European Data Plans That Work in the UK and Switzerland copy

Most European data plans fail in the UK and Switzerland. Brexit ended automatic UK coverage in 2021. Switzerland never had it—the country isn't in the EU or EEA. The result: 30-40% of "European" eSIM plans leave you without service in two of the continent's most-visited destinations. This guide covers which plans actually work across all three regions and what you'll pay for reliable coverage.

Why UK and Switzerland Get Excluded from European Plans

European data plans work in the UK and Switzerland 60-70% of the time. The EU's "Roam Like at Home" regulations cover 27 EU member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. These regulations don't apply to the UK or Switzerland because neither participates in the European Economic Area agreement that governs mobile roaming.

The UK left the European Union on January 31, 2020, and the Brexit transition period ended on December 31, 2020. Since January 1, 2021, UK mobile operators have been legally free to charge for EU roaming, and EU operators can charge UK residents for roaming in Europe. Switzerland has never been part of the EU or EEA, making it a separate roaming zone for nearly all European mobile carriers.

UK Coverage After Brexit

Your European data plan works in the UK only if the provider explicitly lists "United Kingdom" in coverage. Brexit ended automatic inclusion. Each eSIM provider decides independently whether to cover the UK.

UK mobile operators reintroduced roaming charges for EU travel. EE charges £2.47 per day for EU roaming on contracts signed after July 7, 2021. Vodafone charges £2.42 per day for Zone B destinations (47 EU countries). Three charges £2 per day for "Go Roam in Europe" access. Sky Mobile and VOXI charge £2 per day with 20-25GB data caps.

O2 is the only major UK carrier that still offers free EU roaming in 2025, with a 25GB fair use limit over 63 days and £3.50 per GB overage charges. Budget networks like giffgaff (5GB cap), Lebara, and Tesco Mobile also maintain free EU roaming, though Tesco Mobile plans to remove this benefit in 2026.

Switzerland Coverage in European Plans

Switzerland is excluded from 40% of European data plans. The country isn't in the EU or EEA. It maintains bilateral agreements with the EU but doesn't participate in the telecommunications regulations that eliminated roaming charges across EU member states in 2017.

Swiss mobile operators (Swisscom, Sunrise, Salt) set their own roaming rates independent of EU regulations. European visitors to Switzerland typically pay €2-€10 per day in roaming charges unless their home carrier specifically includes Switzerland in their roaming zone. Swiss residents traveling to EU countries face the same issue despite geographic proximity.

Some UK networks include Switzerland in their roaming packages. O2 includes Switzerland in their Europe Zone at no extra cost with the same 25GB fair use limit. 1pMobile allows up to 14GB of data in Switzerland with unlimited calls to Swiss numbers. Three includes Switzerland on their Value plans. Vodafone and EE include Switzerland only on premium plans (Euro Roam/Global Roam and All Rounder/Full Works plans, respectively).

Cost Difference: Europe-Only vs Europe+UK+Switzerland

Europe-only plans cost 15-30% less than plans including UK and Switzerland. A 10GB Europe-only eSIM runs $20-$30 for 30 days. The same data covering Europe, UK, and Switzerland costs $29-$37 for 30 days. The price difference reflects additional carrier agreements and roaming costs in non-EU countries.

Airalo charges $15.50 for 5GB across 42 European countries for 30 days, including UK and Switzerland. aloSIM charges $20 for 5GB covering 35 European countries including UK and Switzerland for 30 days, plus a free international phone number. Ubigi offers 10GB for 30 days at $29 covering EU plus UK and Switzerland. MTX Connect's packages range from approximately €4 for 2GB to €15 for 10GB across 44 countries including UK and Switzerland, with the balance-based system letting you activate only what you need when you need it.

Traditional mobile roaming costs more. UK visitors to the EU face daily charges of £2-£2.47 on major networks—£28-£34.58 for two weeks. Adding Switzerland coverage often requires premium plans costing an additional £10-£25 monthly. A two-week trip using carrier roaming runs £40-£60 compared to $25-$40 for a comprehensive eSIM.

Data Requirements for a 2-Week European Trip

Most travelers need 5-10GB for two weeks. Light users (maps, messaging, occasional browsing) consume 2-5GB. Moderate users (social media, music streaming, regular navigation) need 5-10GB. Heavy users (video streaming, video calls, remote work) require 15-20GB or more.

A 2024 survey by On the Beach found average travelers use 3.9GB per week. EU residents average 2.4GB per SIM monthly. US travelers average 3.9GB monthly.

Data consumption by activity:

• Google Maps: 15–25MB per hour
• Spotify (normal quality): 43MB per hour
• Instagram browsing: 100–150MB per hour
• Instagram Reels/video: up to 1GB per hour
• Zoom calls: 540MB–1GB per hour
• Email (no attachments): 10–50KB each
• WhatsApp photos: 3–5MB per image
• Web browsing: 20–100MB per hour

Adding Data Mid-Trip

Most eSIM providers allow mid-trip top-ups through their mobile apps, processing within 1-5 minutes. This beats traditional SIM cards, which require visiting retail locations.

