Can you still use your phone for free in the EU? What add-ons are there for cutting your roaming charges bill when you’re travelling further afield? Read on as we take a good look at the roaming rules from the most popular mobile networks.
What is international roaming?
Roaming is the official term for using your phone overseas and kicks in whenever you travel outside your mobile network’s UK coverage area.
Because your phone can no longer connect to your normal home network, it’ll start to ‘roam’. This is when it connects to another available mobile network in order to receive texts and calls and access the internet.
Unless you’ve turned off data roaming on your device, you’ll be deemed as roaming as soon as you arrive in another country and your phone connects to a local network.
What are roaming charges?
The term ‘roaming charges’ refers to the higher prices that mobile networks typically charge for using your phone overseas.
Depending on the country you’re visiting and your network’s roaming policy, you may have to pay more to make calls, send texts and use mobile data.
To that end, it’s a good idea to get informed before you head off for your break. Luckily, we’re here to arm you with the information you need.
Which network is best for roaming?
The best network for data roaming largely depends on where you’re going. Some networks offer inclusive roaming in the EU, while others are better for roaming worldwide. And roaming rules can differ quite a bit between networks.
No matter which one you’re with, you’ll likely have the option to buy add-ons that’ll cut the cost of roaming in locations beyond Europe.
You'll usually need to activate your travel add-on, either by texting your network or adding it in your app. So, it's important to check you've done that before you set off.
We take a look at what each big-name network has to offer below…
Three data roaming
Three’s Go Roam scheme lets you use your plan's data, minutes and texts in over 160 countries worldwide:
- Go Roam in Europe - covers 49 destinations
- Go Roam Around the World - covers 22 destinations, including Australia and USA
- Go Roam Around the World Extra - covers 92 destinations
To use your UK allowance abroad, you have a few options:
You can pay a standard daily roaming charge to access your UK plan for 24 hours: £2 for Go Roam in Europe, £5 for Go Roam Around the World, and £7 for Go Roam Around the World Extra.
Alternatively, some Three plans come with inclusive Daily Go Roam Passes, with each pass unlocking your UK allowance for 24 hours. Depending on whether you have a Value or Complete plan, as well as a 12-month or 24-month plan, you can get between 14 to 56 Daily Go Roam Passes. These can be used anytime during the length of your contract.
Finally, you can buy three, seven or 14-day Go Roam passes (for Europe, Around the World and Around the World Extra). These are ideal if you're away for a longer period of time.
Three also offers a Data Passport add-on. This allows you to use as much data as you like, until midnight UK time, for £5 a day. It’s available in 89 locations, some of which are not included in the Go Roam scheme.
It also lets you use your phone for tethering, which you can’t do with Go Roam – very handy if you want to use the internet on another device. You can buy as many Data Passports as you think you may need in advance.
All data roaming is subject to Three's fair usage cap of 12GB a month.
-
Three sim only
5G- 30GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- Three+ rewards
- £8.00 per month
12 month contract From Three Mobile -
Three sim only
5G- 60GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- Three+ rewards
- £9.00 per month
12 month contract From Three Mobile -
Three sim only
5G- 120GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- Three+ rewards
- £12.00 per month
12 month contract From Three Mobile
Vodafone data roaming
Customers who signed up or upgraded with Vodafone on or after 11 August 2021 are subject to the network’s revised roaming policies. These split Vodafone’s roaming destinations into four ‘zones’:
- Zone A: Republic of Ireland, Isle of Man, Iceland and Norway
- Zone B: 48 European locations
- Zone C: 32 worldwide locations
- Zone D: 73 worldwide locations
All pay-monthly plans come with free roaming in Zone A. But you’ll need to pay a £2.42 daily charge for using your UK plan in Zone B (Europe), and a £7.39 daily charge for Zone C and Zone D - that's charged on top of your existing plan.
Vodafone's Xtra Global Roam plans do come with free international roaming, though. Depending on your plan, you'll be able to use your UK allowance of data, minutes and texts in 51 European destinations (Zones A and B), or 83 worldwide destinations (Zones A, B and C).
For example, the Unlimited Max Xtra Euro Roam plan lets you use your UK plan in Zones A and B, but if you're travelling further afield to a location in Zone C or D, you'll still need to pay £7.39 per day to use your phone plan as normal.
