How to Turn Off Data Roaming and Avoid the Fees

When traveling abroad, turning off data roaming on your phone can help you avoid exorbitant fees from your home carrier.

This quick guide will show you how to disable data roaming on both iPhone and Android devices. We also list the cheapest ways to access data, call, and text while abroad (like unlimited data eSIMs from Holafly).

How to Turn Off Data Roaming

Follow these instructions to turn data roaming off for iPhone and Samsung:

iPhone

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap Mobile Data.
3. Tap Mobile Data Options.
4. Toggle Data Roaming off.

Samsung

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap Connections.
3. Tap Mobile Networks.
4. Toggle Data Roaming off.

What is Data Roaming?

Data roaming refers to using your mobile data on networks outside of your home network. When data roaming is turned on, your phone can access the internet, run apps in the background. This often leads to high charges when traveling internationally.

By turning off data roaming, you prevent your phone from accessing mobile data services, avoiding unexpected charges.

5 Data Roaming Alternatives

When you travel abroad, you'll still want to access data for important tasks like navigating with Google Maps, searching for information, translating languages, booking rides with Uber, handling emergencies, and more.

Here are some alternatives to your home carrier's data roaming services. We've put together this list after independent research and testing. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases:

1. eSIMs

If you have an eSIM-compatible phone, consider using Holafly to get unlimited data abroad.

Once you install their eSIM, you'll be able to access unlimited data from 1 day up to months at a time. Holafly covers hundreds of countries and multi-country regions.

To learn more, read our Holafly review and learn about the best eSIM providers on the market.

2. Rent a Portable WiFi Hotspot Device

For families or large groups, renting a portable WiFi hotspot device like the Skyroam Solis Lite is a great option. There are many good options available, but we like this one the most because it provides 1GB of free data each month. It can be found on Amazon.

To compare more options, read our guide on the best portable Wi-Fi hotspots for travel abroad.

3. Purchase a Local SIM Card

If your phone isn't eSIM-compatible, buy a local SIM card. You can do this at a SIM card kiosk after you arrive at your destination, but we recommend you do this before you leave.

The Preloaded Orange Travel SIM Card with 10GB of 4G data for 14 days is a highly-rated, reliable choice. It works with local networks in 139 countries. You can find it on Amazon for
$39.99 and have it shipped to your home before departing.

4. Rebtel

Rebtel is perfect for making phone calls while abroad. You can call landlines at home, even if you are abroad. If you are unable to access data, Rebtel will still let you make calls through their Wi-Fi system. It's an incredibly easy-to-use service that sometimes even allows free calls to your home country.

5. Use VoIP Services

If you're traveling in a country with plenty of WiFi, you may be able to rely on VoIP apps like Skype, WhatsApp, FaceTime, and iMessage. These apps use WiFi to let you call and message, which reduces your need for to connect to mobile data.

4 Tips to Reduce Data Usage While Roaming

To manage your data usage while roaming, follow these tips:

• Use WiFi for data-intensive tasks such as downloading videos, podcasts, updating apps, and streaming content. Always use a VPN on public WiFi for security.
• Remove cellular data access from certain apps to prevent them from running in the background while you're roaming and not connected to WiFi.
• Limit video calling and opt for voice-only calls when not connected to WiFi.
• Avoid downloading attachments from emails or messaging apps. Wait to download pictures, videos, and other media until you're back on a WiFi connection.