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Optus international roaming

Heading overseas get international roaming with optus from $5 a day, with calls, texts and data for use in 100+ zone 1 countries..

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How does international roaming with Optus work?

What are the international roaming inclusions with optus, what countries are included with optus international roaming, optus international roaming payg charges, compare optus plans with international roaming.

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What you need to know

  • Optus offers international roaming packs for both its prepaid and upfront mobile plans
  • International roaming on Optus mobile plans start from $5 per day and are available in over 100 countries
  • Prepaid international roaming packs start from $5 a day and are available in over 100 countries

International roaming allows you to use your device outside of Australia without needing to change your SIM card or number.

It's more expensive than using your usual phone plan but it's an easy way to get online and stay connected with friends and family back home as you travel around.

If you're with Optus , international roaming is automatically turned on for all eligible services when you start using your device in a Zone 1 destination .

  • Watch out for : If you want to turn it off, you'll need to turn your phone on aeroplane mode. From there you'll need to connect to WiFi and go through the My Optus app to turn off international roaming.

Optus has international roaming inclusions across both its prepaid and postpaid mobile plans.

Which international roaming plan you sign up with will depend based on what type of customer you are.

If you are on an Optus Choice Plus, Optus Plus family, Optus Plus Promo, Optus Plus Data, Business Choice Plus, Business Choice Data Plus, Business Teams Plus or Qantas plan you will use Optus' $5 roaming pass.

Those on other plans might need to go on the $10 Optus roaming pass.

$5 Optus roaming pass

  • That's the per day cost for Optus Choice Plus customers
  • You'll also get 5GB of data each day and unlimited calls and texts
  • Can be used in 100+ Zone 1 destinations

$10 Optus roaming pass

  • This is the per day cost for the pass
  • You get 1GB of data and unlimited national talk and text

If you're on an Optus prepaid plan, you'll have 4 add ons available to you:

$5 Optus roaming

  • This a per day cost
  • You'll get 1GB of data ,100 texts and 100 minutes of calls
  • These are available in Zone 1 destinations

$10 Travel credit

  • This is a 14-day plan
  • You'll get $10 in credit on international talk, text and international roaming
  • You will be charged $0.02/ MB, $0.5/ minute and $0.20/ SMS in zone 1 destinations

$20 data only

  • You'll get 10GB of data to use in 10 different destinations (no call or text inclusions)
  • Rollover up to 100GB when you recharge before expiry

$35 Optus roaming

  • This is the weekly plan
  • You'll get 7GB of data, 700 texts and 700 minutes of calls

We've listed the 100+ countries (Zone 1) where you can use an Optus's roaming pass, accurate as of June 2023.

If you're travelling to a country outside of Zone 1, standard roaming rates will apply.

  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Czech Republic
  • Faroe Islands
  • French Polynesia
  • Isle of Man
  • Korea, Republic of
  • Liechtenstein
  • Netherlands
  • New Zealand
  • Northern Marianas
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Philippines
  • Puerto Rico
  • Russian Federation
  • Samoa (Western)
  • Solomon Islands
  • South Africa
  • Switzerland
  • Taiwan, Province of China
  • United Arab Emirates
  • US Virgin Islands
  • Vatican City (Holy See)

You can still roam in the majority of countries not included on the Optus Daily Roaming pass, but you will be charged pay as you go rates (PAYG) for calls, texts, and data which can get expensive.

Standard roaming rates are available on selected postpaid plans (that aren't Choice Plus), giving you the option to pay as you go. You will be charged per minute of calls, for sending SMS, MMS and by the MB of data you use.

It is broken down by the following:

  • Keep in mind : PAYG rates vary depending on which country you visit, and costs can quickly add up if you're on your phone a lot. We recommend getting a roaming pack or looking into a travel or local SIM for better value.

If you're not yet an Optus customer but want to take advantage of Optus's international roaming add-ons, check out its range of postpaid and prepaid plans in the comparison table.

We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.

Learn how we maintain accuracy on our site.

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Optus International Roaming: 2023 Guide

Anthony

  • August 15, 2023
  • Travel Tips

Heading overseas with a phone that’s on an Optus Mobile Plan or Prepaid Plan? Here are your options for getting data overseas with Optus International Roaming.

Optus International Roaming

How Much is Optus International Roaming

If you’re on a Optus Choice Mobile Plan, international roaming is $5 per day. This include 5gb of data and unlimited text and calls.

Some mobile plan customers won’t have access to the $5 daily roaming. This isn’t available on all mobile plans. Most customers however will have the $5 daily roaming option.

For plans that don’t have access to the $5 daily plan you can purchase a $10 daily pass which unfortunately includes just 1gb of data. These plans tend to already include a small amount of international data as part of the plan.

Prepaid customers on Optus can also buy a $5 daily pass or a $35 weekly pass. The daily pass gives you 1gb of data each day.

What’s Included in Optus Daily Roaming Pass

The $5 a day Optus Roaming Pass includes 5gb of data and unlimited talk and text. The plan is available in the following countries:

Optus Roaming is available in these countries

I’ve found that 5gb a day tends to be more than enough for travelling. While I wouldn’t use it for watching videos all day, it’s perfect for instagram, messaging, maps and browsing – and you don’t need to worry about going over any limits.

If you go over the 5gb, Optus will just charge you for another day ($5) and give you an additional 5gb. You will get alerts as you use up your data.

How to Activate International Roaming on Optus

The great thing about Optus’s international roaming is that it auto-activates. Make sure you have “roaming” turned on in your device’s settings.

International Roaming can be turned off in your Optus Account. You’ll need to make sure it’s turned on to get access to the Optus Daily Roaming.

You’ll know if international roaming has activated as you’ll receive and SMS message letting you know as soon as you’re in another country.

Is Optus International Roaming Worth it?

It’s definitely useful having access to international roaming on your existing device without needing to switch out sims or add an e-sim. The price of international roaming with Optus is now much more affordable. In the past it just wasn’t worth it.

$5 for 5gb is still quite expensive and may only be worth it, for shorter trips.

