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The 6 best phone plans for international travel in 2024

If you’re traveling abroad, you’ll want to keep your wireless service active for many reasons, the most important being to still contact friends and family. It’s highly likely you’ll also need to use GPS, Google, and other smartphone features during your trip. Unfortunately, even with the best cell phone plan deals , most wireless plans don’t include international travel or coverage overseas. That means you’ll either have to sign up explicitly for a foreign wireless account, or you can grab a burner phone to use while you’re there. Regardless, there are a few options, and we’ve taken the liberty of hunting down the best ones and sharing them all for you right here.

The best phone plans for international travel in 2024

• Go with if you want reliable yet flexible international plans.
• Go with Google Fi for temporary coverage with existing plans.
• Go with if you’re an existing customer and want to use the daily TravelPass.
• Go with for another solid and reliable wireless option.
• Go with for the best eSIM opportunities.
• Go with for specific and affordable coverage in select countries and regions.

Best flexible option

• Price: $60 to $90 per month
• Data: Free up to 5GB depending on plan and country
• Options: Talk, text, and data

T-Mobile is one of the best international travel providers because of its extreme flexibility. In addition to its voice and text plans, you can add an international pass for up to 15GB for 30 days to secure data coverage. However, T-Mobile expressly states that its services are “not for extended international use,” meaning your primary usage must include coverage at home in the United States.

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Best for temporary coverage

• Price: $20 to $65 per month
• Data: $10 per GB

If you’re a U.S. resident traveling abroad, Google Fi is an excellent option, especially if you already use the service. The cost for a single phone line is between $20 and $65  — plus taxes and fees — depending on which plan you opt for, and data abroad is about $10 per GB, with free data after 6GB per month. Talk costs about 20 cents per minute abroad in eligible countries. If you subscribe to the Unlimited Plus plan, you’ll get unlimited talk, text, and data in over 200 destinations worldwide. In some areas, Google Fi will rely on other carrier networks, like T-Mobile’s, to ensure you have widespread coverage. Basically, the most important thing to know here is that Google expressly forbids the use of Google Fi internationally if that’s your only activity. In other words, if you’re traveling abroad temporarily, it’s okay, but if you’re a permanent resident elsewhere, it’s a no-no.

Try Google Fi

Best for existing customers

• Price: Adds $10 per day to $100 per month
• Data: Unlimited

Verizon offers several options for international wireless coverage, including Verizon TravelPass and its international monthly plans. With TravelPass, you pay $10 per day, per line, for unlimited talk, text, and data, and it’s accessible in over 210 countries. TravelPass only charges you for the days you use data or send or receive calls. Alternatively, Verizon’s international monthly plan is $100 per month for 250 minutes of talk, but you get unlimited texts and data in eligible countries. The TravelPass option is excellent if Verizon is already your main wireless carrier.

Another great option

• Price: Adds $10 per day

Like the other major carriers, AT&T offers a variety of international options for existing customers. Mexico and Canada are already covered, for example, with calls up to 85-plus countries from the U.S. for $15 per month, per line, and discounted rates in an additional 140 countries. You can also take on specific international access for Europe, Asia Pacific, and other countries through a $10 per day International Day Pass. With that, you get unlimited talk, text, and data, and you can add on extra phones for just $5 per day per phone.

Best eSIM option

• Price: Adds $10 per month
• Data: $5 per 1GB for 7 days
• Options: Data (talk and text over data)

Maybe it’s surprising to see Boost Mobile on this list, or maybe not, but it offers some great international support via the International Connect plans, and eSIM compatibility. With any existing Boost plan, $10 per month gets you International Connect for voice in over 120 countries and texting in over 200. You will need an eSIM on an unlocked phone to utilize it, however, so if your phone doesn’t support the protocol you’ll need another option. You can also add data, starting at $5 for 1GB over 7 days.

Best modular option

• Price: $36 to $89 per month
• Data: 20GB over 30 to 180 days (depending on location)

If your device supports eSIM, you can also use something like Airalo to find coverage wherever you’re traveling. Be aware that standard SMS is not available through something like this as it’s data-based only, but you can still send text and make voice calls over data connections where available. Prices vary, but they do tend to be cheaper than other options, with callouts being 20GB over 180 days for $89 in over 84 countries globally or 20GB over 30 days for $36 in France. You can buy piecemeal based on where you’ll be visiting and for how long you’ll be there.

How we chose these phone plans for international travel

The core elements of a good international wireless plan will differ greatly from local options. Speeds, for example, will be limited by what’s available in the current country or region. The same is true for wireless coverage, which can directly affect signal strength and connection experiences. That said, there are some common factors that you should look for when choosing a plan for yourself or your family.

You’re traveling, maybe even to multiple countries or locations, so you need the plan to be reliable but flexible, and the same goes for the price. The last thing you want to see is unexpected roaming or international charges because the plan didn’t offer coverage in an obscure situation or remote location.

All the plans that we have chosen are feasible in this regard, offering flexible yet accessible pricing that’s clear and easily modifiable when needed to match coverage requirements. Ultimately, these plans reduce the headaches and complexities of managing international wireless services.

Maintenance

With some plans, like a WiFi-only plan, you need to do something to activate the plan and make sure you’re getting coverage — in that case, you would need to disable your mobile activity and swap to a nearby WiFi network. Moreover, some might require you to use a specific physical SIM card, eSIM, or digital SIM card, which might require you to swap out your current one or activate the digital variant. These small maintenance tasks are important to keep in mind because it’s easy to forget the upkeep when you’re busy exploring or sightseeing. We were mindful to select wireless options that make this process as simple or virtually seamless as possible.

Plan Features

As with a local plan, international plans also have varying features. Some allow you to text, access a limited quantity of data, and make calls to supported countries. However, not all plans are created equal, which means some will restrict some of these options or charge extra for using them. It’s important to pay close attention to what you’re getting with your plan so you don’t encounter any unforeseen charges. We’ve made sure everything on our list offers a suitable arrangement of features, from text and talk to beyond.

Unlimited Data

By now, you’re probably well aware this is a thing in the wireless industry: They promise “unlimited data,” but what you’re really getting is not that. The same is true with international phone plans and coverage. When available, you might see data speeds throttled after certain thresholds, connectivity issues in various locations, or even some hidden charges associated when there shouldn’t be. There’s not much you can do about this, disingenuous on the part of wireless providers or not. But you should definitely be mindful of these concerns and keep an eye on your phone bill, just in case.

Q&A about international phone plans

If you still have some questions after reading through the guide, this is where you’ll find the answers.

Do I need to buy a new phone?

It depends on your current phone’s capabilities and what wireless provider you decide to go with abroad. Some devices are not compatible across the different carrier networks. Moreover, you might need to swap out your current SIM for another to gain access, and depending on where you purchase or acquire the card, they may not be compatible with specific carriers.

What are hidden fees?

Typically, when you sign a contract or subscribe to a plan with your wireless provider, you agree to some combination of talk, text, and data for a specific monthly rate — say, $75 per month. However, when you receive your bill, you’ll notice almost immediately that the true cost is higher than what was promised. All that extra, the additional money you’re being charged, makes up hidden fees.

Some fees come from the carriers themselves, like smartphone line access, device payments or subsidies, or usage and additional purchase charges for various services like roaming or international coverage. Other fees include the Fed Universal service charge, regulatory fees, administrative charges, local business license surcharges, taxes, and governmental surcharges, including state fees and beyond. In some cases, you can try to negotiate these charges, but you’ll still see them on your bill, regardless.

There are hidden fees associated with international wireless plans, too.

Can you use WiFi abroad?

Yes, you can use WiFi abroad and while traveling internationally. Whether or not you can access the network(s) for free depends on the provider. Just like here in the States, local coffee shops and small venues may provide free access to service. Others may charge a small fee to use their network. While we would not recommend maintaining contact with friends and family through WiFi alone and cutting off mobile service entirely, it is an alternative in areas where coverage may be spotty or unavailable.

This article is managed and created separately from the Digital Trends Editorial team.

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Briley has been writing about consumer electronics and technology for over a decade. When he's not writing about deals for Digital Trends, he's writing how-to content, and guides. He's also a ghostwriter for various online publications. In his downtime, he's either spending time with his family, playing games, or enjoying a good ol' stogie.

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Making International Phone Calls with Walmart Family Mobile

Keep in touch with loved ones no matter where they call home with easy international calling at affordable rates..

Walmart Family Mobile’s no-contract, no-activation-fee phone plans offer non-stop nationwide 4G LTE† coverage powered by T-Mobile – but what if some of the most important people in your life don't live within the U.S.? It can be difficult to understand the ins and outs of international calling, and reaching your loved ones can be difficult with complicated hoops to jump through with every call.

Fortunately, international calling is simple for Walmart Family Mobile customers thanks to our $10 Extras Pack Card for international long distance. Ready to make your first call? Here's what you need to know.

Making calls with the $10 Extras Pack Card

If you're currently a Walmart Family Mobile customer, you're already taking advantage of great wireless coverage in the U.S. However, to call your daughter studying abroad or the family back home, you'll need to purchase the $10 Extras Pack Card for international long distance . To use the card, make sure your service plan is active. The card may be added at any time, you can add as many cards as you'd like and any unused balance carries over. If you're not yet a customer, you can purchase the Extras Pack Card and a service plan simultaneously.

Once your card is activated, you're ready to send text messages and call hundreds of destinations around the world from the U.S§ via your Walmart Family Mobile phone. Best of all, there are no complicated access codes or pin numbers to remember. Simply check our list of International Long Distance Rates and Country Codes to determine if the country you wish to call is included with the $10 Extras Pack and find the country code and per-minute rate that applies; then dial as you normally would.

Great for travelers too

The $10 Extras Pack Card will help you stay connected throughout your journey without worry.

Planning a trip? The $10 Extras Pack Card will help you stay connected throughout your journey without worry. The card allows you to make calls and send text messages via your phone while you travel in Canada, Mexico and the Dominican Republic, so you can keep in touch with family, friends and work. However, it's important to remember that International long distance and roaming charges may apply, so be sure to familiarize yourself with potential costs before any trip to ensure you know exactly what to expect.

Stay connected

No matter where you're calling, Walmart Family Mobile offers the best deal in unlimited wireless with plans starting at just $24.88 a month and easy ways to stay connected with family and friends around the world. Browse our service plans and high-quality phones to enjoy everything you love about Walmart in wireless.

§The $10 Add-On International Calling Extras Pack must be used with another Walmart Family Mobile Service Plan to work. International long distance service is available to select destinations only, which are subject to change at any time. Calls must originate from the US and Puerto Rico only. No international roaming is allowed except for roaming in select countries. Calls are billed in one-minute increments. Rates are subject to change without prior notice. For personal use only. Airtime expires after 180 days of last use or 30 days after your Family Mobile Service is suspended, whichever occurs first.

