Buying a SIM card in Europe: The cheapest way to use a smartphone while traveling
On a recent trip, I spent two weeks visiting Paris and traveling around Bordeaux and the Loire Valley. To stay connected with my American iPhone this time around, I decided to try out a new strategy and buy a SIM card in Europe.
Rather than purchasing what was then a $70 “Passport” package from AT&T before leaving (the company has since switched its international plan to a $10/day International Day Pass, as we discussed in this series of posts), I instead bought a SIM card package in Paris from a French phone carrier for €39. Once I popped it into my phone, I just used my smartphone as I normally would, although I now was dialing with a French phone number.
The experience was actually much simpler than I had imagined. In the end, it provided me with a much more cost-effective way of using my iPhone while traveling outside the States. The biggest difference? I used my phone freely for calls, emailing and even browsing the web, and never even got close to exhausting my plan. All that fretting over data use — gone.
I’ll explain how I did it, and the various options I had below. But first, let’s quickly review the choices you face when traveling abroad with your phone.
This article was updated in November 2021 with new information and prices.
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Traveling abroad? Your smartphone options
As we’ve discussed in this series of posts, travelers from North America have several options for using their smartphones when visiting Europe.
Purchasing an international package from your carrier
You could sign up for an international phone/texting/data package from your carrier (for example, AT&T’s International Day Pass package). You will pay for these packages as an “add-on” to your normal bill. They will usually grant you some combination of data transfer (for emailing, using the web and apps) and text messages. They will also usually lower your per-minute charge for using your telephone, although it’ll still probably cost you about $1 per minute. Some plans will offer free calls to certain countries, including the U.S. (Read about AT&T’s and Verizon’s plans.)
Winging it without a package
Many American tourists just wing it, and plan to simply limit their phone use or “try to keep it turned off”. While this is an option, be advised that without a package, charges for texts and phone calls are more expensive. Data transfer charges are usually astronomically high. If you plan to use data (rather than Wi-Fi) to check your email or use the web during your trip, this isn’t a good idea. (One notable exception is T-Mobile, which offers its “Magenta” customers free international data and calls for only $0.25 per minute.)
Some travelers who “wing it” place their phone into “airplane mode” for most of the trip, restricting email and web browsing to times when they’re connected to a Wi-Fi network. Others just keep their cellular data and roaming off, and use their phones for texting and calling. Still, expensive dangers lurk (especially if you haven’t set up your phone correctly).
Purchasing a SIM Card abroad
You can also purchase a SIM Card from a local phone carrier in Europe. As we’ll discuss below, you can either use it in your regular U.S. smartphone (if your phone permits it), use it in an old phone that is SIM-card compatible, or buy a cheap phone (either back home before you leave or once in Europe) for the new SIM Card.
Options, options… Looking over the SIM cards available for purchase at a “Relay” newsstand at Charles de Gaulle airport. Photo: EuroCheapo
The benefits of buying a SIM card in Europe
Why would you go through the hassle of all this? Because buying and using a SIM card in Europe will almost certainly be far cheaper than using your home carrier while traveling abroad. When using a SIM card from a European carrier, you’re buying a new phone number. This means you gain access to the same low-cost dialing options available to locals.
There are many, many European phone carriers, and each offers different SIM cards, packages and options. Broadly speaking, to make this work for you, you’ll need to purchase two things:
1. a SIM card (which gives your phone the actual phone number), and
2. credits to make phone calls and use data.
During a trip to France, I purchased a $49 SIM package from Orange, one of France’s largest carriers. This package, aimed at international travelers, offers:
• a SIM card with a French phone number
• Unlimited calls throughout Europe
• 120 minutes of phone calls globally (placed or received)
• Unlimited text messages throughout Europe
• 1,000 text messages globally (sent or received)
• 20 GB of mobile data throughout Europe
Sounds great, right? I didn’t even come close to using all of my minutes, let alone my text messages or 20 GB of data! (I could dial #123# to track my usage.) If, however, I had exhausted my plan, I could have recharged it by buying Orange credits at any newsstand.
Note: This is by no means the best deal out there, nor are we promoting this particular offer. This was the most convenient for me, as I was a bit hesitant about setting up my phone for the first time. Orange operates stores throughout France and is staffed with friendly folks who will set your phone up for you.
Also, note that many Orange SIM cards are only available for 14 days before you lose unused data and need to top them off again.
If you are going to France, check out this article on the best SIM cards in France. You can also read about the top SIM Cards in Spain and Germany.
You’ll see plenty of SIM-related packages at newsstands in France and throughout Europe, like SFR’s “Call Cheap” package for visitors. Photo: EuroCheapo
How does it work?
A SIM (“subscriber identification module”) card is a small chip that you place inside your phone that controls your actual phone number and can also store your contacts. These are sold by cellular carriers and are used in all phones that operate using GSM technology (and some newer CDMA phones, as well).
Europe’s mobile phone carriers use GSM technology. In the U.S., AT&T and T-Mobile use GSM, while Verizon and Sprint use another technology, CDMA. If your phone uses CDMA, you should verify with your carrier whether or not your phone operates using a SIM card. (Many of the newer smartphones do.)
(Note: All iPhones use SIM cards, except for a CDMA version of the iPhone 4 produced for Verizon and Sprint customers.)
For an iPhone with GSM technology, you can unlock the phone (see below), pop open the SIM card slot (on the right side of the phone), remove the card, and pop in a new SIM card you buy abroad.
When the phone reboots with the new SIM card, you’re in business and operating with a brand new phone number.
What about locked phones?
Before you get too excited about using your phone abroad, you need to make sure that it will work with European SIM cards! Unsurprisingly, U.S. cellphone carriers are not exactly eager for you to start shopping around for cheaper calling options. To make the SIM swap more difficult, many carriers “lock” their phones. This prevents the customer from using a SIM card from another carrier. If your phone is locked and you load up another carrier’s SIM card, it simply won’t work.
To get around this, you’ll need to “unlock” your phone. Many American phones are eligible for being unlocked as soon as they go out of contract, or once any service or payment installments are paid off.
AT&T customers
If you qualify (or to check to see if you qualify), submit a request to AT&T to unlock your phone or tablet. They will then send you instructions on how to unlock your phone.
T-Mobile customers
Read the conditions for unlocking your phone here. Note that T-Mobile requires you to download a special app to unlock your phone. (As noted above, T-Mobile customers with “Magenta” plans already get free texting and data throughout Europe and calls at $.25 per minute. You might not want to go through any of this — lucky you!)
Verizon customers
Many Verizon phones are not locked after 60 days of purchase. Read more here.
In my case, my iPhone was out of contract. I filled out AT&T’s form, received detailed instructions on how to unlock it, backed up my phone on iTunes, and then reinstalled my data from a backup.
If it sounds complicated, it wasn’t. Within about an hour, I had backed up, jumped through some hoops, restored my backed up data to my phone, rebooted… and voila, it was unlocked and ready to go.
What happens if you can’t unlock your phone?
If you can’t unlock your phone, don’t despair. You can simply use another phone. Some people prefer to use a second phone anyhow, leaving their regular phone on standby throughout their trip in case it receives important calls or text messages. (Remember, if you swap a SIM card into your normal phone, you’ll be changing your phone number.)
Here are some other phone options you could use.
Use an old phone
Most people have an old mobile phone sitting around at home in the back of a drawer somewhere. While it might not be a cutting-edge smartphone, it could still do the job for your trip. Check out your collection of old phones to see if any of them operate with SIM cards.
Buy a cheap phone in Europe
Really cheap phones are easy to come by in Europe. Some SIM card packages aimed at tourists even come with a phone to use! In France, for example, the carrier SFR offers a package with a SIM card and cheapo phone. While some of these phones won’t be the most current models on the market, they can be used to make calls, send text messages, and even check in on your favorite apps.
Buy a cheap phone before leaving for Europe
You can also pick up a cheap SIM card-compatible smartphone for as little as $20 at major retailers, like Walmart and Target, in the U.S. When shopping for a cheap “no contract” phone, just make sure it takes a SIM card.
How do you install the SIM card?
So you have an unlocked phone and have purchased a SIM card in Europe. Now you just need to install it in your phone.
While the installation process is different for every device, the process should be as simple as powering off your phone, locating the SIM compartment, popping it open, removing the current card, and placing your new SIM card inside. When you power on your device, you usually will need to dial an activation number (provided with the card), and you should be good to go.
On iPhones 4 through 11, the slot is located along the right-hand side of the device. On newer models (iPhone 12 and 13), the slot is on the left side. Regardless of the location, the slot can be opened by inserting a small point (such as the head of a pin or paperclip) into the hole. (Read more about loading a SIM card on Apple.com.)
Important note: It’s very important that you put your old SIM card in a safe spot! Don’t lose this card — it’s your home phone number!
A sign for the “Orange Holiday” package geared to international tourists in France. Photo: EuroCheapo
Buying SIM cards in Europe
Although rules and regulations about the buying and selling of SIM cards vary depending on the country, in most European countries, you can easily buy a SIM card in just minutes from cell phone stores, newsstands, tobacco shops… even vending machines in some relaxed countries! Other countries may require that you register with a passport or other form of identification.
Most commonly, you can buy SIM cards at:
• Newsstands and unaffiliated cellphone store: In France, for example, most newsstands at train stations and airports sell a variety of SIM-card products, including the cards, credits, and packages. These shops will sell you SIM cards offered by Orange, SFR, Bouygues Telecom, low-cost Lycamobile, and other carriers.
• Carrier-specific stores: Don’t be afraid to drop into mobile carriers’ stores. Be aware, however, that they’ll obviously be limited to selling only their particular SIM cards and credits. They won’t be able to offer the objective advice you’re likely to find from a newsstand or unaffiliated phone shop. (On the other hand, they’re more likely to spend time with you talking through the options and helping you set up your phone.)
• Buy before you leave. Many international companies will sell you European SIM cards before you leave home for your trip. These can be convenient, saving you the hassle of hunting down a SIM card once there. But they rarely present the same savings you’d find simply by buying directly in Europe. (And, as noted above, you can also order the Orange SIM Card before your trip.)
Check out the options available in unaffiliated mobile shops, like this one in Paris. Photo: EuroCheapo
Considerations when shopping for SIM cards
With so many carriers and so many choices, you’ll need to do a bit of comparison shopping to figure out which carrier will work best for you. I would suggest heading for the nearest newsstand or unaffiliated cellphone shop once you’ve arrived, check out the SIM card options, and strike up a conversation with the cashier.
There are several things to keep in mind when deciding on a SIM card.
Package or pay-as-you-go
Are you buying a SIM card that needs credits or a SIM package that’s already loaded with a set number of minutes, texts and data?
How much do calls cost
When you buy credits, how much do calls, texts and data cost? (These credits usually come in increments of €5 / €10 / €15 / €25, and often include small bonus credits that increase the more you purchase.)
Connection charge
Are you going to be assessed an initial “connection charge” each time you make a call? (Lycamobile, for example, offers very low per-minute charges, but also charges to make the connection.)
Other countries
Will your SIM work in other countries, or will you need to buy another card if you cross borders? With policy changes in June 2017, SIM cards can be used throughout the EU without extra roaming charges. In the past, you might have had to buy a new card for each country, depending on your plan. You can see the details of the new EU rules here.
Wi-Fi hotspots
Does your SIM card grant you access to Wi-Fi hotspots? Many packages from larger carriers will offer this, which could come in handy.
Finally, don’t forget…
If you’ve made it this far in the article, you’re obviously serious about using a SIM card abroad. However, there is just one more major, if obvious, point worth considering.
When you place a SIM card in your phone, your phone number will change.
At the risk of repeating myself: The SIM card that you buy dictates your phone number. When I slipped the French SIM card into my phone, I now had a French phone number. (You can now see why some people prefer to bring along an old phone or purchase a cheapo “travel phone” expressly for SIM card use.)
This also means that if you swap a new SIM card into your phone, your normal U.S. number will not work. When people try to call your U.S. number, it will go straight to voicemail. You’ve basically just taken your number “offline.” You could prep for this by changing your voicemail message in advance to state that you’ll be traveling, and include your new number. (This can be tricky, as you usually won’t know the new number until you buy your new SIM card.)
And the same goes for text messages. As your phone number will have changed, your texts will be coming from a number that your friends will not, at first, recognize. This can be a touch awkward at first, but they’ll catch on. Some people get around this by sending text messages through an app like Whatsapp or Facebook Messenger. But these will only work when using data or connected to a Wi-Fi network.
Your SIM card questions and stories
Do you have an experience buying and using a SIM card in Europe? Share with us below! Have questions about how it all works? Ask away — we’ll try to help!
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👋 hi! I was told you can use WhatsApp for free when in Holland and Spain, as long as you are on flight status and WiFi on. Is this true?
Hi Tom,
So if I put a new French SIM card in my old iPhone, of course I lose my old US phone number. But what happens to my emails and my contacts? Do I lose these settings for the emails and need to re-enter those? And do my “contacts” vanish too? Thanks!
I’m going to italy for 3 months what is the best way use my phone.it’s unlocked.
I believe the Orange SIM cards (for voice, data, and text) that you mention are generally only valid for 14 days, and then must be topped off, even if you have a lot of unused data… so if you’re traveling for a longer period, beware.
Thank you for this update, John!
Do you need a different SIM card for each country in Europe? We are planning a European vacation through seven countries and want to make sure we have a working phone.
Are you looking to rent a sim card for Israel? GroupSim is one of the best company that provides you with unlimited calls and data at a very affordable price. We provide the best network of sim card.
Some European countries require you to show your passport when buying a sim card. Italy also requires that you have a ‘codice fiscale’ (Italian social security number), also a sim card bought elsewhere works in Italy but can not be recharged there.
Do you know which countries do not require a SIM?
Buy best network of SIMCARD from GroupSim at very affordable price. Get the unlimited calls and data at very affordable price.
Hi Tom, thank you for the information
I would like to ask you a question if possible
I’m flying to Paris, and 2 months later, I’m flying to London
Is it possible to purchase a sim card in Paris that will last and also work in London?
I’m interested in a “data only” kind of card, I don’t need to make calls and texts.
Thanks for your help,
Tom
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Here’s a problem. I have an unlocked iphone 6 without a contract. I normally use it only in wifi mode as a drone controller.
Recently I took it to Mexico, got a SIM card, and it worked fine on phone and text.
This month in Spain with the same phone, I bought an Orange SIM card which wouldn’t work and the Orange staff couldn’t really explain why not (but they refused a refund!)
When trying to use it, I get the message: “Your SIM card cannot be accessed. Please call your carrier to obtain your PUK code.”
I don’t have a carrire.
Any ideas?
I just got back from traveling to England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland. I bought a EE Simm card for my LG (unlocked) phone. All I wanted it for was to check Emails and use Google Maps (most important). My new phone/sim card worked ok, albeit a little slow ( I believe it was running 3G) until I got to Republic of Ireland. I have a Tmobile phone, and it took a conscientious worker at a Vodaphone store in Dublin several hours to get a SIM card that would fit my needs. I ended up buying a new Vodaphone Sim card for 20 euro, which didn’t work at all sometimes (because it was running 2G) or was painfully slow.
Is there ONE SIM card I can buy either when I arrive or before leaving that works in all western Europe countries and runs faster than 2G? I am returning to Europe in the spring. Thank you.