Cheaper Alternatives to Optus Roaming

For shorter trips $5 a day may be worth it. But for longer trips it can really add up. But thankfully there are cheaper alternatives to Optus Roaming.

Airalo Travel E-Sim

The easiest and often cheapest alternative is to use an e-sim. These days, you don’t need to physically pull out your existing SIM card and switch it with a travel sim. Using a service like Airalo you can add an e-sim to your existing phone which will work overseas. You can get a Sim for as little as $5 and it will last your 7 days. You can pay more for extra data and a longer travel period and there are sims available for all over the world.

I’ve tested out Airalo and it works really well.

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Canstar Blue

Optus International Roaming Review & Guide

Posted by Emma Bradstock 21/11/2023

Fact Checked

Global roaming can really add up if you use your phone plan as you normally would in Australia, which can end up with phone bill of hundreds or even thousands of dollars. You can always go with a travel SIM plan , but sometimes you want to still have access to your number and plan overseas. For Optus customers on a postpaid or prepaid phone plan, or if you’re considering signing up to an Optus plan, there are several roaming options available from Australia’s second largest telco.

So, if you’re wondering about the Optus international roaming costs, or you’re looking for an Optus international roaming plan, read on to find out more about Optus international roaming and how it works.

On this page:

What are the optus international roaming plans, pay-as-you-go international roaming, what are the optus international roaming countries, is optus international roaming right for me, faqs about optus international roaming, postpaid offers you might like.

The following table shows a selection of sponsored SIM Only plans on Canstar Blue’s database with links to referral partners.

Canstar Blue

Optus offers several international roaming plans and add ons, with plans and add ons only available to customers on certain Optus phone plans. If you’re unsure which phone plan you have, you may need to log in to your Optus account (online or through the app) or look at a recent phone bill. After these steps, if you still can’t find out what plan you’re on, you’ll need to get in touch with Optus.

Roaming plans and add ons are also typically an additional cost to your regular plan fees, so read on to find out more about the Optus international roaming costs and plans currently available.

Optus international roaming: $5 daily roaming

It might sound similar to Vodafone’s $5 a day international roaming , but what Optus offers is a little different.

  • $5 per day (in addition to your plan fees)
  • 5GB of data per day plus unlimited standard calls and SMS in Zone 1 countries
  • Auto activated when using call, text or data in eligible countries
  • Manage on the My Optus app
  • Available for Optus Choice Plus, Optus Plus Family and Optus Plus Promo plans (along with Business Choice Plus)

Optus international roaming: Optus $10 roaming pass

For customers on postpaid plans that aren’t eligible for the $5 roaming, you’ll need to add on a $10 Roaming Pass.

  • $10 for 24 hours of inclusions
  • 1GB of data and unlimited calls and SMS to Optus Zone 1 countries (per 24 hours)
  • Roaming activated through the My Optus app

The following table shows selected published Optus postpaid plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.

Optus prepaid international roaming

If you need Optus prepaid international roaming and you’re an Optus Flex Plus customer, you’ll need to add on one of the prepaid roaming packs, which can be purchased online or through the app.

  • $5 per day 1GB of data, 100 SMS and 100 minutes of calls in Optus Zone 1 countries
  • $35 for 7 days with 7GB data, 700 SMS and 700 minutes of calls in Zone 1 countries

Customers on other prepaid plans can add on a data roaming pack or travel credit pack, both of which can be purchased online or through the app.

  • Data roaming: $20 for 14 days with up to $210 value (equivalent to around 10GB data), with data charged at $0.02 per MB, available in 10 select destinations
  • Travel credit: $10 for 14 days, credit can be used for talk, text and data roaming in Zone 1 and Zone 2 destinations

The following table shows selected published Optus prepaid plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.

If you’re a postpaid customer visiting a country in Zone 2, and therefore not covered by the Optus Daily Roaming or other roaming add ons, you’ll have to use pay-as-you-go (PAYG) roaming rates. PAYG means you’ll simply pay for what you use, with these charges added on to your mobile bill. For every call you make, SMS you send, and MB of data you use (although you’re charged per 10KB), you’ll be charged the rates for these services according to the country you’re in.

While the rates appear to be similar across most countries, it’s worth checking the Optus site before your head overseas to check the rates to your destination/s. For example, these are the rates for if you were to travel to New Zealand, which is a Zone 1 destination:

  • Calls: $1.50 per minute to make and receive voice calls
  • Texts: $0.50 per standard text message sent
  • Data: $1.00 per MB, charged per 10KB

While these prices might not seem too expensive, keep in mind that these charges are per minute of calls, per text message and per MB of data used. If you were to use your phone as you normally would in Australia, these charges are likely to add up, meaning you could come home to a big phone bill. For example, going off the above rates, a 15 minute phone call would cost you $22.50, and using 1GB of mobile data will cost you $1,000. Looking at those costs, it’s easy to understand why travel packs are a much more affordable option for many of us.

Optus International Roaming

Optus splits its international roaming countries by zones. The Zone 1 countries are compatible with all of the Optus international roaming plans and add ons, including $5 a day roaming. If you’re travelling to a Zone 2 country, your options may be more limited.

Optus Zone 1 countries

Here are the Optus international roaming countries in Zone 1 where you can use the Optus $5 a day roaming and many other roaming passes.

  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Czech Republic
  • Faroe Islands
  • French Polynesia
  • Isle of Man
  • Korea, Republic of
  • Liechtenstein
  • Netherlands
  • New Zealand
  • Northern Marianas
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Philippines
  • Puerto Rico
  • Russian Federation
  • Samoa (Western)
  • Solomon Islands
  • South Africa
  • Switzerland
  • Taiwan, Province of China
  • United Arab Emirates
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
  • US Virgin Islands
  • Vatican City (Holy See)

While there are definite advantages to switching on global roaming with your existing Optus phone plan, even with a travel pack or add on, it’s still not the cheapest way to use your phone overseas. It can be useful to have access to your Australian phone number when you’re overseas, especially if you don’t plan on using your phone much and are using secure WiFi networks while on your travels.

