Planning a trip out of the country? Canada's big carriers, including Rogers and TELUS, offer the best international roaming plans. But their daily rates add up fast, and before you know it, you're coming home to a phone bill that stings. There's a smarter way to stay connected abroad, and it costs a lot less.
In this guide, we compare carrier roaming plans like TELUS Easy Roam against travel eSIMs—a more affordable alternative that connects you to a local data plan instead. You'll see exactly how much you can save on a one- or two-week trip, and we'll share a few simple tips to ensure your phone bill never catches you off guard again.
The Current State of Roaming in Canada
For years, Canadians have turned to the Big 3 telcos, including Rogers and TELUS, as the default way to stay connected abroad. While these carriers offer a convenient option, most of their plans are based on hefty daily rates that can easily climb into the hundreds—even on a short trip.
Despite the high costs of daily roaming rates, many Canadians still stick with their existing carriers when traveling.
Let's start with the reasons why travelers may choose to stay with their current provider, using daily roaming rates in plans like Rogers' Roam Like Home or TELUS Easy Roam.
Why Canadians Still Use Carrier Roaming
Most Canadians stick with their carrier abroad for one simple reason: it requires no preparation.
- Full service: The plan typically includes all services (calls, texts, and data) bundled together on your regular phone number.
- Simplicity: Daily roaming rates plans are some of the most common plans in Canada. All you have to do is check with your carrier that the plan is activated in your account. Less prep is convenient, but that convenience comes at a high daily roaming rate.
- Familiar support: You know who to call if something goes wrong—your home carrier—but be prepared for hold times if you choose this option.
- Lack of knowledge: Travelers might not know there are alternatives and keep their primary carrier active because it's the default choice.
The Real Cost of Carrier Roaming
Convenience is an important reason why travelers choose the Big 3 telcos, but it comes at a high cost. The average daily fee from these carriers is around CAD $16.50. Over a two-week trip, roaming fees from the Big 3 can quickly climb over CAD $250—money far better spent on a first-class upgrade or a round of drinks that come with a tiny umbrella.
Another drawback is the lack of flexibility. Your bill is based on a high daily roaming rate, rather than individual data usage. For anything longer than a short weekend trip, the lack of transparency and options can really hurt your wallet.
What's an eSIM and Why Should Canadians Care?
An eSIM is a digital SIM card built into most modern smartphones. Instead of swapping out a physical card (like a SIM, Nano, or Micro SIM), you download a digital card from an eSIM provider and choose a data plan before you travel.
With carrier roaming, your provider makes that choice for you. The CRTC Wireless Code requires carriers to notify you when you start roaming so you can opt out before the "bill shock" hits. But you'll still likely be charged the daily rate just for switching it on. Install an eSIM before arriving at your destination, and you bypass those fees entirely by connecting to a local data plan instead.
Why Use an eSIM for Travel
Travel eSIMs give Canadian travelers a cheaper, more flexible alternative to carrier roaming. Think of it as a digital second line—your Canadian number can stay active for calls and texts, while your eSIM handles data at local rates. Here’s what travel eSIMs offer:
- Transparency and cost control: eSIMs are prepaid. You decide on the exact amount of data and duration you need (e.g., 3GB for seven days) and pay one transparent price upfront—no fixed daily charges that stack up or hidden fees.
- Flexibility: Purchase local, regional, or global eSIMs, choose a regular or unlimited package, and top up if needed.
- Instant connection: Purchase and install your data before you leave home. The eSIM connects automatically when you arrive, saving you time at your destination.
Savings Comparison: The Big 3 vs an eSIM
Airalo's prepaid eSIMs cost significantly less than Big 3 carrier roaming for the same trip duration. With eSIMs available for 200+ destinations worldwide, you choose exactly how much data you need and pay for nothing more—unlike Big 3 daily roaming fees, which charge a flat rate whether you use your phone once or all day.
The numbers speak for themselves: Here's how an Airalo eSIM compares with daily roaming rates from the Big 3 carriers over trips of 7–14 days to popular destinations.
The average savings with Airalo on a one-week trip is approximately CAD $106.
Don't want to spend your next vacation worrying about racking up high roaming fees? Use these simple steps before and during your trip to keep your connection reliable and avoid surprise roaming charges.
If You Stick to Your Canadian Carrier:
- Understand roaming policies: Contact your carrier before your trip with your questions and confirm the daily roaming fee. Be prepared for high costs, and set aside a budget to cover your phone usage.
- Disable data roaming: Go to your settings and toggle off data roaming to limit your roaming costs.
- Use airplane mode: If you want to avoid charges, your safest bet is to stay in airplane mode and use Wi-Fi only. You can make calls with the best Wi-Fi calling apps instead.
If You Choose to Use a Travel eSIM:
- Check device compatibility: Before you buy, make sure your smartphone supports eSIM technology and is carrier-unlocked. Most devices released in the last few years are compatible. You can check our complete list of compatible devices.
- Install while you have a reliable Wi-Fi connection: Install your eSIM before you leave, ideally at home the night before your flight, not at the airport gate. Most installations take under three minutes, but you'll want a stable connection to avoid interruptions. Your eSIM will connect to a supported network once you arrive at your destination.
Note: eSIMs' validity period generally starts when you connect at your destination. However, in rare cases, it may begin at the time of installation. Please check your eSIM package for more details.
- Disable data roaming selectively: Turn off data roaming on your primary SIM and keep it active on your travel eSIM instead. This limits surprise charges, but your carrier can still charge you for texts, calls, and voicemail.
- Deactivate your primary SIM: You can also take a more drastic approach and turn off your primary SIM line entirely. We cover how to avoid roaming charges when you travel in our guide.
The right way to stay connected abroad depends on your priorities, but if you want to save on costs and maintain flexibility, a travel eSIM is the smarter choice. With Airalo, you can find an eSIM for your destination and get it set up in just a few minutes: Install the app, download your eSIM, and activate it. Our step-by-step guide to installing and activating an Airalo eSIM explains the process, so you can feel in control of your travel budget.
Ready to enjoy your trip outside of Canada without daily roaming fees? Apply code NABLOG15 at checkout for 15% off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.
Omdirigerar till Airalos hjälpcenter för mer supportinformation.
Öppnar chatt med Airalo-supporten på WhatsApp.
Airalo is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Rogers, TELUS, Bell, or any other carrier mentioned in this article. All product names and trademarks (including Roam Like Home and Easy Roam) are the property of their respective owners and are used for comparison purposes only. Pricing data is based on publicly available information as at the date of publication and is subject to change. Readers should verify current rates directly with carriers before making purchasing decisions.
