- International roaming with felix
- International roaming with amaysim
- International roaming with Belong
- International roaming with Optus
- International roaming with Vodafone
- International roaming with Tangerine
- International roaming with More
- International roaming with Telstra
- International roaming with Boost
- What is international roaming?
- How to choose a plan with international roaming
- What are the alternatives to international roaming?
- Key considerations when taking your phone overseas
Global roaming charges are one of the worst things about taking your phone overseas; if you want to keep using your Australian number, it's going to cost extra. We've put a list together of some global roaming options that will be the best for your wallet.
Before we start, here are the cheapest roaming-compatible plans with at least 20GB of data from each postpaid telco featured in this guide:
|
#1
|
Tangerine Telecom
25GB 5G Mobile SIM
$29/mth
Min. cost $29
|
|
#2
|
Belong
25GB Mobile Plan
$30/mth
Min. cost $30
|
|
#3
|
More
25GB 5G Mobile SIM
$32/mth
Min. cost $32
|
|
#4
|
Vodafone
$49 Small Plan
$39/mth
Min. cost $39
|
|
#5
|
Optus
$55 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$55/mth
Min. cost $55
|
|
#6
|
Telstra
$65 Basic Upfront Mobile Plan
$65/mth
Min. cost $65
Link not supplied
|
And here are the cheapest roaming-compatible plans with at least 20GB of data from each prepaid telco featured in this guide with a minimum 28-day expiry:
|
#1
|
felix mobile
felix 25GB Mobile Plan
$25
Per 1 Month Renewal
|
|
#2
|
amaysim
UNLIMITED 32GB Plan
$30
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
|
|
#3
|
Optus
Optus Prepaid $35 SIM
$35
Per 28 Day Renewal
|
|
#4
|
Vodafone
$35 Prepaid Plus Recharge
$35
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
|
|
#5
|
Boost Mobile
$39 Prepaid
$39
Per 28 Day Renewal
|
|
#6
|
Telstra
$39 Pre-Paid Mobile
$39
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
|
International roaming with felix
felix mobile is one of the few smaller providers with a genuinely decent and surprisingly cheap roaming offer. While most MVNOs charge pay-as-you-go rates or don't offer roaming at all, felix mobile has a roaming pack that will set you back just $20. This gets you 4GB of international data, 100 texts, and 100 minutes of talk with a one-year expiry. If you take advantage of public WiFi as much as you can while travelling, 4GB could even last your entire trip!
Here are felix's mobile plans:
|
#1
|
felix mobile
felix 25GB Mobile Plan
$25
Per 1 Month Renewal
|
|
#2
|
felix mobile
felix 50GB Mobile Plan
$30
Per 1 Month Renewal
|
|
#3
|
felix mobile
felix Unlimited Mobile Plan
$40
Per 1 Month Renewal
|
felix offers three plans including one with unlimited data that is capped to speeds of 20Mbps (both locally and abroad) but that's still fast enough for most basic online activities. Within Australia, felix is powered by the Vodafone network.
felix's roaming isn't as broadly available as options from The Big Three: it only works in around 40 destinations, however, most popular countries are covered.
International roaming with amaysim
amaysim is one of the latest smaller telcos to make the switch from pay-as-you-go roaming to
roaming
add-on packs. When you add a roaming pack via the app it's available for a full 365 days;
the packs can
even be stacked together.
amaysim
offers
four packs ranging from $20 - $70 with varying inclusions. Some plans have a little bit of everything or
there are
options for just data or calls and texts. You can see the breakdown of inclusions below.
| Pack | Price | Inclusions |
|---|---|---|
| Small Talk | $20 | 100 mins, 100 texts, no data |
| The Works | $25 | 50 mins, 30 texts, 2GB |
| Just Gigs | $50 | No mins, no texts, 6GB |
| The Epic | $70 | 100 mins, 60 texts, 9GB |
Here are amaysim's 28-day expiry plans:
|
#1
|
amaysim
UNLIMITED 10GB Plan
$22
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
|
|
#2
|
amaysim
UNLIMITED 32GB Plan
$30
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
|
|
#3
|
amaysim
UNLIMITED 80GB Plan
$40
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
|
|
#4
|
amaysim
UNLIMITED 120GB Plan
$50
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
|
You can also add a roaming pack to a seven-day expiry plan or long-expiry plan. One thing to keep
in mind is that your roaming pack can only be used while you've got an active recharge.