Young couple on holiday using phone and map

If you want to be able to use your phone as you normally would in Australia, especially for using data when you’re away from a WiFi network, you might be better off purchasing a SIM card from the country or countries you’re visiting.

While you’ll most likely need to do some research into this before you head overseas, it could be better than relying on free and sometimes unsecure WiFi networks. The downside is that if someone wants to call or text you, they won’t be able to reach you on your Australian number. You’ll also have to juggle between two SIM cards, unless you have a dual-SIM or eSIM compatible phone.

Keep in mind that many services, such as online banking, rideshare apps, etc, may require a verification code sent to your phone via SMS. If you switch out your Australian SIM card, you may not recieve these verification codes while travelling. Using the dual SIM or eSIM capabilities of your phone (if you have it) could ensure you still get important texts to your Australian number.

Before you head overseas, you’ll need to assess which option will be best for you. Have a look at the roaming rates for your destination/s and think about whether a travel pack or add on will have enough value for you. There are also specific travel SIMs you can buy, and both Telstra and Vodafone offer global roaming options, with Vodafone’s $5 Roaming one of the more well-known offerings.

Roaming on cruise ships with Optus

If you’re about to head off on a cruise, you can use your Optus global roaming when out at sea: however as it’s not covered by either of the country Zones, these roaming charges are higher than you’ll experience on land.

  • Calls: $4.00 per minute to make and receive voice calls
  • Texts: $1.00 per standard text message sent
  • Data: $2.00 per MB where data is available (charged per 10KB)

Keep in mind that your mobile device may be connected to the ship’s satellite when you’re roaming. As you can see from the above charges, using global roaming on a pay-as-you-go basis can be quite expensive, so it’s worth considering if this is really the right option for you.

What about an Optus SIM for visitors to Australia?

If you’re a visitor coming to Australia, there are lots of phone plan providers out there offering SIM cards to keep you in touch with friends and family on your visit Down Under. While there are many prepaid plan providers with some great options available to choose from (with some plans available on a short-term expiry), Optus has a special Traveller SIM made specifically for visitors to Australia.

Optus offers two different Traveller Mobile plans, with SIM cards available at Optus airport stores or available as an eSIM. Both plans are available with a 28-day expiry, up to 200GB of data rollover an international call inclusions to 20 select destinations are included (with 400 minutes on the cheaper plan and 800 minutes on the more expensive plan).

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Home » Mobile

The best international roaming plans in Australia

Just because you’re away from home, doesn’t mean you need to be away from connectivity. Stay in touch with our round-up of the best international roaming plans.

Telstra

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Telstra international roaming plans

Optus international roaming plans, vodafone international roaming plans.

  • MVNO international roaming plans
  • International roaming versus local SIM

What about other international providers with prepaid roaming?

International travel sim cards, best international roaming plans faqs.

The best international roaming plans don't have to be that good to beat the alternative. Overseas flights may be expensive, but have you looked at the price of international roaming ? If your provider only supports pay-as-you-go roaming, you could be looking at over $1,000 per gigabyte. 

While it’s possible to stay disconnected or reliant on public WiFi (or an eSIM ) for your data needs while abroad, being able to use your local SIM can be a lot more convenient.

Staying at home but need to make some calls overseas? Be sure to check out our list of the best plans in Australia for international calls . If you need help picking out the best international roaming plan that won't break the bank, we've got you covered with this round-up of the more affordable postpaid and prepaid options in Australia. 

Customers on Telstra Upfront mobile plans can access Telstra roaming under the International Day Pass system. 

This will cost you $10 for each day you are overseas, and your money will get you a 1GB international data allowance. If you're roaming in New Zealand, this drops to $5 per day.

If you go over your daily 1GB, you'll be stung with an extra $10. This will get a further 1GB, which can then be used over the following 30 days whenever you go over your initial daily allowance. 

You'll also get unlimited talk and text as part of the Telstra roaming International Day Pass, but you'll pay $0.75 for each MMS you send while overseas.  

Telstra roaming currently works in over 70 destinations. If you're outside of an eligible destination and on an Upfront, you won't be able to use your service. You'll need to get an Australian prepaid SIM .

How does Telstra roaming work for prepaid plans?

If you're a prepaid customer looking to take advantage of Telstra roaming, things are slightly different. Instead of a single add-on, you've got three travel packs to choose from.

  • $10 for 400MB of data, 15 texts and 15 minutes of calls with 3-day expiry
  • $15 for 2GB of data, 25 texts and 25 minutes of calls with 7-day expiry
  • $25 for 4GB of data 50 texts and 50 minutes of calls with 14-day expiry

Telstra prepaid international roaming is also only available in a smaller selection of 35 destinations.

Telstra roaming PAYG costs

If you rely on Telstra international roaming without paying for one of the provider's day passes or roam with Telstra in a country not covered by the day pass then you'll be subject to a Pay As You Go rate that varies from country to country but is generally a lot more expensive than the alternative.

Roaming data consumed in this way is charged at $3 per MB, which can add up quickly. The rates for calls, texts and other inclusions are less predictable but typically communicated via an SMS from Telstra upon your arrival.

For a sense of how much Telstra roaming charges might cost you, check out this  breakdown of the approximate hourly data-usage ranges of popular streaming services:

  • Czech Republic
  • East Timor (Leste)
  • Isle of Man
  • Netherlands
  • New Zealand ($5 roaming)
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Philippines
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Slovak Rep.
  • Solomon Islands
  • South Africa
  • South Korea
  • Switzerland
  • New Zealand

Is Telstra roaming expensive?

While the price of Telstra roaming sits somewhere in the middle of the pack with a starting price of around $10, it's got one of the highest overall costs due to the steep price of Telstra's postpaid mobile plans.

If you're an Optus customer on a postpaid Optus Choice Plus, Optus Plus Family or Optus Plus Kids plan, you can also roam for $5 per day using Optus Roaming Pass. 

Your $5 will get you 5GB of data with a 24-hour expiry. Alternatively, you can pay $35 upfront and get 35GB. These roaming offers can be activated through the My Optus app. 

