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EU roaming: Charges, plans, and alternatives
EU roaming can be expensive or completely free. Compare roaming costs and see how to stay connected abroad for less with an unlimited data Holafly eSIM.
If you’re travelling to Europe, you might be wondering about the European Union roaming policies and rules. Those based in the EU have free roaming throughout member countries. However, this doesn’t apply to non-EU European countries.
This article covers everything you need to know about EU roaming, including EU roaming countries and rules, how to roam in Europe with your home provider, various roaming options, and tips on avoiding unexpected charges.
We also show you alternatives beyond roaming, such as a digital travel eSIM, which allows you to keep your original SIM and offers a quick and easy setup process to roam abroad.
Avoid excessive roaming fees
Don't get caught out by data roaming charges in Europe. Use local networks at local rates.
What is EU roaming?
If you’re based in a member state of the European Union, EU roaming services allow you to use your mobile phone in Europe for phone calls, text messages, and mobile data at no extra cost.
EU roaming rules (no extra EU roaming charges) only extend to all EU member states and EEA countries. So, if you’re traveling from the UK, USA, Canada, or any other destination outside of the EU + EEA, EU roaming rules do not apply. Depending on your provider and plan, you might be subject to additional roaming charges and domestic rates.
EU roaming countries
If you’re using a mobile plan from a network based in the EU, you won’t be charged extra for using your phone in other eligible EU locations.
On the other hand, if your home network provider operates outside of the EU, the EU roaming rules do not apply. In turn, you might be subject to extra charges when using mobile internet in Europe.
Here are the European countries included and excluded from the EU’s roaming regulations:
| Countries in the EU + EEA (EU roaming rules apply) | Non-EU European countries (EU roaming rules do not apply) |
|---|---|
| Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus (excluding Northern Cyprus), Czechia (Czech Republic), Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway | United Kingdom, Switzerland, Monaco, Andorra, San Marino, Vatican City, Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, Kosovo, Moldova, Ukraine, Belarus, Russia |
Since the United Kingdom is no longer part of the EU, Brits can expect to pay additional EU roaming charges. That said, some providers do offer free EU roaming. It’s worth checking with your provider to determine whether this is the case.
Is data roaming free in Europe?
Data roaming in Europe is not free for tourists outside the EU, as EU roaming rules do not apply. Visitors from the USA, Australia, Canada, and other destinations will pay roaming fees.
The only instance where data roaming is free in Europe is:
- If you’re based in the EU,
- are traveling to another EU member,
- and use a local EU carrier.
You can still roam in Europe as a tourist, but depending on your plan, you might have to pay extra charges.
Since Brexit, free EU roaming for UK tourists is no longer guaranteed by law. However, some networks like O2 still offer free roaming in Europe at domestic rates. Other providers (EE, Vodafone, and Three) charge extra for mobile data usage, calls, and text messages.
EU roaming charges
EU roaming charges vary depending on your home carrier and the country you are visiting. The table below shows roaming charge ranges for UK, US, Canada, and Australia tourists.
| Tourists | Roaming-inclusive monthly plans | Travel passes |
|---|---|---|
| Tourists from the UK | ~£50+ GBP | Up to £10 per day |
| Tourists from the USA | ~$50-100 USD | $5-50 |
| Tourists from Canada | ~$50-120 CAD | $10-15 |
| Tourists from Australia | ~$60-130 AUD | $15-20 |
The section below covers specific EU roaming plans and roaming passes for each provider in detail.
Roaming in the EU from the UK
Roaming charges in the EU for UK travellers are priced depending on your home contract. Typically, you can access roaming in Europe via a roaming inclusive monthly home plan, international travel passes, or pay-as-you-go (PAYG) rates.
