How to receive free SMS messages abroad? Telephone, Calls and Internet
This is a recurring question for people preparing a long trip abroad: how to continue to receive SMS?
For people leaving for long months, the only need is often to be able to receive SMS messages from the bank to confirm a payment on the internet. If this is your only need, be aware that some banks such as N26 or Revolut do not work with SMS, the confirmation of the payment is done with the mobile application which is still much more convenient.
Receiving SMS is free of charge anywhere in the world
Not everyone necessarily knows it, but receiving SMS is free anywhere in the world.
Wherever you are, you will never be charged if you receive SMS messages
Attention: I am talking about the reception of SMS only. Sending SMS, making or receiving calls is something else (and it can be very expensive).
To continue to receive SMS while travelling, you just need to keep a French mobile subscription. While you’re at it, take the cheapest one possible. The Free Mobile plan at €2 per month is a great option
Note that for the specific case of the Free Mobile package at €2, you will still need to activate the travel option. This option is free but requires a refundable advance on consumption of €10 (plus d’infos sur le site de Free).
And the rest: how much does it cost?
To send SMS, make and receive calls, the pricing will change depending on your subscription and the country you are in.
Each time you enter a new country, your operator will send you a text message of this type detailing the rates.
In this example in Mexico with the Free Mobile plan at 2 €, the rates are as follows:
- Calls made to France: €2.19 per minute
- Calls received: 0.95 € per minute
- SMS sent: €0.27
- Internet : 6,5 € / Mo
Yes, it’s very expensive!
If you travel in theEuropean Union: no worries, you can use your package as if you were in France, an SMS will also tell you so.
Some plans are also very interesting abroad such as the Free Mobile offer at 20 € / month which allows you to use the internet in more than 65 countries.
You can also choose an international SIM card such as Drimsim which allows you to use your phone anywhere in the world at reasonable rates.
How to call France at a lower cost?
If you no longer have a mobile plan or if you are in a country where the pricing to France is too high, you have several options to call France :
- Solutions such as Skype, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, … which require that your contact uses the same application.
- The VOIP OVH which allows you to call on French landlines in an unlimited way to… 1 € per month !
- The Rebtel solution that allows you to call France unlimited for €5 per month through a local phone.
Beware of roaming charges!
The big danger if you continue to use your French SIM card from abroad is to use the internet abroad without realizing it and have a huge roaming bill
Smartphones are now made so that they can use the internet without you noticing.
To avoid this, you need to disable “mobile data roaming”.
Or even better for peace of mind: take a miniature phonethat doesn’ t allowinternet access. Its only function will be to receive SMS messages.
Buy a local SIM card
To be able to use the internet in the country you will be visiting, it is best to buy a local SIM card.
Depending on the offers, you will also be able to call locally, which is very convenient when organizing a trip.
The offers are generally very cheap and rarely exceed 10 euros. To do so, you have to leave with an unlocked phone
Detailed information is available on this blog for many countries. Type “sim map + country name” in the search engine.
