Roaming in Canada: Costs, plans, and alternatives
Roaming in Canada is possible with a UK or US-based mobile carrier. Learn more about your roaming options, costs, and digital alternatives to stay connected.
Roaming in Canada can become quite expensive if you’re unaware of your international plan options, allowances, and roaming add-ons. The last thing you want on a trip is to end up with a lengthy bill of unexpected roaming charges.
If you’re traveling from the USA or UK, this article covers everything you need to know about roaming in Canada. We’ll explore major mobile providers and roaming plans, roaming costs, how to avoid racking up roaming charges, and a digital alternative – a travel eSIM – to help you stay connected with peace of mind.

Roaming charges in Canada
Roaming charges in Canada vary depending on your mobile carrier. Roaming in Canada with your US mobile may be free and included with your pay monthly plan, or you’ll have to pay anywhere between $5 to $12 USD per day.
Standard roaming charges in Canada also start at $2.05 per MB if you don’t have a roaming plan in place and you turn data roaming on. Here are some rates for popular US and UK carriers:
Roaming costs in Canada for US travelers
If you’re traveling from the US, your mobile operator is likely AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon.
These providers all offer monthly plans for your US mobile with roaming in Canada included. While this may seem like “free” roaming in Canada, you end up paying more for your home plan per month.
You can buy a travel pass if your plan doesn’t include roaming in Canada. Costs vary for each provider:
- AT&T: $12 USD/day for unlimited data
- T-Mobile: $5-$50 for 512 MB-15 GB with 1-30 day validity
- Verizon: $6/day for unlimited data
Finally, pay-per-use costs range from $0.01/MB with T-Mobile to $2.05/MB with AT&T and Verizon.
The table below summarizes all your roaming options for using your phone in Canada with a US-based provider.
Provider | Pay-monthly plans | Roaming passes | Pay as you go |
---|---|---|---|
AT&T roaming in Canada | Eligible Unlimited plan (with Roam North America feature) | AT&T International Day Pass ($12 USD daily) | $1 per voice minute, $0.50 per text message, and $2.05 per MB |
Verizon roaming in Canada | International Monthly Plan ($100/month) | TravelPass ($6 USD daily) | $2.05 per MB, $0.99 per voice minute, and $0.50 per text |
T-Mobile roaming in Canada | Experience Beyond or Experience More plans | International Travel Pass: 1-30 day passes for $5-50 USD | $0.25 per voice minute and $0.01 per MB |
Roaming costs in Canada for UK travelers
Similar to US-based providers, roaming in Canada may be free, depending on your plan.
You won’t have to pay additional charges if you have a roaming-inclusive monthly plan with Vodafone UK, Three, EE, or O2.
If your plan does not include Canada as an eligible destination and you want to use mobile internet in Canada, you can buy an international roaming pass:
- Vodafone UK: £7.86 a day
- Three: £17.50-84 for 3-14 day passes or a £7 daily roaming charge
- EE: £5 a day or £25 per week
- O2: £7 a day
If you don’t have a roaming-inclusive monthly plan or roaming pass in place, you’ll be subject to standard roaming charges ranging from 12p per MB (Vodafone UK) to £6 per MB (Three).
The table below summarizes all your roaming options with a UK-based provider.
Provider | Pay-monthly plans | Roaming passes | Pay as you go |
---|---|---|---|
Vodafone UK roaming in Canada | Unlimited Max Global Roam | Roaming pass: £7.86 a day | 60p per minute, 8p per text, and 12p per MB |
Three roaming in Canada | Value or Complete plan (if joined before 22 June 2025) | Go Roam Around the World Extra: 3 to 14-day passes for £17.50-84 Or, opt for a £7 daily roaming charge | £6 per MB, £1.40 per voice minute, and 35p per text |
EE roaming in Canada | Full Works and Max plans | £5/day or £25/week to use your UK allowances | £1.20 per minute and 60p per text |
O2 roaming in Canada | Volt, Plus, and Ultimate plans | Travel pass: £7 a day | £3 per voice minute, £1 per text, and £6-13 for 1 GB to 5 GB data roaming bundles |
Holafly’s eSIM for Canada: Unlimited data, peace of mind
If you’re planning an international trip to Canada, relying on roaming services can quickly add daily fees or surprise charges to your monthly bill.
Instead of paying extra for data, talk, and text, switch to Holafly’s eSIM for Canada and enjoy unlimited data, high-speed coverage, and peace of mind from the moment you land. All you need is an eSIM-compatible phone. Here are some key benefits of a travel eSIM:
- Unlimited data without limits or slowdowns
- No daily fees or hidden costs – pay one fixed price for the entire trip
- Home number active stays active while using any of Holafly’s eSIMs
- 24/7 multilingual customer support (in case you need any assistance with setup, account details, or device settings)
With Holafly, you can stay connected and explore Canada without worrying about additional costs or surprise fees. Starting at $7.90 USD (£6) per day for unlimited data, you can choose your eSIM plan duration and never pay for more than you need. The more days you add, the lower the daily price gets!
How to avoid roaming charges in Canada
You don’t always have to end up with a long roaming bill when you’re back from vacation. There are a couple of ways to avoid high roaming charges in Canada, and even some alternatives to roaming worth considering.
- Monitor data usage and check your account regularly to avoid exceeding data, talk, and text limits or incurring surprise charges.
- Buy a local Canada SIM card to enjoy using your phone at local rates and for longer trips. However, an eSIM is still a better option since it offers the advantage of no SIM swapping and instant connection once you arrive.
- Switch to airplane mode when you’re not using mobile data to save your allowance.
- Use public WiFi in hotels, cafes, or airports whenever you can to avoid running out of data.
- Grab a pocket WiFi device if you’re traveling in a group or have multiple devices. A pocket WiFi for Canada will act as a portable hotspot, but it is an extra device to carry and charge. Opt for Holafly Plans, a digital and more affordable hotspot, instead.
Canada roaming vs. eSIM for Canada
Here’s a brief comparison of roaming options for Canada vs using Holafly’s eSIM for US and UK travelers:
Roaming in Canada | Holafly eSIM for Canada | |
---|---|---|
Data | Depends on the plan | Unlimited |
Validity | Pay-per-use, daily or fixed pass, or monthly | Custom days (1-90) or monthly |
Costs | Monthly roaming plans: Included Roaming passes: $5-50 / £5-84 per pass Pay-per-use: $0.01-2.05 / 12p-£6 per MB | Holafly eSIM: $3.21-$7.90 (£2.50-6) per day Holafly Plans: $64.90 (~£47) per month |
Pros | ✔️ Works on locked phones ✔️ Simple activation processes ✔️ Chances of free roaming for India included in your plan | ✔️ Unlimited data plans ✔️ One-time payment, no hidden costs ✔️ Flexible eSIM plans ✔️ Separate hotspot allowance |
Cons | ❌ High daily charges ❌ Data limits and fair usage policy ❌ Unexpected charges | ❌ Data-only plans ❌ Only works on eSIM-compatible phones |
For the best balance of convenience, coverage, and cost, Holafly’s eSIM for Canada stands out as the smartest choice.
If you’re traveling to another destination, check out our guides on: