Listicle · 6 picks
Which Austrian SIM is best for EU roaming in 2026?
Updated May 14, 2026 · By Jules de Bruin · Austrian SIMs ranked by EU fair-use bucket, Switzerland coverage, and post-Brexit UK roaming.
Updated May 2026. Every Austrian SIM includes free EU roaming under the Roam Like at Home regulation (Regulation 2022/612), but fair-use buckets range from 9 GB to 48 GB. A1 SIMply L ships the largest bucket at 48 GB; A1 prepaid uniquely bundles Switzerland and UK roaming. bob Flex bob wins on value at EUR 9.90 for 45 GB EU. HoT, spusu and Drei publish among the most generous fair-use policies. RLAH covers EU-27 + Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein — Switzerland and the UK do not.
Which Austrian SIM is best for EU roaming in 2026?
Biggest EU bucket · Best value · Generous fair-use · Includes Switzerland · Premium · Prepaid pick
Six Austrian SIMs lead on EU roaming. A1 SIMply L ranks first for sheer bucket size — 48 GB EU on Austria's best-coverage network, plus an unusual Switzerland + UK roaming carve-out on A1 prepaid. bob Flex bob wins on value (45 GB EU at EUR 9.90). HoT and spusu publish the most generous fair-use language. Magenta Mobile Sim Only Unlimited adds Swiss data bundles. Drei includes Switzerland on premium tariffs. KLAX Unlimited is the prepaid pick.
A1 SIMply L ships the largest EU roaming bucket of any Austrian plan at 48 GB per month, paired with unlimited domestic data on Austria's strongest 5G network. A1 prepaid customers also get a rare Switzerland + UK roaming carve-out — useful for Vorarlberg residents who cross into Liechtenstein and Switzerland weekly. No minimum term, eSIM supported.
bob (an A1 sub-brand) packs 45 GB EU roaming into a EUR 9.90 plan — the highest EU-GB-per-euro ratio on the Austrian market. Same A1 radio access network as A1 SIMply L, with 100 GB Austrian data, 5G and eSIM. No binding, no annual price rise. Best for travellers who don't need unlimited Austrian data.
HoT is sold at Hofer (Aldi Süd) and runs on the Magenta network. Its 4-week tariffs publish among the most permissive fair-use language in Austria — RTR has flagged HoT as one of the few operators that rarely throttles long-stay EU users. EU bucket ranges 12–30 GB depending on tariff, calls and SMS roam at Austrian rates.
spusu (MVNO on Drei) publishes a transparent 22 GB EU roaming bucket on its mid-tier postpaid plan plus free Austria-to-EU calls — a feature only spusu offers. spusu's fair-use policy is one of the few that documents the exact 4-month rolling window before the operator issues a "permanent roaming" warning.
Magenta (formerly T-Mobile Austria) bundles 40 GB EU roaming on its unlimited plan and is the only Austrian operator with a dedicated Schweiz-Pack for purchase — typically EUR 9.90 for 1 GB Switzerland data on top of the EU bucket. 5G, eSIM, 350/50 Mbps. Best for Magenta-network loyalists who cross into Switzerland.
Drei (3 Austria, Hutchison) bundles generous EU data (30–40 GB depending on tariff) on the Drei network and includes Switzerland on premium postpaid contracts. Drei's RTR-filed fair-use policy is identical to RLAH minimums but the operator markets the largest visible bucket. Good fit for Vienna residents who prefer prepaid flexibility.
How does EU roaming actually work on Austrian SIMs?
RLAH regulation · Fair-use cap · Voice + SMS at domestic rates
Every Austrian SIM ships Roam Like at Home (RLAH) under EU Regulation 2022/612, in force since June 2022 and extended through 2032. Inside the EU-27 plus Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein, calls, SMS and data are charged at Austrian domestic rates. The operator may apply a fair-use cap on data, but cannot cap voice or SMS. Switzerland and the United Kingdom are not in the RLAH zone.
