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Best mobile networks for roaming 2024: EU, USA and beyond

Comparing international roaming

The retailers featured on this page may compensate us when our readers follow links to their websites and make a purchase. More

We take you through the UK networks with free EU roaming still and compare fair usage policies and inclusive worldwide travel options. Last updated: 4th March 2024.

Which networks are best for roaming?

Roaming has got more complicated than it used to be

A globe and a contract

EU roaming isn’t included with every networkSkip to EU roaming

There was a time when every UK mobile network offered free EU roaming with all their plans. And some even included worldwide destinations on top. Those days have been disappearing fast.

All but one of the main UK networks has dropped inclusive roaming in the EU. And we suspect the virtual operators that use them will start to follow suit as their contracts with their host networks get renewed.

But a few are clinging on - with a few restrictions on how much you can roam. In this guide, we rate the best networks for EU roaming, according to the most generous fair usage policies.

And if you want to go further afield to worldwide destinations, including the USA, we’ve ranked the best worldwide roaming networks, according to cost and what you get for the money.

Useful link: Skip to best networks for EU roaming

Where to first?

EU roaming on each UK mobile network

Got a particular network in mind?

Click on one of the network logos to see what we think of their roaming scheme

1pMobile logo
Three logo
ASDA Mobile logo
Coop Mobile logo
EE logo
giffgaff logo
Honest Mobile logo
ID logo
Lebara logo
Lyca Mobile logo
O2 logo
SMARTY logo
spusu logo
Talkmobile logo
Vodafone logo
VOXI logo

1st: Lebara have the simplest, most generous EU roaming

EU roaming included lettering

A massive amount to use on single tripsSee locations

at mobile.lebara.com
(opens in a new window)

What we like:
Green plus sign Inclusive EU roaming on all deals
Green plus sign Use inclusive international calls while roaming
Green plus sign Connect to 5G while abroad
Green plus sign Generally good value SIM plans

What we don't like:
Red minus sign Massive users might find 30GB too little

Lebara make it to the top of our list thanks to offering inclusive roaming in these 42 EU/EEA destinations on plans that are already some of the cheapest on the market.

But they’re not our favourite just because they’re cheap. They let you use 30GB of your data allowance while roaming. That’s really generous compared to the networks below and most users will never hit that cap.

Get inclusive EU roaming on all these deals:

Heavy data-users may end up going over that limit. In that case Lebara let you take a data bolt-on of 5GB for £10 or £3 for 1GB to tide you over until your next month. Or you can pay as you go at Lebara’s UK rates.

Lebara also include international mins to these 42 countries on most plans and you can use these while roaming just like you can at home. That's something they don't have to offer, so it's nice they do.

Useful link: Our full Lebara network review

Our EU roaming:
1st

EU roaming included?:
Yes - all plans

Fair usage policies?
30GB in EU

2nd: spusu are another great value option for EU roaming

Map of Europe and lettering of use your phone abroad

Plenty of data to use abroadSee all roaming costs

at spusu.co.uk
(opens in a new window)

What we like:
Green plus sign Join instantly on eSIM if you need roaming now
Green plus sign Included on every plan a standard
Green plus sign Your international calls also work there
Green plus sign Connect to 5G in the EU

What we don't like:
Red minus sign Different fair data usage limit per plan
Red minus sign Fair usage for calls too abroad

spusu are the next network as they’re one of the best value options for EU roaming of all UK networks. You get inclusive EU roaming on all their great value plans, but each comes with a different data limit.

These limits are generally generous enough that most users won’t hit them. You can check each plan’s limit here and or look at their “Travel” plans that let you use all your data in the EU for a higher monthly cost.

Like with Lebara, you can use the inclusive international mins you get on your plan while roaming (with the exception of certain non-EU countries). And you can connect to 5G abroad where it’s available.

spusu also let you join on an eSIM without getting a SIM pack delivered. That makes them a great temporary option if your main provider doesn't include EU roaming and you just need it for a trip.

Useful link: Read spusu’s guide to their EU roaming

Our EU roaming ranking
2nd

EU roaming included?
Yes - all plans

Worldwide roaming included?
No

Fair usage policies?
Depends per plan

3rd: iD Mobile have improved their EU roaming fair usage

iD Mobile free EU roaming banner

Use up to a massive 30GB in the EURead all the rules

at idmobile.co.uk
(opens in a new window)

What we like:
Green plus sign All plans include EU roaming
Green plus sign 5 additional non-EU countries included
Green plus sign Low-cost deals in the first place
Green plus sign Calls to EU countries included while roaming

What we don't like:
Red minus sign 30GB fair usage limit for ultra heavy users
Red minus sign Calls to some roaming countries not inclusive

iD Mobile offer excellent value on their 1-month and 12-month SIM only contracts and include EU roaming at no extra cost on all of them. You can roam in these 46 EU/EEA destinations.

