Editor's choice: SimCorner

- Plans for 80+ countries
- No roaming fees or extra costs
- Worldwide delivery available
If you’re planning a trip to Australia, contacting family and friends abroad can be expensive. A top tip for keeping costs down is to switch over to a local SIM card. Australia has some great voice, SMS and data plans on offer, with deals that could reduce your phone bills. You can get 1GB of data from Australia’s top telco providers for as little as AUD$10 (US$7.5). So, whether you’re planning a quick vacation or a longer trip, you could save money by comparing SIM card options on finder.com.
There are three main telco providers in Australia: Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. Locals and travelers have tried and tested SIM cards from all three networks, so they can be trusted. Although there are many other SIM card options offered by the likes of ALDImobile, amaysim, Boost Mobile, Coles Prepaid, Dodo, gotalk, Hello Mobile, Lebara, Lycamobile, Virgin Mobile, Woolworths Mobile and Yomojo, they are all operated as a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) through the three main operators mentioned above.
Australia’s operators offer amazing technology, competitive prices and sell prepaid credit, allowing users to take advantage of cheap offers and deals. All networks offer customers 3G and 4G/LTE. 2G will be discontinued across the entire country in October 2017, so make sure your phone is 3G or 4G compatible. Aussies call their SIM cards SIMs and there are no real rules and regulations when buying them. Just make sure you show your passport and register your SIM card online once you have purchased it, with the address of where you’re staying. It would be easier to ask the store assistant to do this for you to save time. SIM cards and credit can be purchased from supermarkets, stores, kiosks and the main airports in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane and Perth.
Telstra is the largest operator in Australia, with the best coverage area and the highest prices. Although this might be the costliest network, it does tend to be the only one available in the outback or far-flung regions. So, if you’re going on a road trip this is the SIM card for you. Telstra no longer offers 2G services so make sure your phone is 3G or 4G compatible.
SIM cards and credit can be purchased from Telstra T-Life stores, supermarkets, kiosks and airports. Don’t forget to register your SIM card online. Prepaid SIM cards come in three different starter packs, and are offered in nano, mini or micro SIMs:
Credit can be topped-up online using your Telstra account, or by purchasing top-up vouchers from most supermarkets and stores. Dial #100# to check your balance.
Telstra offers two very good prepaid SIM card options:
The standard default rate is 10 cents per MB. AUD$20 top-up is valid for 30 days, AUD$30 for 60 days, AUD$50 for 90 days and AUD$100 for 180 days.
Data with unlimited SMS and calls to Telstra customers for 28 days. Overuse is charged at a very high AUD$2 per MB, if you go over any of the set data allowances highlighted below. The following plans are currently available and unused credit will rollover to the next plan you purchase:
Telstra’s Browse Plus Packs can be added:
All the above-mentioned plans are valid for 30 days. Text the code to 125 7587 to activate.
A special data-only SIM card has been produced to cater for modems or tablets, which offer good data roaming rates. The standard default rate is extremely high at AUD$2 per MB, so make sure you choose a data pack that suits your needs. Unused data will rollover on the following data deals:
Data | Package | Rate |
---|---|---|
2GB | Valid for 7 days | AUD$20 |
3GB | Valid for 30 days | AUD$30 |
6GB | Valid for 90 days | AUD$60 |
10GB | Valid for 180 days | AUD$90 |
20GB | Valid for 365 days | AUD$150 |
Optus is the second largest telco provider in Australia, owned by Singtel. Their coverage is great in the main cities and towns, but can be a little problematic in the country areas. SIM cards and credit can be purchased from yes Optus stores, supermarkets, kiosks, airports, and post offices. Don’t forget to register your SIM card online. They have the following prepaid SIM cards on offer:
Top-ups can be made online, by purchasing vouchers at stores or through an Optus account. Text 1 to 9999 to check balance.