There is one catch, however. Optus' roaming add-on only works in the following Zone 1 destinations:

  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Faroe Islands
  • French Polynesia
  • Korea, Republic of
  • Liechtenstein
  • Northern Marianas
  • Puerto Rico
  • Russian Federation
  • Samoa (Western)
  • Taiwan, Province of China
  • United Arab Emirates
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
  • US Virgin Islands
  • Vatican City (Holy See)

Optus Choice postpaid plans don't offer roaming to Zone 2 countries. Select legacy postpaid plans from Optus offer expensive Pay-As-You-Go roaming rates to Zone 2 countries, but not its current suite of postpaid plans. 

Is Optus roaming expensive?

For shorter stays, Optus' new $5 roaming can be pretty good value. However, if your needs are more data-heavy or you're looking at a longer trip abroad, it might not be the best choice.

Global roaming may not be cheap, but Vodafone postpaid mobile plans have one of the more simple and affordable offers on the market. Vodafone's International Roaming deal costs $5 per day and gives you access to your regular plan allowance while travelling overseas. 

Unlike other telcos, you don't have a separate data allowance while roaming overseas. You'll just use the data from your regular inclusions that you use in Australia. If you're on a 80GB plan, that gives you 80GB to play with when travelling. However, if you do go over your included allowance, you will be charged $5 for every extra gigabyte used. 

The $5-per-day charge will only be added to your bill on days when you use data, make a call, or send a text. 

Note that you can only use $5-per-day roaming for up to 90 days of the calendar year. If you're planning to spend more time overseas, a local SIM will probably be a better option. 

Vodafone also offers roaming for prepaid plans. $5 gets you 200MB for one day, $15 gives you 750MB for three days, and $35 gets you 2GB for seven days. While this still works out to be $5 per day and are an improvement over pay-as-you-go rates, they're still pretty poor value. 

  • Aland Islands
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Dominican Republic
  • Indonesia (includes Bali)
  • Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man
  • Republic of Moldova
  • Slovak Republic
  • United Republic of Tanzania
  • UK (England)
  • USA (America)
  • Vatican City
  • Virgin Islands, U.S.
  • Northern Ireland

Is Vodafone roaming expensive?

Vodafone roaming is expensive in a sense. It costs $5 and it doesn't come with any extra inclusions. However, since you get access to everything that your SIM-only plan get you when you're overseas, so there's definitely a lot of potential value there if you pair it with the right postpaid plan.

While some smaller providers offer international roaming, they tend to be bad options. The travel packs are far more expensive than the competition, or you're stuck with pay-as-you-go rates that end up costing between $500 and over $1,000 per gigabyte. 

While MVNOs are a great pick for keeping your bill down locally, this doesn't translate to overseas usage. If you're going with a small provider like ALDI, Boost, Belong, Tangerine, Woolworths Mobile, or amaysim for your Australian SIM card, use the savings to purchase a SIM overseas when you arrive at your destination instead. 

MVNOs with international roaming

Felix mobile international roaming plans.

felix is a rare MVNO that actually has a good international roaming offer. While most smaller providers offer poor value packs, expensive pay-as-you-go rates or simply don't offer roaming, felix's roaming add-on costs just $20. 

Your $20 gets you 4GB of international data, 100 texts, and 100 minutes of talk. Better yet, it has a 365-day expiry. If you're the kind of traveller that can sniff out public WiFi where ever you are, 4GB could be enough for your entire international getaway. But if you go over your 4GB allowance, you can always buy another pack.

felix mobile's roaming offer doesn't cover as many countries as what you get on Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone: it only works in 40 destinations. You should be fine for most popular countries, however. 

felix is unique in that it only has a single mobile plan with unlimited data. You'll pay $35 per month, but your data is capped to speeds of 20Mbps - both domestically and overseas. That should still be fast enough for most online activities, even streaming video. 

felix is powered by the Vodafone network. 

Amaysim mobile international roaming

Amaysim is another MVNO that's recently made its move into the international roaming space. The provider now offers four travel packs for Amaysim customers looking to stay connected while overseas.

These are as follows:

  • $20 for 100 mins of calls and 100 texts with 365-day expiry
  • $25 for 1GB of data, 50 mins of calls and 50 texts with 365-day expiry
  • $50 for 5GB of data with 365-day expiry
  • $70 for 5GB of data, 100 calls, 100 texts and 365-day expiry

Amaysim is powered by the Optus network. 

A total of 90 different destinations are covered here, with a full list available on the Amaysim website .

Tangerine mobile international roaming

Tangerine recently gave its international roaming options an overhaul. The provider now offers a total of three travel-oriented add-ons for customers looking to keep in touch while they wander abroad, but those add-ons are now much better value than previous efforts.

  • $35 for 5GB of data, 30 mins of talk, 30 texts with 7-day expiry
  • $55 for 10GB, 60 mins of talk, 60 texts with a 14-day expiry
  • $60 for 3GB, 300 mins of talk, 300 texts with 3-day expiry

Tangerine is powered by the Telstra network. 

A total of 64 different destinations are covered here, with a full list available on the Tangerine website .

More mobile international roaming

More and Tangerine are sister companies. As a result, one provider's recent update to international roaming has been matched by the other. More currently offers two add-ons for Aussie tourists.

As you can see below, these are identical to the travel add-ons offered by Tangerine.

More is powered by the Telstra network. 

A total of 64 different destinations are covered here, with a full list available on the More website .

Kogan Mobile international roaming

Kogan Mobile didn't used to offer international roaming, but now it does. The budget-friendly MVNO has a trio of travel add-ons for short terms stays abroad. These are as follows:

  • $10 for 1GB of data, 50 mins of talk, 50 texts with 1-day expiry
  • $25 for 2GB of data, 100 mins of talk, 100 texts with 3-day expiry
  • $45 for 5GB of data, 150 mins of talk, 150 texts with 7-day expiry

Kogan is powered by the Vodafone network. 

A total of 30 different destinations are covered, with a full list available on the Kogan website .

