International Cell Phone Plans for 2023: The Best For All Your Travels

There is nothing more enjoyable in life than getting out and checking out different cultures, scenery, traditions, locations, and more through traveling. Many people tend to enjoy traveling in their younger days in order to experience what the world has to offer, to see what there is outside of their country, and get out of their comfort zone. 

If you are someone who plans on graduating school and traveling the world, or want to learn more about yourself through traveling, then you need to have a reliable cell phone plan that you can use during this time. A cell phone plan where you can still contact loved ones back home, and also use while you’re traveling to blog and post about what you’re seeing is important  to many.

It can be difficult to find the best cell phone plan, but let’s go over the features that are needed on an international cell phone plan in 2023!

If you want to switch cell phone carriers, then consider looking into Really to help you with all of your phone services needs! At Really, you can compare phone plans to get more bang for your buck, and you can see what carriers and plans are in your area, sort by price, best value and more, and even click on the plan you wish to learn more about in an instant. 

How to Prepare for a Trip Abroad When it Comes to Your Cell Phone

What kinds of cell phone plans should you look for, and what features are a must, is what you need to know!

Getting an international cell phone plan is important so you can still have full access. Whether you need to be able to make phone calls, send text messages, or even use your data, there are many features that you want to have access to no matter where across the world you may be.

There are many things to think about when it comes to planning a trip internationally, but knowing what you need for your cell phone plan is the most important!

Access to Unlimited Talk and Text

One of the top  features when you want to get an international cell phone plan is making sure that you have unlimited  or a set amount of minutes to talk and text people. Whether you need to call back home and check on everyone to make sure they’re okay, or you need to get a hold of your friend that you’re traveling with, a simple form of communication is of the utmost importance. 

There are many cell phone plans that give you access to talk and text in hundreds of countries for free. While many carriers always seem to give you access to talk and text in Canada and Mexico, many others allow access to hundreds of other countries for free as well. 

A Set Data Allotment Plan or Unlimited Data if Available

Another great feature that almost everyone wants whenever they’re signing up for an international plan is one that has a data plan on it. You mainly have two options when it comes to selecting a data plan, you can choose a set data allotment you can use, or an unlimited one.

Data plans can be expensive to get whenever you’re traveling, especially an unlimited one. In most cases, you won’t need an unlimited plan, but if you want to be on the safe side, it’s a good option to choose. A set data allotment is usually your best bet, and can help you to save money, but remember to connect to wifi as much as possible to avoid going over your data and potentially paying overage charges. 

Mobile Hotspot Availability

One of the best features to invest your money into when it comes to selecting a cell phone plan is one with a mobile hotspot. While most people tend to hook up to the local Wi-Fi wherever they’re at, sometimes this can be an unsafe option where you could be at risk for scams. 

Getting scammed is very common for tourists and there are ways to prevent this, such as using a mobile hotspot. Using this safe alternative will cost you your data allotment if you have one, but connecting all of your devices to your own private network can help to protect you, your personal information, and all of your devices from being scammed or hacked into. 

Affordable Plan Prices

There are many cell phone carriers and plans out there that offer international plans, but it can be expensive to afford one of these plans. Pay-as-you-go rates are something to avoid because they can end up costing you a fortune by the time you are back in your home country. Looking for a plan that is available at a great price is something to consider, and there are many options to look into. 

If you want to save more money than you ever thought possible, an MVNO, or a mobile virtual network operator can help you to save because they don’t own their own network and instead they use the big three’s. The big three consist of Verizon Wireless, AT&T, and T-Mobile, and their MVNOs  can save hundreds of dollars and still give you access to a bunch of international benefits.

Wi-Fi Calling and Texting Capabilities

If you are already going to spend an arm and a leg on your trip abroad, you may want to save a little bit on your cell phone plan. One of the best features to look into for your international cell phone plan is to see if it has Wi-Fi calling and texting capabilities so you can easily talk to loved ones using any Wi-Fi that you can connect to.

Sometimes trying to afford a full international plan can be tough and there may be some features that you want, but may have to cut out in order to afford your trip and cell phone plan. Wi-Fi calling and texting is available on almost all cell phone plans and you can connect to Wi-Fi and call and text loved ones using specific apps, or video calling services. From Whatsapp, FaceTime, Zoom, Google Hangouts, and more, you can still keep in contact with all of your loved ones no matter where you’re at. 

The Best International Cell Phone Plans of 2023

Get the best possible cell phone plan for your international travels through these top carriers!

Getting an international cell phone plan before you start traveling is very important. Making sure that you have everything you need in one plan before you head out to Europe, Asia, or even a tropical island, such as Puerto Rico, or the Bahamas, is something to consider before the trip.

There are many international cell phone plans to choose from, but these top plans in 2023 are what everyone’s talking about!

AT&T International Plans

If you want to have some of the best 5G network access in the United States that you can also use internationally, then AT&T is one of the big carriers you’ll need to look into. Offering their own line of international plans, you’ll have access to unlimited talk, text, and data on all of their plans for a great low monthly price.

