{"success":true,"data":{"id":"438237e4-4e6b-4a7c-bd46-8449796a092e","title":"8 top tips to save money on your phone bill abroad","summary":"US Edition Change Support Now × \"Clear search box\") Custom Search Sort by Relevance Date NewsNews World CupWorld Cup SportsSports CultureCulture LifestyleLifestyle MoneyMoney TravelTravel PremiumPremium More More Thank you for registering Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the si...","content":"US Edition Change\n\nSupport Now\n\n[×](javascript:void(0) \"Clear search box\")\n\nCustom Search\n\nSort by\n\nRelevance\n\nDate\n\n*   News[News](https://www.independent.co.uk/us)\n\n*   World Cup[World Cup](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup)\n\n*   Sports[Sports](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport)\n\n*   Culture[Culture](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment)\n\n*   Lifestyle[Lifestyle](https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style)\n\n*   Money[Money](https://www.independent.co.uk/us/money)\n\n*   Travel[Travel](https://www.independent.co.uk/us/travel)\n\n*   Premium[Premium](https://www.independent.co.uk/independentpremium)\n\nMore\n\nMore\n\n### Thank you for registering\n\nPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in\n\n# 8 top tips to save money on your phone bill abroad\n\n## Stop wasting your precious pennies on astronomical data bills.\n\n[Ruth Lawes](https://www.independent.co.uk/author/ruth-lawes)Friday 17 July 2026 07:30 BST\n\n*   Copy link  \n*   Bookmark  \n\n## Bookmark popover\n\nRemoved from bookmarks\n\nClose popover\n\nopen image in gallery\n\nMake sure you are aware of your daily roaming charges when abroad (Alamy/PA)\n\n### Your support helps us to tell the story\n\nFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.\n\nAt such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.\n\nThe Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.\n\n**Your support makes all the difference.**\n\nThere’s nothing worse than returning from a trip abroad and being slapped with an extortionate phone bill.\n\nBetween expensive daily roaming passes and hidden charges from automatic updates, travellers can waste money staying connected.\n\nBut “dramatic” savings can be achieved with a few simple hacks that require little time or effort, according to Lee Dobson, founder of [All Things eSIM](https://allthingsesim.com/), a global eSIM comparison website.\n\nLee Dobson (All Things eSIM/PA)\n\nFrom setting a spending cap to enabling Wi-Fi calling, Dobson breaks down his top tips to cut back on your phone bill while abroad.\n\n**1. Check your network’s roaming policy**\n\n[](https://www.energybillcruncher.com/pa)[South Carolina: New Program Will Install Solar At No Cost If You Live In These Zip Codes Energy Bill Cruncher | [Sponsored](https://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&utm_source=eslmedia-theindependent&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=alternating-thumbnails-stream-1x4:Mid%20Article%20Thumbnails%20II:)[Sponsored](https://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&utm_source=eslmedia-theindependent&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=alternating-thumbnails-stream-1x4:Mid%20Article%20Thumbnails%20II:)](https://www.energybillcruncher.com/pa \"South Carolina: New Program Will Install Solar At No Cost If You Live In These Zip Codes\")\n\n[](https://xeviourl.cc/6b0996b2-5fd1-4bc6-a6a6-8e4077a061f3)[Beauty Update: Women Over 50 Are Trying This Mask Before Clinic Treatments Mid-Life-Journal | [Sponsored](https://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&utm_source=eslmedia-theindependent&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=alternating-thumbnails-stream-1x4:Mid%20Article%20Thumbnails%20II:)[Sponsored](https://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&utm_source=eslmedia-theindependent&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=alternating-thumbnails-stream-1x4:Mid%20Article%20Thumbnails%20II:)](https://xeviourl.cc/6b0996b2-5fd1-4bc6-a6a6-8e4077a061f3 \"Beauty Update: Women Over 50 Are Trying This Mask Before Clinic Treatments\")\n\nLog in to your network’s app and search for “roaming” to see if you’re getting a good deal. You want to check three things: whether EU roaming is included, the daily charge if it isn’t, and the fair use data cap.\n\nDobson says: “In 2026, O2 is the only major UK network still offering free EU roaming for most customers, with a 25GB cap. EE, Three and [Vodafone](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/vodafone) charge a daily fee to unlock your allowance in [Europe](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/europe), roughly £2 to £2.75 a day. Outside Europe, it climbs fast. For example, Three charges £8 a day for worldwide destinations from April 2026.”