How to Save Money on International Data roaming with eSIM Plans

Using the internet on your phone at home and in other countries can differ significantly in cost if you use a regular SIM card from your carrier – whether it's T-Mobile, Orange, or Elisa. This is because, once you're outside your provider's coverage area, your phone will automatically switch to roaming, and your carrier will charge you at much higher rates. To avoid these high costs, many travelers buy local SIM cards in the country they're visiting. However, there's a more convenient and often cheaper alternative – the eSIM.

So, What is Data Roaming?

Let's break down the terminology: it's important to understand what mobile data while roaming is and how to check your usage and costs. This info applies to any mobile operator or device – we've included step-by-step instructions for both iOS and Android.

Data Roaming Meaning

Mobile data while roaming is a service from your carrier (T-mobile, Elisa, Orange, etc) that allows you to use the internet when you're outside your home network's coverage area.

How it works: your operator can't directly provide service in another country, so it connects you to partner networks abroad that have roaming agreements with your carrier. For example, Orange France may have a partnership with Turkcell or Türk Telekom, and if you travel to Turkey, your phone will connect to one of them.

Your operator will usually charge additional fees for this, and your standard domestic data rates won't apply while roaming. What can you do with data roaming:

• - Search for info online
• - Use online maps and GPS navigation
• - Send and receive messages via Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and other messaging apps
• - Stream or download videos, photos, audio files, and more.

Calls and SMS will also incur higher roaming charges, but this is outside the scope of the concept of data roaming. However, you can also save on these costs with the help of eSIM. Read our guide: "How to Call Local Numbers with Data Only eSIM" to learn more.

The difference between your home tariff and roaming tariff is usually significant – often 3 to 10+ times or more. Check the table for examples.

Disclaimer: Prices for third-party providers (e.g. Elisa) are subject to change. We do not guarantee their accuracy. Please, always verify current pricing on the official providers website.

What does current period roaming on Android and IPhone mean and how to check it?

This is a specific statistic for your smartphone that shows how much mobile data you have used while roaming. In the following, we describe the differences in the display of this indicator, depending on whether you have an iOS or Android smartphone.

The time period on your Apple gadget is measured from the moment you reset the meter. If you haven't reset the data yourself, you'll see data usage for all the time – not just for your current trip.

Our guide "How to check on your iPhone if you have cheap data roaming or not" (you have to do everything in the phone settings, so you won't need the internet):

• 1. Go to the "Cellular".
• 2. Find the "Cellular Data" section
• 3. Look at the "Current Period Roaming" data.

On most Android models, there is no distinction between regular and roaming data usage. You'll see "Current Period Roaming" only if you reset the data meter before your trip – otherwise, it won't appear. Some models do show this separation, but that's more of an exception.

Another nuance: Android smartphones, by default, divide data usage into monthly periods, for example, from June 10 to July 10. These periods are updated automatically each month. You can manually change the start date, for example, to match the first day of your trip.

If you reset the data meter before your trip, you can view your mobile internet usage on Samsung, Huawei, Nokia, and other Android smartphones (all actions are again in the phone settings):

• 1. Under the "Network and Internet" tab, there is a section dedicated to mobile networks. Go to it.
• 2. Open the "Data usage".
• 3. See the information about the amount of internet usage and period data.

How to Save on International Data Roaming

eSIM is the easiest and most efficient way to save on data roaming. It's a virtual SIM – with no physical card – that can be purchased and activated online to get cheap mobile internet abroad. This is exactly the service we offer at Toosim. Here's why it's the most recommended option for travelers:

• - Cheap rates comparable to local prices – not international roaming. For example, Toosim offers data plans starting from just $3 for 1 GB (valid for 7 days) in many countries — including Iceland, Finland, Slovakia, and more. Plus, the larger the data package you choose, the lower the price per GB.

Check out USA data plans

more us data plans here

• - Flexible options. We offer packages of 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 20, and 50 GB. You can choose local packages for a single country, or regional packages covering entire areas like Oceania, Asia, or North America. Our service works in 200+ countries.

• - Online purchase and activation. No need to hunt for a local operator's shop when you arrive in a new country to buy a SIM card.
• - The ability to use your SIM card for calls and texts alongside your eSIM.

Want to know more? On our website, you can select the country you're interested in and check the current rates online.