And they’ve massively upped their fair usage limit, letting you use up to 30GB of your data allowance while abroad. That’s a generous amount that most users would hardly get through in a month, let alone on a short trip.

But it’s worth keeping an eye on your usage, as if you hit that limit then you’ll have to pay for extra data which can get expensive. You can either top up and pay at these rates or take one of iD’s data add-ons.

iD also include roaming in four extra non-EU countries. This is nice, but these aren’t exactly popular destinations. And calls to these countries aren’t included. Overall, iD’s EU roaming is alright for the cost.

Useful link: iD's full guide to roaming with them

Our ranking:
3rd

EU roaming included?
Yes - all plans

Worldwide roaming included?
Few unpopular non-EU destinations

Fair usage policies?
Up to 30GB

4th: O2 are a good premium choice for heavy data users

O2 roaming banner

Inclusive EU roaming on all dealsSee qualifying plans

at O2.co.uk
(opens in a new window)

What we like:
Green plus sign Use your plan in the EU at no extra cost
Green plus sign Comes on every plan
Green plus sign More generous data limits than some networks
Green plus sign Connect to 5G while abroad

What we don't like:
Red minus sign 25GB fair usage limit
Red minus sign Their plans are quite expensive to start off with

O2 are the only main UK network to offer inclusive EU roaming as standard and have made it a big part of their marketing. You can use your regular allowance of mins, texts and data in these EU destinations.

Calls and texts to the UK while roaming come out of your regular UK allowance. And calls to EU numbers are also inclusive while you’re roaming. And you can get 5G abroad where it’s available.

You can use up to 25GB of your data while roaming in the EU. That’s very generous and most users won’t have to worry about hitting that limit. But if you do, O2’s data add-ons can tide you over, but they are expensive.

So if you’re not bothered by the higher cost of O2’s deals, you’ll really like their brilliant EU roaming scheme. They’re also one of the best choices for roaming beyond the EU, which you can read more about here.

Useful link: Read O2's full roaming guide

Our EU roaming ranking
4th

EU roaming included?
Yes - all plans

Worldwide roaming included?
Yes – on some pay monthly plans

Fair usage policies?
25GB in EU

Joint 5th: SMARTY’s EU roaming is decent but has limits

SMARTY how to set up roaming banner

EU roaming but you have to turn it onRead how you do it

at SMARTY.co.uk
(opens in a new window)

What we like:
Green plus sign EU roaming included on every plan
Green plus sign Plans are cheap in the first place
Green plus sign Cheap data add-ons

What we don't like:
Red minus sign 12GB usage cap abroad
Red minus sign No 5G abroad
Red minus sign Roaming has to be turned on manually

SMARTY still offer inclusive EU roaming as standard, unlike their hosts Three. That means you can use your UK plan in these 34 EU/EEA countries at no extra cost. But your data usage is limited while there.

Their limit is 12GB in the EU, which should be generous enough for most users on a short trip. But if you hit that limit they have cheap data add-ons to tide you over. And calls to EU countries cost nothing extra.

Unlike the networks above, you won’t get 5G while you’re abroad on SMARTY. But we don’t see this as a massive loss as 4G is more than good enough for looking at maps or browsing restaurants and tourist attractions.

Make sure you turn on roaming manually before going abroad (see their guide here). We arrived in the EU with our SMARTY SIM with no connection and no way to turn roaming on, without going on WiFi.

Useful link: All benefits to SMARTY's roaming

Our EU roaming ranking:
Joint 5th

Inclusive countries as standard:
Yes - all plans

Worldwide roaming included?
No – pay as you go

Fair usage policies?
12GB in EU

Joint 5th: 1pMobile are also a good value EU roaming option

1pMobile roaming banner

Cheapest PAYG in the UK and abroadSee all other costs

at 1pmobile.com
(opens in a new window)

What we like:
Green plus sign Inclusive EU roaming on all plans
Green plus sign Decent value SIM only plans
Green plus sign PAYG rates the same 1p in the EU

What we don't like:
Red minus sign No 5G connection abroad
Red minus sign 14GB roaming cap could prove too little

1pMobile used to market themselves mainly around having cheapest Pay As You Go rates of all networks. But now, they’ve got some really good monthly bundles too. These all let you roam in these 46 EU/EEA destinations at no added cost.

While abroad on their SIM only plans, you’re limited to 14GB of your allowance, which is more than most people will end up even at home. But if you do go over that, 1p have some good value data add-ons.

If you’re on Pay As You Go you can keep using your SIM in their EU countries at the same 1p rates. And 1p don’t limit how much data you can use abroad on PAYG. They’re the best choice for PAYG EU roaming.

