Best EU roaming on UK mobile networks in 2025
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We rank all the mobile providers that include free roaming in Europe, to find the biggest data fair usage caps, local calls and the lowest extra charges. Last updated: 24th July 2025.
Best UK networks for EU roaming
Most networks do still include European roaming
✔ Keep using your mobile plan in the EUSkip to best networks
If you’re off away over the school holidays, you won’t struggle to find a suitable SIM only or phone contract that includes still roaming in Europe. There’s no shortage of providers that still include it.
But not all EU roaming is made equal. Each mobile network has its own fair usage limit on how much data you can use in Europe. Some handle your local and UK calls and texts differently.
And there are differences in how much it will cost in extra roaming charges, if you do run out of your regular allowances while you’re on your travels.
So in this guide, we’ve ranked the most flexible and generous networks for taking your phone away, so you can avoid any unexpected holiday spoilers.
Useful link: Compare SIM only deals with EU roaming
Networks with the best EU fair usage limits
iD Mobile and O2 are our standout choices
For out and out value, it’s hard to beat iD Mobile for roaming in the EU at the moment. You can use a market-leading 30GB of your regular data allowance there, without extra charges. 5G even works.
You also get your usual unlimited minutes and texts, both to UK numbers and local numbers (great for calling your hotel etc). You even get a couple of non-EU destinations included. Plus you can join instantly on eSIM.
O2 are our best choice if you want to join a major main network. EU roaming comes on every plan. At 25GB per month, O2’s data fair usage limits will cover all but the hungriest users for a short trip.
Making and taking calls and texts is free and unlimited while in Europe on O2, including to local numbers in the country you’re visiting and others in the EU. O2 also now support eSIM if you’re in a hurry.
Useful link: Extra charges for going over limits on iD | Extra charges for going over limits on O2
Tesco Mobile and Lebara have massive fair usage policies
Another cheap and generous option for EU roaming is Lebara, on the Vodafone network. Every plan includes it and you can use up to a joint-best 30GB of your data in Europe per month.
Calls and texts to the UK and numbers of the country you’re in are included. Calling other EU countries comes out of your international minutes. You don’t get 5G while you’re away though.
Tesco Mobile, in theory, actually have the best EU roaming fair usage caps of any UK mobile network, because they don’t place any limits. You can use all your plan’s data, calls and texts, including to local numbers.
Our main problem with Tesco is that they’re planning to remove this benefit from 2026, even if you’re mid-contract. They’ll cover you for this year but on a 12-month or 24-month, you will lose it.
Useful link: Lebara extra charges for going over limits | Tesco extra charges for going over limits
Networks generous usage caps in the EU
1pMobile, SMARTY and Lyca give you plenty of EU data
✔ EE coverage at home, inclusive roaming awaySee all the countries
at 1pmobile.com
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Despite their cheap and cheerful appearance, we’re big fans of 1pMobile. You get full speed access to the EE network at home and honest prices on short term plans that include EU roaming as standard.
While away, 1p customers can use a very healthy 14GB of their normal data allowance, without extra charges. You get 5G data abroad, plus your plan’s normal minutes and texts to UK and EU numbers.
SMARTY on Three also have a very healthy 12GB fair usage limit before any extra costs kick in (5G works abroad too). Your calls and texts remain unlimited both to UK numbers and local EU numbers.
One quirk of roaming on SMARTY is you’ll need to manually set up your phone for it first using the instructions here. But once you’ve done that, everything works exactly as you’d expect.
Lyca Mobile also have a generous 12GB limit on most plans, or 35GB on their unlimited plans. And there’s no fair usage on calls and texts while you’re away. You can even join on an eSIM if you’re in a hurry.
Useful link: 1pMobile’s full roaming guide | SMARTY’s full roaming guide
Three are good for EU roaming if you take a Value plan
On most basic pay monthly plans, you don’t get EU roaming on Three. But because they have the lowest prices of any major network, you can still get a more-premium plan with EU roaming cheaper than elsewhere.
You’ll need to take a plan marked as ‘Value’ to get it on SIM only or a phone contract. These get you 12GB of your regular data, plus unlimited local/UK calls and texts in all these Go Roam in Europe countries.
And if you’ve read anywhere that these involve a fixed number of daily roaming passes, that’s no longer the case. You can go away as often as you like (but for no longer than 2 consecutive months).
Your other option on Three is their pay as you go SIMs, which include EU roaming and some worldwide destinations. These are great short-term options that you can simply drop with no notice whenever.
Useful link: Read our Lite vs Value vs Complete guide
Networks with a few restrictions
spusu, Mozillion, Coop and Ecotalk give you a percent of your plan
✔ Use 25% of your normal monthly data in the EUSee full details
at mozillion.com
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There’s a whole group of networks that include EU roaming but will restrict your data usage to a percentage of your regular UK allowance. Logically, these will still be viable if you’re only going away for part of a month.
spusu operate a different fair usage cap on each plan, giving you from 60% down to 20% of your monthly data to use in the EU. Calls/texts to UK numbers are unlimited, local calls come from your international allowance.
