Heading out of the country? You'll need to prep your phone to leave the country, starting with a phone plan that can offer international roaming to keep connected while abroad.
Luckily, major carriers and many MVNOs offer international roaming features as paid add-ons. Depending on your destination and plan, you may even have international perks included for free.
We've researched and tested 6 different plans and carriers to determine which offers the best value for international roaming. Our testing showed the best international phone plan was the Google Fi Unlimited Premium plan for $65/month. It offers free mobile data and texting in over 200 destinations around the world, in addition to excellent features like 50GB of premium data and mobile hotspot capability while still at home.
Read on for our full list of the best phone plans for international travel and learn what features to look out for when picking a plan for your trip.
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We've been around since the birth of the iPhone. Along the way, we've learned how to spot the best deals for your wallet (and your sanity). We spend our days researching informative guides and writing insightful reviews on every kind of wireless plan, distinguishing what matters from what doesn't. We played around with these plans before recommending them, ensuring they're worth your hard-earned money.
Want to know more? Check out how we review every cell phone plan we rank.
Our picks for the best international plans
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Best overall plan Unlimited Premium → Unlimited international data in 200+ locations → $65/month |
View at Google Fi |
|
Cheapest add-on Minternational → Up to 10GB of international roaming data → Up to $20/month |
View at Mint Mobile |
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Best major carrier plan Experience More → 5GB of high-speed international data + in-flight Wi-Fi → $85/month |
View at T-Mobile |
Best international travel plans
1. Best overall: Google Fi Unlimited Premium
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Google Fi Wireless
Unlimited Premium for 1
$32.50/mo
|
Google Fi's Unlimited Premium plan offers unlimited international data as a standard feature. It's one of the only MVNO plans available that includes extensive international features for free. When you aren't traveling, Unlimited Premium offers a massive 100GB data allotment and unlimited mobile hotspot, which is a great value for $65/month price.
Reasons to buy
- Unlimited international data and unlimited texts
- $.20/min for international calling
- 100GB premium allowance
- T-Mobile 4G LTE and 5G networks
- Unlimited mobile hotspot
Reasons to avoid
- Expensive for domestic use
- May be too much data for short trips
Why it's the best plan for international travel
The Google Fi Unlimited Premium plan is one of the only plans you'll find that offers unlimited international data and texting as a standard feature. International calling is also available for just $.20/minute. Many of our experts use it as their standard plan when traveling internationally. Staff Writer Alissa Bird has used Unlimited Premium in six different Southeast Asian countries, and I've used the plan for a trip to Peru.
Note that there are some rules surrounding Google Fi's service. You must activate your plan in the U.S. at least one day before travel and the majority of your service over a 90-day consecutive period must be on Google Fi's domestic network. If you violate either of these rules Google Fi may shut off your international service until you meet their requirements again.
For domestic use, Google Fi operates on T-Mobile's 4G LTE and 5G networks, so you'll have excellent coverage. The Unlimited Premium plan includes 50GB of premium data, then unlimited data at slower speeds. The plan also offers perks like unlimited mobile hotspot capability, 100GB of Google Cloud storage, and a subscription to YouTube Premium.
Our experience with Google Fi
"I used Google Fi’s unlimited plan in six different Southeast Asian countries for over two months and had reliable coverage in urban areas.," Staff Writer Alissa Bird said of her experience using Google Fi's international features. "Google Fi proved effective even in the lesser-traveled regions in Vietnam and Cambodia."
Read her full Google Fi review.
What users are saying
Users on the Google Fi subreddit (r/GoogleFi) love the international roaming feature, but caution users against attempting to set up a plan directly before leaving the country. u/Peterfield53 said to get the best experience, they recommended switching to Google Fi at least two months before traveling abroad. That way there is plenty of activity on your account to show domestic use before trying to use Fi's international roaming. Switching to Fi and then immediately traveling has caused some people to lose service during their trip.
