If you’re off on a city break or heading somewhere long-haul this year, Giffgaff has just introduced something genuinely handy: travel data add-ons you can bolt onto your plan whenever you need extra roaming data.
Up until now, Giffgaff users got up to 5GB of EU roaming data included with their usual goodybags (plus a few “selected destinations”). Once you hit that cap though, things got expensive fast — we’re talking 10p per MB, which works out at around £100 per extra gigabyte. Definitely not a mistake you want to make while streaming maps on holiday.
The new add-ons fix that problem neatly. You can now grab 1GB, 5GB or 10GB of extra roaming data that lasts for 30 days, and the price depends on where you’re travelling. For example:
| Destination | 1GB | 5GB | 10GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU Zone | £4 | £8 | £12 |
| USA / Turkey | £6 | £12 | £18 |
| China / Switzerland | £15 | £30 | £45 |
Still not cheap in some regions, but far more manageable than pay-as-you-go rates.
You can buy a travel data add-on directly through your Giffgaff account — just log in on the app or website, head to “Roaming” and choose the add-on for the country you’re visiting.
Which countries are in Giffgaff’s EU Roaming Zone?
Giffgaff’s EU Roaming Zone covers all EU countries as well as a few additional spots like Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. These are the destinations where your standard plan allowance can be used for data, calls, and texts without extra roaming charges.
Why it’s useful?
The main win here is control. Instead of guessing how far your 5GB will stretch or worrying about surprise charges, you can top up in advance and travel knowing exactly what you’re spending. It’s especially helpful if you rely on data-heavy apps — maps, messaging, emails, social updates — or if you’re working while abroad.
A couple of things to know
- These are data-only add-ons. Calls and texts work the same as before.
- The usual 5GB fair-use cap still applies to whatever EU roaming data is included in your plan — the add-ons are purely for when you need more.
- Heavy travellers or frequent flyers might still find better-value options with travel eSIMs or bundles from other networks, but Giffgaff has definitely made things more straightforward for casual travellers.
The bottom line
This feels like a genuinely sensible update from Giffgaff. No big fanfare, just a practical fix that makes roaming costs clearer and easier to manage. If you’re heading abroad and want predictable pricing without switching providers, these add-ons should do the job.