Vodafone international plans: Calls and data

Whether you’re traveling abroad, checking in on your family overseas, or just want to avoid bill shock when roaming, choosing the right international plan is necessary. 

If you’ve looked into Vodafone international plans for calls and data, you might be wondering if they’re really the best fit, especially if you’re based in the U.S. 

Spoiler alert: they can work, but there are some big caveats. The good news is that services like BOSS Revolution offer smarter (and more affordable) alternatives for U.S.-based users who just want to connect globally without dealing with all the fine print or sticker shock. 

Whether it’s a video call to your cousin in Canada or a regular phone call to your team in India, mobile operators need to provide cost-effective and reliable international services. Vodafone is one of the biggest global players in the space — but is it the best? 

What are Vodafone international calling plans?

Vodafone international calling plans include several types of options depending on where you are and where you’re calling:

For Vodafone users abroad (roaming)

If you’re a Vodafone customer traveling abroad, you’ll be using their international roaming options. These can vary widely in cost and availability depending on your country of origin. For example, Vodafone Spain offers mobile plans with unlimited calls and roaming included.

According to Vodafone Spain¹, roaming service costs can vary depending on the country you’re in. Now, if you’re making an international call, the costs will depend on the country you’re calling.

So, let’s say you’re thinking of going to Italy and using your Vodafone mobile plan while you’re there, you can do any of the following:

• Use your mobile data within your plan’s set data limit
• Call a phone number in EU countries + Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway
• Receive international calls

Make sure you have the My Vodafone app installed. Activate roaming via the app and check your device settings to enable roaming.

Vodafone UK’s “Roam Further” plan lets you use your UK data allowance in 104 destinations for £6 per day. However, destinations like the U.S., Canada, and Australia are included, while other countries are excluded or priced higher. 

For example, if you’re subscribed to a Vi India postpaid plan and you’re thinking of making an international call to the US (international roaming pack), you have several options, such as:

Depending on the pack you’re using, you may be charged an additional ₹35 per minute once you’ve exceeded your allocation for outgoing calls, and if you’re calling other destinations.

For Vodafone users calling internationally from home

This includes users in India, Spain, or the UK who want to call other countries. Vodafone does offer unlimited international calling plans, but read the fine print: these often only cover a limited set of countries and are capped at a certain number of minutes per month. 

Meanwhile, if you’re calling less common destinations like Ethiopia or Afghanistan, calls may cost significantly more. 

Vi India offers a postpaid ISD call pack for ₹30 per month. This is good for one connection and only covers select destinations like the U.S., Canada, UAE, Australia, Singapore, and the UK. Vodafone international call rates for this pack also vary. For example, calls to the U.S. and Canada go for 50p (paise) per minute, while calls to the UK, Australia, and the UAE are charged ₹3, ₹5, and ₹12 per minute, respectively. 

What’s more, these special ISD voice call rates are limited only to specific destination codes, which you can check here². You also can’t use this pack for roaming or making conference calls. 

In some cases, you may also have access to bundled packs that include both data and call minutes. These bundles are usually more affordable per minute compared to pay-as-you-go rates and count as Vodafone prepaid international call services.

For example, Vodafone UK offers Vodafone Extras, which let you call and text abroad from the UK. So, if you only make occasional calls abroad, you can go for the “Pay as you go” option, which gives you an extra 50 international minutes (65 select destinations only). 

Now, if you happen to have a lot of people you need to call regularly, then the “Pay as you go Plus” option might be a good choice since you get 200 minutes extra to 200 international destinations, including the U.S., Australia, Indonesia, Kenya, and Turkey. 

Vodafone international call rates and options

Pricing for Vodafone international calls is often region-specific. Prices depend on whether you’re using prepaid or postpaid plans, and whether you’ve activated a specific pack. 

Some examples of rates for international calls using Vodafone:

To activate these Vodafone plans with international calling options, you may need to go through the Vi app (India) or the My Vodafone app (UK). 

You may be interested to know that users often highlight Vodafone’s confusing price structures. Hidden charges, expiration confusion, and plan activation issues are recurring themes across forums like Reddit. Another frequent issue is that some calls are billed even if unanswered, especially when calling international numbers with voicemail services. 

For example, if you’re a Vodafone user from Germany, receiving calls is free if you’re within the EU, the UK, and the European Economic Area (EEA). However, as one Reddit user explained³, “There are charges for receiving calls elsewhere.” 

One Redditor even went as far as asking others for phone plan alternatives to Vodafone⁴ because they’re “sick of being a victim of Vodafone scams.”

On a different thread, one user shared⁵ that “Vodafone is really expensive compared to other options in the Spanish market.”

