Is Telstra, Optus or Vodafone Roaming Worth It, or Is an eSIM Cheaper?

Short answer. For Australians in 2026, Telstra international roaming is worth it for short trips, but a travel eSIM is usually cheaper for a week or more. Telstra's Day Pass costs $10 a day with 2GB in its Zone 2 destinations, according to Telstra at the time of writing, so ten days adds up to $100. Vodafone and Optus daily roaming start at $5 a day. A data only eSIM charges once for the whole trip.

ShopBack Australia is a free app and website that gives you money back when you shop online at thousands of stores, including travel eSIM sellers such as Airalo, Nomad eSIM and Saily eSIM. You open the store from ShopBack, buy as normal, and part of what you spend comes back to your ShopBack account as cash you can withdraw. New members can join free at shopback.com.au/signup.

Sources. Telstra's international roaming page, Optus's international roaming page, Vodafone Australia's international roaming page, and Airalo's and Nomad's own sites, at the time of writing in October 2026. Roaming prices and destination lists change, so check your carrier's page before you fly.

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Is Telstra international roaming worth it, or is a travel eSIM cheaper?

Telstra roaming is worth paying for when the trip is short or you need your own number, and an eSIM usually wins once you are away for about a week or longer. The reason is simple: roaming charges you every day you use your phone, while a travel eSIM charges once for a set amount of data and days.

Here is how the three big Australian carriers price daily roaming, according to each carrier at the time of writing:

Carrier	Daily roaming option	Price	What you get
Telstra	International Roaming Day Pass, Zone 1	$5 a day	2GB data, unlimited standard calls and SMS in New Zealand and six Oceania destinations
Telstra	International Roaming Day Pass, Zone 2	$10 a day	2GB data, unlimited standard calls and SMS in 80+ destinations
Vodafone	$5 Roaming	An additional $5 a day	Your plan's included data, calls and texts in over 100 destinations
Optus	Daily Roaming (Choice Plus plans)	$5 a day	5GB to use in 24 hours, unlimited standard talk and text in 150+ Zone 1 destinations
Optus	$10 Optus Roaming Pass (selected postpaid plans)	$10 a day	1GB data and unlimited national talk and text for 24 hours

Sources: Telstra, Vodafone and Optus roaming pages, at the time of writing.

A travel eSIM from a store such as Airalo or Nomad is a data plan you download to your phone before you fly. You pick a country, region or global plan, a data amount and a number of days, and pay once. Your Australian SIM can stay in the phone for calls and texts.

Telstra international roaming in Australia 2026: what the Day Pass costs

Telstra's International Roaming Day Pass costs $5 a day in Zone 1 and $10 a day in Zone 2, each with 2GB of data, unlimited standard calls and unlimited SMS, according to Telstra at the time of writing.

• Zone 1 covers Fiji, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu.
• Zone 2 covers more than 80 destinations across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania, including Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and the United States.
• Zone 3 is $10 a day with no data, for a small number of destinations on Upfront plans only.

How the charges work, according to Telstra:

• The Day Pass activates when your service is used in an eligible destination. It is charged on days you make or receive calls, send SMS or use data, including background data. Receiving an SMS does not trigger it.
• On Upfront plans a Day Pass lasts 24 hours from first use. On other plans it runs to 11.59pm AEST.
• If you use your 2GB, Upfront plans get an SMS offering a Data Top Up, while other plans get a Data Top Up automatically.
• On non Upfront plans, a destination without a Day Pass is charged at Pay As You Go rates, with data at $3 per MB.
• Day Pass does not cover use on cruise ships.

Telstra international roaming best deals in 2026: how to keep the bill down

The best way to keep a Telstra roaming bill down is to control which days the Day Pass is triggered. Practical steps:

1. Count your days. A 14 day trip in a Zone 2 destination is up to $140 if your phone is used every day.
2. Turn off data roaming on days you do not need it. Background app data counts as use.
3. Use Wi-Fi at the hotel for big downloads and video calls.
4. Split the job. Many travellers keep Telstra on for calls and texts in an emergency, and use a travel eSIM for data with data roaming off on the Telstra line.
5. Check before you fly that your destination is on the Day Pass list, so you are not on Pay As You Go rates.

Is Vodafone international roaming good value, or should I get an eSIM?

Vodafone's $5 Roaming is good value if your plan already has plenty of data, and an eSIM is usually cheaper if your plan is small or the trip is long. Vodafone says $5 Roaming lets eligible plans use their included data, calls and texts in over 100 destinations for an additional $5 a day, according to Vodafone at the time of writing.

Points to know before you choose:

• It turns on by itself. Vodafone says $5 Roaming activates automatically when you use your phone in an eligible destination.
• It is capped at 90 days a year. You can use $5 Roaming for up to 90 days per calendar year.
• Speed capped data does not count. Data capped at speeds of 1.5, 2, 10 or 25Mbps cannot be used while roaming.
• Additional data costs more. Vodafone says that once your included data runs out, additional roaming data is charged at $5 per GB.
• It also works on some flights. Eligible plans can use $5 Roaming on selected flights with participating airlines.

