eSIM vs Roaming: Which Is Cheaper?

Most carriers offer international roaming add-ons. Pay £5–£15/day and use your home allowance abroad. Simple enough — but is it actually good value?

The Real Cost of Roaming

Carrier roaming add-ons typically give you:

• EE (UK): £5/day — uses your UK allowance (up to 25GB/month cap)
• O2 (UK): £6.99/day in non-EU countries
• Vodafone (UK): £1/day in select destinations, more elsewhere
• AT&T (US): $10/day International Day Pass
• Verizon (US): $10/day TravelPass

For a 10-day trip, you're looking at £50–£100 just for data access.

Roamaly eSIM Costs

Roamaly plans are priced per GB and per day — you buy exactly what you need.

Example: 10-day trip to Japan

• Roaming (EE): £5/day × 10 = £50
• Roamaly 10GB eSIM: ~£18–22

Example: 7-day trip to Thailand

• Roaming (O2): £6.99/day × 7 = £49
• Roamaly 5GB eSIM: ~£12–16

Performance Comparison

When Roaming Makes Sense

Roaming is worth it if:

• You only need data for 1–2 days (setup effort not worth it)
• Your carrier offers a genuinely cheap rate in your destination
• You're in the EU and your plan includes free EU roaming

For most trips over 3 days outside the EU, an eSIM will save you money.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I get bill shock with carrier roaming?

Yes, it's a real risk. If you forget to turn on the roaming add-on, or go over the day pass cap, per-MB charges can be extremely high. eSIM plans have a fixed price — once your data is used, you simply stop, or top up at a known cost.