What’s The BEST International Data Plan? How to Get Data Abroad
How does one stay connected abroad? Is there a special international data that works best for travelers?
How does one avoid surprises and insane roaming fees when they get abroad?
How do you make sure you have data but also phone calls for emergencies and texts to stay in touch?
Can you keep your number? What about long-term abroad international data plans?
Am I hitting all your questions about international data plans and ensuring you are connected to the interwebs properly while traveling? I thought so!
Don’t worry. I’ve lived through “ancient times” when wifi cafes were the answer, insane surprise roaming bills, and trying every goddamn SIM, eSIM, and hack known to man so you don’t have to!
Hooray! Here’s EXACTLY what I do to make sure I’m connected and I STAY connected while traveling (all without shelling out tons of cash).
Table of Contents
How Can I Use My Phone Internationally?
We will go over everything you need to know to use your phone abroad. I will tell you what I do, and you will ultimately choose the best route for your situation.

It will depend on how long your trip is, how many countries you’re visiting, etc… I have options for quick trips and people who are long-term travelers or living abroad!
1. Choosing Your Main Phone Carrier
So this is step one, you’ll want a main phone carrier. Something where you can keep your phone number.
Those two-factor authentication codes, staying in touch with friends from the past, etc. – no matter what, I’m going to assume you will want to KEEP your phone number, right?

So, let’s choose a MAIN phone carrier so you don’t have to hop around or lose the number that you’ve had since high school.
If you don’t already have one of the options below, you can often easily transfer your current number.
My Main Phone Carrier
I maintain a main carrier in the USA. I use GoogleFi.
I use GoogleFi for a few different reasons:
- I maintain my US phone number.
- I never have to find a SIM, data, etc., when I’m visiting the US. GoogleFi works there
- It’s easy.
- I get data in most countries around the world (*wait for it)
- Maintaining the basic plan is pretty cheap (I pay $35/month for two people to have phone numbers, calls, and texts anywhere in the world.)
I’ve been using GoogleFi for years now and it’s been the easiest SIM to have and makes visiting back home easy.
The two things that kind of suck are:
- Data can be expensive. ($10/1GB)
- They will cut off data usage after a few months if you don’t pop into the US.
So why the heck would I use this SIM if I can only use it abroad for a few months? I’m a long-term traveler who doesn’t live in the US!

Because it’s cheap to have this plan. I don’t need to get a SIM when I’m back in the US, and I DO have easy data when I’m on short trips.
Lastly, it holds my phone number, one I’ve had for a very long time now (I used to have a new number almost every freaking year, so annoying!), and ALL my two-factor authentications can be used on this phone line!
I’ve just been on this plan forever and it’s a good deal for me but that two-factor thing is my main perk. I hated when I switched numbers, it made life harder.
Phone calls and texts will always work with GoogleFi as well, it’s only the data that gets restricted when abroad for “too long.”
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What About Google Voice?
I personally don’t like it. You have to use it; otherwise, they eventually delete it. Two-factor didn’t always work, and sometimes configuring it, etc., doesn’t work while abroad. Which sucks. It just overall wasn’t great.

This might be an option for you if you’re ok with some inconveniences and are desperate for a free option.
If you have no idea why I’m mentioning Google Voice, just keep reading and ignore it! Many people find this a good free alternative, but just as many, like me, find it annoying and not a great solution.
Using Another Carrier
T-Mobile, Verizon, and the like likely have an international data plan for you to use.
If you’re just going on a hop, skip, and jump abroad for a bit, these plans might work for you.

Just let them know you’re traveling, ask how much and which plan is best, get the lowdown on text and phone call charges, etc…
These plans are great for a jaunt, but if you’re a long-term traveler like me and you live abroad, these plans are not great. Things get pricey quick!
Main Points:
- You’ll want to keep your phone number!
- Find a cheap/free basic plan to maintain your number.
- Don’t forget to get all your two-factor authentications fixed up to the right number for your bank, etc.
- If you’re keeping your plan and you’re on a short trip, make sure to double-check all fees before going abroad and always connect to wifi as much as possible to save money.
- Remember that this first step is just making sure we have a phone number and texting. You ALWAYS want your phone to work so you have it in case of emergencies, regardless of whether you’re on wifi or not!
RELATED: Dealing with Money Abroad
2. Finding The Cheapest Data Abroad
So we’ve spoken about keeping our number and having a basic phone plan. But what about DATA!? Like… actually having the INTERNET in your hands?!
Scrolling TikTok or quickly Googling *insert weird random thing you thought of here* is essential to everyday life—I know!

Data is where we run up the charges and things get out of hand QUICK. Next thing you know, you’re getting a steep bill because you used 10GB of data abroad. Eek!
So what does one do to get data easily and not pay a million bucks?
eSIM Options for International Data Plans
eSIMs are the absolute easiest way to get international data!
This is what I often use, and I love it. It couldn’t get any simpler or more convenient.
- Choose an eSIM carrier
- Pick where in the world you’re going
- Pay
- Install the eSIM (3 minutes)
- Get online
It’s literally that simple, I promise!
So what’s an eSIM? It’s a non-physical SIM, you simply download an app instead, and this app gets you data abroad in any country you’re in.
Here are my top eSIM apps I use:
I’d open up each and type in the country you’re going to and compare prices. Generally speaking, they are all pretty similar.