Here’s an initial breakdown for four major UK carriers. Follow the links for a more detailed look into each:
| Carrier | Monthly roaming plans | Travel passes | Pay-as-you-go roaming |
|---|---|---|---|
| EE EU roaming | Full Works, Essentials Plus | £2.50/day or £10/week to use your UK allowances | £3 for 500 MB, 70p per minute, 30p per text |
| O2 EU roaming | All pay monthly and PAYG (free up to 25 GB) | O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On + O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Ultimate Bolt On | |
| Three EU roaming | Three Your Way Value and Three Your Way Complete | – £5 for 3 days – £7 for 12 days – £14 for 24 days | 10p per MB, 35p per minute, 15p per text |
| Vodafone UK EU roaming | Unlimited Max Euro Roam and Unlimited Max Global Roam | – £2.57/day for 25 GB – £15 for 8 days – £20 for 15 days | -8-day Europe Extra for £12 -8-day Europe Data Extra for £9: 3 GB data -8-day Europe Minutes Extra for £5-8-day Europe Texts Extra for £4: 200 SMS |
Roaming in the EU from the US
If you’re traveling from the US, the table below covers the leading US-based providers, such as T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon, and their roaming options for staying connected in the EU. Follow the links for more information on each provider’s roaming options.
| Carrier | Monthly roaming plans | Travel passes | Pay-as-you-go roaming |
|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile EU roaming | Experience More, Experience Beyond | One day to 30-day passes: $5 to $50 for 512 to 15 GB | $0.25 per minute, $0.01 per MB |
| AT&T EU roaming | $12 a day to use unlimited text, existing data, and talk allowances | $3 per voice minute, $0.50 per text, $2.05 per MB | |
| Verizon EU roaming | Monthly Plan for over 210+ destinations | $12 daily to use unlimited data, talk, and text | $2.05 per MB, $0.99 per minute, $0.50 per sent text, $0.05 per received text |
Roaming in the European Union from Canada
Bell, Telus, and Rogers are the main mobile operators in Canada. If you’re traveling to Europe with any of these providers, here’s a quick overview of your roaming options.
| Carrier | Monthly roaming plans | Travel passes | Pay-as-you-go roaming |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bell EU roaming | Roam Better | 14-day pass: $70 to use data allowance + unlimited talk and text | $8-16 per MB of data, $2.50-4 per voice minute, $0.99 per text |
| Rogers EU roaming | Roam Like Home | -14-day Travel Pass: $70 -30-day Travel Pass: $80 (to use your existing allowances) | Up to $4 per minute, $0.75 per text, up to $15 per 10 MB |
| Telus EU roaming | Easy Roam: daily $16 CAD charge for unlimited talk and text, and existing data allowance | $50 for 14 days, including unlimited talk and text + existing data allowance | $1.60-7 per voice call minute, $0.75 per SMS sent, $5-10 per MB of data |
Get unlimited data in Europe for less with Holafly
Travelling in Europe doesn’t necessarily mean worrying about fair usage limits, high roaming charges, or running out of mobile data when you need it the most. Holafly’s eSIM for Europe can cost as little as $1.29/day for unlimited data! With Holafly, you also get a bunch of other benefits:
- No more swapping SIM cards
- A one-time payment and no sudden extra charges
- Instant internet access
- 24/7 multilingual customer support
And reliable mobile internet across 33 European countries. Stay connected across borders and never worry about topping up your data with Holafly’s unlimited data eSIM plans.
Peace of mind before you fly
Set up your eSIM before travel and get unlimited data on arrival.
How to avoid roaming charges in the EU
If you’re not careful, you can rack up a large bill of unexpected roaming fees in Europe. Here are a few simple ways to avoid roaming charges and stay connected without breaking the bank on mobile data usage, international calls, or texts.
1. Turn roaming off (before landing, especially) whenever you’re not using it, as leaving roaming on can result in high roaming charges.
2. Get a regional plan instead of a single-destination one. This way, you’ll be covered across multiple European countries.
3. Use a Europe SIM card for local rates, EU-wide usage, and cheaper data. Brace yourself for strict tourist requirements and a potentially lengthy registration process, however.
4. Use a pocket WiFi device to share high-speed mobile data with multiple devices and other travelers. This said, a pocket WiFi for Europe can get expensive with rental fees, deposits, and insurance.
5. Use public WiFi for less significant browsing, but always consider security when doing something important.
6. Get a Holafly eSIM for Europe and enjoy unlimited data while avoiding extra roaming fees. All you need is an eSIM-compatible phone.
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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!