There are a few features that AT&T offers on their international plans that are worth mentioning, such as:

• Unlimited talk, text, and data
• 50GB of premium 5G high-speed data and then slower unlimited data afterwards
• AT&T’s incredible 5G nationwide service and coverage
• AT&T ActiveArmor which protects you while using public Wi-Fi, Identity Monitoring, and more
• 15GB of a mobile hotspot available per line 
• Unlimited international talk, text, and data in Canada and Mexico
• Unlimited texting from the United States to 200+ countries
• Standard definition streaming included

Through AT&T’s international plans, there are three main ones to check out and get for your next trip and they are:

• AT&T Unlimited Starter Plan - $65 per line per month for unlimited talk, text, data, and 3GB of a mobile hotspot
• AT&T Unlimited Extra Plan - $75 per line per month for unlimited talk, text, data, and 15G of a mobile hotspot
• AT&T Unlimited Premium Plan - $85 per line per month for unlimited talk, text, data, and 50G of a mobile hotspot

T-Mobile Magenta Plans

Another great set of cell phone plans to check out are through T-Mobile, and their Magenta plans feature a ton of perks for people who love to travel. You can take advantage of T-Mobile’s 5G network service and coverage and also enjoy unlimited data almost anywhere too.

The Magenta plans through T-Mobile features a ton of benefits that are great for those who are planning on traveling soon that include:

• Unlimited talk, text, and data
• Truly unlimited 5G data on all plans
• International calling to Canada and Mexico
• Up to 40GB of a mobile hotspot
• Nationwide 4G LTE and/or 5G high-speed data
• Taxes and fees included in monthly price
• Exceptional customer service
• Bring your own cell phone and number
• Entertainment perks
• Scam shield to protect you against scammers
• T-Mobile Tuesdays for exclusive perks
• Travel benefits

There are also three different plans to choose from that have some slight change in features, such as:

• Essentials Plan - $60 per line per month for unlimited talk, text, data and mobile hotspot
• Magenta Plan  - $70 per line per month for unlimited talk, text, data, mobile hotspot and 100GB of premium data
• Magenta MAX Plan - $85 per line per month for unlimited talk, text, data, 40GB of premium high-speed mobile hotspot, 100GB of premium data, and Netflix

Google Fi

Known as being one of the best international cell phone plans because of the amount of data and other features, Google Fi is very reputable for what they  offer. Giving you access to AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon Wireless’ network based on where you live, you’ll enjoy getting the fastest 5G access possible in your area, as well as unlimited data and mobile hotspots too.

Google Fi has a ton to offer on their plans:

• Unlimited talk and text
• Unlimited high-speed 5G data
• T-Mobile’s 5G nationwide service and coverage
• No contracts or activation fees
• Built-in VPN and spam blocking
• Data budgets available
• Contact controls available
• 24/7 customer support
• Easily switch plans whenever you want to
• Use Fi app to manage your account anytime
• Mobile hotspot available on some plans
• Entertainment perks available
• 100GB of cloud storage available on some plans
• Free unlimited international talk and text to Canada and Mexico
• Free talk and text to over 200+ countries on some plans

There are three cell phone plans to choose from when it comes to Google Fi, and two are completely unlimited too:

• Flexible - $17 per line per month plus for unlimited talk, text, and $10 per GB of data used 
• Simply Unlimited  - $20 per line per month for unlimited talk, text, and data
• Unlimited Plus - $40 per line per month for unlimited talk, text, data, and mobile hotspot

Mint Mobile

Sometimes a good MVNO is one of the best types of cell phone plans to consider because they can not only help you to save you money, but you can  take advantage of international benefits as well. Mint Mobile is an MVNO that shares T-Mobile’s network and has some of the best rates in the game.

Mint Mobile has a ton of features and benefits that are offered on all of their cell phone plans for their three-month, six-month, and year-long plans:

• Unlimited talk and text
• Unlimited 35GB of 4G LTE or 5G data with reduced data speeds after
• Uses T-Mobile’s 5G nationwide coverage
• 3-in-1 SIM Card Kit or eSIM for eligible cell phones
• Keep your current cell phone and number when switching to Mint Mobile
• Free international calling and texting to Mexico and Canada
• 5GB of a mobile hotspot available
• Wi-Fi calling and texting available
• New customer discounts
• Add two lines starting at $15 per line
• Flexibility to change your plan if you’re not liking it
• Manage your account with the Mint Mobile app

There are a few different cell phone plans through Mint Mobile to offer, including set data allotment plans and unlimited data plans:

• $15 per line per month for unlimited talk, text, and 4GB of data
• $20 per line per month for unlimited talk, text, and 10GB of data
• $25 per line per month for unlimited talk, text, and 15GB of data
• $30 per line per month for unlimited talk, text, and data

Visible

If you love the reliability that comes from Verizon Wireless’ network service and coverage, but want to save some money in the process, then one of the best MVNOs to get is Visible. Owned and operated by Verizon Wireless, this MVNO is simple and easy to use, and also offers all unlimited data plans for your convenience.

Visible offers a ton of features on their cell phone plans:

• Unlimited talk, text, and data
• 4G LTE or 5G nationwide coverage
• Unlimited mobile hotspot
• Spam protection
• Unlimited talk and text to Mexico and Canada
• 5G ultra wideband on their most expensive plan
• Unlimited roaming in Mexico and Canada on most expensive plan
• International calling and texting to 30+ countries
• International texting to 200+ countries
• 24/7 access to customer service
• Add a smartwatch for and extra $5 per month
• No hidden fees 

There are two simple, easy-to-understand plans through Visible that you can choose from that are both great for international use:

• Visible Plan - $30 per month for unlimited talk, text, data, mobile hotspot, and 4G LTE and 5G nationwide coverage
• Visible+ Plan - $45 per month for unlimited talk, text, data, mobile hotspot, 4G LTE and 5G nationwide coverage, 5G ultra wideband, and premium network experience

International traveling is full of fun, new experiences no matter what country you go to, or who you go with. Making sure that you have a reliable cell phone plan so you can communicate with loved ones back home, and fully enjoy your adventure is crucial.

Make sure to check out the best international cell phone plans of 2023 so you can have a working cell phone no matter where you travel to!