Best International Cell Phone Plans: 4 Top Picks for 2025

Your bags are packed, you’ve got your passport, your hotel is booked. . . but how are you going to use your phone while you’re abroad? 

This is a conundrum that many American travelers face. Your choices for using your phone while traveling internationally come down to this: one, buy and use a SIM card from a carrier that’s local to the country you’re traveling to; or two, use your existing U.S.-based cell phone plan and either pay for extra roaming, make use of its core international data allotment, or purchase additional “travel days” to cover your time abroad (or some combination thereof). 

In this article, we’ve focused on U.S.-based plans that include valuable travel features, since they give you the most bang for your buck in that you can use them both domestically and abroad. Plus, going this route simplifies things when it finally comes time to jump on the plane. 

Read on as we detail the best international cell phone plans you can buy in 2025.

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Best Cell Phone Plans With International Features

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International Add-Ons to Existing Cell Phone Plans

If  you’re signed up with one of the major carriers (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile) you have the option of adding 24-hours of international talk, text, and data to your existing plan. Verizon sells this as TravelPass, AT&T as International Day Pass, and T-Mobile as International Pass. 

Verizon TravelPass

Verizon TravelPass gives users access to their cell phone plans while traveling outside the country. Customers who pay the flat fee ($12 in over 210 countries; $6 in Canada and Mexico) will be able to make calls, send texts, and use their monthly data for a 24-hour period. If they use it after those 24 hours, they’ll activate another 24-hour TravelPass.

For the most part, Verizon TravelPass allows users to use their phone like they would at home, though there are some catches. The first is that using more than 5GB of data during a 24-hour TravelPass session will throttle the data to 3G speeds for the remainder of that session. The second is that the quality of your service will depend on where you’re visiting; Verizon doesn’t technically offer coverage abroad, so your connectivity while traveling will be provided through partnerships with local carriers, whose service can vary.

AT&T International Day Pass

The AT&T International Day Pass lets you use your phone like you would if you were at home, allowing you to make calls, send texts, and browse the web while traveling. You can access all of your plan’s minutes, messages, and data, though your data speeds will depend on the quality of the area’s coverage. 

The International Day Pass is available in over 210 countries, including most of Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and South America. AT&T provides coverage through partnerships with those countries’ cellular networks, offering its customers reliable service without paying overpriced data roaming fees.

T-Mobile International Pass

Purchasing a T-Mobile International Pass is like purchasing a calling card or prepaid SIM. The International Pass’s flat fee earns you limited-time coverage that adds on to your T-Mobile plan’s unlimited international texting. 

T-Mobile offers three different International Passes:

• $5 24 Hour pass: unlimited calling and 512MB of high-speed data
• $35 10 Day pass: unlimited calling and 5GB of high-speed data, which can be used as a mobile hotspot
• $50 30 Day pass: unlimited calling and 15GB of high-speed data, which can be used as a mobile hotspot

How We Picked the Best International Cell Phone Plans

We narrowed down our list of the best international cell phone plans from a market of hundreds of them. To qualify, the plan had to come from an established carrier with a good reputation, offer best-in-market international features, and offer exceptional overall value for the frequent traveler.  

The Bottom Line

Staying connected abroad doesn’t have to be stressful. If you travel often, all-inclusive plans like T-Mobile Experience More or Google Fi Unlimited Premium offer the most seamless experience. For occasional trips, daily add-ons from Verizon or AT&T may be more cost-effective. The best choice comes down to where you’re going, how often you travel, and how much data you need. With the right plan, you can spend less time worrying about service and more time enjoying your trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my US phone overseas?

Yes, you can use your US phone overseas, but make sure your phone works with the local networks where you're traveling. It's also a good idea to contact your carrier before you go to confirm coverage and check any international plan options they offer.

What do you need to do with your phone while traveling internationally?

If you're traveling abroad for an extended amount of time, it's worth looking into prepaid or pay-as-you-go plans while exploring the best local phone packages available to you. Different countries offer various data, calls, texts, and network speed options, so you can find a plan that fits your needs.

How do I use my phone internationally without charges?

There are a few ways to avoid extra charges when using your phone abroad. One is to stick to WiFi wherever possible; another is to9 use apps like WhatsApp and FaceTime to stay in touch without racking up roaming fees. Also, consider picking up a local SIM card or activating an eSIM, which lets you connect to regional networks easily without swapping physical cards.