How to use my phone in Mexico: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and eSIM options

Mexico is the easiest international trip for a US phone. The big carriers have roaming deals with Mexican networks such as Telcel and AT&T Mexico, and many US plans treat Mexico almost like home. The mistakes that cost money are nearly always the same: assuming a plan includes Mexico when it does not, or leaving data roaming on for a line that charges per megabyte.

Step 1: Check whether your plan already includes Mexico

• Verizon: Verizon says talk, text and data in Mexico and Canada are included at no extra cost with its Unlimited plans. On other plans, TravelPass gives you your US plan in Mexico for $6 a day, charged only on days you use the phone there.
• AT&T: eligible AT&T unlimited plans include unlimited talk and text between the US, Mexico and Canada, plus use of your plan's data in Mexico with no roaming charges. Other plans need an international day pass.
• T-Mobile: most T-Mobile postpaid plans include talk, text and data in Mexico. How much high-speed data you get there depends on the plan, so check yours in the T-Life app.
• Prepaid brands: Cricket, Metro, Visible, Mint, Straight Talk and others each have their own rules. Some include Mexico, some sell an add-on, and some have no roaming at all. Check before you go.

Two details catch people out. Roaming in Mexico can be slower than at home, depending on your plan and the local network. And the included plans are meant for trips: Verizon, for example, may limit service if more than half of your usage over 60 days is in Mexico or Canada. If you are moving there or staying for months, a Mexican plan is the better choice.

Step 2: If Mexico is not included, pick an option

If you are new to eSIMs, read what an eSIM is first. Install a travel eSIM while you are still at home on Wi-Fi, because activation often needs an internet connection.

Step 3: Set up your phone before you leave

Calling and texting in Mexico

• Calling a Mexican number: dial +52 followed by the 10-digit number. Press and hold 0 on the keypad to get the + sign.
• Calling home: dial US numbers as usual on a plan that includes Mexico, or use Wi-Fi Calling. Your contacts see your normal US number.
• WhatsApp: install it before you go. Hotels, tour operators and restaurants in Mexico often prefer WhatsApp to calls or email.
• Emergencies: the emergency number in Mexico is 911, the same as in the US.

Apps that are useful in Mexico

• Ride-hailing: Uber and DiDi both operate in Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey and many other cities. Set them up before you travel, since sign-up may need a text code to your US number.
• Maps: Google Maps works well for driving, walking and public transit directions in the big cities. Download offline areas as described above.
• Translation: Google Translate and Apple's Translate app can translate signs and menus through the camera. Download Spanish for offline use before you go.
• Banking: sign-in codes are usually sent by text, so keep your US line active for SMS even if you use an eSIM for data. Let your bank know about your trip if it asks travelers to. Some banks block card payments abroad until you do.

How to avoid a surprise bill

• Confirm Mexico is included, or add the pass, before you land. A day pass usually starts when you first use the phone there.
• Watch the texts your carrier sends when you arrive. They confirm what you will be charged.
• Near the border, check which network you are on. In US border towns, your phone can connect to a Mexican tower and start roaming without you crossing.
• Cruises are different. On a ship at sea, phones may connect to the ship's own network, which is not covered by Mexico roaming. Use Airplane Mode with Wi-Fi on board. Maritime roaming can cost several dollars a minute, and it does not count as Mexico even when the ship is docked near the coast.
• When you get home, turn Data Roaming back off if you do not need it.

Phone not working after you arrive?

Before any trip, it is also worth making sure you can find your iPhone if it is lost. A phone lost abroad is much easier to recover or lock when Find My is already on.