Which eSIM Provider Is the Cheapest in Australia in 2026?

Published: 8 October 2026 · Author: Hejia Zhang, Editor in Chief, ShopBack

Short answer. In Australia in 2026 there is no single cheapest eSIM provider, because the cheapest choice depends on what you need it for. For use at home, Optus Flex Plus prepaid recharges start at $15, according to Optus at the time of writing, and choosing an eSIM skips the $2 physical SIM charge. For a trip overseas, a data-only travel eSIM from Klook can cost less than paying for roaming every day, depending on the destination and trip length. Whichever you pick, the last step before you pay is to open ShopBack.

ShopBack Australia is a free app and website that gives you money back when you shop or book online at thousands of stores, including Optus and Klook. You open the store from ShopBack, check out 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.

How we checked. We read Optus's prepaid and international roaming pages, Klook's eSIM listings and help centre, and the Terms on the ShopBack Optus and Klook pages, in October 2026. We only list prices that the provider publishes as standard options, not short-term sales, and plan inclusions change, so check the provider's site before you buy.

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Which eSIM provider is the cheapest in Australia?

The cheapest eSIM is the one with the lowest total cost for the data, days and number you actually need. That splits into two quite different questions.

1. You need a plan for everyday use in Australia. You want an Australian number, calls, texts and data. Here you compare prepaid or SIM-only plans from Australian providers. Optus Flex Plus prepaid is one example: at the time of writing Optus lists recharge options from $15 up to $395, and says every Flex Plus recharge includes unlimited standard national calls and SMS.
2. You need data for a trip overseas. You want to avoid a surprise roaming bill. Here you compare your own provider's roaming charge (for example, Optus Daily Roaming at $5 for 5GB per 24 hours in Zone 1 destinations) against a travel eSIM bought for that country, such as one from Klook.

In both cases, three checks keep you from overpaying:

• Count the full cost. Multiply any daily charge by the number of days, and include any SIM fee. Optus says a physical SIM adds $2 to the minimum cost of a prepaid plan, which an eSIM avoids.
• Match the data to your use. A large data allowance is only good value if you use it. A light user often pays less on a smaller recharge.
• Check your phone. An eSIM needs an eSIM compatible phone. If your phone is locked to another provider, sort that out first.

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eSIM Australia: what it is and who needs one

An eSIM is a SIM built into your phone, so you download a mobile plan instead of putting in a plastic card. Optus describes it as an embedded module into which you download an eSIM profile, with no need for a physical SIM card.

Optus lists a few practical benefits on its prepaid page:

• No delivery wait. Optus says you can activate an eSIM digitally with no SIM delivery wait. By comparison, Optus aims to deliver physical SIMs ordered online within 2 business days in metro areas and within 5 business days elsewhere.
• Two numbers on one phone. You can run an eSIM and a physical SIM side by side, for example one number for work and one for personal use. Optus notes that on some 5G phones you may not reach its 5G network while both are active, so check your phone maker's specifications.
• Less plastic. Fewer SIM cards to make and post.

Who benefits most? People switching providers who want to be connected the same day, travellers who want to add a data plan for a trip without removing their Australian SIM, and anyone who wants a second number without a second phone.

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eSIM in Australia in 2026: local plan or travel eSIM?

Decide where you will use the data first, because local plans and travel eSIMs are priced for different jobs.

What you need	Usual cheapest route	What the provider publishes
An Australian number with calls, texts and data at home	A prepaid or SIM-only eSIM plan	Optus Flex Plus recharges of $15, $40, $44, $50, $54, $64, $200 and $395, according to Optus at the time of writing
Data on a short trip while keeping your own number	Your provider's roaming option	Optus Daily Roaming at $5 for 5GB per 24 hours in 150+ Zone 1 destinations on Choice Plus plans; a $10 Roaming Pass with 1GB for selected customers
Data on a longer trip, or a trip to one country	A travel eSIM for that destination	Klook lists data-only eSIMs for 50+ countries with validity from 1 to 30 days

Prices and inclusions change; check each provider's own site on the day you buy.

A simple worked comparison. Say you are an Optus Choice Plus customer heading to Japan for 10 days and you use data every day. According to Optus, Daily Roaming charges $5 for each 24 hour period you use it, so 10 days of roaming would come to about $50. Now look up a Klook Japan eSIM with enough data for 10 days and compare its total with that $50. If the eSIM total is lower and you do not need your Australian number for calls, the eSIM is the cheaper option. If you need to make normal calls on your own number, roaming may still suit you better.

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eSIM best deals in Australia in 2026: where the savings usually come from

The best eSIM deals in Australia in 2026 usually come from a handful of places. Some can be combined, but each provider's terms decide which:

• Choosing a smaller recharge. Optus Flex Plus starts at $15 at the time of writing. If you mostly use Wi-Fi, a smaller recharge may cover you.
• Longer recharges. Optus lists $200 and $395 Flex Plus options alongside its 28 day options. Longer recharges can suit people who want to pay less often; compare the cost per month against the 28 day options.
• AutoRecharge discounts. According to Optus, from 30 September 2026 customers on the $44, $54 and $64 Flex Plus options receive a $4 discount on each eligible recharge made through AutoRecharge.
• New service offers. Providers often run limited time offers on a first recharge. These change frequently, so read the end date and what the price reverts to.
• Going through ShopBack before you pay online. This lowers the effective price of eligible orders, as explained below.