The regulation works on two levers. First, the European Commission sets a maximum wholesale roaming rate that the destination network can charge the visitor's home operator — for 2026 this is EUR 1.55 per GB, with annual step-downs scheduled through 2027. Second, the home operator publishes a fair-use volume calculated from the customer's monthly plan price divided by the wholesale rate. For a EUR 24.90 unlimited plan, the formula yields roughly 32–48 GB depending on VAT treatment — which is why A1 SIMply L lands at 48 GB while Magenta's unlimited lands at 40 GB.
| Zone | Countries | How it's priced | Typical Austrian SIM behaviour |
|---|---|---|---|
| RLAH zone (EEA) | EU-27, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein | Domestic rates, fair-use cap on data only | Free, capped 9–48 GB/month |
| Switzerland | CH (EFTA, not EEA) | Outside RLAH; operator sets the rate | EUR 0.10–0.60/MB unless add-on, A1 prepaid free |
| United Kingdom | UK (post-Brexit) | Outside RLAH; operator may opt in | A1 prepaid free; Magenta & Drei charge EU surcharge rate |
| Rest of world | US, Turkey, Western Balkans, etc. | Per-MB or day-pass world packs | EUR 4.99–9.99/day depending on pack |
Source: EU Regulation 2022/612 (Roam Like at Home), operator tariff pages (a1.net, magenta.at, drei.at), RTR Austria, verified May 2026
Which Austrian SIMs include Switzerland (Schweiz) roaming?
EFTA carve-out · A1 prepaid exception · Magenta Swiss-Pack · Drei premium tariffs
Switzerland is not in the RLAH zone because it sits outside the EEA — it's an EFTA member but never accepted the EU's roaming acquis. Most Austrian SIMs therefore charge Swiss data at EUR 0.10–0.60 per MB unless the operator publishes a separate inclusion. Only three Austrian providers ship Swiss roaming without a paid add-on: A1 prepaid, Magenta (via Schweiz-Pack add-on), and Drei on selected premium tariffs.
- A1 prepaid (B.free). Includes Switzerland, UK, Liechtenstein and Vatican at Austrian domestic rates — the only Austrian operator to ship UK and Switzerland on a prepaid SIM by default. The A1 postpaid SIMply tariffs do not share this perk.
- Magenta Schweiz-Pack. A paid add-on at typically EUR 9.90 buys 1 GB Switzerland data plus 100 minutes for 30 days. Auto-activates when the SIM registers on a Swiss network. Buyable in the MeinMagenta app.
- Drei Premium / Black. Drei's top-tier postpaid (Hallo Premium, Black) include Switzerland in the EU bucket. Drei's lower tariffs and prepaid plans don't.
- HoT, spusu, bob, yesss!, KLAX. All MVNOs charge Swiss data per-MB. spusu's tariff sheet lists Switzerland at EUR 0.30/MB outbound calls — verify before crossing.
Which Austrian SIM has the best UK roaming after Brexit?
A1 prepaid uniquely free · Magenta + Drei EU-priced · MVNOs per-MB
The UK left the EU in 2020 and dropped out of RLAH the same day. Whether an Austrian SIM still treats the UK as a roaming destination depends on the operator's bilateral deal with UK carriers. A1 prepaid is the only Austrian SIM that bundles UK roaming at domestic rates by default. Magenta and Drei include the UK in the EU bucket on premium postpaid tariffs but charge a surcharge on entry-level plans. Most MVNOs (HoT, spusu, bob, yesss!) bill UK data per-MB unless you buy a world pack.
| Operator | UK voice | UK data | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 prepaid (B.free) | Domestic | Domestic | Unique: UK shipped at Austrian rate on prepaid only |
| A1 SIMply postpaid | Per-minute | Per-MB or pack | UK not included by default — buy World Pack |
| Magenta unlimited | Included in EU bucket | Counts against EU fair-use | UK treated as EU-equivalent on Mobile Unlimited |
| Drei (premium) | Included on Hallo Premium / Black | Counts against EU fair-use | Entry tariffs charge per-MB |
| HoT, bob, spusu | Per-minute | Per-MB | No bilateral UK deal; world pack required |
| yesss! (A1 prepaid family) | Domestic | Domestic | Inherits the A1 prepaid UK + Switzerland inclusion |
Source: A1, Magenta, Drei operator pricing pages, verified May 2026
What's the fair-use cap on EU roaming?
