Using your phone abroad vs calling abroad - what is the difference?

These two get mixed up constantly, and they are priced differently, so it is worth 60 seconds to separate them.

Calling abroad (from the UK)

You are in the UK and dial an international number. Whether that call is included depends on your plan's corridor - see "Which countries are in my corridor plan?". If it is not included, it is charged from your wallet at the rate shown before you dial.

Using your phone abroad (roaming)

You are outside the UK using your VoicePro SIM. Roaming usage - calls, texts and data while abroad - follows the roaming terms of your plan, which you can see in the app before you travel.

The cheap-data trick for trips

For data abroad, a travel eSIM is usually the best-value option: a local data pack for your destination that sits alongside your main SIM. Your number stays live for calls and texts on the main SIM while data flows through the travel pack. See "Setting up your travel eSIM before you fly".

Before you travel checklist

1. Check your plan's roaming terms in the app.
2. Consider a travel eSIM for data.
3. If you will call home a lot from abroad, calling over data apps or your corridor allowance is normally cheaper than roaming voice.