If you travel with Digi and are wondering how much it will cost to use your phone away from home, this guide on Digi roaming will clarify it for you. Within the EU, you travel with your plan, but outside Europe, things change: it's good to know what you'll be paying before you leave the airport.
What is Digi and what network does it use?
Digi is a low-cost operator that operates in Spain as an MVNO supported by the networks of major players (historically Movistar/Telefónica and Orange), although it is now deploying its own network in many areas. This explains its low prices and solid national coverage in most cities.
The brand grew by offering simple, cheap plans with generous data and fixed prices. For travelers, it's important to understand that your home plan doesn't always behave the same way when you cross a border. Within the European Union, community rules protect you, and you use your data as you would in Spain. But as soon as you step into a destination outside the European Economic Area (United States, United Kingdom after Brexit, Morocco, Turkey, Asia, or Latin America), you enter territory where each operator sets its own rates. Before you travel, review what roaming is exactly to avoid unpleasant surprises on your bill. Digi usually communicates these conditions on its website and in the app, so it's worth checking them with your destination in mind.
Digi roaming within the EU
Within the EU, Digi roaming is included at no extra cost under the European "roam like at home" principle: you use your minutes, SMS, and data as in Spain, with a fair use limit on data. You do not pay a surcharge for talking or browsing in another EU country.
This covers the 27 EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. If you go on an Erasmus trip to Italy, a long weekend to Lisbon, or a road trip through France, your Digi plan works the same as in Madrid: same rates, same data. The only fine print is the data roaming limit, which is calculated based on the price of your plan and almost never affects a normal getaway. For long stays (months), the fair use policy may be activated. If you want to avoid unexpected roaming charges, simply monitor your consumption from the app. For a normal European trip, you don't need to do anything special: with data roaming activated, you can already browse.
Digi roaming outside the EU
Outside the EU, Digi roaming is usually expensive or requires contracting a specific bundle. Each country has its own rates, and data can cost several euros per megabyte without a bundle, so a map or social media session can quickly skyrocket. Always confirm the exact price on the official operator's website.
Here's the real pain point for travelers. Countries like the United States, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Turkey, Morocco, Mexico, or Thailand are outside the European umbrella. Without a contracted bundle, browsing can be disproportionately expensive, and many travelers only find out upon returning when the bill arrives. Therefore, it's advisable to compare alternatives before leaving and not improvise upon arrival: review alternatives to expensive roaming with your destination in mind.
Traveler's tip: in destinations outside the EU, assume your national plan does not apply. Either purchase a data bundle or disable roaming and use another solution to connect. Improvising with roaming is the classic recipe for a surprise bill.
Digi offers travel bundles in some destinations, but their availability and price vary greatly depending on the country; check the ranges in your customer area before taking off.
How to activate or deactivate roaming on Digi
To activate or deactivate Digi roaming, you have two levels: the phone's own settings and control from the Digi app or customer area. Both matter, because one governs the mobile phone and the other the service contracted with the operator.
On the mobile phone, data roaming is turned on or off in the network settings. On Android, it's usually in Settings > Connections > Mobile networks > Data roaming; on iPhone, in Settings > Mobile Data > Options > Data Roaming. If you've never touched it, this guide on how to activate data roaming will show you step by step.
At the operator level, from the Digi app or your customer area, you can:
- Check if your line has roaming enabled by default.
- Contract or deactivate travel bundles for destinations outside the EU.
- Monitor data consumption in roaming almost in real time.
- Block roaming data to avoid overspending unintentionally.
The safest approach outside Europe is to disable data roaming and connect via another method, leaving only calls and SMS just in case.
Fair use policy: when Digi can overcharge you
The fair use policy is the mechanism by which an operator limits free roaming in the EU to prevent abuse, such as using a Spanish SIM permanently in another country. It mainly affects long stays, not normal tourist trips.
Brussels sets a volume of roaming data linked to the price of your plan: the more expensive, the more GBs. If you exceed this limit within the EU, Digi can apply a small surcharge for additional GBs, regulated by the EU and much lower than rates outside Europe. The other side of fair use is "predominant presence and consumption": if it detects that you spend more time outside Spain than within for months, the operator may ask you to regularize the situation. For someone going on a two-week vacation, none of this comes into play. Where it is worth noting is for very long trips or for those who telework from another country: there, a local data solution saves you arguments and surcharges. The exact data of your limit appears in the conditions of your plan on the official operator's website.
Travel eSIM as an alternative outside Europe
For destinations outside the EU, a travel eSIM is almost always cheaper and more predictable than Digi roaming. You buy a data plan for the country before you leave, install it in 1 minute by scanning a code, and pay a fixed price, with no surprises on your bill when you return.
The great advantage is cost control. Instead of per-megabyte rates that you can't control, you choose a package (for example, 5 GB for ten days in the United States) and know exactly what you'll pay. Installation is digital: there's no need to look for a physical card upon arrival or change your number, because you keep your Digi line active for calls and WhatsApp while data goes through the local plan. It works on most mobile phones from recent years. You can see eSIM plans by destination and get everything ready from your couch. If you're unsure between operators, also check how Movistar roaming rates and their alternatives compare: within the EU, use your plan; outside, eSIM.
Comparison table: Digi vs. Travel eSIM
This table summarizes when each option is beneficial. The amounts are typical indicative ranges for 2026; the exact price depends on the destination and the plan, so consult the official operator's or eSIM website before contracting.
| Scenario | Digi Roaming | Travel eSIM |
|---|---|---|
| Travel within the EU | Included (your plan, with fair use) | Normally unnecessary |
| Travel outside the EU | Expensive or with bundle; per-country rate | Fixed plan, usually better value |
| Cost control | Variable, risk of surprise bill | Known fixed price in advance |
| Activation | Mobile settings + Digi app | Scan a QR in 1 minute |
| Your Spanish number | You keep it | You keep it (eSIM for data only) |
In summary: within Europe, stick with your Digi plan; outside, consider a local data plan for price and peace of mind.
Frequently asked questions
Is Digi roaming free throughout Europe?
In practice, yes, within the EU plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway: you use your plan at no extra cost under the European principle, with a fair use limit on data. It does not cover countries outside the EU such as the UK, Switzerland, or Turkey, where different rates apply.
How do I deactivate roaming on Digi to avoid overpaying?
You have two ways. On your mobile, turn off data roaming in the mobile network settings. And from the Digi app or customer area, you can block roaming data or choose not to contract travel bundles. Combining both is the safest way to avoid surprises outside the EU.
How much does it cost to use Digi outside the European Union?
It depends a lot on the country and whether you contract a bundle. Without a bundle, data can cost several euros per megabyte, so a bill can quickly skyrocket. Always check the exact price for your destination on the official operator's website before traveling and compare it with an eSIM.
Can I use an eSIM and keep my Digi line at the same time?
Yes. Most compatible mobile phones allow you to have your Digi SIM or eSIM for calls and messages and, at the same time, a travel eSIM solely for destination data. This way, you keep your Spanish number and browse with a cheaper local plan outside Europe.
What happens if I exceed fair use within the EU?
If you exceed your plan's data roaming limit within the EU, Digi may apply a small surcharge per additional gigabyte, regulated by the EU and much lower than rates outside Europe. For a normal tourist trip of one or two weeks, it is unusual to reach this limit.
Conclusion
Digi roaming covers you without cost within the EU with fair use, but outside Europe it becomes expensive and unpredictable, and it is advisable to deactivate data roaming. Activating or deactivating it is done from your phone's settings and the Digi app. For your next trips outside the EU, get a travel eSIM and pay a fixed price instead of a surprise bill.