Volume cap · 4-month sustained-usage rule · EUR 1.55/GB surcharge
EU rules let operators apply two fair-use mechanisms. The first is a volume cap on data — calculated from your monthly plan price and the EUR 1.55/GB wholesale rate. The second is the 4-month sustained-usage test: if your SIM spends more than half its time abroad over any rolling four-month window, the operator may treat you as a permanent roamer and apply surcharges or terminate the contract. Voice and SMS cannot be capped under RLAH.
The 4-month rule is the one most Austrian travellers underestimate. The operator measures both presence (which country your SIM registers in) and traffic (where you use data). If both lean abroad for 4+ months, you get a warning SMS. Two weeks later, the operator may apply the wholesale surcharge — EUR 1.55/GB on top of your plan, currently EUR 0.025/minute for outgoing voice and EUR 0.005/SMS. A1 and Magenta publish their exact thresholds in the AGB; HoT and spusu reference the regulation directly.
Volume cap (typical 2026)
9 GB on entry plans, 22 GB on mid-tier, 40–48 GB on unlimited. Calculated as plan price ÷ EUR 1.55/GB × 2 per EU formula.
Sustained-usage window
4 months rolling. More than 50% of presence + traffic abroad triggers a warning. Operator gets 14 days to act after the threshold is crossed.
Excess-data surcharge
EUR 1.55/GB in 2026, stepping down to EUR 1.30/GB in 2027. Applies after fair-use cap, not after the 4-month rule.
What's never capped
Voice and SMS within RLAH zone are always at domestic rates. Cap applies to data only.
How do you activate EU roaming on an Austrian SIM?
Auto-on for postpaid · Toggle for prepaid · Check border crossing
On most Austrian postpaid SIMs, EU roaming is on by default — you cross a border, your phone latches onto a partner network, and RLAH applies automatically. Prepaid SIMs sometimes ship roaming switched off until first top-up. Five steps cover every scenario.
- Confirm roaming is enabled in your contract. Postpaid: log into MeinA1 / MeinMagenta / Drei Kundenzone and check "EU-Roaming" status. Prepaid: dial the operator USSD or app and verify roaming is unblocked. (Often required for B.free prepaid after activation.)
- Enable data roaming on the device. iOS: Settings → Mobile → Mobile Data Options → Data Roaming ON. Android: Settings → Network → Mobile network → Roaming ON. Without this toggle, the SIM connects only for voice and SMS.
- Pre-cache offline maps and downloads. Even with 48 GB EU, large updates (iOS, Steam, Netflix downloads) can chew through the bucket in a single afternoon. Treat the EU bucket as travel data, not a substitute for home Wi-Fi.
- Receive the operator welcome SMS at the border. When the SIM registers on a foreign network, you receive a free SMS confirming RLAH and listing the fair-use cap. Keep this — it's your written record of the bucket size if you later need to dispute a charge. (Required under EU Regulation 2022/612 Article 14.)
- For Switzerland or UK, add the appropriate pack first. A1 prepaid customers — no action. Magenta — buy Schweiz-Pack in app before crossing. All others — assume you're paying per-MB unless you've checked.
Should you get a local SIM in your destination instead?
Stay under 14 days · Use 48 GB bucket · Otherwise consider local eSIM
For trips of up to 14 days within the RLAH zone, your Austrian SIM is almost always cheaper and easier than a local SIM — you keep your number, your fair-use bucket is generous, and voice and SMS are free. A local SIM starts to make sense when you cross into Switzerland for more than a weekend, travel outside the EEA, or stay in one country long enough to trigger the 4-month permanent-roaming rule.
- Stay on your Austrian SIM if: you're inside the EEA, the trip is under 4 months, and you have at least a 22 GB EU bucket. A1 SIMply L's 48 GB EU is enough for streaming, navigation and video calls on a 2-week holiday.
- Add a local eSIM if: you're going to Switzerland, the UK, the Western Balkans, or Turkey. Operators like Yallo (CH), giffgaff (UK), and Yettel (BG/RS/ME) ship eSIMs under EUR 15 for 10–30 days.
- Switch entirely if: you're moving abroad for 4+ months. Once the sustained-usage rule kicks in, the home operator can charge surcharges or terminate. Better to take a domestic contract in the new country.
- Use a travel eSIM (Airalo, Holafly) if: you cross many countries on one trip. A regional eSIM at EUR 15–25 for 5–10 GB can be cheaper than topping up an Austrian prepaid bucket.