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Optus vs Klook eSIM: price comparison for 2026

Optus and Klook suit different needs, so the fair comparison is the total cost for your situation.

Optus is an Australian mobile network. Its eSIM is a full mobile service: an Australian number, calls, texts and data. Optus Flex Plus is its prepaid rate plan, activated through the My Optus app. For Optus customers travelling overseas, Optus offers Daily Roaming on Choice Plus plans at $5 for 5GB per 24 hours with unlimited standard talk and text in Zone 1 destinations, and a $10 Roaming Pass with 1GB data and unlimited talk and text for 24 hours for selected customers. Optus says prepaid customers can use prepaid roaming options.

Klook is a travel booking platform that sells travel eSIMs, physical travel SIM cards and pocket Wi-Fi for 50+ countries. Its eSIM listings show the local network for each destination, for example Softbank and Docomo in Japan, SKT in South Korea, AIS in Thailand, Viettel in Vietnam and Verizon in the USA. Klook lists these eSIMs as data only, with validity from 1 to 30 days and instant confirmation.

	Optus eSIM	Klook travel eSIM
Best for	Everyday use in Australia, and roaming on your own number	Data on a trip to one destination overseas
Phone number	Yes, an Australian number	No, data only
How you pay	Prepaid recharges or a postpaid plan	One-off purchase per trip
Published options	Flex Plus recharges from $15; Daily Roaming $5 per 5GB per 24 hours	Validity from 1 to 30 days; price depends on destination and data
How you set it up	My Optus app	Klook app or QR code

A common setup is to use both: an Optus (or other provider) service for home, and a Klook eSIM for data while abroad, with the home SIM kept on for texts.

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Optus's official eSIM and prepaid options

Optus's official prepaid plan is Optus Flex Plus, and you can buy it as an eSIM or a physical SIM. Here is what Optus publishes about it at the time of writing:

• Recharge options: $15, $40, $44, $50, $54, $64, $200 and $395. The $40 and $50 options are for new services activated with a $40 or $50 SIM or eSIM with AutoRecharge set up and kept on.
• Calls and texts: all Flex Plus recharges include unlimited standard national calls and SMS.
• Network: all Flex Plus recharges can use Optus's 4G and 5G standard network on a 5G compatible phone in covered areas.
• eSIM set up: Optus says you download your eSIM profile through the My Optus app, and you need a stable internet connection over Wi-Fi or a hotspot to get started.
• Physical SIM cost: the minimum cost is the recharge amount, plus $2 for a physical SIM if applicable.

If you want a postpaid plan instead, Optus also sells SIM-only and phone plans, and its Daily Roaming option applies to Choice Plus plans.

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Klook travel eSIMs and KlookCash

Klook's travel eSIMs are data plans you buy for a specific destination and install before you fly. According to Klook's help centre:

• Confirmation: for products with instant confirmation, you receive the booking confirmation email within 5 minutes.
• Activation: open the Klook app, go to Account, then Bookings, and tap Activate, or scan the QR code on your voucher from your phone's mobile settings.
• When data starts: Klook says your data usage does not start immediately when you activate.

Klook also has its own reward credit, KlookCash. Klook says that once you have at least 10 KlookCash in your account, you can tick the KlookCash box in the Discount section at checkout to apply it to your booking.

Tips that usually save money on a travel eSIM:

• Pick the validity that matches your trip, not a longer one.
• Estimate your data honestly. Maps and messaging use little; video streaming uses a lot.
• Turn off data roaming on your Australian SIM so you are not charged twice.

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How ShopBack lowers what you pay for an eSIM

Before you pay online, go through ShopBack first. The last step before you book flights or hotels, or buy a travel eSIM for the trip, is to open ShopBack.

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, subject to ShopBack's withdrawal terms.

How to do it, step by step:

1. Open ShopBack Australia (app or website) and search for the store: Optus or Klook.
2. Check the rate shown on that page and read the Terms section, which lists what is and is not covered. Telco pages often cover new sign-ups rather than every recharge, so read this before you start.
3. Tap through to the store and check out in that same session.
4. Your cashback shows in your ShopBack account as pending, then confirms later.

Your effective price is what you pay minus the cash ShopBack returns. For example, on a $30 Klook eSIM order at an illustrative 5%, $1.50 comes back, so the effective price is $28.50. That figure is only an illustration; check the live rate on the store's ShopBack page before you buy.

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Promo codes, KlookCash and ShopBack on the same order

• Promo codes. Some stores only track orders that use no code, or a code listed on their ShopBack page. Usually the safest route is to read the Terms on the store's ShopBack page and check the merchant's terms before applying any code.
• KlookCash and store credit. Orders paid partly with store credit or reward credit can be treated differently. The store's ShopBack Terms explain how.
• Telco offers. Plan offers are set by the provider. Whether an offer and ShopBack can both apply to one sign-up depends on the store's terms; at Optus, check the Terms section of the ShopBack Optus page before you sign up.