If you don’t mind missing out on 5G abroad and won’t use lots of data while roaming in the EU, 1p are a great value choice on PAYG and on pay monthly.

Useful link: See all the info regarding their tariffs

Our EU roaming ranking
Joint 5th

EU roaming included?
Yes - PAYG and monthly plans

Worldwide roaming included?
No – pay as you go

Fair usage policies?
14GB

6th: Tesco Mobile’s EU roaming is on the way out

Bye bye roaming charges lettering

Inclusive EU roaming until 2025What this means

at tescomobile.com
(opens in a new window)

What we like:
Green plus sign EU roaming included on all deals
Green plus sign No fair usage caps while roaming
Green plus sign Calls to UK and EU numbers included while roaming

What we don't like:
Red minus sign They will remove inclusive EU roaming in 2025
Red minus sign Deals are a bit more expensive than some networks

Tesco Mobile have been saying that they would remove EU roaming for a while now, but still haven’t. They now say they’ll remove it in 2025, but until then you can roam in these EU destinations at no added cost.

What’s great is that Tesco let you use all your data abroad. As such they’re the only network that let you use unlimited data in the EU. And calls and texts to UK and EU numbers are also inclusive while roaming.

But Tesco’s best value deals are their longer 12-month and 24-month contracts. Their 1-month deals tend to be expensive. So, on their best value deals you will lose inclusive EU roaming before your contract is up.

It’s possible they keep their inclusive EU roaming (they’ve done it before) but we wouldn’t count on it. They might be a decent choice on a shorter term contract, but the networks above are safer choices.

Useful link: Tesco's guide to their EU roaming

Our EU roaming ranking:
6th

Inclusive countries as standard:
Yes - all plans

Worldwide roaming included?
No – pay as you go

Fair usage policies?
None

7th: Lyca Mobile offer cheap EU roaming with limits

EU roaming

Variable data caps on each planRead their guide

at lycamobile.co.uk
(opens in a new window)

What we like:
Green plus sign EU roaming included on all plans
Green plus sign Low-cost plans in the first place
Green plus sign Use inclusive international mins while roaming
Green plus sign Join on an eSIM instantly

What we don't like:
Red minus sign Fair usage caps

You get inclusive roaming in these 32 EU/EEA countries on all of Lyca’s SIM only or phone plans at no added cost. But you’ll get a different limit on your data usage abroad depending on which plan you take.

Lyca Mobile are similar to the networks above in that they limit how much data you can use while roaming based on the plan you take. Each plan has a different data cap which is shown in the checkout before purchase.

There’s no method to work out your roaming data limit. The bigger your data allowance the higher your limit, but on small plans the limit can be very restrictive. Going over it means you’ll have to pay their roaming rates.

Lyca let you join on an eSIM. If your current network doesn't include roaming and you've got a dual-SIM phone, you can take out a cheap 1-month deal instantly on Lyca and ditch it once you're back.

Useful link: Our full review of Lyca Mobile

Our EU roaming ranking:
7th

EU roaming included?
Yes - all plans

Worldwide roaming included?
No – pay as you go

Fair usage policies?
Varies per plan

Joint 8th: Co-op offer generous but expensive EU roaming

EU roaming and lady on phone

No roaming fair usage capsSee all roaming prices

at broadband.yourcoop.coop
(opens in a new window)

What we like:
Green plus sign EU roaming included on all deals
Green plus sign No fair usage limits while abroad

What we don't like:
Red minus sign Deals are expensive
Red minus sign Extra data gets expensive fast
Red minus sign 5G not included

Co-op Mobile are a virtual provider on EE’s network, but unlike their hosts they still include EU roaming. It costs nothing extra to use any of Co-op Mobile’s plans in the EU.

The best part about their scheme is that they let you use all your plan’s data while abroad at no added cost. So you can use your entire data allowance in these EU countries without worry.

You can roam abroad on every Co-op Mobile SIM only plan. Here are their best current deals:

And you can use your mins and texts to UK and EU numbers just like you would at home. Just make sure to keep an eye on your usage, as if you go over your allowance you’ll start paying at these steep rates.

But Co-op don’t offer unlimited data plans so you can’t get unlimited data abroad. And Co-op’s plans aren’t great value anyway. If you don’t mind the cost they’re a good choice, but there are better options.

