Before an international trip, most people face the same choice: pay their own carrier for an international day pass or roaming plan, or buy a prepaid travel eSIM for the destination. Both work. They cost very different amounts, and they suit different trips.
Short answer: a carrier international plan is the convenient choice for a short trip where you need your normal number for calls. A travel eSIM is usually far cheaper for data on any trip longer than a few days. Many travellers use both at once: their home line for calls and texts, the eSIM for data.
How carrier international plans work
US, UK and Canadian carriers sell international use in a few shapes:
- Daily passes. You pay a flat fee for each day you use your phone abroad. In the US, the big carriers' day passes have typically cost around $10–$15 per day at the time of writing. Verizon's TravelPass and AT&T's International Day Pass work this way.
- Included roaming. Some plans include international data, often at reduced speeds unless you buy a high-speed add-on. Some T-Mobile plans work like this.
- Monthly international add-ons. A fixed monthly price for a set allowance abroad, aimed at longer stays.
- Pay-as-you-go roaming. No plan at all, charged per megabyte — the route to a surprise bill.
Carrier pricing changes often. Always check your carrier's current international page before you travel.
How a travel eSIM works
A travel eSIM is a prepaid data plan for a country or region, installed as a second line on your phone. You pay once — for example a few dollars for a few gigabytes — and use it until the data or validity runs out. Your home SIM stays active for calls and texts. See what an eSIM is and how it works if you are new to it.
The cost difference over a real trip
The gap grows with every day of the trip, because a day pass charges per day and an eSIM charges for data.
| Trip | Carrier day pass at ~$12/day | Travel eSIM, data only |
|---|---|---|
| 3 days | ~$36 | A few dollars for 1–3 GB |
| 7 days | ~$84 | Typically under $10 for 5 GB in many countries |
| 14 days | ~$168 | Typically $8–$20 for 10 GB in many countries |
eSIM prices vary by destination. Turkey is among the cheapest countries for data; Peru is among the more expensive. The Wanderly eSIM Price Index shows the median price per gigabyte for 187 countries, and every destination page lists current plans.
Many carriers only charge a day pass on days you actually use the phone abroad, so the carrier total can be lower if you stay offline some days. But on a normal trip where you check maps every day, the eSIM is usually cheaper by a wide margin.
When the carrier plan is the better choice
- You need your own number for calls. Business travellers who take calls on their normal number all day benefit from a day pass.
- Very short trips. For a one- or two-day trip, the convenience of doing nothing may be worth the price.
- Your phone cannot use an eSIM. Older phones, or phones locked to your carrier, cannot add a travel eSIM. Check on our compatibility checker.
- Your plan already includes it. If your plan already includes adequate international data, use it.
When a travel eSIM is the better choice
- Trips of a week or more. The per-day cost of a carrier pass adds up quickly.
- Data-heavy travel. Maps, ride-hailing, translation, photo uploads and video calls.
- Multi-country trips. A regional eSIM can cover several countries at once — compare in our best eSIM for Europe guide.
- You want a fixed price. A prepaid plan cannot run up a roaming bill.
The best of both: keep your number, use the eSIM for data
Modern phones support two lines at once. A common setup:
- 1Install the travel eSIM before you fly and set it as your mobile-data line.
- 2Keep your home line on for calls and texts, but turn off its data roaming.
- 3Skip the day pass unless you need to make or receive many regular calls — incoming calls and SMS on your home line may still be charged at your carrier's roaming rates.
WhatsApp, FaceTime and other calling apps run over the eSIM's data, so you can still call home cheaply. Our dual SIM setup guide walks through the settings, and the data-only eSIM calls and texts guide explains what still works on your home number.
Avoiding a surprise roaming bill
The easiest mistake is leaving data roaming on for your home line. Your phone may quietly use it for background syncing, and pay-as-you-go roaming is the most expensive way to use data abroad. More tips in how to avoid international roaming charges.
FAQ
Is an eSIM cheaper than an international plan? For data, usually yes — especially on trips of a week or more. A carrier day pass charges per day, while a travel eSIM charges once for a fixed amount of data.
Is an eSIM cheaper than Verizon TravelPass? For most trips longer than a few days, yes. TravelPass charges a daily fee on each day you use your phone abroad, whereas a travel eSIM is a single prepaid price for your data.
Can I keep my phone number with a travel eSIM? Yes. The eSIM runs as a second line for data, and your home SIM stays active for calls and texts. Your carrier's roaming rates still apply to calls and texts on that line.
Do I need an international plan if I have an eSIM? Not for data. You might still want one if you make many regular phone calls on your home number abroad.
Will my phone work with a travel eSIM? Most phones from roughly 2019 onwards support eSIM, but the phone must also be carrier-unlocked. Check your exact model before buying.
What happens if I forget to turn off roaming on my home line? Your carrier may charge pay-as-you-go roaming or a day pass for any data used on that line. Turn its data roaming off before you land.