Best eSIM plans in Australia

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Best value eSIM plans
Data-heavy eSIM plans

While the best eSIM plans in Australia are not supported by every handset, many of the best phones of 2025 no longer require physical SIM cards — 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.

eSIMs are rapidly gaining popularity in Australia and are now a common feature in newer smartphones. This technology offers enhanced security over traditional physical SIM cards, as it's integrated directly into your device's hardware, significantly reducing the risk of theft or cloning. Additionally, eSIMs are highly beneficial for travellers, simplifying the management of multiple mobile plans across various 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're expecting eSIM support to really take off with Australian telcos in the next couple of year, giving you way more flexibility and choices. If you're keen to ditch your physical SIM card, we've put together a list of the best eSIM plans in Australia.

Best eSIM plans in Australia: value

Tangerine (25GB 5G Mobile SIM) | 25GB data | prepaid | AU$29p/m

There are cheaper offers on the list below, but when you take away promotional pricing that many carriers offer for the first 6 months, we think this plan from Tangerine offers the best bang for your buck. For the reasonable price of AU$29p/m, you get 25GB of monthly data and access to Telstra's 4G and 5G networks. You can also bank up to 1000GB of unused data, which is exceptional.

Total minimum cost is AU$29 (1 month) | Total cost for first year: AU$348

Best eSIM plans in Australia: data

Vodafone Large SIM Only Plan | 400GB data | No lock-in contract | AU$55p/m for first 12 months, then AU$73p/m

Vodafone's Large SIM Only Plan offers exceptional value with 400GB of monthly data. New customers or those switching plans can get this plan for just AU$55p/m for the first 12 months, after which the price reverts to AU$73p/m. However, for those users who won't consume that much data, the Medium SIM Only Plan with 200GB of monthly data might be a more suitable long-term choice. That's priced at AU$50p/m for the first year, before going back to the full AU$63p/m price.

Total minimum cost is AU$55 (1 month) | Total cost for first year: AU$660

How we pick the best eSIM plans in Australia

When selecting the best eSIM plans in Australia, the 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.

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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.