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AT&T international roaming: Costs, plans, and alternatives
AT&T International Day Pass covers 210+ destinations with a single daily rate. Here's what triggers the fee, how extra lines work, and where charges stop.
Planning a trip abroad and not sure if you’ll be able to use your phone outside the US? AT&T international roaming allows you to make calls, send texts, and use cellular data pretty much anywhere in the world. That said, it does come with extra costs. Follow along to learn all you need to know about AT&T roaming plans, costs, and alternatives to consider.
Don’t want to use your AT&T plan abroad? Holafly offers plenty of travel eSIM options, keeping you connected with unlimited data almost anywhere in the world.
Avoid excessive roaming fees
Don't get caught out by data roaming charges. Use local networks at local rates.
What is AT&T roaming?
AT&T roaming is what allows you to keep using your regular AT&T eSIM or SIM card when traveling abroad, providing you the ability to make and receive calls, use data, and send text messages. When you cross an international border, you will automatically be connected to a local network in the country you’re visiting, so you get the same coverage as the locals do.
That said, you need to either have a roaming pass or a roaming-inclusive monthly plan to use roaming. Let’s take a closer look at the options available and what they offer.
Disclaimer: The data in this review is accurate as of 15 May 2025 and is subject to change
What is AT&T International Day Pass?
International Day Pass is AT&T’s roaming service for travel outside the United States. It lets you use the talk, text and data already on your AT&T plan while abroad, for a flat fee on each day you use your phone.
Coverage includes 210+ destinations, selected international flights, and more than 400 cruise ships.
AT&T adds the pass automatically. If you arrive in an included destination without it, AT&T adds it to your smartphone and texts you to confirm.
International Day Pass is for consumer accounts. Business and government accounts use a separate product and are not eligible.
AT&T International Day Pass rates
| Where you are | First line | Each additional line |
|---|---|---|
| On land or in the air | $12 per 24 hours | $6, same day |
| At sea | $20 per 24 hours | $20, no reduced rate |
There is a cap on land and air. You will never pay more than 10 daily fees per line in a bill period. That caps a single line at $120. After that, the phone keeps working for the rest of the period at no further daily cost. There is no equivalent cap at sea.
Travelling as a family. Four people on one account pay $12 for the first line and $6 for each of the other three, so $30 a day rather than $48. At sea each line pays the full $20.
How the daily fee works
- The pass activates the first time you make a call, send a text or use data abroad, then runs for 24 hours.
- Only one fee applies per day, even if you cross into several included destinations.
- Texts you receive are rated as domestic and do not trigger the fee. Sending one does.
- At sea, data runs at full speed for the first 500 MB in each 24-hour period, then may reduce to 512 Kbps on some ships. Speeds reset the next period.
- If your cruise docks somewhere covered, you pay one $20 fee for that day rather than separate land and sea charges.
What starts a charged day unexpectedly
Two things activate the pass without you deliberately using the phone.
Background data. App refreshes, email syncing and software updates all count as usage, so a 24-hour period can begin before you have picked up the phone.
Wi-Fi calling. Calls made over Wi-Fi to anywhere other than the United States trigger the fee. Wi-Fi calls back to the US are not charged.
To avoid charges entirely on a given day, put the phone in airplane mode with Wi-Fi switched on, and turn Wi-Fi calling off in your settings.
AT&T roaming-inclusive plans
If you travel frequently, you can get an AT&T international monthly plan that includes roaming. International phone plans cost more every month, but don’t require additional payments when you travel to the covered destinations.
That said, the coverage options for monthly plans are fairly limited. Most pay-monthly and pay-as-you-go plans include unlimited talk, text messages, and data in Mexico and Canada. If you want more destinations, the AT&T Unlimited Premium plan offers coverage in 20 Latin American countries, but costs $10-15/month more per line than other Unlimited plans.
If you’re traveling outside the coverage zone of your plan, you’ll still have to get an additional roaming pass.
AT&T pay-per-use roaming rates
Don’t feel like paying for an international day pass? You can opt out and prevent automatic activation by logging into your AT&T account on the website or app and turning off the international day pass service. However, doing so might not be a good idea.
By refusing the international roaming pass, you’ll be charged pay-per-use rates for all call minutes, texts, and data you use. With these rates, you might end up paying more for a 5-minute call than you would for a daily fee for your roaming pass that covers all your phone usage. Here are the international roaming charges for pay-per-use customers:
| Calls | Texts | Data |
|---|---|---|
| $1/minute in Canada and Mexico | $0.50 per text message | $2.05/MB |
| $2/minute in Europe | $1.30 for pictures and video messages | $10.24/MB on airlines |
| $3/minute in the rest of the world, cruises, and airlines |
Unless you only plan to send one or two messages abroad, international charges at pay-per-use rates will almost always be more expensive than a roaming pass or other alternatives for staying connected.
How to set up AT&T roaming before you travel
Check your pass is active
- Sign in to myAT&T and open your plan details.
- International Day Pass appears under add-ons. If it is not there, AT&T adds it when you arrive.
- You can also opt out of the pass in your account if you would rather not use it.
Turn on data roaming, iPhone
- Open Settings, then Cellular.
- Tap Cellular Data Options.
- Switch Data Roaming on.
Turn on data roaming, Android
- Open Settings, then Network & internet.
- Tap Mobile network.
- Switch Roaming on.
Check your phone is unlocked and supports the networks at your destination before you fly.
How to avoid AT&T roaming charges
Neither of the options above feels like the right fit for you? In recent years, using an eSIM for international travel has become the go-to alternative to carrier roaming. It only takes a few minutes to buy, set up, and activate your eSIM data plan. With plenty of options on the market today, you won’t have a hard time finding one that suits your needs.
Stay connected anywhere with Holafly
A day pass keeps your number and your AT&T plan, which suits travellers who want everything on one bill.
If you would rather keep your travel data separate, a Holafly travel eSIM gives you unlimited data, 5G speeds where available, and 24/7 support from our team, at one price you see before you buy. Nothing comes out of your AT&T allowance, and there is no daily fee to trigger.
If you travel often, Holafly Plans covers 160+ destinations on a single eSIM, with no long-term contract and the option to cancel anytime.
Every Holafly eSIM includes Always On: 1 GB of monthly backup data, at no added cost, in 150+ destinations. It renews each month for as long as the eSIM stays installed, which covers you on a long layover or the day your plan runs out. Peace of mind, wherever you are headed.
Avoid excessive roaming fees
Don't get caught out by data roaming charges. Use local networks at local rates.
Compare AT&T international roaming to other US networks
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I am a Liverpool-based SEO content specialist with years of experience crafting content that connects. I combine my love for clear communication with a passion for travel and languages (currently diving into Japanese!). At Holafly, I'm here to help you understand everything about staying connected abroad, turning technical jargon into straightforward advice you can actually use.
