International Roaming

Roaming in Australia: Costs, plans, and alternatives

Roaming in Australia can be costly. Compare roaming costs and how to stay connected abroad for less with an unlimited data Holafly eSIM.

Before heading off on your outback adventure, understand how roaming in Australia works. Roaming options can be buried in lengthy contracts or complex websites, and missing the fine print could lead to unexpected charges.

This guide will explore international roaming options for tourists traveling from the US, UK, and Canada to Australia. We’ll help you navigate the ins and outs of international data roaming plans and look at alternative solutions like pocket WiFi, local SIM cards, and a travel eSIM.

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Roaming costs in Australia

Roaming costs in Australia vary by provider and whether you’re visiting from the UK, USA, or Canada. Mobile carriers typically offer roaming-inclusive plans, travel passes, or pay-as-you-go options. The best roaming plans in Australia range from ~£5–7 GBP, ~$5–50 USD, or ~$16–18 CAD.

Roaming costs in Australia for USA travelers

Many US-based mobile carriers offer data roaming options that allow you to use your phone freely in Australia. This section covers the USA’s top three providers —T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon — and each offers international roaming options.

T-Mobile roaming in Australia

T-Mobile international roaming services include Australia as an eligible destination. If you’re on any of these roaming-inclusive pay-monthly plans, you can enjoy unlimited data (with varying speed caps) and texting in Australia:

Experience Beyond Go5G Next: 256Kbps
Experience More, Go5G Plus, Max, and One Plus: 256Kbps

If you’re not on one of these international plans and you’d like to enjoy high-speed data, you can go for one of T-Mobile’s international passes:

One-day International Pass: $5 for up to 512 MB
10-day International Pass: $35 for up to 5 GB
30-day International Pass: $50 for up to 15 GB

If you’re not on a roaming-inclusive plan and choose not to buy an international pass, you’ll have to pay T-Mobile’s pay-as-you-go roaming rates, which are $0.25 a minute for calls and $0.01 per MB.

AT&T roaming in Australia

There are a few ways to roam with AT&T, whether you’re a frequent traveler or just visiting once. While AT&T’s international roaming-inclusive plans cover Mexico, Canada, and 20 Latin American countries, Australia isn’t included. To roam there, you’ll need to choose one of the following:

International Day Pass:

$12/day for the first line
$6/day for each additional line
Use your regular plan allowances abroad

Pay-per-use rates (if no pass is activated):

$3 per voice minute
$0.50 per text
$2.05 per MB

Verizon roaming in Australia

Verizon’s international roaming services offer multiple plans for Australia, giving US travelers a few ways to stay connected while abroad:

International Monthly Plan

$100/month
Includes 210+ destinations, including Australia
Unlimited data and text
250 voice minutes

Travel Pass

$12/day
Unlimited data, talk, and text

Pay As You Go rates for roaming in Australia

$2.05 per MB
$1.79 per minute
$0.50 per sent text

While Verizon provides coverage, these plans can get expensive. For a more flexible and affordable alternative, Holafly offers roaming data bundles that tourists in Australia can use easily, with no physical SIM swap needed.

Roaming costs in Australia for UK travelers

The following section covers the top mobile providers in the UK, including EE, Three, Vodafone UK, and O2. If you’re traveling to Australia from the UK, keep reading to learn about your various data roaming options.

EE roaming in Australia

Australia is included in EE’s international roaming coverage for customers on the Full Works monthly plan. If you’re on this plan, you can use your UK allowances while roaming in Australia at no extra cost.

If not, you’ll need to purchase a Zone 2 EE travel pass, which covers Australia:

£7.50 per day
£37.50 per week

Note: EE doesn’t offer pay-as-you-go rates for destinations outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland, so if you’re not on a roaming-inclusive plan, you must buy data add-ons to use your phone in Australia.

O2 roaming in Australia

Australia is part of O2’s international roaming Travel Inclusive Zone, so if you’re on an O2 Ultimate plan, you can add the Travel Inclusive Zone Ultimate Bolt On and use your phone as usual while abroad.

If not, O2 offers a Travel Pass for £7/day, giving pay-monthly customers access to UK allowances in 63 destinations, including Australia.

Without a pass, you’ll pay O2 roaming charges in Australia at the following rates:

£7.20 per MB
£3 per voice minute
£1 per text

Vodafone roaming in Australia

Vodafone’s international roaming includes Australia in its Unlimited Max Global Roam plan. If you’re on this pay-monthly plan, you can use up to 25 GB of your UK allowance while roaming in Australia.

