Data Roaming Spending Caps Set Limits (2026)
EU law caps roaming spending at EUR 50 by default. UK carriers must apply a GBP 45 monthly cap under Ofcom rules. US carriers AT&T and Verizon face no legal cap at all and can bill unlimited roaming charges. This page maps every carrier policy, explains how to check and change your cap, and shows where spending caps still leave you exposed.
We earn a commission when you purchase through links on this page. It does not change our rankings or the price you pay.
EU roaming spending caps
The EU's Roam Like at Home (RLAH) regulation gives every customer on an EU carrier a default data roaming spending cap of EUR 50 per billing period. Carriers must apply this cap automatically. You do not need to request it.
When your roaming data usage reaches EUR 50, your carrier must stop all data roaming immediately. The cut-off is hard. Your phone will show a signal but data will not load. Voice calls and SMS continue because the cap applies only to data.
Before cutting off your data, EU carriers must send a warning notification when you reach 80% of the cap (EUR 40). This warning arrives as an SMS. Most carriers also send a second message at the point of cut-off. If you do not receive these messages, your carrier may be in breach of RLAH requirements.
How to check your EU cap
Log into your carrier's app or online account portal. Look for a section labelled “Roaming,” “International Usage,” or “Spending Limits.” Most EU carriers display your current roaming data spend and the cap in euros. If you cannot find it, call your carrier's customer service line and ask for your current international data spending cap.
Opting out of the EUR 50 cap
You can opt out of the default cap and set a higher limit or remove the cap entirely. Contact your carrier before travel. Some carriers allow self-service opt-out via their app. Others require a phone call. If you remove the cap and data charges exceed what you expect, you have no automatic protection. The opt-out is explicit consent to unlimited roaming charges.
Heavy data users on business trips sometimes opt out because the EUR 50 cap can be hit in under a day of intensive use. A single 4K video conference call can consume 3-5 GB, which at EU out-of-bundle roaming rates exceeds the cap within hours. For these users, a travel eSIM with a fixed data allowance is a better approach.
US carrier spending controls
No US federal law requires carriers to cap roaming spending. AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile can all charge unlimited roaming fees with no automatic cutoff. The only protection is the customer manually disabling data roaming before travel.
AT&T
AT&T International Day Pass charges $10 per 24-hour period in most countries (Canada and Mexico cost $5/day). The pass activates automatically on first use. There is no ceiling on the number of days. A 14-day trip generates $140 in pass fees before any additional charges. If Day Pass does not cover a country, AT&T charges pay-per-use rates: up to $2.05 per MBof data. No cap applies in either scenario. AT&T's myAT&T app shows usage data alerts, but alerts are informational only and do not stop billing.
Verizon
Verizon TravelPass works on the same model as AT&T Day Pass: $10/day in most countries, $5/day in Canada and Mexico. The pass activates automatically on first data, call, or text use. A 21-day trip costs $210in pass fees with no automatic stop. Verizon's My Verizon app sends usage notifications, but you must manually disable roaming to stop charges. Without TravelPass in uncovered countries, Verizon bills pay-per-use at $2.05 per MB.
T-Mobile
T-Mobile includes free international data in most of its plans, but this data runs at 128 Kbps (2G speeds). High-speed data costs $5/day on most plans (Go5G Plus and Go5G Next include 15 GB of high-speed data per month at no extra cost). Voice calls cost $0.25 per minute in most countries. T-Mobile does not offer an automatic spending cap. The T-Mobile app sends alerts, but they do not cut off billing.
The only US workaround: disable data roaming entirely
Because no US carrier offers an automatic spending cap, the most reliable protection is to disable data roaming before you board your flight. On iPhone: Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Data Roaming (toggle off). On Android: Settings > Connections > Mobile Networks > Data Roaming (toggle off). See the full guides at turn off data roaming on iPhone and turn off data roaming on Android.
UK post-Brexit spending caps
Since Brexit, Ofcom requires UK carriers to apply a default monthly data roaming cap of GBP 45. This applies to EE, Vodafone, Three, O2, and Sky Mobile. The cap is per billing month, not per trip.
When you hit the GBP 45 cap, your carrier stops data roaming immediately. The carrier must also notify you when you are close to the limit. The notification threshold varies by carrier, but most alert you at GBP 40 (approximately 89% of the cap).
How to check your cap by carrier
- EE:My EE app > Roaming > Spending Cap. Call 150 to change. EE sets the default cap at GBP 45.
- Vodafone:My Vodafone app > More > Settings > Spending Cap. Call 191 to change. Vodafone applies the GBP 45 Ofcom-mandated default.
- Three:My3 app > Account > Spending Cap. Call 333 to request a change. Three applies the same GBP 45 limit.
