Roaming with Koodo: What You Need to Know

Are you planning your next trip already and want to know if you should bring your Koodo phone or SIM card with you? I decided to find if it is worth to roam with Koodo so that you do not have to do so. Let’s get right into it.

Can I roam with Koodo?

Roaming is possible with Koodo. You can either use Koodo Easy Roam or Pay-Per-Use. Easy Roam US costs $8 (Canadian Dollars) per day, and Easy Roam International costs $12 per day. Pay-Per-Use rates start from $1.50/minute, $5/MB, and $0.60/text.

No idea how roaming works? I made this comprehensive guide about what roaming is and how it works. It is worth the read – promised!

In North America, Koodo phones are compatible with HSPA 850/1900 MHZ frequencies or newer. While traveling internationally, Koodo phones are compatible with HSPA 850/900/1800/1900 MHZ frequencies or newer.

It is not important to know what those frequencies mean. However, if the provider in your destination does not offer the same frequencies, then your phone might not work on their network.

If the destination you are traveling to does not have a compatible frequency, then you would need to get a phone does that works on those frequencies. You could use your Koodo SIM card in the temporary phone and roam on Pay-Per-Use rates.

If you decide to roam with Koodo’s Easy Roam, you can enable it before or during your trip. Once you have set Easy Roam up, you do not have to turn it on for future trips, which is convenient.

The same counts for roaming without Easy Roam. You have to enable International Voice Roaming and International Data Roaming on your Koodo Self-Serve page.

How do I set up roaming Koodo Easy Roam?

You can set up Easy Roam in two ways. The first way is to use Self-Serve. The second one is to text Koodo with ROAM to 7626. Enabling Easy Roam through Self-Serve only requires three steps:

1. Log in to your Self Serve account (only authorized users can add Easy Roam to an account)
2. In the menu, select View rate plan and select Details next to the Easy Roam section
3. Select Add to plan on the next screen

There you go, you have enabled Easy Roam!

Where can I roam with Koodo Easy Roam US?

The following territories are included in Easy Roam US:

• Mainland US
• Alaska
• Guam
• Hawaii
• Northern Mariana Islands
• Puerto Rico
• US Virgin Islands

Where can I roam with Koodo Easy Roam International?

You can roam in every continent with Easy Roam International. Below you can find the destinations grouped by region.

Destinations in Asia & the Middle East

Destinations in Europe

Destinations in the Caribean & Mexico

Destinations in Central & South America

Destinations in Africa

Destinations in Oceania

Where can I not roam with Koodo Easy Roam International?

Easy Roam International does not cover the following 38 destinations:

You are better off buying a local SIM card in these destinations, using an international SIM card, or portable WIFI.

How do I set up roaming without Koodo's Easy Roam?

You have to follow the following six steps to enable roaming with Koodo if you do not want to use Easy Roam:

1. Log in to your Self Serve account
2. In the menu, select Mobile services
3. Select manage next to the Add-ons section
4. Find International Voice Roaming ($0/month) and select Add to Plan (this allows you to call and text when not in Canada or the US)
5. Select Submit on the next screen. If this add-on is already on your account, then you will find it under Your current add-ons at the top of your screen)
6. Once done, return to Add-ons and add International Data Roaming ($0). This feature will not be available until you complete step 3. You can skip this step if you do not want to use data. If this add-on is already on your account, then you will find it under Your current add-ons at the top of your screen

You are ready to use your Koodo phone while abroad at Pay-Per-Use rates!

What are the international roaming rates with Koodo?

Koodo groups its Pay-Per-Use roaming rates into three groups:

• Group 1: US, Hawaii, Alaska
• Group 2: Zone 1 – Most of Europe, Most of Oceania, Iceland, Greenland, and Mexico
• Group 3: Zone 2 – The remaining destinations (All of Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Central & South America, the Caribbean, and Finland)

Below you can find the price per action of each group:

Region	Voice Rate/minute	Data Rate/MB	Text Rate/SMS
US, Alaska, Hawaii	$1.50	$5/20MB*	$5/100 outgoing texts*. Incoming texts are free
Zone 1	$1.50	$5.00	$0.60
Zone 2	$2.50	$10.00	$0.60

* You will be charged the full $5 on the first KB you use or the first text you send.

Can I roam on planes with Koodo?

In-flight roaming is not possible with Koodo.

Can I roam on cruise ships with Koodo?

Maritime roaming is not available with Koodo.

Is it worth to roam with Koodo?

Whether or not you should roam with Koodo highly depends on the length of your trip. If you are in the US for a weekend, then it may be worth using Easy Roam US ($16 for your stay).

The same counts for international destinations. If you are, for some reason, two days in France, it may be worth spending $24 on Easy Roam International.

However, if your trip lasts longer than a day or two, then it would be advised to get a local SIM card, as it will most likely be cheaper than paying for your plan + the Easy Roam charges.

For Pay-Per-Use users, unless you decide to use less than 4 MB of data in zone 1 destinations or less than 2 MB in zone 2 destinations, it may be worth considering using Easy Roam (if your trip is short).

If you are a heavy data user, then the Pay-Per-User rates would not be working in your favor – bill shock would be waiting for you when returning home.

In terms of calls and texts, those prices are reasonable if you want to have a call or two while traveling, but the price adds up the longer you call. The same counts for texting.

In short, although Koodo Easy Roam is a convenient way of roaming, it is expensive. Roaming with Easy Roam for a day or two may be easier than getting a local SIM card. For anything longer than two days, getting a local SIM card or connecting to WIFI hotspots would be recommended. Pay-Per-Use Roaming rates are high, especially for data roaming and should be avoided too.

You can also decide to get an international SIM card like OneSimCard, SimOptions, Surfroam, BNESIM, or SimCorner instead of roaming. I recently made a comparison of the well-known international SIM cards out there. Check it out now!