For more comprehensive roaming, the Unlimited Max Xtra Global Roam provides inclusive roaming, calls and minutes to Zones A, B and C.
Vodafone’s roaming rules are certainly a little more complex than other networks. Nevertheless, it covers an extensive range of worldwide destinations – much more than other networks, in fact.
To be on the safe side, it’s always best to check your roaming plan before you head off on holiday.
-
Vodafone sim only
4G- 11GB of 4G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- VeryMe Rewards
- £7.00 per month
12 month contract From Vodafone -
Vodafone sim only
4G- 11GB of 4G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- VeryMe Rewards
- £7.00 per month
12 month contract From Vodafone -
Vodafone sim only
4G- 25GB of 4G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- VeryMe Rewards
- £8.00 per month
12 month contract From Vodafone
O2 data roaming
As mentioned above, O2 is the only major network to still offer inclusive roaming in 48 European locations with all its plans. This is a huge plus point if you mainly travel within Europe.
For those travelling beyond Europe, O2 offers a range of add-ons (called 'Bolt Ons'):
- O2 Travel - £7 a day gets you unlimited minutes, texts and data in 75 destinations outside Europe (including USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand & Mexico)
- Data Roaming Bolt-On - 195 countries split into three zones, with a choice of three data allowances (100MB, 500MB, 1GB) for each zone
There's no fair usage limit, but data speeds are capped at 2Mbps – so, fast enough to watch Netflix in standard definition on your phone.
-
O2 sim only
5G- 12GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- Price increases apply from April 2026 bill
- £6.99 per month
12 month contract From O2 -
O2 sim only
5G- 12GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- Price increases apply from April 2026 bill
- £6.99 per month
12 month contract From O2 -
O2 sim only
5G- 40GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- Price increases apply from April 2026 bill
- £8.00 per month
12 month contract From O2
EE data roaming
If your plan with EE started on or after 7 July 2021, you’ll have to pay roaming charges.
EE offers a Roam Abroad Pass that allows you to use your plan as normal. It's a £25 rolling add-on that lasts for a month, and you can add and cancel it whenever you want.
As well as 47 European destinations, the Roam Abroad Pass works in five international countries: USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand. It's the only way to use your allowance outside Europe – although it doesn’t cover many international locations, unfortunately.
If you have an EE plan that comes with Inclusive Extras, you can select Roam Abroad as a benefit. That way, you won't have to pay £25 for the Roam Abroad Pass.
MoneySuperMarket’s expert verdict
Overall, which network is best for roaming largely depends on where you normally travel to and how often you go abroad.
If you mainly travel in Europe, and only go to a more far-flung destination on occasion, you may find that the inclusive EU roaming offered by most budget networks fits the bill perfectly.
On the other hand, if you often travel beyond Europe, you may be better off with a plan from one of the 'big four' networks mentioned above. While they're more expensive, they offer more comprehensive international roaming options.
No matter the network you’re with, it’s good to be conscious of roaming charges when you’re abroad. There are ways to take care of your phone usage and minimise the risk of unexpected charges – read our page for tips on avoiding roaming costs.
Best network for overall roaming
When it comes to the big four networks, O2 is the only one to still provide free EU roaming up to 25GB. Moreover, it has a range of 'Travel Bolt Ons' to choose from. Depending on your needs, you can get add-ons that allow data roaming
international data roaming 'bolt ons' that let you use data in 195 locations beyond Europe.
Best network for EU roaming
If you're conscious of cost, you're in luck when it comes to roaming in the EU. While most major networks have reintroduced roaming charges in Europe, many budget networks still offer inclusive EU roaming as part of their cheap SIM plans.
You'll be subject to each network's fair usage policy when using data in the EU, which can vary. But usually it'll be more than enough to cover your data usage while on holiday - for instance, iD Mobile and Lebara let you use up to 30GB a month.
Best network for USA and rest of world roaming
On the other hand, major networks generally offer much better international roaming options that help cut the cost of roaming beyond Europe.
If you regularly take trips to countries outside Europe, it's worth opting for a big network like Three or Vodafone.
In contrast, budget networks don’t normally offer any add-ons or data plans for worldwide roaming at all. Instead, you’ll need to pay standard international rates, which can be very expensive.
