Roaming in the United States for UK Travelers in 2024

Yesim Team •Updated 03 Dec 2024

11 minutes to read

Roaming charges in the US: what UK travelers need to know
- How to check if your UK plan includes free or discounted US roaming
US mobile roaming plans by UK providers
- Vodafone
- O2
- EE
- Three
Alternative ways to avoid high roaming charges in the US
Comparing roaming costs vs. using local US services

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Staying connected while traveling is essential today. For UK travelers visiting the United States, understanding the ins and outs of roaming in the US can significantly improve their travel experience. With the US mobile international roaming charges becoming increasingly complex, many travelers face challenges that prompt them to reconsider their mobile plans. In fact, over 22% of people in the U.K. have changed or plan to change their mobile provider due to the reintroduction of roaming charges, signifying the importance of examining options thoroughly.

This article will explore the nuances of the US mobile roaming, including the various mobile network coverage options available, and provide essential mobile data roaming tips to ensure UK travelers can stay connected without incurring exorbitant charges.

Roaming charges in the US: what UK travelers need to know

Roaming charges in the US can quickly add up, especially for those unfamiliar with how international roaming plans work. Here’s what UK travelers can generally expect when using their mobile devices:

Data Usage: Data roaming in the U.S. can be particularly expensive, with charges varying widely depending on your UK provider. On average, users may face charges ranging from £5 to £15 per MB used, depending on their plan. Travelers should be aware of their roaming data limit to avoid shocking bills upon returning home.
Making Calls: Making calls while roaming can also be costly. Charges to call back to the U.K. or make local U.S. calls can range from $1 to $3 per minute, varying by provider. Receiving calls often incurs fees too, adding to the overall cost.
Sending Texts: Text message charges can also be significant, typically costing between 25p and $1 per message sent or received, depending on the plan.

Aside from the basic costs of using services, travelers may face additional charges such as:

Data Overages: Exceeding your roaming data limit may result in steep overage fees. Travelers should carefully monitor their data usage to avoid these charges.
Receiving Calls: While calling out can incur high costs, receiving calls while roaming can also lead to unexpected fees, depending on the provider's policies.

With that expense in mind travelers can try to manage their mobile expenses while enjoying their time in the U.S., but there are other ways to stay connected while visiting the USA.

How to check if your UK plan includes free or discounted US roaming

Before going on a trip, it is crucial for travelers to check whether their UK plan includes free or discounted US roaming. Let’s explore main steps to determine this:

Contact Customer Service: Call or message your provider's customer service to inquire specifically about international roaming plans and coverage in the U.S.
Online Account or App: Check your account on your provider's website or mobile app, where you may find detailed information about roaming charges, data usage abroad, and any travel add-ons.
Review Your Plan Details: Look for your plan documentation or terms and conditions, as many providers outline international roaming policies clearly within those materials.

Make sure to actually check it, to ensure that your plans won’t be spoiled by the burden of unexpected costs.

US mobile roaming plans by UK providers

When traveling to the United States, UK travelers need to navigate the complexities of mobile roaming plans offered by various network providers in the US. Understanding these plans is essential for managing costs and ensuring seamless connectivity during your trip. Each UK provider – such as Vodafone, O2, EE, and Three – offers unique options that cater to different needs, ranging from pay-as-you-go packages to comprehensive unlimited data plans.

Network roaming scheme	Applicable to	Cost	Destinations/countries covered	Fair usage (if data tariff above amount mentioned)
Three Go Roam	All Advanced plans	$2,5 for Go Roam in Europe and £5 for Go Roam Around the World	160	12GB. Can spend up to 2 months in roaming zone over 12 month rolling contract period
Vodafone Roam Free	All customers on new monthly plans	None	48	None. Can spend up to 2 months in roaming zone over 4 month period
Vodafone Roam Further	All customers on new pay monthly plans (except Basics)	$6,5 per day to use your UK plan	104	25GB. Can spend up to 2 months in roaming zone over 4 month period
EE Roam Abroad Pass	Available to customers on plans taken on or after 7 July 2021	$25,5 a month	47 European destinations	50GB fair usage allowance
O2 Europe Zone Usage	All customers on pay monthly plans (not PAYG)	None	48 Europe Zone destinations	25GB monthly fair usage allowance
O2 Full Travel Bolt-On	Select phone-and-tariff plans on 4GB or 15GB or above	None	75	10GB. Can spend up to 60 days in roaming zone over 120-day period

Let’s explore the key features of US mobile roaming plans by these providers in detail to help you choose the best option for your travels.

