Travel connectivity guide
International roaming and travel eSIMs both keep you connected abroad, but they work differently and cost very different amounts. For most trips, a travel eSIM is significantly cheaper. For some specific situations — short EU trips on plans with free roaming, or devices that do not support eSIM — the home carrier’s roaming option can make more sense.
| Factor | Travel eSIM | International roaming |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | Buy before departure. Scan QR code or use app. No SIM swap needed. Keep home number active on dual-SIM. | Automatic when you land. No setup required. Uses home plan rates. |
| Cost | Typically $4–$35 for most trips. Fixed cost paid upfront. | Varies by carrier. Can be $10–$30/day or capped monthly. Check your plan's roaming rates before traveling. |
| Home number | Home SIM remains active on dual-SIM. You can still receive calls, SMS, and banking verification texts. | Home number works normally. Incoming calls in the roaming zone may incur fees. |
| Data speed | Connects to local networks at 4G/5G speeds where supported. | Speed depends on your home carrier's roaming agreements. Can be throttled or slower than local speed. |
| Hotspot | Permitted on many plans. Verify the exact plan page. Some plans include unlimited hotspot; others cap it. | Hotspot is usually included as part of your home data roaming allowance. Verify with your carrier. |
| Data limit | Fixed-data plans: data stops at the allowance. Unlimited plans: may throttle after a threshold. | Depends on your plan. Some carriers offer generous roaming allowances; others charge per MB. |
| Multiple countries | Regional or global plans cover multiple countries. Single profile for the whole trip. | Roaming rates vary by country. One plan may have free EU roaming but charge for Asia. |
| Device compatibility | Phone must support eSIM and be carrier-unlocked. Most phones from 2020 onward are eSIM-compatible. | Works on any phone on any carrier. No device requirements beyond service activation. |
For most travelers, a travel eSIM is cheaper than international roaming. Roaming charges from home carriers can reach $10–$30/day for data, while a travel eSIM for the same destination may cost $4–$15 for a week. If your home carrier includes free EU roaming (common with UK and European plans), roaming may be the cheaper option for European travel. Compare your specific carrier's roaming rates against the cost of a destination eSIM.
Yes. On a dual-SIM phone (most modern iPhones and Android flagships), the travel eSIM handles data while the home SIM remains active to receive calls, SMS, and banking verification texts. You can choose which plan handles data and which handles calls.
Roaming can be the better choice when your home carrier includes free or low-cost international roaming in your plan (common for short EU trips), when the trip is very short (1–2 days) and setup friction matters more than cost, or when your phone is not eSIM-compatible. Check your home carrier's roaming rates before purchasing a travel eSIM.
Most smartphones released from 2019 onward support eSIM, including iPhone XS and later, and most Android flagship devices from 2020+. The phone must also be carrier-unlocked. Carrier-locked phones from some carriers cannot install a travel eSIM. Check the eSIM compatibility page for your exact device model.