At least two companies are selling devices that work in a 130 countries. The one I purchased is glocalme. You buy data per country (France, Italy etc) or for the area (Europe) for the period you need. Also it has two slots that you can add local SIM card. Rates are low and it has android and iOS to buy the data. Must tours have WhatsApp and you can contact them with no issues. I can connect to my office voip system to make calls but you could open a voip account with any provider for almost nothing
Don’t buy Orange. Ive had 2 days wrenched from my holiday trying to get it registered and still waiting. I bought it at the airport and the guy at the counter was supposed to register it on line but didn’t (which I didnt know until later) so after 2 days unable to call anyone at home I spent 2 hrs today trying to find an orange shop (no google map to help remember – only rude Parisians with a barge pole up their dierrieres) and when I went in the assistant was so arrogant he wouldnt even let me finish my sentence to tell him what was the problem.. the place was full of internet equipment but he couldn’t even be bothered. instead he went off in a speal of French to the other female assistant standing next to him – none if which zi underdtood but got the general gidt of. . My recommendation: skip Orange and skip Paris. its a beautiful city but so many of the Parisians are so very unpleasant that they ruin the experience. it also smells.
Thank you for the info. I find it quite valuable for my trip to Italy.
Hi. Great and informative article. Thanks much. My question: Does Orange or any other provider off er a 1-month package similar to the 14-day Orange Holiday? I visit France once a year and in the past have stayed only in France. I buy the Orange month-long service for around 20 euros. It includes unlimited calls and text and limited, but enough data. However, this year, I will take an eight-day side trip to Italy in the middle of my stay and will need limited calls and text while there. What would you recommend as the best solution? Thanks.
Hmmm… I’m planning on forwarding my cell phone to a Google Hangouts (USA) phone number before I leave the USA and then putting a French Sim card in my smartphone. I’ve done this for quite a few years. That way, calls to my USA cell phone # go to a USA phone # (no high charges) — and i get an email from Hangouts connecting me to a voice mail message. I can then use the Google Hangouts dialer to call any USA number (which I’m connected to the internet.)
This stuff makes me nervous as I am far from a techie. BUT I have been burned by ATT which does not auto load your plan. I also am not square on Data Roaming and exactly that means. But this article was VERY helpful and i think I am going sim card. I spend 2 days in Ireland can I buy a UK ready sim card in Ireland.
Hi Tom,
I’ve used a European SIM card with my iPhone each of the last two years. Your article is THE best I have seen on this subject. Thorough and concise. Well done. I recommend buying before the trip, unless standing in line at a mobile phone store is how you want to spend valuable vacation time. Having a phone and internet access on arrival at the airport is also great for dealing with airlines, finding friends, arranging transport, etc. I suggest taking a paperclip and a small plastic baggie when you fly over, use the paperclip to pop the tray, put in the new SIM and put the US SIM in the baggie, and reverse on the flight home.
Hi! This was very helpful! Just for clarification, so I am from the US and this fall I am studying abroad in London for a semester, however I am going to Spain for a week before hand, and I plan on doing more traveling during and after my semester, all the countries I plan on going to are a part of the EU, so would that mean that when I first arrive in Spain I can buy a sim card there and use it everywhere I go for the next couple of months? And what happens if I run out of data or minutes?
Hi Ellie,
We’re glad to hear the article was helpful! Most of the SIM Cards we recommend are good for a short period of time since our audience is mainly travelers on vacation. For example, the Orange card is only good for 14 days. So maybe you could use that card for Spain, then get a longer term one in London. Have a great semester. We have lots of London tips, but feel free to reach out if you have any more questions. https://www.eurocheapo.com/blog/category/united-kingdom/london
Hi Tom, I’ll be going to England for 6 weeks and I plan to travel to Scotland & Ireland at least twice during that time. I will then travel to Amsterdam, France, Italy, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, and Belgium for an additional two weeks. Should I get a sim card in England that will work for this time frame or get one before I leave the US?
Thank you in advance. I have a Samsung Note 8 from Verizon.
David
Hi David,
Sounds like a fun trip! The Orange Holiday Europe SIM Card that we talk about in the post can be used in all of those countries. But it is only good for 14 days. Your phone needs to be unlocked as well. For that long of a trip, you might want to get something in England when you arrive as you suggested.
Can the Find My Friends App (Verizon Iphone) be used from the U.S. to locate someone using the Orange Holiday Sim Card (With a French phone number?)
hi,
if I buy orange holiday for my travel to France, will my unlocked phone will be locked to “orange holiday co.”? in other words I could not go to SFR when my SIM card expires from orange holiday?
thank you…
Hi Alex,
Yes, the SIM card is able to be used for one carrier. Refills for an Orange card will be with an Orange refill (or top off).
Have a good trip!
I have a question about returning from a trip. When I get back from my trip will my phone US phone be reinstated or do I have to get a new one?
Thanks!
Our Samsung phones are unlocked and when visiting Italy, it is much cheaper to purchase a SIM card when here. When we were in Parma and Florence for 90-days each, we went to TIM and did a pay-as-you-go plan. It was pretty cheap then and now. We are currently in Rome and in Italy now for 1-year after finally obtaining our dual citizenship and we have gone with a new company, Kena. The plan is 9.99E/month and we “reload” every month. We use WhatsApp and Skype to speak with friends and family back home with both capabilities of video talking, texting, and leaving small voice clips. This works for us! ouritalianjourney.com
Thanks for a great article!
Visited the Netherlands (and a couple of other countries) in both 2017 and 2018. Buy a Lebara prepaid sim at the Airport (5 Euro). Download the app, register and buy a data bundle suited to your requirements. I paid 10Euro for 4Gb on my last trip. Valid for 30 days and it automatically roams through Germany, France and Belgium. The SIM can be used in three sizes, I used nano for iPhone.
I have tried SIM cards in many countries, only to be stymied by the language barrier while trying unsuccessfully to get them to work properly, and mysterious charges on my credit card after I got home. On my last trip to Europe, I purchased an Orange holiday package sim card for about $50 USD on Amazon. It was shipped to me here in the US, I installed it, and it worked flawlessly throughout Europe. The big benefit to me was that the site was in English, and I could easily see my usage, bump up my balance, etc. What I also use in other countries is a Skyroam portable WiFi hotspot which gives me real time maps and GPS wherever there is cell coverage.
Thanks for a for all the information! I am going to share this with my readers.
Did you activate your Orange sim card while still in the US, or did you wait until you got to Europe. I’ve heard that if you activate a sim card in the US it may associate with the US and then have higher fees in Europe. Is this accurate?
Hi , any idea on the sim card’s size?
Heard that the sim card are of the “regular” size. If one needs a nano sized sim card, it may cause another 10 plus euros?
I am travelling to Europe next week and thinking of getting a local simcard. AT&T passport plan is not a good plan as you still have to pay 35 cents per minute for calls and get only 200MB of data so that is not an option.
2nd option with AT&T is to pay $10 per day and continue same plan internationally. But then for 15 days I will be paying $150 to have phone connectivity in Europe. So if Orange has 40 Euro plan with 10GB of data then nothing beats that.
I have a iPhone 7 plus, never locked, and I’m traveling to Ireland next month. Does anyone know if Shannon Airport has a store that sells SIM cards that would be compatible with my phone? Would the pricing be the same at the airport vs. a vendor store in, say, Galway? I don’t need to make phone calls while I’m in Ireland, but I want to be able to use the messaging app and Google Maps., and check email, maybe post a few pics on Instagram. Thanks!
Any company recommendations for purchasing a SIM while in the USA to use in Europe?
I purchased an Orange holiday package sim card for about $50 USD on Amazon. It was shipped to me here in the US, I installed it, and it worked flawlessly throughout Europe.
While you say Europe, you don’t explicitly say UK.
What is the best SIM card to use in London and Cotswolds?
I want to be able to use Uber in London, and I’ve been burned before because
while talk is Ok in London, Uber app is not…
Your thoughts please…
Thank you
Hi Tom!
