Our mission
AvoidRoaming exists to help travelers stop overpaying for mobile data abroad. We research carrier roaming rates, test eSIM alternatives, and publish the results so you can make an informed decision before your trip. We do not accept sponsored placements, and no provider can pay for a higher ranking.
How we verify carrier rates
We check the international roaming pricing pages of AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, EE, Vodafone, and Telstra every month. For each carrier we record the daily pass price, per-MB overage rate, included international data allowances, speed caps, auto-renewal terms, and day-boundary definitions. When a carrier updates its pricing, we note the change date and update every affected page within 48 hours.
We verify rates against the carrier's own published documentation. We do not rely on third-party aggregators or user-reported data for carrier pricing. If a rate cannot be confirmed on the carrier's website, we mark it as unverified and exclude it from calculations until we can confirm it.
How we verify eSIM prices
We check plan pricing from HelloRoam, Holafly, Airalo, Saily, and Nomad every week. We log per-GB rates, daily unlimited rates, regional plan availability, and any promotional pricing. We purchase plans at full retail price and test them in real destinations. No provider gives us complimentary plans, press access, or preview pricing.
Price data is collected from each provider's official app and website. We record the date of each check. If a provider changes pricing between our weekly checks, we update as soon as we become aware.
Scoring methodology
We evaluate each eSIM provider across four dimensions weighted by what matters most when avoiding roaming charges. Each dimension is scored on a scale of 1-10 based on documented criteria:
- Pre-Departure Setup (30%)— How quickly and reliably a traveler can purchase, install, and configure the eSIM before boarding. QR delivery speed, app installation flow, dual-SIM guidance, and compatibility with iPhone and Android are all measured.
- Bill-Shock Protection (30%)— Whether the plan structure prevents surprise charges. Fixed-price plans, unlimited daily caps, clear data meters, automatic top-up controls, and the absence of hidden overage fees all contribute. Providers that lock the total cost before departure score highest.
- Coverage Safety (20%)— Number of supported countries, quality of local carrier partnerships, and fallback network availability. Providers with wider footprints and direct carrier agreements score higher because coverage gaps force travelers back onto expensive roaming.
- Cost (20%)— Per-GB and per-day cost compared to competitors for the same destination. We normalize prices to USD. The cheapest plan that delivers reliable service scores highest.
The overall score is a weighted average: Pre-Departure Setup 30%, Bill-Shock Protection 30%, Coverage Safety 20%, Cost 20%. We recalculate scores quarterly and after any major provider update.
Affiliate disclosure
AvoidRoaming earns affiliate commissions when you purchase an eSIM through our links. This revenue funds our testing and research. It does not determine our recommendations. When a carrier's own international plan is the cheapest option for a specific destination, we say so, even though we earn nothing from that recommendation.
Affiliate relationships do not influence rankings, scores, or editorial coverage. Providers cannot pay for placement, favorable reviews, or suppression of negative findings. Every recommendation on this site reflects our independent testing.
Correction policy
We correct factual errors within 24 hours of confirmation. When we fix an error, we update the affected page, add a timestamped entry to our corrections log, and note what was wrong and what the correct information is. We do not silently edit content. Every substantive correction is documented publicly.
If you find an error on any page, email hello@avoidroaming.com with the page URL, the incorrect claim, and a source for the correct information. We will investigate and respond within one business day.
Update schedule
- Device guides— Updated after every major iOS and Android release (typically twice per year per platform). Menu paths and screenshots are re-verified on current-generation hardware.
- Carrier roaming rates— Verified monthly against each carrier's published pricing page. Mid-month changes are captured as soon as detected.
- eSIM provider prices— Checked weekly across all five providers. Promotional pricing is noted separately from standard rates.
- Country guides— Reviewed quarterly. Regulatory changes (such as EU roaming rule updates) trigger an immediate revision to affected guides.
- Provider reviews— Rescored quarterly and after any major app update, pricing change, or coverage expansion.
Testing devices and speed protocol
We test eSIM activation and network performance on five devices spanning both major mobile platforms: iPhone 16 Pro (iOS 18), iPhone 15 Pro Max (iOS 18), Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (Android 15), Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (Android 15), and Google Pixel 9 Pro (Android 15). Testing across both iOS and Android matters because eSIM installation flows, QR code scanning, and network switching differ between platforms.
Speed measurements use Speedtest by Ookla. For each provider and destination, we run a minimum of ten speed tests distributed across three times of day: morning (08:00-10:00 local), afternoon (13:00-15:00 local), and evening (19:00-21:00 local). We discard the top and bottom ten percent of results to remove outlier readings. The remaining values are averaged for the published figure. All speed tests use the nearest Ookla server with less than 50ms latency.
Activation time is measured from QR code scan to the first successful data request. Activation flows are screenshot-documented at each step on both iOS and Android. We also run airplane mode toggle tests to measure eSIM reconnection time after toggling cellular off and back on, which affects real-world reliability between network zones.
Data sources
All pricing data comes from primary sources: carrier international roaming rate cards published on their official websites, and eSIM provider pricing displayed in their official apps and websites. We do not use third-party data aggregators for pricing claims.
- Carrier roaming rates— Official carrier pricing pages (monthly verification)
- eSIM plan prices— Provider websites and apps (weekly verification)
- Network speed data— Ookla Speedtest Intelligence (quarterly verification)
- Coverage maps— GSMA Intelligence country records and provider technical documentation
- Zone mapping— Carrier-published international zone tables
Our team
AvoidRoaming is maintained by a team of four research analysts specializing in mobile connectivity, consumer telecom pricing, and travel technology. The team has tested eSIM providers across 40+ countries and holds over 15 years of combined experience in carrier rate analysis and network performance testing. We purchase all eSIM plans at full retail price. No provider gives us complimentary plans, press access, or preview pricing.
Contact
Questions about our editorial process, corrections, or data sources: hello@avoidroaming.com