Traveling Abroad From the US: Carrier International Plan or Travel eSIM?
TL;DR: Before you leave the US, you have two ways to get mobile data abroad. You can add an international option from your US carrier, or you can add a separate travel eSIM for data. Neither is always cheaper. The answer depends on your carrier's terms, how many days you use data, and what you need besides data. This guide shows what to compare.
Option 1: your US carrier's international option
Apple's support guidance for travelers is to contact your carrier before you go and shop its international roaming plans, because carriers set the fees and some include international roaming on select plans.
Carriers structure this differently. For example, AT&T and Verizon sell daily passes, where you pay for each day you use your phone abroad, and T-Mobile includes some international data on qualifying plans, with limits. Coverage, data allowances, price and eligible countries all vary and change. Check your own carrier's international page for your destination and your plan, on the day you book.
Without a pass or a plan that covers your destination, pay-as-you-go roaming rates can apply. Turn off Data Roaming on your home line if you do not plan to use your carrier's option.
Option 2: a travel eSIM for data
A travel eSIM is a data plan you add to your phone digitally, with no card to swap. With HOAM:
- It is data only. There are no calls or SMS on the eSIM.
- You pick destinations and a data size, and install the eSIM from a QR code before you fly.
- Plans run 30 days. According to HOAM's reload page, the 30 days start when the eSIM first connects at your destination, not when you pay.
- If you run out, you can reload the same eSIM from your browser. Nothing renews automatically.
- You keep your home line on the phone at the same time. Your phone needs to be unlocked from your carrier and support eSIM (check in two minutes).
How to compare for your trip
Write down four things:
- Your dates and countries. Daily passes charge per day of use. A data plan is priced by size, for a validity period.
- How much data you will use. HOAM's guide to data use gives rough planning ranges by trip length (see it here).
- What else you need on your US number. A travel eSIM from HOAM carries data only. If you need regular calls or texts on your US number abroad, check what your carrier charges for those while roaming. Apps that use data (WhatsApp, FaceTime, iMessage) run over the eSIM's data.
- Prices. Get your carrier's current price for the country and your dates, and HOAM's price for the same countries and data size on the HOAM destination page. Then compare the totals.
Using both without surprises
On an iPhone, with two lines on your phone, Apple notes that you choose which line is used for cellular data, and that the "Allow Cellular Data Switching" option lets the phone use either line depending on coverage. If you want data to come only from the travel eSIM, set it as the Cellular Data line and leave that option off. Apple also warns that you may incur roaming charges if Data Roaming is on for a line while you are outside your carrier's network. Keep Data Roaming off on your home line unless you are using your carrier's plan.
Whether calls and texts on your home line cost extra abroad depends on your carrier and plan. Ask your carrier before you go.
See HOAM plans for your destinations.
References (checked 19 Oct 2026)
שאלות נפוצות
Will my US number still work abroad?
If your home line stays on, it can usually receive calls and texts, but whether that costs extra depends on your carrier and plan. HOAM's eSIM is data only.
Is a travel eSIM cheaper than a carrier pass?
It depends on trip length, countries, data and your plan. Compare real prices for your trip.
What if I run out of data on the eSIM?
You can reload the same eSIM from the browser.
Do I need to cancel anything at home?
No. The eSIM is added next to your existing line.
