone

There's much to consider when picking out a disposable phone, including carrier compatibility, price, and features. Here's what you need to look for:

1. Carrier compatibility: Not all phones work across every network. You'll need to check a carrier's bands and cross-reference those with the phone you're thinking of purchasing. Luckily, many modern phones work across multiple networks at home and abroad. For instance, on a 2019 trip to Rome, Italy, I popped a local SIM card into my Samsung Galaxy S9+ and had instant cellular connectivity. But double-check phone and carrier bands before purchasing. 
2. Price: Since this is a backup phone or a secondary phone, you'll want to keep the cost low. You can find many handsets for under $150 or even $100. But stepping up to a smartphone may cost you a bit extra.
3. Smartphone vs. feature phone: A smartphone runs Android or iOS, while basic phones typically lack apps and Wi-Fi connectivity. Smartphones can help you run important travel apps that help you plan your trip. Some feature phones do feature limited app support, like Gmail or Spotify, but you won't find a huge app store. 
4. Unlocked vs. carrier locked: For international travel, you'll want one of the best unlocked phones. However, you can also pick up a prepaid phone from a carrier like TracFone, Total Wireless, or Cricket Wireless. Most carriers let you unlock your phone after a certain period of time. Otherwise, it's restricted to use on one carrier.
5. Battery life: Especially for travel, battery life is essential. You'll want long battery life, and maybe even a replaceable battery so you can swap when you're getting low on juice. 
6. Specs: Think about what you need in a phone, like camera quality, RAM for multitasking, storage for taking photos or videos, a headphone jack, and microSD card slot for adding more space. If you're keeping the cost low, you might want to tote around a point-and-shoot camera, because the average cheap prepaid phone has the quality of a potato.

Best BASIC
disposable phones

Disposable phones, unlike disposable cameras, aren't meant to be thrown away. You might know disposable phones better as "burner phones." These cheap prepaid or unlocked devices are excellent for many reasons other than dealing illicit substances. Namely, basic feature phones are excellent for travel.

Because they're usually inexpensive, boast long-lasting battery life, and don't store much personal information in mobile apps which is great in case your handset is stolen. From smartphones to "dumb" devices, these are the best cheap disposable phones.

Nokia | 6300—Best cheap temporary phone for international travel

The Nokia 6300 punches well above its weight class with a feature set far surpassing its affordable price tag. It's a dual SIM device, so you can use two carrier networks simultaneously. While the Nokia 6300 doesn't run Android or iOS, you'll find a few helpful apps in Nokia's KaiOS. For instance, it features Google Maps, Google Assistant, YouTube, Facebook, and even WhatsApp.

Its 4G LTE connectivity provides reasonably fast mobile data, plus you can even use the Noki 6300 as a mobile hotspot for sharing your internet with gadgets like game consoles or tablets. Because of its app support including WhatsApp, the Nokia 6300 is a solid cheap phone to use abroad. WhatsApp lets you call or text friends and family members in other countries without paying potentially expensive international calling charges. There's even Wi-Fi, a rarity on most burner phones.

While there's limited app support, you won't find major music streaming services like Spotify or video platforms such as Netflix. As is expected, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 210 processor and measly 512MB of RAM don't make the Nokia 6300 a gaming phone powerhouse. But you can add a microSD card for additional storage space. Ultimately, the Nokia is a nice international burner phone if you want basic app support in a package that doesn't break the bank.

• Pros: Super affordable, 4G LTE and Wi-Fi, basic app support including WhatsApp
• Cons: Limited apps, somewhat slow operating system

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CAT | S22 Flip—Best burner flip phone

The CAT S22 Flip is an excellent rugged flip phone. You'll find IP68 water resistance, 4G LTE connectivity for fast mobile internet, and great carrier support for carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile. Unfortunately, there's no Verizon support.

Unlike most cheap disposable phones, the CAT S22 runs Anrdoid. Therefore, you can access your favorite apps like Spotify, Gmail, and Google Maps. Under the hood, the CAT S22 boasts 2GB of RAM and 16GB of onboard storage. While it's not a powerhouse gaming phone, the S22 can run basic apps for streaming music, checking your email, and browsing the web.