Our EU roaming ranking
Joint 8th

EU roaming included?
Yes - all plans

Worldwide roaming included?
No – pay as you go

Fair usage policies?
No

Joint 8th: Honest Mobile’s roaming rules are a bit complicated

Roaming with Honest

Use up to 20GB in the EUSee their FAQs

at honestmobile.co.uk
(opens in a new window)

What we like:
Green plus sign Roam in lots of EU countries
Green plus sign Roaming included on all plans

What we don't like:
Red minus sign Calls to EU numbers aren’t inclusive
Red minus sign No way to add extra data while roaming
Red minus sign 20GB fair usage limit while roaming

Honest Mobile are a small provider that offer inclusive roaming in these 44 EU/EEA countries on all plans. While there you can use up to 20GB of your data while there, which is generous. So why are Honest this low?

Well, while calls to UK numbers while calling are inclusive, calls to EU numbers are charged at 7p per minute. That can get expensive quickly, which isn’t great considering Honest’s plans are already pricey.

If you hit the roaming data limit, you can’t add more until your plan renews at the end of the month, so you could be stuck without data access. Most users won’t hit the limit, but it can be annoying if you do.

Every Honest Mobile SIM deal includes EU roaming. Here are their best current deals:

We think Honest have a decent EU roaming scheme overall. The data limit is generous enough for most users and it’s included on every plan. But it’s up to you whether the higher cost of their plans is worth it.

Useful link: See their current SIM only plans

Our EU roaming ranking:
Joint 8th

EU roaming included?
Yes - all plans

Worldwide roaming included?
No - Buy Smart Travel bolt-on

Fair usage policies?
20GB in EU

Joint 9th: Talkmobile are good for short trips to the EU

Talkmobile roaming banner

Use your SIM in 41 EU destinationsSee all countries

at talkmobile.co.uk
(opens in new window)

What we like:
Green plus sign Inclusive EU roaming on all plans
Green plus sign 5G works abroad
Green plus sign Data add-ons are cheap

What we don't like:
Red minus sign 5GB limit on data while roaming

Talkmobile are another budget provider on Vodafone’s network that offer inclusive EU roaming on all their plans. You can roam in these 41 EU countries at no added cost on Talkmobile.

Inclusive EU roaming comes on every Talkmobile deal. Here are their best current ones:

While abroad you can use up to 5GB of your data allowance. Most users won’t use that much data on a short trip, but the limit will feel quite restrictive for heavier data users.

If you do hit that fair usage cap, you’ll have to buy a Euro Holiday Booster to keep using data. These are temporary allowances of unlimited mins, texts and 15GB data to use for 1 day, 8 days or 15 days.

Roaming is now turned on by default too. So, Talkmobile are a good choice for short trips to the continent, but you might prefer the networks above if you want more flexibility.

Useful link: Our full review of Talkmobile

Our ranking:
Joint 9th

EU roaming included?
Yes - all plans

Worldwide roaming included?
No – pay as you go

Fair usage policies?
5GB in the EU

Joint 9th: ASDA are a good option for small data users

Roaming with ASDA

Inclusive roaming in 36 EU countriesSee costs per country

at mobile.asda.com
(opens in a new window)

What we like:
Green plus sign EU roaming on all their great value plans
Green plus sign 5G works abroad
Green plus sign Good value data add-ons
Green plus sign Same UK PAYG rates while in the EU

What we don't like:
Red minus sign 5GB data cap while abroad
Red minus sign Roaming turned off by default

ASDA Mobile are a small provider on Vodafone’s network that provide EU roaming on all their great value deals and access to 5G while abroad. And you get the same PAYG rates in the EU as you do at home.

You can roam in these 36 EU countries at no added cost, but you’ll be limited to 5GB of data. That’s quite restrictive and means you’re more likely to have to pay for extra data. Thankfully it’s quite cheap on ASDA.

Another downside is that you’ll have to turn on roaming before you leave (follow their instructions here). If you go abroad without doing this you’ll end up with no way to turn it on until you find some free WiFi.

In all, ASDA are a decent choice if you don’t use a lot of data or only want to go away on short trips. But larger data users will be better off on the providers above.

Useful link: See ASDA Mobile’s best SIM only deals

Our ranking:
Joint 9th

EU roaming included?
Yes - all plans

Worldwide roaming included?
No – pay as you go

Fair usage policies?
5GB in the EU

Joint 10th: giffgaff’s EU roaming fair usage is small

Roaming with giffgaff

Roam in the EU on all plansSee costs per country

at giffgaff.com
(opens in a new window)

What we like:
Green plus sign All plans include EU roaming
Green plus sign Deals are decent value already
Green plus sign Inclusive calls to EU numbers while roaming

What we don't like:
Red minus sign Restrictive 5GB data cap while roaming
Red minus sign No data add-ons
Red minus sign Can’t connect to 5G abroad

giffgaff are another budget provider with inclusive EU roaming on all their deals, so you can use your calls, texts and data in these EU destinations at no added cost.

