US-based
prepaid phones have
various abilities for roaming in foreign countries. Most are
limited to Mexico and Canada with a few that will work outside North
America. In some cases, prepaid phones can use
broadband
and Wi-Fi
networks to complete voice calls and text messages.
Services are
listed alphabetically.
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 an International
SIM Card.
BOOST MOBILE
Boost
is owned by Dish Wireless. Boost offers a plan add-on that enables
Voice, Text
and Data roaming in Mexico including calls to and from the US. You must
have an "international-capable" phone which includes most newer Boost
devices. If you're
traveling elsewhere a good alternative is an International
SIM Card.
CRICKET
Cricket
is owned by AT&T. Cricket Unlimited
and New 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). If you're traveling elsewhere a good
alternative is an International
SIM Card.
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.
METRO BY T-MOBILE
MetroPCS
is owned
by T-Mobile. MetroPCS phones include Unlimited
Calling and Text Messages TO and FROM Mexico and Unlimited Data while
roaming in Mexico up to the limits of your home plan. If you're
traveling elsewhere a good alternative is an International
SIM Card.
PAGE
PLUS
Some Page Plus phones
roam in
Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands. Talk and
Messaging only, charged per minute or per text. Please note
that
you must have an "international-capable" phone, which most Page Plus
phones are
not. Check before you
leave. If you're traveling elsewhere a good
alternative is an International
SIM Card.
SIMPLE
MOBILE
A value-priced
provider that offers Voice, Text and Data roaming in
Mexico and 15 other Central and South American countries on all plans. If you're
traveling elsewhere you can get an International
SIM Cardor consider
a Global Travel
Phone.
TING
MOBILE 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 offers
international roaming with
a GSM phone, at
per-use charges for Voice, Text and Data as well as FREE incoming Texts.
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 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 good
alternative is an International
SIM Card.
US MOBILE
US Mobile roams in over 100 countries around the world including plans
with Data.
PREPAIDS THAT DON'T ROAM The
following
Prepaid services do not
roam outside the US. This list is not
comprehensive, only the most popular Prepaids are shown. Information is
subject to change.Almost
any current phone will work on Wi-Fi internationally, but if
your phone doesn't roam where you want it, a good
alternative is an International
SIM Card.