I’m guessing you’re like me: you love traveling, but hate the complications that come with it. Cell phones are vital tools for vacationers, functioning as navigation tools, tour guides, and emergency internet. Still, that doesn’t mean you should pay a small fortune to use one abroad. Luckily, Bell makes it relatively affordable to use your phone while roaming internationally, so long as you know how to use their plans accordingly. That’s where we come in.
We’ve worked through everything at our disposal—the Roam Better plans, the roaming rates, and all of the fine print—to break down your best bets for using your Bell phone while roaming. Whether you’re a dedicated backpacker or a casual snowbird, we’ve found the most valuable option for you.
Bell international roaming packages
Bell has two options for international roaming: you can opt-in to Roam Better, which offers a daily flat rate, or simply using your phone while abroad and incurring the carrier’s pay-per-use rates. Let’s unpack what those options entail.
Roam Better
Roam Better offers a flat rate for international travelers looking to access their wireless plans. For $16, you’ll have access to unlimited talk and text, plus your typical monthly data (though it will be throttled, or slowed, after 5GB).
You’ll have access to those features from the time you start using your phone until 11:59 pm ET, regardless of where you’re roaming. When midnight rolls around, you’ll pay another $16 to continue using your plan. If you’re looking to roam long-term, Bell offers a perk: you’ll only be charged for the first 20 days of service. After that, you can continue using the service for free for the rest of the month.
If you’d like to enroll in Roam Better, text ROAM to 8000. You can also add the service through MyBell. After that, you won’t need to do anything. When you call, test, or use data while abroad, Roam Better will kick in.
Unfortunately, Roam Better isn’t available for prepaid customers. If you’d like to add the service to a Family Share Plan, you’ll need to add it to each line.
Pay-per-use
Your other option is to avoid enrolling in Roam Better and simply pay Bell’s international roaming rates for talk, text, and data. If you choose this option, you won’t need to do anything other than use your phone abroad. When you return home, you’ll see the charges based on the following rates.
Bell international roaming rates
| Zone | Calling | Messaging | Data | Countries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.50/min. | $0.99/text | $8/MB | Australia, China, Israel, Japan, Turkey, Mexico, Greenland, and most of Europe |
| 2 | $3.50/min. | $0.99/text | $12/MB | Most of Asia and South America |
| 3 | $4/min. | $0.99/text | $16/MB | Most of Africa |
| 4 | $4/min. | $0.99/text | $16/MB | Angola, Ethiopia, Libya, and Somalia |
These rates are high compared with Roam Better’s flat rate, especially for data—a single MB of data is typically used to view one web page. Considering that, we don’t recommend using pay-per-use unless you’re primarily using your phone while on Wi-Fi.
Bell U.S. roaming
Snowbirds looking to hop down south for the winter months have a few options: a cheaper Better Roam option, reduced pay-per-use rates, or a monthly Canada-U.S. plan designed for frequent travelers. Here’s how they work.
Roam Better
Roam Better works the same in the U.S. as it does in other countries. Luckily, it’s a bit cheaper, at $13/day compared to the $16/day international rate. That’ll give you unlimited talk and text along with your monthly data (though it, too, will throttled after 5GB). Opting in to the program is simple: you can add it in MyBell or by texting ROAM to 8000.
Pay-per-use
If you’re planning on using your phone sparingly, it might make more sense to avoid Roam Better and pay Bell’s normal roaming rates while visiting the U.S.
Bell U.S. roaming rates
| Zone | Calling | Messaging | Data | Countries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA | $1.99/min. | $0.99/text | $6/MB | United States |
We don’t recommend this if you’re looking to use your phone as you would back home. In fact, we don’t recommend it if you’re looking to use any amount of data, as you can rack up MBs rather quickly without realizing it. With that being said, if Roam Better’s flat rate would leave you paying for coverage you don’t need, then this might be your best option—just be sure to keep an eye on your data usage.
Canada-U.S. plans for snowbirds
Bell offers a handful of Canada-U.S. plans that allow customers to use their phone in both countries without incurring any roaming charges. It’s the obvious choice for snowbirds. Mathematically, it’s also the best choice for anyone planning on using their phone in the States for the better part of a week.
The Ultimate Canada-US plan offers unlimited talk and text in both countries, plus unlimited international texting. You’ll also score a hefty chunk of monthly data that can be used on both sides of the border.
If you want to read more about roaming with your Bell plan, be sure to check out our U.S. Roaming Guide for Canadian Travelers and Snowbirds, which provides a number of tips and tricks for getting the most from your phone while hopping back-and-forth.
Save money while roaming
Using your phone while traveling doesn’t require breaking the bank. There are a few quick-and-easy things you can do while abroad to ensure you reduce your costs, no matter what roaming option you chose.
Use Wi-Fi whenever possible
Most hotels, hostels, and cafes provide Wi-Fi hotspots, allowing you to browse recommendations or download directions without using your Bell data. If you put your phone in Airplane Mode (found in Settings) you won’t be tempted to use your phone unless you’re on Wi-Fi, preventing the possibility of accidentally incurring some costs. If you’re using pay-per-use, we recommend also enabling Wi-Fi Calling (Settings > Cellular > Wi-Fi Calling), which will help you avoid racking up a costly bill.
Turn off data roaming
Turning off data roaming will prevent you from using the phone unless you’re on Wi-Fi. If you’re using Roam Better, this will reduce your chances of having your data throttled. If you’re using pay-per-use, it’ll save you a ton of money.
You can do this on an iPhone by going to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > then switching off Data Roaming. On an Android, go to Settings > Connections > Mobile networks > then switch off Data roaming.
Buy an international SIM or eSIM
If you’re finding all of the above confusing or frustrating, we get it. Sometimes the easiest way to avoid the high costs of roaming is avoiding it all together. Depending on where you’re traveling, you can purchase a SIM or eSIM and activate a prepaid plan from a local carrier. When you head back home, simply switch the card out and replace it with your Bell SIM to get back to your regularly scheduled plan.
If you're visiting the States, check out our pick for the best U.S. phone plans and compare your options.
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