Posted 7th Feb 2023
Update 1
Update 14/6: Removed Talkmobile from list, as they no longer offer free EU roaming to new customers
Hi, If you are looking at getting a sim only or phone contract at the moment, but need or require the cost to include EU roaming, then O2 are the only network operator to currently offer this option, there are other options currently with some MVNO's (Mobile virtual network operator), so for instance the likes of Smarty, iD mobile etc. still offer this with varying degrees of fair usage policies, O2 themselves offer an FUP of 25GB, anything over that you get charged.
List of operators who offer free EU roaming:
1pMobile (EE)
Locations you're able to use your normal allowance in for no extra charge (subject to 'fair use' limits) include:
Austria, Azores, Balearic Islands, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Islands, Croatia, Cyprus (excl North Cyprus), Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, French Guiana, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guadeloupe, Guernsey, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Jersey, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madeira, Malta, Martinique, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Reunion, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Vatican City.
Asda Mobile (Vodafone)
Locations you're able to use your normal allowance in for no extra charge (subject to 'fair use' limits) include:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus (excl North Cyprus), Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, French Guiana, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guadeloupe, Guernsey, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Jersey, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Reunion, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
Giffgaff (O2)
Locations you're able to use your normal allowance in for no extra charge (subject to 'fair use' limits) include:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus (excl North Cyprus), Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, French Guiana, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guadeloupe, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Martinique, Mayotte, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Reunion, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Ukraine
iD Mobile (Three)
Locations you're able to use up to 6.17GB of data for no extra charge include:
Austria, Azerbaijan, Azores, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Islands, Croatia, Cyprus (excl North Cyprus), Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, French Guiana, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guadeloupe, Guernsey, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Jersey, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madeira, Malta, Martinique, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Reunion, Romania, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Vatican City.
Lebara (Vodafone)
Locations you're able to use your normal allowance in for no extra charge (subject to 'fair use' limits) include:
Aland Islands, Austria, Azores, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Islands, Croatia, Cyprus (excl North Cyprus), Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, French Guiana, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guadeloupe, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madeira, Malta, Martinique, Mayotte, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Reunion, Romania, Saint Martin, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden. + India
Lycamobile (O2)
Locations you're able to use up to 2.5GB of data for no extra charge include:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus (excl North Cyprus), Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
O2
Locations you're able to use your normal allowance in for no extra charge (subject to 'fair use' limits 25GB) include:
Austria, Azores, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Islands, Croatia, Cyprus (excl North Cyprus), Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, French Guiana, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guadeloupe, Guernsey, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Jersey, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madeira, Malta, Martinique, Mayotte, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Reunion, Romania, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Vatican City.
RWG Mobile (EE)
International roaming is automatically enabled when you receive your RWG Mobile SIM Card. All EU roaming is included on the same terms as your UK plans and prices for all of our plans above £3.50 (not included on FREE, £2 or £3.50 plans).
Roaming outside of the EU requires a credit balance.
You do not need to change the APN settings on your phone in order to receive data services abroad.
Smarty (Three)
Locations you're able to use your normal allowance in for no extra charge (subject to 'fair use' limits) include:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Comoros, Croatia, Cyprus (excl North Cyprus), Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, French Guiana, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mayotte, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Reunion, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
Superdrug (Three)
Locations you're able to use your normal allowance in for no extra charge (subject to 'fair use' limits) include:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Comoros, Croatia, Cyprus (excl North Cyprus), Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, French Guiana, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guernsey, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Jersey, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mayotte, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Reunion, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
Virgin Mobile (O2)
Locations you're able to use your normal allowance in for no extra charge (subject to 'fair use' limits) include:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Islands, Croatia, Cyprus (excl North Cyprus), Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, French Guiana, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guadeloupe, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madeira, Malta, Martinique, Mayotte, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Reunion, Romania, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Vatican City
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List of operators who offer free EU roaming:
1pMobile (EE)
Locations you're able to use your normal allowance in for no extra charge (subject to 'fair use' limits) include:
Austria, Azores, Balearic Islands, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Islands, Croatia, Cyprus (excl North Cyprus), Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, French Guiana, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guadeloupe, Guernsey, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Jersey, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madeira, Malta, Martinique, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Reunion, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Vatican City.
