Australia, the land of kangaroos and crystal blue seas, attracts tourists from all over the world. Whether you’re planning to explore Sydney or head to the country, you don’t want to waste time trying to find a way to stay online. In our article, we’ll show you how to get a SIM or eSIM quickly and easily.
eSIM Australia: how to choose the best one?
There are a few factors to consider when choosing an eSIM. These include the amount of data you need and how long you’ll be in Australia. Keep in mind that you’re likely to use more data on a sightseeing vacation than you would at home.
Another important factor is whether you’ll be traveling mainly around cities or out of town. If you’re planning to travel around Australia, we recommend getting an eSIM that uses Telstra’s network, as it has the best coverage. If you’re only going to be in the cities, an eSIM that uses the Optus network will do just fine.
Ideally, you should also consider if you will be traveling to neighboring countries such as New Zealand or Singapore, as an eSIM that covers all of these countries could be useful.
📱 Find out more about how to choose the best data eSIM here. 📱
The best data eSIM for Australia
Already have an idea what type of package is right for you? Let’s take a look at the prices.
Cheapest plans
If you’re only getting an eSIM as a backup, 1 GB of data may be enough. This can be purchased from $3 to $5.
Monty has the cheapest eSIM. The World Discovery! package can be purchased for $3 and lasts for 7 days. This package also gives you connectivity to 47 other countries, including New Zealand and Singapore. Unfortunately, Monty doesn’t specify which carrier you’ll be connected to.
You can still find a good deal at MobiMatter, where the USA Plus package will set you back $4.49. It’s also valid for 7 days, and again, you get 47 more countries. But even MobiMatter doesn’t specify which carrier you’ll be connecting through.
If you want an eSIM just for Australia, you can go to Airalo, which offers 1GB of data for $4.5 and connects through Optus, or Nomad’s eSIM, which costs $5 and connects through top carrier Telstra.
Average usage (5 GB of data)
If you’re just getting an eSIM to avoid getting lost or to pay for a hotel, 5GB of data will be enough. The provider don’t differ in this category either.
Monty offers its World Discovery! for $11. MobiMatter is similar with its USA Plus package for $11.99. Both packages are valid for 30 days and allow you to connect to 47 countries besides Australia.
But if you only need an eSIM for Australia, it’s worth spending $12 for Nomad’s eSIM, which will connect you to the best-covered network and provide you with data even outside the cities.
But even Airalo isn’t bad at $12.5.
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High data usage (10 GB or more)
If you like to surf social media while on vacation, you’ll appreciate a bigger package. We buy 10 GB for our two-week vacation, and that’s usually enough.
Again, the cheapest packages are at Monty for $17.99 and MobiMatter for $19.99. Again, you can connect in 47 other countries, but you don’t know which carrier you’ll be connecting through directly in Australia.
So if you’re just looking for an eSIM for Australia, we’d recommend the $20 Airalo, which connects through Optus.
You can also get a 15 GB data bundle with Nomad, which will set you back $29 and connects through Telus, the best operator in the country.
Unlimited data in Australia
If you’re looking for unlimited data, there are two companies to choose from.
The first is YOHO mobile, with its unlimited 30-day plan that will set you back $42. You can also use a hotspot with this provider. However, they write that after you’ve used up 30 GB, your Internet may slow down noticeably.
The other option is Holafly, which offers 5-20 days of unlimited data. Nice 15 days is for $47. This provider is one of the best because they have really great support. However, they do not allow hotspot.
You will be connected to both through Optus.
Local SIM card in Australia
SIM cards from the major operators are available at airports after you pass through passport control. You can also buy them outside the airport at post offices, gas stations and supermarkets. You will need a passport to buy a prepaid SIM card. You may be asked for an Australian address, but you can use your hotel address. The major operators also offer an eSIM option and it looks like you can order one from their website and install it before you fly. We haven’t tried it though.
In Australia there are 3 major operators, Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. But there are a number (about 50) of virtual operators running on their networks, such as Lebara, Felix, Lycamobile, Boost mobile, amaysim and others.
Telstra’s network has the best coverage. If you’re only traveling in the big cities, you probably won’t notice much of a difference, but if you’re traveling to more remote areas of Australia, it’s worth choosing Telstra.
Prices are based on this. Telstra has slightly more expensive SIM cards. If you want to go for the cheapest, you’ll have to check out the virtual operators. But there are so many that I won’t bother. Also, you can’t usually get these SIM cards at airports.
Optus offers a minimum of 5 GB of data. This is only valid for 7 days and costs AUD 12. Beyond that you can choose from e.g. 40 GB for only 28 days for AUD 35 and more (60 GB, 80 GB, etc.). They also offer an annual prepaid card with 260 GB of data for AUD 320.
Telstra is a little more expensive. For AUD 12 you can only get 3 GB, again for only 7 days. You can also get 35 GB for AUD 35, which is only valid for 28 days or more. They also offer an annual SIM for those who are here on an internship for example. However, for AUD 320 you only get 220 GB.
The third operator, Vodafone, has the smallest package on the website with 45 GB. However, they also offered smaller packages at airports, such as 4 GB for 7 days for AUD 10 or 8 GB for 14 days for AUD 20. They also offered an annual prepaid card with 260 GB for AUD 320.
The prices are quite high, but you can get a lot of discounts. Every kiosk at the airport has some kind of discount, as well as the discounts on the website. All these SIM cards come with unlimited calls and texts. So if you’re going to Australia for an extended period of time, these are definitely a good option.
Summary
SIM cards in Australia aren’t exactly the cheapest. This is mainly due to the fact that operators offer packages with a lot of data.
So if you don’t use a lot of data, it’s worth getting an eSIM Australia. Monty and MobiMatter offer packages that pay in 47 other countries, but you don’t know which operator they connect through in Australia.
If you want to go back to the classics, you can opt for packages from Airalo or Nomad, which are only a few bucks more expensive, but Nomad in particular gives you very good coverage outside the cities.
If you’re staying longer or need more data, it’s probably worth getting a local SIM card.
