There are three common ways to use mobile data abroad: your home carrier's roaming, a local SIM card bought on arrival, or a travel eSIM bought before you leave. Each has a place.
| Home roaming | Local SIM card | Travel eSIM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup | Nothing to do | Find a shop, show ID | A few minutes at home |
| Cost | Often the highest | Usually low | Low, known up front |
| Home number | Kept | Swapped out | Kept on the other line |
| Online on landing | Yes | After the shop | Yes |
Home roaming
The simplest option, as nothing changes. It can also be the most expensive, especially outside your carrier's included countries. Check the daily rate before relying on it.
A local SIM card
Often good value for long stays, but you need to find a shop, sometimes register with ID, and swap out your home SIM. That's harder on phones that only take one physical card.
A travel eSIM
You choose a plan before you fly, install it on Wi-Fi and switch it on when you land. Your home line stays in the phone for calls and texts. The catch: your phone must support eSIM and be unlocked. What is an eSIM? explains the basics.