Belong international roaming

Belong isn't just one of the cheapest Telstra MVNOs out there, it's also one of the few that offers international roaming. That said, those who are signed up with this particular provider aren't exactly spoiled for choice.

At the time of writing, there's only one roaming add-on available from Belong:

  • $30 for 3GB, 150 minutes of talk, unlimited SMS with 15-day expiry

In Australia, Belong is powered by the Telstra network. Abroad, it offers roaming in over 30 destinations. You can find the full list on the Belong website.

Woolworths' Everyday Mobile international roaming

Woolworths' Everyday Mobile customers has more to offer than just the ability to save on groceries. Compared to other Telstra MVNOs like Belong, the provider boasts a generous spread of international roaming options. Even if these aren't the best value roaming packs available, there are a lot of them.

At the time of writing, there are four international roaming add-ons available from Woolworths' Everyday Mobile:

  • $7 for 150MB, 30 mins of talk, 30 texts with 1-day expiry
  • $30 for 1GB, 60 mins of talk, 60 texts with 5-day expiry
  • $50 for 2GB, 150 mins of talk, 150 texts with 10-day expiry
  • $75 for 4GB, 240 mins of talk, 240 texts with 15-day expiry

In Australia, Everyday Mobile by Woolworths is powered by the Telstra network. Abroad, it offers roaming in up to 67 destinations. However, those who sign up for the $7 add-on will only get access to sa smaller selection of 30 countries instead of the full 67.

You can find the full list on the Everyday Mobile website.

Lebara international roaming

In addition to its status as one of the best-value MNVOs for those who want a cheap phone plan with international calls, Lebara also has a number of international roaming add-ons. However, these aren't necessarily going to be the optimal option when it comes to longer stays abroad.

At the time of writing, there are two international roaming add-ons available from Labara:

  • $15 for 500MB, 15 mins of talk, 50 texts with 2-day expiry
  • $50 for 2GB, 90 mins of talk, 200 texts with 5-day expiry

In Australia, Lebara is powered by the Vodafone network. Abroad, it offers roaming in up to 50 destinations. You can find the full list on the Everyday Mobile website.

What is international roaming?

International roaming refers to a service some telcos offer that lets you stay connected and use your local number while travelling overseas. It allows you to make calls, send texts, and use wireless data even when you're beyond the boundaries of your carrier's network. 

International roaming plans vs local SIM

No matter what provider you go with, roaming costs add up quickly. On Optus and Vodafone, a week of using your phone overseas will cost you $35. On Telstra, you're looking at a minimum of $70 (unless you're in New Zealand). 

If you really need to keep your local number to be contactable while away, you've really got no choice but to pay the telcos their blood money. But if you're going away on a holiday and don't care about having access to your local number, a local SIM can often be the better choice than a travel-friendly phone plan.

If you're staying for over a week, local SIMs at your destination should typically cost less than what you'd pay in roaming fees. This will naturally vary from destination to destination, but it's definitely worth doing the math before you commit to spending a whole lot of money on roaming. 

OneSimCard Universal

OneSimCard Universal E 3-in-1 Travel SIM Card for over 200 Countries

From $39.95

*Pricing and deals only accurate as of last page update. 

Europe travel SIM cards

Europe (UK Three) Prepaid sim Card

Europe (UK Three) Prepaid Sim Card

From $29.99

Europe UK Travel SIM Card

Europe UK Travel SIM Card

From $38.99

SMARTY SIM

Vodafone Data SIM Card w/Unlimited Minutes to NZ Landlines/Numbers

From $81.96

optus business plan roaming

2-in-1 Travel SIM Card w/Unlimited Data for Australia & New Zealand

From $26.90

China-Hong Kong-Macau-Taiwan All-in-1 Travel SIM Card

China/Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan All-in-1 Travel SIM Card

From $34.90

Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand Data Roaming SIM

Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand Travel SIM Card

From $39.90

Nippon SIM for Japan 180days

Nippon SIM for Japan Prepaid Data SIM Card

From $19.99

USA, Canada, Mexico prepaid travel SIM cards

T-mobile USA-Canada-Mexico Prepaid Travel SIM Card

T-mobile USA, Canada and Mexico Prepaid Travel SIM Card

From $45.95

AT&T USA-Canada-Mexico Prepaid Travel SIM Card

AT&T USA, Canada and Mexico Prepaid Travel SIM Card

From $55.95

USA Lycamobile Prepaid SIM Card

Lycamobile USA Prepaid SIM Card

From $59.98

Most phones should work overseas, but you'll need to ensure it's unlocked. If you bought your phone on a plan or outright, it will be unlocked. But if you bought it with a prepaid SIM, it may not be. Read more about unlocking your phone here.

Some prepaid plans include roaming packs, but the rates are worse than a postpaid equivalent. With very few exceptions, we'd recommend prepaid customers on providers like amaysim, Boost, and ALDI Mobile buy a local SIM at their destination.

If you're on a plan from a provider other than Telstra, Optus, Vodafone, or felix, or you're planning to be overseas for a week or longer, a local SIM card will often be the better option. 

Data roaming is not free in Australia. The cost of staying connected while overseas will depend on your provider, your plans and your destination.

The easiest way to avoid roaming charges is to make sure that you're set up with a provider that offers international roaming before you board your flight.

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We Broke Down Optus’ $5 Roaming Deal to See if It’s Worthwhile

Fergus Halliday Avatar

Unlike Vodafone’s add-on, Optus’s take on $5 per day roaming gets you 5GB of data that you can use overseas. That data expires after 24 hours and is available to customers with a postpaid Optus Choice Plus, Optus Plus Family, or Optus Plus Kids plan. When it comes to Optus’ new add-on, you can also pay $35 upfront and get 35GB to use over the course of a week. 

Customers on an older Optus plan will have to use the previous Roaming Pass instead, which costs twice as much and only includes 1GB of data plus overseas calls and texts in select destinations. All told, Optus’ updated arrangement isn’t quite as generous as Vodafone’s is. However, you could end up with many more inclusions in the plan itself, and that alone might make up for it. 