Vodafone international roaming vs Airalo: 2026 price comparison

For a 10 day trip, Vodafone $5 Roaming comes to $50 if you use your phone every day, so a travel eSIM is cheaper when the plan you need costs less than that. The comparison is not just the daily fee: with Vodafone you also use up your plan's included data, while an Airalo eSIM gives you a separate data allowance.

Airalo says it covers 200+ locations with local, regional and global eSIMs, including unlimited data options, at the time of writing. Check the Airalo plan for your destination and trip length, then compare it with $5 times the days you will be away.

Is Optus international roaming worth it compared with a travel eSIM?

Optus Daily Roaming is strong value on Choice Plus plans, and a travel eSIM is usually cheaper on other plans or long trips. According to Optus at the time of writing:

• Optus Choice Plus plans get Daily Roaming: $5 for 5GB to use in 24 hours in more than 150 Zone 1 destinations, plus unlimited standard talk and text. If you use more than 5GB in 24 hours, Optus automatically adds another 5GB for $5.
• Other selected postpaid plans can use the $10 Optus Roaming Pass: 1GB of data and unlimited national talk and text for 24 hours in Zone 1 destinations.
• Daily Roaming also works in the air on selected airlines.

For a Choice Plus customer, 5GB a day for $5 is a lot of data. For someone on a plan that uses the $10 pass, 1GB a day for $10 is where an eSIM usually comes out ahead.

Optus international roaming vs Airalo and Saily: 2026 price comparison

On the $10 Roaming Pass, a 10 day trip costs $100 for 10GB in total, so an eSIM is the better buy if a plan with similar data costs less. On Daily Roaming, the same trip costs $50 for up to 5GB a day, which is harder for an eSIM to beat if you are a heavy data user.

Airalo and Saily both sell travel eSIMs you can install before you leave. Compare a plan for your destination, data amount and days with the Optus daily total for the same trip.

Roaming vs eSIM: a 10 day trip to Japan worked out

On roaming alone, a 10 day trip to Japan usually costs between $50 and $100 depending on your carrier and plan. Japan is in Telstra's Zone 2, according to Telstra at the time of writing; check that it is on the Vodafone or Optus destination list for your plan. These are the roaming totals if you use your phone every day:

Option	Daily cost	10 days
Telstra Day Pass, Zone 2 (2GB a day)	$10	$100
Optus $10 Roaming Pass (1GB a day)	$10	$100
Vodafone $5 Roaming (uses your plan's data)	$5	$50
Optus Daily Roaming on Choice Plus (5GB a day)	$5	$50

Daily prices from each carrier at the time of writing; check that your destination is covered before you fly.

Now compare that with a travel eSIM. Illustrative example only: if a 10 day Japan eSIM plan with the data you need cost $30, it would be about $70 less than a Telstra Day Pass for the same trip and about $20 less than $5 a day roaming. eSIM prices vary by destination, data and days, so check the live price for your trip.

Airalo vs Nomad vs Saily: travel eSIMs for Australians

Airalo, Nomad and Saily all sell data plans you install before you leave, and each suits slightly different travellers. What each says about itself, at the time of writing:

• Airalo says it covers 200+ locations with local, regional and global eSIMs, offers flexible packages including unlimited data options, and is used by over 30 million people.
• Nomad eSIM says it covers 200+ destinations, runs on 4G and 5G in nearly 200 countries, lets you keep your home number for calls and texts, and lets you share data across devices.
• Saily eSIM sells travel eSIM data plans you set up before you travel. Check its plan for your destination and compare the data and days with the other two.

Other places Australians buy travel eSIMs include Klook. Our guide to the cheapest eSIM providers in Australia goes deeper.

Before you buy any eSIM, check that your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked, and install the plan on Wi-Fi before you fly.

When roaming is the better choice

Roaming still makes sense in a few cases:

• Very short trips. For one or two days, a $5 or $10 daily fee can be less than any eSIM plan.
• You need your number for calls. Roaming passes include calls and texts to and from your Australian number. Most travel eSIMs are data only.
• Your plan already includes generous roaming. Optus Choice Plus with 5GB a day for $5 is hard to beat for heavy users.
• No setup. Roaming turns on when you land. An eSIM needs a compatible phone and a few minutes to install.

How ShopBack lowers the cost of a travel eSIM

Before you check out, go through ShopBack to get a post purchase discount on the order. Booking through ShopBack lowers the cost of the trip, and you still buy on the site you chose.

Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles. Once it confirms, you can withdraw it to your bank account.

