Data abroad: roaming or a travel eSIM?
There are two easy ways to get online abroad: roaming on your own line, or a travel eSIM.
How roaming works
Your own line connects to a local network at your destination. There's nothing to install and your number stays on. But data abroad is often expensive, and using it without an add-on can mean a surprise bill. Roaming add-ons are usually daily or short.
How a travel eSIM works
You add a second, digital line to your phone. It's for data only and connects to local networks where you travel. You pay upfront, so there's no eSIM bill later. Your own line stays on your phone, so calls and texts can still reach you, though your carrier may charge roaming fees for them.
Which one when?
- A travel eSIM: for trips longer than a few days, when you use mobile data every day, for example for maps, messaging and social media, or when you visit several countries.
- Roaming: for a short day trip, or when your carrier's add-on is already good value.
Good to know
- Your phone must support eSIM and be unlocked from its carrier. Check your phone.
- A travel eSIM is data only, with no number, calls or SMS. You can still call over the internet with apps like WhatsApp.
- To avoid unexpected charges, turn off data roaming on your own line.