They have regional plans, and global plans are also available on Airalo and Nomad.
So, if you’re popping around and don’t want to be bothered with choosing data for each country, you can easily get covered in numerous places with just one eSIM.
This is exactly what I use along with my Google Fi!
I simply sign up for the country I’m staying in, and I get data within minutes.
TIP: Most of these eSIMs don’t offer local numbers, or they cost extra if you want a local number. They are data-only SIMs!
Getting SIMs on The Ground
What if you don’t want an eSIM? What if your phone doesn’t support eSIMs? What if you want an even cheaper option?
I got you! You simply buy a SIM on the ground.
That means when you land, either at the airport or once in the city, you’ll have to hunt down a store and buy a physical SIM to insert into your phone.
You can top up at stores too. Local eSIMs are becoming increasingly common in some places, too.

Why I Only Use This Option For Long Term Stays
I get local eSIMs, but only when I stay in places long term. Why? Because…
- It’s less convenient
- You won’t get data right off the plane.
- Some newer phones don’t even have the capabilities for physical SIMs anymore
- You sometimes have to do annoying stuff to get a SIM on the ground too. You sometimes have to show your passport, or give them a passport-sized photo, and fill out papers, get a contract, etc…
This option is just fine, but it’s less convenient and a slight hassle so I won’t do it for shorter trips. However, if I stay longer, it’s usually worth it as it’s often a bit cheaper than the apps I mentioned above.

TIP: One thing that people forget is that phones often only have one SIM port. So if you do choose to just get a SIM on the ground, just remember you’ll need to switch SIMs to get those two-factor texts or really any texts!
Your phone number won’t be useable either because now you only have the local SIM inserted in your phone. Hope this makes sense!
If you have a dual SIM port phone, this won’t be much of a worry. OR make sure you’re getting a local eSIM, and your phone is eSIM compatible.
3. Use Wifi
For the absolute cheapest option, you can just go sans data and just connect when you’re on wifi, this is easy and FREE! Well, maybe you’ll have to buy a coffee, but you know what I mean.
I used to have to do this all the time when I first started traveling abroad over a decade ago… There were no eSIMs that’s for sure. And I was on a tight budget, and had a sh*tty phone anyway!

You can definitely go old school and just make sure to connect to wifi, download maps beforehand, etc.
IF ANYTHING – you should be doing it anyway so you don’t eat through your data too quickly. Always connect to wifi when you can.
So Which International Plan Is Best For YOU?
This is all you! I hope I’ve helped you decide which international phone plan is best! Let’s run through once more and ask yourself these questions:
- Is my trip short or long?
- Short = Stay with what you have, just call and get the lowdown on the costs or get a likely cheaper eSIM from one of the apps I mentioned.
- Long = Choose a main carrier that can keep your number (like I did with GoogleFi) and have phone and text capabilities. Then, choose an eSIM app for data or a local eSIM/SIM.
- Which SIM is best for you? An eSIM or on the ground?
If you’re getting an eSIM, just quickly shop around with these main companies here:
Airalo
AloSIM
Nomad
Gigsky
Choose the most cost-effective one for your particular trip and sign up on the day of your trip to start your international data abroad. Or choose to find a SIM once you get on the ground. - Last-minute tips
- Always go through your settings and make sure you turn off everything that’s not important to have “data on” to save on data.
- Connect to wifi when you can.
- Always make sure you have phone and text capabilities for safety and staying connected.
- Download Whats App or the the local texting app so you can call and text local numbers while on wifi for free (and without a local # yourself).
- Download EVERYTHING you might need offline. Like maps, trails, other info, tickets, etc. (Do this on wifi only)
- Make sure your two-factor authentications are connected to the right number, and that you have text capabilities working internationally.
- Make sure you have an UNLOCKED PHONE!
- If you plan on using eSIMs, make sure your phone is eSIM compatible first.

My Personal International Data Plan:
To be 100% clear on how I have my set up:
I use GoogleFi – This is where I have my US number, texts, phone calls, and I use this and the GoogleFi data when I’m back home visiting.
Texts are free, but calls cost money, so I don’t use it unless it’s an emergency. I call back home on WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger.
The above remains a constant, and then I choose ONE of the below to be my data:
- I get country-specific eSIMs – for data when I’m abroad and moving around. I download one of the apps I mentioned above, purchase an eSIM for X country, and that’s it. That’s my data in any country I go to abroad unless I know I’m staying longer…
- I get local SIMs for longer term – When I’m truly living and staying a while, I get a local eSIM plan. Usually 2-3 months + at the least and even then, I might stick with option #1 unless the price difference is significant.
I hope this helped explain how to find the right international data and how to stay connected abroad!