My mom’s iPhone 7 is unlocked so I was thinking of getting her a SIM card once we arrive to Paris. The only reason she needs her phone is to be able to text me when we split up and to use her Google maps. I have a T-mobile plan with unlimited text/data in Europe so texting is the best way for us. Since we both have iPhones, would we have the same benefits of texting (using data) versus text charges? Do you recommend a specific SIM package/carrier for her needs? Also, if she doesn’t end up using up all her SIM card data/text/minutes…can we save it for and give to anyone else traveling?
Thanks for this very informative article!
Hi Michelle,
Thanks for writing in and we’re glad you like the article! We also wrote about our favorite SIM Cards in France, so you can read that to find what might best meet your needs for your mom’s trip to Paris. https://www.eurocheapo.com/blog/best-sim-cards-for-your-trip-to-france.html
Certain US carriers also have plans that charge by the day (around $10) where people can use their regular plans in Europe. That might be an option too. I’m not sure about transferring a SIM Card but you could check with each carrier to see their policy. Have a great trip!
Best Regards,
Craig
Will I loose my list of contacts when I change the sim card ?
Hi Joelle,
No — your contacts are stored locally on your phone (kind of like your photos are stored on your phone). Your SIM card controls your phone number.
Best,
Tom
Uhhh. You do know that 40€ is equivalent to $50, making it actually cheaper to have gone with the AT&T plan… right?
Hi Zim,
Thanks for your comment. Well, even if the AT&T package is cheaper than a SIM card, it only lowers the per-minute charge for phone calls (it doesn’t include phone calls, like a SIM card), and the data transfer it gives you is way lower than the Orange SIM card. So, it’s a much better value to go with the SIM card.
Thanks,
Tom
Excellent advice and very timely as I’ll be traveling to France in about a month. I’ve just ordered my Orange sim. Thanks very much…. and
“you’ll see that Orange packs a lot more juice. (Sorry.)” <———–No you are not! lol
Has anyone purchased the Orange Holiday sim card on Amazon prior to traveling abroad? Curious to know if the seller on Amazon is valid/legitimate, and if your SIM card worked upon arrival. Thanks!
I think buying the card before you leave is a viable option now. You can buy the Orange Holiday card from amazon for $50, which is the same cost as 40 euros in the EU, and has the same prepaid function. This way, you don’t have to hunt down a store in the airport and wait in line or anything. You can set up your uber app, whatsapp, etc, ahead of time, so you can hit the ground running. To do what you suggest in this article will leave you without mobile coverage until you reach a store outside the airport to buy a SIM card.
BUT the prices of SIM cards at airports tend to be about double what they are in town, in our experience in several countries in 2017 – and less variety of packages. The convenience may be worth the price to you – it was not to us, and we waited and got much better deals the same evening or the next day, locally.
Great article! You very clearly laid out everything I wanted to know. Thanks!
When I travel, I normally use an old phone for the newly purchased sim card. I also remove the sim from my current phone, to remove the possibility of mistakenly using data. However, even with the removal of the sim, my friends and family usually text and talk to me through whatsapp. That’s usually done over wifi. I’ve never had a problem.
That’s a great idea. Thanks for sharing!
Maybe I missed it, but I believe you left out three very important items in your SIM card article:
1. Traveling with a friend or spouse? You can set your current US phone to “forward” calls to a their US phone number while you replace your SIM with a European carrier. When your companion is connected to WiFi they can listen to forwarded messages if they have set their iPhone to “WiFi calling” …
2. WiFi calling on an iPhone – especially from AT&T – makes outbound and inbound calling easy when connected to a reasonable fast WiFi connection. Uses up minutes from your current US plan.
3. As of February, 2017, all European carriers are required to offer free roaming between countries, including the US. Buy a SIM card in Spain and use it in France, Germany, Italy, etc. You only have to restart your phone when you cross the border in order to log into the new carrier. Your SIM card plan retains the original minutes, texts, and Gb of data you purchased.
Are there new rules, after July 2017, for foreigners that want to buy a SIM card in Europe? I went at two T-Mobile stores in Frankfurt and they refuse to sell me the SIM card. They told me that a foreigner outside Union European couldn’t buy anymore a SIM card following the new rules since July 2017.
I just bought a tourist SIM in Portugal (Sep 2017) good for lots of European countries (I don’t remember them all because I only cared about the ones I was going to). But I know different countries have different rules for cell phones so you’d have to check the country’s rules; Italy, for example.
I am going to France next week and am looking into the SIM card option. If I were to buy a SIM card in France, take my US SIM card out and replace it with the the France SIM card, would my whole phone be wiped of all music, pictures, texts, contacts, etc.? Also, after I come back to the US are there any technical issues or things I should be aware of when I change my SIM card back?
That’s what I would like to know as well!
No. Everything stays on your phone. You just lose your ability to use your normal US carrier and phone number to make or receive calls until you put your original SIM card back in. I lived in France for a month last year and purchased a SIM card there when I arrived. I’d pop my Verizon SIM card in every couple of days to check voicemail or call my mom who doesn’t do online and then pop the French one back in. The whole process was seemless.
Your phone is not wiped, but you’ll have to reenter passwords for all the sites you visit so you’ll need to remember all of those! Obviously, backing up sensitive files, storing copies on an external platform (hard copy or cloud) are ALWAYS good ideas.
T-Mobile is horrible ! They sell cards for Europe but your phone will not work well and they will rack up US non-wifi calls back to the US after giving you inadequate instructions on how to avoid this.
If your phone is lost or stolen, you can’t access your voicemail anymore like other countries.
be aware that if you don’t “port out” your phone, which means assign it to another phone company, and simply cancel it=you could lose your US phone number forever.
Tmobile lets you pause yours for 3 months but the company is in Brittan, not Europe and does not have any towers in europe=you are always at other towers of other companies==again horrible.
Don’t forget to put a sticker with your contact information and email on it in case you lose your phone etc.
Thank you for your article. In addition, it shoud be mentioned that from 15 June2017 for EU mobile providers new rules for roaming will be introduced. Details about it here
https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/frequently-asked-questions-roam-home
There is some good news as well. Recently a new service has launched – Savvy.One ( https://savvy.one )
By analyzing the route of the trip and thousands of mobile plans all round the world Savvy.One finds the best connection, provided by local or global mobile networks. Their database contains thousands of mobile plans and Sim cards of more than 170 countries. The service is for free.
Hi Tom
You have not mentioned the new “Wi-Fi calling” feature of AT&T as a simple way to call the US from Europe. Before you leave the US you only need to select “Wi-Fi Calling” and you are then able to make and receive Wi-Fi calls on your AT&T phone for free. Be sure and set your phone to not receive calls while you sleep!
Also, if two people are traveling together you can set one of the phones to “call forward to the other one.” This frees up that phone for a European SIM card while still getting the calls and messages you want.
Personal experience: I’ve used a foreign-purchased SIM and an international SIM in unlocked phones on 2 occasions. I live in Canada, a country with some of the world’s most expensive cell phone plans. With my Canadian plan, to get data, calls, and texts, most companies charge $10/day on a travel plan; this could reach $200 for a 3-week trip. I bought a pre-defined SIM in the UK which was good for x number of the same stuff for 1 month for $20 CAN. I got nowhere near the amount of texts and calls, but almost got through all my data. You can put credit on a Skype (or similar) account as well and use that as a much cheaper option, although connectivity and perhaps security will vary.
TIPS: By purchasing a SIM ahead of time from international carriers like GO SIM and others, which have telecommunication partners in many parts of the world, you’re more likely to get assistance in your language, you won’t need to stand in a line up, and you can pay for the card with your own currency.
CAUTIONS: If you buy a SIM in a country that you do not speak/read the language, and your phone is incorrectly set up, you won’t be able to figure out the error messages or get help. This happened to us in Spain. We lost days of important usage until we got to a larger city where someone from a competing phone company troubleshot for us. We also spent hours in a line up waiting to get a data plan.