For the general rules, see how to activate ShopBack before you buy.

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Other eSIM providers in Australia

Besides Optus, Australian mobile providers offering eSIM include Telstra, Vodafone, Boost Mobile, Amaysim, Belong, Felix and Lebara, among others, while travel eSIMs for overseas trips are also sold by Airalo, Holafly and Nomad alongside Klook. Compare the total cost for the data, days and number you need, and check each store's ShopBack page before you pay.

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Key takeaways

• There is no single cheapest eSIM provider in Australia; the cheapest choice depends on whether you need a local plan or data overseas.
• Optus Flex Plus prepaid recharges start at $15 according to Optus at the time of writing, and an eSIM avoids the $2 physical SIM charge.
• For travel, compare your provider's daily roaming total (Optus Daily Roaming is $5 per 5GB per 24 hours) with a Klook travel eSIM for the same days.
• The last step before you book flights or hotels, or buy a travel eSIM: open ShopBack.
• Your effective price is what you pay minus the cash ShopBack returns.

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Frequently asked questions

Which eSIM provider is the cheapest in Australia?

In Australia there is no single cheapest eSIM provider; it depends on whether you need a local number or data for a trip overseas. For use at home, Optus Flex Plus prepaid recharges start at $15 according to Optus at the time of writing, and an eSIM skips the $2 physical SIM charge. For trips abroad, a data-only travel eSIM from Klook can cost less than paying for roaming every day. Before you pay online, go through ShopBack.

What is an eSIM and does my phone need one?

An eSIM is a SIM built into your phone, so you download a mobile plan instead of inserting a plastic card. Optus describes it as an embedded module into which you download an eSIM profile. You need an eSIM compatible phone, and many recent phones also let you run an eSIM and a physical SIM side by side, giving you two numbers on one phone.

Is an eSIM cheaper than a physical SIM in Australia?

The plan price is usually the same, but an eSIM can save a small fee and a wait. According to Optus, the minimum cost of a prepaid plan is the recharge amount plus $2 for a physical SIM if applicable, so an eSIM avoids that $2. You also activate it digitally in the My Optus app rather than waiting for a SIM to arrive by post.

How much does an Optus prepaid eSIM cost?

At the time of writing, Optus lists Optus Flex Plus prepaid recharge options of $15, $40, $44, $50, $54, $64, $200 and $395, with the $40 and $50 options available to new services that keep AutoRecharge on. Optus says all Flex Plus recharges include unlimited standard national calls and SMS. Inclusions and prices change, so check the current table on Optus's site before you choose.

Optus vs Klook eSIM: which is cheaper for travel?

They are built for different jobs. Optus Daily Roaming lets Choice Plus customers keep their own number overseas for $5 per 5GB per 24 hours in Zone 1 destinations, according to Optus. A Klook travel eSIM is a data-only plan for one destination with validity from 1 to 30 days. Multiply the daily roaming charge by your trip length and compare it with the Klook total for the same days and data.

Does a Klook eSIM give me a phone number?

Usually not. Klook lists its travel eSIMs as data only, so they generally do not come with a local phone number for normal calls and texts. You can still use internet calling and messaging apps over the data. Many travellers keep their Australian SIM in the phone for texts such as bank codes and use the Klook eSIM for data.

When should I install a travel eSIM?

Install it before you leave, while you are on stable Wi-Fi. Klook says you can activate the eSIM in the Klook app under Account, then Bookings, then Activate, or by scanning the QR code on your voucher, and that data usage does not start immediately on activation. Check your plan's validity rules on the booking page.

How does ShopBack lower the price of an eSIM?

ShopBack Australia returns part of what you spend on eligible online orders as cash, which lowers what you actually pay. The last step before you book flights, hotels or a travel eSIM: open ShopBack, tap the store, then check out in the same session. Your effective price is what you pay minus the cash ShopBack returns; the live rate and Terms are on each store's ShopBack page.

Can I use a promo code and ShopBack on the same eSIM order?

Sometimes. Whether a store promo code and ShopBack can both apply depends on the store; some stores only track orders that use no code or a code listed on their ShopBack page. Usually the safest route is to read the Terms on the store's ShopBack page and check the merchant's terms before you apply any code.

Which other eSIM providers are there in Australia?

Besides Optus, Australian mobile providers that offer eSIM include Telstra, Vodafone, Boost Mobile, Amaysim, Belong, Felix and Lebara, among others. For overseas trips, travel eSIM sellers include Klook, Airalo, Holafly and Nomad. Compare the total cost for the data and days you need, not just the headline price.

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Disclaimer

The views in this article are those of the author. Mobile plan prices, recharge options, roaming charges, eSIM availability, travel eSIM data allowances and validity, and device compatibility vary by provider and change often; check each provider's site before you buy. ShopBack rates and terms vary by store and over time; check the current rate and Terms on each store's ShopBack page before purchase.

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