We like the CAT S22's removable battery, Android operating system, and flip phone design. You'll even find a microSD card slot for adding extra storage. The phone itself is a bit bulkier than most flip phones, but that's the tradeoff its excellent ruggedization. If you want a cheap phone to use abroad that even includes basic smartphone features, the CAT S22 is a great choice.

• Pros: Runs Android, IP68 water and dust resistance, microSD card slot
• Cons: Somewhat bulky, doesn't play nicely with Verizon

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Use our best cheap cell phone plans guide to see even more inexpensive options. 

BEST DISPOSABLE
SMARTPHONES

We use our phones for nearly everything, like checking email or viewing menus at restaurants by scanning QR codes. For travel, smartphones let you use mobile boarding passes, take pictures and videos, or use apps such as WhatsApp to avoid international roaming charges. Here are the best disposable smartphones. 

OnePlus | Nord N200—Best Android burner phone

The OnePlus Nord N200 is one of the best temporary phones for international travel. Sure, it's a little pricier than a disposable prepaid phone such as the Nokia 6300, but you'll get a full-fledged Android handset without breaking the bank.

In our OnePlus Nord N200 review, we liked its 5G support, microSD card slot, and decent performance (especially for the price). The processor isn't anything to write home about, and the cameras are simply average. However, as a cheap phone to use abroad, the OnePlus Nord N200 more than gets the job done.

• Pros: Extremely affordable, microSD card slot, headphone jack, 5G support
• Cons: Middling performance, average camera

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Apple | iPhone SE (2022)—Best cheap iPhone for international travel

For Apple aficionados, the iPhone SE (2022) is the best disposable cell phone for international travel. While it's pricier than a "dumb" phone, the iPhone SE is nevertheless a great budget iOS handset. You'll enjoy a best-in-class processor, a long-lasting battery, and an exceptional camera. We also like the small form factor, which further makes the iPhone SE (3rd gen) a great candidate for temporary phone use in international travel.

Admittedly, its price tag is somewhat high when only considering it as a burner phone, but the iPhone SE is so good that we'd even recommend it as a daily driver. If you don't care about 5G, consider the last-gen iPhone SE (2nd gen), which is limited to 4G LTE. And an older device like the iPhone 12 or a refurbished iPhone also works well as a cheap disposable phone. But our favorite budget iPhone is the SE 3rd gen (2022) for its superb balance of value and performance.

• Pros: 5G support, terrific camera, outstanding performance
• Cons: A bit expensive

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International travel plans for your disposable phone

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The cheapest thing to do with a burner phone is typically pick up a local SIM card. However, if you’re a frequent flier, getting one of the best phone plans for international travel may make sense. We recommend Google Fi’s Unlimited Premium plan. You’ll enjoy free or cheap global calling plus benefits like YouTube Premium and Google One cloud storage.

T-Mobile also offers excellent international coverage with its Experience More and Experience Beyond plans. 

If you regularly travel to Latin America, AT&T’s Premium 2.0 gives you unlimited talk, text, and data in 20 countries, plus Mexico and Canada.

But these aren’t your only options. Check out our favorite international travel cell phone plans below:

Frequently Asked Questions

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Can burner phones be used internationally?

Yes, burner phones can be used internationally if they have the correct bands to work with carriers abroad.

Can you put a SIM card in a burner phone?

Yes, you can put a SIM card in a burner phone, or an eSIM for that matter. You'll just need an unlocked phone.

Where can you buy a burner phone?

You can purchase a no-contract burner phone from Best Buy, Target, Walmart, and even convenience stores like 7-11. It's also easy to purchase a burner phone like a Nokia 6300 from Amazon.

How long does a burner phone last?

Burner phones can last for years. The phone itself doesn't expire, although as time goes on natural wear and tear means the battery won't last as long, for instance.

What is the cheapest way to communicate internationally?

The cheapest way to communicate internationally is by picking up a local SIM card to use when you get to your destination. Unless your primary carrier offers great international calling benefits, it's typically cheaper to use a local SIM card. You can also use voice over IP (VoIP) apps like Skype, Zoom, and WhatsApp to place calls over Wi-Fi or mobile internet. Check out our guide for international travel settings you should set before your trip to save even more.