There’s nothing worse than returning from a trip abroad and being slapped with an extortionate phone bill.
Between expensive daily roaming passes and hidden charges from automatic updates, travellers can waste money staying connected.
But “dramatic” savings can be achieved with a few simple hacks that require little time or effort, according to Lee Dobson, founder of All Things eSIM, a global eSIM comparison website.
From setting a spending cap to enabling Wi-Fi calling, Dobson breaks down his top tips to cut back on your phone bill while abroad.
1. Check your network’s roaming policy
Log in to your network’s app and search for “roaming” to see if you’re getting a good deal. You want to check three things: whether EU roaming is included, the daily charge if it isn’t, and the fair use data cap.
Dobson says: “In 2026, O2 is the only major UK network still offering free EU roaming for most customers, with a 25GB cap. EE, Three and Vodafone charge a daily fee to unlock your allowance in Europe, roughly £2 to £2.75 a day. Outside Europe, it climbs fast. For example, Three charges £8 a day for worldwide destinations from April 2026.”
2. Set a spending cap
By law, UK networks have a cap of £45 for mobile data usage while abroad per monthly billing period and must send you alerts at 80% and 100% data usage. But you can set an even lower spending cap in your network’s app or on its website to slash your phone bill further.
Dobson says: “If you want to be really strict, that can be zero pounds, so you don’t spend anything. Or, you might want to set your limit to a couple of pounds in case of emergencies.”
3. Compare your network’s roaming charges to a travel eSIM
Look at how much your network charges for a daily pass, then compare it with an eSIM provider by searching online or using a comparison website. These eSIMs are digital SIM cards that are downloaded straight to your phone or tablet before you head off.
When you arrive at your destination, it will automatically connect to a local network.
Dobson advises calculating the total cost of daily passes for the length of your trip when deciding between your network and an eSIM.
“A £2.50 daily pass with your network is fine for a long weekend; on a two-week trip, that is £35 before you have used a single extra megabyte,” he explains.
“A travel eSIM often costs £5 to £20 for a week or more of data, and it keeps your UK number live for calls and texts while your data runs on the cheaper plan.”
4. Shop around for an eSIM
There are plenty of eSIM providers out there, but they aren’t all equal.
Make sure you’re getting a good deal by reading the small print rather than the headline price.
The three main factors when weighing up eSIM providers are the price per gigabyte, the number of days the plan is valid, and which local network it runs on in your destination, as coverage varies.
Dobson also says that most travellers overestimate how much data they’ll use abroad.
To save money and avoid wasted data, start with a smaller plan. You can easily top up your eSIM with your provider online if you run low while abroad.
5. Download before you travel
Write a list of everything you’ll want on your phone before your trip and download it at home beforehand.
This could include maps for your destination, translation apps, boarding passes and even any music or TV shows you wish to download for the journey.
Dobson says: “This alone removes most of the data you would otherwise burn through on arrival.”
6. Switch off background data and automatic updates
Dobson says that hidden charges mostly come from background data and automatic updates.
Before travelling, switch off automatic app updates, cloud photo backup, and background app refresh in your phone’s settings.
To remove any doubt, turn data roaming off entirely while abroad and only switch it on when you actually need it.
7. Use Wi-Fi networks abroad
Enable Wi-Fi calling so you can call and text UK numbers over free Wi-FI networks abroad, such as in your hotel or restaurant.
Wi-Fi calls and messaging over platforms such as WhatsApp, FaceTime and Microsoft Teams cost nothing.
For added security when using public networks, Dobson suggests downloading a Virtual Private Network (VPN), which is designed to protect your internet privacy.
8. Watch out for accidental roaming
Near borders, phones can latch onto another foreign network, which could be significantly more expensive.
It’s a common trap in places like Corfu, where phones pick up an Albanian signal, according to Dobson.
Several holiday hotspots also sit outside EU roaming zones, including Switzerland, Turkey, Andorra and Monaco, so check before you assume you are covered.