The following prepaid SIM card plans are currently on offer:
Rate | Package | Data | Minutes | Add-ons |
---|---|---|---|---|
AUD $10 | 7 days | 300 MB | 100 minutes of calls within Australia | |
AUD $20 | 14 days | 800 MB | 200 AUS mins | |
AUD $30 | 28 days | 3 GB | unlimited AUS mins | AUD$5 credit |
AUD $40 | 28 days | 6 GB | unlimited AUS mins | AUD$10 credit |
AUD $50 | 28 days | 8.5 GB | unlimited AUS mins | AUD$15 credit |
AUD $60 | 28 days | 11 GB | unlimited AUS mins | AUD$20 credit |
Optus offers data-only plans called Prepaid Mobile Broadband. The following data packs are available:
The following data can also be added:
Data | Package | Rate |
---|---|---|
1GB | Valid for 7 days | AUD$10 |
4GB | Valid for 30 days | AUD$30 |
7GB | Valid for 1 year | AUD$50 |
22GB | Valid for 2 years | AUD$130 |
Top-ups can be made online by using your credit card. Unused data will be rolled over.>Vodafone
Vodafone is the third provider in Australia, but is reliable and offers the best prices. SIM cards and credit can be purchased from Vodafone stores, supermarkets, post offices, airports or online. Don’t forget to register your SIM card online. The following starter packs are available:
You can add data to Vodafone’s prepaid SIM cards in AUD$30, AUD$40 or AUD$50 denominations. The standard default rate is AUD$2 per MB. The following data packs can also be added:
Vodafone’s MyMix offer allows prepaid users to create their own plans. Using the MyVodafone app, customers can create voice, data and international call options, as well as how long they are valid for. MyMix offers the following combinations:
Vodafone’s data-only SIMs were created for tablets or modems. The Mobile Broadband SIM also allows SMS usage. The following SIMs are available:
The following data packages can also be added:
Data | Package | Rate | Bonus |
---|---|---|---|
1GB | 30 days | AUD$10 | 100MB bonus |
2GB | 30 days | AUD$20 | 200MB bonus |
4GB | 30 days | AUD$30 | 400MB bonus |
6GB | 40 days | AUD$40 | 600MB bonus |
8GB | 180 days | AUD$50 | 800MB bonus |
10GB | 365 days | AUD$60 | 1GB bonus |
25GB | 365 days | AUD$125 | 2.5GB bonus |
According to OpenSignal Australia is a world leader in cell phone networking. 3G and 4G technologies were launched almost straight after creation and 5G plans are already in the pipeline. OpenSignal tested Australia’s three major cell operators, and found networks that aren’t just fast but also consistently available to Australia’s far-flung population.
TripAdvisor has many user comments that can help guide you through what SIM cards have been tried and tested in Australia.
Here are some top tips from TripAdvisor users:
All networks require you to have a SIM-unlocked GSM compatible cell phone. To double check you have this phone, contact your provider before you set off on your travels.
WorldSIM offers prepaid international SIM cards with coverage in over 200 countries and varying add-ons for call and data options.
Traveling overseas? See how much it costs to roam globally with Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Cricket Wireless, Mint Mobile and Cricket Wireless.
Mint Mobile has some of the cheapest prepaid phone plans, but you’ll have to commit to a 3-month plan. See if the features are worth it.
Four million Americans are set to receive this card — follow these tips when using it to keep more money in your wallet.
The Walmart MoneyCard prepaid debit card offers cashback rewards on Walmart purchases.
Get a travel card to save on foreign transaction fees and more when paying with plastic Down Under.
The lone network operator for Tuvalu is Tuvalu Telecom but it provides SIM cards and Wi-Fi hot spots.
Two 4G/LTE networks cover just the main islands of Vanuatu.
Zambia’s best SIM card providers offer a multitude of data plans and other bundles.
You can take advantage of new customer discounts on two 4G/LTE networks to get extra data during your stay in Uzbekistan.
Hello, was wondering if we could buy a SIM card (to be used by other person) coming from overseas?
Do I have to provide my details for purchasing that SIM? or what sort of details are we required to provide for buying the SIM?
Thanks,
Hi Faraz,
Thanks for getting in touch with finder. I hope all is well with you. :)
Yes, you can buy a SIM card for another person coming from overseas. I would assume that you live in the US. SIM packs should readily be available in your area. Generally, you won’t be required to provide details when you buy a SIM.
I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.
Have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Joshua
For the vodafone data only simcard, its stated 1gb (30days) for AUD$10. Is AUD$10 paid per day?
Hi Yong,
Thank you for leaving a question.
The Vodafone data only sim card for AUD$10 is valid for 30 days with 100mb bonus. It is not AUD$10 per day.
Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Reggie
What is the difference between of sim card & data sim card? Thank you.
Hi Chin Chin,
Thank you for getting in touch with finder.
A sim card allows you to call, send SMS or MMS, surf online through mobile date and more, while a special data-only SIM card has been produced to cater for modems or tablets, which offer good data roaming rates.
I hope this helps.
Have a great day!
Cheers,
Jeni
Any info about sim card for calls and text only in Australia and to the Czech Republic?
Hi Bobbie,
Thank you for visiting finder, we are a financial comparison website and general information service.
Sim cards available for Czech Republic include T-mobile, O2 and vodafone while sim cards available in Australia are Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. You also have the Flexiroam option that can be used for multiple countries.
You may read further on those pages above and check which one would best suit your needs.
Cheers,
Joanne
Hi,I wanted to ask if it was possible to buy a SIM Card, tariff plan obviously included, from afar, for example from Italy? Or you need to buy it when you arrive to your destination? Thank you.
Hello Antonio,
Thank you for visiting finder.
It will be advisable for you to buy a local SIM Card when you reach your travel destination for more cheaper rates or you can also request for your current provider to activate the roaming option on your mobile service. If you will opt for this option, you will need to check if roaming is available in your destination country and if the roaming plans will be suitable to your needs while you travel.
On the left-hand side of the page, you may choose your destination country to see the available provider/s and compare their rates to your provider’s International Roaming rates.
I hope this information helps.
Let us know if there is anything else that we may assist you with.
Cheers,
Ash