Data roaming is when your phone has to disconnect from your usual cellular network and reconnect to another cell provider that has better coverage in that area. Anytime you leave your cellular service provider’s coverage map, you’ll be using data roaming—unless you’re so far off the grid that there is no cellular service, in which case you might need satellite phone coverage.
But data roaming can be costly. If you’re not careful, you might end up spending a lot of extra money to make phone calls or use the internet while your phone is on data roaming. To help you avoid extra data roaming fees, we’ve gathered the best international cell phone plans below.