\n\n**2. Set a spending cap**\n\n(Alamy/PA)\n\nBy law, UK networks have a cap of £45 for mobile data usage while abroad per monthly billing period and must send you alerts at 80% and 100% data usage. But you can set an even lower spending cap in your network’s app or on its website to slash your phone bill further.\n\nDobson says: “If you want to be really strict, that can be zero pounds, so you don’t spend anything. Or, you might want to set your limit to a couple of pounds in case of emergencies.”\n\n**3. Compare your network’s roaming charges to a travel eSIM**\n\nGet a free fractional share worth up to £100.\n\nCapital at risk.\n\nTerms and conditions apply.\n\nCapital at risk.\n\nLook at how much your network charges for a daily pass, then compare it with an eSIM provider by searching online or using a comparison website. These eSIMs are digital SIM cards that are downloaded straight to your phone or tablet before you head off.\n\nWhen you arrive at your destination, it will automatically connect to a local network.\n\nDobson advises calculating the total cost of daily passes for the length of your trip when deciding between your network and an eSIM.\n\n“A £2.50 daily pass with your network is fine for a long weekend; on a two-week trip, that is £35 before you have used a single extra megabyte,” he explains.\n\n“A travel eSIM often costs £5 to £20 for a week or more of data, and it keeps your UK number live for calls and texts while your data runs on the cheaper plan.”\n\n**4. Shop around for an eSIM**\n\n(Alamy/PA)\n\nThere are plenty of eSIM providers out there, but they aren’t all equal.\n\nMake sure you’re getting a good deal by reading the small print rather than the headline price.\n\nThe three main factors when weighing up eSIM providers are the price per gigabyte, the number of days the plan is valid, and which local network it runs on in your destination, as coverage varies.\n\nDobson also says that most travellers overestimate how much data they’ll use abroad.\n\nTo save money and avoid wasted data, start with a smaller plan. You can easily top up your eSIM with your provider online if you run low while abroad.\n\n**5. Download before you travel**\n\n(Alamy/PA)\n\nWrite a list of everything you’ll want on your phone before your trip and download it at home beforehand.\n\nThis could include maps for your destination, translation apps, boarding passes and even any music or TV shows you wish to download for the journey.\n\nDobson says: “This alone removes most of the data you would otherwise burn through on arrival.”\n\n**6. Switch off background data and automatic updates**\n\nDobson says that hidden charges mostly come from background data and automatic updates.\n\nBefore travelling, switch off automatic app updates, cloud photo backup, and background app refresh in your phone’s settings.\n\nTo remove any doubt, turn data roaming off entirely while abroad and only switch it on when you actually need it.\n\n**7. Use Wi-Fi networks abroad**\n\n(Alamy/PA)\n\nEnable Wi-Fi calling so you can call and text UK numbers over free Wi-FI networks abroad, such as in your hotel or restaurant.\n\nWi-Fi calls and messaging over platforms such as WhatsApp, FaceTime and [Microsoft](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/microsoft) Teams cost nothing.\n\nFor added security when using public networks, Dobson suggests downloading a Virtual Private Network (VPN), which is designed to protect your internet privacy.\n\n**8. Watch out for accidental roaming**\n\nNear borders, phones can latch onto another foreign network, which could be significantly more expensive.","source_name":"The Independent","source_url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/money/europe-corfu-vodafone-microsoft-turkey-b3016633.html","url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/money/europe-corfu-vodafone-microsoft-turkey-b3016633.html","author":"Ruth Lawes","author_name":"Ruth Lawes","published_at":"2026-07-17T06:30:36.000Z","publication_date":"2026-07-17T06:30:36.000Z","image_url":"https://static.independent.co.uk/2026/07/17/07/15081845-c5cbe059-8ad8-44a3-a4a5-d23b51a117c3.jpg","category":"world","topic":"world","tags":[],"political_bias":null,"bias_score":null,"confidence_score":null,"credibility_score":null,"factual_quality":null,"reading_time":6,"word_count":1148,"view_count":0,"breaking":false,"breaking_news":false,"ai_analysis":null,"fact_check_status":"unverified","archive_status":"hot"}}