Vodafone international data packs

If you’re planning to use mobile internet abroad, you can use your Vodafone international data pack to share snaps from your trip, send updates to loved ones back home, or search for hidden gems close to where you’re staying. 

What is a Vodafone international data pack?

These packs (also known as roaming plans) let you access roaming data services in supported countries. Note that pricing varies by region and validity. 

To give you an idea of what a Vodafone international data pack can offer and how much it costs, this table shows Vi India (Vodafone Idea India) rates for prepaid roaming plans (unlimited packs) for the UK:

Source: https://www.myvi.in/international-roaming-packs/choose-pack 

Vi India also offers more affordable Budget Packs starting at ₹495. This is valid for 3 days and lets you make local and outgoing calls to India, with a 50-minute allowance. If you exceed that limit, you’ll be charged ₹10/minute. This is the cheapest plan, but it doesn’t come with a data allowance. A Budget Pack with 1 GB of data (valid for 5 days) starts at ₹755.

Countries supported

Vodafone’s coverage varies but typically includes:

• Europe: EU member states
• North America: U.S., Canada, Mexico
• Asia: Singapore, Japan, India
• Africa: South Africa (limited), Egypt

Some countries may have partial or unreliable coverage, so it’s best to check your coverage map. Also, remember that network speeds can vary depending on local agreements with partner telecoms.

Limitations of Vodafone international plans

Despite its broad coverage and strong brand reputation, Vodafone's international plans are not without some drawbacks. Common problems faced by users include inconvenient connections, high prices, and limited transparency on roaming. Some “unlimited” plans also offer unlimited data, but they’re only available in select countries. 

There are also some Vodafone international data packs that expire quickly (24 hours, for example). While being affordable, this forces users to repurchase packs frequently or switch to higher-tier ones, especially on longer trips. 

One Redditor shared that it might be a better idea to get a local SIM card instead of purchasing Vodafone international plans when traveling. 

“Get a local SIM card [it’s] more convenient and it’s definitely cheaper than international roaming fees, sometimes international roaming works terribly badly in navigation,” they shared⁶. Another user chimed in⁷ with the same sentiments, “Ended up buying a local data sim and never regretted it. Super fast internet, unlimited data…”

Alternatives to Vodafone for international calls from the U.S.

If you’re living in the U.S., Vodafone plans are largely inaccessible. They don’t offer local coverage or international add-ons for U.S. carriers. That’s where BOSS Revolution steps in.

Why BOSS Revolution makes sense

• Free app: Available on iOS and Android. Supports calling, mobile top-up.
• Affordable rates: No surprise bills or charges here, making it easy for you to stay connected while staying within budget. 
• No subscription: Make international calls even without a subscription. With pay-as-you-go options, you only pay for what you use. You can also easily compare rates for different services in the country you’re calling.
• Hundreds of countries supported: View the entire list here. 

Sample BOSS Revolution international calling rates

Rates vary depending on the country you’re calling, but to give you an idea of BOSS Revolution’s prices, check out this table:

Final thoughts: Is Vodafone worth it for international use?

Vodafone can be useful if you’re already a subscriber in an eligible country and only need temporary international support (calls, data). But if you frequently make international calls or if you’re based in the U.S., you might find that Vodafone’s plans are often expensive, inconsistent, and sometimes a bit challenging to manage. 

Looking for a smarter, more affordable alternative to Vodafone? With transparent pricing and great rates, BOSS Revolution helps you stay connected with your loved ones. And you can do more with just one app. Aside from making international calls, you can use the BOSS Revolution app for mobile top-ups and international money transfers. 

Download the app today and stay connected with your loved ones — all without spending a fortune. 

Sources: all third party information obtained from applicable website as of June 16, 2025

1. https://www.vodafone.es/c/particulares/es/productos-y-servicios/movil/roaming-y-llamadas-internacionales/

2. https://www.myvi.in/postpaid/isd-call-rates

3. https://www.reddit.com/r/germany/comments/1gb0qf1/comment/lti05rv/

4. https://www.reddit.com/r/askspain/comments/1hyw95j/what_is_a_good_phone_plan_for_spain_and/

5. https://www.reddit.com/r/askspain/comments/1idp52u/comment/ma6b7fi/

6. https://www.reddit.com/r/SouthKoreaTravel/comments/1fq60kr/comment/lsbzb6b/

7. https://www.bossrevolution.com/en-us/all-countries

8. https://www.myvi.in/content/dam/vodafoneideadigital/exceldata/Static/ISDModelList/Prepaid_ISD_Rates.pdf

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