Choose the Best SIM Card for New Arrivals in Australia

Getting a SIM Card as a New Arrival

A SIM card is your first priority after landing. You need a phone number to contact your landlord, your employer, and government agencies. You have several options, from airport kiosks to online MVNOs.

The Big 3 Carriers: Coverage and Plans

Australia's three major carriers (Telstra, Optus, Vodafone) control most of the network infrastructure. Even smaller providers (MVNOs) use their networks.

### Telstra

- Coverage: Widest in Australia. 99.8% population coverage. Good in regional and remote areas.
- Airport availability: Yes. Kiosks in all major airports.
- Prepaid plans: AUD 10–50 per week. Data ranges 500 MB–10 GB.
- Postpaid plans: AUD 40–100 per month. Unlimited calls/texts + 50–150 GB data.
- App: My Telstra. Easy to manage, good customer service.
- Reliability: Most reliable coverage and speeds in cities and regions.
- Best for: Regional travel, reliability, and coverage.
- Website: telstra.com.au

### Optus

- Coverage: Excellent in cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth). Patchy in remote areas (80% population coverage).
- Airport availability: Yes.
- Prepaid plans: AUD 10–45 per week. Data 500 MB–10 GB.
- Postpaid plans: AUD 30–90 per month. Better value than Telstra. Unlimited calls/texts + 50–200 GB data.
- App: My Optus. Good interface. Fair customer service.
- Reliability: Solid in cities. Known outages in some suburbs.
- Best for: City dwellers. Cheaper than Telstra. Good value for data.
- Website: optus.com.au

### Vodafone

- Coverage: Similar to Optus. Excellent in major cities. Weak in regional areas (90% population coverage).
- Airport availability: Limited. Not in all airports. Mainly Sydney, Melbourne.
- Prepaid plans: AUD 8–40 per week. Data 1 GB–20 GB. Best value prepaid.
- Postpaid plans: AUD 25–85 per month. Cheapest major carrier. Unlimited calls/texts + 100–200 GB data.
- App: My Vodafone. Functional but has occasional bugs.
- Reliability: Good in cities. More outages than Telstra or Optus.
- Best for: Budget-conscious city residents. Good value for money.
- Website: vodafone.com.au

Comparison: The Big 3

| Carrier | Coverage | Prepaid Cost | Postpaid Cost | Regional? | City Value |
|---------|----------|--------------|---------------|-----------|-----------|
| Telstra | Best (99.8%) | Mid AUD 15-30 | High AUD 50+ | Excellent | Good |
| Optus | Good (80%) | Mid AUD 12-25 | Mid AUD 40-60 | Fair | Excellent |
| Vodafone | Good (90%) | Cheapest AUD 10-20 | Cheapest AUD 30-50 | Fair | Best value |

MVNOs: Cheaper Alternatives

MVNOs use the Big 3's networks but offer lower prices. No difference in coverage—you get the network of the carrier they use.

### Aldi Mobile

- Network: Telstra
- Prepaid: AUD 15–30 per 4 weeks. 4–20 GB data.
- No postpaid. Prepaid only.
- Best for: Budget travelers using Telstra's network.
- Website: aldi.com.au/mobile

### Boost Mobile

- Network: Telstra
- Prepaid: AUD 10–40 per 4 weeks. 1–35 GB data.
- Postpaid: No, but longer prepaid periods available.
- Best for: Budget option with Telstra reliability.
- Website: boost.com.au

### Amaysim

- Network: Optus
- Prepaid: AUD 12–50 per 4 weeks. 5–50 GB data.
- Postpaid: AUD 30–90 per month. Unlimited calls/texts + data.
- App: Good. Easy to manage.
- Best for: Optus network at better value than Optus branded.
- Website: amaysim.com.au

Prepaid vs Postpaid: What's the Difference?

### Prepaid

How it works: You buy credit upfront (AUD 15–50). Your plan expires after a set period (usually 4 weeks). Unused credit disappears after expiry.

Best for:
- First week in Australia (no contract needed)
- Travelers or short-term stays
- People unsure about their phone usage
- Testing a carrier before committing

Cost: AUD 10–50 per week, or AUD 40–200 per month depending on data.

Pros:
- No contract
- No credit check
- Easy to start (airport kiosks)
- Easy to switch carriers later

Cons:
- Credit expires (unused data is lost)
- More expensive per GB than postpaid
- Fewer features (no rollover, no family plans)

### Postpaid

How it works: You sign a contract (usually 12 months). You pay a fixed monthly fee. Unused data may roll over or expire depending on the plan.

Best for:
- Staying in Australia 12+ months
- Predictable phone usage
- People wanting unlimited calls/texts
- More data for better value

Cost: AUD 30–100 per month. Usually includes unlimited calls, texts, and 50–200 GB data.