Featured Posts

Best international phone plans in 2024 — what travelers need to know

Heading overseas? Find out what your cellphone provider charges if you use your phone

• T-Mobile phone plans
• Verizon phone plans
• AT&T phone plans
• Google Fi plans
• Other options
• Device compatibility and eSims
• 5G coverage when traveling

Checking out the best international phone plans is as crucial for an overseas trip as making sure your passport is in order. After all, you don't want to land at your destination only to find you have no coverage — or that you have to pay through the nose for service.

Fortunately, all the major U.S. wireless carriers offer some kind of travel benefit with their best cell phone plans . And if those options aren't good enough, you can also find supplementary travel packages that augment the data plan you already have in place. The trick is to make sure those options keep you covered around the globe without busting your budget.

1. T-Mobile : Best choice for travelers 2. Verizon : TravelPass options 3. AT&T : Best for travel in Latin and Central America 4. Google Fi : An underrated traveling companion 5. Other options : Other international phone plans to consider

The best international phone plans will let you make calls and browse the web when you're in another country (though there might be a fee on top of your normal monthly rate, depending on which carrier you use). Different plans might provide coverage in specific countries, and how long you plan on traveling could also impact your choice of plans. Your method of travel — be it by plane or cruise ship — also affects which plan is best for you.

All of these are things for globetrotters to consider when shopping for wireless coverage. You're going to want one of the best unlimited data plans since they tend to offer the most travel-related perks. If you haven't travelled internationally in a while, it's smart to double-check what options are out there since the best phone carriers have overhauled their plans and packages available to travelers.

Here’s a look at the travel policies and perks for the three top U.S carriers along with information on Google Fi, which offers a plan that definitely appeals to frequent travelers.

T-Mobile international phone plans

T-Mobile has shed some of its plans, though the good news is that most of the remaining options provide some benefits for overseas travel. Subscribe to Go5G, Go5G Plus or Go5G Next, and you enjoy unlimited data and texting in more than 215 countries around the world. If you want to place or receive calls, you’ll be subject to the local rate depending on where you want to go. You don’t need to notify T-Mobile of your travel for your overseas benefits to kick in.

T-Mobile Go5G Plus Plan | Unlimited Data | $90/month T-Mobile's Go5G Plus plan has the edge over the cheaper Go5G option, with better travel benefits. You get 15GB of data when you traavel in Mexico and Canada (compared to 10GB for Go5G), and you also enjoy texting and Wi-Fi on any flight where internet is available. Even better, you can use your data in 215-plus countries at no extra cost. The first 5GB of data you use use will be high-speed data (with 5G speeds supported where available). Go5G subscribers only get high-speed data in 11 European countries; otherwise, data speeds are capped at 256 kbps.

Travel perks in current plans: As part of T-Mobile's Beyond Connected program, data speeds reach 256 kbps when you're overseas. If you subscribe to the standard Go5G plan ($75 for a single line) and you're in one of 11 European countries, you can enjoy 5GB of high-speed data every month, thanks to a partnership with T-Mobile parent Deutsche Telecom.

The perk gets better when you upgrade to Go5G Plus, which starts at $90/month for one line of data). That plan treats you to 5GB of high-speed data in 215 countries.

Go5G Next, T-Mobile's most expensive plan at $100/month for a single line, has the same travel benefits as Go5G Plus, but adds the ability to upgrade your phone every year. If that's not important to you, stick with Go5G Plus and pay $10 less each month on your wireless bill.

T-Mobile customers can take advantage of free Wi-Fi on American, Delta, Alaska Airlines and United flights. Go5G Plus subscribers get full texting and Wi-Fi with streaming during flights, where wireless is available. If you opt for Go5G, you're covered on four flights per year with full streaming, plus unlimited texting; after those four flights, you can stream one hour of video. Delta SkyMiles members also get free Wi-Fi on domestic U.S. flights courtesy of T-Mobile — even if they get their wireless service from another carrier.

In Mexico and Canada, T-Mobile allows you to use up to 10GB of data if you're a Go5G customer; speeds are slowed to 128kbps after that. Go5G Plus members enjoy 15GB, with speeds slowing to 256kbps if you use more than that amount.

T-Mobile includes travel benefits in two of its remaining senior plans, with identical travel perks between the $100 Go5G Plus 55 option and the $120 Go5G Next 55 plan. (Note that those monthly prices cover two lines of data; one line of either Plus or Next cost $70 and $80, respectively.) Travel perks include high-speed data and text when you travel abroad, plus unlimited in-flight connectivity. When you travel to Canada or Mexico, you get 15GB of high-speed data. Both plans also include a year's membership to AAA for road travel in the U.S.

If you opt for T-Mobile's lower cost Essentials unlimited plan, you'll get 2G roaming in Canada and Mexico, but have to pay for data elsewhere.

Trip-specific passes: T-Mobile offers International Pass options for travelers who want high-speed data during lengthier stays overseas. A 5GB International Pass gives you that much high-speed data along with unlimited calling for 10 days. It costs $35. T-Mobile's $50 International Pass increases high-speed data to 15GB and extends the length of the pass to 30 days. The carrier also offers a $5 daily pass that gives you 512MB of high-speed data, and unlimited calling between the 215 or so Simple Global destinations. 

Cruise rates: Pricing on cruises will vary according to which cruise you’re taking. You can check T-Mobile’s site to see what your pricing will be.

Verizon international phone plans

Verizon phones generally work all over the world, especially if you've got a phone built in the last few years. But where you travel significantly influences how much you’ll have to pay. As for which is the best Verizon phone plan for travelers, that all depends on how frequently you go overseas. There's a clear choice for regular globetrotters, but Verizon's less expensive offerings allow you to tack on travel benefits, too.

Verizon Unlimited Ultimate | Unlimited Data | $90/month Verizon's Unlimited Ultimate plan offers the most benefits for world travelers. Verizon promises "full international connectivity," meaning you'll be able to use talk and text for free when overseas; you also get 10GB of high-speed data every month that you can use in other countries. Unlimited Ultimate is Verizon's most expensive plan, so unless you take frequent trips, you may be better served by Unlimited Plus ($80/month for one line) or Unlimited Welcome ($65/month). Those two plans can add on a $10/month Travel Pass options that provides three days of talk, text and data when you're overseas. You can drop the Travel Pass add-on from your plan in months were you don't need it. Verizon lets family plans mix and match lines so one person can get Unlimited Ultimate, while the others subscribe to the cheaper options.

Travel perks in current plans: Of Verizon's three unlimited plans, the best for frequent travelers is the Unlimited Ultimate option, which lets you use talk and text in other countries just like you would in the U.S. You also get 10GB of high-speed data to use overseas every month.

Unfortunately, Unlimited Ultimate is Verizon's most expensive plan, costing $90 a month for one line. (And that's after a discount for enrolling autopay.) There are cheaper options — Unlimited Welcome and Unlimited Plus — that include travel perks. Both plans let you text internationally to 200-plus countries. You can also use LTE data when traveling in Mexico and Canada. You're limited to 0.5GB of data consumption per day in those two countries before your speeds are slowed to 2G, and you can't use more than half of your talk, text and data in those countries over a 60-day period.

In addition to the base Welcome Unlimited and Unlimited Plus packages, you can opt for $10 monthly add-ons for your Verizon plan — some covering streaming services, another providing hotspot data and so on. The relevant package is Verizon's $10/month 3 TravelPass Days add-on, which saves you $20 a month on travel benefits as you pick up three passes during monthly billing cycles. You can accrue up to 36 passes for using talk, text and data when traveling overseas.

Unlimited Welcome starts at $65/month for one line, while Unlimited Plus is $80. If you have a family plan, you can mix and match so that different lines of data subscribe to different plans — helpful if there's one person in the family who travels a lot and would benefit from the Unlimited Ultimate perks.

Trip-specific passes: Let's talk a little bit more about the TravelPass . It's Verizon's daily option for international coverage, and it’ll cost you $5 per day per device for each day you’re out of the country if you travel to Mexico or Canada and don't have an unlimited plan. In 185 other countries — including China, France and Germany — Verizon charges $10 per device per day. TravelPass gets you 2GB of 5G data, and unlimited data at 3G speeds after that; the passes also come with unlimited talk and text.

If you know you’ll be traveling for a bit more time, consider Verizon’s monthly option, which the carrier recommends for trips lasting at least 10 days. International Monthly Plans at Verizon cost $100/month, but in exchange, you get 250 minutes of talk, unlimited texts and 20GB of high-speed data. (Use that, and you get unlimited data at 3G speeds.)

Verizon also offers pay-as-you-go pricing for international travel. You’ll pay 99 cents per minute in Canada and Mexico, Guam and the Northern Marianas Islands. Rates go up to $1.79 in 130-plus countries and $2.99 in 80 other places. Each text message you send will cost you 50 cents, and each received text will set you back 5 cents. Your data will be charged at a rate of $2.05 per megabyte no matter where you are.

Cruise rates: Pay-as-you go rates on cruise ships cost $1.99 for each minute of talk and 50 cents for every sent text message. You’ll pay 5 cents per message received. Verizon has a data plan for cruise passengers, too, with $30/day giving you 500MB of data plus unlimited texting and 50 minutes of talk time. For in-flight connectivity, you can opt for the same pay-as-you-go rates for cruise trips or you can pay $20 per day for unlimited data.

AT&T international phone plans

AT&T also comes with varied international pricing depending on where you want to go. Canada and Mexico travel is covered in many top AT&T plans, and if you pay up for the Unlimited Premium option, you can use your plan in many Central and South American countries. Traveling elsewhere? Then you had best look into AT&T's travel passes.

AT&T Unlimited Premium| Unlimited Data | $85.99/month It's AT&T's most expensive unlimited plan, but Unlimited Premium has the best perk for travelers — you can use your talk, text and data at no extra cost in 20 Latin American countries.  As with other AT&T unlimited options, you also enjoy talk, text and data coverage when traveling in Canada and Mexico.

Travel perks in current plans: If you’re heading to Mexico or Canada, AT&T already covers all of your voice, data and text with its four different unlimited plans — Starter, Extra, Premium and the entry-level Value Plus option. AT&T offers a lone tiered data plan with 4GB of data that you can use in Canada and Mexico (though roaming may be at 2G speeds). Both unlimited and tiered data plans feature unlimited texting to 120-plus countries.

The Unlimited Premium plan is the best option for travelers headed to the Americas, as you'll be able to enjoy unlimited text, talk and data at no additional cost in 20 Central and South American countries. 

If you do a lot of international calling from home, AT&T offers unlimited calling to 85-plus countries from the U.S. for $15 per month for each line. Calls to another 140-plus countries get discounted rates under this plan.