For example, Optus’ $89 Promo Plus is currently discounted to $69 per month. This plan includes 500GB of excess charge-free data, standard calls and text, 5G coverage where you can get it, unlimited international calls to 35 destinations, a discounted rate on Optus Sport and the ability to save on other subscriptions via the provider’s SubHub platform. 

Our pick of the lot here is Felix Mobile. While most MVNO providers offer poor value packs, expensive pay-as-you-go rates or nothing at all, Felix’s roaming add-on costs just $20. That sum scores you 4GB of international data, 100 texts, and 100 minutes of talk. Best of all, it comes with a 365-day expiry. 

Felix Mobile’s roaming offer doesn’t cover as many countries as what you get on Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone: it only works in 40 destinations. You should be fine for most popular destinations, though, and if you’re the kind of traveller that can sniff out public WiFi wherever you are, 4GB could be enough for your entire international getaway.

You can find a widget with the complete breakdown of Felix plans, which are eligible for international roaming below: 

Fergus Halliday is a journalist at WhistleOut, Australia’s phone and internet comparison website

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Optus mobile plans review

How does australia's second largest telco stack up to telstra and cheaper alternatives.

Optus storefront in Sydney, Australia

Tom's Guide Verdict

While there's no denying that Telstra clearly has the lead amongst Australia's three major telcos, Optus isn't that far behind, boasting the country's second-largest network and the title for fastest 5G download speeds. It's also far more affordable than Telstra, with fairly priced plans that offer plenty of data. Of course, the telco has a long way to go to regain Australia's trust after suffering one of the worst cyberattacks in our history, alongside a nationwide outage that lasted more than half a day.

Plans offer good value

Fast 5G download speeds

Great roaming add-ons

Reputation in the toilet

Speeds capped on pre-paid plans

Still uses off-shore call centres

Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.

Since its commercial arrival on the Aussie telco scene back in 1992, Optus has maintained its position as Australia's second-largest network operator, with Telstra consistently holding onto the number one spot in terms of number of subscribers.

A subsidiary of Singaporean telecommunications giant Singtel, Optus offers a range of mobile plans which offer big data at reasonable price points. It has both pre-paid and post-paid choices, as well as plans which include a handset.

Although Optus comes in second to Telstra with regards to its overall network coverage, the telco is still able to claim that its 3G and 4G networks reach 98.5% of the Australian population. 

And while Telstra seems to have a significant lead when it comes to 5G coverage (based on nPerf's independent coverage maps ) and is claimed to now reach 85% of the Australian population, it's worth nothing that OpenSignal has awarded Optus the 5G Download Speed crown for the last 4 years running. Of course, most users probably won't reach those top speeds unless they're right next to an Optus tower, and the network is relatively uncongested.

As for customer service, Optus still uses off-shore call centres in India and the Philippines, though it does operate local call centres in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, too. 

However, the real elephant in the room is that Optus has had a rough couple of years — in 2022, Optus experienced one of the biggest cyberattacks in Australian history , resulting in the personal information of roughly 10 million customers being exposed. 

This was followed by a nationwide outage in 2023, which lasted approximately 12-13 hours, once again affecting around 10 million customers, including 400,000 businesses.

So while Optus has the second-largest network and a range of decently priced mobile plans, the question remains as to whether the telco can regain the trust of its customers — both existing, and potential.

Optus mobile plans and pricing

  • Optus SIM-only plans far more reasonably priced than Telstra
  • No lock-in contracts for Optus SIM-only plans

Of the three main network operators in Australia, Optus arguably sits in the sweet spot between Telstra and Vodafone when it comes to price and value. 

Telstra undoubtedly has the best coverage, but is by far the most expensive. And while Vodafone offers the most monthly data at prices which are on par with Optus, it ranks third in terms of coverage and download speeds. 

That leaves Optus with a range of plans which are well-priced and still data-generous, with coverage that's quite decent despite falling short of Telstra's reach. In other words, Optus is probably the telco that Goldilocks would choose.

Optus SIM-only plans start at AU$49 p/m for the Small Optus Choice Plus Plan , which comes with 30GB of monthly data, which means you're paying about AU$1.63 per GB. 

That's followed by the Medium Optus Choice Plan , which costs AU$59 p/m for 100GB of monthly data (a cost of AU$0.59 per GB). That's double what Telstra offers in terms of data on its entry-level Basic Upfront plan, which is more expensive at AU$62 p/m for 50GB (or AU$1.24 per GB).

Next is the Large Optus Choice Plus Plan , which costs AU$69 p/m for 220GB of monthly data, or around AU$0.31 per GB. Yes, you heard right: for a mere AU$7 extra p/m, Optus gives you 170GB more monthly data than Telstra's aforementioned 50GB Basic Upfront plan.

If that still isn't enough data for you, Optus also offers an Extra Large Optus Choice Plus Plan , which costs AU$89 p/m and includes 360GB of monthly data (about AU$0.25 per GB). 

Additionally, Optus currently offers an Optus Plus Promo Plan , which gives you 500GB of monthly data at AU$69 (a tiny AU$0.14 a gig) for the first 12 months, after which the price goes up to AU$89 p/m (a still very-reasonable AU$0.18 per GB). Note that this is technically a special offer, and while there's no end date on it at the time of this review, it will only be available until withdrawn.

Also worth noting is that there are no lock-in contracts on any Optus SIM-only plan, and each one brings uncapped 5G network access in selected areas (excluding Northern Territory), unlimited standard talk and text within Australia, and unlimited standard international talk and text to 35 selected destinations. You can also share your data across eligible plans on the same account, and donate your unused monthly data to Australians in need.

Although there are no lock-in contracts on any of the above Choice Plus plans, Optus also offers a range of prepaid Flex Plus plans for those who don't want to risk extra charges, or only need service for a fixed period of time.

Optus Flex Plus plans with a 28-day expiry period start at AU$35 and come with fluctuating amounts of data. For instance, new customers on this plan get 40GB of data along with a bonus 20GB of data for those first 28 days. After this, the plan loses the bonus data on the second and third recharge (a total of 40GB), then drops down to 20GB from then on. That means after the introductory period you'll be paying AU$1.75 per GB.