An issue I had with a TRU Phone SIM was that calls kept getting dropped and I couldn’t figure out the international dialing to call out, but only could return calls once someone phoned me. Still not sure what the issue was (phone, carrier, me), but I got fed up with spending precious vacation time troubleshooting phone issues.
Does the 39Euros SIM card from Orange work in Germany as well?
I will be travelling 15-May till 19-May to france, germany, poland and italy.
Then again from 26-may to 15-june to london, croatia and Slovenia.
can I get sim card for these 32-days with say 5 GB data thro hot spot?
Hello,
The most of the reviewers are right about the SIM card. Last year I have visited three different countries. When I flew to Barcelona and I went to Orange Company and purchased SIM card which worked perfectly whenever i went even the GPS worked as well. I was planning to do to Lisbon, Portugal so i decided it will be good idea to purchase additional minutes. I went back to same place where i have purchased my SIM cards , they informed me that i can use the same SIM card in Lisbon. I spent 20 euro for additional minutes and it turned out the SIM card doesn’t work at all. I spent 20 euro for nothing. Please be aware of that.
I just used the information in article for a one week trip to France. It was really helpful, but I have a few added comments/recommendations for others.
I bought a SIM card at an Orange Cell phone store for 10 Euros, and came with a 5 Euro credit. I was able to simple install the card in my iPhone 4S and then just turn the phone on (I backed up the phone before I left, but thats all I did, no factory reset or anything). The biggest issue I encountered was that it wouldn’t let me proceed until I logged into my apple account. Luckily there was WiFi nearby and I remembered my logon info. After clearing that hurdle, it worked fine.
I did have to wait one day for Orange to send me text state that my account was all setup so I could then buy a 1 month phone and data package.
The most significant finding I had from this experience is that most cell carriers will not let you tether (use your cell iPhone as WiFi hotspot for other devices) on any pay-as-you-go plan. This really messed things up for me since I needed it for my work computer, but then I figured out that I got free WiFi with Orange due to my mobile account. So even at my in-laws home in a little village outside Toulouse, Orange WiFi was available.
So the lessons learned from my experience are; know your Apple Account info, install your SIM card in place with WiFi, forget about tethering your iPhone, and look for free WiFi from your cell carrier.
Thanks again to author for generating this article which really improved my trip.
Hi Alex,
Thanks for sharing your experience with using a SIM card in France. These tips are very helpful!
I bought my sim card for Europe at simoptions.com and the service was really great.
The data package was enough, the price was correct and I got delivered at home before I left.
It really is a great deal.
I purchased a LycaMobile card in France and then purchased add-ons so that I could use it “seamlessly” in the rest of Europe and Italy (a separate zone).
After a lot of hassle, I got it working in Paris and then it worked fine for France. Crossing in to Switzerland, no issues. It continued to work fine.
Germany: The phone continued to function, but not data. This was made worse by the fact that they don’t answer email and calling their support is a toll call (I.e. even though LycaMobile has a company in Germany, they are not connected). So, I needed to spend about 10 Euros to call the terrible support line a few times (hold times are long, service is spotty at best). The final answer was that mobile data wasn’t working in Germany!
Italy: The mobile data worked but couldn’t seem to make the phone work. A lot of error messages when calling numbers.
UK: Again, the data worked but couldn’t call or receive.
If I were to do it again, I would never use their service.
I purchased a sim card from LeFrenchMobile for my daughter to use in France. She should have data on the card but gets a message that she does not have a data bundle. She then purchased a small amount of data to see if that worked…got a message that she was successful however still not able to use data. Anyone have a solution? Does she need to do anything special to her phone (Iphone 6 through Verizon when in the united states)?
I would like to suggest one more alternative to the ones listed in the article – local prepaid cards. Sure, it won’t be very convenient if you are doing Rioters and visiting 10 countries. Then you would end up paying more and having 10 SIM cards you have no use for. However, if you plan on visiting 2 or 3 countries then I think it is a great option. As prepaid cards are accessible in pretty much all major shopping malls, kiosks, service provider shops and outlets – you will easily find them. Also if you’d want to compare the prices, it is easy to do. Take, for example, Baltic countries Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
Lithuania, TeliaSonera group but the prepaid SIM card is called “Ezys” (http://www.ezys.lt/index.php/mobile-data-plans-/310001). Starter kit is 2,29 EUR with 1GB 4G internet. Additional packages are also available (provided in the link). Total 2.29 EUR.
Estonia, TeliaSonera group, Super prepaid SIM card (https://www.super.ee/en/konekaart). 200mb of data for 1 EUR. You can buy additional packages also. Like 2 EUR for 1 GB, valid for one month. In total that is 3 EUR.
Latvia, you can choose from two Bite or Tele2. As both of the websites are only available in Russian and Latvian I am sharing another resource which reflects prices accurately (http://prepaid-data-sim-card.wikia.com/wiki/Latvia). I would choose Bite, price for the card is 2 EUR (but buying a more expensive one is also an option – it will have higher credit once you start using it). You only get 50 MB with this one but surely you can order additional plan, for example 2GB will cost you 6.40 Eur. Total 8.40 Eur.
So for all 3 countries that would be 13.69 EUR, which is not that bad. Cards would be active for one month, you would also get some free local calls and SMS. And comparing to the card you bought for 39 EUR, you save 25 EUR.
Yes I use European SIM cards while I’m in Europe. I carry three phones with me. One has a Ukraine SIM in it the other has a Polish SIM card in it and my third has my American SIM card in it but it’s always turned off in Europe. Between the two SIM cards I have enough talk, text and data time to last me more than a month. If I need more time I can buy extra time by buying the cards at most kiosks depending on what country I’m in. The Polish card I can use throughout Europe while my Ukraine card also allows me to use inside of most countries in Europe. Between the two it’s a heck of a lot cheaper to use than the plan that I have with T Mobile. As long as I use my European SIM cards once a year, which I do, I keep the same number throughout my travels.
Thanks for your article. Very substantial and helpful, as were many of the comments.
Three questions which I believe would be helpful for all foreigners visiting UK/Eurozone:
Is UK included when you say ‘Europe’? I’m visiting the UK and Italy on one trip.
Is there a web site somewhere with a list of SIM card issuers by region: i.e. UK and Eurozone?
Is there a web site showing coverage maps? Specifically for central Italy, the mountains and eastward to Pescara/Adriatic Coast?
I think these links would be helpful to have for all foreigners visiting multiple countries.
Hi, I see you keep using the same sim cards. I have been getting sim cards for the past year (use mostly for data and it is fantastic for Google Maps, Google Translate, etc when away from WIFI). Cheap too. I buy one on arrival in each country and it is really easy. I now have sim cards for Russia, Spain, Poland, UK, USA, Jordan, etc. I have been keeping them in a little case designed for larger cards, but it works. I am curious about using the same SIM cards — do they expire, or can you use the unused data months later? If they expire can you top them up? If you use up the data can you add more on your next visit? Does it depend on the card you buy? I could ask but usually there is both a language barrier and a tech barrier (I don’t always understand the explanation).
I have also kept all the packaging and receipts just in case I need something but I can’t really understand the technical information. I suppose I should at least record the phone number somewhere?
You missed one important point – when you remove your original sim card, put it somewhere safe! If you lose it, you lose the ability to go back to your original number.
Great tip! Thanks for sharing.
So true! Those sim cards are tiny! The trickiest thing about them for me was getting them *out* of my phone. You might have to use a small paperclip or stud earring post to pop out the little receptacle that holds the card.
I tend to keep a travel phone which is unlocked and seperate from my USA phone .