Pros:
- Better value per GB
- Unlimited calls and texts (included)
- Data rollover (some plans)
- Family plans available

Cons:
- 12-month contract (early exit fees if you leave)
- Credit check required
- Takes 1-2 days to activate

Where to Get a SIM Card

### Option 1: Airport Kiosks (Best for Day 1)

Available: Kiosks at Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide airports. Telstra, Optus, and sometimes Vodafone.

What you need: Passport. Takes 5 minutes.

What you get: Prepaid SIM card with AUD 5–20 starter credit.

Cost: Prepaid plans AUD 10–30 per week.

Pros: Fastest. Get a number on day one.

Cons: Airport prices slightly higher than city stores. Limited plan options.

### Option 2: Retail Stores

Available: Telstra, Optus, Vodafone stores in every city and suburb.

What you need: Passport. Takes 15–30 minutes.

What you get: Prepaid or postpaid SIM. You can sign a contract if you want.

Cost: Same as airport. Postpaid plans AUD 30–100 per month (may require 2-year contract or lower commitment).

Pros: Full range of plans. Customer service on-site. Can compare plans.

Cons: Takes longer than airport. You need to find a store.

### Option 3: Online (MVNOs)

Available: Amaysim, Boost, Aldi, and others.

What you need: Email address. Can use overseas address initially. Takes 2–5 minutes to order.

What you get: Physical SIM mailed to you OR eSIM activated immediately.

Cost: Same as retail. Often cheaper for postpaid.

Pros: Cheapest. eSIM is instant. No store visit.

Cons: Physical SIM takes 1–5 days by post. Requires Australian address for postpaid.

### Option 4: eSIM (Fastest If You Have a Capable Phone)

Available: Telstra, Optus, Vodafone, Amaysim, Boost all offer eSIM.

What you need: A phone that supports eSIM (most phones from 2020+ do).

How it works: Download a digital SIM profile to your phone. Takes 5 minutes. No physical SIM card.

Cost: Same as physical SIM plans.

Pros: Instant activation. No mail delivery. Switch plans easily.

Cons: Requires compatible phone. Less familiar to some people.

To check if your phone supports eSIM:
- iPhones: iPhone 11 and later
- Android: Most flagship phones (Samsung Galaxy S21+, Google Pixel 3+)
- Check your phone's settings: go to Settings → Mobile Network or Cellular and look for "Add eSIM" or "Dual SIM" option.

Your Plan Selection Guide

First week (arrive and settle):
- Get prepaid at airport (Telstra, Optus, or Vodafone kiosk)
- Cost: AUD 20–30
- Data: 5–10 GB (enough for first week)
- Commit to nothing

After week 1 (once you have an address):
- Switch to postpaid with your chosen carrier or MVNO
- Cost: AUD 40–70 per month for good value
- Data: 50–100 GB (enough for work, streaming)
- 12-month contract typical (but may exit early)

If you travel regionally:
- Choose Telstra (best coverage outside cities)
- Cost: Slightly higher but reliable

If you stay in a city:
- Choose Optus or Vodafone for better value
- Cost: AUD 30–60 per month for good plans

If you're budget-conscious:
- Choose Vodafone postpaid or Boost/Amaysim prepaid
- Cost: AUD 25–50 per month

Common Mistakes

1. Buying prepaid then forgetting the expiry date. Mark your calendar. Credit disappears after 4 weeks if unused.

2. Assuming all phones work. Check your phone is 4G/5G compatible before leaving home. Old 3G phones no longer work in Australia.

3. Not checking coverage maps. If you'll travel regionally, check Telstra's coverage on telstra.com.au first.

4. Committing to postpaid before settling. Get prepaid first. Switch to postpaid after a week when you know your needs.

5. Not updating your number with employers and government. Tell your workplace, bank, and the ATO your Australian number within 24 hours.

International Roaming

Once you have an Australian SIM, international roaming is expensive. If you need to call home:

- Use WhatsApp, Viber, or Messenger (free over Wi-Fi or mobile data)
- International SIM apps like LocalWorld or Woop offer cheaper calls
- Home country providers may offer cheap roaming rates (check before you leave)

Most new migrants avoid roaming and use apps instead.

Network Performance: What to Expect

5G download speeds (ideal conditions):
- Telstra: 200–400 Mbps
- Optus: 150–350 Mbps
- Vodafone: 150–300 Mbps

4G download speeds (typical):
- All carriers: 20–50 Mbps in cities
- 5–15 Mbps in suburbs

For most uses (email, social media, video calls, streaming), any carrier is fine. Differences matter only for heavy video downloads.

Next Steps

1. Get a prepaid SIM at the airport (day 1).
2. Test the carrier for a week (Telstra, Optus, or Vodafone).
3. Research postpaid plans on the carrier's website or via MVNOs.
4. Switch to postpaid once you have an Australian address (week 2).
5. Update your phone number with your employer, bank, and government agencies.