The bottom line
The Google Fi Unlimited Premium plan is one of the best plans for international travel. Most other carriers offer international perks as a paid add-on. Google Fi offers unlimited international data and free texting while abroad as standard features with the Unlimited Premium plan. It's an excellent value for staying connected while abroad.
How is Google Fi's coverage?
Google Fi operates on the T-Mobile network, which has the nation's largest 5G network covering 41% of the country. The 4G LTE footprint is larger at 62%, but is still mostly limited to urban areas. Our testing found coverage to be reliable and consistent within these areas.
How do I activate Google Fi international roaming?
To activate Google Fi's international roaming, purchase a Google Fi plan with the international roaming feature before traveling abroad. Once you arrive at your destination, restart your device. Google Fi should automatically connect to the native network if you have coverage in that region.
Do all Google Fi plans have international roaming?
All of Google Fi's plans offer roaming in Canada and Mexico, but only the Unlimited Plus and Flexible plans offer international coverage around the world.
2. Cheapest: Minternational and Mint 5GB plan
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Mint Mobile
5GB Data Plan
$10.00/mo
$30.00 upfront payment for 3 months (equals to $10.00/month). Intro pricing for new customers only.
|
Mint Mobile's Minternational passes offer one of the cheapest ways to get international service while abroad. These are paid add-ons that can be used with any of Mint's plans and include an allotment of international roaming data, minutes, and texts. For the absolute cheapest options, you can combine one of these passes with Mint's 5GB plan.
Reasons to buy
- Cheap international access
- Available with any Mint plan
- Includes data, text, and minutes
- Can be used in 180+ countries
Reasons to avoid
- May not be enough data if you're a heavy user
- Need to purchase a multi-month Mint Mobile plan in advance
Why it's the best cheap international travel add-on
Mint Mobile is one of our top picks for cheap domestic service, but its Minternational add-on is also incredibly affordable. There are three different passes:
- 1-Day Pass for $5 including 1GB of international roaming, 60 minutes, and 60 texts.
- 3-Day Pass for $10 including 3GB of international roaming, 200 minutes, and 200 texts.
- 10-Day Pass for $20 including 10GB of international roaming, 500 minutes, and 500 texts.
These passes can be used with any of Mint's plans. Customers looking for the cheapest option can add them to Mint's 5G Plan, which offers 5GB of premium data and hotspot capability for $15/month. Mint's plans are available in 3-, 6-, and 12-month blocks. You must purchase the entire plan upfront, so your first three months of the 5GB Plan would cost $45 in total. That $15 pricing is also an introductory offer. To keep it, you must select a 12-month plan after the offer ends or build a family plan.
Domestically, Mint's service uses the T-Mobile network and offers incredibly fast speeds. In our hands-on testing of Mint Mobile, we measured 5G speeds topping 600Mbps in urban areas. T-Mobile's 4G LTE coverage is not great in many rural areas, so Mint works best if you live in a city or suburb.
Our experience with Mint Mobile
I never saw speeds dip down below 200Mbps, with peak speeds reaching as fast as 600Mbps," Senior Staff Writer Angelo Ilumba said after spending a month using US Mobile. "I was able to stream videos, play games, and download large files without a hitch."
Read his full Mint Mobile review.
What users are saying
Many customers have had an excellent experience with the Minternational feature, but some have noted it can take effort to get it working correctly. u/Alturia2 said, "The Minternational pass worked perfectly in France, Germany, Czech Republic, Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria, and Romania. In a couple of countries, including Germany, I had to manually switch networks to get data working. But once I found the right network to connect to everything worked very well."
The bottom line
Mint Mobile's Minternational passes are one of the cheapest options for scoring international coverage. With three different options to choose from, customers can customize their international roaming to meet their needs. While Minternational may not be the best feature for people who use a lot of data or are taking extended trips, it's a great option for budget travelers on a quick vacation.
How is Mint Mobile's coverage?