As the new I phones are launched there are great deals on the previous model I phones. Just got I phone 5C unlocked 8 Gb for $80 on eBay . Traveling to UK soon intend to use a Three uk sim ( you can get some decent talk, text, 1Gb data) for 10 pounds. I would invest in the phone or better a mobile Mifi with data only SIM card – you can tether several phones , Lap top , some offer 5-10 devices. It pays for itself over renting a phone etc. Many European phone carriers have Apps that allow you to place on your phone and Top Up with credit card or voucher.
Hi I have a question! I frequently go to Croatia and get a SIM card once I reach my family’s house but with flying into Paris I do not have the luxury of relying on friends or family phone when I land. Do you know by chance if at the airport before I leave I am able to buy one so we are able to know where to go without being lost tourists? Thank you!
Hi, Tom! Thanks for the very informative article. I was travelling around Europe recently and before going, stumbled upon your blog. It helped a lot in avoiding roaming fees. Instead of using the service of my phone network as AT&T was taking a while and I was leaving soon, I opted for one of those sites that offer to unlock your phone for free: unlockyoursim.com. It worked as well. Unlocking your phone and buying a local SIM is definitely more cost-efficient, and your section on choosing SIM cards helped me a great deal. I’ll be keeping all that in mind next time I go on a trip. Thank you again. Happy travelling!
The latest IOS updates include ‘WiFi assist” . I strongly suggest that you turn that option off because it will automatically use cellular data when WiFi connectivity is poor. Settings>/Cellular>scroll down>WiFi Assist.
Thank you for such an informative article. I still have a question; if I purchase a French SIM card, will I also be able to use it to call back to the U.S? And vise versa, will calls come in from the U.S?
I already called my cell phone provider and got the unlock code for my phone, so now I’m researching what company to purchase SIM card from.
Thank you
I found Verizon has a “Travelpass” that lets you use your “global” phone (must be pretty new!) in Europe for $10 a day. That is billed only on days you use the phone. It seemed pretty pricey to me, but it lets you use your own existing plan, rather than a more limited amount of calls and data.
For just a week, I thought it was worth it, as ordinarily I’d buy a sim card and top up the account, and that would be 50 pounds or so. This seemed easier and for about the same amount.
The article is oriented at short-stay visitors. It isn’t clear about buying more time for the existing sim card. For people on repeated extended stays in France, where can one find out about recharging the sim card and keeping the same number? Is there a customary time period (six months?) in which this can be done?
I bought a European SIM card for my smart phone while in Italy. I was asked at one point if I wanted to save my pictures on it. I agreed. Can I now download onto my laptop? These pictures are precious to me. I later moved the card to a throw away phone and a pickpocket took my smart phone. I’m assuming my pictures are saved on that SIM card.
Photos are not stored on a sim card, only your own phone number and often your phone contacts. No photos can be stored on a Sim card.
I think all of the telecos are a bit shady so it’s best to keep on them.
I’ve given Verizon my travel dates and they better not try to charge past my return date. The $40 per month is supposed to be prorated per day and I’m not going to be gone for a full month. We’ll see. I’m taking my iPad along and using WiFi most of the time. Another ‘secret’ is to keep your cellular data “OFF” and only turn it on when you use it. 100 MB of data doesn’t go very far so my iPad will do most of my Internet work. The $40 per month plan is supposed to work in all/most of Europe. We’ll see how it works out. The good news is I keep my number and I can make calls home as though I was home.
can i use an iphone 3G- i think it takes a mini SIM card- are those readily avaialble?
If I buy a SIM card from the airport in France how do I activate it? I read that in France activation Requires you to show your passport…, are you supposed to go a store after for that? Kinda defeats the purpose of buying it in the airport…
You can activate it immediately. However, there is a coupon that you must complete and return via mail with a copy of your passport within 30 days or service will be suspended.
Tom, thanks for the great article, very informative.
I’ll be heading to France soon and I called Verizon since I have their plan. I found out that, for $40 per month I can get 100 MB data, 100 minutes of calls and 100 outbound texts. The nice thing is I keep my existing telephone number from home, don’t have to worry about a SIM card or re-installing my Verizon SIM card and they prorate. I will be arriving June 1st and departing on the 22nd so I would pay 22/31 [their average month is deemed to have 31 days] of $40 or $28.39 for the22 day period.
For that 22 day period I would have a limit of 70.96 minutes [rounded down to 70 minutes] of calls – including from back home – 70 MB of data and 70 outbound texts. Inbound texts are unlimited. My plan cuts off roughly in the middle so I would need two prorated stints but the sum of the two is as indicated above. Beats worrying about needing an extra phone as well.
Thanks again, a helpful article. 🙂
I thought I did this last year, when in Norway, Sweden and Denmark. However once I returned home I was charged for 2 months of the package because they did not prorate over billing cycles. It was disappointing, and with each entry into a new country, I’d receive a text saying I couldn’t use the calling features until I activated them, (again!!). I am also traveling to Paris this fall, and this time I’m taking my old iPhone 5 and buying a local sim card there, as the phone is unlocked. So good luck if you trust Verizon
Hello!
I’m moving to Paris for a year soon and I am interested in buying the Orange SIM package you mentioned. However, when I was looking at the picture you attached of the Orange ad, on the bottom it says “valid for 14 days.”
Well I use a normal amount of data, don’t make TOO many calls and communicate mostly through Whatsapp, so if I don’t use all the 120 minutes, 1000 texts, etc.. Withing 14 days- does it all expire? Or could I elongate all that data for a month, or 3 weeks per se?
I have also done this with a Mobile Mi Fi in which you can tether an I Phone , I -Pad, Computer etc . In this case you are buying Data only Sim Cards- you can get a lot 1-5 gigabytes for very little euros in Europe. Many telecom are at the Airport. Another option for phone calls is to set up a Skype account , download the Skype App on your Smart phone and make Sype calls via Internet. You can buy Skype cards at Targets in USA/ Skype calls within a country or from Country back to USA are 2-3 cents per minute. Unused Skype minutes roll over. This has worked for many in many European Countries.
I am leaving for the south of France the end of this month. I was told my tablet and my laptop need international sim cards as well as my phone. Is this true? I have an HTC One through Credo Mobile and I’ve had it unlocked iin preparation for buying a sim card in France.
I’m reading as much as I can before our family heads to Europe this summer, and I’m so thankful I ran across this article. Very informative! Thank you, Tom. I don’t know if you are still responding to comments on this thread, but on the off chance you or someone else is able to answer my questions:
I have two phones – an old iPhone 4s and an in-use iPhone 5s purchased through AT&T which are both unlock capable. By the time we leave for Europe, I may have a new 6s, but it would be under contract, so I will be using my 5s in that situation… and my 4s if I don’t yet have a new phone for fear of losing it and being out a cell hone when I get back. Do you see any reason either my 4s or 5s might not work as long as I have them unlocked before I head to Europe? The comments on CDMA, LTE, and GSM have me a little confused.
We are staying in Barcelona and all over France and Italy from mid July to mid August. I am hoping to use my phone overseas for three things – texting people here in the US, making and receiving a few phone calls if necessary, and using data while out and about for GPS/map info and maybe a train/bus app. I would love to be able to look up restaurants, train and bus station schedules, and get directions from Google Maps while driving our rental car. For this I believe I would need texting, maybe a lot of data, and a small amount of minutes. Does this sound right? We will be there for 1 month, so the Sim package duration works out perfectly.
If I understood the article correctly, I need to unlock whichever phone I decide to use, buy a sim package once I arrive, pop it into my smartphone, and it will work. Is this correct? My contacts are already on my old phone even though there is no sim in it. Does this mean they will still be there when a new European sim is popped in?
Can I receive texts and phone calls to my new European number from my family in the US with no additional features on their plan like an international texting/calling plan? My entire family has iPhones if it makes a difference. I’m guessing we could use some sort of app if necessary instead of the standard phone and texting features. I would prefer the standard ones if they work though.