Trip-specific passes: For anyone off to Europe, the Caribbean, Latin America or the Asia Pacific region on a short jaunt, AT&T recommends its $12-a-day International Day Pass , which comes with unlimited talk and text and data governed by your plan; service is available in 210-plus countries. Each device you take overseas needs its own Day Pass, but you can add extra phones for $6 a day, on top of the first device.

You'll never have to pay for more than 10 days of day passes on any one bill, even if your trip lasts longer. International Day Passes also kick in automatically when you use your phone abroad — you get a text message letting you know you're covered.

Cruise rates: On cruises , AT&T offers a $60/month Cruise Basic plan that covers 100 minutes of talk and unlimited texting while also offering 100MB of data. Need more of everything? Then try the Cruise Plus plan ($100/month), which includes 1GB of data on top of unlimited talk and text. 

Google Fi international phone plans

If you do a lot of international traveling, don't ignore Google Fi Wireless , the wireless service set up by Google that uses T-Mobile's cellular towers to provide coverage. International travel is built into two of Google Fi's plans — the Unlimited Plus and Flexible options.

Google Unlimited Plus| Unlimited Data | $65/month The Unlimited Plus plan is the way to go with Google Fi, as you can use your data at no extra cost when traveling overseas. Google Fi customers who pay by the gigabyte of data used are also eligible for this perk.

Travel perks in current plans: You've got two options with Google Fi — tiered data through the company's Flexible plan or a pair of unlimited data options. Flexible coverage costs $20 a month for talk and text plus $10 for each GB of data you use. (Data usage is rounded off to the nearest megabyte so you only pay for the data you consume.) Google stops charging you after you use 6GB a month, meaning you'll never pay more than $80. 

If you find unlimited data plans more appealing, Google has you covered there, too — it also offers a $65 Unlimited Plus option that rolls in unlimited talk, text and data. Unlimited Plus subscribers now get a year of YouTube Premium as a perk. 

The real benefit to either Unlimited Plus or Flexible is that those plans cover you when you're traveling in 200-plus countries. When you're overseas, Google Fi charges the same rate for data usage, whether you're on an unlimited data plan or paying by the gigabyte. Voice calls cost 20 cents (though calls placed over Wi-Fi are free) and you get unlimited SMS messaging. 

Alas, Google's $50/month Simply Unlimited plan is not eligible for the free data perk when traveling. That said, all three of Google Fi's plans let you use talk, text and data in Mexico and Canada.

Google Fi is even more appealing now that Google has opened up service to all phones, including iPhones. Note that phones optimized for Google Fi — Google's Pixel phones (currently the Pixel 8 , Pixel 8 Pro , Pixel Fold and Pixel 8a )  along with a selection of Samsung phones and Motorola budget devices — can switch seamlessly between cellular coverage and Google's Wi-Fi hotspots, while other phones cannot.

Trip-specific passes: Unlike the other carriers here, Google Fi doesn't offer travel passes for extended trips. Your only option is to get coverage through the Flexible and Unlimited Plus plans.

Cruise rates: Google Fi is not available when you're at sea — only when you're on land in one of the 200-plus countries covered by the carrier.

Other international phone plan options

Discount carriers typically don't provide much in the way of benefits for travelers, but there are some exceptions. The most noteworthy alternative is Visible , which has expanded the travel perks for subscribers to its $45/month Visible Plus plan .

Visible is owned by Verizon and uses its parent company's network for coverage. The Visible Plus plan features unlimited data, including access to Verizon's high-speed 5G network. Travelers will be particularly interested in the unlimited talk, text and 2GB of daily data available through Visible Plus when traveling in Canada and Mexico. Visible Plus customers are also eligible for one free Global Pass day per month, in which they can use talk, text and data at no charge in 140 countries. Global Passes normally cost $10.

Best international phone plan: Device compatibility and eSims

Traveling overseas used to mean checking to see if your phone would be compatible once you set foot in another country. But those days are drawing to a close now that 3G networks are shutting down, eliminating much of the distinction between phones that work on either GSM and CDMA. If you've got a recent smartphone that connects to LTE, chances are strong it's going to work just fine in other countries. (You still might want to confirm that your phone works on the LTE bands available in the country you're heading to prior to your trip, just to avoid any unpleasant surprises.)

Many phones now support electronic SIM cards or eSIM technology, where you no longer need to swap in a local SIM card to make your smartphone work with an overseas network. (Since the iPhone 14 , Apple devices sold in the U.S. only feature eSIM support — that includes the newer iPhone 15 models.) One of our editors took an international trip using an eSIM for her phone and found it easy to setup and use with a local network — in fact, she plans to use the eSIM approach on all future travel. 

That said, not every country supports eSIM. And depending on your phone carrier in the U.S., you might already have options that cover your phone use in other countries.

International phone plans: What about 5G?

As noted above, many of the plans that offer international travel either have you connect at whatever speed is available locally or at a reduced speed in cases where you're drawing from your own data plan. But what if you've got a 5G phone that can connect to faster networks overseas?

For the most part, we'd expect your phone to operate as before, either at whatever speed the local network offers or a capped speed if that's part of your carrier's travel plans. However, in a few instances, U.S. phone carriers have started making deals with overseas wireless providers that allow their customers to access 5G speeds when roaming. You should check with your carrier for information about the country you're going to travel in.

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Philip Michaels is a Managing Editor at Tom's Guide. He's been covering personal technology since 1999 and was in the building when Steve Jobs showed off the iPhone for the first time. He's been evaluating smartphones since that first iPhone debuted in 2007, and he's been following phone carriers and smartphone plans since 2015. He has strong opinions about Apple, the Oakland Athletics, old movies and proper butchery techniques. Follow him at @PhilipMichaels.

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Home » Gear » Travel Sim's » best international sim cards

9 BEST International SIM Cards for Travel (Buyer’s Guide • 2024)

SIM cards are a royal pain in the butt when travelling. Every time you land somewhere new, you have to perform the same song and dance of going out of your way to get a new sim pretty much as soon as possible.

Usually what happens is that you land in the airport and then you either get ripped off buying a SIM card there or navigate to town without any connectivity. Once you’re in town, you have to navigate a foreign city sifting through local SIM providers, various plans, and also probably getting lost along the way. It’s not the ideal way to start a vacation and I cannot even count the hours I’ve lost shopping for sims in new countries.

That’s why buying one of the best international SIM cards is THE way to go.

An International SIM card is one which will work all over the world meaning that you never have to change it again – no more messing around at the O2 Kiosk in strange airports!

Now, to set the record straight, while there are cheaper travel SIM cards in existence, they still aren’t exactly cheap. Nine times out of ten, a local SIM card is always going to be the cheaper option for budget backpackers.

Maybe you’re a digital nomad who always needs to be connected, maybe you’re a high-flying businessperson with fancy business attire who makes busy business calls while on holiday or maybe (like me) you are just sick of having to change sims.

Either way, this is the list of the best international SIM cards on the market! I’ve done all the leg-work and the research to deliver an international SIM cards review in full. So let’s get ourselves connected.

The Broke Backpacker is supported by you . Clicking through our links may earn us a small affiliate commission, and that's what allows us to keep producing free content 🙂 Learn more .

Compare The Best International SIM Cards

What is an international sim card, the best sim cards for international travellers, international data sim cards for digital nomads, social media addicts, and tinder aficionados, a quick review of each sim card, frequently asked questions about travel sim cards, should you buy an international sim card.

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This isn’t the whole roundup but it is my personal pick of the best international SIM cards worth looking into, each one serving a different niche.

• > e-Sim and Traditional Sims available
• > Wide and reliable coverage
• > Low SIM-purchasing fees
• > $9.95 – $39.95

• > Virtual sim – no plastic needed!
• > Excellent range of packages
• > Download before you leave home

• > Excellent value – starts at $1
• > Range of packages available
• > Great coverage
• > $1 – $80

KeepGo Lifetime World SIM Card

• > Reliable connection
• > Prone to cutting rates
• > Coverage could be better

• > Simple rates – no bundle packs
• > Huge coverage
• > eSim only…
• > $10 – $100

Orange Holiday Europe Prepaid SIM Card

• > Extremely reliable in Europe
• > Easily sufficient for a two-week holiday
• > Excludes a number of countries in Europe

International SIMs, roaming SIMs, travel SIM Cards whatever: a rose by any name can still order you a pizza when you don’t want to leave the guesthouse after all right? That’s what an international SIM card is, a SIM card that will have you hooked up from “anywhere” .

Why did you put ‘anywhere’ in quotes?

Because it’s a highly variable anywhere. “Anywhere” really means from the countries that the international SIM covers. That said, some of these travel SIM providers cover over 200 countries.

That also said, there are only 195 countries in the world so I’m not sure how they mathed those numbers out. Still unsure, have a look at our guide to local vs international SIM cards .

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So, how does an international SIM card work?

Without getting too technical, an international SIM card isn’t programmed to one specific network. It’s programmed to operate on a number of networks in a number of different geographical locations – specifically, networks using the GSM (Global Systems of Management Communications) framework.

That’s why to use your cell phone internationally with a travel SIM card it needs to be:

• GSM-compatible (many phones are).
• Unlocked, i.e. not tied to a provider.

Do be sure about that unlocked phone bit before you go ahead and buy a new one.

Basically, global SIM cards will plug into a local network from the country you’re travelling to… Consensually, of course.

That’s why coverage so strongly varies among the many international SIMs. Some SIM cards are for worldwide use and programmed accordingly. Some SIM cards are for international roaming in certain regions like Asia, the USA, or Europe (usually, omitting a third of Europe in their coverage).

For example, you’ll need a different sim card for Canada and the USA in most cases, but in Europe you’ll more than likely be able to use the same one.

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Who benefits from buying an international SIM card?

Well, like I said, not so much the longterm backpacker types . A local SIM card is pretty much always cheaper and much more practical (and reliable) for long stays in any country. Unfortunately, actual cheap international sim cards don’t exist yet.

Country-hoppers , on the other hand, may want to consider buying some sort of prepaid international SIM card. Buying local sim cards in Europe for only 1-2 weeks of use eight times in a trip is nobody’s idea of fun, especially if you care about data usage and double especially if you care about plastic ending up in the ocean.

People living the digital nomad lifestyle may also benefit from a travel SIM. Though a local SIM is much more equipped for longterm stays in a country, sometimes the options or service is crap and sometimes you’ll spend long stretches in transit which is a perfect time to crunch out a few hours. Besides, there is no rule that says you can’t have two SIMs. A prepaid international sim card might be the best option here (more about that later).

