What Is Data Roaming? How To Manage Data Roaming Costs

Picture this: You’re on the trip of your dreams halfway around the globe.

Then your phone vibrates. 

It’s an email notification from your mobile provider, and your heart sinks as you open it. You've racked up a phone bill in the thousands 😱

This is the terrifying reality for some travellers who forget to switch data roaming off. 

But what is data roaming? And when is it okay to turn on? 

TL;DR: Data roaming means your phone connects to a foreign network while abroad. It’s useful, but it can rack up huge charges unless you use an international plan or local eSIM.

Data roaming is when your phone uses mobile networks in another country to access the internet, make calls, or send texts. Instead of connecting to your home network, your provider lets you use a local network through agreements with foreign carriers, usually at extra cost.

Both mobile (or cellular) data and roaming data allow you to access the internet without Wi-Fi, but they function differently depending on your location and network.

• Uses your home mobile network to connect to the internet.
• Works within your country or coverage area without extra charges (as long as you're within your plan's limits).

• Occurs when you use the internet outside your home country or outside your carrier’s network.
• Your phone connects to a partner network in the foreign location, often incurring extra charges.

Data roaming is expensive because your phone uses a foreign network, and your home provider pays for that access. They pass these costs onto you, often with extra fees, and limited competition keeps prices high.

The cost to you depends on both:

1. What roaming deal your home provider offers you (whether roaming is included or charged per MB/day/week).
2. What kind of wholesale deal your home provider has with the foreign network (because your home network pays the foreign network for access, and if that deal is bad, they pass the cost on to you).

Yes! Roaming charges work differently for data, calls, and texts.

• Data: Usually charged per MB/GB, unless covered by a roaming plan.
• Calls: Charged per minute.
• Texts (SMS): Charged per message.

Some phones and network providers let you switch off data roaming but keep calls and texts on (or vice versa).

There are a few ways to stay connected (while avoiding roaming fees). And, no, it doesn't involve leaving your phone in Airplane Mode.

Buy a local SIM card or eSIM for access to local data, calls, and texts. It's an affordable way to stay connected without worrying about roaming charges.

Wait, what is an eSIM?

An eSIM is a tiny chip embedded directly into your smartphone or other device's motherboard (yes, your phone probably has one).

They're like digital versions of traditional SIM cards, but you don't insert or swap out anything. Perfect for travelling, simply download a prepaid plan and adjust a few settings in your phone to unlock local networks everywhere, plus all the mobile data you need!

What makes eSIM even more convenient is the flexibility. For example, a prepaid eSIM plan comes in the form of:

30 GB eSIM

80 GB eSIM

United Kingdom

Unlimited Local SMS

EE UK

Duration

30 Days

Plan

Data/​Calls/​SMS

Speed

4G

Price

US$20.00

More Info

Buy Now

UK's Most Reliable Network

Autumn Promo

Single-Country Plans (Choose From 200+ Destinations)

Multi-Destination Plans

and Global Plans that automatically connect to new networks as you cross borders.

Before you jet off, check with your home provider about international plans. Many providers offer packages with data, calls, and texts at a fixed rate. Ask your network provider or check their website for details.

Wi-Fi is your best friend when travelling. Connect to Wi-Fi at your hotel, in cafes, and other public spots when using data-heavy apps and make calls via services like WhatsApp or Messenger. Just make sure the network is secure to protect your personal information.

Download maps, travel guides, and entertainment before you leave. Apps like Google Maps allow you to download areas for offline use, so you won’t need data to find your way around. Also, download your favorite tv shows and music as well.

If you don't have a travel SIM/eSIM or international roaming plan in place, keep data roaming turned off to prevent your phone from using data automatically and getting unexpected charges.

Nope. If data roaming is off, your phone won’t use mobile data abroad.

But, if you’re near a border, your phone might flip back onto your home network without you noticing. Always double-check the name of the network your phone is connected to.