In
Australia, amaysim is
powered by the
Optus
network. amaysim supports international roaming in over 90 international
destinations.
International roaming with Belong
Telstra's budget brand Belong has a simple approach to international roaming plans.
Belong has a single roaming add-on. It will cost you $30, which gets you 3GB of data, unlimited standard SMS, and 150 minutes of calls. It has a 15-day expiry, but you can always buy a second add-on if you run out of your data early.
Belong's roaming travel pack works in over 45 destinations, including parts of Asia and Europe, New Zealand, the United States, and Canada.
On top of the travel pack, all Belong customers get free access to a basic roaming service. This allows you to receive SMS while still overseas (for verification codes, for example), and use WiFi calling when on a suitable network.
These are Belong's mobile plans you can roam with:
|
#1
|
Belong
25GB Mobile Plan
$30/mth
Min. cost $30
|
|
#2
|
Belong
40GB Mobile Plan
$35/mth
Min. cost $35
|
|
#3
|
Belong
100GB Mobile Plan
$45/mth
Min. cost $45
|
|
#4
|
Belong
160GB Mobile Plan
$55/mth
Min. cost $55
|
International roaming with Optus
Optus customers on Choice Plus plans can roam overseas for $5 per day using an Optus International Roaming add-on, activated via the My Optus app.
Your $5 will get you 5GB of data with unlimited talk and text for a 24-hour expiry period.
These Optus postpaid plans are all compatible with International Roaming Add-ons:
|
#1
|
Optus
$55 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$55/mth
Min. cost $55
|
|
#2
|
Optus
$65 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$65/mth
Min. cost $65
|
|
#3
|
Optus
$79 Optus Promo Plan
$69/mth
Min. cost $69
|
|
#4
|
Optus
$85 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$85/mth
Min. cost $85
|
Optus' roaming add-on and pass only work in "Zone 1" countries. This includes but is not limited to:
- USA
- Singapore
- New Zealand
- France
- China
- Hong Kong
- Poland
- Sweden
- Norway
- United Kingdom
You'll need to find a different solution for staying connected in "Zone 2" countries. Zone 2 is predominantly made up of countries in the Middle East, Africa, and Central and South America.
Aeromobile is also included as a Zone 1 destination, this allows you to access in-flight roaming with Aeromobile's partner airlines such as Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines and Emirates.
See a complete list of Zone 1 and 2 countries.
International roaming with Vodafone
While global roaming isn't exactly cheap, Vodafone postpaid plans have one of the very best offers on the market - $5 roaming with all postpaid plans. For $5 per day, you're able to use your local inclusions overseas in over 100 countries. This means you don't have to worry about a separate overseas data allowance - your usage will come from your phone's standard cap.
You're only charged $5 on days where you make a call, send a text, or use data
overseas and you can use $5 roaming for up to 90 days of the calendar year.
Note: If you go
over your primary
data allowance while overseas, a further charge of $5 per gigabyte will apply.
These Vodafone postpaid plans all include $5 roaming:
|
#1
|
Vodafone
$49 Small SIM Only Plan
$39/mth
Min. cost $39
|
|
#2
|
Vodafone
$59 Medium SIM Only Plan
$49/mth
Min. cost $49
|
|
#3
|
Vodafone
$69 Large SIM Only Plan
$59/mth
Min. cost $59
|
Make sure the $5 roaming covers the countries you're visiting before you leave, otherwise, you'll be stung by hefty pay-as-you-go rates.
Vodafone also offers Aeromobile as a destination.
Sign up and get money-saving deals, telco news and more.
International roaming with Tangerine
Telstra MVNO Tangerine is another small provider that has now good value international roaming options. Customers can pick between a seven-day roaming pack with 5GB of data for $35, or a 14-day pack with 10GB for $55. Roaming packs work up until 11.59pm (AEST) on your last included day.
