Roaming Andorra: AT&T, T-Mobile, Optus, Vodafone

Andorra is one of the destinations where you can go shopping on Easter, practice skiing in Grandvalira, or simply enjoy the fresh air in the mountains of Comapedrosa. If you dare to enjoy this country, and you are worried about returning home with a high roaming bill or running out of internet in Andorra, in this article you will find all the information you need to know.

In Andorra, roaming is not free, it’s very expensive and a nightmare for those who go out on a weekend escape or pass near the border. Here we are going to tell you everything about roaming in Andorra, the roaming rates with operators such as Vodafone, Optus, AT&T, or T-Mobile – how it works, the step-by-step process to activate it, and the different alternatives; such as data SIM cards for Andorra.

How does roaming work in Andorra?

Roaming in Andorra allows you to continue using the services of your regular domestic plan from your cell phone operator in Spain. These services include calls, text messages, and the internet. With this, you will be able to send messages through apps such as WhatsApp, use the GPS of your cell phone, or make calls to your hotel.

However, you must bear in mind that Andorra is not part of the European Union and the EEA; therefore you must pay the rates stipulated by your operator according to the market. There’s no price regulation for roaming in Andorra and your operator is free to charge you what they consider appropriate. But don’t worry, here we explain how you can save money during your trip to Andorra without having to activate or use roaming.

Comparison of cell phone data roaming rates in Andorra

In the following chart, compare the prices that international operators charge for roaming services in Andorra when you consume data of your domestic plan.

On the other hand, keep in mind that roaming pricing in Andorra depends on different factors such as:

• The operator you chose as the provider of the service for your smartphone.
• The price you agreed with the company that offered you the data plan.
• The conditions and restrictions applicable from your country of origin.

Now let’s take a look at some alternatives that will allow you to avoid paying for roaming in Andorra so that you can stretch your travel budget.

How to avoid paying for roaming in Andorra?

In this section, we provide all the information you need to avoid paying for a hefty roaming bill and make sure you keep your travel expenses under budget. There are many alternatives to roaming that we will detail below so that you can choose the one that best suits your need.

Data SIM cards

This is one of the favorite alternatives because they allow you to save money compared to the high roaming rates. If you travel to Andorra, you have a certain amount of cellular data under a fixed price.  Isn’t that cool? In our search, we found different options, but the most interesting one is Holafly.

The SIM card for Andorra has some excellent features such as the amount of data it offers for this destination (7 days with 4 GB or 14 days with 8 GB), customer service 24 hours a day, and connection to the network of Andorra Telecom. It’s very easy to use because you only have to insert the SIM in your cell phone when you arrive or before leaving your place of departure, and you’ll be connected to the internet once you arrive in Andorra.

Buy the SIM card when you land in Andorra

If you plan to buy a SIM card in Andorra, you must consider if your cell phone is unlocked before leaving, and how long you will need to connect to the internet in this country since with this alternative, you can set the days of internet connection.

When you arrive in Andorra, you can buy the SIM card in shopping centers and airports such as the Andorra-La Seu airport. You should know that to buy this or any other cellular product you may be asked for a passport or your identification document. You must bear in mind that these stores have certain available hours, so you may find some closed stores if you arrive in Andorra late at night or before dawn.

The main operator in Andorra is Andorra Telecom

eSIM for Andorra

The eSIMs are virtual SIM cards that allow you to activate a cell phone data plan from your operator, without the need to insert a physical card in the slot. Great! This way you help the environment. Learn more about this product where we compare different eSIM Andorra data plans.

Holafly eSIM Andorra

Holafly is a Spanish company that offers internet access to travelers. They have an eSIM for Andorra with different advantages such as 24/7 customer service in Spanish, English, German and French.

Pocket WiFi

A Pocket WiFi for Andorra is a small, lightweight portable WiFi router that provides access to the internet anywhere in Andorra, it also allows you to connect other devices. You can rent it when you arrive in the country and return it when you leave. Keep in mind that these rentals are usually a bit expensive, and if you lose or misplace them you will have to pay a fine.

• Traveler’s WiFi: In Andorra, you get 2 GB per day. Data overage is included and unlimited with a reduced 3G speed of 512 Kbps, until the next day (CET).  The rental of this Pocket WiFi is around 7 USD per day.
• Wifivox: provides with a 4G connection, allows you to share WiFi with up to 5 people, and the rental price is around 9 USD per day in Andorra.

Free WiFi in Andorra

We prepared a brief list of the app that allows you to find free WiFi spots in Andorra.

