International Roaming with Prepaid Phones
US-based
prepaid phones have
various abilities for roaming in foreign countries.Listed
are Prepaids that roam beyond North America, and then Prepaids that
roam
in Canada and Mexico only. In
most cases, prepaid phones
can use Wi-Fi
in foreign countries to access Data and some can also make
Voice Calls
and Text messages.
Services are
listed alphabetically.
BOOST MOBILE
Boost Mobile offers add-ons that give you Data in over 38 foreign countries, depending on SIM and phone model, for $20 per month, which can be turned on and off. Additional Data is available for $10 per 1 GB. Boost is owned by Dish Wireless.
CONSUMER CELLULAR
Consumer Cellular has roaming coverage in over 100 countries. There is a charge for calls FROM these countries with rates starting as low as .01 per minute Talk, per Text and per MB of Data. International Roaming must be enabled by Customer Service, and Wi-Fi Calling is available. Roaming rates in a small number of countries can be as high as .58 per Minute/Text/Mb, so to protect your account Consumer Cellular will limit your roaming when charges reach $100.
TING
MOBILE
Ting offers international roaming with a GSM phone but with per-use charges for Voice, Text and Data, but with FREE incoming Texts. Ting Roaming rates are fairly high. Ting is not prepaid but is a pay-as-you-go service that charges for what you've used at the end of each month. Ting Mobile is owned by Dish Wireless.
CRICKET
Cricket Unlimited and 10 GB plans include Unlimited Calling and Unlimited Text and Picture Messaging to and from landlines and mobile phones in Mexico, Canada (limited to 50% Roaming), and to the US, plus high-speed Data access while traveling in Mexico and Canada (Speeds reduced when you use up your plan's high-speed allowance). Cricket is owned by AT&T.
METRO BY T-MOBILE
Prepaids
that Roam in Foreign Countries:
(Within North America and beyond)
(Within North America and beyond)
Boost Mobile offers add-ons that give you Data in over 38 foreign countries, depending on SIM and phone model, for $20 per month, which can be turned on and off. Additional Data is available for $10 per 1 GB. Boost is owned by Dish Wireless.
Consumer Cellular has roaming coverage in over 100 countries. There is a charge for calls FROM these countries with rates starting as low as .01 per minute Talk, per Text and per MB of Data. International Roaming must be enabled by Customer Service, and Wi-Fi Calling is available. Roaming rates in a small number of countries can be as high as .58 per Minute/Text/Mb, so to protect your account Consumer Cellular will limit your roaming when charges reach $100.
GOOGLE FI
Voice and Data Roaming in over 200 countries including Mexico and Canada. Fi uses Wi-Fi first then, if it finds none, automatically switches to cellular broadband.
Voice and Data Roaming in over 200 countries including Mexico and Canada. Fi uses Wi-Fi first then, if it finds none, automatically switches to cellular broadband.
SIMPLE
MOBILE
Simple Mobile offers Voice, Text and Data roaming in Mexico and 15 other Central and South American countries on all plans. Simple Mobile is one of our preferred providers that is owned by Verizon. Roaming benefits in these countries include 300 Talk minutes, Data access and unlimited Text. Mexico roaming includes Data access and Unlimited Talk and Text.
Simple Mobile offers Voice, Text and Data roaming in Mexico and 15 other Central and South American countries on all plans. Simple Mobile is one of our preferred providers that is owned by Verizon. Roaming benefits in these countries include 300 Talk minutes, Data access and unlimited Text. Mexico roaming includes Data access and Unlimited Talk and Text.
Ting offers international roaming with a GSM phone but with per-use charges for Voice, Text and Data, but with FREE incoming Texts. Ting Roaming rates are fairly high. Ting is not prepaid but is a pay-as-you-go service that charges for what you've used at the end of each month. Ting Mobile is owned by Dish Wireless.
T-MOBILE PREPAID
Both Prepaid and "non-contract" phones roam in over 200 countries worldwide. Roaming within Mexico and Canada is included without extra charges, including Data, for "non-contract" plans. T-Mobile also supports Global Wi-Fi Calling which enables you to make calls via Wi-Fi back to the US at your normal per-call rate. Otherwise, Pay As You Go plan roaming rates range from $1.49 to $5.99 per minute! Text messaging is .50 to Send, .10 to receive, in all countries except Canada. "Connect by T-Mobile" plans do not roam outside the US. A better alternative is US Mobile.
TOTAL WIRELESS
Total Wireless offers Voice, Text and Data roaming in Canada and Mexico. You also get 30 other countries on all plans with the Total Wireless International App. Total Wireless is one of our preferred providers that is owned by Verizon. Roaming data access is only limited to your monthly data allotment. A few normal restrictions apply.