Tangerine's roaming travel pack works in plenty of popular destinations, including New Zealand, parts of Asia and Europe, the United States and more.
| Pack | Price | Inclusions |
|---|---|---|
| Three-day expiry | $60 | 300 mins, 300 texts, 3GB |
| Seven-day expiry | $35 | 30 mins, 30 texts, 5GB |
| 14-day expiry | $55 | 60 mins, 60 texts, 10GB |
These are Tangerine's plans you can roam with:
|
#1
|
Tangerine Telecom
12GB Mobile SIM
$23/mth
Min. cost $23
|
|
#2
|
Tangerine Telecom
25GB 5G Mobile SIM
$29/mth
Min. cost $29
|
|
#3
|
Tangerine Telecom
32GB 5G Mobile SIM
$34/mth
Min. cost $34
|
|
#4
|
Tangerine Telecom
50GB 5G Mobile SIM
$40/mth
Min. cost $40
|
|
#5
|
Tangerine Telecom
80GB 5G Mobile SIM
$46/mth
Min. cost $46
|
|
#6
|
Tangerine Telecom
150GB 5G Mobile SIM
$58/mth
Min. cost $58
|
International roaming with More
Tangerine's sister telco More also operates on the Telstra network and similarly has a few good options for international roaming. More customers can pick between a seven-day roaming pack with 5GB of data for $35, or a 14-day pack with 10GB for $55. Like Tangerine, these roaming packs work up until 11.59pm (AEST) on your last included day.
More's international travel roaming packs include use within popular destinations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, as well as North and South America.
| Pack | Price | Inclusions |
|---|---|---|
| Three-day expiry | $60 | 300 mins, 300 texts, 3GB |
| Seven-day expiry | $35 | 30 mins, 30 texts, 5GB |
| 14-day expiry | $55 | 60 mins, 60 texts, 10GB |
Here are More's plans you can roam with:
|
#1
|
More
12GB Mobile SIM
$26/mth
Min. cost $26
|
|
#2
|
More
25GB 5G Mobile SIM
$32/mth
Min. cost $32
|
|
#3
|
More
32GB 5G Mobile SIM
$38/mth
Min. cost $38
|
|
#4
|
More
50GB 5G Mobile SIM
$44/mth
Min. cost $44
|
|
#5
|
More
80GB 5G Mobile SIM
$50/mth
Min. cost $50
|
|
#6
|
More
150GB 5G Mobile SIM
$64/mth
Min. cost $64
|
International roaming with Telstra
If you're looking to roam on an Upfront Telstra plan, you'll need to purchase an International Day Pass. Under the International Day Pass system, you'll pay $10 per day while overseas for a daily 2GB international data allowance, unless in you're in a Zone 1 country like New Zealand in which case it drops to $5. Other Zone 1 countries include Fiji, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, and Vanuatu.
If you go over your 2GB, you'll be charged an extra $10 for 2GB, which can be used over 31 days. You'll get unlimited talk and text, but MMS is billed at $0.75 a pop. Telstra roaming works in over 70 destinations.
There are also a small number of destinations where your $10 per day will get you unlimited calls but no data. These countries are as follows:
- Gibraltar
- Guernsey
- Jamaica
- Jersey
- Malta
- Peru
- Samoa
Here is Telstra's range of Upfront plans:
|
#1
|
Telstra
$65 Basic Upfront SIM Plan
$65/mth
Min. cost $65
Link not supplied
|
|
#2
|
Telstra
$75 Essential Upfront SIM Plan
$75/mth
Min. cost $75
Link not supplied
|
|
#3
|
Telstra
$99 Premium Upfront SIM Plan
$99/mth
Min. cost $99
Link not supplied
|
If you have an International Day Pass active, note that your inclusions expire at midnight Australia time (AEST) rather than based on your destination's time zone.
International roaming with Boost
Boost Mobile has three roaming packs that you can activate through the My Boost Mobile app when you arrive at your holiday destination.
You can have multiple recharges at the same time and can mix and match to cover your entire trip. The pack that has the soonest expiry will be used first.
See a breakdown of Boost's international roaming packs here:
| Pack | Price | Inclusions |
|---|---|---|
| Three-day expiry | $20 | 15 mins, 15 texts, 1GB |
| Seven-day expiry | $30 | 30 mins, 30 texts, 3GB |
| 14-day expiry | $40 | 60 mins, 60 texts, 5GB |
These are Boost's compatible mobile plans:
|
#1
|
Boost Mobile
$13 Prepaid
$13
Per 7 Day Renewal
|
|
#2
|
Boost Mobile
$26 Prepaid
$26
Per 28 Day Renewal
|
|
#3
|
Boost Mobile
$39 Prepaid
$39
Per 28 Day Renewal
|
|
#4
|
Boost Mobile
$49 Prepaid
$49
Per 28 Day Renewal
|
|
#5
|
Boost Mobile
$59 Prepaid
$59
Per 28 Day Renewal
|
|
#6
|
Boost Mobile
$74 Prepaid
$74
Per 28 Day Renewal
|
Boost also offers 12-month-long expiry plans if you're looking for a more set-and-forget option.
