Cheap internet while travelling: the smart way to get data abroad

Your home plan was priced for your home network. When you use another country's network, your carrier pays that network a wholesale rate and passes the cost on to you. That is why a single evening of maps, messaging and photo uploads abroad can turn into a bill of tens or even hundreds of pounds or dollars if you do nothing about it.

Things are better than they used to be. Many carriers now offer fixed daily passes, and some plans include a roaming allowance for certain regions. But the rules vary by carrier, plan and country, and they change often, so always check your own carrier's current terms before you travel.

• Travel eSIM — a digital SIM you buy online and install in minutes. Usually the best balance of price and convenience.
• Local prepaid SIM — buy a physical SIM in the destination. Often the cheapest per gigabyte, especially for longer stays.
• Carrier day pass — your home carrier lets you use your normal plan abroad for a flat daily fee. Simplest, but adds up over a long trip.
• Roaming included in your plan — some plans cover certain regions at no extra cost, within fair-use limits.
• Wi-Fi only — free and often good enough for a short trip if you prepare offline maps and downloads.
• Portable Wi-Fi hotspot — a rented or bought pocket router, handy for groups or if your phone can't take an eSIM.

An eSIM is a SIM built into your phone that you set up by scanning a QR code or tapping an in-app link. You buy a data plan for your destination, install it before you fly, and your phone connects as soon as you land. Your normal number stays active on your original SIM for calls and verification codes.

Why it's popular: no queue at the airport, no tiny SIM tray, and you know the price before you go. Plans are sold by region (for example Europe or Asia) or by country, in sizes from about 1 GB up to unlimited-style bundles.

What to watch for:

• Phone must support eSIM and be unlocked. Most phones from around 2019 onwards do, but check Settings for an "Add eSIM" option, and confirm with your carrier that the phone isn't locked.
• Price per gigabyte varies a lot. Small plans cost more per GB. In 2026 comparisons, mid-size regional plans typically worked out at roughly a few dollars per GB, while "unlimited" plans cost noticeably more and often come with daily fair-use limits or speed caps.
• Hotspot rules. Some plans restrict tethering. If you need to share data with a laptop, check before buying.
• Many eSIM sites are affiliate-driven. Reviews often rank whoever pays the highest commission. Compare actual per-GB prices and coverage for your countries on the provider's own page.
• Install before you fly, activate on arrival. Most eSIMs only start the validity clock once they connect to a network in the destination.

Well-known travel eSIM providers include Airalo, Nomad, Saily and Holafly. We don't endorse a single one: check current prices for your destination and pick the plan that fits your usage.

Travel eSIMs on Amazon

If you'd rather buy through Amazon, these regional eSIM plans are a convenient place to start. Check the plan size, validity and your phone's eSIM compatibility on the product page before you buy.

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

In many countries you can buy a prepaid SIM at the airport, a phone shop or a supermarket, often for a few pounds or dollars, with a generous data bundle. For trips of a couple of weeks or more, and especially for stays of a month or longer, a local SIM usually beats any travel eSIM on price per gigabyte.

• Pros: lowest prices, local numbers, often better data allowances.
• Cons: you need an unlocked phone, a free SIM slot, and time to buy and set it up. Some countries require your passport to register the SIM, and a few have strict rules for tourists.
• Airport prices are higher. If you can wait, a shop in town is usually cheaper than the arrivals hall.
• Local eSIMs exist too. Some local carriers sell their own eSIM, which gives you local prices with eSIM convenience.

Day passes. Several major US carriers sell a flat daily pass that lets you use your normal plan in a long list of countries. In 2026 these are typically in the region of $10–12 a day, charged only on the days you actually use data, with fair-use limits. Handy for a long weekend, expensive over two weeks. Prices and country lists change, so check your carrier's current page.

UK and EU roaming. Since Brexit, UK networks are no longer required to offer free EU roaming, and policies differ. Some include it within a fair-use cap, some charge a daily fee of a couple of pounds, and some have reintroduced charges for newer contracts. Check your own contract rather than assuming it is free.

International plans in other countries. Within the EU, "roam like at home" still applies to EU-based plans, but fair-use limits and rules for non-EU countries (including the UK and Switzerland) vary. Check your operator.

Whatever connection you choose, you will need far less data if you prepare before you leave.

• Download offline maps for every city you'll visit (Google Maps, Apple Maps and Maps.me all support this). Navigation works without data.
• Download entertainment in advance: Netflix, Spotify, YouTube Premium, podcasts and ebooks all allow offline downloads over home Wi-Fi.
• Use Wi-Fi for heavy tasks: backups, photo uploads and app updates. Turn off automatic cloud sync and background app refresh while abroad.
• Download translation packs for the languages you'll need so translation works offline.
• Be careful on public Wi-Fi. Avoid banking on open hotspots. A VPN adds a layer of protection if you must use one.

• Weekend trip (1–4 days): your carrier's day pass, an included roaming allowance, or Wi-Fi plus offline maps.
• One to two weeks, one country or region: a travel eSIM. Cheap, quick, no hassle.
• Multi-country trip: a regional or multi-country eSIM (Europe, Asia, Global) rather than buying a new SIM at each border.
• A month or more, or heavy usage: a local prepaid SIM or local eSIM.
• Travelling as a group or working remotely: a local SIM with a big data bundle, or a portable hotspot you can share.
• Phone isn't eSIM-compatible or is locked: a local SIM (if you can unlock it) or a pocket Wi-Fi device.

1. Check your phone is unlocked and supports eSIM if you want one.
2. Pick a plan for your destination and install it before you fly.
3. Download offline maps, translation packs and entertainment over Wi-Fi.
4. Set your home SIM to Data Roaming off and, if you like, add a data warning in settings.
5. Keep your home SIM active for calls, texts and two-factor codes, or switch bank codes to an authenticator app first.
6. Pack a power bank — navigation, hotspotting and translation drain batteries fast. See our power bank airline rules before you fly.

Staying connected means staying charged. Make sure you have the right plug adapter for your route and a multi-port USB charger so your phone, power bank and hotspot can all charge from one socket. Check our trip planner to see exactly what to pack for every country on your itinerary.