ULTRA MOBILE
Ultra Mobile roams automatically in Canada and Mexico on 3GB and higher plans, but only for Talk and Text. You can add International Roaming Credit that allows roaming in 90+ countries and the credit carries over from month to month and never expires. Ultra is owned by T-Mobile.
Both Prepaid and "non-contract" phones roam in over 200 countries worldwide. Roaming within Mexico and Canada is included without extra charges, including Data, for "non-contract" plans. T-Mobile also supports Global Wi-Fi Calling which enables you to make calls via Wi-Fi back to the US at your normal per-call rate. Otherwise, Pay As You Go plan roaming rates range from $1.49 to $5.99 per minute! Text messaging is .50 to Send, .10 to receive, in all countries except Canada. "Connect by T-Mobile" plans do not roam outside the US. A better alternative is US Mobile.
Total Wireless offers Voice, Text and Data roaming in Canada and Mexico. You also get 30 other countries on all plans with the Total Wireless International App. Total Wireless is one of our preferred providers that is owned by Verizon. Roaming data access is only limited to your monthly data allotment. A few normal restrictions apply.
Ultra Mobile roams automatically in Canada and Mexico on 3GB and higher plans, but only for Talk and Text. You can add International Roaming Credit that allows roaming in 90+ countries and the credit carries over from month to month and never expires. Ultra is owned by T-Mobile.
US MOBILE
US Mobile roams in over 100 countries around the world including plans with Data. US Mobile has several other advantages including competitive prices, a choice of US networks, excellent promotions and more.
US Mobile roams in over 100 countries around the world including plans with Data. US Mobile has several other advantages including competitive prices, a choice of US networks, excellent promotions and more.
Prepaids
That Roam in Canada and Mexico Only:
AT&T PREPAID
AT&T Prepaid roams in Canada & Mexico. Talk, Messaging and Data available on $60 monthly plan and above, Talk and Messaging available for other plans at per-use charges. If you're traveling elsewhere a good alternative is US Mobile.
AT&T Prepaid roams in Canada & Mexico. Talk, Messaging and Data available on $60 monthly plan and above, Talk and Messaging available for other plans at per-use charges. If you're traveling elsewhere a good alternative is US Mobile.
Cricket Unlimited and 10 GB plans include Unlimited Calling and Unlimited Text and Picture Messaging to and from landlines and mobile phones in Mexico, Canada (limited to 50% Roaming), and to the US, plus high-speed Data access while traveling in Mexico and Canada (Speeds reduced when you use up your plan's high-speed allowance). Cricket is owned by AT&T.
Metro
by T-Mobile phones include Unlimited Calls and Texts, TO and FROM Mexico and Canada, including both mobile
phones and landlines.
Available as a $5 add-on to plans $40 and above, and includes 5GB of Data. Higher Data plans available.
RED POCKET
Red Pocket phones include Unlimited calling TO and FROM Mexico and Canada. All Red Pocket Mobile Unlimited GSMA plans offer Free international roaming in Canada and Mexico, including unlimited Talk, Text and a Data limit of up to 100MB. Additional roaming data can be added for an extra cost. International roaming is also included in all other non-unlimited GSMA plans, but does not include unlimited talk and text, add-ons are available for all plans. Some International calling to other countries is also included.
Red Pocket phones include Unlimited calling TO and FROM Mexico and Canada. All Red Pocket Mobile Unlimited GSMA plans offer Free international roaming in Canada and Mexico, including unlimited Talk, Text and a Data limit of up to 100MB. Additional roaming data can be added for an extra cost. International roaming is also included in all other non-unlimited GSMA plans, but does not include unlimited talk and text, add-ons are available for all plans. Some International calling to other countries is also included.
VERIZON PREPAID
Verizon Prepaid roams in Canada, Mexico and Guam but the process is complicated. They offer a Prepaid Travel Pass which is automatically added to your line if you have a compatible prepaid monthly plan and a World Device. You must enable TravelPass to start using it. Once you enable it, you'll be charged a daily fee but only on days that you use Voice, Text or Data while traveling. However, you must have sufficient balance in your prepaid account for the daily fee to use the service.
Verizon Prepaid roams in Canada, Mexico and Guam but the process is complicated. They offer a Prepaid Travel Pass which is automatically added to your line if you have a compatible prepaid monthly plan and a World Device. You must enable TravelPass to start using it. Once you enable it, you'll be charged a daily fee but only on days that you use Voice, Text or Data while traveling. However, you must have sufficient balance in your prepaid account for the daily fee to use the service.
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