Most UK networks now charge about £2–2.75 a day to use your allowance in the EU. The exception is O2, which still includes EU roaming on pay monthly plans, up to 25 GB. For a two-week trip, daily charges add up to around £28–38, while a travel eSIM with 10 GB costs around £11–12. If you are not on O2 or on a plan with roaming included, a travel eSIM is usually the cheaper option.
UK roaming charges in the EU, 2026
| Network | Daily charge | Included on some plans? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| O2 | £0 | Yes, Europe Zone on pay monthly | Up to 25 GB. Fair use: 63 days in any 4 months |
| Three | £2.75 (joined from 18 Dec 2025) or £2 (joined 1 Oct 2021 – 17 Dec 2025) | Yes, on some plans | 49 destinations, 12 GB fair use |
| Vodafone | about £2.75* | Yes, on “Plus” plans (Euro Roam) | Passes: 8 days £16, 15 days £21* |
| EE | about £2.72* | Yes, on Essentials Plus, All Rounder, Full Works | Passes: 7 days £16.50, 12 days £27.50* |
*EE and Vodafone figures come from a third-party summary updated in October 2026, because their official pages show prices only through an interactive tool. Check your own plan in your network’s app before you travel.
What a trip costs: roaming vs eSIM
| Trip length | Roaming at £2.75 a day | Travel eSIM |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week | £19.25 | 5 GB, 30 days: from $11.52 (Yesim) |
| 2 weeks | £38.50 | 10 GB, 30 days: from $15 (Ubigi) |
| 3 weeks | £57.75 | 25 GB, 30 days: from $29 (Ubigi) |
Travel eSIM prices are in US dollars as the providers show them, from our Europe price comparison, checked on 18 October 2026.
Roaming passes narrow the gap. EE’s 12-day pass and Vodafone’s 15-day pass cost around £21–28, but a travel eSIM is still cheaper for most data users.
When roaming is the better choice
- You are on O2, or your plan already includes EU roaming.
- You make lots of normal phone calls and need your UK number to work exactly as at home.
- Your phone doesn’t support eSIM or is locked to your network.
When a travel eSIM is better
- You pay a daily roaming charge and travel for more than a few days.
- You need more data than your roaming fair-use allowance.
- You are visiting countries outside your network’s roaming zone, such as Turkey or the Balkans.
How to use an eSIM and keep your UK number
- Install a travel eSIM before you leave: see our installation guide.
- On arrival, set the travel eSIM as your mobile data line and turn on data roaming for it.
- Keep your UK SIM switched on for calls and texts, but turn off data roaming on the UK line, so you are not charged the daily fee for data.
Note that on some networks, making a call or sending a text from your UK SIM abroad can still trigger the daily roaming charge. Check your network’s rules.
Ready to compare plans? See the best eSIM for Europe.
Frequently asked questions
Which UK network has free roaming in Europe?
O2 includes roaming in its Europe Zone on pay monthly plans, with up to 25 GB of data, and says it is the only major network not bringing back EU roaming charges. EE, Vodafone and some Three plans include roaming on certain higher tariffs only.
How much does Three charge for roaming in Europe?
Three charges £2.75 a day for customers who joined or upgraded on or after 18 December 2025, and £2 a day for those who joined between 1 October 2021 and 17 December 2025, according to its Go Roam page.
Is a travel eSIM cheaper than UK roaming?
For most trips, yes. At about £2.75 a day, two weeks of roaming costs around £38. A 10 GB Europe eSIM valid for 30 days costs about $15 (roughly £11–12) with Ubigi. Roaming is simpler if you need your UK number for calls, and you can keep your UK SIM active for calls while using the eSIM for data.
Can I keep my UK number while using a travel eSIM?
Yes. Most modern phones support two lines at once. Keep your UK SIM on for calls and texts with data roaming turned off, and use the travel eSIM for mobile data.
Sources
Last updated: