Phone provider with free EU roaming

[aturnick54]

Can anyone recommend a decent provider that still offers free roaming when travelling in the EU?

Looking at Vodafone, although it is rather expensive SIM-only.

[x5tuu]

O2 are the only standard uk network to keep this I think

[Jamescrs]

O2 still do it, they recently sent me a message to say it would continue.

I think GiffGaff do the same as they are owned by O2

[Chris Stott]

I have an ID Mobile sim only deal… £8/month, no roaming charges.

[Ross350]

Asda mobile - not sure about the 'decent' part, Ive read customer service might not be great but had no reason to use it so far. Vodafone network, cheap, free EU roaming.

https://mobile.asda.com/roaming-calling-abroad

[rdjohn]

Lebara.

I think if you are having a fortnight holiday and are sensible with data usage, then charges with most companies are sensible.

[mickyh7]

I've just spoken to Giffgaff about this ( they operate on O2), as I'm of to the Canaries in 3 weeks.
They say they have no plans to bring back Roaming Fees in the EU.
Good, cheap company as well in my opinion.
Oops, beaten to it!

[aturnick54]

Ross350 said:

Asda mobile - not sure about the 'decent' part, Ive read customer service might not be great but had no reason to use it so far. Vodafone network, cheap, free EU roaming.

https://mobile.asda.com/roaming-calling-abroad

I was interested in Vodafone as they do provide roaming in Turkey as well which I would use. However, a bit on the pricey side at £38 SIM-only.

[aturnick54]

rdjohn said:

Lebara.

I think if you are having a fortnight holiday and are sensible with data usage, then charges with most companies are sensible.

I spend 6 weeks away in summer. At £2 a day that's nearly £90 extra just to be able to use my phone for one trip. I'd rather not have to pay that, especially with every other cost hiked at the moment.

Three used to have Go Roam which was great, and no charges. They've now abolished that despite saying they wouldn't which is a shame.

[aturnick54]

mickyh7 said:

I've just spoken to Giffgaff about this ( they operate on O2), as I'm of to the Canaries in 3 weeks.
They say they have no plans to bring back Roaming Fees in the EU.
Good, cheap company as well in my opinion.
Oops, beaten to it!

What's service like with Giffgaff?

[mickyh7]

aturnick54 said:

What's service like with Giffgaff?

For me, very very good.
I have no complaints.
I pay £8 a month which gives me ample everything.
I also get 'Payback' twice a year, last one was £66!

[Oilchange]

I must have done something wrong as I never had any service, phone or data, from Giffgaff in mainland Europe. Swapped to Lebara now so we'll see

[mickyh7]

Oilchange said:

I must have done something wrong as I never had any service, phone or data, from Giffgaff in mainland Europe. Swapped to Lebara now so we'll see

It's basically O2.
I've been with Giffgaff for years now.

[NDA]

I will be 3 weeks in France this summer - EE at £2 a day is a bit of a pain, but it's hard to see a cheaper alternative.

Maybe downloading a French eSIM, but it all looks too much hassle to reduce (not remove) the £42 charge from EE.

[SteveKTMer]

Personal phone is Giffgaff which gives free roaming in EU, except Switzerland is not classed as EU, or wasn't last year, so did get a charge for that. Worth checking which countries are included as I don't remember EE charging me for Switzerland a couple of years ago.

[RizzoTheRat]

Check the details on your existing sim/contracts. I'm with Talkmobile, who are part of Vodafone, and it's still free in Europe. I think in a lot of cases they started charging for new contracts, but haven't stopped free roaming on older contracts.

ETA: Looks like Talkmobile are still including European roaming on new SIM only deals. https://talkmobile.co.uk/sim-only

Edited by RizzoTheRat on Monday 7th March 12:23

[Ydnaroo]

BT Mobile (EE network) still showing "Roam like at home in 47 countries" on their website.

[abzmike]

Ydnaroo said:

BT Mobile (EE network) still showing "Roam like at home in 47 countries" on their website.

Yep - I have BT SIM only and been to Norway and Netherlands recently.. No issues. Don't know if there are any limits, but I get the noiification text when I land like before.

[Carbon Sasquatch]

Plusnet

I've been in Europe since the end of November enjoying their free roaming. £10/month SIM only.

[rdjohn]

aturnick54 said:

rdjohn said:

Lebara.

I think if you are having a fortnight holiday and are sensible with data usage, then charges with most companies are sensible.

I spend 6 weeks away in summer. At £2 a day that's nearly £90 extra just to be able to use my phone for one trip. I'd rather not have to pay that, especially with every other cost hiked at the moment.

Three used to have Go Roam which was great, and no charges. They've now abolished that despite saying they wouldn't which is a shame.

I spend 10-months per year in France and Spain, but am always close to WiFi. For £5/month, I never use my 3Gb data allowance but sometimes have to pay small amounts for calls and texts because of my unreasonable time out of the UK.

WhatsApp, FaceTime and Duo seem to cover most of my needs. I am not trying to watch iPlayer or Netflix on my phone

Lebara uses the Vodafone network and so is pretty good coverage. They would not regard 6 of 52-weeks as unreasonable.