Asda Mobile (Vodafone)
Locations you're able to use your normal allowance in for no extra charge (subject to 'fair use' limits) include:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus (excl North Cyprus), Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, French Guiana, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guadeloupe, Guernsey, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Jersey, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Reunion, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
Giffgaff (O2)
Locations you're able to use your normal allowance in for no extra charge (subject to 'fair use' limits) include:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus (excl North Cyprus), Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, French Guiana, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guadeloupe, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Martinique, Mayotte, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Reunion, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Ukraine
iD Mobile (Three)
Locations you're able to use up to 6.17GB of data for no extra charge include:
Austria, Azerbaijan, Azores, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Islands, Croatia, Cyprus (excl North Cyprus), Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, French Guiana, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guadeloupe, Guernsey, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Jersey, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madeira, Malta, Martinique, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Reunion, Romania, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Vatican City.
Lebara (Vodafone)
Locations you're able to use your normal allowance in for no extra charge (subject to 'fair use' limits) include:
Aland Islands, Austria, Azores, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Islands, Croatia, Cyprus (excl North Cyprus), Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, French Guiana, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guadeloupe, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madeira, Malta, Martinique, Mayotte, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Reunion, Romania, Saint Martin, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden. + India
Lycamobile (O2)
Locations you're able to use up to 2.5GB of data for no extra charge include:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus (excl North Cyprus), Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
O2
Locations you're able to use your normal allowance in for no extra charge (subject to 'fair use' limits 25GB) include:
Austria, Azores, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Islands, Croatia, Cyprus (excl North Cyprus), Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, French Guiana, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guadeloupe, Guernsey, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Jersey, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madeira, Malta, Martinique, Mayotte, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Reunion, Romania, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Vatican City.
RWG Mobile (EE)
International roaming is automatically enabled when you receive your RWG Mobile SIM Card. All EU roaming is included on the same terms as your UK plans and prices for all of our plans above £3.50 (not included on FREE, £2 or £3.50 plans).
Roaming outside of the EU requires a credit balance.
You do not need to change the APN settings on your phone in order to receive data services abroad.
Smarty (Three)
Locations you're able to use your normal allowance in for no extra charge (subject to 'fair use' limits) include:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Comoros, Croatia, Cyprus (excl North Cyprus), Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, French Guiana, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mayotte, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Reunion, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
Superdrug (Three)
Locations you're able to use your normal allowance in for no extra charge (subject to 'fair use' limits) include:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Comoros, Croatia, Cyprus (excl North Cyprus), Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, French Guiana, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guernsey, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Jersey, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mayotte, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Reunion, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
Virgin Mobile (O2)
Locations you're able to use your normal allowance in for no extra charge (subject to 'fair use' limits) include:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Islands, Croatia, Cyprus (excl North Cyprus), Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, French Guiana, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guadeloupe, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madeira, Malta, Martinique, Mayotte, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Reunion, Romania, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Vatican City
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Community Updates
181 Comments
sorted by- anna.flanaganI came across an app called Airalo recently, you can buy data only esims for the country you’re visiting, it works as long as your phone is esim compatible and allows you to have 2 sims active. I believe most newer phones have this capability.