Boost is covered by the Telstra mobile network within Australia but only covers 40 countries for international roaming. You will want to check the available countries before you hop on the plane.
What is international roaming?
International roaming refers to using your sim card and phone service when out of your network’s area of service. For Australians, this is whenever we travel overseas. Service providers in Australia have arrangements with those in other countries to allow mobile users to continue to use their phones for calls, texts and data. These roaming agreements mean that using your phone overseas can be set up in seconds.
The biggest thing to be wary of in these situations is the additional charges for phone use out of network. Each provider charges differently for this, as seen above, and not every country in the world is covered by every provider. If these roaming plans aren’t added automatically and you forget to notify your provider you may need to brace for an uncomfortably large bill once you get home from your trip.
Data roaming refers to using data when out of your network’s service area. As unlimited talk and text have gradually become standard across most plans, data roaming is now used synonymously with international or global roaming.
The cost of using data when in another country is now the main, if not the only, type of phone usage that could start increasing your phone bill dramatically. This is also why turning on roaming in your phone settings is referred to as data roaming rather than international or global roaming.
How to choose a plan with international roaming
When picking a phone plan with international roaming, the most important thing is to ensure it will work in your destination. While most telcos tend to support popular destinations, it's always worth double-checking if the country you're travelling to is included in your plan before you go.
It's also worth weighing up different pricing considerations. If you're spending more than a week overseas, even $5 per day roaming starts to get expensive. At that point, you may want to think about getting a local SIM at your destination, a travel SIM, a prepaid SIM card or even a travel eSIM. Most local and travel SIMs last for around a month, so they tend to be the better option for lengthier international jaunts.
Naturally, you should also consider whether the plan is right for you, day-to-day. Unless you're spending a significant amount of time overseas, your plan's local inclusions are going to be more important than its international inclusions. There's no point getting a plan that doesn't match your needs in Australia just to try and save a few dollars when travelling.
What are the alternatives to international roaming?
As we've already hinted at there are at least two alternatives to roaming with your Australian telco when you head overseas.
The first is getting a travel SIM or eSIM. Airalo for example has a wide variety of options from three-day up to 30-day expiry in several countries. It even has continental style SIMs for when you're travelling in more than one country.
The second option is picking up a local SIM when you arrive at your destination. If you're going to do this we recommend researching options before you leave. Take your Australian SIM with you as a backup option, just remember to keep in a safe place. Don't forget to take a SIM ejector tool with you if you're using a physical SIM.
If you're headed to a particular country, we've got a whole host of travel guides that cover specific destinations. In them, we look at the best Australian SIMs for when you're overseas, as well as other options for the country in question.
- Best SIM cards for travelling in New Zealand
- Best SIM cards for travelling in Europe
- Best SIM cards for travelling in the US
- Best SIM cards for travelling in the UK
- Best SIM cards for travelling in Bali
- Best SIM cards for travelling in Japan
- Best SIM cards for travelling in Singapore
- Best SIM cards for travelling in Thailand
- Best SIM cards for travelling in South America
- Best SIM cards for travelling in Canada
Key considerations when taking your phone overseas
There are two main boxes you need to tick if you're planning on taking your Australian phone overseas. While most phones should work, you need to ensure it will (a) work on the networks at your destination, and if you're planning on using a local SIM, (b) your phone needs to be unlocked.
For the most part, your phone should work on most networks worldwide, but overseas network frequencies can sometimes differ a little. US 5G bands are different to Australian 5G bands, for example, so even with a US SIM, you may not be able to get 5G connectivity. (You will also want to avoid Verizon when picking a mobile plan while travelling in America.)
If you bought your phone outright or on a postpaid plan in recent years, it will be unlocked. The only phones that are sold locked these days are prepaid devices.
You can get more information on these international network frequencies and unlocking your phone in our guide to taking your phone overseas.
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