By EU roaming charges by UK network
- O2 is the only major UK network with no EU roaming fee, up to a 25 GB cap.
- EE and Vodafone charge about £2.50 a day, Three £2.75;
- Your join date often matters more than your network — older contracts frequently keep free roaming;
- Past four or five days, a roaming pass or a travel eSIM beats paying daily;
- A French mobile plan costs nothing extra anywhere in the EU, under an EU rule that lets you use your home allowance abroad for free.
O2 is the only major UK network with no EU roaming fee. EE, Vodafone and Three all charge a daily rate of roughly £2.50 to £2.75 unless your plan includes roaming or you joined before the charges returned in 2021.
O2
Free
up to 25 GB
EE
~£2.50
per day
Vodafone
~£2.50
or £16 / 8 days
Three
£2.75
per day
| Network | Daily EU charge | Free data limit | Who roams free |
|---|---|---|---|
| O2 | None | 25 GB | Every customer, in 40+ EU destinations |
| EE | About £2.50 | Your UK allowance | Joined before 7 July 2021, or a plan with Roam Abroad included |
| Vodafone | About £2.50, or £16 for 8 days and £21 for 15 days | 25 GB, then £3.83/GB | Ireland, Iceland, Norway and the Isle of Man on any Pay monthly plan |
| Three | £2.75 since 18 December 2025 (£2 on older plans) | 12 GB | Complete and Value plans taken from 22 June 2025 |
The four main UK networks, listed cheapest first. Selectra has no commercial relationship with any UK network. Charges verified in September 2026 against each network's own published terms. Sources:O2, Three and Vodafone. EE does not publish a single public daily rate, so its figure is the one consistently reported by UK price comparison sites — confirm it in the EE app before you travel. Networks change roaming pricing regularly.
The date you signed up matters more than the network. EE customers from before July 2021 and Three customers on pre-December 2025 plans often keep cheaper or free roaming that newer customers do not get. Your contract terms, not the current price list, decide what you pay.
What is data roaming?
Data roaming is when your mobile phone connects to a foreign network while you are travelling outside your home country. Instead of using your domestic network, your device latches on to a local operator abroad and routes calls, texts and mobile data through that network. Your French operator then bills you either at your standard domestic rate, or at a surcharge if a roaming agreement applies.
The term "roaming" covers all three types of mobile usage: voice calls, SMS, and mobile data (browsing, streaming, apps). Data roaming specifically refers to the use of mobile internet abroad, which tends to be the most expensive element when charges apply.
If you are new to mobile plans in France, our guide to mobile phone plans in France explains the different types of contract and which are best suited to expats. If you still need a SIM, read our guide on getting a SIM card in France.
Data roaming in Europe: the Roam Like At Home rule
Since 15 June 2017, the European Union's Roam Like At Home (RLAH) regulation has abolished extra charges for data roaming, calls and texts when travelling within the EU and the European Economic Area. Your French operator treats your usage abroad exactly as it would at home: the same rate, the same allowance, no roaming surcharge.
The rule applies in all 27 EU member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway (via the EEA agreement). In July 2022, the European Union extended this framework until 2032 under Regulation (EU) 2022/612.
| Region | Countries included | Data roaming charges |
|---|---|---|
| EU 27 | Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden | ✅ Free (RLAH) |
| EEA | Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway | ✅ Free (RLAH) |
| Non-EU, in the roaming zone | Moldova, Ukraine | ✅ Free (RLAH since 1 January 2026) |
| UK | England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland | ⚠️ Charges likely |
| Non-EU Europe | Monaco, Switzerland, Turkey, Andorra, Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, San Marino, Serbia, Vatican City, Belarus | ❌ Charges apply |
Country status based on Regulation (EU) 2022/612 and the European Commission's Your Europe roaming guidance, verified in September 2026. Individual operator allowances may vary.
If your SIM is French: how much data you get abroad
This section applies to French mobile plans. If your SIM is British, your limit is the fair use cap in the table at the top of this page.
Free EU roaming is designed for travellers, not as a permanent substitute for a local SIM. To prevent abuse, every operator applies a fair use policy: you must use your phone more in France than you do abroad over any rolling period. If your usage pattern suggests you are permanently roaming, for example, you have moved to another EU country but kept your French plan, your operator can contact you and, if the situation continues, apply a roaming surcharge.
Data roaming limits by plan type
How much data you can use abroad under this rule depends on the type of French mobile plan you hold:
| Plan type | Roaming data allowance | What happens if exceeded |
|---|---|---|
| Limited data plan | Your full domestic data allowance, at no extra cost | Surcharges apply (EU-capped rates) |
| Unlimited data plan | A capped roaming allowance set by your operator (varies, check your contract) | Speed throttled or surcharges apply above the cap |
| Prepaid SIM | Your remaining credit divided by the EU wholesale data cap, your operator calculates and communicates this limit | Roaming data suspended until you top up |
Roaming allowances are set by individual operators within EU Fair Use Policy rules. Check your operator's website for your exact limit. Verified in September 2026.
