Movistar roaming USA: How much does it cost and how to activate it?

When traveling to the USA, Movistar users might think using their data roaming service is the most convenient and cheapest way to stay connected.

That’s a very expensive mistake to make.

Movistar roaming in the USA can cost up to €217.80 (~$229 USD) just to watch a three-minute video on YouTube. This means, if you’re not very careful, Movistar roaming rates can cost you more than your hotel stay and flight tickets.

If you want to avoid this scenario but are still considering using Movistar roaming on your trip, it’s important to know everything about this service. In this article, we’ll discuss their rates, data packages, activation processes, and even more budget-friendly alternatives.

How much does Movistar roaming in the USA cost?

Movistar offers two types of roaming plans: pay-as-you-go and daily packages. The roaming rates also vary across the countries where Movistar is available.

Currently, Movistar operates in 11 countries, and we’ll focus on the roaming rates for most of these. Let’s dive into more details.

Pay-as-you-go pricing

Movistar is mainly a Spanish company, and its pay-as-you-go pricing for roaming in the USA starts at €12.10/MB (~$12.72 USD). However, it’s also available in different countries in America, so let’s explore the pricing for each.

Travel pass pricing

Travel passes are an ideal solution to avoid high pay-as-you-go data roaming charges. However, Movistar has some limitations in certain locations when using these passes.

How to activate Movistar roaming

Activating the roaming Movistar plans varies from destination to destination, making activation easier in some destinations than others.

For example, to activate the data roaming service from Movistar Spain, users have three different options:

• Using the Mi Movistar app: Go to the “Gestiones” section and then choose the roaming option.
• Calling a dedicated number: Dial 1004 and talk with a customer support agent to request service activation.
• Filling out an online request: You can do this via any other customer support channels, like forums or live chat, available on the Movistar website.

Since the Movistar network is available in different destinations, this process always changes. Here’s the activation process for the other four key Movistar destinations:

Movistar pay-as-you-go vs. travel pass: Which one to choose?

If you’re keen on using data roaming and not avoiding the high roaming rates, you’ll need to decide which option works best for you.

Here are the main differences between Movistar roaming plans to help you choose which one to use:

• Pricing: Pay-as-you-go pricing is quite expensive, costing up to €12.10/MB (~$12.72 USD), whereas a travel pass is cheaper and easier to manage with pricing starting at €6.05/day with 500 MB (~$6.35 USD).
• Features: Keep an eye on the available features when using pay-as-you-go and data roaming travel passes, as some might not include text messages, phone calls, or even mobile data.
• Duration: Movistar Spain, for example, limits roaming plans when using a travel pass, but their pay-as-you-go plans allow you to stay connected for as long as you need.
• Activation: Depending on where you’re located, you’ll need to activate your Movistar roaming plan using their app, make a phone call, use WhatsApp, or send a text message. This applies to pay-as-you-go and travel passes roaming plans.
• Limitations: Some travel passes are only available for postpaid users, while pay-as-you-go pricing is available for prepaid and postpaid customers, so it’s important to check if these are available in your country.

Tips for roaming with Movistar in USA

Since travelers must have a mobile internet connection in the USA to search for addresses, hail an Uber, or call back home, it’s ideal to know how to avoid roaming charges that can reach up to €100 (~$104.70 USD) for close to 10 MB in five minutes.

Here are some tips on using your cell phone in the USA without draining your budget.

• Turn on roaming only when needed: If you’re using the pay-as-you-go service, it’s better to turn it on when needed. This way, you can avoid Movistar roaming rates on your upcoming monthly payment.
• Turn off background data usage: Disable the background data on your apps, as these will drain data and increase your roaming usage throughout the day. Also, turn off the automatic updates on the Play Store just to be safe during your trip.
• Keep an eye on data caps: Movistar limits how much its customers can spend on roaming, so check data caps to avoid connectivity issues when traveling to the USA.
• Check roaming plans eligibility: Your available data packages might vary depending on whether you’re a prepaid or postpaid customer. Always check which ones you can purchase to avoid surprise charges.

Even though these tips can help you avoid Movistar roaming rates, there’s no peace of mind using data roaming when traveling, similar to what happens with Orange roaming in USA.

That’s where other options, like eSIMs for the USA, become a better alternative when looking at their pricing, availability, and ease of use.

Use an eSIM and avoid Movistar roaming charges

When you travel abroad, using a service that can cost up to €200 (~$209.40 USD) to make a video call, send photos, or look for an address is neither practical nor cost-effective.

That’s why an eSIM for the USA is an ideal solution. Here’s what it means for you.

Holafly USA eSIM: Top alternative to avoid roaming charges

With the Holafly USA eSIM, you’ll get a reliable internet connection at a lower price than Movistar. This eSIM offers unlimited data, starting at $6.90 USD per day. Additionally, purchasing more days reduces the daily cost, with long-term plans as low as $1.55 per day.

Getting unlimited data sounds like a great advantage when using an eSIM, but there are more features when using Holafly to travel abroad:

• Up to 1 GB of data sharing per day
• Customizable days from 1 to 90 days 
• Connects with the best local network, ensuring up to 5G connectivity when available
• Automatic installation is available on iOS, and easy, hassle-free activation is available on Android with a QR code
• Mobile app for iOS and Android to manage and purchase eSIMs
• 24/7 top-quality customer support in 19 languages on different channels

Avoid high-roaming charges with Holafly

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Julio Osuna

English Content Writer

I first started my content creation journey as a freelancer in 2019, before connecting with Holafly in 2021. At Holafly, my travel and tech interests come together in one place as I craft high-quality articles about the eSIM and related markets. My content aims to help travelers stay connected, wherever they are.

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