For other plans, like Vodafone Basics, you can purchase a roaming pass:

£7.86 per day
Includes calls, texts, and up to 25 GB of data

If you don’t have a roaming pass, you’ll be charged Vodafone roaming charges in Australia at the following pay-as-you-go rates:

12p per MB of data usage
8p per text
36p per voice minute

Three roaming in Australia

Three’s international roaming-inclusive monthly plans include Three Your Way Value and Three Your Way Complete. On any of these plans, you’ll have up to 12 GB of data roaming a month.

If not, you can choose one of Three’s Go Roam Around the World passes:

Go Roam Around the World 3-day pass for £12.50
Go Roam Around the World pass 7-day pass for £30
Go Roam Around the World pass 14-day pass for £60

If you’re not on a roaming-inclusive monthly plan and choose not to purchase a roaming pass, you’ll be subject to Three’s pay-as-you-go rates: 10p per MB, 35p per text, and £1.40 per minute.

Roaming costs in Australia for Canadian travelers

If you’re traveling from Canada to Australia, you’ll want to understand your roaming options in Canada before you go. Below, we cover Canada’s roaming services and popular mobile providers to help you stay connected on your trip.

Bell roaming in Australia

If you’re on Bell’s international roaming-inclusive Roam Better plan, you can use your phone in Australia with regular monthly allowances. No need to buy a travel pass.

If not, Bell doesn’t offer a roaming pass for Australia, so you’ll be charged pay-per-use rates:

$8–16 per MB
$2.50–4 per voice minute
$0.99 per text

Telus roaming in Australia

Telus international roaming services offer Easy Roam, a monthly plan that lets you use your regular allowances in Australia for $16 per day.

If you’re not on Easy Roam, Telus doesn’t offer any travel passes for Australia. You’ll be charged pay-per-use rates instead:

$5 per MB
$2 per voice minute
$0.75 per text

Rogers roaming in Australia

Rogers offers Australia roaming options in three ways. You can opt for Roam Like Home – Rogers’ main roaming plan. To learn more about this plan, visit our dedicated Rogers international roaming guide.

If you’re not eligible for Roam Like Home, you can opt for one of Rogers’ Travel Passes:

14-day pass: $100
30-day pass: $110
Daily pass: $18

Rogers also offers pay-per-use rates for users who don’t opt for Roam Like Home or a Travel Pass, including $12 per 50 MB, $1.45-4 per voice minute, and $0.75 per text.

Avoid roaming charges in Australia: Unlimited data with Holafly

Instead of stressing over avoiding roaming charges, daily fees, and surprise bills from your carrier, opt for a modern and convenient travel solution – Holafly’s eSIM for Australia. Here are a couple of reasons why it’s the best alternative to staying connected abroad:

Unlimited, high-speed data plans
Reliable network coverage
No swapping physical SIM cards
24/7 Multilingual customer support

And flexible data plans! You can match your eSIM plan to your vacation duration (between one and 90 days) so you never have to pay for more than you need.

How to avoid roaming charges in Australia

While Holafly is one of the easiest ways to stay connected in Australia and abroad, you can always opt for alternatives and keep these tips in mind to help you manage roaming costs and use your mobile phone abroad.

Turn data roaming off: This helps prevent your device from connecting to international networks and racking up a hefty bill.
Opt for a local Australia SIM card: This allows you to enjoy local rates, but also means swapping SIM cards and losing access to your main number.
Use a pocket WiFi device: Pocket WiFi for Australia is a small, portable hotspot with fixed data usage fees. However, it can be quite costly, and you’ll need to carry an extra gadget and keep it charged. Opt for Holafly Plans, the digital version of a pocket WiFi device, instead.
Connect to free public WiFi: You can save on mobile data, but connections can be slow and less secure.
Grab an unlimited data travel eSIM, a stress-free alternative to traditional SIM cards. An eSIM for Australia gives you instant internet access when traveling internationally and peace of mind from arrival.

Choose an eSIM for Australia: Unlimited data, peace of mind

Choosing Holafly’s eSIM for Australia is a smarter decision than relying on traditional roaming plans.

With an eSIM, you can avoid sudden roaming charges and large bills at the end of your trip, while enjoying unlimited data. With 24/7 customer support and keeping your main number active for calls and texts, an eSIM offers peace of mind, flexibility, and affordability – all in one travel solution.

Traveling to New Zealand instead? Check out our guides on roaming in New Zealand.

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Mahnoor Bangush

SEO Content Writer

Born and raised in Queens, New York, I'm a Psychology graduate with a passion for writing that I've been nurturing since 2019. Over the years, I've enjoyed creating meaningful content across various niches, including sports, hospitality, and career development. At Holafly, I focus on crafting useful and inspiring pieces to make your adventures more effortless. One of the best perks of this role? Creating travel content always seems to inspire my next vacation destination!

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