I’ll be going to the US later this year and it looks like it would work out a lot cheaper than paying roaming prices with o2. (edited) - jase.2Nice thread
Its crazy how the networks who charge £2 a day or higher still land you with a fair usage policy - Three is particularly poor at 12gb
id say fair enough have fair usage when roaming is inclusive but it’s not right to have fair usage when a network charges a daily feedergalthe fact that multiple other operators using 3 network are cheaper WITH EU roaming seriously shows that three have lost their way right now, shame used to love them. - Jenko90_For anyone who doesn't want the hassle of getting another contract with a different company, you could get a pay as you go sim with 3 top it up £10 for the month when you're planning to head into Europe, roaming is included in your 12gb allowance when you're pay as you go! It'll cost you a tenner extra for the month but it's alot cheaper than their current offer of £2 a day with pay monthly, you could do the same with smarty etc and only pay for one month. I do this but I have a dual sim phone so I keep it in there if I'm away to Europe for more than a week. You can keep using your WhatsApp account on your secondary sim too which is excellent.
- sm9690My vodafone xtra plan that I took out just last week has roaming includedPhlomProbably it's a Red one, with 25GB of roaming included in the EU.
- StaceyQGood work Switchy but I think some of the stuff is out of date already
Also, Vodafone have just re-added free roaming in Iceland and Norway in the last couple of days.
Most of the 'EU' coverage also has the extra EEA countries of Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein.
O2 and migrated Virgin customers also have non EU/EEA Switzerland
The Channel Islands and Isle of Man are sometimes included too. - BlackenedUKID Mobile will have different data limits depending how much you pay a month, looks like it's essentially 770mb for every £1 your contract is. Fair Usage Calculator (edited)Oli6357This doesn't apply for unlimited data plans right?
- Katro16The three information is incorrect. They charge £2 a day in the EU for all plans started after October 2021.Simon.WallaceI renewed my Three contract in March 22. Same allowance, same cost. They took that as a change of contract and removed mystery roaming allowance. I immediately asked for my PAC, and moved to SMARTY, much better deal.
- Anon32
Isaac_Clarke
Someone has to pay for ‘free’ EU roaming
52 m ago
I work with an o2 partner.. Be warned they're jacking up their prices a monstrous 13-17% in April - DrogonI use BNE e-SIM and buy a no-expiry data plan of the EU region. Switch to esim whenever I am in any EU country and use the data. It works out much cheaper than exorbitant daily charges from UK mobile providers. Loads of vocher codes available on the internet for first time buyers(40% discounts) (edited)richie999Sounds like it might work well for me this summer, got any links?
- thedvdmonsterLet’s have a thread about usage in the rest of the world.
I’m off to the USA, Mexico and the Caribbean in March.neilljjI was just thinking that as well, i use one of these for when we fly to America.
amazon.co.uk/dp/…h=1 - jack201RafiklbmUnfortunately majority of you believed and now all of us need to pay roaming charges
- MicroManagedShame O2 is crap in the UK where you use it most.colliwagWas going to say. Great I can use my phone inclusive in France but shame it doesn’t work when I try to access an Amazon returns label in the post office due to zero signal!
(O2 is terrible in my area of south Manchester. Sticking with EE despite the roaming) - innocentSupreme effort to compile this thread. Thanks MrSwitch
- GollywoodShame on Vodafone!
- JetSetWilliesDealsI'm confused...
"Hi, If you are looking at getting a sim only or phone contract at the moment, but need or require the cost to include EU roaming, then O2 are the only network operator to currently offer this option"
Yet the image in the post shows that many operators don't charge for EU roaming, including mine, Virgin Mobile.
Am I missing something?Neil49There are only 4 network operators in the UK, Vodafone, EE, Three and O2. Of those 4 only O2 doesn't charge for EU roaming.
All the other operators mentioned are MVNO's and piggyback off one of the above 4 networks.
I agree that the terminology used isn't clear but that is what was meant. - ianhn3Bummer no Turkey
- HooRahHad 5g signal in the North Sea with O2 but it doesn't work in my town centre at allthedvdmonsterOn Tenerife you can take a boat miles out to watch dolphins and still get a better signal than U.K.
- jddavisWith EU roaming, is there any company that doesn't limit how long you can be abroad?? I might be getting a job in Germany for 9-12 months and want to use my UK numbermrdeeznutzOff topic but how did you go about getting work in Germany? Looking to move potentially, brushing up on German, is it an English role?
