The roaming bill that many UK travellers assume has largely disappeared is still very much alive. New Freedom of Information data obtained by Compare the Market shows that consumers paid £508 million in out-of-bundle international roaming charges during 2025 — the second consecutive year in which the total remained above half a billion pounds.

The figure covers voice calls, texts and mobile data used outside customers’ included allowances. It is slightly lower than the £526 million recorded in 2024, but the small decline disguises the longer-term shift. In 2021, consumers paid £180 million. By 2025, the total had risen by 182%.

For travellers, that means an ordinary habit — opening maps, checking a booking, calling a hotel or uploading a few videos — can still become a charge that was never budgeted for.

The Increase Was Sudden

Out-of-bundle roaming revenue jumped from £180 million in 2021 to £377 million in 2022, an increase of 109%. It then climbed to £482 million in 2023 before peaking at £526 million in 2024. The £508 million collected in 2025 therefore looks less like a return to normal and more like roaming costs settling at a much higher level.

International travel rebounded after the pandemic, mobile data use increased, and UK customers returned to a market in which European roaming is no longer protected by EU rules. Some operators include roaming on selected tariffs, while others use daily fees, destination passes, fair-use limits or pay-as-you-go pricing. The result is a patchwork rather than one recognisable national standard.

READ MORE: Data Roaming Meaning: Costs, Risks and Options

Matt Brewer, Mobile Expert at Compare the Market, said:

“Many travellers may not realise they’re paying more than they need to for roaming. Before heading overseas, it’s worth checking what’s included in your mobile plan and comparing the roaming options available, as many providers now offer monthly roaming passes or inclusive packages. If you only travel occasionally, it’s worth thinking about how much data you’re likely to actually use before paying for a larger allowance. Making use of trusted Wi-Fi in hotels, airports and other public venues can also help keep costs down.”

That advice is sensible, although public Wi-Fi is not a complete replacement for mobile connectivity. It can be unreliable during transfers and unsuitable for sensitive work. It works best alongside downloaded maps, disabled background updates and a clearly priced roaming pass, local SIM or travel eSIM.

Pay-Monthly Customers Carry the Cost

The most revealing part of the data is who paid. Pay-monthly subscribers generated £498 million of the £508 million total in 2025 — roughly 98%. Pay-as-you-go customers contributed £9 million, down from £15 million in 2021.

That suggests the problem is concentrated among contracted customers who may reasonably expect clearer, more predictable travel pricing.

Ofcom has already moved in that direction. Since 1 October 2024, UK providers have been required to alert customers when they begin roaming and explain applicable charges and ways to limit spending. The protections improve transparency, but an alert does not make the tariff simple or good value.

READ MORE: Travel eSIMs vs Local SIM Cards: Real Prices, Real Scenarios

Daily passes can work for a short city break, especially when a traveller needs their usual number and allowance. They are less attractive on a two-week holiday, where repeated fees may exceed the cost of a dedicated travel plan.

A local SIM can be cheaper for longer stays, although registration and physical purchase make it less convenient. Travel eSIMs sit between the two: easy to install and often competitively priced, but not suitable for every device or traveller who needs conventional calls on their primary number.

Switzerland Offers a Different Signal

The UK–Switzerland trade agreement points towards another model. Both governments have announced their intention to remove roaming charges between the two countries. However, the change should not be treated as immediately active across every tariff: implementation details and legal finalisation still have to follow.

Brewer concluded: “The agreement between the UK and Switzerland is welcome news for anyone planning a trip there, but it’s also a reminder that roaming rules aren’t the same everywhere. Depending on your destination and mobile provider, using your phone abroad could still come with additional costs.

“Roaming policies have changed considerably over the past few years, and providers continue to update what’s included across different tariffs, so it’s always worth checking your plan before you travel. If you travel overseas regularly, it’s also worth comparing providers from time to time, as some tariffs include roaming in destinations where others charge extra.”

The contrast with the European Union is striking. EU “Roam Like at Home” rules continue to let customers use domestic allowances across participating EU and EEA markets, subject to fair-use conditions, supported by regulated wholesale rates between operators. Britain, by comparison, largely leaves roaming inclusion to commercial tariffs and selected bilateral arrangements.

Conclusion

The £508 million total is not proof that every roaming charge is unfair. Networks incur wholesale costs abroad, and heavy data use has a cost. The more uncomfortable conclusion is that complexity itself has become part of the business model.

The strongest operators are beginning to compete on predictability: inclusive destinations, transparent caps and passes that make the final cost obvious before departure. Travel eSIM providers and local operators are applying similar pressure from outside the traditional contract market, giving consumers more control without forcing them to change their main UK number.

The UK–Switzerland initiative is encouraging, but bilateral deals cannot solve a global problem destination by destination. Unless Britain moves towards a wider framework, roaming will remain a comparison exercise pushed onto travellers shortly before take-off.

In that market, the winning product will not necessarily be the cheapest per gigabyte. It will be the one that removes the unpleasant surprise.