If you are on an unlimited data plan in France, your roaming data cap is typically several gigabytes per month, not truly unlimited. Your operator is legally required to tell you what the cap is and to notify you when you approach it.
What happens if you exceed your data roaming limit?
If you go over your Fair Use allowance, your operator must alert you before applying any surcharge. They will send a text message warning once you reach your limit. From that point, you can either stop using data, top up your allowance, or continue at the EU-regulated surcharge rate.
If your operator suspects permanent roaming, spending consistently more time and data abroad than in France over a four-month period, they can send a formal notice. You then have 14 days to respond or resolve the situation. Only after this process can they apply the additional charge. The surcharge rates are capped by the European Commission; your operator must publish these on their website.
Contact your operator's complaints department first. If the issue is unresolved, you can escalate to ARCEP (the French telecom regulator) or the regulatory authority in the country where the charge occurred. Our guide to telecom complaints in France walks you through the process step by step.
Why UK roaming charges came back after Brexit
Roam Like At Home stopped protecting UK SIM cards when the Brexit transition period ended on 31 December 2020. Since then, nothing obliges a UK network to give you your home allowance in the EU, and most reintroduced daily charges during 2021.
If you have a UK SIM travelling to the EU
Your network sets the price, not the EU. Whether you pay depends on three things:
- Which network you are on — O2 still charges nothing, the other three do.
- When you joined — older contracts often kept inclusive roaming;
- Your plan tier — premium plans tend to bundle roaming in.
UK networks must still apply a default financial cap on data roaming and alert you before you pass it, so a forgotten download cannot silently run into hundreds of pounds. The cap can be changed or removed in your account, so check it is still switched on before you travel.
If you have a French SIM travelling to the UK
The same break works in reverse: French operators are no longer required to include the UK in their European zone. Some mid- and high-range plans still bundle a UK allowance, others charge per megabyte or sell a travel add-on. Check your contract before you go.
If you regularly need to call French numbers while in the UK, our guide to calling France from the UK covers the most cost-effective options.
How to avoid EU roaming charges
The cheapest fix is usually a travel eSIM, which starts around €4.50 for a week of data — well under a week of daily roaming fees. Four options, cheapest effort first:
Option 1 · Free
Check your plan first
You may already have inclusive roaming from your join date or plan tier. Check the app before you buy anything.
Option 2 · From €4.50
Buy a travel eSIM
A digital SIM installed before you leave. Usually the cheapest option for a trip of a few days or more — compare the providers and their prices.
Option 3 · Varies
Add a roaming pass
Multi-day bundles beat the daily rate on longer trips — Vodafone's 15-day pass works out cheaper than 15 daily fees.
Option 4 · Free
Turn data roaming off
Rely on Wi-Fi and download maps and playlists before you go. Free, but you are offline between hotspots.
A daily charge is billed for every day you use your phone, so a fortnight on EE or Three costs roughly £35 to £39. Past about four or five days, a pass or an eSIM almost always wins.
Data roaming in Monaco and other non-EU countries
A number of European countries are not EU members and therefore fall entirely outside the Roam Like At Home framework. Travelling to any of the following means standard international roaming rates apply, which can be very expensive without prior preparation:
- →Monaco: not an EU member; French operators typically charge standard international rates;
- →Switzerland: outside the EU and EEA; high roaming costs are common;
- →Turkey;
- →Andorra;
- →Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia;
- →Moldova and Ukraine - now included in RLAH since 1 January 2026 (Belarus remains outside the zone);
- →San Marino, Vatican City.
Travelling outside the EU? Use Wi-Fi or get a local eSIM
For short trips to non-EU countries, switch off mobile data and rely on Wi-Fi. For longer stays or frequent travel, a travel eSIM (see below) is almost always cheaper than paying your French operator's international roaming rates. The same logic applies in reverse for voice calls — see how the codes work when calling France from the United States.
How to turn on (or off) data roaming on your phone
When you arrive in another EU country, your phone should connect automatically to a local network and use data roaming at no extra cost. However, if mobile data does not work abroad, or if you want to turn off data roaming to avoid accidental charges in a non-EU country, here is how to manage the setting on the two main operating systems.
How to turn on data roaming on iPhone (iOS)
- 1Open Settings
- 2Tap Mobile Data (labelled Cellular on US devices)
- 3Tap Mobile Data Options
- 4Toggle Data Roaming on or off
If you have two SIMs or an eSIM set up, make sure to check the roaming setting for each line separately. On iOS 16 and later, you can also find this under Settings > Mobile Service > [your SIM name] > Data Roaming.