Alternatively, you can consider getting an eSIM plan when travelling abroad. Rather than paying extra with your UK network, an eSIM is a convenient way of letting you use a local SIM and take advantage of cheaper rates for calls, texts and data.
Are EU roaming charges affected by Brexit?
Between 2017 and the end of 2020, all major UK networks offered free roaming in the EU. Customers could use their UK allowances in European destinations for no extra charge.
However, due to Brexit, that’s no longer the case. Since January 2021, some of the bigger networks have been slowly reintroducing roaming charges and changing their policies on fair usage.
At the time of writing (March 2025), networks that have reintroduced roaming charges in the EU include:
The change in these networks’ EU roaming policy means customers now typically have to pay an extra daily fee to access their UK allowances of data, call and texts.
Nevertheless, there are still networks that offer inclusive EU roaming. Many budget networks – giffgaff, Tesco Mobile, Asda Mobile, iD Mobile, SMARTY, Lycamobile and Lebara – still include EU roaming for no extra charge in their plans. But there’s usually a fair usage policy in place, which limits the amount of data you can use while you’re away.
And bigger names like O2 also allow you to use your plan in Europe as you would back home, without having to pay more.
However, this information is liable to change. Even if your network says it has no plans to bring back EU roaming charges, there’s no iron-clad guarantee that it won’t do so in the future.
It’s always best to check with your network before you go on holiday, so you’re not caught out by unexpected roaming charges.
An at-a-glance guide to networks’ EU roaming charges after Brexit
EU roaming charges can be complicated, especially as networks continue to update their policies in the wake of Brexit.
We’ve outlined each of the major networks’ policies for EU roaming charges (as of March 2025) below.
Mobile network | EU roaming costs | Fair usage policy (per month) |
|---|---|---|
EE | £2.47 per day, or £25 a month for a 'Roam Abroad' pass | 50GB |
Three | £2 per day for 'Go Roam in Europe' | 12GB |
Vodafone | £2.42 per day, or £12 for eight days or £17 for 15 days with a European Roaming pass | 25GB |
O2 | Inclusive EU roaming | 25GB |
Sky Mobile | £2 per day for a 'Roaming Passport Plus' plan | N/A - based on 'reasonable' behaviour |
iD Mobile | Inclusive EU roaming | 30GB |
SMARTY | Inclusive EU roaming | 12GB |
giffgaff | Inclusive EU roaming | 5GB |
Lycamobile | Inclusive EU roaming | 12GB |
Lebara | Inclusive EU roaming | 30GB |
Talk Home Mobile | Inclusive EU roaming | Not applicable. No data caps |
Tesco Mobile | Inclusive EU roaming | Not applicable. Baed on 'reasonable' behaviour |
VOXI | From £2.45 per day for a European Roaming Pass, or at a reduced rate when purchasing an eight or 15-day pass | 20GB |
EE roaming charges in the EU
If you signed up to a pay monthly handset contract or SIM-only plan with EE on or after 7 July 2021, you’ll have to pay for its Roam Abroad Pass.
This costs £25 per month, and allows you to use your UK data, calls and text allowance in EE’s European roaming zone (as well as USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand).
It works as a 30-day rolling add-on. If you have EE's 'All Rounder' plan, it comes with inclusive EU roaming, while the 'Full Works' plan includes both EU and worldwide roaming - you won't need to pay anything extra.
Otherwise, you'll need to pay £2.47 per day to use your phone plan in the EU.
O2 roaming charges in the EU
Out of the ‘big four’ networks in the UK, O2 is the only one to not reintroduce roaming charges.
That means O2 customers can still use their UK allowances in its 48 ‘Europe Zone’ locations – all for no extra cost.
However, do keep in mind that there’s a roaming limit of 25GB a month (or less, if your normal UK plan is lower than this amount
The good news is that you most likely won’t exceed this data usage during your trip.
Three roaming charges in the EU
If you’re a Pay Monthly Three customer who joined or upgraded on or after 1 October 2021, you’ll need to pay a daily charge of £2 to access the ‘Go Roam in Europe’ scheme. This allows you to use your plan as you would back home, for 24 hours.
It’s available automatically on all plans.
