Internet abroad: the five ways to get online and how to choose
The five ways to get internet abroad, from roaming on your home SIM to local SIMs, travel eSIMs, pocket WiFi and WiFi only, with a decision table by trip type and how each one is switched on.
早わかり
- There are five ways to get internet abroad: roaming on your home SIM, a local physical SIM, a travel eSIM, pocket WiFi, and public WiFi only. Many people with an eSIM-capable phone pick a travel eSIM because it can be bought online and installed before the flight, while pocket WiFi suits groups sharing one connection across several devices.
- Prices, speeds and terms for each option vary by provider and country, so no single answer is always cheapest. Check live prices and the actual terms before you decide.
How many ways are there to get internet abroad? The five options
Searches for internet abroad return a mix of roaming, SIM cards, eSIMs and pocket WiFi, even though they work quite differently. This page separates them into five clear options so you can see how each is switched on, who it suits and what to watch out for.
- Roaming on your home SIM: use your existing number and SIM through partner networks abroad.
- Local SIM: a physical SIM from the destination country, bought at the airport or a shop there.
- Travel eSIM: a data-only digital SIM bought online and installed by scanning a QR code.
- Pocket WiFi: a portable router you rent or buy, which several devices join over WiFi.
- WiFi only: rely on hotel, cafe and airport WiFi without mobile data.
Roaming abroad: how to switch on your home SIM and what to watch
Roaming abroad means your home SIM connects to partner networks in the destination country. The upside is no SIM swap and your usual number can still receive calls and SMS. The caution is that roaming may be charged by volume or by day depending on your operator and the pack you subscribe to, so read your own operator's terms before switching it on.
- 1Check terms with your operatorOpen your operator's app or website and see whether a roaming pack exists for your destination and how it is charged.
- 2Subscribe to a pack before flying if neededSome operators need a roaming pack activated ahead of time or confirmed in the app. Do not leave it until you land.
- 3Turn data roaming on in your phoneGo to the cellular or mobile network settings and switch Data Roaming on for that line. See our data roaming guide for detailed steps.
- 4Set a data usage alertSet an alert in your operator's app or on your phone so you see usage before an unexpected bill appears.
Local SIM and tourist SIM cards: buying a physical SIM at your destination
A local physical SIM is usually sold at the airport or at operator shops in that country. Some countries sell tourist SIMs aimed at visitors, and some require registration with a passport before use. The upside is a direct local network. The downsides are you must go and buy it, swap the SIM in your phone, and if it has a number you get a new foreign number that is not your main one.
- Check: whether passport registration is needed, whether the SIM suits your phone, and when its validity clock starts.
- If you swap your physical SIM, your home SIM will not receive calls and SMS meanwhile, unless your phone has two slots and you use both.
- Keep your home SIM somewhere safe, such as a small case you will not lose.
Travel eSIM: data SIM you can set up before you fly
A travel eSIM is a digital SIM for internet abroad: you buy it on a website, receive a QR code by email and install it from your phone settings, with no physical SIM to insert. Your home SIM stays in the phone, so verification SMS can still arrive if you set things up correctly. These plans are usually data only, with no phone number.
- 1お使いのスマートフォンがeSIMに対応しているか確認するUse our device checker, and confirm the phone is not locked to a carrier.
- 2Pick a plan by country and number of daysLook at plans for your destination and check the live price and terms on the listing.
- 3Install before the flight, activate on arrivalScan the QR following the install steps, then switch on that line and data roaming on arrival. See our eSIM install guide.
Pocket WiFi or roaming: how do you choose?
A popular question is pocket WiFi or roaming. The answer depends on people and devices. Pocket WiFi suits groups who want several devices on one unit, but you must collect, return, charge and carry another item. Roaming is convenient because there is no extra gear, but you need to read your operator's terms closely.
| 項目 | Home SIM roaming | ポケットWiFi |
|---|---|---|
| Extra device needed | 不可 | Yes, you charge and carry it |
| Sharing across devices | Possible by turning on your own hotspot | Designed for this |
| Keep your number, calls, SMS | Yes, subject to operator terms | No, internet only |
| Risk to manage | Unexpected roaming bills | Forgetting to return, losing it, or a flat battery |
Roaming vs pocket WiFi
For a cost-focused comparison of roaming and eSIM, see our esim-vs-roaming-cost guide, which shows how to check real numbers yourself without quoting fixed prices.
Using WiFi only abroad: how far does it go?
Some trips work with hotel and restaurant WiFi alone, especially short trips in one city. But when you need maps while walking, ride-hailing or a one-time code outside your hotel, WiFi only becomes a bottleneck. If you choose this path, download offline maps and key documents first, and be careful with public WiFi: avoid financial transactions on networks you do not know.
- Download offline maps before leaving your accommodation. See offline-maps-and-navigation.
- Keep your lodging address, tickets and key documents as screenshots.
Which one should you pick? A table by trip type
| 旅行の種類 | Option that often fits | Short reason |
|---|---|---|
| Short single-country trip, eSIM-capable phone | 旅行用eSIM | Can be bought and installed before flying |
| Group with many devices | Pocket WiFi, or one eSIM per phone | Depends on who can carry the gear |
| Need your Thai number for calls throughout | Keep home SIM alongside a data eSIM | See esim-and-phone-numbers |
| Staying several weeks or months | Local SIM or a long-validity plan | Check that country's registration rules |
| A few hours or a layover | Airport WiFi or a very short plan | See layover-and-transit-data |
Choosing internet abroad by trip
Internet abroad not working: what to check first
- Is data roaming switched on for the line carrying data?
- Is Cellular Data set to the eSIM or SIM line you meant to use?
- Try toggling airplane mode, or restart the phone.
- Choose the network manually if automatic selection fails, and follow the seller's instructions.
よくある質問
Which way of getting internet abroad is best?+
No single way is always best. An eSIM is convenient if your phone supports it and you do not need a foreign number, pocket WiFi suits many devices, and roaming needs no extra gear but requires reading your operator's terms. Check live prices and choose by trip.
What is the difference between a local SIM and an eSIM?+
A local physical SIM must be bought and swapped into the phone, while an eSIM is a digital SIM bought online and installed through settings without removing your home SIM. Both come with different terms and networks depending on the provider.
Does a tourist SIM abroad come with a phone number?+
It depends on the product. Some are data only and some include a number, so read the listing. If you need your Thai number for calls, keep your home SIM in the phone.
How do I switch on internet abroad on my phone?+
Turn on data roaming for the line carrying data and set cellular data to that line. With an eSIM, install it first and switch the line on at your destination. See our data roaming and eSIM install guides.
Can using the internet abroad cause a huge bill?+
It can happen if you leave home-SIM roaming on without knowing the terms. Keep roaming off on the home SIM when using an eSIM or another SIM, set usage alerts, and read avoiding-bill-shock-roaming.
Pocket WiFi or roaming: which is easier for a group?+
If you want several devices to share one connection, pocket WiFi is often easier, but someone must carry, charge and return it. If each person prefers their own, an eSIM or per-phone roaming may be simpler.
Can I use WiFi only on a short trip abroad?+
You can if you stay in one city and spend most of your time near WiFi, but maps, ride-hailing and codes outside your accommodation may get awkward. Download offline maps and keep documents as screenshots.
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