Budget-conscious Brits are increasingly turning to SIM-only mobile deals to keep bills in check at home. But are they any good when mobile roaming overseas?
The SIM-only market is growing between 5% and 15% year-on-year, according to YouGov data.
And with the cost-of-living crisis adding pressure to household budgets, SIM-only deals have carved their place in offering billpayers inclusive call minutes, texts and data at a fraction of the price if you’re happy with your existing handset.
But what about when you head overseas? They may be cheap and cheerful for use at home, but no one wants to come back from holiday with a big mobile roaming bill.
According to Simrat Sharma, telecoms expert at Uswitch, consumer protections around mobile roaming while abroad “have been eroded away over time”, including the £45 worldwide data roaming cap.
Sharma says: “For Brits travelling to the EU, several UK mobile providers offer SIM packages with roaming included to help curb unnecessary added costs.”
The expert says that for those travelling for a shorter period of time who want a “no frills” and “no commitment” provider, then a Lebara SIM could be an option.
You can currently get 15GB at £2.78 for three months (then £6.95 each rolling month) via Uswitch. The deal comes with EU roaming included, which means you can buy the SIM, use it for your holiday and cancel the contract upon return “without needing to lock in for a longer period of time”.
But if you are looking for a longer-term provider with added perks included, then O2 currently offers unlimited texts and minutes, plus 40GB of data for £10 per month.
“The network won ‘Best network for roaming’ in the 2024 Uswitch Telecoms Awards, and EU roaming is inclusive as part of the deal, alongside benefits such as three months’ free Disney+ subscription,” she says.
A final SIM you may want to consider is from Spusu Mobile. It offers EU roaming on a one-month contract for £7.90 via Uswitch. It also comes with unlimited texts and minutes and has no price rises for 2024, if you want to stick with the provider for the longer term.
Top tips to avoid mobile roaming charges
Sharma says: “Before selecting any provider for travelling abroad, it’s worth being aware that data allowance advertised for use in the UK is not necessarily the same as when abroad.
“Check your provider’s fair usage policy, which will govern how much data you can use before you incur extra charges. Even if you and somebody else you know are with the same network, your individual roaming deal or fair usage allowance could be different to theirs.
“If in doubt, contact your provider to talk about roaming caps to avoid any surprise bills when you return and what your current deal will allow you to use, as well as how much this will cost.”
Sharma lists these top tips to help you avoid bill shock:
1) Switch off voicemail
When overseas, you can expect to pay the same per-minute rate for checking your messages as you do for making calls. Yet sometimes even receiving a voicemail on holiday can cost you. If your provider includes this charge, call it before you travel and get it switched off.
2) WiFi wins
To save your data allowance, use hotel and cafe WiFi connections whenever you can, as well as enable WiFi calling or use services such as WhatsApp to make audio calls without using your minutes.
Make sure access points are safe and secure before logging on, and avoid activities like online banking on public networks.
3) Take care with data passes
If you choose to purchase a data, call or text top-up day pass with your provider, remember to check the terms and conditions carefully. These may have an expiration time of midnight UK time, which could leave you caught out depending on your time zone. It is also worth remembering that once you opt into a paid-for pass, you also may be automatically opted out of your provider spending cap.
4) If in doubt, engage flight mode
Flight mode is not just for when you’re up in the air, although it will stop any chance of connecting to other networks while flying across the countries. Activating it on holiday, particularly in destinations with high fees on calls, texts and data, can help control your usage and save you from unexpected costs.
Related: Guide to switching to a budget SIM-only deal