Lastly, business people or people that take frequent short trips will benefit from a SIM card for international travel. I might be stereotyping here but I kinda feel that these folk are less concerned with the costs associated. Plus, most SIM cards for overseas use tend to have 1-year validity for purchased credit, so it’s totally viable to park your SIM after a trip and then pop it back in for the next one.

Beginning the list are the top international SIM cards for travelling that do everything a SIM card should do: call, texts, and mobile data . These SIMs have some pretty major coverage globally and for most travellers in the world, are more than sufficient.

Of course, there has to be a best-of-the-best in this international sim card comparison. So first up–the best travel SIM card!

#1 The Best International Physical SIM Card – OneSim

Ok, so what makes OneSim the best travel SIM card? It’s a fine difference between the first few candidates but OneSim edges out on top for a combination of versatility, pricing, and reliability.

First up, they offer multiple different SIM cards each catering to different travelling needs INCLUDING (but not limited to) 2 awesome e-Sim options :

• OneSimCard e-Sim World (From $9.95) – Coverage of 150 countries with free incoming calls on EU numbers.
• OneSimCard e-Sim Asiana (From $9.95) – Specially designed for Asia and Oceania. Data packages available.

If your phone is not yet e-Sim ready, then worry not because OneSim also offer some excellent deals on plastic sims:

• OneSimCard Universal ($29.95) – Coverage of over 200 countries but with a more limited data service (50+) countries.
• OneSimCard Expedition ($34.95) – Offers much the same coverage as the OneSim Universal travel SIM but with way more data coverage. It’s the choice for the explorers.

How OneSim Works

You’ll get a $10 bonus credit with any OneSIM roaming SIM card purchase, but once that’s gone, you’ll have to continue buying data plans. Rates vary wildly by both the choice of travel SIM card you are using and the country you’re in so you’ll need to check these rates to see if they suit you.

You’ll receive two numbers: a European (Estonian) number and a choice of one from the USA, UK, Australia, or Canada. Incoming calls on the primary European number is free in a large coverage of countries or starting from $0.25/min otherwise. Outgoing calls also start from $0.25/min (dependent on locations) and receiving texts are free.

Casual data rates start at rather hefty $0.20/MB . However, what makes this such a good prepaid international SIM card is that there is a lot of choices to lower your costs. You can buy data bundles ranging from one/two weeks to a month divided by zone or region. There are also discount plans and bundles available for call rates. This makes the OneSIM one of the best international SIM cards for data as well.

So, is it worth it?

Although not strictly the cheapest international SIM card on the market, the wealth of choices means that you can tailor your SIM card to your world travel needs and minimize costs. The added bonus is that OneSim has been kicking around for a while so they know the market well.

They provide a reliable service, as well as a bunch of neat extras, to keep their clients happy chappies. If you’re looking for the best sim card for international travel, OneSIM is definitely one you should consider getting.

#2 Best Global eSim Provider – GigSky

If you have a modern phone (iPhone 11 , Samsung Galaxy S21, etc or above) it will probably be eSim compatible. This means that you don’t actually need a plastic SIM card but can simply download an eSim via GigSky the same way you would download an app.

When I first heard of eSim about one year ago, it was something of a niche product simply because most travellers were using phones and devices that were not eSim compatible. However that is changing fast and by 2024, an estimated 80% of travellers will use eSim. The eSim marketplace is a very exciting one and the providers are contently innovating to come up with some new, better, cheaper packages – according to our research, GigSk are currently leading the pack.

How GigSky Works

I had the pleasure of reviewing Gigsky and It’s really very simple. You either download the GigSky App (which we do recommend) or else go to their website and check out their “Global Plans”. You buy the package you want (in the 5GB World Plan) and download it not your phone BEFORE you fly, using either a link or a QR code.

The joy of eSim is that you can install it before you leave and then activate as soon as the plane touches down meaning you are rocking and rolling all over the world before you even get your luggage.

GigSky offer 1 Global Package only – 5GB over 30 days for $69.99. I can be topped up (if you somehow burn through all 5GB) but it cannot be extended past the 30 days.

So, Is It Worth It?

Well, $69.99 is a lot for a 30 day package but International Sim Packages do not come cheap. GigSky also have a wide range of global carrier partners meaning their offer better connectively than most platers in this space.

Overall though, in terms of sheer convenience yes GigSky is worth it – you you can browse for and install an eSim from the comfort your device and get it ready to use before you even leave home which saves a whole lotta hassle. However, the package does NOT include an actual phone number which is a bit of a bummer.

#3 Great Global eSim Package – Saily

Saily is the eSim app from the people at NordVPN and is well on its way to being recognized as a global leader in the travel eSIM retail market. The company specializes in serving global travellers, enabling them to stay connected while avoiding expensive roaming charges. During my Saily I was well impressed to see they provide country, region and global eSim data packages speedily and easily through their app.

Their services are aimed at offering significant savings on data, calls, and texts compared to traditional roaming options, and they also offer a range of mobile handsets and accessories tailored to the needs of travellers.

How Saily Works

First up, note that Saily are an eSim-only provider so if you’re phone is not eSim ready and needs a physical sim…go elsewhere. Providing it is, you simply hop over to their site or get the app and check out their global packages. At the time of writing their global eSim starts at $8.99 for 1GB over 7 days.

I’ll be frank, eSims are still often more expensive than buying physical sims but they are a lot easier to install and to operate and best of all, you can install them before you even leave home. In my view, $28.00 for $8.99 for 1GB over 7 days is a pretty good price for an international sim.

#4 A Worldwide SIM Card – WorldSIM

WorldSIM gets a mention on this list because it’s another puller in the market with some comparatively awesome rates. It’s also got some really weirdly expensive outlying rates. As such, we certainly don’t feel like it’s a fit for the best SIM card for international roaming.

How WorldSim Works

The WorldSIM international SIM card has no purchasing fee- woo! Now, before you get too excited, it does require a top-up of credit at purchase.

That means that you’re paying a minimum of $33.75 plus shipping . For $67.50 of credit, shipping is free.

The casual rates for outgoing calls, texts, and data usage are the cheapest I’ve found so far with data coverage extending to countries missed out on by OneSim. Except, a lot of the rates in various countries for incoming calls are shockingly high.

As for the data bundles? No idea. Their website isn’t working for that page and is just stuck in an infinitely loading loop.

Our gut says no. But, you do you. You shouldn’t base your decisions on buying an international SIM card on the gut instincts of a stranger online. All the same though, our gut says no.

Between the mildly bait-and-switch-y “$0” SIM purchasing fee, the janky and unwieldy website, and the weird incoming call rates that could potentially trap an unwitting consumer, WorldSIM in review doesn’t feel like an international SIM card worth purchasing, especially in comparison to other choices on the market.

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These are the best international  data SIM cards for those of us that scoot by without the extras.

#1 Best Data Only eSIM Card for International Travel – Jetpac

Jetpac is a Singapore based eSIM company who offer packages, designed primarily for travellers and Digital Nomads. They offer various data plans that can be used across many countries, and the service includes features like free airport lounge access if your flight is delayed.

Jetpac eSIMs are compatible with a range of devices, including many models from Apple, Samsung, and Google. To activate a Jetpac eSIM, users need to sign up on the Jetpac website or app, choose a plan that fits their travel needs, and then scan a QR code to install the eSIM on their device.

We love Jetpac for its ease of setup and reliable connectivity. JetPac makes it a handy tool for international travel, ensuring continuous access to mobile data across multiple destinations. While they don’t offer local numbers, we love that most of their packs last for 30 days by default so you can just concentrate on how much data you need.

Wanna know more: Check out our detailed Jetpac eSim card review here.

How it Works

The Jetpac worldwide eSIM card comes in a variety of different data packages. Data can be topped up with a number of plans ranging from 100 MB up to a slammin’ 25 GB ! The prices of data top-ups are:

• 1 GB – $1
• 3 GB – $10
• 5 GB – $25
• 10 GB – $30
• 25 GB – $38

Absolutely. I mean, come on it starts at one-freaking-dollar and works all over the world. All in all we’d consider this one of the best pre paid international data only sim cards on the market.

#2 A Simple Data SIM Card for Worldwide Travel – Surfroam

Yay! No prepaid data packages, no contractual mumbo-jumbo, no running out of data right when you settle in for a long Netflix and poop session: Surfroam keeps it Pura Vida!

It’s data-only with coverage of 200+ countries – even Afghanistan and Yemen are covered! So, what’s the go?

Essentially, you pay €45 for the physical SIM card (which includes €25 credit) and then top-up as you go with pack options starting at €25 . You’re charged a pay-as-you-go rate per megabyte starting as low as €0.01/MB . So that’s way cheaper than the KeepGo data roaming sim card, right? Not quite…

Rates vary substantially by country so while this going to be a cheaper option across, say, Europe, it may not necessarily pan out that way in other places. That said, prices are still pretty cheap for most places and tend to beat out KeepGo.

As a final note, there is an eSIM (€30) available with the same data rates.

Ok, so ‘simple’ might be stretching it upon reflection, however, once you’re away, its streams ablaze! If you’re jet-setting and changing countries a lot, you will need to stay keyed in as to the rates .

Otherwise, the coverage significantly beats out KeepGo, and in many cases, Surfroam will end up being the cheapest international data SIM card you can purchase. It’s the simplest choice for staying connected pretty much anywhere in the world.

#3 The Best International SIM Card for Europe – Orange Holiday Europe

Are you just doing a little banger holiday in Europe and need a physical SIM card for your travels? Orange has got you covered. Specifically:

• Orange Holiday Europe SIM Card
• Orange Holiday Zen SIM Card

The Orange Holiday Zen is for light usage or a short trip. It’s a straight prepaid SIM card for travellers in Europe and it couldn’t be simpler.

For $27.29 , you get 8 GB of data, 30 minutes of calls worldwide, 200 texts, all lasting for 14 days before it expires. The Holiday Zen covers 30 countries in Europe including all the heavy-hitters, if you need a sim in Italy , Greece or Spain it’s perfect but it certainly doesn’t cover all of Europe (my boy Serbia – forever underrepresented). Still, this makes it one of the best European SIM Cards for travellers.

The Orange Holiday Europe takes all of that and just upgrades it: 20 GB in data, 120 minutes, and 1000 texts for $44 . The same coverage of countries applies and it’s a 14-day expiry again.

Orange also partners with a bunch of networks around the world- even offering an Israeli sim card called partner. If you take a look around their website, you can find more far-flung networks than you expected!

Both cards are able to be topped up online for more credit.

Yeah, so I wouldn’t call ‘30 countries in Europe’ an internationally roaming SIM card, but it is a super simple choice for anyone just travelling to Europe for a holiday. It’ll keep you safe in an emergency thanks to that fact that it’s not a data only service. Plus: you’ll have a SIM ready from the moment you land!