Similarly, a AU$45 Flex Plus plan provides 60GB + 20GB of bonus data (80GB in total) during the first 28 days, losing the bonus data on the second and third recharge, before landing on 30GB after that (or $1.50 per GB ongoing). Alternatively, you can opt for a plan which costs AU$55 for 80GB on the first three recharges, which then drops down to 40GB after that (a rate of AU$1.38 per GB).

Of course, there are other long-term 186-day and 365-day options for those who don't want to think about recharging for a while, though you'll have to pay a larger sum upfront.

Note that there is one caveat with Optus's Flex Plus prepaid plans; while all will get you access to the telco's 3G, 4G and 5G networks, download speeds on these plans are capped to 150Mbps across the board. It's also worth mentioning that every Flex Plus plan includes data rollover up to 200GB, which will be applied as long as you recharge before expiry or have an active auto-recharge set up.

Optus mobile coverage

  • Excellent 3G / 4G coverage, but lags behind Telstra in 5G reach
  • Optus awarded fastest 5G download speeds by OpenSignal

Given that Optus operates the second-largest mobile network in Australia, it probably comes as no surprise that it also offers the second-best coverage. 

Where Optus is closest to Telstra is in its 3G and 4G reach, with a claimed 98.5% of the Aussie population covered. However, while Telstra's 5G mobile network is said to currently reach roughly 87% of Australians , Optus doesn't currently make any specific percentage claims — and if nPerf's coverage maps are any indication, it still has a lot of catching up to do.

During our rundown of the various mobile plans offered by Optus, you may have noticed that 5G network access was only available in selected areas, and excluded Northern Territory entirely. Sure enough, a closer look at nPerf's coverage map for Darwin shows a complete absence of Optus 5G network coverage, and only a small 3G and 4G presence. 

Simply put, if you live in the Top End, you're better off going with Telstra or Vodafone — both of which offer a far greater 3G, 4G and 5G presence in NT. That said, if you live in any of Australia's major cities along the east coast, you should be OK. Optus does offer 5G network access in Perth, though the rest of the west coast is fairly barren in terms of coverage.

Optus mobile plans: Extras, perks and offers

  • Big discount on Optus Sport access
  • Discounts on streaming subscriptions with SubHub

In terms of extras, Optus postpaid SIM-only customers receive 3 months of Amazon Prime for free when they sign up via Optus SubHub. The latter lets you manage and pay for subscriptions in one place, which are added to your regular phone bill. 

Additionally, customers can save up to 10% on streaming subscriptions when they add three or more eligible subscriptions to SubHub. Supported services include Netflix, Amazon Prime, Binge, Paramount Plus and more.

Best of all, sports-lovers who sign up to Optus Sport via SubHub get a huge discount on the service's monthly subscription cost, bringing it down from AU$24.99 p/m to just AU$6.99 p/m.

Optus also offers very competitive international roaming add-ons — for AU$5 per day, you get 1GB of data, 100 minutes of talk and 100 texts per day to use in over 90 Zone 1 destinations.

Optus mobile plans: customer service and community reviews

  • Support team still has call centres in India and the Philippines
  • Optus reputation at an all-time low

While Telstra has drastically decreased its use of off-shore call centres since 2021, switching over to a mostly Australia-based support team, the Singtel-owned Optus still relies on call centres located in India and the Philippines. 

Of course, Optus also has call centres in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, although you probably won't know whether you're connected to one of those or someone from an overseas branch. 

Thankfully, Optus has a huge retail presence in Australia, with over 350 branded Optus Yes outlets across the country, making it relatively easy for customers to receive face-to-face service.

Still, not everyone is happy with Optus, with the telco receiving mostly negative online reviews on sites like Product Review and Trustpilot , where it has earned overall customer satisfaction scores of 1.3 and 1.2, respectively. 

With that in mind, it's important to note that both Telstra and Vodafone have achieved similar scores, which goes to show that most customers will only bother reviewing something if they've had a bad experience.

Even with that disclaimer, there's no denying that the telco's reputation is at an all-time low, following an immense cyberattack in 2022 which left the information of over 10 million Optus customers exposed.

This was not helped at all by a nationwide outage which occurred the following year, leaving 10 million customers and 400,000 businesses without mobile or internet access for around 14 hours. Not only did the outage leave vulnerable Australians without the means to contact anyone for help, it also left business owners who rely on EFTPOS twisting in the wind for an entire working day.

Given the extreme public backlash that followed these two disasters, it's no wonder that Optus CEO Kelly Bayer Rosmarin went on to resign in November 2023.

However, the telco still has a long way to go in regaining Australia's trust — the market research company Roy Morgan named Optus as Australia's most distrusted brand in March 2024, suggesting the telco's black eye is going to linger for a while.

Optus mobile plans: Bottom line

Is an Optus mobile plan worth your money? In terms of value, Optus mobile plans are far more competitively priced than Telstra's, with SIM-only offerings that deliver big data and worthwhile perks. 

As Australia's second-largest telco, it's no surprise that Optus falls behind Telstra in terms of coverage. That said, its reach is still significant — particularly when it comes to 3G and 4G coverage.

Of course, there's no denying that Optus has made some significant blunders with regards to customer security and service over the last couple of years — some of which are hard to forgive. Optus has posted an open letter to customers that includes a commitment to "do better", but is that enough?

If you're willing to forgive Optus, you can at least rest assured that its mobile plans are good value and will likely satisfy most customers (outside of the Northern Territory).

  • Best Australian phone plans with international roaming

Stephen Lambrechts

Stephen Lambrechts is the Managing Editor of Tom's Guide AU and has written professionally across the categories of tech, film, television and gaming for the last 15 years. Before Tom's Guide, he spent several years as a Senior Journalist at TechRadar, had a brief stint as Editor in Chief at Official Xbox Magazine Australia, and has written for such publications as APC, TechLife Australia, T3, FilmInk, AskMen, Daily Telegraph and IGN. He's an expert when it comes to smartphones, TVs, gaming and streaming. In his spare time, he enjoys watching obscure horror movies on physical media, keeping an eye on the latest retro sneaker releases and listening to vinyl. Occasionally, he also indulges in other non-hipster stuff, like hiking.