Airalo processes instant top-ups at the same per-gigabyte rate as your original purchase. A 5GB plan costs $15.50—additional 5GB top-ups cost the same. The app tracks usage in real-time and alerts you at 80% and 100% of your data allowance.

MTX Connect uses a balance-based system that works differently. Purchase credit to your account (€10 starter pack includes €10 credit), then activate data packages as needed from the MTX Connect app. If you run low mid-trip, add funds and immediately activate another package without waiting for delivery or activation delays. The system maintains a single eSIM profile across multiple trips—install once, reuse indefinitely. Credit doesn't expire as long as the account stays active, making it useful for irregular travel patterns.

Most providers set alerts at 250MB, 100MB, and 0MB remaining. Some offer automatic top-up when your balance drops below 100MB, though this requires enabling spending limits to avoid unexpected charges.

Which Plans Include UK and Switzerland

Plans that explicitly list "United Kingdom" and "Switzerland" in coverage work in both countries. About 60% of regional European eSIM plans include UK coverage. Only 50% include Switzerland. Plans marketed as "Europe + UK + Switzerland" guarantee coverage in all three.

MTX Connect covers 44 countries including UK and Switzerland as standard: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom. Single eSIM works across all countries without manual switching. Plans provide 4G LTE and 5G connectivity where available, connecting to premium networks rather than budget MVNOs.

Airalo includes both UK and Switzerland in their 42-country European regional plan. aloSIM covers 35 European countries including United Kingdom and Switzerland. Orange Holiday Europe eSIM provides 50GB valid for 14 days with coverage in all EU countries plus UK and Switzerland, including unlimited calling within Europe. All major providers offer 4G LTE and 5G connectivity where available.

Leading eSIM provider Airalo includes both UK and Switzerland in their 42-country European regional plan, which covers all EU member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, United Kingdom, and Switzerland. Their plans range from 1GB for 7 days ($4) to 100GB for 180 days ($142.50), all providing 4G LTE and 5G connectivity where available.

aloSIM covers 35 European countries including United Kingdom and Switzerland with plans from 1GB for 7 days ($5) to 100GB for 180 days ($185). Every aloSIM data plan includes a free international phone number for receiving calls and SMS, which adds value compared to data-only competitors. Their unlimited data plan costs $35 for 15 days and includes both UK and Switzerland coverage.

Orange Holiday Europe eSIM, sold through various retailers, provides 50GB of data valid for 14 days with coverage in all EU countries plus United Kingdom and Switzerland. The plan costs approximately $47 and includes unlimited calling within Europe plus 120 minutes of international calls outside Europe. Orange Holiday Zen offers 70GB for 28 days at a higher price point but maintains the same geographic coverage including UK and Switzerland.

Brexit Impact on UK Mobile Data: What Changed and What Stayed the Same

Brexit ended the legal requirement for UK mobile operators to provide free EU roaming but did not immediately result in universal roaming charges. UK networks gradually reintroduced fees starting in 2021, with major carriers implementing daily charges while budget operators maintained free roaming to remain competitive.

The Brexit transition period maintained "Roam Like at Home" regulations through December 31, 2020. Starting January 1, 2021, UK telecommunications companies gained the freedom to set their own roaming policies for EU travel. Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, implemented temporary consumer protections including a £45 monthly limit on involuntary data charges and mandatory usage alerts, but these protections expired in June 2022.

UK travelers now face varied roaming policies depending on their mobile network. EE reintroduced EU roaming charges on July 7, 2021, requiring customers to pay £2.47 daily or purchase a £25 monthly Roam Abroad Pass for access to their UK allowances across Europe. The pass works on a 30-day rolling basis and covers the EU, USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand. Customers with EE's All Rounder or Full Works plans receive inclusive EU roaming without additional charges.

Vodafone charges £2.42 daily for Zone B destinations (47 EU countries) but offers premium contracts with built-in Euro Roam or Global Roam plans. Their fair usage limits allow up to 25GB of data while roaming in Europe, with unlimited calls to EU and UK numbers included. Three charges £2 daily for their Go Roam in Europe service with a 12GB limit, and excess data costs 10p per MB, which can accumulate expensive overage charges quickly.

O2 chose not to reintroduce EU roaming charges and remains the only major UK network offering free EU roaming in 2025. Customers can use up to 25GB of their data allowance across O2's Europe Zone over 63 days in any four-month period. Exceeding the 25GB limit incurs £3.50 charges per GB. Going over the 63-day limit may trigger account reviews and plan changes.

Switzerland Roaming Rules: Why Switzerland Isn't Part of "Europe" Plans

Switzerland's exclusion from European roaming plans reflects its unique political and economic relationship with the European Union. Switzerland is not an EU member state and chose not to join the European Economic Area when it was established in 1994. Instead, Switzerland maintains bilateral agreements with the EU covering specific policy areas including trade, movement of people, and some regulatory alignment, but telecommunications roaming was not included in these agreements.

