So, the right international cell phone plan for you depends on your situation. Do you have family in Mexico, like my father-in-law (he’s on T-Mobile), that you enjoying chatting with every month? A bolt-on international plan makes more sense if you know you’ll frequently make international calls. Here’s my pro tip: international day passes = peace of mind on vacations. Yelp, Google Maps, and Uber all use data, and we need these apps while we’re traveling. With an international day pass, you can use a ton of data during your vacation and not stress about roaming costs. Here’s what else Mint Mobile has going on:
Calls to Canada and Mexico are included in your base plan. Calls from the US to other countries start at 1 cent per minute. Calls from outside the US start at 6 cents per minute. Mint Mobile offers low rates to 160+ locations.
If you have a Mint Mobile base plan, you can add to your international roaming balance through Mint’s UpRoam service. This gets you talk, text, and data in over 160 countries at pretty cheap rates compared to other international plans. Here’s what it’ll cost you to call your mom and let her know you arrived or to text your old roommate to meet up while you’re in the country. If you’re calling from the US, Mexico, or Canada, you should check which countries are included. And if you’re calling from another location, check Mint’s international roaming plan for which countries it includes. Though Mint Mobile runs on T-Mobile’s network, that doesn’t mean it always has the same speeds T-Mobile users enjoy. As with many smaller networks that use Big Five infrastructure, Mint Mobile customers will get deprioritized over T-Mobile customers, which means your data speed will be much less predictable. T-Mobile offers unlimited texting and data in over 210 countries across the globe, so you can count on your Google Maps, Lyft, and Airbnb apps basically anywhere you go. Nope, it doesn’t even cost extra—it’s baked into your plan. Here’s a quick look at some AT&T International Day Pass features:
$10 each day you use the plan Unlimited talk and text in 210+ locations Data restrictions are the same as back home
Fluctuating speeds are pretty common during international travel since speeds rely on the technology available in the country you’re in. So if you’re planning to put your toes in the water and your butt in the sand at Anse Lazio in Seychelles, you’ll have access to only 2G and 3G networks. (But really, who cares? You’re on the beach, baby!) That network and Wi-Fi hopping gets you coverage in 200+ locations. And those locations include some popular destinations that might just be on your bucket list. If you don’t have one of these devices, your Google Fi service won’t feel quite as reliable. Not only can an app be easier to use (you’ll just need to worry about a Wi-Fi connection or data), it can be cheaper too. And chances are you’ve heard about and maybe even used some of these apps before. If you’re not sure if your phone uses a GSM network, you can check which network it uses with this guide. (If you’re on an AT&T or T-Mobile plan, chances are your phone uses GSM.) Once you’ve confirmed your phone uses GSM, you’ll then need to unlock it, which can take several hours and requires you to make a few calls. It’s usually cheaper to buy a prepaid SIM card once you’ve reached your destination, though you can buy them in the states if you really want to. Be aware, though, that once you pop in your new international SIM card, you won’t be able to check messages sent to your US phone number. Grabbing a cheap prepaid phone once you reach your destination may be less expensive than paying for an international plan, especially if you plan on staying abroad for a while. But check the fine print first. For instance, when we moved to Japan for a few years, we ditched our stateside cell phone plan (sorry, Verizon!) for an NTT plan and phone. One thing we didn’t know at the time is that our contract was re-upped without our knowledge. So by the time we were leaving—three years later—we had to pay an early termination fee to close out our contract. Long story short: if you’re buying a phone and plan overseas, research all the fine print beforehand.
Mint Mobile is a prepaid option and boasts the lowest per-minute rates currently available. And you don’t have to pay extra for calls to Canada or Mexico. T-Mobile Magenta comes with unlimited international texting and data—but it has pay-as-you-go rates for international calls. However, you can add international calling and double your data speed if you pay a bit extra per day. AT&T International Day Pass can easily be added onto your current AT&T plan for a short trip—and you’re only charged on the days you use your phone while overseas. Google Fi offers prepaid international service that uses three cell networks plus Wi-Fi to ensure you always have the best coverage available. Most phones work with the service, but only Google Pixel devices and some Android phones can take advantage of Google Fi’s unique network switching capabilities.
All major carriers provide international coverage, but you’ll need to check if you’ll get coverage in specific place you’re going. If you’re current carrier provides coverage, you can easily continue your service if you pay for the days in advance for your trip. If your current carrier doesn’t provide coverage where you’re headed, you should get a prepaid plan from a carrier like Google Fi that does.
TravelPass: Pay $10 per line per day ad get unlimited talk, text and date in 0ver 210 countries. You’ll only be charged on the days you use your device. International Monthly Plan: Pay $100 per month, per line, and add a one-time bundle of data, texts, and minutes. Mexico & Canada roaming: Get unlimited roaming in Mexico and Canada with all Verizon Unlimited plans. Cruise and InFlight plans: Verizon has specific rates and plan options if you’re planning to go on a cruise or airplane. You can find more information here.