Orange is a pretty major sim provider in France so you’ll have a consistent connection. There’s no constant checking of rates calculators either. It’s just a perfectly simple prepaid SIM card for any travellers heading to Europe.

Y’all want more? Another option to look at is getting an Airalo eSim instead.

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Some commonly asked questions about the world’s best travel SIM cards…

How do I activate my international SIM card?

Each international SIM comes with detailed instructions on how to set up and load your SIM. It’s always a good idea to get things set up before you leave home to avoid any mishaps.

What does international SIM mean?

An international SIM is a type of SIM card that will allow you to use your phone internationally by connecting to global carriers. Some of these SIMs will allow you to make calls as you normally would, while others only offer data plans.

What is the best SIM card for international travel?

Some of the best SIMs for international travel include OneSim , Nomad , KeepGo , and TravelSim .

Do international SIM cards expire?

Most of the SIMs on this list require you to recharge at least once a year, but in doing so all your data will remain usable.

That depends on how you travel. If you’re adept at buying prepaid SIM cards locally when you hit the ground, then I wouldn’t worry.

However, for the people that an international SIM card suits the travelling style and needs of, then yes, definitely. I think if you’re that person, then you probably already know that you’re that person.

People looking for the all-round ol’ reliable, OneSim is the go-to choice of travel SIM cards. For those who want the best data SIM card they can use overseas, that choice is KeepGo .

Skip the lines and skip the painful errand days in a foreign city. Buy one of the best international SIM cards you can and have yourself connected before you even touchdown on the landing.

Want another kind of sim card? Check out the revolutionary new Nomad e-sim , an app-based sim card covering over 100 countries that can be organised before you leave home! If that’s not enough, there’s another new service from HolaFly which offers similar coverage and deals so check them both out and see which fits your needs best.

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Share or save this post

This is a really detailed and comprehensive article! This is great because as consumers we need more affordable phone options while traveling.

I think eSIMS are the future gamechanger here. You can download a digital SIM to your phone which has eSIM support.

I use a second phone to provide data to my main phone via bluetooth internet sharing. Wifi sharing can be used as well but bluetooth uses less power. On my main phone I leave the mobile data turned off and use the paired second phone for data. This allows me to use my main phone for Whatsapp, iMessage, email, etc.

10/10 review – exactly the type of info I was after. Plus, I liked your no BS style of writing. Thanks.

Thanks! Very useful! My main concern is regarding how long do the sim cards remain active if you are not buying credit regularly. I usually travel at least once or twice to congresses per year, but I wonder if some of these cards would stop working after a long time inactive. Is that information available for the cards discussed here? Cheers!

Heya, absolutely you can find that info! It’ll be in the terms and conditions/fine print for individual cards/plans. I’d like to say most last at least a year (which always seemed standard for SIM cards in general), but defs check that before you go buying any SIMs. Good question though!

You guys should definitely include DENT, a block chain based international E-Sim card, that offers flexibel data exchange. You can sell your unused data and always find the cheapest offer worldwide and cross boarder operational. Can’t be missed from this list!

Dude – hectic! I’m defs not about to go and update this article, but I looked and DENT seems pretty legit and totally worth the investigation. Anyone reading these comments, you’d be doing yourself a disservice by not scoping them out at least! 😀

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• GENERAL TRAVEL

What is the Best SIM Card for International Travel?

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• General Travel
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While traveling abroad is always a great opportunity to tune out and disconnect from the chaos of everyday life, it can also be extremely challenging to find yourself in a new country without any source of connection to your surroundings. Paying for an international phone plan can be expensive, but luckily it’s possible to find a source of connection without breaking the bank.

International SIM cards give you the best of both worlds. Here you’ll find the best SIM card for international travel for every type of traveler. There are endless options out there and the best one will depend on your travel plans. All in all, international SIM cards offer an affordable and temporary opportunity to stay connected while traveling abroad by giving you access to your phone and wireless data across multiple countries around the world. Another option is to purchase mobile top-ups through apps like Boss Revolution , which can send top-ups to over 270 carriers in more than 100 countries.

Why use an international SIM?

No need to ditch your connection while you’re off on your international adventure. The best travel SIMs have you covered!

International SIM cards unlock a whole new travel experience. While it can be tempting to ditch the phone on your next overseas adventure , having access to data while traveling abroad is important for two reasons: It keeps you safe and makes travel a whole lot more convenient.

After all, it’s not always possible to rely on WiFi when traveling abroad, and unless you have an expensive international phone plan, you risk being stranded in an unfamiliar place without basic information to make travel fun, safe, and easy.

International SIM cards are a bit different from local SIM cards. While it’s possible to buy local SIM cards when you arrive at your destination, these are best suited for travelers who are staying in one location for an extended period of time.

Local SIM cards can be a great option for those studying or working abroad , but if you’re traveling for shorter stints or across multiple countries, buying a local SIM card in each destination can be a hassle. International SIM cards give you access to data across multiple destinations and are often considered the best travel SIMs if you want to have the freedom to cross borders.

Where to buy your international SIM card

Stay in touch with your bestie from back home with an international SIM card.

If you want to stay connected throughout your travels and are wondering where to buy international SIM cards to prepare for your trip, there are a few things to keep in mind when weighing your options. Ask yourself:

• Where are you traveling?
• For how long will you travel?
• Are you going to multiple countries or one destination?
• What do you plan to use your phone for while abroad?

If you’re planning to stay in one location for an extended period of time, you can often buy local SIM cards when you arrive in the country. But if you want to buy an international SIM card in preparation for travel across multiple countries, your only option is to purchase one online.

Do your research on the best SIM card for international travel and consider which one suits your needs best. Once you weigh the pros and cons and work out the nitty gritty of your trip abroad , you can pre-purchase the best international SIM card for you online before you go. Then you’re ready to hit the ground running when you arrive at the destination of your dreams.

8 best SIM cards for international travel

There’s an international SIM card perfect for your travel plans out there.

You may be wondering, what is the best international SIM card for Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, or wherever your wanderlust takes you next? The truth is, while there are some international SIM cards that are best suited for certain regions of the world, there are also some that can take you all around the globe without limitations.

The best SIM card for international travel will depend highly on what you want to use it for and how much you want to invest. Here are some of the best travel SIMs to explore before you go:

1. Breeze eSim

• Pros : Breeze eSim is a great option for travelers who don't want to worry about keeping track of separate physical SIMs while abroad. They offer coverage with over 1000 mobile networks worldwide, as well as multiple networks per destination for increased coverage. You'll be covered in more than 190 countries through their various bundles. Plans can be purchased for specific countries within the regions where they have coverage.
• Cons : Depending on your phone model and network provider at home, you may not be able to use an eSim.
• Coverage area : North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia, Middle East, Africa, Oceania, the Caribbean, and Global.
• Base cost : $0
• Monthly cost : Varies by region, but starts at $8.50 / month in Europe and country plans as low as $1.95.

2. OneSimCard

• Pros : Thanks to its wide coverage area, OneSimCard is one of the best travel SIMs for those who are traveling between multiple countries and regions. This is another eSIM, which means you won’t have to worry about removing and keeping track of your original SIM card or juggling between multiple SIMs as you travel across borders. Unlike other eSIMS, you can opt for a data+call package, which allows you to make international calls while abroad.
• Cons : One of the biggest cons to OneSimCard is that the website isn’t very user-friendly compared to other international SIM cards. That means purchasing and top ups may be a little more difficult than other options. OneSimCard is also a more expensive option, as you don’t get as much data for your investment.
• Coverage area : Europe, Asia, Middle East, and Africa.
• Base cost : $20
• Monthly cost : Ranges from $20-$100, depending on location
• Pros : Jetpac is the best SIM option for global coverage across multiple destinations. It removes the need to switch eSIMs, with a one-time installation that doesn't expire. Jetpac allows topping up new data packages in-app, as well as tethering to other devices. They provide affordable data coverage in over 50 countries—and even complimentary access to 1100 airport lounges globally in case of flight delay!
• Cons: Jetpac is data only, so you won't receive a local number or have access to text and "landline" calls. 
• Coverage area: Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, North America 
• Base cost: $0
• Monthly cost: Varies per region and country, but starts from $1/1GB trial on the global pack to $28 / month for 10GB data, valid 30 days when connected overseas
• Pros : Nomad is one of the best travel SIMs for travelers in Europe and the USA because it is an official partner to some of the top networks in both regions, allowing travelers to stay connected to more than 500 networks across over 100 countries. One of the perks of Nomad is its lifetime plan option. If you frequently travel abroad and want to stick with the same international SIM card for all of your overseas escapades, you can purchase data packages that are valid for one year—and if you top up within the year, you can continue to use your SIM the next year too.
• Cons : Similar to GigSky, Nomad is a data-only SIM, which means you won’t be able to make calls or send texts abroad. It also requires you to input part of the SIM number when topping up data, which means you’ll have to keep track of this for years if you plan to keep using the card for future travels.
• Coverage area : All of Europe plus Algeria, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Georgia, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Macao, Malaysia, Mexico, Montserrat, Myanmar, Netherlands Antilles, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Grenadines, Suriname, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turks and Caicos, USA, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Vietnam.
• Base cost : $14 for 500MB
• Monthly cost : Data packages (valid indefinitely) range from $14 for 500MB to $165 for 10GB

5. Three UK

• Pros : Three UK is one of the best international SIM cards for travelers, especially those traveling from the UK. It provides you with a UK phone number that allows calling and texting for free across more than 70 countries, as well as flexible pay-as-you-go data plans. It’s one of the cheapest and best international SIM cards for Europe that includes calls, texts, and data, and one of the best travel SIMs for Latin America.
• Cons : One of the biggest cons to using Three UK is the process for topping up your data. If you plan to travel for more than 30 days, you can only top up your data using a UK registered credit card. This is no big deal for UK residents, but if you don’t have access to a UK card, you’ll only be able to use the plan for calls and texts after the first month.
• Coverage area : All of Europe plus Australia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Israel, Macao, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Uruguay, United States Virgin Islands, USA, and Vietnam.
• Base cost : $39.90
• Monthly cost : $39.90 / month for 12GB data + unlimited texts and calls
• Pros: easySim is the perfect travel companion, enabling travelers to stay connected without the fear of a huge bill when they get home. Simply purchase a data bundle from easySim.global, install the eSIM, and then activate your data bundle when you're ready to travel. The service is available to anyone in the world and you'll find coverage in 150 countries. 
• Cons: easySim provides data-only eSIMs, which do not come with a local telephone number.  
• Coverage area: 150 countries worldwide
• Base cost: $4.50 for 1GB for 7 days in Europe, varies by region
• Monthly cost: From $9 for 3GB in Europe, varies by region

7. KnowRoaming

• Pros : KnowRoaming is one of the most affordable international SIM card options out there with coverage across over 200 countries. It works by locating and connecting to local networks in your destination, which means if you’re in a well-populated area, you’ll always have coverage. It also works on most unlocked devices, whether you want to use it in a phone or tablet.
• Cons : Because KnowRoaming relies on local network connection, it can have difficulty picking up and connecting to networks in remote areas. If you’re planning to travel somewhere that’s more isolated, KnowRoaming won’t be your best option.
• Coverage area : Europe, Asia, Caribbean, Latin America, Middle East, and Global.
• Base cost : $10, which does not come with any credit
• Monthly cost : Varies by location, but starts at $40 / month8.  
• Pros : GigSky is one of the best international SIM cards if you’re looking for a plan that can take you almost anywhere in the world. This SIM card is available in 116 countries and works with most unlocked devices. It’s easy to use and comes as an eSIM, which means you don’t have to deal with swapping physical SIM cards. There are multiple plans to suit your needs, whether you want to use it for a few days, weeks, or months.
• Cons : Because GigSky comes as an eSIM, you won’t receive a local phone number and can’t make phone calls while abroad—it’s a data-only SIM. It’s also one of the more expensive options when it comes to international SIM cards.
• Coverage area : North America, Europe, Latin America, Caribbean, Middle East/Africa, and Asia Pacific.
• Base cost : $12 for 1GB for 15 days (location dependent)
• Monthly cost : $60 for 5GB worldwide / month

Your travel SIM card means you never have to miss a message from old OR new friends!