How did we rank these Austrian SIMs for EU roaming?
Five-dimension scoring · RTR-filed tariffs · affiliate-independent
Each Austrian SIM was ranked on five equally-weighted dimensions: EU data bucket, Switzerland inclusion, UK roaming policy, fair-use transparency, and price per GB EU. Pricing was pulled from each operator's RTR-filed tariff page (a1.net, magenta.at, drei.at, hot.at, spusu.at, bob.at) in May 2026 and cross-checked against the operator's published terms.
1. EU data bucket
Monthly RLAH fair-use cap published in operator AGB.
2. Switzerland inclusion
Whether the SIM covers CH at domestic rates or via add-on.
3. UK post-Brexit
Operator bilateral deal — domestic, EU-priced, or per-MB.
4. Fair-use transparency
Operator publishes 4-month rule + surcharge in plain language.
5. Price per GB EU
Plan price divided by published EU fair-use bucket.
Affiliate disclosure
SimCompare365 may earn a commission on confirmed sign-ups. Rankings are independent — see disclosure.
Primary sources: EU Regulation 2022/612 (Roam Like at Home, OJ L 115/1, 13 April 2022); RTR Austria roaming oversight reports; A1 Tarifübersicht, Magenta AGB, Drei Tariff Schedule, HoT Preisliste, spusu Tarife, bob.at Tarife — all verified May 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Austrian SIM has the most EU roaming data in 2026? expand_more
A1 SIMply L ships the largest EU bucket at 48 GB/month paired with unlimited Austrian data for EUR 24.90. bob Flex bob is second on bucket size (45 GB) and first on value at EUR 9.90. Magenta Mobile Unlimited (40 GB), KLAX Unlimited prepaid (39 GB) and Red Bull MOBILE Core (37 GB) round out the top of the bucket-size ranking.
Does Switzerland count as EU roaming on an Austrian SIM? expand_more
No. Switzerland is an EFTA state but never joined the EU's Roam Like at Home zone, so RLAH does not apply. On most Austrian SIMs you pay per-MB in Switzerland (EUR 0.10–0.60). The exceptions are A1 prepaid (B.free) and yesss!, which include CH at domestic rates, and Magenta, which sells a Schweiz-Pack add-on for typically EUR 9.90.
Can I use an Austrian SIM permanently in another EU country? expand_more
Not indefinitely. Under the 4-month sustained-usage rule, if more than 50% of your SIM's presence and traffic is abroad over a rolling four-month window, the operator may apply surcharges or terminate the contract. The rule exists to prevent permanent roaming arbitrage. If you've moved abroad, switch to a domestic contract in the new country.
Why do unlimited Austrian plans still have an EU data cap? expand_more
Under RLAH, the operator may apply a fair-use volume cap calculated from the plan price and the EU wholesale roaming rate (EUR 1.55/GB in 2026). The formula yields roughly twice the plan price divided by the wholesale rate. A EUR 24.90 unlimited plan therefore caps roaming at about 32–48 GB despite domestic usage being uncapped.
Which Austrian SIMs include UK roaming after Brexit? expand_more
A1 prepaid (B.free) and yesss! include UK at Austrian domestic rates — unique among Austrian providers. Magenta Mobile Unlimited and Drei Hallo Premium / Black include the UK in the EU bucket. A1 SIMply postpaid, HoT, spusu and bob charge per-MB or require a world pack.
Is the fair-use cap the same for prepaid and postpaid plans? expand_more
The formula is the same (plan price ÷ EUR 1.55/GB × 2), but the inputs differ. Prepaid tariffs are usually billed in 4-week cycles, so the bucket is calculated per 28 days, not per calendar month. KLAX Unlimited's 39 GB EU is a 4-week cap; A1 SIMply L's 48 GB EU is a calendar-month cap. Compare apples to apples by normalising to days.
What happens when I exceed the EU data cap? expand_more
You don't lose access. The operator applies the EU-mandated excess-data surcharge — EUR 1.55/GB in 2026, stepping down to EUR 1.30/GB in 2027. Voice and SMS remain free at domestic rates. Most operators send a free warning SMS at 80% and 100% of the cap so you can choose to throttle or accept the surcharge.