Should data roaming be on or off?

Turn your home SIM's data roaming OFF to avoid charges, and use a travel eSIM for data instead. Keep the home SIM switched on for calls and texts on your normal number.

Is an eSIM cheaper than roaming?

Outside the EU, almost always — a local eSIM plan is priced like a local SIM, while carrier roaming is pay-as-you-go. Inside the EU, EU residents already roam free, so the eSIM mainly helps on non-EU trips.

Will I still get calls and texts on my number?

Yes. Keep your physical SIM active for calls and SMS; the eSIM only handles data. This is dual-SIM, which the iPhone 13 and newer and most recent Android phones support.

Data roaming vs a travel eSIM: avoid the bill shock

By Serhat Dogan · Founder & editor, Miyaw eSIM · Last updated 2026-06-04

Data roaming uses your home carrier's network abroad, usually at high pay-as-you-go rates that can surprise you on your next bill. A travel eSIM loads a local data plan at a price you see upfront — no surprise charges — while your home number stays reachable for calls and texts.

Roaming vs travel eSIM, side by side

What matters	eSIM	Carrier roaming
Price you see	A fixed plan price upfront, in GB or per day	Often per-MB or a daily pass; easy to overspend
Bill shock	None — you pay before you travel	Charges land on next month's bill
Your number	Keeps working on your home SIM for calls and texts	Same number, but data is the costly part
Setup	Install the eSIM before you fly	Switch data roaming on in Settings
Inside the EU	Still useful on non-EU trips (UK, Türkiye, Switzerland…)	Free for EU residents within the EU ('Roam Like At Home')

What data roaming actually is

Roaming is when your phone connects to a foreign network using your home SIM. Inside the EU, EU residents roam at their home rates. Outside it — the UK after Brexit, Türkiye, Switzerland and most of the world — carriers charge roaming rates that can be far higher than a local plan, and the cost only shows up on your next bill.

How a travel eSIM avoids the surprise

A travel eSIM is a second, data-only line you load before the trip. You keep your home SIM for your number, turn its data roaming off, and use the eSIM for cheap local data at a price you saw before you paid. eSIM is mainstream — GSMA Intelligence expects around 55% of smartphone connections (about 4.9 billion) to use an eSIM by 2030 — and any iPhone since the iPhone XS (2018) supports it.

Roaming vs eSIM: common questions

Should data roaming be on or off?: Turn your home SIM's data roaming OFF to avoid charges, and use a travel eSIM for data instead. Keep the home SIM switched on for calls and texts on your normal number.
Is an eSIM cheaper than roaming?: Outside the EU, almost always — a local eSIM plan is priced like a local SIM, while carrier roaming is pay-as-you-go. Inside the EU, EU residents already roam free, so the eSIM mainly helps on non-EU trips.
Will I still get calls and texts on my number?: Yes. Keep your physical SIM active for calls and SMS; the eSIM only handles data. This is dual-SIM, which the iPhone 13 and newer and most recent Android phones support.