Plan Your Next Trip with our Travel Resources Hub!

Best international sim card for europe, orange holiday europe.

• Pros : Orange Holiday is often rated the top SIM card for international travel, and its European version is easily one of the best travel SIMs for exploring this region of the world. It’s easy to install into any unlocked phone and can be used across multiple countries in Europe without changing your preferences on your phone. Orange Holiday is not only the best international SIM card for Europe, but it also allows you to use it in other parts of the world for a reasonable price.
• Cons : One of the biggest cons of Orange Holiday is that it has limited support in some languages. If English isn’t your first language, it may not be user-friendly.
• Coverage area : Andorra, Azores, Aland Islands, Austria, Balearic Islands, Belgium, Canary Islands, Cyprus, Corfu, Crete, the Cyclades, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France mainland, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guernsey, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Jersey, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madeira, Malta, Isle of Man, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Rhodes, Romania, Spain, United Kingdom, San Marino, Sardinia, Sicily, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Sweden, and Vatican.
• Base cost : $50
• Monthly cost : $50 for 10GB / 14 days

Best SIM card for traveling Asia

Discover global e-sim card.

• Pros : Discover Global eSIM Card can be used worldwide, but it has one of the best coverages of popular Asian destinations, making it the best SIM card for traveling Asia. It’s one of the cheapest options out there and can take you through Asia and around the world if you desire. It also allows you to purchase plans for as short as one week, making it ideal for short-term travelers.
• Cons : Discover Global eSIM doesn’t allow calling and texting, like other eSIMs out there. While it can take you around the world, it doesn’t have very much coverage in Africa—however, you’ll be covered almost anywhere you want to go throughout Asia.
• Coverage area : China, Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Azerbaijan, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Macau, Philippines, Tajikistan, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Global.
• Base cost : $10 / 7 days
• Monthly cost : Plans are available for $10 / week or up to $90 / 3 months

Best international SIM card for Australia and New Zealand

Orange holiday world sim.

• Pros : Orange Holiday World SIM is one of the best travel SIMs in the world. Similar to Orange Holiday Europe, this SIM card is owned by Orange, one of the best and largest mobile providers worldwide. Unlike its European sister, Orange Holiday World allows you to feel connected almost anywhere in the world, including Australia, New Zealand, and the rest of Oceania.
• Cons : One of the biggest cons to Orange Holiday is that the plans only last for 14 days. For some, this is ideal, but for those traveling for longer time periods, they may feel limited using this SIM card.
• Coverage area : All EU countries plus Algeria, Armenia, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Benin, Botswana, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Canada, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Conakry, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Israel, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Liberia, Macao, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Qatar, Russia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Switzerland, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, UAE, United Kingdom, Uganda, Ukraine, USA, and Vietnam.

You don’t have to go off the grid while traveling!

You’re ready for the adventure of a lifetime when you find the best SIM card for your international travel plans.

Going off grid is tempting, but overrated. Staying connected while traveling the world enhances your experience and takes the stress out of international travel. With these travel SIM cards, you’ll save money on international roaming while being able to navigate a new city, stay in touch with family at home and new friends you meet along the way, and keep your mind at ease. What could be better than that?

Explore International Data Plans & SIM Cards

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5 of the Best International Cell Phone Plans 2024

Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are from our advertising partners who compensate us when you take certain actions on our website or click to take an action on their website. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

You come home from vacation. You’re relaxed. You’re refreshed. Then you check your cell phone bill and find that you owe $800.

International roaming rates are nothing to mess around with, so it’s important to know what you’re on the hook for before you travel abroad. We surveyed the mobile landscape to find carriers and plans that are friendly to out-of-country travelers.

Some choices below are add-ons to an existing plan, paid either daily or monthly when needed, while others are monthly service plans that include good international access in their features.

International roaming plans: postpaid

Plan: International Day Pass.

Price: $10 per day for first line, $5 for additional lines used in the same 24-hour period, on top of your regular phone plan cost. Requires an AT&T unlimited, AT&T 4 GB, or Mobile Share plan.

At a glance: Calls from and between the U.S. and included countries are free.

Things to know: Once you have signed up, it activates automatically when you travel.

Plan: Go5G.

Price: $80 per month, $5 autopay discount available.

At a glance: Talk is at a flat 25 cents per minute in more than 215 countries. Unlimited texting and up to 5GB of high-speed data in Canada and Mexico. Unlimited data at 256Kbps speeds in more than 215 other countries.

Things to know: Price includes taxes and fees, but add-ons such as insurance or device payments are still assessed. You can upgrade to Go5G Plus for $15 per month, per line to get extra features, including 4K video streaming, 50GB of mobile hot spot data, faster data speeds in more than 215 countries and unlimited in-flight Wi-Fi on some flights.

Plan: International Monthly Plan.

Price: $100 per line per month.

At a glance: The plan includes unlimited data plus 250 minutes of talk and unlimited texts. It can be used in more than 210 countries.

Things to know: If you don’t opt in to the international plan, then you will be charged “pay as you go” rates when you travel overseas. Looking for options? Verizon also offers a cruise-specific plan for $20 a month or the Travel Pass for $10 per day, which comes with unlimited calls, texts and data.

» Learn more: What to know about electronics insurance

International roaming: prepaid

Google fi wireless.

Plan: Flexible.

Price: $20 per month, plus $10 per GB of data. Taxes and fees are extra.

At a glance: Unlimited talk and text in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Unlimited texting while abroad. High-speed data is a flat $10 per gigabyte, even when roaming internationally, but speeds are slower after 15GB of use.

Things to know: Texts and data in more than 200 countries for the same price you pay at home. Calls are an additional cost. The Flexible plan includes bill protection, where usage is free after you hit a certain monthly threshold — 6GB for one line, 10GB for two lines, 12GB for three lines, 14GB for four lines and 16GB for five lines. Google Fi uses the T-Mobile network and does not slow down speeds even when the network is busy.

Plan: International Connect and eSIM.

Price: For $10 additional per month on any Boost plan, International Connect adds calling to more than 120 countries and texting to more than 200. It requires using an eSIM card on an unlocked phone; once you have an eSIM you can add data for as low as $5 for 1GB over a seven-day timeframe. Use Boost’s country list to identify specific costs for data packages.

At a glance: An eSIM is a digital SIM card that allows you to activate roaming services without needing a physical SIM card. A Dual SIM option supports two numbers at the same time, such as separate numbers for personal and business use.

Things to know: ESIM cards only provide access to data; you will not be able to call or text unless you add International Connect or use internet-based apps or services like Skype or FaceTime.

METHODOLOGY

We surveyed major international roaming cell phone plans, checking the price of the international roaming option, data costs, and the price of international calls and texts.

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Come Home With Memories, Not a Shocking Phone Bill

By Steven Moity

The horror story goes something like this: A family returns from a trip abroad, and the glow from the vacation has barely begun to fade when a cellphone bill with hundreds — or even thousands — of dollars in international charges arrives. The phenomenon even has a name: bill shock .

Smartphones have become an indispensable part of international travel. You can use them to check in at the gate, go through borders, find your way around a foreign city and pay for breakfast at a sidewalk cafe. Now, it’s easier than ever to use your phone just as you would at home without getting a big hit to the wallet.

There are two major options: You can get a data plan directly through your phone company or you can swap out your phone’s SIM card, a small chip that stores data about you and your carrier — on newer phones, you can use an app that does the same thing. Here are some tips:

Pick the right plan

The three biggest U.S. carriers all offer some version of an all-inclusive international data plan. The prices and countries covered vary. Some take effect automatically when you cross a border, and others require you to sign up before your trip. Almost all of them send a text message detailing your options when your phone connects to a foreign network.

AT&T offers the International Day Pass for $10 a day, allowing travelers to use their phones much as they would in the United States. AT&T automatically adds a day pass when customers with unlimited plans connect to the network in a foreign destination.

Customers with this plan can use their phones for as many days as they want, but they’ll be charged only for a maximum of 10 days per billing cycle. The plan covers about 210 destinations. (Canada and Mexico are included in unlimited plans.) Some exceptions: Cuba and the Maldives.

Verizon has a similar offer: TravelPass , which gives customers who have Unlimited Plus, Unlimited Welcome and other unlimited plans the ability to talk, text and use data for $10 per day (there is no cap on how many days you can be charged in a billing cycle), or a monthly $100 pass . The first 2GB of high-speed data each day is included; after that, travelers get unlimited data at a slower speed.

Unlimited-plan customers heading to Canada or Mexico do not need to buy TravelPass, but for all other plans, a day pass for those countries costs $5. TravelPass covers about 210 international destinations. Exceptions: Cuba and the Maldives.

T-Mobile automatically includes international coverage at no extra cost in its most popular plans, said Mike Katz, president of marketing, strategy and products. Depending on the plan, it includes unlimited texting in over 215 destinations worldwide and 5GB of high-speed data per billing cycle (but most phone calls cost 25 cents a minute). As with AT&T and Verizon, Cuba is not covered, but the Maldives is.

T-Mobile travelers needing more high-speed data or free calling can upgrade with day passes , starting at $5 (unlimited calling, and up to 512MB of high-speed data). For longer stays, a 30-day plan with up to 15GB of high-speed data costs $50.