Also, will I be able to use all the same features on wifi there as I use here – texting through iMessage, sending/receiving email, FaceTime, Facebook, checking local weather, and surfing the web? Most of the places we are staying offer wifi, and hopefully I will be able to utilize it.
Sorry for the lengthy post. Just wanted to be thorough in my questions.
Thanks a ton for any help!!
It sounds like you have everything figured out! You should be able to pop a European SIM card into your iPhone & be on your way (: When you put a new SIM in your iPhone, it will act brand new in many ways. You will sign in the your iCloud account which should sync all your contacts & preferences with the new phone number.
Because iMessage & Facetime audio calls run on wifi, you should be able to communicate with your friends in the US with these features like you would at home. If someone without an iPhone tries to text or call you at your new European number, they will be charged for international services.
Every app you mentioned should work nearly everywhere in the world–you’re totally set when it comes to that.
When it comes to how much data you will need, I recommend reviewing your regular consumption information. Assuming you use GPS & data frequently at home, you probably will not need more than you usually use in a month. You can always consult a calculator like http://www.att.com/att/datacalculator/.
Buon Viaggio!
Hello Jennifer, I’m kinda in the same boat as you. Although I didn’t see any replies. Did you get a reply directly to your email? If so, would you share it. Much thanks. Pat
Hi
Thanks for a very informative article. I am going to France for1 month and need my iphone for navigating the roads with google maps, I probably will not use the phone much and will use my ipad for email etc on a wifi network, so my question is this: are there some French plans that are better for data rather than minutes of phone usage?
thanks
When I purchase my SIM card in Ireland and get my Irish number, will all my apps still work?
If I decide to use my phone (iphone6 with Verizon) in Ireland will it be ready to (it is unlocked) without any activation ?
Many thanks for a really thorough informative article.
Best article I have read on this topic — any updated recommendations for a SIM that will work well (e.g. good coverage and secure) in multiple European countries? Traveling soon.
Please advice could I buy sim card if I am 16 years old?
Informative article, but you fail to mention you must bring/show your passport when you set up your Sim card
Could you use iMessage on your iPhone to message people at home in the US without the international text charges?
I’m pretty sure you’re stuck with data charges then, unless you are using wifi.
Yes, IMessage is free from IOS device to IOS device (IPhone, IPad, Macbook etc) when set up properly. If the text bubble is blue, it is free. If it is green, there are charges.
Great article. We just bought an apt. in Rome and I set up a wi-fi cube. Worked fine for internet, but the wifi isn’t strong enough to use Viber to call back home in the US. (Thick walls in the appartamento.) I need to check in at home daily. Will a SIM card in my old iPhone allow me to call the US? I know it is a good idea for local usage in Rome, but my real need is international. I also don’t care about usage outside of Italy.
It is a convenient decision to buy such card if you are willing to travel throughout the whole Europe but it’s not if you are going to visit one country only. I have always dreamt of visiting Lithuania- one of the baltic countries because it looked very untouched, undiscovered. I was using http://www.ezys.lt phone services and have no complaints, as I was told- local cards in Europe are cheaper.
Your article is very informative – really outstanding. Thank you.
Question: is it possible to upload photos to iCloud using a SIM card France?
Dear Tom,
May I know the Orange SIM package that you have purchased, what is the validity period of the SIM ?
Thanks !
Does my contact list stay in my phone when the temporary foreign sim card is installed?
I will be arriving into Brussels this Monday ie 21st….but will be travelling thru Europe a few days in many cities…..Amsterdam, Budapest, Krakow, Fulda, Frankfurt and finally Paris
I have an Indian Sim card but have been advised by my server not to use the internet on it as it is expensive.
Which server would be my best option please.
Would appreciate a quick reply as I am leaving India soon…
I put a videophone sim card in my Unlocked iPhone 6 when I arrived in Scotland several months ago. Because the service is poor and I will be traveling around Europe for the next 4 weeks before returning to the US, I put my ATT sim card back in my phone after adding the $30 international to my ATT service plan. However, my phone will not recognize the ATT network (only recognizes Vodaphone UK in settings) and will not work. I have restored on my laptop several times and it will not revert the settings. I am still in Scotland. UGH! suggestions?
You are getting Vodaphone because there is no ATT network in Europe and you are roaming. If it won’t work on Vodaphone, try going to Settings and looking for the Carrier setting. Switch it from Automatic to Manual, and wait for the list to populate, the choose a different carrier. If all else fails, call ATT International free at +1-916-843-4685.
I have used a TruSim since 2012. The rates have gone down a lot since then so now within most Euro countries it’s 9 cents per minute, 9 cents per text, and 9 cents per megabyte for data. Receiving calls and texts is free.
A big advantage over buying a SIM in Europe is you get a U.S. number when you buy the TruSIM (the card is $29 but you get a $15 credit so the cost is $14). The US number is great if you want to be in touch with friends or family from home. The cost is the same to and from the US – 9 cents per minute, text, or MB (free for incoming). You can also get an additional UK or Australia number for $8/month (handy for people in European countries to contact you).
It’s prepaid and topping up is possible via text (with a card on file), phone, or online.
I had problems getting the card to work in Scotland and Ireland, but I was able to call their tech support using the SIM and they were very friendly and helpful, fixing the problem.
https://www.truphone.com/us/consumer/sim/
Verizon iPhone’s are fully unlocked, they are marketed as ‘World Phones’.
New phones may be world-phones, but older Verizon phones certainly are not.
You are absolutely right. I think they be more worldly since they started selling IPhones but definitely not before then. I happily bought out my contract and walked away in order to have a phone that would work in Europe.
Hi Tom, I’m moving to Europe but still have a U.S iphone with many months left on the contract. My iphone is a newer Verizon iphone so I know it uses a SIM but I can’t seem to get the SIM card out manually -is there a tool you need to use?
I’m fairly certain Verizon phones are supposed to be unlocked, as you say. BUT My other concern is this: if i take a phone that’s still on a U.S plan I’m still paying a large monthly smartphone bill for a phone I’m not using any US data or minutes on and then I have to buy the SIM with a plan in Europe so I’m basically paying a bill for services I”m not getting (in US) and then for minutes in Europe.
I don’t see any way of getting out of being stuck paying a phone bill back at home, other than taking my iphone off my Verizon plan and putting a cheapo phone on instead so they can’t charge me smart phone charges (which would cut my bill in half). But I also need to have smart phone in Europe so I can use GPS, etc if needed.
what’s the best/cheapest way to deal with an iphone from US, longer term in Europe, when you are still in a contract back home?
Cheers
Brooke
Thorough article! Lots of info to condense into a concise message. Well done.
I will arrive in Europe in Amsterdam. I will leave Europe from Basel Switzerland.
If I buy a SIM card in Amsterdam, do I have to return it? Is there a deposit I would forfeit for not returning the SIM card?
Lance Pedriana
We were spending 17 days in France this past June. I researched and decided to buy an Orange card and top it off in small increments as needed. Unfortunately, the Relay kiosk I used at CDG only had the 14-day card mentioned in the article, so I purchased it and figured I could top it up from an actual Orange store. The Orange store near the Eiffel Tower could sell me the credit I needed, to be applied via the phone, which worked OK for me when the original credit expired. The Orange coverage was fine along the Seine to Normandy. then in the Dordogne Valley.
Having a local (in-country) SIM will make it easier/more attractive for you to be contacted by merchants, restos, friends, etc. rather than calling a U.S. number. This was useful when we had to iterate with a montgolfier to schedule a balloon ride in the Dordogne.
If you intend to use Uber, be sure to update your account with the local number when you get it.
Good information, thanks. I’ll be transiting through CDG on my way to Italy. Is there a place to buy a SIM card for my Orange phone at the airport?
Hi Margaret — Absolutely, just head to any of the newsstands. I purchased one from a “Relay” newsstand at CDG. Have fun!
