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Finding a good international data plan is not always easy, and the costs can be daunting. Recently, T-Mobile launched two new international data plans at a great price.
Old T-Mobile Data Plans
For years, T-Mobile has offered free international roaming with their data plans, but the speed was usually capped at 2G speeds. That's fine if you just want to use Google Maps or check your email, but not so good if you want to watch a bit of Netflix or YouTube, upload your videos, or manage a website. You also had to spend $0.25 per minute for calls, which is hardly a good rate.
Another option was to spend $5 a day for half a GB of data at 4G speeds. While this might have been good for short journeys, a full month would get ridiculously expensive, and it was also a hassle to make the purchase for every day you were traveling.
New International Data Plans
There are two new plans available, both at 4G speeds. If you're only planning a short vacation up to 10 days, grab the 5 GB plan for only $35. If you plan to travel longer, you have the option of getting 15 GB for $50 a month. Both plans are available to use in all of T-Mobile's 210+ countries with partner companies.
This means that for less than $2 a day, you can get 4G speeds in almost any place you'll need it in your travels. In fact, I only found one country (Albania) where the service wasn't available in the dozens I traveled through with my T-Mobile plan.
Are the New Plans Worth It?
Quite often, you can find fantastic deals on SIM cards in countries across the world. In fact, I found the U.S. to have some of the most expensive SIM card rates. However, that would mean purchasing a new SIM card in each country you traveled to (except in the European Union where they have free roaming). That's just too much hassle in my opinion (and I talk from experience with over a dozen SIM cards in my backpack). Besides, who wants to change phone numbers when they travel?
Sure, there might be better options for those traveling overseas nearly the whole year, but if you don't fall into that category, the $35 for 5 GB or $50 for 15 GB plans at 4G speeds are great options.
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Just back from Spain (Barcelona and Madrid) and T-Mobile service was on par. They provide unlimited 3G roaming service and $0.25/minute voice. Who need to communicate through the voice lines anyway? Plenty of apps for video and voice calls using data. 3G is workable, but choppy for video calls.
We’ve used the Tmobile internationally in Japan, Korea, Dominican Republic, Canada and Thailand. We never had to pay any overages. Texting is free, and data is free. If you need to make a call, use wifi and make all the free international calls you want back home.
this is great. I am thinking of switching T mobile, now I am keeping it.
I wish Verizon would step it’s game up on this…
The included free 2g roaming with my One plan worked great for me while traveling in Dubai and India. Quite reliable for light browsing and also texting.
These new data plans look expensive compared to buying a local SIM.
T-Mobile 2g was good enough for waze on my last trip overseas.
I wish they had better service in the US so that I could take advantage of their great international options.
I love T-Mobile and we travel so much we switched from ATT just for their international roaming! We love these new options now available, thanks for pointing them out!
Just got back from Europe/Paris and used the T-mobile International plan. I have Verizon. Thought it would be cheaper to buy a T-mobile International plan at $50 for the month. What I found out later was you need the underlying base T-mobile service too which was another $50 per month. $100 per month and a new phone number. Ok if you are staying 10 plus days but creates issues for A lot of things by having a different phone number. Great if you already have a T-mobile plan.
I usually just get a local sim and plan at my destination, but this could change my calculations.
I’m going to have to look into this for the cruise we will take in the fall. I like the pricing of T-mobile 55 and over plan. This could help solve the problem for us on the cruise into Canada.
I was in Mexico last week and supposed to get free data, but the internet won’t work for me at all. hopefully, international travel doesn’t cause too much issues.
T Mobile has the better plans in US and now is getting even better.
What a great option for roaming travelers!
I hadn’t realized that international data plans had become fairly affordable. I’m going to look in to these.
This is great info, wish I had had it for my vacation. Instead of having to rent a wifi router abroad, I could just use T Mobile’s international plans. The I would have avoided the hassle of trying to find the wifi rental place and returning it.
This is great! That way you don’t have to deal with a second phone or the charges post-trip.
This appears to be less expensive per GB than GoogleFI which is $10 per GB. This would be $7 per GB on the 5GB for $35 plan and $3.33 per GB on the 15GB ($50) plan.
Wow that’s a great rate. Last time I bought a phone just for travel and it was a hassle.
This is good news. International phone service needs to continue to come down in price. Hopefully, other carriers will continue to compete on price.
This is very good. I might have to change my current provider.
Google FI is the worst service out there. Bad customer service. A big mistake by trying them.
T-Mobile is a whole lot better.
So far T mobile has been the easiest/cheapest international plan… now it’s getting even better
The onl other that comes close is GoogleFI
Might have to check this out and switch
I’m a little confused. I have an unlocked iPhone 6s (originally Sprint) and leaving at the end of the month to Singapore, Australia and Hong Kong. Is the iPhone 6s compatible for these new T-Mobile plans in these countries? Some places I look say “yes,” but others say “no.” Anyone have knowledge/experience with this?
Gives me even another reason to want to leave ATT. I also agree with the WV person above. I wish I could start with getting continuous good connection service from ATT within my own home in the U.S.
sorry, but if we’re on an international vacation we want a vacation from our phone as well
Data is handy for maps
This should be interesting – i am fed up with expensive international roaming bills
Perfect for roaming !
This is fantastic! Switching sim cards every place I travel is a decent, albeit slightly involved, workaround to using my cell abroad. Having a Google Voice number helps since I can use the same number, but it still requires me to switch off of my normal cell number and switch out the sim cards in every new place. This is a slightly more expensive approach, but will save me a lot of time while traveling, which I appreciate (no more having to visit the mobile kiosk at the airport or train stations when I arrive! Yippee!)
This may be a good deal to check out. I haven’t switched in a long time. Thanks!
Unfortunately, most often, obtaining the best rates or rewards requires frequent changes of providers or travel habits. 🙁 New customers always get the best offers to entice the move. But, we all know how much work is often involved in such moves.
I think Google Fi is a better option personal.
This is great! T-Mobile is the best for international travel. It has come in handy so many times.
I’m using my regular T mobile plan in Greece right now. It works well enough for my purposes but it’s always nice to have options.
This could not come at a better time! I’m going on a good vacation and this will come in handy! Thank you! I wonder when they put it on their website, because it wasn’t there the last time I looked. I did look early though.
I believe once I turn on my cell I should be asked if I want to do the plans?
$35 for 5 GB is a great price! I think I’ll use this for Europe
And it will last a long time if you’re strategic about connecting to free wifi options.
How does this compare with Google Fi’s $10 per 1Gb?
you have to change a phone number if you are not using fi already
Just wish tmobile had service in WV!
They’re not great in the US, in general.
I like the flexibility of having two choices for international plans, the 5gb would be great for me!
Finally a means of saving money without changing phone numbers when you travel.