Vodafone

Vodafone offers a variety of international roaming plans tailored for travelers heading to the US, making it a popular choice for those concerned about roaming charges in the US. With options like Roam-Free, customers can use their regular monthly allowance for calls, texts, and data in 48 European countries at no extra cost. For those venturing beyond Europe, the Roam Further plan gives access to monthly allowances in an additional 104 countries for just £6 per day, ensuring you stay connected during your trip.

For the US roaming Vodafone option, the Global Roaming Plus scheme is a standout option, allowing customers on Vodafone's Red Entertainment plans to utilize their UK allowances in 77 locations, extending well beyond the EU. However, travelers should be mindful of the roaming data limit, as Vodafone imposes a 25 GB cap on its roaming allowances, which is usually sufficient for typical data usage abroad. Vodafone's mobile data roaming plans are designed to ensure that you can stay connected without the stress of high roaming fees.

O2

O2 offers a range of international roaming plans designed to keep you connected while traveling in the US. All O2 pay monthly and business customers enjoy inclusive roaming in 48 European destinations categorized within O2's Europe Zone, making it hassle-free for travelers heading to nearby countries.

For those venturing beyond Europe, such as roaming in the US, O2 provides the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On. Available for customers with a data allowance of 4GB or 15GB or more, this plan allows you to roam in an additional 27 locations, including the USA, Australia, Argentina, and New Zealand. In these destinations, customers receive a daily allowance of 120 texts, 120 minutes, and 150 MB of data, which is helpful for managing data usage abroad.

If you're not on an eligible plan, you can still access the benefits of US mobile international roaming by opting for the Bolt-On at £6 per day. Additionally, the O2 Full Travel Bolt On provides an alternative for those on lower-tier plans, costing £6 per day and offering 120 minutes, 120 texts, and uncapped data in locations outside O2's Europe Zone. This O2 roaming in the US provides flexibility and connectivity, making it easier for travelers to stay in touch with their friends.

EE

EE provides various international roaming plans to meet the needs of travelers heading to the US. For customers who signed up on or after 7 July 2021, there is a new roaming policy that requires a fee of £2 per day to roam in the EU. However, customers on contracts initiated before this date can still enjoy free EU roaming, which is beneficial for those planning trips across Europe.

For enhanced connectivity while roaming in the US, EE has launched its Roam Abroad plans. These plans allow both new and upgrading customers to use their monthly allowances in 47 destinations, including the USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand, for an additional £25 a month. This expansive coverage accounts for over 80% of the time that EE customers typically spend abroad, making it a robust option for the US mobile international roaming. When considering EE data roaming in the US, it’s important for travelers to keep an eye on roaming data limits to avoid unexpected charges.

Three

Three's Go Roam feature is designed to provide flexibility and convenience for travelers, allowing them to stay connected in 160 global destinations. This capability is divided into two options: Go Roam in Europe and Go Roam Around the World, enabling customers to make calls, send texts, and use their data seamlessly while abroad.

To access your UK allowances while traveling, you can acquire a Go Roam pass. These passes are available for 3, 7, or 14 days, and they can be purchased before your travels. This makes it easy to prepare for your trip and ensures you stay within your mobile data plans while enjoying your time away.

When using the Go Roam feature, bear in mind that, unless specified otherwise, a daily roaming fee applies to activate your UK allowances in Go Roam destinations for a 24-hour period. The fee is £2 for Go Roam in Europe and £5 for Go Roam Around the World. It’s crucial to understand that you will incur charges once you begin using any of your plan's allowances in these destinations, so being aware of your roaming data limits is essential.

Alternative ways to avoid high roaming charges in the US

Traveling to the US can be exciting, but high roaming charges can put a damper on your trip. Let’s explore some alternative ways to avoid those hefty fees while staying connected.

Prepaid US SIM cards

Prepaid SIM cards are physical cards that you can purchase and insert into your unlocked phone. They operate on local networks in the US, allowing you to use local rates for calls, texts, and data.

Benefits:

Cost-Effective: Prepaid SIM cards usually offer competitive rates compared to international roaming charges.
Flexible: You can choose from various plans based on your needs—whether it’s for light use or heavy data consumption.