The EU's "Roam Like at Home" regulations, which eliminated roaming surcharges across EU member states in June 2017, apply to the 27 EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway (the three non-EU members of the European Economic Area). Switzerland does not benefit from these regulations despite sharing borders with five EU member states (Germany, France, Italy, Austria, and Liechtenstein).

Swiss mobile operators (Swisscom, Sunrise, and Salt) negotiate roaming agreements independently with foreign carriers. These bilateral agreements determine the wholesale rates that operators charge each other for network access, which directly impacts retail roaming prices. Without EU regulatory oversight, these rates remain higher than the capped rates mandated within the EU/EEA roaming zone.

The practical impact for travelers is significant. A European visitor using their home country SIM in France, Germany, or Italy faces no roaming charges under EU law. The same visitor crossing into Switzerland immediately incurs roaming charges that can reach €5-€10 daily unless their carrier specifically includes Switzerland in their roaming package. Similarly, a Swiss resident using Swisscom, Sunrise, or Salt can face substantial charges when crossing into neighboring EU countries.

Some European carriers choose to include Switzerland in their roaming packages despite the higher costs. UK networks like O2, Vodafone (on premium plans), and EE (on premium plans) include Switzerland in their roaming zones. Many eSIM providers also include Switzerland in regional European plans because international travelers frequently visit Switzerland during multi-country trips, and excluding it would create connectivity gaps that frustrate customers.

Provider Comparison: UK + Switzerland Coverage

Airalo: Most affordable entry point. 1GB/7 days costs $4. 5GB/30 days costs $15.50. 10GB/30 days costs $37. 20GB/30 days costs $75. 100GB/180 days costs $142.50 (best per-GB rate for frequent travelers).

aloSIM: Includes free international phone number with every plan. 1GB/7 days costs $5. 5GB/30 days costs $20. 10GB/30 days costs $37. Unlimited data for 15 days costs $35 (daily usage caps before throttling).

Ubigi: Competitive pricing through NTT carrier relationships. 1GB/30 days costs $8. 3GB/30 days costs $12. 10GB/30 days costs $29. 50GB/30 days costs $99. Use code MONITO10 or PRETRAVELLER for 10% off.

Orange Holiday Europe eSIM: Premium network access through Orange infrastructure. 50GB/14 days costs $47, includes unlimited Europe calling plus 120 international minutes. Orange Holiday Zen: 70GB/28 days. Both include SMS and voice calling—complete mobile services versus data-only.

MTX Connect: Balance-based system works differently from fixed-package competitors. Purchase first package once, then activate data packages as needed: from pay-as-you-go to unmetered data in Switzerland (!), priced €50. Single eSIM profile works across multiple trips—no reinstallation required. Credit doesn't expire with active accounts. MTX Number available for voice calls with transparent pre-call pricing. Benefits travelers with unpredictable itineraries or multiple Europe visits per year.

Choosing the Right Plan

Check your historical data consumption. iPhone: Settings > Cellular. Android: Settings > Network & Internet > Data Usage. Review the past 2-3 months. Travel typically increases usage 20-40% due to navigation, photo uploads, and tourist research.

Add 20-30% buffer to your calculated needs. Tourist area networks get congested—apps retry downloads and consume more data. A 400MB daily user at home should plan for 500-550MB daily while traveling. Over 14 days, that's 7-7.7GB. A 10GB plan provides margin.

Voice and SMS needs: Most travelers use WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, and iMessage—data-only plans work fine. Need two-factor authentication codes, restaurant reservations via phone, or business calls? Choose aloSIM or Orange for included phone services. MTX Connect offers MTX Number as an add-on service if you need occasional voice or SMS capability on a data-focused plan.

Validity period: Match your trip duration. A 7-day plan fails on day 10. Don't buy 30-day plans for 14-day trips unless unused data rolls over for future trips. MTX Connect's credit-based system works differently—credit doesn't expire, making it useful if you travel to Europe irregularly or have unpredictable itinerary changes.

Setup Before Departure

Purchase 24-48 hours before departure. Most providers deliver QR codes within minutes, but technical issues need customer support—not always available at airports or during late-night departures.

Verify eSIM support: iPhone XS/XR and newer. Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer. Google Pixel 3 and newer. Check Settings for EID (Embedded Identity Document) number. iPhone: Settings > General > About. Android: Settings > About Phone > SIM Status.

Confirm carrier unlock: Many phones purchased through carriers include software locks preventing other SIM cards. Contact your carrier for unlock code. In many countries, carriers must unlock phones after contracts are fulfilled or devices are paid off. Process takes 1-5 business days.

Install eSIM profile (requires Wi-Fi): Open email with QR code. iPhone: Settings > Cellular > Add Cellular Plan, scan QR code. Android: Settings > Network & Internet > Mobile Network > Download a SIM instead. Installation takes 1-3 minutes. Label clearly (e.g., "Europe Travel").

Keep primary SIM active for outbound journey. Don't enable travel eSIM until arrival. At destination: Enable eSIM. Select as primary data source in Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data. Enable Data Roaming for the travel eSIM (required for eSIMs to connect to local networks). Restart phone to complete network registration.