Also when I was with EE (and they included roaming) I stayed there for months at a time with no repercussion (edited) - bozo00712GB from Three is more than enough for me. Fantastic effort @MrSwitchKatro16They charge £2 a day
- toto007Lets talk abouth the cost of calling out from this island...Marco_PuglisiA nice option, if you have the data/WiFi is Viber out allowing you to call all numbers , not just other normal Viber accounts. Try the app . I think it was about £6/month.
- GorskarStill on a Three "Advanced" contract that includes EU roaming + some other non-EU places (incl USA and Australia).
Its still a decent deal so not swapping at the mo. Its a nice perk and shame its no longer on new contracts. I would not take out a Three contract now I dont think.Northern123they forced me off mine - Gavin01Voxi ?Wise_owl_131Nope
- justhighend4uGreat to hear Mr Switch glad I have O2.
- bigpappaI hope they charge double in Europe, it's only fair.
- jaceyarThree payg still offer free roaming in 71 countries.Username50Who's on payg these days
- BervaglioI'm very happy with Plusnet. I travel to Europe a lot and I have never had any issues. I can definitely recommend.
EE kicked me out of my Max plan over a year ago saying it was no longer possible for them to provide that service for the price I was paying. They offered much worse deal for 4x more money and they were surprised I wanted to leave... - HikaruMatsuyamaTime to join O2thedvdmonsterI wouldn’t, regretting ditching smarty for an o2 contract.
- tonymgxThis is o2's saving grace at the moment, I have moved quite a few people (especially from three) to o2 due to the EU roaming includedUsername50Yeh because people go abroad every week
- preejonesThis is super useful thank you. On O2 and heading to Canary islands soon
- italondonistaavataurinoI think Tesco Mobile was due to change its EU roaming policies since January,before that it was the best with 100gb fully usable in EU,not sure now.gherkingHUDYesterday while browsing their SIM-only deals, I noticed they’re currently saying ‘Free EU roaming until late spring’
- dave_grThe information in the second image is incorrect. Sky Mobile and Tesco Mobile DO now charge for EU roaming.
- kos1cLooks like I'll be leaving my SIM behind when I go to Spain in April, Vodafone suck.
- __BAMSmarty allow 12gb of your plan. It's enough for me.
- xokVirgin mobile is pretty good with roaming. You can use your allowance while abroad
- L33TL33Ps. I think the GiffGaff is something like 3.5GB. You can’t use your normal monthly mobile data allowance
- adhoward12Anyone have any suggestions for cheapest way to roam in UAEhasani007get a "du" sim at the airport (passport control) gives you a couple gb for free i believe.
- harrythefishCheck if your phone has eSIM capability. Then look at Airola, airalo.com/uni…simE.g. 3GB over 30 days $22.50. You can keep your regular SIM in your phone, but beware of cost of receiving calls and texts on it. eSIMs are the solution for many offbeat destinations too.
You can't make calls using Airalo, I keep some top up on my Skype app account for that purpose. Though on my last trip abroad didn't need to make any calls except for an 800 one, free on Skype. WhatsApp kept me in touch with home.
The UAE is tricky, it seems to allow text chat on WhatsApp but blocks voice and video. Plus blocks access to Skype's website. The government telecoms industry doesn't want to lose revenue it seems. Don't forget to install a VPN in your phone before you go. (edited)adhoward12Can I check why VPN is needed? Thanks for other information very useful - Graham_OharaIs this so O2 try and get some good press after their huge rpi + price increase?
- trojan34What did we do before roaming was even a thing!? I just deny the £2 charge when away and just use phone when in WiFi range.dave_grWhat did we do before WiFi was even a thing?
- helenaeosLebara does not work in EU, at least in Romania and Slovakia, even with right APN settings.Katro16Works for me just fine
Discussions Top
Can we have a non-EU guide please switchy for popular distinations like the USA, South Africa, turkey etc...