• Wifi Map: with this app, you will find a large part of the free WiFi spots in Andorra, these spots are provided by other users who have decided to share their data from their network and by the Andorran government. Available for iOS and Android.
• Wiman: With this free WiFi network you can connect to many free WiFi hotspots.

Details of roaming rates in Andorra with the main International operators in 2022

Check the different international roaming rates offered by the main international operators. This way you can save money depending on the phone company you choose. Some are more expensive than others, so we recommend you review the conditions and choose the most affordable alternative for your pocket.

Roaming in Andorra with Optus

First of all, if you are a user of the Australian company Optus, you will be able to activate the international roaming option for different countries. However, we regret to inform you that for Andorra, Optus does not have a data roaming option available. However, don’t worry, as you will be able to call and send text messages.

To make calls in Andorra, you will have to pay 1.5 USD per minute of call. Likewise, sending text messages costs 0.5 USD per minute. However, if you want to roam in Andorra and need data, we recommend you go for a local operator SIM card or eSIM option.

Roaming in Andorra with AT&T

If on the other hand, you are an active AT&T user that would like to use of your phone services during your trip to Andorra, it is very easy to do so. With AT&T, you can activate international roaming for your cellular phone, but obviously, you will have to pay extra costs depending on your daily usage.

For MB usage you will have to pay 2.05 USD per MB if you are on the ground, if you want to use your data on an airplane, then you will have to pay 10 USD per MB. In addition, if you would like to make calls and send or receive text messages, you will have to pay 2 USD per talking minute, 0.5 USD for text messages, as well as 1.5 USD for video and picture messages.

AT&T also offers some monthly packages for those who travel frequently around the world, such as the International Day Pass or the AT&T Passport.

Roaming in Andorra with Vodafone

Vodafone also offers international roaming in Andorra to its users. You can activate it with two different kinds of rates or options:

• Pay as you go
• Monthly pay

Foremost, you will be able to activate international roaming for Andorra through the pay-as-you-go option. This will allow you to stay connected to the internet with data for only $2 USD per MB. In addition, you will be able to make calls for a cost of $2.6 USD per minute. And finally, you can send text messages for a fee per message.

On the other hand, you can also pay on a daily usage basis with the monthly use plan, in which you will have to pay $6.5 USD each day you activate international roaming; however, this option has certain restrictions.

Roaming in Andorra with T-Mobile

Finally, if you are a T-Mobile user, and you want to activate international roaming while you are in Andorra, the first thing you should know is that depending on the plan you have you can purchase different roaming services with different prices.

So if you have one of T-Mobile’s Simple Global plans you can get unlimited text messages and data. You will only have to pay for the calls you make in Andorra, however, the price is very low, only 0.25 USD per minute!

On the other hand, in case you have other T-Mobile plans on your cell phone, you can also activate roaming. You will have to pay 15 USD per MB consumed, as you can see, it is a pretty high price.

In addition, if you want to send messages, each message will cost 0.50 USD. The difference is that if you receive messages they will be deducted from your home messaging plan, but if you do not have a domestic text messaging plan, incoming messages cost $0.20 USD each. Finally, for each call you make while in Andorra, you will have to pay 0.25 USD per minute.

Companies that offer the best roaming rates in Andorra

Several companies offer the best roaming rates in Andorra. Among them, we have Vodafone that, in addition to cellular data, includes calls and messages, but the data tends to be a bit high-priced. Similarly, AT&T and T-Mobile stand out, through their pay-per-use options.

Although roaming is useful for relatively short trips, maybe one to three days because for more days, there are cheaper options that we have already told you about, like eSIM or SIM cards.

How to activate roaming in Andorra?

Activating roaming in Andorra is simple. When you are in Andorra you must turn on the roaming function on your cell phone to use the internet – for calls you don’t need to do anything.

But if you want to avoid unpleasant surprises, or if you have any doubts, and you would like to make sure that you won’t have any trouble when you arrive in the destination country, before leaving your country, contact your cellular provider and ask how to activate or deactivate the service. Here we show you a list of phone companies with their respective activation.

• Optus:  activation is done through their app, you must choose the roaming add-on.
• AT&T: calling 611.
• Vodafone: you have several options with this operator, from entering the website and activating roaming from the Private Area to downloading the My Vodafone app and changing it from there.
• T-Mobile: You can turn on data by dialing #RON#.

These are all options that you have available, make you to choose the best one that suits your needs!

Carolina Silva