When you’re home, your data roaming should be switched off or it might connect you to other networks, resulting in unexpected costs. When data roaming is off, your phone will connect only to authorised cell towers, per your plan.

Turn it on ONLY when:

• You’ve purchased and activated a local SIM or eSIM that needs roaming enabled.
• You’ve confirmed with your home network that your existing plan includes roaming in the country you’re visiting (and you understand any fair-use limits).

To turn data roaming on or off, the steps are different for iOS (iPhone) and Android devices.

Here's a quick breakdown for both. 👇

For iOS (iPhone)

1. Go to Settings 
2. Tap on Cellular or Mobile Service
3. Select Cellular or Mobile Data Options. (If you have multiple SIMs, select the specific plan under SIMs)
4. Toggle Data Roaming ON/OFF

For Android

1. Go to Settings
2. Tap on Network & Internet or Connections (depending on your device)
3. Select Mobile Network or Mobile Networks
4. Toggle Data Roaming ON/OFF

OR

1. Go to Settings
2. Tap on Network & Internet or Connections (depending on your device)
3. Select SIM Manager or SIMs
4. Select your SIM plan
5. Toggle Data Roaming ON/OFF

• On Android:
  Head to Settings - Network & Internet - SIMs & Mobile Networks - Data Usage.
  Tap your SIM, set a data warning (like 50 MB), and a hard limit (say, 100 MB). Hit that limit? Your phone will cut data off automatically.
  You can also turn on Data Saver to block background data for apps you don’t trust to behave.
• On iPhone:
  Go to Settings - Cellular and scroll down to see how much data each app has gobbled up. (Pro tip: reset the stats before your trip to track roaming only.)
  Want alarms? Some carrier apps or third-party apps like My Data Manager can help with real-time alerts.

Roaming data is usually slower than your mobile/cellular data connection because mobile networks tend to prioritise local users over roaming customers. But other factors come into play, too. Network compatibility, congestion, and local signal strength all affect roaming data speed.

But not all provider partnerships are created equal. Some providers have better agreements with foreign networks, ensuring their customers get priority or access to faster services. If your provider has a strong partnership with the local network, you may enjoy faster speeds.

Some mobile providers even implement throttling policies where they reduce your data speed after a certain usage limit. This can happen both domestically and internationally. If you’re on a plan (like some unlimited data plans) that includes such a policy, your speed might be reduced after you hit the threshold.

In Europe, the EU’s “Roam Like at Home” rule lets you use your phone for calls, texts, and data without extra charges, just like at home. But, there is a fair usage policy to prevent abuse, so if you spend more time abroad than at home and use your phone excessively, your provider may impose charges.

This regulation only applies to EU countries, so non-EU countries like Switzerland or the United Kingdom may have different roaming charges (always verify with your network provider).

Your phone usually picks a partner network automatically, but you can take control:

• On iPhone:
  Go to Settings - Cellular - Network Selection and turn off Automatic. You’ll see a list of available networks—pick the one with the best signal.
• On Android:
  Settings - Network & Internet - Mobile Network - Network Operators - Search Networks.
  Choose manually if your signal isn’t cutting it.

If roaming is off, MMS often won’t send or receive. If you’re planning to share holiday photos, stick to Wi-Fi-based apps like WhatsApp or iMessage.

No. Turning off data roaming won’t affect Wi-Fi calls or Wi-Fi Calling. You can still make calls and send texts over Wi-Fi.

• On Android:
  Turn on Data Saver (Settings - Network & Internet - Data Saver) and then whitelist the apps you actually need.
• On iPhone:
  Flip on Low Data Mode (Settings - Cellular - Cellular Data Options - Low Data Mode).
  You can also head to Settings - Cellular and switch off mobile data for individual apps.

It’s a smart move, especially on public or hotel Wi-Fi. A VPN keeps your browsing private and protects against dodgy networks. Just remember: while a VPN adds a layer of security, it doesn’t replace smart choices like using secure websites (https://) and avoiding unknown Wi-Fi networks.