Best U.S. Phone Plans For Living Abroad: Bank Texts (2026)
The best phone plan for living abroad is a cheap U.S. SIM that keeps your number alive and can receive bank texts over Wi-Fi or roaming.
We compared six plans below using each company’s own published details, so check current prices before you sign up.
Some banks reject internet-only numbers such as VoIP lines, so every option here is a real mobile plan with a SIM or eSIM.
Quick picks
| Award | Plan | Why it wins | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best budget | Tello | Plans start at $5 and roaming is pay-as-you-go | Tello |
| Best for roaming | Google Fi | Free texting abroad on Premium and Flexible in 200+ destinations | Google Fi |
| Best Wi-Fi texting | Mint Mobile | Wi-Fi calling and texting is free on all plans | Mint |
| Most flexible | US Mobile | Pick your network and a $10 starter plan | US Mobile |
| Best for short visits | Visible | $10 per day Global Pass in 140+ countries | Visible |
1. Tello: best budget
Tello is the cheapest way to keep a U.S. number, as long as you mostly use Wi-Fi.
Specs: From $5 per month | 30-day renewals, no contract | Roaming needs $5+ of Pay As You Go credit
Pros:
- No contract, and you can change or cancel anytime.
- Wi-Fi calls and texts don’t use your data allowance.
- Roaming covers 250+ countries and territories.
Cons:
- Roaming is charged from your Pay As You Go balance.
- The My Tello app can’t receive calls or send texts.
Our guide to Tello for expats and 2FA covers the setup.
2. Google Fi: best for roaming
Google Fi works abroad without travel passes, which suits people who move between countries.
Specs: Premium and Flexible include free international texting | 200+ destinations | Flexible data is $10 per GB
Pros:
- Unlimited Premium includes high-speed data in 200+ destinations.
- Turn on data roaming and the phone connects to a local partner network.
- Wi-Fi calling is available on Premium, Standard, and Flexible.
Cons:
- You must have active Fi service in the U.S. before going abroad, and you can’t activate it for the first time overseas.
- If most of your usage over 90 consecutive days is outside the U.S., international data is suspended.
3. Mint Mobile: best Wi-Fi texting
Mint is a good fit if you’ll be on Wi-Fi nearly all the time.
Specs: Check Mint for current prices | Wi-Fi calling free on all plans | Roaming through Minternational Pass (1, 3, or 10 days)
Pros:
- Calls and texts work over any Wi-Fi connection.
- Wi-Fi calling to the U.S. costs nothing extra.
Cons:
- Wi-Fi calling is unavailable in China and North Korea, and may be restricted elsewhere.
- Setup requires your U.S. emergency 911 address, so enable it before you leave.
4. US Mobile: most flexible
US Mobile lets you choose your network and build a small plan.
Specs: $10 for the 2GB plan or Light Plan | Verizon, T-Mobile, or AT&T networks | Roaming add-ons from $15 per GB
Pros:
- You can switch networks in the app.
- Unlimited Premium on Light Speed includes 20GB roaming data and 250 texts in 180+ countries.
Cons:
- Most plans charge for roaming, such as $15 for 1GB.
- We could not confirm Wi-Fi calling on its main plans, so ask before you buy.
5. Visible: best for short visits
Visible suits people who return to the U.S. often, not full-time expats.
Specs: $25 Visible, $35 Visible+, $45 Visible+ Pro | Global Pass $10 per day in 140+ countries | 2GB high-speed per 24 hours
Pros:
- Global Pass includes unlimited talk and text in the destination and back to the U.S.
- Visible+ includes 1 Global Pass day per month, and Pro includes 2.
Cons:
- Daily charges add up fast if you stay abroad.
- Coverage has gaps, including much of Central Asia and many African countries.
6. Fonus Mobile: best unlimited abroad (verify first)
Fonus sells unlimited global service, but it is newer, so confirm your country before paying.
Specs: From $19.99 per month | Unlimited data, calls, and texts | 100+ countries as of March 2025
Pros:
- No roaming fees and no time limit on international use.
- Physical SIM and eSIM options.
Cons:
- Coverage is limited to its listed countries.
- We could not verify how well it receives U.S. bank texts.
Which plan fits your situation?
| Plan | Starting price | Wi-Fi texting | Roaming | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tello | $5/month | Yes | Pay as you go, $5 minimum | Keeping a number cheaply |
| Google Fi | See Fi | Yes (Wi-Fi calling) | 200+ destinations | Frequent movers |
| Mint Mobile | See Mint | Yes, all plans | 1, 3, or 10-day pass | Always on Wi-Fi |
| US Mobile | $10/month | Unconfirmed | Add-ons from $15/GB | Custom plans |
| Visible | $25/month | Not confirmed | $10/day | Short visits |
| Fonus | $19.99/month | Not confirmed | Included, 100+ countries | Unlimited use abroad |
How do you keep your U.S. number from expiring?
A number you cannot receive bank texts on is useless, so know each plan’s rules for staying active before you leave.
| Plan | What keeps the number | Limit to know |
|---|---|---|
| Tello monthly plan | Renew within 12 days of the plan ending | Tello emails a reminder 7 days before expiry |
| Tello Pay As You Go | Add at least $20 in credit before the window closes | Credit expires 3 months after purchase, plus 7 more days for the number |
| Google Fi pause | Number stays yours while paused | Service resumes automatically after 3 months |
| US Mobile Snooze | $2.98 per 30 days keeps the line in service | Text allowances are not listed, so ask before relying on it |
Tello says an expired number cannot be recovered, so set a calendar reminder.
Can you pause a plan and still get bank texts?
Not on Google Fi, because a pause is meant to hold the number, not use it.
- Google Fi: Pausing stops domestic calls and texts, data and international service.
- Google Fi billing: Unlimited plans are billed through the end of the current cycle, and repeated pausing violates Google’s terms.
- US Mobile Snooze: It requires AutoPay with no plan attached, and you must pick a plan again to restore service.
If bank codes matter, keep a paid plan active instead of pausing.
Our verdict
Pick Tello for the lowest cost, or Google Fi if you’ll roam between countries.
Before you leave, read our guides on receiving texts while traveling abroad and getting a U.S. number overseas.