UK Mobile Roaming Charges Are Back – And They’re Not All Created Equal
- Some networks now charge £2+ a day to use your phone in Europe
- Others, like GiffGaff and O2, offer free roaming – but there’s a catch
- Tesco Mobile customers dodge fees... for now
- Here's how to avoid a post-holiday phone bill shock
Sunshine, sangria… and a sneaky phone bill? As UK holidaymakers get ready to jet off this summer, roaming charges are quietly creeping back in – and depending on your provider, it could cost you big.
Thanks to post-Brexit rule changes, most networks now charge to use your calls, texts and data allowances while abroad. But it’s not just the daily fees that sting – it's the “fair use” caps that catch people out.
Let’s break it down:
Three will charge contract customers £2 a day in the EU, but you can save with roaming passes (e.g. £12 for 7 days). Pay-as-you-go users escape the fee, and there's a 12GB fair use limit.
O2 stands out for not charging anything, but limits your Euro data to 25GB. Go over and you’ll pay.
EE is charging £2.59 daily for contract customers. PAYG travellers get a slight break: £2.50/day or £10 for 7 days. Its generous 50GB fair use cap might soften the blow.
GiffGaff keeps it free too, but with a tiny 5GB roaming limit – barely enough for a few TikToks on a beach lounger.
Voxi charges £2.45 per day, with longer passes offering better value. Their cap? 20GB.
Sky hits you for £2 a day, but at least there’s no fair use cap – a win for data gobblers.
Vodafone will charge £2.42/day for contract users, or you can grab an 8-day roaming pass for £12. PAYG users can get 3GB for £9. Their cap is 25GB.
Tesco Mobile wins hearts with zero roaming fees until 2026. That’s a holiday win.
Roaming rules now also require mobile networks to notify customers when they start roaming and explain their fair use limits. That text message could be the difference between peace of mind and panic in Portugal.
Tom Church, Co-Founder of LatestDeals.co.uk the discount code platform said, “Mobile bills can spiral fast abroad. The key is to plan ahead – check your provider’s fair use cap, consider a roaming pass, or use free Wi-Fi. And if you're out of contract, it’s the perfect time to switch to a better roaming deal.”