The main downside is that you’ll be capped at just 5GB while abroad. If you go over that you’ll have to pay extra per MB of data as giffgaff don’t offer any data add-ons. It’s best to keep an eye on your usage.

Calls to UK and EU numbers are still included while roaming. And considering most of their plans offer unlimited minutes you won’t have to worry about that. And PAYG rates are the same in the EU as in the UK.

giffgaff are a good value choice for users who don’t get through a lot of data. But if you know you’ll get through 5GB on your holiday then we think you’ll prefer some of the networks above.

Useful link: Get £5 free credit when you join giffgaff

Our EU roaming ranking:
Joint 10th

EU roaming included?
Yes - all plans

Worldwide roaming included?
No – pay as you go

Fair usage policies?
5GB in EU

11th: Vodafone’s EU roaming only comes on premium plans

Vodafone's Global Roaming banner

Inclusive EU roaming on premium plansSee new charges

at Vodafone.co.uk
(opens in a new window)

What we like:
Green plus sign EU roaming in 51 countries
Green plus sign Connect to 5G in the EU

What we don't like:
Red minus sign Only premium deals include roaming
Red minus sign Pay a daily rate to roam on most plans
Red minus sign High cost plans in the first place
Red minus sign 25GB fair usage policy

Vodafone only offer inclusive EU roaming on their premium “Xtras” plans. These are the only plans that let you use your regular minutes and texts to UK and EU numbers and up to 25GB of data while roaming.

But their regular pay monthly deals don’t include it. That means you’ll either have to pay £2 per day to roam in the EU or take an EU roaming pass which cost £8 for 8 days or £15 for 15 days.

That’s why we rate them a worse choice for roaming that smaller providers like Lebara, Talkmobile and ASDA that use Vodafone’s network for signal. All of these offer inclusive EU roaming.

These days you can use their Basics SIM plans abroad at the same daily rate as their regular plans. Still, EU roaming is a premium experience on Vodafone, but is still better than going with the networks below.

Useful link: Vodafone's full guide to roaming costs

Our EU roaming ranking:
11th

EU roaming included?
No – select premium plans only

Worldwide roaming included?
83 countries on premium plans only

Fair usage policies?
25GB data per month

12th: Three only include EU roaming on premium deals

Three Go Roam

EU roaming included on premium dealsSee qualifying plans

at three.co.uk
(opens in new window)

What we like:
Green plus sign Lots of EU and worldwide countries included
Green plus sign Qualifying plans cheaper than some networks

What we don't like:
Red minus sign Not every plan offers inclusive EU roaming
Red minus sign Pay a daily rate to roam on most plans
Red minus sign 12GB data limit even when you’re paying to roam
Red minus sign Limits on how many days a year you can roam

Three don’t offer inclusive EU roaming as standard on their pay monthly contracts. On most of their plans, you’ll have to pay £2 a day to use your UK mins, texts and up to 12GB of your data in these EU destinations.

But Three have introduced some new tiers of plans, which do include EU and worldwide roaming. The plans give you a set number of daily roaming passes, which you can then use whenever you like throughout the year.

You get 14 daily roaming passes per year on a 12-month Plus plan or 28 passes each year on a 24-month one. Or you can get 28 passes per year on a 12-month Premium plan or 56 on a 24-month one.

These premium deals are generally a bit cheaper than the premium plans on the other main networks. You can use their PAYG plans in the EU without paying per day, but these are more expensive in the first place.

These deals let you roam in the EU with different numbers of daily roaming passes. Check here before taking your plan.

Useful link: Our guide to Three’s plan tiers

Our EU roaming ranking:
12th

EU roaming included?
No – select premium plans only

Worldwide roaming included?
73 countries on premium plans only

Fair usage policies?
12GB data per month

Joint last: No inclusive EU roaming on these networks

EE logoSky logoVOXI logo

Daily rates to roam on these networks

EE, VOXI and Sky Mobile make you pay per day to roam in the EU. It’s £2 a day on VOXI and Sky and £2.29 per day on EE. VOXI offer some long passes that are bit better value per day (£8 for 8 days, £15 for 15 days).

You can take EE’s Roam Abroad pass as an Inclusive Extra on their premium plans. These plans tend to be expensive, but are usually cheaper than buying the pass separately.

In terms of data caps, VOXI let you use up to 20GB of your data and EE let you use a sizeable 50GB while roaming. Sky and Tesco Mobile still let you use your entire allowance abroad.

Tesco still offer EU roaming but they have been constantly saying they will be removing it soon, over the past two years. They currently say it's going in 2025.

Where to next?

