Updated February 1, 2020
Buying a SIM card in Australia is easy and convenient. Plans are affordable, and built with travellers’ needs in mind. On my last three trips down under, I’ve experimented with Vodafone, Optus, and Amaysim.
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Determine your needs
Chances are you’ve spent many hours travelling to Australia at considerable cost. It’s a big country, and you’re likely staying a while. You might as well spend a little extra for the convenience and security of being connected.
There are lots of choices between networks, sellers, and plans. Choosing the right plan comes down to your circumstances and preferences. If you’re new to the practice of buying local SIM cards, start by identifying your needs. Here are some possibilities.
1. Set up and activate at the airport
I like to have a phone connected to a cellular network before leaving the airport. It allows communications with others, especially when faced with travel delays or for confirming meeting arrangements. Hunting down a SIM card at a downtown location, or encountering difficulties activating my phone interfere with my ability to get on with my travels.
2. Country-wide calling minutes and texts
Booking accommodation and activities, connecting with travelling companions, meeting up with friends, or making emergency calls are easier with a phone connected to a cellular network.
3. International calls
In Spain and New Zealand, I loved the plans that came with calling minutes to select countries. I’ve come to rely on WhatsApp when connected to Wi-Fi, but international calling minutes is a helpful feature while on the move.
4. Data
I appreciate the convenience of connecting to the Internet at any time. Travel research, VoIP calls, online bookings, navigation, managing email, looking up stuff on the fly, and posting to social media can be accomplished without having to track down Wi-Fi. Or, without being tied to a specific time of day to perform any of these functions. Having enough data allows me to establish a Wi-Fi connection for my tablet through the hotspot feature on my phone.
5. Validity period
Most of my stays in Australia are for four or five weeks. Having the exact number of days at my fingertips can make the difference between choosing a 28, 30 or 35-day plan.
6. Access to top up
It helps to know which plans permit extensions, allow rollover of unused data or calling minutes, or the ability to purchase additional calling time or data.
7. App to track usage
An app takes the guesswork out of figuring what data and calling minutes remain. I find it more convenient than an online account.
Research networks, coverage, sellers, plans and costs
1. For a list of networks, sellers, and recommendations, start with Buying Local SIM Cards Around the World at Too Many Adapters.
2. There are three main networks in Australia: Optus, Telstra, and Vodafone. There are several resellers, such as Amaysim, Boost Mobile, and Vaya. Amaysim and Vaya use the Optus network. BoostMobile is powered by Telstra. A quick visit to each site provides the latest information on plans and prices.
3. If you’re planning to spend time outside the major centres, check the network coverage maps. In 2019, my travelling companions had better coverage in Tasmania with Telstra than I had with Vodafone.
4. Check which sellers have a presence at your arrival airport, their locations, and hours of service. Your arrival airport website will likely have this information. Travellers who order a SIM card online or buy one at a location other than an airport will have a different approach. In February 2019, I expected to find Optus and Vodafone in the International Terminal of Brisbane Airport.
It pays to do the research
Research online, and then again at the airport. With more than one seller, it’s possible you’ll find discounted rates. This was the case in Brisbane in February 2019, when both Vodafone and Optus reduced their popular $40 travel plans to $20.
Or, you may find a deal for an online purchase. For example, at the time of updating this post in February 2020, Vodafone has an online half-price offer on its Combo plans.
My experience with Optus and Vodafone
In 2017, I chose Optus. In 2019, I went with Vodafone. Both had kiosks at my arrival airport and both offered similar plans. I’ll focus on the more recent 2019 experience with Vodafone.
Set up was quick and efficient. The Starter Pack, included in the cost of the plan, came with a SIM card and SIM card removal tool. Ann, the Vodafone worker, had my phone connected to the network within a few minutes.
Ann removed the New Zealand SIM card from my phone and taped it to the Starter Pack. Attached to the Starter Pack was a handy checklist populated with information such as my Australian telephone number and MyVodafone URL. It’s appreciated when airport kiosks recognize that travellers arrive jet lagged and don’t always ask the right questions. It’s important to send travellers on their way with the necessary information to check balances or obtain service.
In the last few years, plans have become more robust, oozing with features valued by travellers. They’ve also become cheaper. Optus plans were similar in cost and features to those of Vodafone. In February 2019, I chose Vodafone’s Combo Plus Plan with the following features:
- regular price of $40 discounted to $20
- validity of 35 days
- unlimited talk and text within Australia
- 45GB of data
- 500 minutes of international calls to 20 select countries in Zone 1 (Canada, China, Germany, Guam, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Puerto Rica, Romania, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden, UK, and USA)
- 100 minutes of international calls to 70 select countries (Zone 2)
It found it very useful to have a user-friendly free app to monitor usage and purchase top up.
The verdict?
I was pleased with both Optus and Vodafone. Both make buying a SIM card in Australia easy for travellers. The features were clearly outlined on the websites, and in the information pamphlets at the airport kiosks. Both recognize that passengers arrive at irregular hours, and have staff available to meet incoming flights. Set up is efficient and activation is immediate.
On my next trip, I’m inclined to buy a Telstra Pre-Paid Max Plan. It compares favourably in price and features to the Optus and Vodafone plans, but network coverage appears to be better. Hopefully there will be a kiosk at my arrival airport. If not, their online search tool will help locate a Telstra point of service.
What’s your experience buying a SIM card in Australia?
Heading to New Zealand, Europe, or the USA? If so, you might be interested in
I almost always buy a SIM when traveling.
Australia puts Canada to shame when it comes to rates for data.
We go with Optus, and get 1G/$2/day over $15. You can top it up, you can go over the limit by half each day for an extra $2. Absolutely fantastic compared to home!
Hi Anne,
thank you for sharing your experience. Since you mentioned that for your 2021 trip, you are inclined to go with Telstra here is a page where you can get briefed on their outages
https://internetoutages.com.au/telstra“.
Best,
Olivia
Network coverage is important – Im an Australian resident and have been with telcos that use Optus, Vodafone and Telstra networks. In a trip to the Tasmanian highlands I could not get a signal to book onward travel. Borrowed a phone with Telstra network. Getting back home I switched to Boost which is a cheap provider who uses the full Testra network. I havent had any problems with their prepaid sims. Will use their roaming when overseas next at $3 per day (in 2024)