Mint Mobile operates on T-Mobile's 5G network, which is the largest 5G network in the nation, covering 41% of the country. That said, T-Mobile does have a smaller 4G network than Verizon and AT&T, so customers in rural areas may struggle to find a signal with Mint Mobile.
When should I activate Minternational?
You should purchase your Mint Mobile plan and the Minternational feature before your trip, then activate it when you arrive. You can always purchase additional Minternational passes while abroad if you run out of data, but you can't activate your initial Mint plan outside of the United States.
Does Mint Mobile offer free data in Canada?
Yes, all Mint Mobile plans include a free 3GB allotment of high-speed data each month to use in Canada. If you exceed this allotment, you'll need to purchase the Minternational pass to continue roaming in Canada.
3. Best major carrier: Experience More from T-Mobile
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T-Mobile
Experience More
$85.00/mo
with Auto-Pay + Taxes and fees
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T-Mobile's Experience More plan is our top major carrier plan for international travel because of its excellent travel features. There are high-speed data allotments included for coverage in Mexico, Canada, and select European countries. There are also extra perks like in-flight Wi-Fi with partner airlines and T-Mobile TRAVEL, a discounted travel booking site exclusively for T-Mobile's customers.
Reasons to buy
- 15GB high-speed data in Canada and Mexico
- 5GB high-speed data in 11 European countries
- Free in-flight Wi-Fi with airlines like Alaska, American, Delta, and United
- Unlimited data at 256Kbps in 215+ countries
- Unlimited premium domestic data
- 60GB mobile hotspot
Reasons to avoid
- Expensive plan
- Nations other than Canada, Mexico, and select European destinations require purchasing an International Pass for high-speed service
Why it's the best major carrier international plan
Experience More is the best international roaming plan from a major carrier because it offers a ton of travel perks as a standard part of the plan. With high-speed data in Canada, Mexico, and multiple European nations, there's a good chance you'll find you already have international roaming at some of the world's most popular vacation destinations. Additionally, if you need more high-speed data or are traveling to a more exotic location, T-Mobile offers International Passes to keep you connected.
T-Mobile's International Passes include:
- 1 Day pass for $5 with 512MB of data.
- 10 Day pass for $35 with 5GB of data.
- 30 Day pass for $50 for 15GB of data.
Domestically, Experience More is also one of T-Mobile's most popular premium plans. It offers unlimited premium data, a 60GB mobile hotspot, and extras like a Netflix and Apple TV+ streaming subscription. While T-Mobile's plans are expensive, they come with plenty of perks and excellent coverage.
Our experience with T-Mobile
"Despite its high price, T-Mobile still delivers strong value, particularly for users who need a lot of data," Angelo Ilumba said in his T-Mobile review. "We recommend T-Mobile for people who want reliable 5G service, use a ton of data, and don’t rely heavily on mobile hotspots."
Read his full T-Mobile review.
What users are saying
Many have found T-Mobile's standard international roaming to be helpful, but are quick to point out that customers who need high-speed data will need to purchase an additional International Pass in some locations. On the unofficial T-Mobile subreddit (r/tmobile), u/AspirinTheory explained the 256Kbps data speeds available in most countries like this: "What does low-speed mean? Texts and pictures go through, Google Maps works fine (with a bit of a delay on maps loading), and most webpages load all right, just slower. Instagram, TikTok, and Facetime video will be nearly impossible on this slow data."
The bottom line
The T-Mobile Experience More is the best major carrier plan for customers looking to travel abroad. While it's not the cheapest plan, customers are getting quite a bit for their money including free international roaming to select nations, in-flight Wi-Fi, and access to T-Mobile's discount travel booking portal.
How much high-speed data does T-Mobile include for international travel?
T-Mobile's top two postpaid plans include built-in high-speed data for international travel. The Experience More plan includes a 5GB allotment, while the Experience Beyond plan is a larger 15GB allotment.
What countries are covered under T-Mobile's international benefits?
T-Mobile's international roaming covers over 215 countries and destinations. You can find what locations are covered on T-Mobile's international coverage page.
