There are a lot of benefits to using a VPN, whether you are working on a home computer or using your smartphone. It’s especially important today when almost all of your data is being consumed, sold, transferred, viewed, and utilized in a thousand different algorithms every second of every day.

No matter what device you’re using, a VPN encrypts your data and masks your connection to the internet. It also uses more data on a carrier plan but does that include roaming as well?

Can a VPN Cause Roaming Charges?

Fortunately, a VPN doesn’t incur roaming charges or put you in danger of incurring roaming charges. You will not incur roaming charges as long as your phone has not physically left your service coverage area and your connection is still being received through your usual data plan.

One thing a VPN will do is increase your data usage. If you have a data cap on your mobile plan, a VPN can increase your data consumption by up to 20%. That number becomes even more exceptional if you have a pretty short data cap. 

The reason some might assume that a VPN would cause roaming is that it masks your data. The logical conclusion is that if your carrier can’t locate you when you are on the internet, you may as well be roaming. 

But a VPN still requires data to operate so your phone is still gathering from the 4G or 5G network you’re already paying for and have access to. Your mobile carrier can still see that you are connected to the internet.

What they can no longer see is your traffic, as in what you are connecting to and what you are doing on any particular website. Since you are using a VPN, there are a few extra steps involved when you connect to the internet and start surfing the web.

That’s why the use of a VPN can easily drive up your data usage. If you have a data cap, using a VPN is only a good idea when you have access to WiFi or if you just absolutely need it at the moment.

Related Article: Can My VPN Be Blocked By My ISP? (What You Need To Know)

Can a VPN Be Used to Avoid Roaming Charges?

A VPN cannot be used to avoid roaming charges because the expense is calculated at the point where your device connects and not at the opposite end of the VPN tunnel.

There are a few, small and tiny voices out there that will claim you can avoid ISP roaming charges by using a VPN. This isn’t true. As we mentioned above, your VPN will mask your movements on the web from your carrier. 

What it won’t mask is the fact that you are accessing the internet on a network and chewing up data using a VPN. You will still incur roaming charges just like you would without a VPN. In fact, it will be worse, since a VPN generally uses more data, regardless of whether you are on an extended network or your own. 

There are ways to eliminate this, however, and avoid any roaming charges no matter where you go or what you do. 

  • Purchase a local SIM card and use it while you are in another country
  • Avoid accessing the web when you are roaming
  • Use WiFi hotspots only
  • Access your smartphone’s settings and turn data roaming and roaming off

The last is the surest way to always avoid roaming charges, no matter what the situation you’re in. If the roaming feature is turned off, your smartphone will not work when you are roaming.

All Things Considered

VPNs are great for the purposes of privacy, even though using one will generally slow down your connection.

One thing a VPN won’t do is cause roaming charges, so long as your phone doesn’t physically leave your provider’s service coverage area.

A VPN is designed to mask your identity on the internet as you browse or work. What it doesn’t do is mask the fact that you are connected to the network.