eSIM vs Roaming: The Real Cost Comparison
Carrier roaming is convenient, but you pay for it by the day or by the megabyte. Here is what major carriers charge for international data, and what the same trips cost with a Bcengi pay-as-you-go eSIM.
What Carriers Charge for Roaming
- AT&T International Day Pass: $12 per day for the first line, plus $6 for each additional line used the same day. Without a pass, data costs $2.05 per MB outside North America.
- Verizon TravelPass: $12 per line per day in most countries ($6 in Canada and Mexico). Without TravelPass, pay-as-you-go data costs $2.05 per MB.
- T-Mobile International Pass: 1 Day Pass $10 for 2 GB, 10 Day Pass $50 for 15 GB, or 30 Day Pass $75 for 30 GB, on a qualifying postpaid plan.
- Telstra International Roaming Day Pass (Australia): AU$10 per day with 2 GB in Zone 2 destinations, including Japan, France and the USA.
Carrier prices as published on each carrier's website on October 2, 2026. Carriers change their prices, so check your own plan before you travel. For AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile side by side, see our page on carriers in the United States.
Bcengi eSIM Rates
- All 27 EU countries and the UK: $1.19/GB
- USA: $1.68/GB
- Australia: $1.58/GB
- Japan: $2.82/GB
- Southeast Asia: $1.54/GB in Singapore, $1.81/GB in Thailand and Indonesia, $2.51/GB in Vietnam, $2.78/GB in the Philippines, and $4.58/GB in Laos and Brunei
- South America: $4.44/GB in Colombia, Bolivia and Paraguay, and $4.86/GB in Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Peru
Real Savings Example: 1 Week in France, Italy and Spain
- Average data usage: 1 GB/day = 7 GB total
- AT&T or Verizon day pass: $12/day x 7 = $84
- T-Mobile 10 Day Pass: $50
- Bcengi ($1.19/GB in France, Italy and Spain): 7 GB x $1.19 = $8.33
- Savings: $75.67 (90%) against a $12 day pass, or $41.67 (83%) against the T-Mobile pass
Real Savings Example: 2 Weeks in Japan
- Average data usage: 1 GB/day = 14 GB total
- AT&T or Verizon day pass: $12/day x 14 = $168
- T-Mobile 30 Day Pass: $75, since the 10 Day Pass covers only 10 days
- Bcengi: 14 GB x $2.82 = $39.48
- Savings: $128.52 (76.5%) against a $12 day pass, or $35.52 (47%) against the T-Mobile pass
Roaming Without a Pass
Without a pass, AT&T and Verizon charge $2.05 per MB. With AT&T or Verizon, 100 MB costs $205 in total (100 MB x $2.05). The same 100 MB costs $0.12 with Bcengi in France.
Additional Advantages Over Roaming
- No surprise charges: you see your balance and rates upfront
- No daily pass fees on days you barely use data
- Works in 200+ countries without contacting your carrier
- Balance never expires: unused credit carries over
- Check your balance and usage anytime in the Bcengi app (App Store, Google Play) or at travel.bcengi.com
Bcengi TravelPass is a pay-as-you-go eSIM: you only pay for data you use, with no bundles, no expiry, and no contracts. One eSIM works in 200+ countries.
Ready to stay connected on your next trip? Get your Bcengi eSIM at bcengi.com. Set up in minutes, pay only for what you use.