What is a T-Mobile International Pass?
The T-Mobile International Pass is a paid add-on offering high-speed data and unlimited calling to over 215 destinations for a set period. They are designed for customers on T-Mobile's cheaper plans, or for Experience-tier customers who have used up their allotments.
Every plan
we evaluated
Our top three picks aren't the only plans we evaluated for international customers. Below are some of the other plans we considered that didn't quite make the list. That doesn't mean they're bad plans; in fact, some of them are quite good... they're just not the best.
Recommended
US Mobile Unlimited Premium
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US Mobile
Unlimited Premium Plan
$39.00/mo
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US Mobile's Unlimited Premium plan for $44/month provides service in over 120+ countries. As a standard part of the plan, customers can score up to 20GB of international data per month (depending on destination) with additional data available for purchase if necessary. US Mobile's international service is easy to activate while abroad. During my US Mobile review, I used it in Aruba and had excellent coverage.
Outside of international perks, the plan includes unlimited premium data and a 50GB mobile hotspot. US Mobile also has access to the AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon networks, so customers can pick the coverage that works best for their area.
AT&T International Day Pass
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AT&T
Extra 2.0℠
$70.00/mo
+ $35 Upfront
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If you're traveling abroad with one of AT&T's postpaid plans, you can purchase an AT&T International Day Pass for $12/day. This pass allows you to use your AT&T plan while out of the country. You can use the pass for as many days as you want, but your daily charge will max out at 10 days, so you'll never pay more than $120/month. A flight tracker app can help you plan exactly when to activate your pass so you're not paying for days you don't need. When I was an AT&T customer, I used the International Day Pass in Portugal, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands with no problems.
A solid plan to pair your day pass with is AT&T's Extra 2.0. For domestic use, it includes 100GB of premium data and a 50GB mobile hotspot. It also includes extra international benefits, like the AT&T Roam North America feature which lets you use your plan in Canada and Mexico.
Verizon TravelPass
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Verizon
Unlimited Welcome
$55.00/mo
+ Taxes & Fees. Price includes AutoPay & Paperless discount.
+ $40 Upfront
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Verizon offers the TravelPass perk for customers who want to use their plan when traveling abroad. Like AT&T, Verizon TravelPass costs $12/day. However, unlike AT&T, Verizon offers a way to get them much cheaper through their perk program. The carrier offers a 3-day TravelPass perk for just $10/month. These days can be stacked up over months and saved for up to a year. That means if you have a week-long trip coming up, you can purchase the TravelPass perk for three months to get enough coverage for your whole trip for just $30 overall. Purchasing seven days individually while on the trip would cost $84.
While Verizon's most expensive plans include more data and some extra international features, the TravelPass perk is also available with Unlimited Welcome, Verizon's cheapest postpaid plan. For $55/month, it offers unlimited 5G data (subject to deprioritization) and 2GB/day of high-speed data in Canada and Mexico.
How to pick an
international plan
International phone plans allow you to use your phone service while abroad. This process is called international roaming, which simply means you're using a domestic phone plan while connected to a foreign network.
Your domestic data plan is designed to provide you with service in the United States. In the past, that meant you had to buy a foreign SIM card to use with international networks. Today, many domestic carriers have agreements with international carriers allowing you to use their networks when traveling. You don't need a new SIM card, you can simply use your regular plan and phone number. While this feature is typically an add-on, some premium plans include free international roaming in certain countries.
Don't want to commit to an International plan?
A travel eSIM is worth considering, especially if your trip is data-only and you'd rather not pay a daily rate. These are prepaid digital SIMs you install before you leave, and they tend to undercut carrier roaming on price since you're buying data directly instead of bolting it onto your home plan. The catch is that most travel eSIMs are data-only, so you'll lean on apps like WhatsApp and FaceTime for calls and texts. For a lot of travelers that's no loss at all. KnowRoaming is one option in this space, with flat prepaid pricing and coverage across 200+ countries. Our KnowRoaming review walks through how it works.
