6 Best Phone Plans for International Travel in 2024

When traveling to a different country whether on business or vacation it’s always a good idea to have your cell phone connected. This can easily be done if you subscribe to one of the best international phone plans that suits your needs.

Various carries such as T-Mobile, Verizon, or AT&T just to name a few offers several international phone plan packages that will allow you to use your local SIM card to be easily used when traveling abroad.

So how do you pick which among the available international phone plans to get? It really is easy as you only need to get the cell phone plan that suits your needs.

  • Do you plan on only getting and making voice calls?
  • Do you need an unlimited talk or unlimited texting plan while traveling abroad?
  • Aside from unlimited calls do you also want to have access to high speed data ( LTE data or 5G data) or even unlimited high speed data?

The Best International Phone Plans in 2024

There are two ways to allow your cell phone to stay connected while in a different country.

You can buy a local sim card however this might not work all the time especially if you are not using an unlocked phone or if the network bands being used by the country you are visiting is not supported by your cell phone.

The most convenient way so far is to get an international phone plan. You will able to use your own SIM card when you travel internationally. Take note though that some countries might not be supported by this so you need to make sure to check this out with the international cell phone plan you will be getting.

Here are the best international phone plans for you to choose from.

T-Mobile is one of the major carriers that offers several plans to make your international travel easier. Although the company has already merged with Sprint to create the largest 5G network in the US, Sprint customers still use their old international plans and don’t have access to T-Mobile specific international cell phone plans.

1. T- Mobile Magenta

T-Mobile Magenta is one of the international cell phone plans that allows subscribers to get unlimited calling, texting, and data with up to 5GB at 4G LTE speeds if you travel to Mexico or Canada. You also get unlimited calling and texting to Mexico and Canada from the US for free.

When traveling internationally to more than 210 countries and destinations you can enjoy unlimited data speeds of up to 128kbps which is enough to allow you to check and send emails, update your social media network, or browse the internet.

If you want access to high speed data then you can subscribe to an add on pass which will be added on top of your regular monthly bill.

  • International Day Pass: 512MB of high-speed data at up to LTE speeds and unlimited calling, to be used up to 24 hours, for $5/day.
  • 5GB International Day Pass: 5GB of high-speed data at up to LTE speeds and unlimited calling, to be used up to 10 days, for $35.
  • 15GB International Day Pass: 15GB of high-speed data at up to LTE speeds and unlimited calling, to be used up to 30 days, for $50.

Magenta features:

  • Unlimited talk & text
  • Unlimited 5G & 4G LTE data on T-Mobile network
  • Premium Data of 100GB. Magenta customers using >100GB/mo. may notice reduced speeds until next bill cycle due to data prioritization. These data restrictions allow for better network management.
  • Netflix Basic: 1 Screen SD (for 2+ line accounts)
  • Mobile hotspot data: 5GB high-speed data / then Unlimited @ 3G speeds
  • Unlimited SD streaming
  • Extended Range 5G
  • Ultra Capacity 5G
  • Get an hour of Wi-Fi and unlimited texting on Gogo-enabled flights.
  • $40 per line

2. T-Mobile Magenta Max

If you constantly travel internationally and want to experience a much faster international data speed than the 128kbps that the regular Magenta plan has to offer then you should consider getting the Magenta Max plan of T-Mobile. You get double the speed of 256kbs. You will still get unlimited calling, texting, and data with up to 5GB at 4G LTE speeds if you travel to Mexico or Canada.

If you need a much faster international dats speed then consider getting one of the available International Day Pass plans that is an add on feature.

  • International Day Pass: 512MB of high-speed data at up to LTE speeds and unlimited calling, to be used up to 24 hours, for $5/day.
  • 5GB International Day Pass: 5GB of high-speed data at up to LTE speeds and unlimited calling, to be used up to 10 days, for $35.
  • 15GB International Day Pass: 15GB of high-speed data at up to LTE speeds and unlimited calling, to be used up to 30 days, for $50.