Swap your SIM

Subscriber identity module cards — tiny, removable chips that link a phone to its owner’s network and phone number — offer another way to save money while you’re traveling , especially if you’re taking an extended trip or using a large amount of data. Instead of signing up for a U.S. provider’s international calling plan, you can buy a local SIM card, usually as part of a pay-as-you-go or prepaid package, usually at a cheaper rate. Rates vary depending on the provider, country and offerings.

If you have a newer model of phone, you probably don’t even need to swap out — and keep track of — physical SIM cards: You may have built-in eSIM capabilities instead.

Apps like Airalo provide affordable eSIM options for hundreds of destinations around the globe. Airalo’s options include Discover Plus , a global plan that includes 10 text messages, 10 calling minutes and 1 GB of data, starting at $15 for seven days. There is also a regional plan (covering places like Europe), starting at $5 for seven days, and a local plan (for only one country), as low as $4.50 for seven days.

Two caveats to SIM swapping: Your phone generally must be unlocked (not tethered to a specific carrier), and you will usually receive a foreign phone number when you set up the new SIM card, so make sure to share that number with anyone who needs to contact you. (Your regular phone number will go to voice mail.) If you use an eSIM and your phone has Dual SIM Dual Standby technology, you may still be able to use your regular number .

Tailor the technology

There are a few technological precautions travelers can take to avoid bill shock.

First, control your data use by turning off data roaming in your phone’s settings when you don’t need it. You can also download maps when you have Wi-Fi and then use apps like Google or Apple Maps in offline mode. You can also squelch data-gulping apps individually by toggling off their access to cellular data in your phone’s settings.

Finally, consider using secure Wi-Fi (be wary of public networks) to make calls on services like FaceTime or WhatsApp to avoid voice or long-distance fees.

An earlier version of this article provided an incorrect price for Airalo’s Discover Plus global plan. It starts at $15 for seven days, not $9.

How we handle corrections

How to Make Your Smartphone Better

If your current smartphone can’t make it through the day without needing a recharge, here are a few steps  to make it last a little longer.

These smartphone features that help you wind down for bed, mute notifications and maintain  a regular sleep schedule  may help you get more rest.

Deleting duplicates, bad shots and other unwanted files makes it easier to find the good pictures — and gives you room to take more. Here’s how to clean your phone’s photo library .

The process of backing up your smartphone has become so simplified that it takes just a few screen taps  to keep copies of your photos, videos, and other files stashed securely in case of an emergency.

These days, smartphones include tools to help you more easily connect with the people you want to contact — and avoid those you don’t. Here are some tips .

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Prepaid international travel FAQs

Planning to travel outside the US with your prepaid device? Learn the essentials, set up your device and see how much you can expect to pay to use your device abroad. For more information, visit our Prepaid International page and our Prepaid TravelPass® FAQs .

Is my prepaid phone going to work when I travel internationally?

Here are important things to know when using your phone internationally:

• You can check your phone and plan eligibility in My Verizon.
• All current smartphone plans and most prepaid smartphones with HD Voice can be used internationally..
• To upgrade to a compatible device, go to our Prepaid smartphones page.
• To check your prepaid coverage in available international locations, go to the Coverage Map page and Plan your trip tool.
• Expand the interactive map, and then select Prepaid under the top-left menu.

Can I use my prepaid tablet or other data-only device when I travel internationally?

Currently prepaid data-only devices won't have network access while traveling internationally. However, you can still use your tablet anywhere with a Wi-Fi connection.

How much will it cost to use my prepaid phone internationally?

With TravelPass, you can use your prepaid plan abroad for a flat daily rate. Learn more in our Prepaid TravelPass FAQs . Good to Know:

• Wi-Fi Calling isn't included with TravelPass. Wi-Fi calling to a country other than the US is charged international long distance rates regardless of whether or not you have an international travel plan.
• If your smartphone can use Wi-Fi Calling and the feature is turned on, you can call from anywhere with a Wi-Fi connection. Wi-Fi calls to US phone numbers are free, even while traveling internationally.
• If you don't have an international long distance plan, you're charged international long distance pay-as-you-go rates .

What data speeds can I expect from my prepaid 5G or 4G LTE phone while traveling outside the US?

You can expect the following data speeds on your prepaid phone while traveling outside the US.

• 5G or 4G LTE smartphones are capable of 5G and LTE speeds while roaming internationally,  where available.
• If you're using Prepaid TravelPass in one of the available destinations on your plan that includes talk, text and data, then high-speed data applies for the first 2 GB/day with reduced speeds of up to 3G thereafter.
• You may also be able to purchase additional International high-speed data as needed.

What is Prepaid TravelPass?

Prepaid TravelPass lets you use your prepaid phone plan's talk, text and data* allowances while traveling outside the US. TravelPass is available for $5 or $10 per day, depending on the country you're traveling to. To learn more, visit our Prepaid TravelPass FAQs . *High-speed data applies for the first 2 GB/day with 3G reduced speeds thereafter. The daily charge only applies on days you use your service outside of the US. TravelPass isn't available for prepaid data-only devices.

How do I add or remove TravelPass?

By 9/20/24, TravelPass will be automatically added to all eligible lines. Visit My Verizon to remove or add TravelPass . To learn more visit our Prepaid TravelPass FAQs .

How do I get my prepaid smartphone ready to use outside the US?

To use your smartphone outside the US, you must: Note: TravelPass isn't available on prepaid data-only devices.

How do I make a call while traveling internationally?

To call the US from abroad:

• Touch and hold " 0 " on your keypad until the " + " appears on your screen.
• Enter " 1 " and the 10-digit phone number.

Do I need to change any device settings to connect internationally with my prepaid smartphone?

Before you travel, make sure your phone's roaming settings are turned on. If they're off, you may not be able to use Verizon data or voice services internationally.

• Turn on roaming on Apple®
• Turn on roaming on Android™: Steps will vary by device. Refer to the Calling & Dialing section of the Device Support page for your phone.

Note: Some phones may automatically prompt you to allow global data once you arrive at your destination.

How do I access voicemail on my prepaid account while traveling internationally?

To check your voicemail messages:

• Call your Verizon prepaid phone number in international format (+1 and then your 10-digit number).
• Interrupt your greeting by pressing # (pound key) , and then follow the prompts to navigate your voice mailbox.

Some international networks won't let you call your own mobile number. If you can't access your voicemai"

• Press and hold " 0 " on your kepad until the "+" appears on your screen.
• View the list of countries where you might experience this issue.

If I have a technical problem while traveling, how do I get assistance?

Call the Prepaid International Support Team at +1-908-559-4899 to get assistance while traveling . If your device is lost, stolen or broken or you experience a device issue while you're traveling outside the US, please use the below instructions to reach the International Support Team from any landline phone:

• Call your country's toll-free number (PDF*).
• Enter your 10-digit mobile number when prompted by the International Travel Hotline.
• If a toll-free number isn't available for the country you're in, please call +1-908-559-4899 (toll charges will apply).

Additional support

Prepaid travelpass faqs, select and set up your prepaid plan faqs, prepaid family account faqs.

Android is a trademark of Google, Inc. Apple is a registered trademark of Apple Inc. *To view the PDF file, you may need to download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader .

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The best burner phones in 2024: cheap cellphones for less stress

The best burner phones are so cheap you don't have to worry about losing or breaking them. Plus the battery life is great!

• Cheapest phone
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Assuming you're not a drug dealer or having an affair, why would you want the best burner phone? Well, for one, they're cheap: so cheap you can afford to lose or break them. Second, they're a great way to ease yourself off social media addiction. And thirdly, the battery life is amazing!

Think about it. There are places you wouldn't want to take your iPhone Pro Max, lest it get stolen or damaged. And there are times when a smartphone battery just isn't going to last, but you might need to make an urgent call. So the best burner phone comes in handy as a useful backup.

No, this won't be the best phone, and certainly not the best camera phone . But it may last up to a week or more before needing a charge, and for the cost of a bottle of wine, that can be a great investment. Runners, cyclists and hikers shouldn’t leave home without one, and they’re good transitional devices for kids.

It’s also important to be mindful of network coverage. The last US-based 2G and 3G networks were disabled in 2022 , so you now need 4G for a burner phone, even if you have no need for the mobile internet. Sadly this will impact negatively on standby times.

With all that in mind, here are some of the best 4G burner phones for your money today.

The best burner phone: our top picks

Cheapest burner phone Super-cheap LTE flip phone with Wi-Fi and stellar battery life. What's not to like?

Best future-proof phone A feature-packed, low-cost flip phone from a respected brand

Best for kids The ideal first phone for kids, with a large screen for video watching

Best burner phones in 2024

Why you can trust Digital Camera World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out how we test.

Cheapest burner phone

1. Alcatel TCL Flip 2

Specifications, reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

Alcatel’s 4G flip phone is a handy uses the same KaiOS seen on other feature phones, which makes it very adaptable. That, and of course the satisfaction of a handset you can slam shut on a call! The 240x320 pixel screen and 4-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 210 will run basic apps nice and responsively on the generous internal display. 802.11 b/g/n wi-fi is available to prevent you using too much mobile data on those apps, and a smaller external display means you don’t need to open the handset to check the time or battery status. To extend the battery life to around two weeks, you can separately switch off data and geolocation (a system which gives approximate location using cell towers). 

Best future proof burner phone

2. Nokia 2760 Flip

Nokia hasn’t let go of the flip phone or KaiOS, which means they’re keeping designs fresh, but this is – more than anything – a low-cost handset, available at under $20 in some places. Despite that, it has a 5MP camera, and screens inside and out. There is also a headphone jack and support for not only Bluetooth 4.2 but M4/T4 hearing aids too. 

If you’re looking for a long life in the field, then the phone has a swappable battery. This is especially handy in the 4G era (call time is never as high on the more modern networks; 3.4hr talk rather than 7.3 on 3G). We also appreciate the arrival of a USB-C connection as well as the 3.5mm headphone jack. There is also little bloatware, though Youtube , Google Browser and Maps are there. Walmart sells this with Tracfone, but we’ve not heard the best about its customer service.

3. Nokia 110 4G

This handset is available in striking yellow, cyan or a sightly more respectable black, but whichever look you choose you’re getting a 4G-capable device. That means international borders aren’t a concern as Voice-Over-LTE (the replacement technology for 2G voice) is supported. FM radio and internet are also available (and loading pages is quicker than an old 2G burner), and there is 48GB of on-board memory – expandable by MicroSD card . 

4. Alcatel 1

The Alcatel 1 is a 4G smartphone which absolutely won’t match a flagship handsets from Apple or other leading brands, but you can have twenty of these for the same money as the fruit-based brand’s top model and the 2021 edition got a memory boost to 16GB too. There are a lot of reasons why you might want a burner in this category, not least when transitioning kids to smartphones. You can start with something cheap you wouldn’t mind replacing, while offering the kids more than a simple candy bar.