Because international roaming can be available as a standard plan feature or a premium add-on, it's important to look at your needs and figure out which method will work best for you. Here are some things to keep in mind:
What to look for
- What are your data needs.
Adventurers who use a lot of data may need unlimited international roaming or a major carrier day pass. If you're spending most of your time at a resort with widespread Wi-Fi, a smaller carrier add-on may suit your needs perfectly. If you're unsure how much data you need, be sure to read our mobile data usage guide to help determine the most practical plan for you. - Where are you going.
You may not need to purchase additional international roaming for certain destinations. Many carriers allow you to use your plan or include a free allotment of data in Mexico and Canada. If you're going somewhere more exotic, make sure the carrier you're interested in offers service in your destination. If you're heading somewhere popular for spring break, make sure your plan covers your destination. - How long is your trip.
Shorter trips are often served fine by a small phone plan with an international data add-on. For seven-day trips or longer, you'll probably find the best value out of a plan that includes extensive international perks or a major carrier's day pass program. If your trip is longer than a month, the cheapest option will likely be switching to a native network after you arrive and adjusting your device's settings. Physical SIMs can typically be purchased at the airport after you land, while carriers like Maya Mobile and Airalo offer international eSIM plans to install before you leave. If you're traveling with a group, a group travel app can help coordinate logistics and keep everyone on the same page while abroad. - Do you want domestic service with the same carrier.
Some carriers require extensive domestic use to access their international features. Google Fi requires customers to join their service several days in advance before it enables international roaming, making it a poor choice for last-minute trips. Mint Mobile requires customers to sign up for multiple months of service for all of its plans. If you don't like these carriers' domestic plans, it might be best to switch to a major carrier for its travel pass and then switch back to your current carrier when the trip is over.
What to avoid
- Unlimited data for the sake of unlimited data.
Is it worth getting unlimited data when traveling abroad? No, most people don't need unlimited data, especially if they are sticking around a hotel or city with widespread Wi-Fi connections. That said, don't undershoot your data needs. International roaming is expensive, so intentionally purchasing smaller allotments and constantly topping off your plan will add up fast. You may not need unlimited data, but you should aim for at least 5GB for a weeklong trip. Solo travelers should also think beyond data—a safety app can be an essential travel companion regardless of your destination.
How we picked the best plans for international travel
Each of our international travel plan picks is underpinned by an extensive first-hand test and review of its features and performance. Our team evaluates phone plans based on the following criteria:
- Price & value Not all cheap plans are “bad,” and not all expensive plans are worth it. We ensured you’re getting the most bang for your buck without sacrificing on the essentials to keep you connected.
- High-speed data Also called “premium” data, this is how much data you get at full 4G/5G speeds before they can or will slow down. The more guaranteed high-speed data the plan includes, the better experience you’ll generally have—but there’s also usually a limit to how much you actually need, and we ensure that you’re not overpaying for data that will go unused.
- Coverage & network reliability The breadth of each carrier’s 4G LTE and 5G networks determines your reception and service. Particularly in the case of 5G, some carriers offer far more robust coverage than others, which affects how their phone plans perform in different parts of the country.
- Plan extras and perks In addition to the basics—talk, text, and data—some plans throw in freebies like hotspot allowances, cloud storage, entertainment subscriptions, or service discounts.
Our mobile experts spent at least one month using each of the plans or carriers we've recommended to you. In addition to running speed tests, tethering to the hotspot, and analyzing coverage reliability, we also leveraged proprietary data and real-world customer feedback to evaluate plan options, costs, and inclusions. We considered plan-specific elements, including international features, perks, premium data allowances, and mobile hotspot allocations. After our hands-on testing and extensive research, we picked the best plans we felt meet the needs of most people.
Visit our guide to choosing a phone plan to dive deeper into how we evaluate plans and carriers, and how to pick the right plan to meet your needs.
Max McCaskill
Sr. Staff Writer
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