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Choosing an eSIM in Australia: the full guide (and why most articles get it wrong)

Jérémie•••8 min read
6vues

In my article on the arrival paperwork, I briefly mentioned the mobile plan I got with Belong, activated before I'd even left the airport. I wanted to come back to it in more detail in this article, because digging into the topic made me realize that most guides on eSIMs in Australia mix up two completely different things, which can easily mislead you, especially if you're staying for several months.

Travel eSIM or local carrier eSIM: don't make this mistake

This is THE point I wanted to clarify first, because almost no article explains it clearly.

Search "eSIM Australia" on Google and 90% of what comes up is stuff like Holafly, Airalo, or Nomad. These are data-only eSIMs: you get 4G/5G, but no real Australian phone number, no native calls or texts. They're designed for a short stay, 2 to 4 weeks, where you just want data for Maps and Instagram, and keep calling through WhatsApp with your home number.

The problem is, if you're staying longer (Working Holiday, studies, expat life), this kind of eSIM simply isn't enough. As soon as you start your paperwork, you'll be asked for a real Australian number: the bank, accommodation, an employer — everything assumes you already have a local number. That's where you need to go with a regular Australian carrier instead, which also offers an eSIM, but with a real AU number, unlimited calls and texts included on top of the data.

Bottom line: travel eSIM for a two-week city trip, local carrier eSIM for everything else.

Understanding the networks before picking a carrier

In Australia, there are actually only three physical networks, and literally every carrier (even the smaller, lesser-known ones) runs on one of the three:

  • Telstra, the country's original and most extensive network, with the best coverage in rural and remote areas.

  • Optus

  • Vodafone / TPG

The carrier name you see on an app is therefore often just a commercial brand (an MVNO) leasing one of these three networks. And there's an important nuance to know on the Telstra side:

  • The full Telstra network is used, outside of Telstra itself, only by Boost Mobile (acquired by Telstra in 2024, but which kept its own brand and prepaid pricing).

  • Everyone else, like Belong, ALDI Mobile, Tangerine, Exetel, More Telecom, or Superloop, runs on what's called the "Telstra Wholesale" network, a slightly reduced version of the network (around 98.8% population coverage versus 99.7% for the full network). In practice, you'll almost never notice the difference in cities or along the coast, but if you're planning a road trip through the Outback or genuinely remote areas, it's worth keeping in mind — in that case, Telstra or Boost directly are the safer bet.

Optus and Vodafone/TPG (through brands like amaysim, Coles Mobile, Lebara, or Kogan Mobile) are generally a bit cheaper, but with weaker rural coverage.

The carriers, one by one

Instead of cramming this into a table, here's a quick rundown of each option, since they each come with their own trade-offs.

Telstra Runs on the full Telstra network. Offers an eSIM. The best coverage in the country, with standalone 5G. The catch: it's also the most expensive option.

Boost Mobile Also runs on the full Telstra network, so identical coverage to Telstra itself, for a lower price. eSIM activation is smooth through the "My Boost Mobile" app, either via QR code or manual entry. You get unlimited calls and texts within Australia plus international calls to around 20 countries. The one downside: a 28-day cycle instead of a calendar month, meaning 13 recharges a year instead of 12.

Belong Runs on the Telstra Wholesale network. Offers an eSIM. This is the one I personally went with: it's a Telstra subsidiary, the postpaid plan is simple to set up, and coverage is just one notch below Boost or Telstra directly.

ALDI Mobile Also on Telstra Wholesale, with an eSIM available, but mixed reviews. Prices are among the lowest around, with unlimited data rollover. That said, there are several reports of activation bugs or issues when porting a number over, sometimes leaving people without service for days. It's more of a heads-up than a reason to avoid it outright — just something to know before choosing purely on price.

Tangerine Telstra Wholesale network, eSIM available. Comes with a large, stackable data bank and unlimited calls to around 15 countries on its 5G plans.

Exetel / More Telecom / Superloop All on Telstra Wholesale, all offering an eSIM. Solid value for money and generous data banks, though these are lesser-known brands with less of a track record.

A quick honest note on pricing: I'll give you some ballpark figures below, but Australian carriers (Telstra and Boost especially) change their promos very often. The rates I saw while writing this article were limited-time offers, not fixed catalogue prices. As a general rule, expect to pay around 20 to 25 AUD/month for a decent entry-level prepaid plan, and more if you go up in data or go straight with Telstra/Boost.

My choice: Belong

Like I mentioned in the arrival paperwork article, I personally went with Belong. The process was really simple: download the app, enter a few personal details, go through the usual passport verification (the same Equifax check I mentioned in the previous article), then pick a plan.

I got a deal at 49 AUD for 100GB, with a small promo for the first two months, and honestly I never had any network issues, whether in Sydney or outside the bigger cities. Being a Telstra subsidiary is reassuring, and the whole process turned out to be simpler than I expected.

If I had to do it again and wanted to squeeze out the best coverage-to-price ratio, I'd probably also look at Boost Mobile, which looks like the best compromise on paper: full Telstra network, so identical coverage to Telstra, at a lower price. I haven't tested it myself, so I can't vouch for the app's user experience firsthand, but the reviews are good.

As for ALDI Mobile, the price is tempting, but I'd rather be upfront: several travelers report issues activating their plan or porting a number, sometimes going several days without service. It's not a dealbreaker, but if you're relying on that number for a bank or an employer within the first few days, it's worth keeping in mind.

How it actually works (spoiler: there's nothing to prepare before you leave)

Contrary to what a lot of guides suggest, there's nothing to set up before you land in Australia. I tried, and it simply doesn't work until you're actually there. Here's the real process, once you've arrived:

  1. Buy your plan directly online or through the carrier's app.

  2. You'll receive a QR code by email.

  3. Scan that QR code, ideally connected to stable Wi-Fi (the airport's Wi-Fi works perfectly fine):

    • iPhone: Settings > Cellular > Add eSIM

    • Samsung: Settings > Connections > SIM Card Manager > Add Mobile Plan

  4. Just like for the bank, ID verification (your passport) is required by law for any Australian mobile line.

In my case, between downloading the app and having my eSIM active, it really didn't take long at all — I was still in the airport terminal.

Understanding how prepaid plans work

One thing that took me a bit of time to get my head around when I arrived: most Australian plans run on 28 or 30-day cycles depending on the carrier (28 days for Boost, 30 for most others), not on the calendar month like in France.

Two options for renewal:

  • Automatic, with a direct charge to your bank card.

  • Manual, topping up yourself before the expiry date.

If you forget to top up in time, the line gets suspended, then there's usually a grace period before you permanently lose the number — so no need to panic over a few days' delay, but don't wait too long either.

A nice bonus with most carriers on the Telstra network: data rollover, meaning unused data from one month carries over to the next, as long as you keep topping up without interruption. A good reason not to feel bad if you didn't use everything in a given month.

Watch out for your home line

As I already mentioned in the arrival paperwork article: if you're worried about accidentally activating cellular data on your French line (or your home country's line) instead of your Australian eSIM, take it slow when setting up your phone. Roaming overcharges abroad are no joke, so take the time to double-check which line is active for mobile data before you leave the airport's Wi-Fi.

To sum it up if you're short on time: if you're staying for several months, skip the tourist eSIMs and go straight for a local carrier. Belong worked really well for me, Boost Mobile looks like the best price-to-coverage compromise if you want to optimize, and ALDI Mobile is still worth considering for the price, but with a genuine word of caution around activation reliability. Either way, don't prepare anything before your flight: it all happens once you're on the ground, and it's a lot faster than you'd think.