Bell international roaming: Plans, packages, and pricing

Planning to travel internationally? If you’re a Bell customer, you can activate one of Bell’s international data roaming plans to allow you to stay connected abroad without racking up a hefty data roaming bill. 

So, what are Bell’s international roaming plans, and how do they work? This guide contains everything you need to know about Bell international roaming, including international roaming plans, packs, add-ons, and charges. Plus, you can find out about smarter and more affordable ways to use your phone abroad with solutions like an unlimited data travel eSIM. 

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What is Bell international roaming? 

Bell international roaming is a way for Canada-based Bell users to stay connected abroad with data, texts, and calls. This is made possible through partnerships with foreign networks your phone connects to once you’re at your destination. 

Bell offers international roaming with its main plan, Roam Better. Other international options with Bell include its Travel Passes, such as the Caribbean and Mexico 7-day Travel Pass. 

Unfortunately, neither the Roam Better nor Travel Pass options are available for prepaid customers. It’s worth noting that if you do not have either of these plans activated, you’ll be subject to Bell’s global roaming pay-per-use rates for talk, text, and data. 

Bell roaming destinations

With Bell’s Roam Better international roaming plan, you can use your phone in the United States and over 200 other destinations, including Australia, China, Japan, Turkey, Mexico, and Greenland. This plan also covers destinations in regions such as Europe, Asia, South America, and Africa. 

Bell’s Caribbean and Mexico 7-day Travel Pass is available in Mexico and 30 Caribbean destinations such as Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. 

Bell roaming charges 

Charges for Bell’s international roaming vary according to the roaming option you choose: 

• Roam Better – with home data: $16 CAD per day
• Roam Better – with home data (United States-only): $13 per day
• Caribbean and Mexico 7-day Travel Pass: $70 for 7 days
• Pay-per-use rates: $8-16 per MB of data, $2.50-4 per voice minute, $0.99 per text

Bell global roaming plans: A breakdown 

If you’re wondering about the specifics of each plan’s validity, destinations, prices and allowances, here’s a side-by-side comparison to help form a complete picture: 

Now, let’s examine the details of each plan to help you determine which is best for your needs as you prepare to travel internationally. 

Roam Better

Roam Better, also known as Roam Better –  with home data, is a daily international roaming plan available in two versions. Both packages give you access to unlimited talk, unlimited text, and your home plan’s data plan (which slows down after 5 GB usage).

The only difference is in the pricing. If traveling to the US, the rate is $13 per day. When traveling to one of the other 200+ global destinations available, the daily cost is $16.

The Roam Better daily fee covers each day of usage until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), regardless of which time zone you’re roaming in. One bonus is that you’ll only be charged a maximum of 20 days per line within the same billing period. 

This means that for long-haul roaming (trips that exceed 20 days), you can continue to use the service for free for the rest of the month. However, this applies to each destination separately. For example, if you spend 20 days in the United States and 10 days in Mexico, you’ll have to pay a total of $260 (20 days in the US) and $160 (10 days in Mexico).

Juggling these various bills and charges can get expensive and inconvenient. A smarter solution here is eSIMs and monthly subscription services. Holafly offers both eSIMs for shorter trips — unlimited data in over 200 destinations — and a monthly internet renewal service, Holafly Connect. 

This is an ideal alternative to international roaming, especially for extended stays. With various flexible plans, you can stay connected to the internet as you roam without extra charges or hidden fees. For only $64.90 (~$89 CAD) monthly, you can get unlimited data plus unlimited hotspot tethering for the rest of your devices in over 170 destinations. 

Caribbean and Mexico 7-day Travel Pass

With this 7-day travel pass, you can get unlimited talk and text within your destination, as long as it is in Mexico and one of the 30 eligible Caribbean destinations. The data you use will be from your rate plan.

This pass is immediately activated once you add it to your account and expires exactly seven days later at 11:59 PM (ET). So, to avoid wasting it, ensure you add the pass on the day your trip starts. 

This international roaming pass is compatible with and takes priority over Roam Better when travelling to an eligible destination. For example, you won’t be charged the Roam Better daily fee if you’re using an active Travel Pass.

Once the pass expires, you will return to regular roaming plans, such as Roam Better or pay-per-use rates if you’re a prepaid customer.

If your trip is longer than seven days, you can only add a second Travel Pass once the first one has expired. So, whether your trip is only eight or nine days, you’ll have to pay $70 for an extra seven-day Travel Pass.

With eSIM providers like Holafly, you can match your vacation to your data plan so you never have to pay for more than you use. Plus, you never have to worry about data running out and can use your data-heavy apps freely. 

For example, if you plan a nine-day trip to Mexico, your eSIM for Mexico would only cost $47 CAD (~$5/day). You get both high-speed unlimited data and data sharing up to 500 MB daily with family, friends, or fellow travelers. 

Bell’s pay-per-use rates 

If you don’t have Roam Better or Bell’s Caribbean and Mexico 7-day Travel Pass, you’ll be charged the pay-per-use rates applicable to the destination when you make/receive a call, send a text, or use data. 

Here’s a table with Bell’s pay-per-use rates based on different Zones.

Unlike the Roam Better and the Travel Pass, your final bill is based on how frequently you talk, text or use data. 

This can result in a lengthy bill, as staying connected is especially necessary while traveling. You need the internet to navigate, translate the local language, and find good places to eat. 

How to add an international plan to Bell

To activate Bell’s Roam Better – with home data international roaming plan, text ROAM to 8000 or add Roam Better in the MyBell app. Once the plan has been added, you can use your phone in over 200 destinations. 

You’ll only be charged on days when you make/receive a call, send/receive a text message, or use data while in your Roam Better destination. 

You can add the Caribbean and Mexico 7-day Travel Pass to your account through the MyBell app as well, but ensure you add it on the day you reach your destination. 

Do you need to turn on data roaming for Bell international plans? 

Yes, data roaming must be enabled in your phone’s settings so that your phone can access roaming networks. 

If this is not turned on, your phone cannot use mobile data abroad even if you’ve already added a Roam Better or Travel Pass plan. 

Here’s how you can turn on data roaming to activate Bell international roaming on your cell phone:

How to turn on data roaming in an iPhone: 

1. Go to Settings. 
2. Tap Mobile Service. 
3. Tap your primary number. 
4. Scroll down and toggle the Data Roaming button. 

How to turn on data roaming in an Android device: 

1. Go to Settings. 
2. Tap Network and Internet or Connections. 
3. Tap Mobile network
4. Turn Data roaming on. 

A simpler solution: Unlimited travel data with Holafly

Bell’s international roaming plans let you stay connected and use your phone abroad. But, since data usage is linked to your home plan, you’ll constantly watch your data and try to budget or calculate how much you need. This is where Holafly comes in. 

With a Holafly eSIM available in over 200 destinations, including the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, France, Italy, Morocco, and the Netherlands, you never have to worry about whether you’ll have internet at your holiday destination. 

Getting a Holafly eSIM set up is only a matter of a few taps, and the best part is there are no surprise charges or SIM card switching. Match your vacation duration to the data plan, and if you extend your stay, no worries! You can always top up your plan via the Holafly app. 

If you’re looking for a more straightforward, budget-friendly alternative to roaming, Holafly might be the perfect travel companion. 

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Mahnoor Bangush

SEO Content Writer

Born and raised in Queens, New York, I'm a Psychology graduate with a passion for writing that I've been nurturing since 2019. Over the years, I've enjoyed creating meaningful content across various niches, including sports, hospitality, and career development. At Holafly, I focus on crafting useful and inspiring pieces to make your adventures more effortless. One of the best perks of this role? Creating travel content always seems to inspire my next vacation destination!

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