USA and worldwide roaming

1st: Vodafone are the best network for worldwide roaming

Vodafone Xtra Benefits

Roam beyond the EU on premium dealsWhere you can go

at Vodafone.co.uk
(opens in new window)

What we like:
Green plus sign 83 worldwide and EU destinations included
Green plus sign Connect to 5G while abroad

What we don't like:
Red minus sign Only their most expensive Xtras plans include it
Red minus sign 25GB data cap while abroad
Red minus sign Expensive daily rate on non-qualifying plans
Red minus sign Extra data is expensive

Vodafone are one of the last remaining networks to offer inclusive worldwide roaming as part of your actual plan. Most plans include no roaming at all but they do have a premium option to choose:

On their Unlimited 3x Xtras deals you can use your minutes, texts and a good amount of data in this long list of 83 EU and worldwide destinations without paying anything extra to roam while there.

These are the only plans that offer you inclusive worldwide roaming:

Given the higher cost of the plan, it is really for travellers who know they’ll go beyond the EU quite often. You’ll be able to use up to 25GB of your regular allowance abroad per month.

If you join on any other kind of plan you’ll have to pay £6 per day to use your allowance in their worldwide destinations. That’s still usually cheaper than paying their roaming rates, but it still adds up quickly.

Useful link: Vodafone's full guide to roaming costs

Our worldwide roaming ranking:
1st

Worldwide roaming included?
83 countries on premium plans only

EU roaming included?
No – select premium plans only

Fair usage policies?
25GB data per month

2nd: Three’s worldwide roaming is another good option

Go Roam lettering in Three brand

Worldwide roaming on select plansSee updated scheme

at Three.co.uk
(opens in new window)

What we like:
Green plus sign Included on Premium and Plus plans
Green plus sign Use your allowance beyond the EU

What we don't like:
Red minus sign 12GB fair usage policy
Red minus sign Roaming rates on regular plans are expensive
Red minus sign Some key worldwide destinations missing

You can now get inclusive worldwide roaming on Three’s Premium and Plus plans, which are more expensive versions of their regular SIM only plans. This comes in the form of a yearly allowance of daily roaming passes.

While abroad you can use 12GB of your regular UK allowance. That’s pretty good considering that data usage on most other networks beyond the EU is very expensive.

You get 14 daily roaming passes a year on a Premium 12-month contract and 28 a year on a 24-month contract. On a Plus plan you get 28 daily passes a year on a 12-month contract and 56 a year on a 24-month contract.

This does mean you’re limited in how often you can roam. And Three don’t include some popular destinations such as India. These two things hold Three back from first place, but it’s still better than the ones below.

Useful link: Three's latest info to Go Roam

Our worldwide roaming ranking
2nd

Worldwide roaming included?
Yes - on select plans only

EU roaming included?
Yes - on select plans only

3rd: O2’s worldwide roaming suits infrequent phone users

O2's list of countries in their Travel Inclusive Zone

Get roaming beyond the EU as an extraSee qualifying plans

at O2.co.uk
(opens in new window)

What we like:
Green plus sign A good number of worldwide countries included
Green plus sign Technically unlimited data while abroad

What we don't like:
Red minus sign Small allowances while roaming
Red minus sign You only get it on higher-end deals
Red minus sign Some popular destinations missing

O2 are a great network for EU roaming and a good network for worldwide roaming as well. Their Travel Inclusive Zone extra lets you roam in these 27 worldwide destinations.

You don't get it automatically (unless you have Virgin Media and take a Volt plan). But on pay monthly over 30GB, you can choose Travel Inclusive under the mobile services section of O2 Extras when you check out.

You get 120 mins, 120 texts and 150MB of full-speed data to use every day you roam in their included locations. If you use up that data you technically get unlimited data, but you’ll only get sub-2G speeds.

If you're a massive data user, this scheme won’t be ideal. But it’s good for avoiding huge extra charges if you only need to do a few things on your phone. You can also buy the pass if your plan doesn't include it.

Useful link: Read O2's full roaming guide

Our worldwide roaming ranking
3rd

Worldwide roaming included?
Yes – on some pay monthly plans

EU roaming included?
Yes - all plans

4th: Sky’s worldwide roaming passes are reasonable value

Sky Mobile Your Roaming Passport

Roaming passports for £2 a daySee what you get

at Sky.com
(opens in new window)

What we like:
Green plus sign Lots of popular worldwide countries included
Green plus sign No limits on your data allowance abroad
Green plus sign The lowest standard worldwide roaming rate

What we don't like:
Red minus sign A few popular countries missing
Red minus sign No inclusive roaming on any plans

While Sky got rid of their EU roaming a while ago, they also made a change to their worldwide roaming making it a lot cheaper to go beyond the EU on Sky than it used to be.

You now have to pay £2 a day for their Roaming Passport Plus that lets you use your entire UK allowance in these 54 EU and worldwide destinations. Before the change it was £6 a day for their non-EU destinations.

