Best Tourist Sim Cards in Australia in 2025
Choosing a sim card is hard. We've analysed the best tourist sim cards in Australia across pricing, coverage and data. Find out the best pick!
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When traveling to Australia, having a sim card is essential for easy navigation and staying connected. Whether you’re searching for the best places to eat, finding directions to your accommodation, booking a taxi, or sharing photos with your family, having internet access is a must. While roaming is an option, international fees can quickly become costly.
That’s why we recommend either an eSIM or a local sim card to access local phone rates. The good news is that obtaining either of these options in Australia is incredibly convenient. To help you make the right choice, this guide provides you with all the necessary information about buying a sim card in Australia, including up-to-date pricing and the best sim card for your needs.
If you’re planning to visit Australia for longer than 7 days then I consider the best sim card in Australia to be the Optus prepaid sim card with 30GB data. This card costs $30 AUD and is valid for 30 days. You can purchase it online and get it delivered or head in to any Optus store across Australia.
If you are visiting for less than 7 days, then Telstra offers a 7 day sim card for just $10. This card has 3GB of data which should be enough for most short stays.
Telstra and Optus offer the fastest mobile download speeds in Australia and the best 4G coverage.
If you just want the most convenient option available, then I recommend the Airalo eSim which you can order here. It runs on the same, reliable Optus network, however, it costs $50 AUD for 10GB data. This is obviously a lot more expensive so we can’t recommend it to anyone looking for the cheapest Australian sim card, but we do consider it a lot more convenient than visiting a store in person.
A Tourist Sim Card in Australia costs either $10 AUD or $30 AUD in January 2025, however, the exact price will often depend on the store you visit and the plan you choose.
Alternatively, an eSim in Australia will cost between $4.50 USD and $40 USD. This, again, depends on how much data you require and which eSim provider you choose.
I generally recommend this Airalo plan for most tourists visiting Australia which includes 5GB of data which is valid for 30 days and costs $12.50 USD.
Tourists visiting Australia have a few options when it comes to purchasing a sim card, but if you’re wanting to walk into a store and walk out with a functioning sim card you should head to your nearest Telstra, Optus or Vodafone store.
All three of these networks have fantastic network coverage and speeds, although Telstra and Optus are generally considered to be a bit more extensive.
Another option that could be suitable for budget-conscious travellers is to try visiting an Aldi. They offer a sim card that uses the Telstra network for a lower cost, but note that the staff there may not be equipped to help you set up your new sim card.
Optus offers sim cards for tourists that are roughly on par with Vodafone and Telstra in terms of network coverage, data packages and pricing.
For shorter stays, they offer a very affordable sim card that is valid for 7 days which makes it a good option. That said, I would recommend opting for one of the smaller Airalo eSim plans instead just to save time – especially considering Airalo uses the exact same Optus network.
The price of a Optus tourist sim card in Australia is $30 AUD.
The plan offered by Optus stores includes 30 GB data + unlimited calls and texts valid for 30 days.
Vodafone is the third largest telco in Australia and offers a range of sim cards for tourists. The network coverage is perfectly adequate, although possibly a bit worse than Telco or Optus in more rural areas.
I found their plans to be similarly priced to the others and as such would recommend choosing Telstra or Optus in the first instance, but if Vodafone is more convenient I am confident it will be more than adequate for you.
The price of a Vodafone tourist sim card in Australia is $30 AUD.
The plan offered by Vodafone stores offers 40GB data valid for 28 days.
Telstra is by far Australia’s largest telecommunications company with a 60% marketshare. As a result of this, they are typically considered to have the best mobile network in the country.
An Optus sim card is the best pick for visitors looking either for a physical sim card, who require a large amount of data or are staying for a longer period of time.
The price of a Telstra tourist sim card in Australia is either $12 AUD or $35 AUD.
The plan offered by Telstra stores includes 3GB data or 15GB data valid for 7 days or 28 days.
Identify the mobile providers in Australia: Optus, Vodafone and Telstra are your best options in Australia.
Find your nearest store: Locate a store or retailer by searching on Google Maps for your nearest store or asking at your hotel reception. I’ve never had issues finding a store as they can be found all over any major cities, shopping centers, or tourist areas. You can’t buy sim cards in airports in Australia. If you’re on a budget it is usually cheaper to use the airport wifi instead and purchase your sim card in a store near your hotel.
Bring the necessary documents: It is mandatory in Australia to bring your passport into the store so that the staff can register it with your sim card. Without this, Optus, Vodafone or Telstra staff will be unable to sell you a sim card.
Choose your plan: Either request the plan you are after or consult with the staff in the store to select the right plan for you. My recommendations at the beginning of this guide are likely to be your best option, for example the prepaid plan by Optus that includes 30 GB data + unlimited calls and texts for $30 AUD.
Pay and activate your card: You can expect to pay either $10 AUD or $30 AUD to purchase your sim card. The staff in-store will help you install the sim card and activate it for you.
Test: It’s always a good idea to check that you can access the internet before you leave the store. I always try searching for something on Google then refresh my Instagram feed to check it’s working fine before leaving. If it’s not, the staff will be able to help you adjust your settings.
Buying a prepaid sim card for Australia at the airport is usually considered the most convenient option for travellers arriving by plane.
However, airport stores selling sim cards are almost guaranteed to charge inflated prices, so if you are a cost-conscious traveller then you should definitely buy your sim card from a store in the city center.
In addition to this, we would argue that buying physical sim cards at all aren’t particularly convenient now that most people use esim compatible phones. If you are looking for the most convenient option, then buying an esim before you arrive or with the airport wifi is much easier and will save you having to queue up or communicate with staff.
If you must purchase a sim card at the airport in Australia then you will be in luck. All major international airports in Australia have stores selling sim cards. Despite the prices being higher than normal, the staff are knowledgable and will be able to get you set up with the correct sim card relatively quickly.