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IMAGES

  1. International Roaming

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  2. International Roaming

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  3. New Optus plans rejig international roaming: will you be better off

    optus business plan roaming

  4. Optus International Roaming: Everything you need to know

    optus business plan roaming

  5. New Optus plans rejig international roaming: will you be better off

    optus business plan roaming

  6. Optus International Roaming Review & Guide

    optus business plan roaming

COMMENTS

  1. International Roaming and Calling

    You can priority call Optus from overseas on +61 2 8082 5678. This is free from an Optus mobile plan. Operating hours: Mon - Fri : 8am - 7pm AEST & Sat, Sun: 8am - 6pm AEST. Find out about roaming rates for making international phone calls and sending SMS/MMS overseas from your Optus mobile phone on a business plan. Learn more.

  2. Optus International Roaming: Rates and Inclusions Simplified

    International roaming on Optus mobile plans start from $5 per day and are available in over 100 countries ... Business Choice Plus, Business Choice Data Plus, Business Teams Plus or Qantas plan ...

  3. PDF $40 Business Plus SIM Only 24M Mobile Plan

    on. Check your roaming settings and turn roaming on/off using My Optus app or My Account. You cannot use your plan's monthly calls, text and data inclusions overseas. You will be charged at standard roaming rates, or you can purchasea travel pack for Zone 1 countries. For the list of Zone 1 countries, see optus.com.au/zone1 for

  4. PDF $55 Business Plus SIM Only 24M Mobile Plan

    roaming rates if you are not in a Zone 1 country, use MMS, make nonstandard calls or exceed the data limit. If your account number starts with a 62, you can activate Optus Roaming Pass which will automatically start once you have used up your plan's included roaming data. You can use your plan's roaming inclusions in Zone 1

  5. Optus international roaming: Everything you need to know

    Optus Roaming Pass. If you use an older Optus plan then you're roaming option is with the Optus Roaming Pass. This pass provides unlimited talk and text as well as 1GB of data on a 24-hour expiry. The Optus roaming pass will be automatically added when you use your phone in an eligible country and costs $10 per 24-hour period.

  6. Optus international roaming. The rates, fees & how it works

    Optus International roaming. What is it and how does it work. Optus International roaming is a service provided by Optus for certain plan holders to be able to use their sim and mobile device outside of Australia. Optus offers different options for those looking to keep their sim on when overseas.¹. We'll take you through these options now.

  7. PDF $55 Business Mobile Plus M2M (Jul 22)

    The Optus Business Mobile Plus is a PostpaidMobile service for use with a mobile phone device that contains the inclusions listed in the table below. You can add more services to the plan and receive the multiple service discount. Plan $55 Optus Business Mobile Plus M2M Minimum monthly charge $55/mth Minimum term Month to month

  8. Optus International Roaming: 2023 Guide

    How Much is Optus International Roaming. If you're on a Optus Choice Mobile Plan, international roaming is $5 per day. This include 5gb of data and unlimited text and calls. Some mobile plan customers won't have access to the $5 daily roaming. This isn't available on all mobile plans. Most customers however will have the $5 daily roaming ...

  9. Optus International Roaming Review & Guide

    Optus international roaming: $5 daily roaming. It might sound similar to Vodafone's $5 a day international roaming, but what Optus offers is a little different. $5 per day (in addition to your plan fees) 5GB of data per day plus unlimited standard calls and SMS in Zone 1 countries. Auto activated when using call, text or data in eligible ...

  10. Optus business mobile plans review for Australia

    Optus has dedicated business mobile solutions for up to 300 plans, but the main focus of this page is plans reviews for smaller businesses.Enterprise customers with more than 300 employees in need of phone plans can alternatively contact Optus Enterprise for support.While Optus tailors mobile plan solutions for between one and five employees or six to 300 staff, smaller businesses can take ...

  11. Review: Optus $5/day global roaming plan [2023]

    Optus is making a play for Australia's frequent flyers and globetrotters with the debut of $5 per day global roaming. Yes, that's the same price as Vodafone's long-standing signature roaming deal - but there are some significant differences between the Optus and Vodafone offerings. Meanwhile, the two telcos continue to run roaming rings ...

  12. Best international roaming plans 2024: Telstra, Optus & more

    If you're an Optus customer on a postpaid Optus Choice Plus, Optus Plus Family or Optus Plus Kids plan, you can also roam for $5 per day using Optus Roaming Pass.. Your $5 will get you 5GB of data with a 24-hour expiry. Alternatively, you can pay $35 upfront and get 35GB. These roaming offers can be activated through the My Optus app.

  13. Optus International Roaming: How Does it Stack Up?

    First, here's a quick rundown of the Optus plans with access to the provider's $5 Daily [International] Roaming Pass. Unlike Vodafone's add-on, Optus's take on $5 per day roaming gets you ...

  14. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A35 5G on plan

    Buy the Samsung Galaxy A35 5G on a plan with Optus. Available now with 50 Mega Pixel lens, 6.6" super AMOLED display.

  15. Optus mobile plans review

    Row 3 - Cell 2. Row 3 - Cell 3. Optus SIM-only plans start at AU$49 p/m for the Small Optus Choice Plus Plan, which comes with 30GB of monthly data, which means you're paying about AU$1.63 per GB ...

  16. Optus' new international roaming rates are much more affordable

    Optus postpaid customers previously relied on its "Roaming Pass" system, where you'd pay $10 per day for a single gig of data, or $50 upfront for 5GB with a seven-day expiry. Optus' new roaming options are available to customers on an Optus Choice Plus, Optus Plus Family, or Optus Plus Kids mobile plan.

  17. Business Unlimited Data Plans (13+ Lines)

    Business Internet customers may notice speeds lower than other customers due to data prioritization. For primary internet capped-data plans (100GB/300GB), full speeds available up to data allotment; then either $2/GB thereafter or unlimited at up to 600Kbps.