While there you can use up to your entire allowance of calls, texts and data. For going anywhere else you’ll have to pay per min, text and MB of data you use at some hefty rates (read their guide here).

Sky have by far the cheapest rates for going beyond the EU. But there’s still no way to get inclusive worldwide roaming or any add-ons to reduce the price. Not a bad choice, but not the best.

Useful link: Read Sky Mobile's page on roaming

Our worldwide roaming ranking
4th

Worldwide roaming included?
No – daily charges in 12 countries

EU roaming included?
No

Fair usage policies?
None in EU

5th: VOXI’s time-limited roaming passes are decent value

VOXI Global Roaming Extras

8-day or 15-day passes availableLearn more

at VOXI.co.uk
(opens in new window)

What we like:
Green plus sign Roaming passes offer better value than daily rate
Green plus sign Roam in lots of worldwide countries

What we don't like:
Red minus sign Roaming passes are temporary
Red minus sign Small allowances for roaming
Red minus sign No access to “Unlimited” benefits abroad

Typically, smaller networks don’t tend to offer any way to roam beyond the EU without paying per min, text and MB of data you use. But VOXI are the exception to this, offering worldwide data passes:

You can either take an 8-day data pass for £15 or a 15-day pass for £25. These get you a limited number of minutes, texts and MBs of data depending on which pass you take in these worldwide destinations.

That’s good value when compared to what you’d pay on some networks. But the allowances you get with these passes are small. We also don’t like that they’re time-limited as you might not use everything you pay for.

But the flexibility you get in being able to buy these passes whenever, the long list of destinations and the decent value that they offer means that VOXI are a decent choice for worldwide roaming.

Useful link: VOXI’s worldwide roaming passes

Our worldwide roaming ranking
5th

Worldwide roaming included?
No – roaming passes

EU roaming included?
Yes - all plans

Fair usage policies?
20GB in EU

6th: EE’s roaming passes come at a high cost

EE Inclusive roaming scheme banner

Extra roaming destinations as an add-onRead their guide

at EE.co.uk
(opens in new window)

What we like:
Green plus sign Lots of popular destinations included

What we don't like:
Red minus sign You only get it as an extra add-on
Red minus sign Only potentially included on Smart plans

EE offer three different ways to use your allowance beyond the EU. You either pay for every min, text and MB of data on your bill, take a Travel Data Pass or use their Roam Abroad extra.

If you’re on one of EE’s Smart plans you can get their Roam Abroad pass as a Smart Benefit. This lets you roam in EE’s EU destinations and five worldwide destinations (USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand).

Their data passes are daily fees you pay to get a small data allowance. The daily cost and size of your data allowance depends per location. These cover a lot of locations and are better value than paying as you go.

You will be limited to 50GB of your allowance, but that’s more than enough for most users. So you shouldn’t have to worry about incurring extra charges. EE’s worldwide roaming is decent overall.

Useful link: All other roaming costs on EE

Our worldwide roaming ranking
6th

Worldwide roaming included?
5 extra countries as a Smart benefit

EU roaming included?
No – choose as a Smart benefit

Fair usage policies?
50GB data per month

7th: Lebara’s roaming in India is a nice added benefit

Inclusive India roaming lettering

Inclusive roaming in India on all plansRead their guide

at mobile.lebara.com
(opens in new window)

What we like:
Green plus sign Roam in India on any plan at no added cost

What we don't like:
Red minus sign Just the one non-EU destination included
Red minus sign Rates for other worldwide countries are steep

On top of Lebara's inclusive EU roaming destinations, they also include roaming in India on all plans. You get the same 30GB fair use policy and you don’t have to jump through any hoops to roam in India.

Lebara use Vodafone’s network in India. So you should get good quality signal and data speeds while there (but no 5G as of yet), but we haven’t tested this in real life.

You can roam in India on any Lebara SIM only plan. Here are their best current deals:

The reason Lebara find themselves this far down is because that’s the only inclusive worldwide roaming you’ll get. There are no other destinations or any worldwide roaming add-ons for going beyond the EU or India.

If you go to a destination not included in Lebara’s roaming you’ll pay some very steep rates for your usage. Lebara are probably the best network for going to India, but beyond that there are better choices above.

Useful link: Our review of Lebara

Our worldwide roaming ranking
7th

Worldwide roaming included?
Only in India

EU roaming included?
Yes - on every plan

Fair usage policies?
30GB

8th: Lyca’s data roaming in India is also quite good

Roam like home in India lettering

ncluded on all Lyca’s plansRead their guide

at lycamobile.co.uk
(opens in new window)

What we like:
Green plus sign Use some data at no extra cost in India
Green plus sign Deals are cheap too

What we don't like:
Red minus sign Calls and texts aren’t inclusive in India
Red minus sign No other inclusive worldwide destinations

Lyca Mobile and Lebara are fierce rivals, so it’s no surprise that Lyca now offer inclusive data roaming in India to match Lebara. So you can use your data allowance in India at no added cost on all plans.

