There are a few things you can bring or set up before international travel that can help you save money, including bringing a credit card that does not charge foreign exchange fees and ensuring your phone plan works when traveling overseas. These cellular packages can be quite costly, depending on your destination, and finding the right SIM card and swapping it out when changing countries can be a hassle.
T-Mobile’s Go5G Next plan is a popular one for international travelers, including students studying abroad and business travelers who spend a lot of time out of the country.
Some cellular companies, including T-Mobile, charge a flat amount for each day spent abroad, which can be helpful if you travel infrequently. Others offer full plans that include more data and voice coverage for a lesser rate.
While T-Mobile does not have dedicated plans for use outside the U.S., all of its plans offer some level of support overseas either as part of the rate or by adding an international day pass. Let’s take a look at some of T-Mobile’s international phone plan options.
Go5G Next is the most comprehensive T-Mobile phone plan, covering more than 215 countries and destinations with full 5G network coverage. The cost is $100 per month for one line (taxes and fees included).
There are discounts if you sign up additional lines on your account as well as for enrolling in autopay. Let’s take a look at the associated perks that come with it.
Cellular coverage
Of course, the primary purpose of a cellular plan is that it covers your phone calls and data uses when and where you need it. T-Mobile now offers Starlink Wi-Fi, which uses a space-based system (like a cell phone tower in space) to provide better connectivity “almost anywhere you can see the sky.”
If you purchase the Go5Next plan, this is what it includes for international service:
Unlimited U.S. talk and text cellular coverage.
Unlimited data at speeds up to 256 Kbps.
25-cents-per-minute voice calls internationally.
15GB data in Mexico and Canada.
Other perks
This plan comes with more than just cellular coverage. It includes travel perks and entertainment benefits. These include:
25% off tickets to shows and VIP entry lanes.
T-Mobile Starlink (July 2025).
Annual upgrade
This plan allows users to upgrade their phone each year they have the plan, ensuring they always have the latest device.
The Go5G Plus plan is not as expensive as Go5G Next ($90 per month for one line, taxes and fees included), but it also has fewer benefits. It includes all of the same cellular coverage but none of the travel benefits with the exception of in-flight Wi-Fi. These are the benefits of this plan:
All of the same cellular benefits of Go5G Next.
Upgrade your phone every two years.
Starlink Wi-Fi ($15 per month).
This is a cheaper plan at $75 per month for one line (taxes and fees included), and it is best for travelers headed to Canada, Mexico, and certain countries in Europe. These are the basic components of its cellular plan and associated perks.
5GB cellular data in 11 European countries.
10GB of high-speed data in Canada and Mexico.
Unlimited basic data in 215 countries and destinations at approximately 256 Kbps.
Starlink Wi-Fi ($15 per month).
Apple TV+ for six months and Netflix Standard with ads.
Four in-flight Wi-Fi sessions annually and one hour of free Wi-Fi on flights after that.
What are T-Mobile Tuesdays?
Another benefit for customers of any of T-Mobile’s plans is access to T-Mobile Tuesdays, which offer surprise perks and goodies to members each week. T-Mobile customers can open the app to discover what the latest offers are for that week each Tuesday. They include things like:
$5 movie tickets each month with Atom Tickets.
10 cents off per gallon at Shell.
10% cash back at participating restaurants on Tuesdays.
T-Mobile has taken a cue from the many credit cards that pack in travel benefits, which makes a lot of sense for phone plans that involve being away from home. Most T-Mobile smartphone customers enjoy what the brand calls Magenta status. This comes with:
Tank refill waiver from Dollar Car Rental.
EV charging waiver from Hertz.
Unlimited in-flight Wi-Fi on Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines flights with streaming, text and picture messaging capability.
One year of AAA Classic membership.
Shell Fuel Rewards Gold status (10 cents off per gallon).
40% off hotels and car rentals booked through T-Mobile Travel.
Best credit cards for paying cell phone bills
Like with other spending categories, there are some credit cards that provide bonus points for paying your cellular bill or cell phone protection plans that make it worth it paying for the plan with that particular card.
Bonus points when using the card to pay cellular charges:
Best cell phone protection from a card:
Best extended warranty from a card:
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card.
The Platinum Card® from American Express.
Insurance Benefit: Cell Phone Protection
Coverage for a Stolen or damaged Eligible Cellular Wireless Telephone is subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions and limits of liability of this benefit. The maximum liability is $800, per claim, per Eligible Card Account. Each claim is subject to a $50 deductible. Coverage is limited to two (2) claims per Eligible Card Account per 12 month period.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
The Go5G Next plan from T-Mobile goes beyond traditional cellular coverage for international travelers. It also includes associated perks like travel discounts and a slew of entertainment perks to enjoy along the way. Its price point is not exorbitant.
Pair this beefy international plan with a credit card that protects your cell phone while offering extra points for paying your bill, and you have a winner.
