Three UK international roaming: what it really costs (2026)
Three UK offers one main roaming product. Here's what each one actually costs — and where the hidden fees live.
Updated May 2026 · By Roaming Experts
Short Answer:
Three UK charges £2.75/day for international roaming in 210+ countries. A 7-day trip costs £19.25. A travel eSIM covers the same week for $9.40. You save $9.85 — no contract changes needed. Prices verified May 2026.
The pain
Three UK roaming plans, side by side
| Carrier | Daily | 7-day | 14-day | Data | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Go Roam (new customers) £2.75/day EU from December 2025. £5–£8/day worldwide depending on join date. | £2.75 | £19.25 | £38.50 | 12GB cap | No longer free |
By destination
Three UK cost vs eSIM, top countries
7-day trip with moderate data usage.
| Country | Three UK daily | 7-day total | eSIM price | You save |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | £2.75 | £19.25 | $3.49 | $15.76 |
| United Kingdom | £2.75 | £19.25 | $2.84 | $16.41 |
| Italy | £2.75 | £19.25 | $3.49 | $15.76 |
| France | £2.75 | £19.25 | $3.99 | $15.26 |
| Spain | £2.75 | £19.25 | $2.84 | $16.41 |
| Germany | £2.75 | £19.25 | $2.84 | $16.41 |
| Australia | £2.75 | £19.25 | $3.49 | $15.76 |
| Mexico | £2.75 | £19.25 | $3.49 | $15.76 |
| Canada | £2.75 | £19.25 | $5.99 | $13.26 |
| Thailand | £2.75 | £19.25 | $3.49 | $15.76 |
| Greece | £2.75 | £19.25 | $2.21 | $17.04 |
| Portugal | £2.75 | £19.25 | $2.21 | $17.04 |
Hidden fees
What Three UK doesn't put on the comparison page
×Free roaming ended for new customers
Three's famous free Go Roam was discontinued for customers joining after October 2021. If you joined after that date, you pay daily roaming charges — not free.
×EU rates raised in December 2025
From December 2025, Three raised EU roaming to £2.75/day for new customers. This follows an earlier increase in October 2021 from free to £2/day.
×12GB fair use cap
Three includes roaming in 71+ countries with a 12GB monthly fair use cap. Heavy users will hit this within a week.
×Not all countries included
Go Roam covers 71+ countries. Popular destinations like Japan, Brazil, and India are excluded and charged at higher per-day or per-MB rates.
The relief
How to avoid Three UK roaming charges
- 1Put your phone in airplane mode before takeoff.Prevents auto-enrollment in Three UK roaming passes.
- 2Buy a travel eSIM for your destination ($7-15 typically).Travel eSIM providers (Airalo, HelloRoam, Saily) sell pre-purchased plans with QR-code activation.
- 3Install the eSIM and label it.Install in airplane mode. Label the line "Travel — data only." Keep your Three UK line for SMS.
- 4Enable the eSIM line for data after landing.Switch default data to the eSIM. Leave Three UK off for data, on for incoming SMS and calls.
- 5Back home: switch data back.Return to Three UK for data. The eSIM stays available for your next trip.
Better options
Recommended eSIM providers
Same networks, fraction of the cost.
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
FAQ
Common Three UK roaming questions
Is Three roaming still free?
Only for customers who joined before October 2021. Those customers keep legacy free Go Roam terms. Anyone joining after October 2021 pays £2/day (EU) raised to £2.75/day from December 2025.
I joined Three before October 2021 — do I still get free roaming?
Yes. Pre-October 2021 customers retain free Go Roam in 71+ countries, subject to the 12GB monthly fair use cap. Check your plan documents to confirm.
Does Three work in the US?
Yes. The US is included in Go Roam destinations. Legacy customers roam free. New customers pay the applicable daily rate.
How does Three compare to an eSIM for new customers?
At £2.75/day EU, Three charges £19.25/week — similar to EE but without the calendar-day billing quirk. A travel eSIM covers the same week for £6-10 total.
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