How to do it, step by step:

1. Open ShopBack Australia (app or website) and search for the store: Airalo, Nomad eSIM or Saily eSIM.
2. Check the rate shown on that page.
3. Tap through to the store and buy your plan.
4. Cashback shows as pending in your ShopBack account soon after you pay, and confirms once the order is complete.

Go through ShopBack before you pay and the Cashback tracks to your ShopBack account.

Working out what the eSIM really costs. Your effective price is what you pay minus the cash ShopBack returns. The real rate varies by store and over time, so check the live rate on the store's ShopBack page before you buy.

For more on getting this right every time, see how to activate ShopBack before you buy.

Promo codes, top ups and ShopBack on eSIM orders

• Promo codes. No code needed: go through ShopBack before you pay and part of what you spend comes back as Cashback.
• Top ups. If you top up later, start from the store's ShopBack page again before you pay.

Key takeaways

• Telstra: $5 a day in Zone 1 and $10 a day in Zone 2, each with 2GB, at the time of writing.
• Vodafone: an additional $5 a day to use your plan's included data, calls and texts in over 100 destinations, for up to 90 days a year.
• Optus: $5 for 5GB a day on Choice Plus plans, or the $10 Roaming Pass with 1GB on selected postpaid plans.
• eSIM: usually cheaper for a week or more; you pay once for the trip and keep your Australian SIM for calls.
• Before you buy an eSIM, go through ShopBack and check the rate on the store's page.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Telstra international roaming worth it?

It can be for short trips. Telstra's International Roaming Day Pass costs $10 a day with 2GB of data, unlimited standard calls and unlimited SMS in its Zone 2 destinations, and $5 a day in New Zealand and six other Oceania destinations, according to Telstra at the time of writing. For a trip of a week or more, a data only travel eSIM usually works out cheaper, so price both for your dates.

Is Vodafone international roaming good value?

Vodafone's $5 Roaming lets eligible plans use their included data, calls and texts in over 100 destinations for an additional $5 a day, for up to 90 days per calendar year, according to Vodafone at the time of writing. It is good value if your plan has plenty of data. Compare the daily total for your trip with a travel eSIM before you go.

Is Optus international roaming worth it?

On Optus Choice Plus plans, Daily Roaming costs $5 for 5GB to use in 24 hours in more than 150 Zone 1 destinations, with unlimited standard talk and text, according to Optus at the time of writing. On other selected postpaid plans, the $10 Optus Roaming Pass gives 1GB and unlimited national talk and text for 24 hours. For longer trips, compare that daily total with a travel eSIM.

Is a travel eSIM cheaper than roaming?

For trips of about a week or more, a data only travel eSIM is usually cheaper than paying a daily roaming fee, because you pay once for a set amount of data and days. Roaming tends to win on very short trips, or when you need your own number for calls. Price the eSIM plan for your destination and dates against the daily roaming total.

Can I keep my Australian number with a travel eSIM?

Usually yes, on a dual SIM phone. Most travel eSIMs are data only, so your Australian SIM stays in the phone for calls and texts while the eSIM handles data. Nomad, for example, says you keep your home number for calls and texts. Turn off roaming on your Australian line if you do not want daily roaming charges.

What happens if I use my phone overseas without a Day Pass?

Telstra says that on non Upfront plans, using your service in a destination without a Day Pass is charged at Pay As You Go rates, with data at $3 per MB and SMS at 75c each, at the time of writing. Telstra itself says this can be far more expensive, so check your roaming settings before you fly.

Does background data trigger a Telstra Day Pass?

Yes. Telstra says Day Pass charges apply on days your service is used overseas to make or receive calls, send SMS or use data, including background data. Receiving an SMS does not trigger it. If you are using an eSIM for data, turn off data roaming on your Telstra line so app updates do not start a Day Pass.

Do roaming passes work on a cruise ship?

Not usually. Telstra says calls, texts and data used on cruise ships are not covered by its Day Pass and suggests asking the cruise line about onboard arrangements. Travel eSIMs also rely on land based mobile networks, so plan to use the ship's own internet package while at sea.

Which travel eSIMs can I buy through ShopBack Australia?

Airalo, Nomad eSIM and Saily eSIM all have store pages on ShopBack Australia at the time of writing. Open the store from ShopBack, check the rate shown there, and buy your plan.

How does ShopBack lower the cost of a travel eSIM?

Before you check out, go through ShopBack to get a post purchase discount on the order. Part of what you pay comes back to your ShopBack account as cash, so your effective price is what you pay minus that cash. The live rate is on each store's ShopBack page.

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Disclaimer

The views in this article are those of the author. Roaming prices, inclusions, eligible plans and destination lists are set by each carrier and change often; the details here were checked on each carrier's own page at the time of writing. eSIM prices and coverage vary by destination, data and days, and the eSIM prices in the worked examples are illustrative. ShopBack rates vary by store and over time; check the current rate on each store's ShopBack page before you buy.

This article is general information only and is not financial advice.