On Coop and Mozillion, it’s 25% of your data allowance. That’s ok as long as you’re away for a week and your usage patterns don’t change. Longer trips, you’ll end up paying extra.
Useful link: Read our full spusu review
Talkmobile, giffgaff and ASDA are ok for light usage in the EU
We now move into the mobile providers that have kept EU roaming in place but have imposed some quite tight limits on usage. Some might find these restrictive. Others would never use that much anyway.
Of these, Talkmobile are definitely worth a look. They use Vodafone and let you use your minutes, texts and up to 5GB a month in the EU. Their plans are very good value (especially the hidden deals they send us).
giffgaff are a well known provider on O2’s network and let you use up to 5GB in their EU destinations. They’re mostly known as a low-frills, low-cost option so getting any EU roaming is still pretty good in our eyes.
Finally, ASDA Mobile are another low-cost option on Vodafone’s network and also let you use up to 5GB in the EU. They’re a cheap and cheerful option that also give you ways of saving money on your ASDA shopping.
Useful link: Find a SIM only plan with EU roaming
Sky, VOXI , EE and Vodafone plans don’t have EU roaming
Lastly, you’ve got networks that either include EU roaming only on more-premium plans. Or ones that don’t even offer that and make you buy roaming passes or pay as you go.
Honest Mobile are a bit odd as they do let you roam in the EU at no added cost, but only for 5 days in a row. After that you’ll have to pay their steep roaming rates. And their plans are already quite expensive.
On Vodafone, it’s a similar story. You’ll need to join on one of their Xtra benefit plans in order to get EU roaming included. Regular plans don’t include it and you’ll have to buy daily or weekly roaming passes.
EE do the same thing. You’ll have to buy passes or take a premium plan and choose EU roaming as one of your benefits. And neither Sky or VOXI offer any way to get inclusive roaming (you have to pay per day).
Useful link: Get a SIM that does have EU roaming
Longer-term extended EU roaming
There are options to spend more than 60 days in the EU
✔ No stated limits to how long you can travelRead their roaming terms
at spusu.co.uk
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Most mobile networks don’t allow you to use their UK SIMs for permanent roaming in the EU. They’re only really intended for genuine trips abroad, rather than expats with a second home in Europe.
That said, if you’re working or travelling a long while, some UK providers do offer roaming terms that are longer than the typical 60-day limit you see on the majority of mobile networks:
spusu on the EE network do not have a stated time limit on EU roaming. Our chat with an agent also confirmed this, though we’d stress we haven’t tested it ourselves. You’ll need to activate your SIM in the UK. If you’re already abroad, it won’t activate.
Talk Home Mobile on EE let you roam in Europe for 3 months in a row. So that’s 90 days instead of the typical 60 days. After that though, your SIM will freeze until it’s used in the UK again.
Lyca, Sky Lebara and ASDA have statements like “not the majority of your time” or “if your EU usage is more than UK usage”. So if you’re only just joining and want to go abroad immediately, these won’t work.
Useful link: See specialist roaming eSIMs
SIM only deals with EU roaming
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It varies per network. All include every country within the EU. Others also include EEA countries like Norway. Others include non-EU countries like Switzerland. None include Turkey as standard. Be sure to check their country lists to avoid extra charges.
You still get free EU roaming with different fair usage policies on 1pMobile, ASDA Mobile, Coop, giffgaff, Honest, iD Mobile, Lebara, Lyca Mobile, Mozillion, O2, SMARTY, spusu, Talkmobile, Tesco Mobile. See info above for the best and most generous networks.
It really depends how much data you need. The biggest data users will be best off on iD Mobile and O2, who have the largest fair usage limits, before having to pay extra. Smaller users will be fine on most networks on this page.
Absolutely not. In fact, EU roaming is still included on most networks.
You’ll typically find the cheapest SIMs are from spusu and iD Mobile with EU roaming. It depends how much data you need while away. Here’s the cheapest plan on each network with EU roaming:
By our reckoning, 5G data works on the following networks (where the host country has it): 1pMobile, Three, ASDA, Coop, EE, giffgaff, Honest, iD, Lyca, Mozillion, O2, SMARTY, spusu, Talkmobile, Tesco, Vodafone and VOXI.
spusu have no stated fixed time limit for EU roaming but you must activate the SIM in the UK. Here are their best deals:
Yes, if the network enforces their own policies. We know people who have been on networks abroad for years. But there’s no guarantee your SIM will continue to work.
You’ll have to activate your eSIM in the UK but you can get an eSIM with EU roaming included on Three, giffgaff, Honest, iD Mobile, Lyca Mobile, Mozillion, O2, SMARTY and spusu.