Keeping in touch with family and friends in another country should not mean watching the clock. Yet calling abroad on a standard plan can still be expensive, and relying only on internet calls depends on the other person having good Wi-Fi. International SIM plans solve this by building a bundle of international minutes into the monthly price, so a weekly call to parents, grandparents or old friends costs nothing extra.
In this guide we look at four international SIM plans that include minutes to call abroad, along with UK calls, data and roaming, and help you decide how many minutes you really need.
How Many International Minutes Do You Need?
Start by thinking about who you call and how often. A ten-minute call twice a week adds up to around 80 to 90 minutes a month. A daily call home of half an hour can easily pass 900 minutes. Once you have a rough number, the right plan becomes obvious.
- Occasional calls: up to a couple of hundred minutes a month.
- Regular weekly calls: a few hundred minutes a month.
- Daily calls or several countries: unlimited international minutes.
The Four Plans Compared
All In One 10: 200 International Minutes
All In One 10 costs £9.90 for 30 days and includes 200 international minutes, unlimited UK calls and texts and 10GB of data. It also includes roaming in the EU and China. For someone who calls home once or twice a week and uses data mainly for messaging and maps, it is an easy, affordable choice.
All in one Plus 15: 500 International Minutes
All in one Plus 15 costs £15.00 and steps up to 500 international minutes, with unlimited national minutes and texts and 50GB of data. Data roaming covers the EU, China and India, which makes it a good fit for families with relatives in more than one country.
All In One Plus 20: Unlimited International Minutes
All In One Plus 20 costs £20.00 and removes the limit altogether, with unlimited international minutes, unlimited UK calls and texts and 100GB of data. Roaming covers the EU, China and India. If you speak to family abroad every day, this is the plan that takes the counting away.
UK Plan Unlimited Plus: Unlimited Everything
UK Plan Unlimited Plus costs £30.00 and combines unlimited data with unlimited international minutes and unlimited UK calls and texts. It is aimed at heavy users who stream, work and call abroad all from one phone.
At a Glance
| Plan | Price | Data | International minutes |
|---|---|---|---|
| All In One 10 | £9.90 | 10GB | 200 |
| All in one Plus 15 | £15.00 | 50GB | 500 |
| All In One Plus 20 | £20.00 | 100GB | Unlimited |
| UK Plan Unlimited Plus | £30.00 | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Calls Versus Video Apps
Video calls over apps are great when both sides have a strong connection, but they are not always practical. Older relatives may prefer a normal phone call, rural areas may have weak internet, and some calls, such as to a bank or a doctor abroad, simply need a phone number. With international calling minutes built into your plan, you can switch between the two depending on who you are calling.
Tips for Calling Abroad for Less
- Choose a plan with more minutes than you think you need for the first month, then adjust.
- Save international numbers with the full country code so calls connect first time.
- Use the included data roaming when you visit family, rather than buying a local SIM.
- Check which destinations are included before you call a new country.
Data and Roaming for Visits Home
International minutes are only half the story. When you travel to see family, the roaming included on these plans lets you keep using your data abroad. All In One 10 covers the EU and China, while the Plus plans add India as well. That means you can share photos, use maps and stay on group chats during a visit without buying a local SIM card at the airport.
Staying Close, Wherever They Are
Distance should not decide how often you talk to the people you love. All In One 10 covers occasional calls for £9.90, All in one Plus 15 handles regular calls with 500 minutes, and All In One Plus 20 and UK Plan Unlimited Plus remove the limit completely. A SIM with international minutes turns every call home into part of your normal month rather than an extra cost.
These international plans are offered by Lyca Mobile. For more lifestyle reads and helpful guides, drop by DressGlamour.