Vodafone roaming charges in the EU
Vodafone has quite a few different roaming rules for the EU, depending on the plan you have, when you signed up for it, and where you’re travelling.
If you purchased a Vodafone Basics plan before 22 July 2022, roaming services aren't included at all.
If you signed up for a pay monthly plan before 11 August 2021, you won’t face any changes to roaming on your plan. You’ll be able to keep on using your UK allowance in the EU as normal, for no extra cost.
On the other hand, roaming charges apply for customers who started a pay monthly plan, or upgraded or changed their plan, on or after 11 August 2021. What you may need to pay depends on where you’re travelling and the plan you have.
If you’re travelling to Vodafone’s ‘Zone A’, which comprises Ireland, Isle of Man, Iceland and Norway, no roaming charges apply.
However, if you’re visiting any of the 48 EU destinations in Vodafone’s ‘Zone B’, you’ll need to pay a £2.42 daily charge to roam.
For longer stays, you can buy a one-off European Roaming pass – either £12 for eight days or £17 for 15 days – to bring that daily charge down.
On the other hand, some Xtra plans come with EU roaming at no extra cost, as well as inclusive roaming in other worldwide destinations. A fair usage limit of 25GB applies.
Sky Mobile roaming charges in the EU
Sky Mobile customers will need to pay £2 a day for its Roaming Passport Plus pass. This gives you access to your UK plan in more than 55 destinations, including the EU, USA, Australia, and more.
Roaming outside the EU
If you’re travelling beyond the EU, you’ll normally need to pay extra to use your phone. And if you’re paying for every MB of data, minute and text used abroad, it can amount to a hefty bill.
However, many major networks offer options to help keep your international roaming costs reasonable. These include add-ons that you can add to your existing plan, allowing you to use your phone as you would at home, and data packages that give you a certain amount of MB for a daily fee.
If your network doesn’t provide any add-ons for roaming worldwide, you’ll typically need to buy credit out-of-plan and use your phone on a pay as you go basis. Standard international roaming rates apply, depending on the country you’re visiting.
How do fair usage policies affect roaming charges?
Many networks apply a fair usage policy for customers who are roaming. This effectively puts a cap on how much data you can use while you're overseas. Most networks have a cap of anywhere between 5GB to 25GB a month. There may also be a cap on calls and texts too.
To give an example, let’s suppose your UK plan has a data allowance of 25GB per month. Your network might have a fair usage policy of 10GB of data. In this instance, you can use up to 10GB of data while you’re in locations covered by your network’s roaming scheme, for no extra charge.
However, any data you use beyond that cap of 10GB will cost extra, even though your UK allowance is more than the cap.
And on the flip side, if your plan at home gives 8GB per month, you’ll need to pay more if you exceed that – even though the cap is 10GB.
According to a 2024 survey by holiday company On the Beach, the average person uses 3.9GB of roaming data per week. So, unless you're going away for longer than a week, or you're with a network with a lower fair usage allowance, it’s unlikely that you’ll exceed your network’s fair usage cap.
In most cases, fair usage policies shouldn’t affect you at all. It’s mainly in place to prevent people living abroad from using a UK network, as data roaming is meant for UK-based customers on holiday.
Networks are also obliged to let you know once you’ve reached 80% and 100% of your data allowance. This’ll help you to monitor your usage and avoid going over the cap.
Nevertheless, it's worth keeping an eye out on your usage. On the Beach's study also found that 58% of Britons have faced an eye-watering bill after going away, with many facing a charge of over £100.
So, if you’re still worried about accidentally racking up excess charges, get in touch with your network before you travel to confirm the fair usage cap on your plan.
How will I know if my network is scrapping inclusive EU roaming?
The law stipulates that mobile networks must give customers at least a month’s notice of changes to their contract, which includes updated roaming policies.
You’ll most likely receive notification of any alterations by text.
How do I get in touch with my network to check roaming charges?
You’ll find contact details for all the major UK mobile phone networks in our one-stop guide.
In general, you should be able to get in touch with your network via a helpline, online live chat or by logging into your account.
Should I leave data roaming switched on in the UK?
Yes. As all networks have 4G coverage across most of the UK, you’ll only ever connect to your own mobile network. As a result, leaving your data roaming switched on when you’re in the UK means you can access 4G and 5G when you’re out and about.
