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 Airalo, Holafly, 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 five dimensions. Each dimension is scored on a scale of 1-10 based on documented criteria:
- Coverage— Number of supported countries and the quality of local carrier partnerships. Providers with 190+ countries and direct carrier agreements score highest.
- Speed— Real-world download speeds measured during testing. We run speed tests in multiple destinations and average the results. 4G/LTE minimum is expected; 5G availability is a bonus.
- App quality— Installation flow, data usage tracking, customer support access, and overall stability. We test on both iPhone and Android.
- Pricing— Per-GB cost compared to competitors for the same destination. We normalize prices to USD for comparison. The cheapest plan that delivers reliable service scores highest.
- Support— Response time, support channels (chat, email, phone), and resolution quality. We submit test tickets and measure how long it takes to get a useful answer.
The overall score is a weighted average: Coverage 25%, Speed 20%, App 20%, Pricing 20%, Support 15%. 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 four 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.
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.
Speed test data is collected using industry-standard tools on real devices in real destinations. Coverage maps are verified against provider documentation and supplemented with our own testing.
Contact
Questions about our editorial process, corrections, or data sources: hello@avoidroaming.com