If you want to avoid the inflated sim card prices you’ll find at the airport and your phone isn’t esim compatible, then you’re going to need to head in to a store to buy your sim card.
I recommend visiting one of the official retail stores of the mobile internet operators such as Optus, Vodafone and Telstra. Your best option is to enter their names into Google Maps and find the branch closest to your hotel or accommodation. Typically the staff in the official stores in Australia are knowledgable and helpful which means you can ensure you’ll walk away with a functioning sim card.
Despite this, it’s always a good idea to check your internet is working before you leave the store by loading a Google search results page and your preferred social media app. You should also ensure you always bring your passport with you when purchasing a sim card in case they need to register it.
If you like to be prepared and would prefer to arrive in Australia with your sim card all sorted and your phone ready to connect to the internet immediately then you should look into purchasing a sim card online.
The first option is to buy your sim card in advance via SimOptions, which is a company that will prepare and ship a sim card directly to your door. It’s a reliable and effective service, but with the invention of eSims it’s becoming obsolete.
The better option is to purchase an eSim online. We’ve written more on that below!
An eSim is a digital version of a traditional sim card and is most likely the future of connectivity for mobile devices. The convenience of no longer visiting a store, handing over your passport and purchasing a physical sim card is quickly making physical sim cards obsolete in favour of eSims.
We recommend Airalo’s eSim when travelling to Australia. The Airalo Australia eSim offers fast internet speeds, wide coverage and extremely competitive prices making it a far more compelling option than purchasing a physical sim card from any of the local sim card providers.
In order to get set up with an Airalo eSim, all you need to do is visit Airalo here and purchase the eSim online (the $12.50 USD plan is suitable for most travellers). Once you’ve purchased the sim card Airalo will email you instructions and a QR code. Following these instructions should take just a couple of minutes, then you’ll have a sim card in Australia without having to venture outside.
Our preferred eSim provider in Australia is Airalo. We used them, alongside a local sim card on another device, for our most recent trip to Australia and found the service to be equal to the local sim card but without the hassle of acquiring a sim card in a store.
Airalo’s Australia eSim uses the Optus network to provide data and connect users to the internet. You can expect very good coverage and reliability with the Optus networknetwork as they are amongst the best mobile internet operators in Australia.
Here are the plans and prices for Airalo’s Australia eSim:
1GB data valid for 7 days – Price: $4.50 USD
2GB data valid for 15 days – Price: $8 USD
3GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $9 USD
5GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $12.50 USD
10GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $20 USD
20GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $40 USD
For most travellers we recommend the 5GB data plan for $12.50 USD which is valid for 30 days. Some travellers may prefer a larger plan, whilst travellers visiting for just a couple of days may be fine with a smaller plan.
An alternative eSim provider we can recommend is Holafly.
Holafly’s eSim is a suitable option for travellers who require large amounts of data, such as digital nomads and people who work online while they travel. All of Holafly’s Australia eSims offer unlimited data.
Holafly’s Australia eSim uses the Optusnetwork to provide data and connect users to the internet. This network will provide reliable speeds and coverage while in Australia
Here are the plans and prices for Holafly’s Australia eSim:
10GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $34 USD
20GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $44 USD
An eSIM, also known as an embedded SIM, is a digital SIM card that is built directly into a device, such as a smartphone, tablet, or smartwatch. Unlike traditional physical SIM cards, the eSIM does not require insertion or removal from the device.
Instead, the eSIM is seamlessly integrated into the device’s hardware and can be remotely activated and programmed by a mobile network operator. This technology allows users to effortlessly switch between different mobile networks or plans without the need for physical SIM card swapping.
The advantages of eSIM technology include convenience, flexibility, and user-friendliness, particularly for travelers or individuals who frequently switch between mobile networks or travel internationally. It eliminates the hassle of purchasing and inserting physical SIM cards, making it much more convenient to manage multiple mobile connections on a single device.
To activate an eSIM, users simply need to scan a provided QR code or manually enter the activation details. Once activated, the device can connect to the chosen mobile network and access voice, data, and messaging services just like with a traditional SIM card.
eSIM technology is becoming increasingly popular and is supported by a growing number of smartphones and other devices. Here are some examples of eSIM-compatible phones:
Apple iPhone series (iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 13, etc.): Apple was one of the early adopters of eSIM technology and offers support for eSIM on various iPhone models.
Google Pixel series (Pixel 3, Pixel 4, Pixel 5, etc.): Google’s Pixel smartphones also support eSIM functionality, allowing users to activate and use eSIMs.
Samsung Galaxy series (Galaxy S22, Galaxy Note 20, etc.): Many of Samsung’s flagship devices now come with eSIM support, enabling users to utilize eSIM technology.
OnePlus devices (OnePlus 7, OnePlus 8, etc.): OnePlus has included eSIM support in some of its smartphone models, offering users the flexibility of using eSIMs.
Motorola Razr (2020): The latest iteration of the iconic Motorola Razr features eSIM compatibility, enabling users to use eSIMs for cellular connectivity.
These are just a few examples, and the list of eSIM-compatible phones continues to expand as more manufacturers embrace this technology. There’s a very strong chance your phone supports eSims so if you’re unsure we recommend looking it up on our list of eSim supported phones.
Hi, I’m Mitchell. I’m a full-time traveller, explorer and travel blogger. I've travelled all around the world, using and testing countless travel sim cards along the way. I'm the founder of and writer for Travel Sim Expert where I write guides to help travellers stay connected all around the world.
Hi, I’m Mitchell. I’m a full-time traveller, explorer and travel blogger. Travel Sim Expert is a blog dedicated to helping you find the best sim card for you, no matter where you are or what your budget is.
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