How the UK cap differs from the EU cap
The EU's EUR 50 cap applies per billing period and resets monthly. The UK's GBP 45 cap works the same way but is set by Ofcom regulation rather than EU law. The practical effect is similar: your data stops when the cap is hit. The key difference is that UK customers are no longer covered by EU roaming protection when traveling within the EU. UK carriers set their own prices for EU data roaming, which are often higher than pre-Brexit RLAH rates. The UK cap protects you from a runaway bill, but the underlying cost per gigabyte in the EU may be higher than before 2021.
For a full breakdown of the Brexit roaming impact, see roaming charges after Brexit.
How to set your own spending controls
Carrier-mandated caps only stop billing at a high threshold. For tighter control, set your own monitoring at the device level.
iPhone: built-in cellular statistics
iPhone does not have a native data usage warning for roaming, but you can track usage manually. Go to Settings > Cellular, then scroll to the bottom and tap “Reset Statistics” before your trip. Check the total under Cellular Data at the top of the same screen each day. Multiply your daily usage by your carrier's per-MB rate to calculate your running cost. The limitation is that this requires manual checking. There is no automatic alert.
Android: data usage warnings
Android offers a built-in warning system. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Data Usage > Mobile Data Usage > Settings (gear icon). Set a “Data Warning” at a low threshold, such as 500 MB, and a “Data Limit” that cuts off data when reached. On Samsung devices, find this under Settings > Connections > Data Usage > Mobile Data Usage. These limits apply to all mobile data, not just roaming, but they work as a hard stop.
Carrier apps: AT&T and Verizon alerts
AT&T's myAT&T app lets you set data usage alerts under Account > Manage Plan > International. These send a push notification when you approach a usage threshold. They do not stop billing. Verizon's My Verizon app has similar usage notifications under Account > Plan Details > International Services. Both alerts are informational only. Treat them as an early warning to manually disable roaming, not as an automatic safeguard.
Third-party data monitoring apps
Apps like DataMan Pro (iOS) and My Data Manager (iOS and Android) track data usage by network type and can send alerts when usage crosses a custom threshold. DataMan Pro distinguishes between roaming and domestic data, making it more useful than the built-in iOS statistics for international travel. These apps still cannot cut off billing automatically. They can only notify you so you act faster.
Why spending caps are not enough
A spending cap stops your bill at a fixed point. It does not make roaming affordable. It just prevents the worst outcome.
AT&T International Day Pass at $10/day with no ceiling means a 7-day trip costs $70 in pass fees before you send a single email. A 30-day trip costs $300. The EU's EUR 50 cap stops the bill but also cuts off your data. Neither outcome is useful for a traveler who needs reliable connectivity.
Voice calls and texts are outside the scope of data spending caps in every jurisdiction. A 20-minute call home on Verizon TravelPass costs $2.00/min in many countries, adding $40 to your bill beyond any data cap. Incoming calls often cost the same or more.
The real solution: eSIM eliminates the cap problem
An eSIM plan costs a fixed amount at purchase. A 10 GB data plan for Europe on a travel eSIM costs approximately $18-25. That price does not change. There are no daily fees, no per-MB rates, and no need for a spending cap because there is nothing to cap. When the data runs out, you buy more at the same rate. The average eSIM price across 186 countries is approximately $4.50 per GB, which is 90% less than AT&T's pay-per-use rate of $2,050 per GB.
Carrier spending cap comparison
| Carrier | Legal cap? | Default cap amount | How to check | How to change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | No | None | myAT&T app > Account > Usage | Disable Data Roaming in phone settings |
| Verizon | No | None | My Verizon app > Usage | Disable Data Roaming in phone settings |
| T-Mobile | No | None | T-Mobile app > Account > Data Usage | Disable Data Roaming in phone settings |
| EE | Yes (Ofcom) | GBP 45/month | My EE app > Roaming > Spending Cap | My EE app or call 150 |
| Vodafone UK | Yes (Ofcom) | GBP 45/month | My Vodafone app > Usage | My Vodafone app or call 191 |
| Three UK | Yes (Ofcom) | GBP 45/month | Three app > Account > Roaming | Three app or call 333 |
| Telstra | No | None | My Telstra app > Usage & Billing | Call 125 111 for travel bolt-on |
| Rogers | No | None | MyRogers app > Usage | Disable Data Roaming in phone settings |
| Optus | No | None | My Optus app > Usage | Contact Optus, call 133 937 |
Rates and policies as of June 2026. US carriers (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile) have no legally mandated cap. UK carriers (EE, Vodafone, Three) operate under Ofcom's GBP 45/month requirement. Australian and Canadian carriers (Telstra, Rogers, Optus) have no mandatory cap. All carrier app paths may differ by app version.
The eSIM alternative to spending cap management
Managing a spending cap requires active attention: checking your usage, reading SMS alerts, calling your carrier, and hoping the cut-off triggers before the bill climbs too high. An eSIM replaces that entire workflow with a fixed, pre-paid price.