You can find prepaid SIM cards for the US at major retailers, convenience stores, and airports in the US.

eSIM for international travelers

An eSIM (embedded SIM) is a digital SIM card that allows you to activate a cellular plan without needing a physical SIM card. Many modern smartphones are eSIM-compatible.

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Benefits of eSIM:

Convenience: There’s no need to physically swap SIM cards; you simply download the eSIM profile for your chosen carriers. The whole process of your travel SIM card activation will take less than a minute.
Multiple Profiles: You can store multiple eSIM profiles, allowing you to switch between different plans or providers as needed.
No Card Handling: Reduces the hassle of changing SIMs, making it ideal for travelers.

You can choose the best eSIM data plan for the USA and enjoy one of the best mobile network coverage for the US and stable connection while traveling to this beautiful country.

Mobile Wi-Fi hotspots

Mobile Wi-Fi hotspots are portable devices that provide internet access by connecting to a cellular network and broadcasting Wi-Fi to your devices. They can be rented or purchased. Hotspots are ideal for group travel, letting friends or family share the same connection.

Mobile hotspot devices can be rented at airports or major electronics stores. Some companies also sell personal hotspot devices with data plans tailored for travelers.

Comparing roaming costs vs. using local US services

Option	Average costs	Amount of data
Home Carrier Roaming	$10-$20 per day	Limited, varies depending on your carrier
Local SIM card	$30-$60 per month	Different options (limited and unlimited data plans)
eSIM	$10-$50 for various plans	Flexible options

Please note: Prices are approximate and may vary based on the provider and plan chosen.

Tips for managing data roaming in the US

Managing data roaming while traveling in the US is crucial to avoid unexpected charges and ensure a smooth mobile experience. Here are some effective travel technology tips to help you manage data roaming:

Understand Your Carrier's Roaming Policy. Before traveling, check with your mobile carrier about their roaming rates and policies in the US. Understand what your plan includes and if there are any additional charges for data usage.
Use Airplane Mode with Wi-Fi. When you don’t need cellular service, switch your device to airplane mode and enable Wi-Fi. This will prevent any data roaming while allowing you to use Wi-Fi whenever available.
Monitor Your Data Usage. Regularly check your data usage through your phone's settings or your carrier's app. Many smartphones have a feature that allows you to monitor cellular data usage, helping you stay within limits.
Download Content Beforehand. Download maps, music, videos, and other content before your trip to avoid using data while roaming for streaming or navigation.
Disable Automatic Updates. Prevent your device from automatically updating apps and operating systems while roaming. This can consume a significant amount of data without your knowledge.

As you can see, there are many mobile data roaming tips that potentially could make roaming in the US more or less bearable. Yet, it is easier to simply opt for one of the alternative methods that were mentioned above. For instance, with a travel SIM card, you can stay connected without incurring hefty charges.

Сonclusion

Properly exploring the connectivity requirements in the US while avoiding high roaming charges is essential for UK travelers. As mobile data prices can skyrocket without proper management, it’s vital to consider the best options tailored to your travel habits and budget. Choose the best option for your data needs and enjoy your trip to the USA!

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FAQ

Is data roaming free in the USA?

Most carriers do not impose extra fees for roaming within North America, Europe, and other similar regions. This means that if your phone loses its network connection while you're in these areas, you can continue to access the internet as usual without incurring additional charges.

Can I use my data roaming in the USA?

Roaming in the US has historically been more expensive than in the EU, with most networks necessitating the purchase of an additional worldwide roaming package to use data and texts while in the USA. However, some networks still include worldwide roaming as part of their plans, offering a more convenient option for travelers.

Should I turn off data roaming in the USA?

Yes, it's advisable to keep roaming turned off. With the availability of eSIMs for travelers, you can easily access maps, emails, apps, and messages at a lower cost than traditional roaming charges.

How can I use my UK phone in America?

You can use your UK phone in America if your device supports the necessary network bands and is unlocked. If your phone is more recent than a Samsung Galaxy S20 or an iPhone 7, it should work. However, it’s essential to check if your carrier allows international use and whether you need to configure any settings or obtain an eSIM or local SIM card to avoid costly roaming fees.

How to use a phone in the USA without roaming?

To use a phone in the USA without incurring roaming charges, you can opt for an eSIM. This allows you to activate a data plan without needing a physical SIM card and you can buy it in advance.