I live in South Africa. Whenever I travel to Germany I buy a sim card from a telephone/internet store in any city . When a top-up is needed I can even get it in a small village at a petrol station. I have never had a problem contacting someone back home or them contacting me.
Great article unfortunately I’m already in France with a locked AT&T iPhone but there’s always next time.
I do have one question, what happens when you return to the US? Does Orange (like AT&T) lock your phone when you insert their SIM or can you just swap back to your US version?
Hi Tom,
When you get home you can just turn off your phone, replace the European SIM card with your American SIM, restart your phone and you’re all set. It’s very simple!
helpful to update your article since not everybody reads the comments and replies
You can unlock your phone from the ATT website, assuming your phone is near the end of your contract. Locking is a function separate from the SIM card.
Thanks so much for all this important information regarding Sim card buying.
I will be leaving for Spain to walk the Camino de Santiago (800 km walk) in 2 weeks and have my old iPhone that I plan to use. It has already been unlocked and is ready to go.
I was told that in Spain, Vodafone is the best for coverage.
Since I will be in Spain for 37 days I’m not sure what I should do about “extending” a 30 day package that I will purchase for another another week.
I will probably want the 1000 min/120 texts/1GB package that you mentioned to last me the whole time that I’m in Spain.
Any suggestions/inputs? ***I’m hoping that there will be a place at the Madrid Barajas Airport to purchase one of the cards.
Would love to hear back from you.
This has been so helpful but I’m still a little confused. I have a Verizon IPhone 6 that is under contract. I would love to take it to Europe next week (for the year) and get a SIM card with a new number. 2 questions- do I have to cancel my verizon contract? Do Verizon iPhones have a sim card reader for me to go to the Croatian shop and buy one? Thanks!
I also have a VZW iPhone, which is unlocked from the factory. Keep your VZW contract (it would be very expensive to terminate and not needed). All later iPhones (as mentioned in the article) are SIM-compatible. Good luck and safe travels!
Talk to Verizon and find out about unlocking the phone. Sometimes you have to wait until the end of your contract, sometimes you can do it only a few months after starting the contract.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I have been trying to find a simple answer to this “Using your iPhone in Europe” question for 4 months. I have been on the phone with Apple and Verizon and have never had it explained so well.
I’m leaving for England, France and the Czech Republic in September.
I have a 5S iPhone which I will use to access the internet, use my apps, and offline maps. I will sign up for Verizon’s International plan before I leave. I am also considering bringing my old iPhone 4S to use as my European phone. (I checked and it does have a SIM card)
Do you know if the 4S is too old to consider using as a phone? Both my phones are unlocked.
Thank you again for your simple and concise explanation and I look forward to getting your advice. I will recommend this page to my fellow travellers. Cheers
Just double-check and make sure your phones are not CDMA. I believe your 5S should be OK, but I’m dubious about the 4S if it’s Verizon. My sister has a 5, and when we went to Germany, Verizon sold her on an international package. And when she got to Germany, the phone wouldn’t connect to the network. Needless to say, she was pissed off, and the phone was useless. Folks at the Munich Apple Store said it was a CDMA phone…
This article is super helpful. I am going to Germany, Hungary, and Austria later this month. Any idea if there are any plans similar to the one described in this article available in Berlin or Budapest?
Brilliant article Tom, well researched. I have already passed it on to friends in the U.S.
who will be visiting me here in the Netherlands. Thanks for the helpful info!
You stated that “AT&T and T-Mobile use GSM, while Verizon and Sprint use another technology, CDMA.” That’s not true anymore. Just about all the carriers here and in Europe have switched to LTE. GSM and CDMA are legacy systems.
I called Verizon yesterday to ask which technology my iPhone 5S uses and they told me CDMA. So, my phone still uses it.
I think the 5S is universal. If it has a SIM slot on the right side of the phone you can supposedly use it. Best to talk to Apple about this or google the matter, as Verizon is relatively clueless on the subject.
And there are lots of people out there still using “legacy” phones, SlopeRocker. I just returned from Europe, and there are plenty of iPhone 4 and 5 phones out there.
One option you didn’t mention is KnowRoaming, a sticker that goes on your existing SIM card. With the accompanying app, it will switch your phone to its network when you leave your home country and give you discounted rates on phone, data, and text use. I’m going to use it on my upcoming trip, after having an utter fiasco of a time with ATT’s Passport program in May. It does require an unlocked phone. http://www.knowroaming.com
Love this article. Very detailed information. Just wondering if there is an expiration time for the SIM cards or can you purchase one and use it again in a year or two? Would be handy if you could ‘save’ the SIM card for multiple trips.
Great article! The best I’ve seen.. I just have two considerations to add: roaming charges and calling/receiving calls from the U.S.
My experience with European phone plans is that you have to be careful about making calls and especially data transfer when outside of the country where you purchased the SIM card – roaming charges can be very high. For making calls to and from the U.S. I often use Skype to Go, available as an app for your smartphone. You receive a U.S. phone number that friends and family can call at local rates but reach you overseas. And you can call the U.S. at very low rates. You do need a good internet connection, whether cellular or hotspot, to receive and place calls.
Thanks for the tip, Karen. We should do a follow-up on the different plans available — interesting point about the roaming charges. And we’ll look into Skype to Go. Thanks!
I do this in every country I visit. I carry my Verizon IPhone in case someone from home needs to contact me. And also carry a Nokia for SIM cards to use mostly, I use it for local calls, have a number for local friends and also use it to call America because the rates are much cheaper. Every country I’ve been to have Cheap SIM cards, because most don’t have cellular contracts like here in the U.S.
I’m going to Europe next month. I bought a SIM card on EBay for UK carrier “Three”. It was only £15 and includes unlimited data and a bucket of texts and minutes in not just the UK but throughout most of Western Europe at no additional cost, the U.S. Is even on the list.
I already received the active SIM popped it in and it went right to AT&T here in the U.S. So far it seems like a great deal. The seller specializes in selling SIMs to travelers and so far has been extremely helpful. I just like the peace of mind knowing that as soon as I land my phone will work just like at home.
Can you supply specifics on this SIM and its plan? I went to the Three website and found what I thought you are taking about, but it sounds as though it’s only within the UK.
Thanks
What happens to your address book? Does it come back when you go home and re-insert your US SIM card?
Reminder
If you start to store home numbers in your “new” SIM card in Europe
Put 001 in front of the U.S. area code.
for example. 001 301 944 7676 (I made that up, don’t call it!)
Also, the carrier in Europe might have to unlock your SIM card so you can telephone from other countries.
your address book never changes. Only your number
Absolutely the best and most complete article I have seen on this subject! Merci
Wow — thanks, Mary-James!
Thanks for the great advice. I do have a question, is there a SIM card / program that will operate throughout Europe, including the UK? Or would we need to get SIM cards for each country? Thanks!
Hi Eric,
Thanks for the comment. When browsing your SIM card options, definitely pay attention to which countries that the card will work in. If it isn’t clearly marked, ask for assistance. In my case, my SIM card from Orange (part of their holiday package) works throughout Europe, including the UK. (You can read more about that option here.)
I hope that helps. Good luck!
Tom
Oh how I wish I had known about this when we were in France in June and July! In saving your advice for next trip! BTW-I have ATT and spent way more than thirty bucks! Thanks for the great advice!
thanks for this article! I purchased the Orange Holiday SIM and had a really great experience with it. I bought it on Amazon for $50 so that I could get a connection as soon as I landed in Euope. It includes 10GB, 120mn and 1000 texts valid for 14 days. More than enough even using Google Maps, email and video services. I shared the data with my husband using it in a hotspot since they allow data tethering. I used it in 5 countries in Europe (UK, Italy, France, Germany and Spain). Would highly recommend it as well! Thanks for the tip again!!
Can the Find My Friends App (Verizon Iphone) be used from the U.S. to locate someone using the Orange Holiday Sim card with a French phone number ?