Each plan has its own fair usage data limit, which is the same one as the data limit you get in the EU. These can be a bit restrictive for heavy data users, so it’s best to keep an eye on your usage while away.

The main downside is that calls and texts aren’t inclusive in India like they are in the EU. While you’re there, any calls or texts to UK or Indian numbers will be charged at these rates.

It’s a decent scheme, but having only one inclusive destination puts them far down our list. And the lack of inclusive mins and texts and tighter data restrictions make them worse for Indian roaming than Lebara.

Useful link: Our guide to Lyca Mobile’s Indian roaming

Our worldwide roaming ranking
8th

Worldwide roaming included?
Only in India

EU roaming included?
Yes - on every plan

Fair usage policies?
Depends per plan

Joint Last: These networks don’t include worldwide roaming

Tesco Mobile logoHonest logo1pMobile logogiffgaff logoASDA Mobile logoTalkmobile logoSMARTY logoSpusu logoiD Mobile logoCo-op logo

Finally we come to the networks that don’t include worldwide roaming destinations or offer any roaming passes. Instead you’ll have to top up and pay per min, text and MB of data beyond the EU on these networks:

We used each networks’ rates in the USA as a benchmark to compare them against each other. We compared the cost per minute, per text and finally per MB of data:

1pMobile - 10p per min, 5p per text and 2p per MB

Co-op Mobile - 8p per min, 4p per text and 10p per MB

spusu - 20p per min, 20p per text, 2p per MB

SMARTY - 50p per min, 20p per text and 10p per MB

Talkmobile - £1.01 per min, 35p per text and 10p per MB

ASDA - 75p per min, 10p per text and 20p per MB

Co-op Mobile - 10p per min, 4.16p per text and 11.6p per MB

giffgaff - £1 per min, 30p per text and 20p per MB

iD Mobile - £1.68 per min, 42p per text and 30p per MB

Honest Mobile - 30p per min, 9p per text and £3 per MB

Tesco Mobile - 89p per min, 40p per text and £5 per MB

This shows that 1pMobile and Co-op Mobile have the best rates for worldwide roaming. But even then your usage will get expensive fast. Using 1GB of data in the USA on Plusnet costs £6000, while it costs £20 on 1p.

You can’t sit by the pool and stream Netflix on any of these networks without incurring some serious charges. But if you hardly use data at all, then 1pMobile, Talkmobile and SMARTY are decent choices; the rest are unusably expensive.

The only one of these network we think could introduce some sort of worldwide roaming scheme would be Virgin. If they did so it could make them an excellent choice for roaming in the EU and beyond.

But in the end, most people don’t regularly go on holiday beyond the EU anyway. It’s not a priority for networks to bring in worldwide roaming schemes.

In any case, most users will care more about EU roaming which most of these networks offer anyway. But it’s still nice to have worldwide roaming so it’d be great if any of these networks started offering it.

Useful link: 1pMobile’s roaming costs

Where to next?

Best all-round roaming network

O2’s EU and worldwide roaming is the best overall

O2 logo

Read more

at o2.co.uk
(opens in new window)

In our eyes, O2 are the best overall network for roaming as they offer excellent inclusive EU roaming and have a good scheme in place for worldwide roaming, even if they don’t have the best schemes individually.

Tesco Mobile might let you use as much data as you want in the EU, but they don’t offer worldwide roaming passes. O2 do limit you to 25GB, but that’s more than enough for most users and they let you roam worldwide on slightly pricier plans.

Vodafone might have the stronger worldwide roaming as your data isn’t speed capped like on O2. But Vodafone’s roaming is only on their expensive plans. O2 offer EU roaming for free as standard and you can get a travel pass on most O2 plans.

In the end, if you’re a bit of a globetrotter and want to hop from Austria to Australia, the UK to the USA or from Croatia to Canada then O2 won’t put you out of pocket like some networks would. Just keep an eye on your data usage.

Useful link: O2’s guide to their International Travel Bolt-on

Where to next?

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1p Mobile logo
Three logo
ASDA logo
Boshhh Mobile logo
Coop Mobile logo
EE logo
Genius logo
giffgaff logo
Honest logo
ID logo
IQ logo
Lebara logo
Lycamobile logo
O2 logo
SMARTY logo
Sky logo
spusu logo
Talkhome logo
Talkmobile logo
Tesco logo
Vodafone logo
VOXI logo

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