Travel eSIMs connect to local networks in each country at rates set by regional data brokers rather than your home carrier. A 5 GB plan for the UK costs approximately $12. A 10 GB European plan covering 30+ countries costs approximately $22. Both prices are fixed at purchase. No daily fees activate automatically. No mid-trip bill arrives weeks after you return.
The comparison is direct. A 7-day trip to Europe using AT&T International Day Pass costs at minimum $70 in pass fees, capped only by how many days you actually use data. The same trip with a travel eSIM costs $18-25 for 10 GB, regardless of how many days you are in the country.
See compatible devices at eSIM-compatible phones and browse plans by destination at all destinations.
| Approach | Cost (7 days, 5 GB) | Surprise risk |
|---|---|---|
| AT&T Day Pass ($10/day) | $70 minimum | High — unlimited days, no auto-stop |
| Verizon TravelPass ($10/day) | $70 minimum | High — unlimited days, no auto-stop |
| EU carrier with EUR 50 cap | Up to EUR 50 | Medium — data stops, voice continues |
| UK carrier with GBP 45 cap | Up to GBP 45 | Medium — data stops at threshold |
| Travel eSIM (10 GB Europe plan) | $18-25 fixed | None — price fixed at purchase |
Data roaming spending cap questions, answered
Does the EU spending cap apply to UK travelers?
No. The EU Roam Like at Home regulation and its EUR 50 default spending cap applied to UK carriers while the UK was in the EU. Since Brexit took effect on January 1, 2021, UK carriers are no longer bound by EU roaming rules. Ofcom introduced a separate UK requirement for a GBP 45 default monthly data cap. If you are a UK customer traveling in the EU, your UK carrier's own cap applies, not the EU cap. If you are an EU customer traveling in the UK, your EU carrier's cap still applies to your account.
Can I set my own cap with AT&T?
No. AT&T does not offer an automatic roaming spending cap. The closest option is International Day Pass, which charges a flat $10 per 24-hour period in most countries. However, there is no ceiling on how many days the pass can activate. A 30-day trip costs $300 in pass fees alone, with no automatic cutoff. To prevent charges entirely, you must disable data roaming manually in your iPhone or Android settings, or contact AT&T to add a travel block on your account before departure.
What happens when I hit the spending cap?
When you reach a legally mandated spending cap (EU or UK), your carrier must stop all data roaming automatically. Your carrier is also required to send you a notification when you approach the cap, typically at 80% of the limit. Data service stops when the cap is reached. Voice calls and SMS are not usually included in data spending caps and may continue. You can contact your carrier to increase or remove the cap before or during your trip.
Do spending caps cover voice calls and texts?
No. Data roaming spending caps in the EU and UK apply specifically to data usage. Voice calls and SMS are billed separately and continue even after the data cap is hit. Voice roaming in the EU under RLAH regulation is capped at EUR 0.032 per minute to make and EUR 0.001 per minute to receive calls, but there is no automatic spending cap on voice the way there is for data. US carriers have no legally mandated caps on voice, data, or text roaming charges.
Can I increase my spending cap?
Yes. Both EU and UK spending caps can be increased or removed entirely by contacting your carrier. In the EU, you can opt out of the EUR 50 default cap and set a higher limit or waive the cap completely. In the UK, you can request that your carrier raise or remove the GBP 45 default cap. For US carriers, the question does not apply because there is no cap to increase. You can only disable roaming or accept whatever charges accumulate.
Is there a global spending cap standard?
No. Only the EU has a mandatory, legally enforced default spending cap on data roaming charges. The UK introduced its own cap post-Brexit, but it is a regulatory requirement rather than part of the original EU framework. The United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and most other countries have no legal requirement for carriers to cap roaming spending. In these markets, carriers can charge unlimited roaming fees with no automatic cutoff. The absence of a global standard is why bill shock remains common among travelers from non-EU countries.
Former consumer pricing analyst at J.D. Power covering wireless carrier satisfaction surveys
How we verify rates →More roaming charge guides
How to Check Roaming Charges
Find your current roaming bill before it arrives.
Roaming Charges After Brexit
What changed for UK travelers in the EU.
Turn Off Data Roaming: iPhone
iOS step-by-step roaming disable guide.
Turn Off Data Roaming: Android
Samsung and Pixel roaming settings.
Roaming Bill Calculator
Calculate your projected roaming cost.
Carrier Roaming Comparison
AT&T vs Verizon vs T-Mobile vs EE vs Vodafone.
AT&T Roaming Charges
Full AT&T Day Pass rate breakdown.
T-Mobile Roaming Charges
T-Mobile international rate card.
Verizon Roaming Charges
TravelPass costs and coverage.
EE Roaming Charges
EE post-Brexit roaming rate guide.
Vodafone Roaming Charges
Vodafone international roaming rates.
How It Works
How eSIM eliminates roaming charges.
Stop managing caps. Stop paying roaming charges.
A travel eSIM fixes your data cost before you board. No daily fees. No bill shock. No spending cap to monitor.