Learn how to check if your phone will work abroad when traveling step-by-step. This way, you can prepare your best for your trip and be able to maintain connections with people back home throughout your trip.
Here you will learn:
In this article
Before traveling overseas, consider the following checklist:
Before traveling abroad, make sure your phone is not locked to your current network provider.
Because a locked mobile device only works on the network carrier that you bought it from, you will need to unlock it before using it overseas.
All phones sold on a postpaid plan are unlocked while phones on prepaid plans may be tied to a specific network carrier. If you are on a contract, chances are your phone is locked.
Check our guide to see if your phone is unlocked or not.
Different phones require different SIM card sizes, like standard SIM, micro SIM, or nano SIM.
Thus, before traveling, you need to identify the SIM card size compatible with your cell phone.
If your phone uses a different SIM card size than what you have, consider buying a SIM card adapter or getting a new SIM card with the correct size.
It is not a bad idea to research the buying options for SIM cards in the destination you are going to visit.
Options can be: shops at airports, local mobile carrier stores, or authorized resellers, or online (delivered or picked after arrival)
Research on which prepaid provider you will go with during your trip at your destination.
It is recommended to choose one of the major network carriers with better coverage. It can cost more but will warrant a stable connection.
Most likely YES. Whether or not your phone will work abroad when traveling internationally depends on:
Most recent smartphones will work internationally without issues. However, there is always a possibility that your cell phone will not be compatible with different cell frequencies used around the world.
The reason is because of mobile standards: which are GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) and CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access).
Let’s see a quick comparison between GSM and CDMA technology:
| Factors | GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) | CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) |
| Network technology | widely used standard globally | mainly used in North America and some parts of Asia. |
| SIM cards | GSM phones use SIM cards easily swapped to switch between different carriers | CDMA phones do not use SIM cards as the carrier information is stored on the device itself |
| International Compatibility | offers broader international compatibility | have limited international compatibility |
| Roaming | have better roaming capabilities | have fewer international roaming partnerships. |
▶ Our conclusion: GSM-compliant phones can work internationally, while CDMA-compliant phones may be limited.
To know which mobile standards that your phone uses, you can contact your phone manufacturer for verification.
Here are 04 ways on how to check if your phone will work abroad:
Here are 06 ways to use your phone while abroad:
Getting a local SIM card is a great way to stay connected with your phone. This is often the most economical option (depending on your destination). Which also allows you to make local calls, send text messages, use cellular data at affordable rates.
This option is suitable for those having an unlocked and eSIM-compatible device and want to stay connected at convenience and affordable prices.
eSIM card is a digital SIM card embedded directly into the motherboard of the device. Instead of swapping out and inserting a physical SIM card, you can buy and download an eSIM profile on your device to get data overseas.
There are many eSIM providers online, make sure you research carefully and check reviews before purchase. As a specific recommendation, we suggest Gigago as a reputable eSIM provider. Gigago offers eSIM plans for more than 200 countries and territories in the world. Multiple plan options, competitive prices, ease of usage, and 24/7 multilingual support are advantages of Gigago over others.
Note: To use eSIM, your phone must be unlocked and eSIM-supported.
This is a low-hassle but high-charge option. It is suitable for those who want to use their primary phone number to make calls/texts while abroad. You need to buy an international add-on to your plan on your current network carrier.
Note: Your phone does not to be unlocked when using roaming services by your network carrier.
Bring your phone and buy a SIM card with international roaming plan (often international data plan). You can buy this SIM ahead of time, before departure. This option is better for frequent travelers.
This option is suitable for those with multiple devices or traveling in groups. Pocket WiFi will work like a portable hotspot that allows many mobile devices (phones, tablets, laptops, smartwatches) to get the mobile Internet shared by the hotspot. A specific distance is required for a stable connection among devices.
If your destination is developed, you will be amazed at how wired and well-connected some places are. In some destinations, you can rely almost entirely on the abundant free WiFi to surf web, navigate Google maps, make calls/texts through apps, etc.
▶ Our recommendation: Choosing which option to use your phone while abroad depends on where you are going and how much data you will need.
Once you identify that your phone can be used abroad, start to moderate your phone Settings. This will prevent you from consuming too much data due to roaming services. The more you use it, the more you have to pay.
To activate your iPhone for international use, take these steps:
▶ See more details on settings your iPhone for international travel.
Depending on the model of your Android phone, prompts on screen to set up your phone for international travel can be slightly different. However, general guidelines can be:
Note: If the data roaming is ON, but you still cannot use mobile data abroad, you need to check whether you are connected to the correct service provider. If still not, configure your APN settings.
The most confirmed way is to call your phone company to verify if your phone can work internationally.
Yes, you can use your phone abroad without roaming if you use WiFi connection or a local/international SIM card or international eSIM, or even a roaming plan from your provider. We recommend a SIM card or eSIM plan to avoid huge roaming bills.
International roaming may require different APN settings. Ensure you set correct settings in place of destination to avoid additional charges or connectivity issues.
Go to your phone Settings, check if data roaming service is enabled or not. And, the network mode of your phone must be in automatic network selection.
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