Within the EU, leaving data roaming on is safe, RLAH means no extra charge. Turn it off before travelling to the UK, Monaco, Switzerland or any non-EU country unless your plan specifically covers that destination.
How to turn on data roaming on Android
- 1Open Settings
- 2Go to Network & Internet (or Connections on Samsung devices)
- 3Tap Mobile Network
- 4Toggle Data Roaming on or off
The exact menu labels vary slightly between Android manufacturers (Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus, etc.) but the setting is always within the Mobile Network or SIM settings menu. If you are using a dual-SIM Android phone, repeat the step for each SIM.
eSIM roaming: a smarter option for frequent travellers
A travel eSIM is a digital SIM card you install directly on your phone, no physical swap needed. For countries outside the EU Roam Like At Home zone (UK, Monaco, Turkey, the US, etc.), buying a local data eSIM before you travel is almost always cheaper than paying your French operator's international roaming rates. Most modern smartphones, including all iPhones since the iPhone XS and most Android flagships since 2020, support eSIM.
You can find our full comparison of eSIM providers available in France on our eSIM in France guide, which also covers operator-sold options such as the Orange Travel eSIM. Below is a summary of the main providers with dedicated pages on Selectra:
| Provider | Countries covered | Europe plans from | Selectra guide | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airalo | 190+ countries | 1 GB /3 days for €4.50 | Airalo review | NEWTOAIRALO15 -15% AIRALOESIM10 -10% |
| Holafly | 170+ countries | Unlimited 5 days for €18.90 | Holafly review | SELECTRA -5% |
| Saily | 150+ countries | 1 GB /7 days for $4.99 | Saily review | SELECTRA5 -5% |
| Ubigi | 190+ countries | 3 GB /7 days for €7 | Ubigi review | SELECTRA10 -10% |
| Roamless | 100+ countries | 1 GB /30 days for $5.45 | Guide coming soon | |
| GoMoWorld | 170+ countries | 2.5 GB /7 days €3.99 | GoMoWorld review |
Non-exhaustive selection of eSIM providers available in France, in no particular order — the entry plans shown cover different data volumes, durations and currencies, so they are not ranked against each other. eSIM pricing varies by destination and data volume. Prices should be verified directly on each provider's website. Selectra receives a commission on some purchases. Verified in September 2026.
Best French mobile plans for roaming in Europe
If you travel frequently within the EU, choosing a French mobile plan with a generous European data allowance will save you far more than any eSIM. The plans below are among the most competitive for EU roaming, pay close attention to the number of gigabytes included in the European zone, as this varies considerably between operators and plan tiers.
No plans match the selected filters.
No plans match the selected filters.
Read also:
- →Best MVNO plans in France;
- →How to change mobile provider in France;
- →Saily eSIM for France — the only international eSIM with a US phone number add-on (€0.89/mo), useful if you need to keep a US number while in France.
Frequently asked questions about data roaming in Europe
How much does EE charge for roaming in Europe? Read more Close
EE charges around £2.50 a day to use your UK allowance across its European roaming zone. Customers who joined before 7 July 2021, and those on plans that bundle Roam Abroad, keep inclusive EU roaming at no extra cost. EE does not publish a single public daily rate, so confirm the figure in the EE app against your own plan before travelling.
Is data roaming free in Europe? Read more Close
Yes, within the 27 EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, data roaming is free under the EU's Roam Like At Home rule. Your French mobile plan is used at the same rate as at home. However, a Fair Use limit applies: if you have an unlimited plan, your roaming data will be capped at a set allowance communicated by your operator.
Does data roaming work in the UK from France? Read more Close
Not automatically. Since the UK left the EU, the Roam Like At Home rule no longer applies. Most French operators have reintroduced charges for UK travel since January 2021, though some higher-tier plans still include a UK data allowance. Check your specific plan before travelling, charges vary significantly between operators.
Should I turn data roaming on or off when travelling? Read more Close
Within the EU and EEA, it is safe to leave data roaming on, no extra charges apply under the Roam Like At Home rule. Turn data roaming off before travelling to the UK, Monaco, Switzerland or any non-EU country, unless your plan explicitly covers that destination or you have purchased a local eSIM for that trip.
Which UK network has free EU roaming? Read more Close
O2 is the only major UK network that lets every customer roam in the EU at no extra cost, with a 25 GB fair use cap. EE, Vodafone and Three all charge a daily fee to newer customers, though each keeps exceptions: EE for customers from before July 2021, Vodafone for Ireland, Iceland, Norway and the Isle of Man, and Three for Complete and Value plans taken from 22 June 2025.
Is Monaco included in EU roaming? Read more Close
No. Monaco is not an EU member state and is not covered by the Roam Like At Home rule, despite being surrounded by France. Standard international roaming rates apply when using your French mobile plan in Monaco. If you visit frequently, a travel eSIM or a dedicated add-on from your operator will be more cost-effective.
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