For travelers leaving the country
How much is your carrier charging you for roaming?
Average traveler overpays $74 per trip on roaming. Here's exactly what your carrier costs — and what to use instead.
Short Answer:
AT&T and Verizon charge $12/day for international roaming. A travel eSIM costs $0.31/dayfor the same data on the same networks. A 7-day trip with AT&T costs $84. The same trip with a travel eSIM costs $9.40. That's $74.60 saved — 89% less, no contract changes.
The pain
What your carrier actually charges
Daily international roaming pass pricing for a 1GB/day equivalent.
| Carrier | Daily | 7-day | 14-day | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
AT&T International Day Pass | $12.00 | $84.00 | $168.00 | Expensive |
Verizon TravelPass | $12.00 | $84.00 | $168.00 | Expensive |
T-Mobile Magenta (included) | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | Free but slow |
Vodafone UK Roam Further | £6–£7.86 | £42–£55 | £84–£110 | Costly |
EE Roam Abroad (EU) | £2.59 | £18.13 | £36.26 | Moderate |
The relief
The eSIM alternative
Same data, fraction of the cost. Install with a QR code in 60 seconds.
HelloRoam
Global · 10GB · 30 days
$9.40
$0.31 / day
- ✓204+ carrier networks worldwide
- ✓180-day refund policy
- ✓Instant QR install
Saily
Global · 10GB · 30 days
$18.99
$0.63 / day
- ✓Instant QR install
- ✓5G where available
- ✓Keep your home number
Airalo
Global · 10GB · 30 days
$25.00
$0.83 / day
- ✓Instant QR install
- ✓5G where available
- ✓Keep your home number
Prices shown are representative global plan averages. Visit each provider for destination-specific pricing.
Savings calculator
Tell us your carrier and where you're going.
We'll show you exactly how much you'd save.
1Your carrier
2Destination
3Trip length
4Data usage
You save
$74.60
on a 7-day trip to Japan
AT&T · 7d
$84.00
Best eSIM · moderate usage
$9.40
By destination
Popular countries
Savings shown for a 7-day trip vs AT&T Day Pass.
JapanSave $81
Carrier $12/d·eSIM $0.50/d
United KingdomSave $81
Carrier $12/d·eSIM $0.41/d
ItalySave $81
Carrier $12/d·eSIM $0.50/d
FranceSave $80
Carrier $12/d·eSIM $0.57/d
SpainSave $81
Carrier $12/d·eSIM $0.41/d
GermanySave $81
Carrier $12/d·eSIM $0.41/d
AustraliaSave $81
Carrier $12/d·eSIM $0.50/d
MexicoSave $81
Carrier $12/d·eSIM $0.50/d
By region
Browse by region
Cheapest eSIM starting price per region. Click to compare all countries.
Europe
$1.14cheapest
52 countries · from San Marino
East Asia
$3.49cheapest
7 countries · from China
Southeast Asia
$3.49cheapest
11 countries · from Malaysia
South Asia
$3.49cheapest
8 countries · from Bangladesh
Central Asia
$3.99cheapest
8 countries · from Georgia
Americas
$1.03cheapest
52 countries · from Guadeloupe
Middle East
$3.28cheapest
13 countries · from Bahrain
Africa
$2.59cheapest
53 countries · from Tunisia
Oceania
$3.49cheapest
9 countries · from Australia
By carrier
Browse by carrier
Detailed guides for the major carriers.
FAQ
Common questions about roaming costs
Why is carrier roaming so expensive?
Carriers negotiate bilateral roaming agreements with foreign networks. These wholesale rates are marked up 5-10x for retail customers. There is little price competition because most travelers don't realize alternatives exist until they see the bill.
What is an eSIM and how does it save money?
An eSIM is a digital SIM built into modern phones (iPhone XS+, Pixel 3+, most Samsung Galaxy). Travel eSIM providers buy wholesale data in bulk and sell it directly to travelers, cutting out the carrier middleman. Same networks, 80-90% less cost.
Does airplane mode stop roaming charges?
Yes. Airplane mode cuts all cellular activity, so no roaming charges can accumulate. A smarter move: turn on airplane mode, then re-enable Wi-Fi only. Your carrier apps, iMessage, and WhatsApp still work without touching the cellular radio.
Is T-Mobile's free international data actually free?
Technically free, but capped at 128 kbps — roughly 100x slower than LTE. Maps barely load, photos won't send, and video is impossible. Upgrading to usable LTE speeds costs $10/day, which adds up to $70 for a 7-day trip. A travel eSIM covers the same week for $9.40 total.
How do I know if my phone supports eSIM?
Go to Settings > General > About (iPhone) or Settings > Network > SIMs (Android). If you see 'Digital SIM' or 'Add eSIM', your phone supports it. Most phones released after 2019 do, including iPhone XS and later, Pixel 3 and later, and most Samsung Galaxy flagships from 2020+.
Are the carrier prices on this site accurate?
Yes. All prices come directly from official carrier websites and are re-verified monthly by our team. Every page is stamped with the last verification date so you can see how current the data is. We cover AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and major UK carriers. If you spot an error, email fix@roamingadvice.com.
$74+
You save
Average savings per 7-day trip
AT&T $84.00 · eSIM $9.40
Stop overpaying for international data.
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