Magenta Max features

  • Unlimited talk & text
  • Unlimited 5G & 4G LTE data on T-Mobile network
  • Unlimited Premium Data.
  • Netflix Basic: 1 Screen SD with 1 line, Netflix Standard: 2 Screen HD (for 2+ line accounts)
  • Mobile hotspot data: 40GB high-speed data / then Unlimited @ 3G speeds
  • Unlimited 4k UHD streaming
  • Extended Range 5G
  • Ultra Capacity 5G
  • Get an hour of Wi-Fi and unlimited texting on Gogo-enabled flights.
  • $47 per line.

AT&T is one of the largest cellular networks in America that offers one of the best international phone plan. If you are already subscribed to the AT&T unlimited plan or Mobile Share plan then you can simply top up an AT&T International Day Pass which should allow you to get unlimited data at much faster speeds

You also get unlimited talk and unlimited text within and between International Day Pass destinations and back to the U.S. You just need to pay a daily fee for each 24-hour period that you talk, text, or use data within an included destination. The daily fee applies to each line on your account using International Day Pass.

3. AT&T International Day Pass

This is an add on feature that you can subscribe to as long as you are on the AT&T unlimited plan or Mobile Share plan. This service is available in more than 210 destinations in Asia, Australia, Europe, Central America, South America, The Middle East, South Pacific islands and the Caribbean.

You will be billed $10 a day for one line. $5/day for each additional line on the same account, used the same day.

The best thing about this service is that when you return to the U. S. you don’t have to remove International Day Pass as you will only be charged if you use the service in the included international destinations.

Google-Fi is an MVNO telecommunications company service managed by Google that provides telephone calls, SMS, and mobile broadband using cellular networks and Wi-Fi. This service allows your phone to seamlessly switch between different networks such as T-Mobile and U.S Cellular, as well as secure Wi-Fi connections. This means that your phone is able to stay connected even in far areas as it has access to more cell towers. This service has already expanded to more than 200 countries allowing you to access international data, get unlimited texting, and make international phone calls at no additional charge.

Here are the Google-Fi plans that you should consider getting

4. Google-Fi Flexible

Great if you use less data or lots of Wi-Fi

  • Data (in the US, Canada & Mexico): $10/GB with Bill Protection
  • Data slower after: 15 GB.
  • High-speed hotspot tethering: Yes
  • Data-only SIMs: Yes
  • International data while traveling outside US, Canada & Mexico: $10/GB in over 200 destinations
  • International texts & calls while traveling outside US, Canada & Mexico: Yes
  • Affordable calls from the US to 200+ destinations: Free to Canada
  • & Mexico

5. Google-Fi Simply Unlimited

Most affordable plan if you use a lot of data

  • Data (in the US, Canada & Mexico): Unlimited
  • Data slower after: 22 GB.
  • High-speed hotspot tethering: No
  • Data-only SIMs: No
  • International data while traveling outside US, Canada & Mexico: No
  • International texts & calls while traveling outside US, Canada & Mexico: No
  • Affordable calls from the US to 200+ destinations: Free to Canada
  • & Mexico

6. Google-Fi Unlimited Plus

Great if you travel, tether or use lots of data

  • Data (in the US, Canada & Mexico): Unlimited
  • Data slower after: 22 GB.
  • High-speed hotspot tethering: Yes
  • Data-only SIMs: Yes
  • 100 GB of cloud storage with Google One.
  • International data while traveling outside US, Canada & Mexico: Y + Free in over 200 destinations.
  • International texts & calls while traveling outside US, Canada & Mexico: Yes
  • Affordable calls from the US to 200+ destinations: + Free to over 50 destinations

Conclusion

The best international phone plan will really depend on what your needs are. Frequent travelers will need a plan from a major carrier that can provide talk, text and data. For those who are just going out of the country for a day or two then you can get an add on international data plan that will be charged for 24 hours of use.


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