Staying Connected Across Borders
Whether you regularly call family overseas, travel internationally for work, or take a few vacations abroad each year, your phone plan can either be your best friend or your worst enemy. Standard domestic plans often charge punishing roaming rates when you leave the country, and international calling add-ons from the big carriers can cost $10 to $15 per day. The right plan eliminates those surprises entirely.
The plans below are designed for people who need international connectivity built into their service, not tacked on as an expensive afterthought. Each one includes meaningful international features as part of the base price.
Best Plans for International Use
1. Google Fi — $20 to $65/month
Google Fi is the gold standard for international travelers. The flexible plan starts at $20 per month for calls and texts, with data billed at $10 per gigabyte. The unlimited plan costs $65 per month. What makes Fi exceptional is that it works in over 200 countries and territories at no extra charge. Your data, calls, and texts work abroad just like they do at home. There are no roaming fees, no day passes to activate, and no surprises on your bill. Fi automatically connects to the best available network wherever you are, including local carriers and WiFi hotspots. For frequent travelers, this seamless international coverage is unmatched.
2. Visible+ — $45/month
Visible's premium tier runs on Verizon's network and includes unlimited international calls and texts to over 30 countries, plus unlimited texting from abroad. When traveling internationally, you get 2GB of high-speed data per day in Mexico and Canada. The plan also includes calling to Mexico and Canada at no additional cost. At $45 per month with no contract, Visible+ is a strong mid-range option for people who frequently call or text contacts in other countries, particularly in Latin America and Europe.
3. US Mobile Premium — $44/month
US Mobile's Premium plan includes international calling to over 70 countries, which covers a wider range of destinations than most competitors. The plan runs on Verizon's or T-Mobile's network and includes unlimited domestic data, calls, and texts. International data roaming is available as an add-on at reasonable rates. US Mobile also offers custom plan building, so you can tailor your international features to match exactly where and how you call.
4. T-Mobile Magenta — $70/month
T-Mobile's postpaid Magenta plan includes unlimited texting in over 215 countries and destinations, plus data at reduced speeds abroad. While more expensive than the other options listed here, T-Mobile's international texting coverage is the broadest available from any US carrier. You also get unlimited calls and texts to Mexico and Canada, plus 5GB of high-speed data when traveling in those countries. For people who travel to less common destinations, T-Mobile's geographic reach is a significant advantage.
International Roaming vs. Local SIM Cards
If your plan doesn't include international data, you have two main options when traveling: paying your carrier's roaming rates or buying a local SIM card when you arrive.
Carrier roaming is convenient but expensive. Most major carriers charge $5 to $12 per day for an international day pass that gives you a set amount of data. For a two-week trip, that adds $70 to $168 to your bill. Plans like Google Fi eliminate this cost entirely.
Local SIM cards are the cheapest option if you have an unlocked phone. You can buy a prepaid SIM at airports or convenience stores in most countries for $5 to $20, giving you a local phone number and data for the duration of your trip. The downside is that your US number won't receive calls or texts while the local SIM is active, unless your phone supports dual SIM or eSIM.
eSIM travel plans are a newer option. Services like Airalo and Holafly let you add a temporary data-only eSIM to your phone before you travel, keeping your primary number active while using local data rates. This is a great middle ground for short trips.
Tips for International Connectivity
- Enable WiFi calling: WiFi calling lets you make and receive calls over any internet connection as if you were at home. This works in hotels, cafes, and anywhere with WiFi, often with better call quality than cellular in some countries.
- Use messaging apps: WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal all work over WiFi or data and are free for calls and messages worldwide. In many countries, WhatsApp is the primary communication tool.
- Check your phone's compatibility: Not all phones support all international network bands. Before traveling, verify that your phone supports the LTE and 5G bands used in your destination country.
- Download offline maps: Google Maps and Apple Maps both allow you to download maps for offline use. This saves data and ensures you can navigate even without a connection.
Find the Right Plan
Compare all international-friendly plans in our plan comparison table, or use the Plan Finder to filter by international features and get a personalized recommendation.