Last updated: 16 October 2026
Yes. Any recent US phone works in Europe. Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile all roam on European networks, so your phone gets a signal as soon as you land in Paris, Rome or London. The question is what it costs: on most plans, $10 to $12 a day per line, so a two-week trip for two can add $300 or more to your bill.
Three things are worth knowing before you go: what your carrier charges, why calls can fail where data works, and how to get data for much less.
What your carrier charges in Europe
| Carrier | What you get in Europe | What it costs |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon | TravelPass: your plan's talk, text and data, 5 GB of high-speed data a day | $12 a day per line, or $100 for the International Monthly Plan. Unlimited Ultimate includes 15 GB a month at no extra cost |
| AT&T | International Day Pass: your plan's talk, text and data | $12 a day for one line, $6 for each extra line, at most 10 days charged per bill period. Unlimited Elite 2.0 includes 20 GB a month |
| T-Mobile | Included roaming on most plans: 5 GB of high-speed data on Experience More, 15 GB on Experience Beyond, then slow data | No extra cost, or a pass from $10 a day for more. Essentials has no data abroad without a pass |
The pass switches itself on. On Verizon and AT&T, a single call, sent text or background app sync in Europe starts a day, even if you did not mean to use your phone. Our guides explain what triggers it and how to avoid it: Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile.
On other carriers (Mint, Visible, Cricket, Google Fi and the rest), the rules differ a lot, from free data to no roaming at all. Check your plan before you fly.
Will my phone itself work there?
For data, yes, if your phone is less than about eight years old. US phones support the 4G and 5G frequencies used in Europe, and data works on any of them.
For calls, there is one catch: 3G is disappearing. Most European operators have switched off their 3G networks or are doing so, and phone calls now travel over 4G (a technology called VoLTE). Your phone supports it: US 3G networks are already gone, so a phone that makes calls at home today can do it. But abroad, 4G calling also has to be supported by your carrier's partner network. On some networks and older phones it is not, and then data works but calls fail.
If that happens:
- Use Wi-Fi calling. Calls from abroad over Wi-Fi to US numbers are free on Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile. On an iPhone, turn Wi-Fi Calling on before you leave the US: Verizon notes it cannot be switched on once you are abroad.
- Use WhatsApp, FaceTime or another app over data or Wi-Fi.
- Ask your carrier before you go whether your model supports calls on its partners in the countries you visit.
Check that your phone is unlocked if you want to use a European SIM card or a travel eSIM. A locked phone only works with your own carrier: here is how to check and unlock it. And if your phone is an eSIM-only US iPhone, you cannot use a European SIM card at all: does the iPhone 17 have a SIM card?
Check your phone, then pick a plan. Look up your model in our compatible devices list and make sure it is unlocked. If both are yes, the Europe eSIM below works on it as a second line, and your US number stays on for calls and texts.
The cheaper way: a travel eSIM for data
A travel eSIM is a second, data-only line you add to your phone for the trip. Your US line stays on for calls and texts, including bank verification codes, and the eSIM carries your data at a fixed price.
Our Europe eSIM covers 30 countries with one install, from Portugal to Poland, including the United Kingdom and Switzerland:
- $11.99 for 7 days with 1.5 GB a day, against $84 for a week of TravelPass.
- $19.99 for 15 days, or $19.99 for 7 days unlimited if you work online or share your connection.
It does not cover Norway, Iceland, Turkey or the Balkan countries outside the EU: they have plans of their own, for example Norway, Iceland and Turkey. How a multi-country plan works, and what to check, is in eSIM for Europe.
When your carrier is the better choice: a trip of a day or two, T-Mobile's included data if it is enough for you, Verizon Unlimited Ultimate or AT&T Elite 2.0 within their monthly allowance, or a trip of more than 10 days on AT&T inside one billing cycle, where the Day Pass stops charging.
Country by country
Our country pages show the plans that work in each, and the Europe plan where it applies:
- Western Europe: France, United Kingdom, Ireland, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Austria
- Southern Europe: Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Croatia, Cyprus
- Central and northern Europe: Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Denmark, Norway, Iceland
For what each carrier charges in a single country, with trip costs worked out, read our guides to using your US phone in France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Ireland, the UK, Greece and Portugal. Seeing Europe from a cruise ship? Our eSIM for a cruise guide shows which plan covers Mediterranean and northern Europe ports.
Which ride apps work where: Uber, Bolt and FreeNow by country.
Before you fly: a short checklist
- Check your carrier's international option and decide: day pass, included roaming or a travel eSIM.
- Turn on Wi-Fi Calling while you are still in the US.
- Install your travel eSIM at home on Wi-Fi: iPhone or Android. When you land, set it as your data line and turn data roaming off on your US line. If it shows No Service, here is how to fix an eSIM that is not working abroad.
- Pack the right plug adapter. Most of continental Europe uses round two-pin plugs (types C and F), the UK and Ireland use type G, Switzerland type J and Italy type L. Europe runs at 230 volts, but phone chargers marked 100 to 240 V only need an adapter, not a converter.
- Know the emergency number: 112. It works across the EU, and in the UK alongside 999.
- Check the entry rules. Schengen countries now register your passport and photo in the EU's Entry/Exit System, and the UK needs an ETA: entering Europe in 2026.
FAQ
Will my US phone work in Europe?
Yes. Any recent US phone works on European networks for data, calls and texts, through your carrier's roaming. On most plans you pay a day pass of $10 to $12 per line, or use included roaming on T-Mobile and some top Verizon and AT&T plans.
Do I need an international plan for Europe?
Not always. T-Mobile's Experience plans, Verizon Unlimited Ultimate and AT&T Unlimited Elite 2.0 include some data in Europe. On other plans you pay a day pass, or you can add a travel eSIM for data at a fixed price.
Why does my phone have data but no calls in Europe?
Probably because the local network has switched off 3G and your phone or your carrier's partner does not support 4G calling (VoLTE) there. Use Wi-Fi calling, which is free to US numbers on the big three carriers, or a calling app.
Is Wi-Fi calling free from Europe?
Calls over Wi-Fi to US numbers are free on Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile. Calls to European numbers are charged as international calls. On an iPhone, turn Wi-Fi Calling on before you leave the US.
Does a Europe eSIM work in the UK and Switzerland?
Ours does: the UK, Switzerland and Liechtenstein are among its 30 countries. Norway, Iceland and Turkey are not, and need a plan of their own.
Do I need a converter for my phone charger in Europe?
No. Phone chargers are almost always rated 100 to 240 V, so you only need a plug adapter: types C and F for most of continental Europe, G for the UK and Ireland, J for Switzerland and L for Italy.
Facts checked on 16 October 2026 against Verizon's international travel and Wi-Fi calling pages, our Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile guides, 3G switch-off trackers for European operators, and our catalogue.