Mobile internet in Europe: What is the best option?

If your next travel destination is any country in the old continent, then one thing you need during your trip is definitely cellular internet in Europe. No matter which country in Europe you are going to, there is no doubt that in each of these countries you can find beautiful places worth visiting. 

So if you still don’t know how to get a cellular internet connection in Europe, don’t worry, through this article, we will be talking about the different alternatives you will have. Also, we aim to help you find the best option for you, knowing the advantages, disadvantages, and costs of the different options to stay connected to the internet. 

Mobile internet in Europe

We know how important it is to have cellular internet while traveling abroad. The great advantage nowadays is that technology has helped us to have plenty of alternatives to stay connected to the internet anytime and anywhere, at our disposal. 

So if you are traveling to Europe soon, you can count on several options such as International roaming in Europe, renting a Pocket WiFi for your trip, and buying an eSIM or SIM card online or in physical stores. And even if you don’t have a large budget, you can find many places with free WiFi during your trip to the European continent. 

Mobile Internet providers for Europe

It is very important that you know the different details of each of the above-mentioned alternatives to have cellular internet in Europe. So, we will start talking about each of these European internet providers, along with their advantages, disadvantages, and costs. This way, you will be able to compare options and make the best decision for your trip. 

Prepaid SIM Card for Europe

The prepaid SIM cards are similar to the SIM cards that you use on your cellphone in your country, with the big difference that the prepaid data SIM cards offer you internet coverage abroad, so by getting one of these, you will be able to get an internet connection during your trip to Europe. 

Currently, there are two ways to get a SIM card, either online or through different online stores. Or when you arrive at your destination country, in physical stores, supermarkets, and other places. Here are some options through which you can buy your SIM card. 

Europe Mobile internet companies

Vodafone

When you’re in a European airport, you’re almost certain to find a Vodafone shop. Their data SIM card features Internet at 4G and 5G speed. Additionally, they may have a SIM card with coverage for different European countries. 

Orange

When you visit an Orange shop in Europe, you will most likely be asked for your passport if you are going to buy the SIM card that they offer. In addition, you should keep in mind that their SIM cards include calls, messages, and data for surfing.

Yoigo

When you arrive in Europe, you will also find Yoigo operator stores that offer 20 GB browsing per month, with free roaming in Europe and unlimited free calls!

International eSIM for traveling to Europe

On the other hand, if you want to know about different options, we will tell you about the new virtual way to stay connected to the internet on your travels, the International eSIM. This digital SIM allows you to activate a cellular plan from the respective carrier without having to use a physical nano-SIM. This eSIM is very easy to purchase through online stores, and we recommend that you do so through Holafly’s website.

eSIM Europe by Holafly

Here are the different plans that Holafly offers for its eSIM for Europe: 

After reviewing the features of Holafly’s plans for Europe, we will talk about the positive and negative aspects of this eSIM: 

Advantages of Holafly’s eSIM for use in Europe

• High-speed connection in almost every country in Europe.
• You can keep your WhatsApp number in your language without any problem.
• The eSIM is very easy to activate through a QR code. 
• No contracts or purchase clauses.
• In case you have a problem with this eSIM, Holafly and their team have 24-7 customer service and support through several channels, for example the virtual chat on the online store. There is also assistance via WhatsApp and email.
• You’ll be connected to the best operators in Europe. 

Disadvantages

• With the eSIM, you will not be able to make calls.
• It does not include text messages. 
• The eSIM plan is for data use only.  
• Not all cellphones are eSIM compatible, so we recommend that you check that your cellphone is compatible before purchasing one. 

Roaming in Europe with your local operator

Moving on with other alternatives to using your cellphone in Europe, you can also use your cellular phone service in European countries. Almost all operators worldwide have the option of international roaming for their customers, so if you are interested in knowing if you can use this option in European countries, you can contact your local operator and ask for additional information. 

However, something you should consider when getting this service is that if you do not control your data consumption, messaging, and calls you could end up with very high bills, so we recommend you be careful with it. Below we will talk about two very popular operators with which you can use your service in Europe if you are a customer. 

Verizone

If you are a Verizon user, and you want to use their services in Italy, then you have two options. The first one is the International Pass, which providers users access to the roaming service costs $10 per day.

On the other hand, you can also have the International Monthly Pass which costs $100 per month and provides access to more benefits to those who pay for the service.

Telstra

If you are a Telstra user and want to activate your services in the USA with them, then you will have two options. Firstly, there is the International Roaming Day Pass, which allows you to use your Telstra cellular phone service while abroad. However, this plan is only compatible with Telstra cellular services on a postpaid plan.

On the other hand, the carrier also lets you use its data services with a pay-as-you-go plan, the rate of this service for the USA is around $3 USD per MB.

AT&T

On the other hand, if you are an AT&T user, then you can also activate international roaming. Compared to Telstra, the cost of data consumption with AT&T is a bit cheaper, as you will have to pay 2.05 USD per MB. In addition, this company offers its users other plans when traveling, which could be more aligned to different needs. 

Pocket WiFi for Internet in Europe

Nowadays, you can find plenty of providers offering Pocket WiFi services for Europe, but not all of them promise a high-quality service. Pocket WiFi is like the router WiFi at home except that these are completely wireless. It connects to the internet through every available networks. So let’s take a look at the Pocket WiFi options we have in Europe.

The first company is Travelers WiFi, they’re a Swiss-based company, with which you can rent pocket WiFi for a whole week and will cost you $80.61 USD plus $10 USD, and up to $21.10 USD for shipping, depending on the distance. Another important thing to know about Travelers WiFi is that there’s a penalty in case you lose the device. This is why you should consider the loss/theft insurance. 

The second option is Cello Mobile, which is based in the United States. Regardless of the destination, the price is $104.93 for a week plus around 75 USD for shipping. The price is high, but the quality is reliable. Also, in the event of losing the device, $75 must be paid back to the company.

Free WiFi

Europe is a large continent where communications have advanced impressively. That’s why as you walk around some of the European countries, you can find free WiFi quite easily. There are some free WiFi spots in different European cities, such as WiFi4UE, and of course search engines for free WiFi spots such as Wifispc.

However, be aware that this is not the best option to consider. If you think you will always be able to have free WiFi, you are wrong. So, it’s best to prepare for your trip and have some of the alternatives we’ve already mentioned.