The latest version of this device is based around Android 11 ‘Go Edition’ which is thoughtfully designed for folk using pay-as-you-go SIMs; the YouTube app even offers you lower video quality to save data charges. The camera is OK (except for real close-up, which is unhelpful with small QR codes), and takes decent pics or 1080P video.

5. Nokia 225 4G

Nokia has revived a lot of older models to cater for the nostalgia market, but the 225 is a straightforward candy-bar phone which puts practicality and affordability ahead of other concerns. It’s ready for 4G with Voice over LTE (VoLTE) calls – watch out though, like every other phone even a 1150mAh battery offers less time with 4G than 2G (which the phone also supports where available). On the plus side a Battery Saving Mode will eek out the longest standby available if you choose, at the expense of features like 

With a radio (and 3.5mm headphone jack) plus good quality games (yes, including Snake) there is entertainment on the move. Even Facebook is supported. 

Best for affordable connectivity

6. Total by Verizon TCL 30 Z

This handset is everything you’d expect from a low-priced smartphone, though the price is now so low it might still surprise. 

Sure the MediaTek Helio A22 processor is hardly cuttin-edge tech, but the 32GB storage is usable. The later can be extended with a MicroSD, however, and there is still the power to use the crucial functions of Android 12 including Google Assistant. It even has face unlock.

This is a great opportunity to get a burner or budget phone which doesn’t quite abandon all your needs. Perhaps one to give to the kids? In the US, the handset can be used with the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Programme (ACP) for discounted internet connection.

7. iPhone 7 (Refurbished)

This handset is long discontinued by Apple, following a release in 2016 and its year in the limelight. Nevertheless it’s still compatible with the current operating system (Apple are very well behaved in that respect), so in the USA Total Wireless are able to offer a carrier-locked contract free version of the handset. 

That means if you’re less concerned about the initial investment and more concerned about staying off the rolling contract wagon this gives you the opportunity to do so with a 4K-capable camera phone, HDR front & back, and optical image stabilization for a not horrendous investment. The retina screen and IP67 water resistance won’t hurt and many prefer the fingerprint security to the newer FaceID system (especially if they need to wear a mask).

Best phone for seniors

8. Easyfone Prime A6

If you’re looking for a simple candy-bar phone deliberately designed for the elderly user, this is a fine choice. The backlit keys are large and even the T3 text messaging letters are large enough to prevent squinting. The phone can also speak each button press to reassure users should they choose. Battery performance, with a 1050mAh battery, is only average, but on the plus side there is a cradle-style dock to drop the phone into so it can take the place of a traditional landline. As traditional phone lines are being steadily retired – or might not make it to individual rooms in a retirement home – this might solve two issues in one fell swoop. 

Best burner camera phone

9. Moto G Pure

There are plenty of no-name ultra-budget smartphones on Amazon , but the Moto G Pure is just as cheap, yet it comes from the mighty Motorola . Battery life is OK rather than great at 4000mAh, but you get all the key functions of a smart phone on a handset that you can run for just $15 a month pre-paid (on TracFone anyway – other networks also off the device). Admittedly it’s a 2021 model with paltry 32GB storage, but this can be extended using a microSDXC card and the OctaCore processor gets some GPU assistance from PowerVR meaning that you’ll at least be able to play some games.

If storage allows, you’ll also be able to use the phone’s cameras to capture 1080p 30fps video from either the main or selfie camera so you won’t be left out of the social media revolution. We also happen to like the colors; blue or deep indigo are offered by different networks.

10. Nokia 8110

Here’s a non-smart phone pick that stretches at the price definition of the kind of phones we’re looking to highlight here. But you will find it online for around $70. 

This was the follow-up to the Nokia 3310. Nokia was no doubt encouraged by the waves of nostalgic interest the retro phone received. The original Nokia 8110 became famous in part for its use in the first The Matrix movie, the phone Neo used to communicate with his handlers out in the “real" world.  

It was also known as the “banana phone” thanks to its curved shape, elongated when the call mic is flicked out. Nokia has leaned into this with the remake, selling a bright yellow version as well as the classic black. 

But unlike the Nokia 3310, the Nokia 8110 is a different prospect to the original. The 1996 version was, at the time, a high-end executive phone. This is more a pastiche or ode to the past than a remake. It is nowhere near as well made, and we’d trust the Nokia 3310 to survive abuse more than the 8110,  although the flick-out mechanism of the call mic does have some of the same satisfying executive stress toy appeal. 

This is a 4G phone that ever-so-slightly blurs the border between feature phones and smart ones. It has GPS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.1, and baked-in email and Google Maps support. However, it uses KaiOS rather than Android. App support is still very, very limited and the apps you do get feel quite clumsy and slow, not helped by now unfamiliar button-based control. The Nokia 8110 can do more than the other Nokias in this round-up, though.

How do I maintain privacy with a burner phone?

• Pay cash, not so much for the handset but the service. You can buy top-up cards.
• Maintain anonymity on the device by avoiding apps / sites like Facebook which require a log in.
• You can manage the financial aspects and share bank details fairly safely with the major brands, saving trips to gloomy retailers at inconvenient times.
• Power the phone down when you’re not using it.

Will my current SIM card fit?

Most burner phones also use microSIMs rather than nanoSIMs, so you’ll either need to get a new SIM from your phone network or a converter: a little piece of plastic into which your normal SIM slots. You can buy these cheaply on eBay.

Can I still use social media?

A few burner phones will let you do this, but most won't. Let's face it, being free from the pressures and time drains of social media is a major plus point of burner phones anyway.

Do burner phones have a camera?

Yes, most burner phones will have a rear-facing camera, and some even have selfie cameras. But don't expect image quality to be anywhere near the standard set by today's full-on smartphones.

Other names for burner phones

The term 'burner' does carry some negative, crime-based connotations. Consequently, some phone manufacturers and retailers instead prefer to use the label ‘feature phone’, meaning non-smart phone.

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Andrew is a freelance technology writer specializing in mobile phones. You can find his articles on Wired, Techradar, Digital Spy, Mashable, Stuff and, of course, Digital Camera World.

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You’re Not Stringer Bell, but You May Still Need a Burner Phone

Even if surveillance overreach ( abortion bounty-hunting , police use of face recognition ) doesn't make you want to ditch your smartphone for something less connected, you could still consider a burner phone, a practically disposable prepaid mobile device that's not under contract with a wireless carrier.

Yep, prepaid cell phones that were popularized by brands like Boost Mobile and Cricket in the mid-aughts, and in pop culture by their frequent use in TV's The Wire , are still around. In fact, tens of millions of customers still go for burner phones , whether they're flip phones or smartphones on Android or iOS from providers such as Verizon-owned TracFone, Simple Mobile, or Total Wireless.

What's the appeal? The idea is that a cheap phone with prepaid calling minutes and data is disposable, free of any contract commitment, and more private. For someone who uses a cell phone or data plan infrequently, it could be much cheaper than a typical mobile phone plan.

Prabhat Agarwal, senior director of research and trends at the Consumer Electronics Association, says that while wireless companies steer customers to post-paid plans with higher-margin 5G data plans and longer commitments, prepaid phones “are not going away anytime soon. There's a lot of groups for which prepaid makes a lot of sense,” he explains.

If you pay cash for the hardware and the service, you are theoretically untethered from being traced to the phone with your bank account, credit card, or home address. Of course, that anonymity vanishes the moment you start using a burner phone to log in to your Facebook account or you commit a crime serious enough to warrant the authorities investigating who used a burner phone to, say, plan an Ocean's 11 -style casino heist.

Going off-grid isn't the only reason to get a prepaid phone, though. Maybe you want a dedicated second phone for a side hustle like Lyft driving that doesn't get used all the time, since it won't be subject to use-it-or-lose-it monthly fees. You might be someone who wants to keep your online dating or personal email completely separate from the premium smartphone you use for work. Or you could use a cheap, locked-down phone that allows your kids to call friends and grandparents and play games. A cheap prepaid device won't cause as much stress if the screen gets cracked or the handset ends up in the toilet.

In all these cases, a burner phone can allow you to be accessible by phone but with a different phone number than your main one. If you value keeping your main cell number nonpublic, but you still need to be reachable to a large number of people, a prepaid phone may be simpler than getting a second line or using a service like Google Voice .

If that sounds interesting, the first thing you need to decide is how much burner phone you actually need. If it's just for phone calls and light data communication, you could go retro with a flip phone and hope you remember how to use T9 texting .

Especially for smartphones, depending on the model, there might be limited built-in memory for apps, video, and other data. You may also need to supply your own SIM and SD cards to use the mobile network and expand the phone's memory. Make sure you remove both of those cards before you get rid of the phone, or at least wipe the memory on the SD card first.

Expect to pay anywhere from $20 for a cheap flip phone to $300 or more for something like a fully loaded prepaid iPhone 11. If being untrackable is your primary goal, paying with a credit card or online account might defeat the purpose. Go to a store. Pay cash or use a gift card. Burn the receipt, or, better yet, don't ask for one.

Prepaid phone plans that include voice, text, and data might be sold in time increments from a month at a time up to a year. Some may offer “unlimited” usage, but be sure to read the fine print on what that actually means. One thing to watch out for, Agarwal says, is that some prepaid data plans have much lower data allotments and may throttle the speed of the network even before you hit your data limit. You should also be aware of what wireless network the prepaid provider uses. For instance, Cricket uses AT&T's mobile network, and TracFone is on Verizon's. That matters less for privacy, but more for understanding where you’ll have service and what speed of wireless service will be available.

If you don't want new hardware in your life, you could look for a software solution such as the aptly named Burner app, available for iOS and Android that promises to give you a second phone line and more privacy for $3.99 to $4.99 a month, depending on your plan.

First, as with any device, you'll need to activate the phone. (There's usually easy-to-follow instructions in the phone packaging.) You can keep buying additional data and voice minutes with prepaid cards you buy in stores or online.

Depending on the phone, you might have access to apps you're already familiar with that offer good privacy and encryption options, such as Telegram or Signal . You could also use VPN apps to further anonymize your online activity.

However, you should understand that no matter how careful you are to protect your privacy, any login to a website from a burner phone or even hopping onto a Wi-Fi network could expose your location data and other private information. The Intercept has a good video guide geared toward protestors with tips to keep some of that data private.

Once you're done with a burner phone, you can erase the data on it with a factory reset (don't forget to wipe the SD card if one is in use). Then stash it away, throw it away, or resell it on the secondary market to a site such as Gazelle or Swappa. You may even be able to trade it in with a wireless carrier.

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