eSIMs are really taking off in Australia, with the feature becoming increasingly common in newer smartphones. While not every handset offers embedded SIM support, many of the best phones of 2025 no longer require physical SIM cards anymore — they’ve simply embraced the added convenience of digital eSIM tech, allowing users to activate new plans or switch carriers right from their phone's settings. In many cases, activation is as easy as scanning a QR code.
eSIM tech is safer than using physical SIM cards, as it’s embedded directly into your device’s hardware, making it harder to steal or clone. On top of this, eSIMs are great for travellers, making it easy to juggle multiple plans for different countries.
Of course, not all Aussie telcos are fully on board yet — Telstra, Optus and Vodafone all offer eSIM support, as do many other mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), though there are still some smaller providers that only use physical SIMs. This means you'll want to double-check if your preferred carrier supports eSIMs before you commit to a new phone or plan that uses this tech.
That said, we expect eSIM support to become even more widespread across Australia’s telcos, ultimately giving everyone more choice and convenience. For those looking to ditch their physical SIM card, here are the best eSIM plans in Australia.
Best value eSIM plans in Australia
Best data-heavy eSIM plans in Australia
How we pick the best eSIM plans in Australia
When selecting the best eSIM plans, the Aussie Tom's Guide team focuses on several key factors that we believe are important to most users.
Our initial step is to exclude carriers that do not currently support eSIM technology.
Value is a top priority — the ideal eSIM plans offer a sensible amount of data without being overly expensive. Given that the average Australian consumes about 12GB of data monthly, we consider this our minimum data allowance. We also examine premium eSIM plans that provide ample data, even if they come at a higher cost.
eSIM plans should always include unlimited calls and texts to standard Australian numbers. This is a common feature even in affordable options, so we avoid any plan that limits these.
Network coverage is another crucial element. Australians can expect access to either the Telstra, Optus or Vodafone networks, depending on their chosen provider. Telstra boasts the broadest 4G and 5G coverage, with Optus and Vodafone following closely.
Finally, while not the primary driver for our choices, we also consider additional perks such as bonus international minutes or data rollover.
