Best mobile plans for international calls from Australia

Best mobile plans for international calls — May 2026

We’ve compared 196 mobile plans from 40 mobile providers in Australia and curated the top 5 picks based on price and expert analysis. Not all mobile plans are created equal, so make sure you compare your options before choosing the right one for you.

• Best value mobile plan for international calls: amaysim 42GB Plan
• Best mobile plan $40 and under for international calls: TPG Medium
• Best mobile plan $50 and under for international calls: amaysim 95GB Plan
• Best mobile plan with international call credit: Dodo $40
• Best 365-day mobile plan for international calls: Boost $365 SIM

Our top picks were reviewed by senior utilities editor Mariam Gabaji.

Finder Score	Data allowance	Ongoing price	Special offer
Best value mobile plan for international calls
8.6 Great amaysim 42GB Plan PrepaidNo lock-in contract No special offer	8.6 Great	Data Allowance 42GB Optus 4G/5G network	$35 per 28 day recharge per 28 day recharge Ongoing price $35 per 28 days expiry per 28 days expiry	No special offer	Go to site View details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it We looked at mobile plans that cost $35 a month or less and include unlimited international calls. amaysim’s 42GB plan is our top pick. It offers unlimited calls and texts to 28 countries, including Canada, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Singapore, New Zealand, Japan, the UK, and the USA. Pros & cons Pros amaysim was highly commended in the 2026 Finder Customer Satisfaction Awards for value, trust, service and reliability, and was also recognised in the Most Loved and Most Recommended Brand categories. You can bank all your unused data for future use. Bundle mobile and internet with amaysim and save $10 a month on broadband. You can track data use and manage your plan via its mobile app. Cons 5G download speeds are capped at 150Mbps, but this is fast enough for online activities on your phone. A 28-day expiry period means you’ll end up paying 13 bills over the year instead of 12.
Best mobile plan $40 and under for international calls
8.5 Great TPG Medium PrepaidNo lock-in contract SAVE $105 $35 $17.50 per month for first 6 months	8.5 Great	Data Allowance 50GB Vodafone 4G/5G network	$35 per month per month Ongoing price $35 per month per month	SAVE $105 $35 $17.50 per month for first 6 months	$17.50/mth for first 6 months, then $35/mth. T&Cs apply.	Go to site View details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it We looked at mobile plans that cost between $35 and $40 a month and include unlimited international calls. TPG’s 50GB plan took the top spot this month. It includes unlimited international calls and texts to 31 selected countries. Pros & cons Pros You’ll save $105 over 6 months with TPG’s latest offer. It won Best Value SIM Only Mobile Provider at the 2026 Finder Award. Option to sign up via an eSIM if you have a compatible handset. This takes the hassle of waiting for a physical SIM card to be delivered. Cons The price will revert to $35 a month after 6 months. 4G and 5G download speeds are capped at 150Mbps and 250Mbps, respectively. However, this is fast enough for online activities on your phone.
Best mobile plan $50 and under for international calls
9.9 Excellent amaysim 95GB Plan PrepaidNo lock-in contract SAVE $60 + BONUS DATA $45 $35 for first 6 recharges 95GB 400GB for first 6 recharges	9.9 Excellent	Data Allowance 95GB Optus 4G/5G network	$45 per 28 day recharge per 28 day recharge Ongoing price $45 per 28 days expiry per 28 days expiry	SAVE $60 + BONUS DATA $45 $35 for first 6 recharges 95GB 400GB for first 6 recharges	400GB for $35 for first 6 recharges, then 95GB for $45/recharge. Ends 15 May 2026. T&Cs apply.	Go to site View details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it We looked at mobile plans that cost between $40 and $50 a month and include unlimited international calls. amaysim’s high-data plan is our top pick. It offers unlimited calls and texts to 42 countries, including China, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Indonesia, India, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Thailand and the UK. Its latest offer will give you a whopping 400GB for $35 on your first 6 recharges. Pros & cons Pros amaysim was highly commended for value, reliability, trust and quality service in Finder’s 2026 Mobile Customer Satisfaction Awards. It offers unlimited data banking, letting you save all your unused data. Unlimited international calls and texts to 42 selected countries. Option to sign up with an eSIM if you have a compatible handset. You can save $10 a month by bundling internet and mobile plans with amaysim. Cons The price and data allowance will revert to $45 for 95GB from the seventh recharge. A 28-day expiry period means you’ll end up paying 13 bills over the year instead of 12. 5G download speeds are capped at 200Mbps, but this is fast enough for online activities on your phone, such as streaming and gaming.
Best mobile plan with international call credit
9.3 Excellent Dodo $40 PostpaidNo lock-in contract SAVE $80 $40 $20 per month for first 4 months	9.3 Excellent	Data Allowance 80GB Optus 4G/5G network	$40 per month per month Ongoing price $40 per month per month	SAVE $80 $40 $20 per month for first 4 months	$20/mth for first 4 months, then $40/mth. Order by 12 May 2026. T&Cs apply.	View details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it We looked at mobile plans with international call credit and found Dodo’s 80GB plan to be our top pick this month. There’s $400 worth of international call credit included, plus you'll save $80 over 4 months with its latest offer. Pros & cons Pros There are no excess data charges. If you go over your monthly data allowance, your internet speeds will slow to 256Kbps until the next billing cycle. Includes unlimited data banking so that you can save all your unused data for later. Option to save up to $15 a month by bundling your energy, mobile and internet plans with Dodo. A roaming add-on is available in over 100 countries, costing $10 per day for 1GB plus unlimited calls and texts. Cons The price will revert to $40 a month after 4 months.
Best 365-day mobile plan for international calls
8.6 Great Boost $365 SIM PrepaidNo lock-in contract BONUS DATA 365GB 375GB for first recharge	8.6 Great	Data Allowance 365GB Telstra 4G/5G network	$365 per 12 months per 12 months Ongoing price $365 per 12 months per 12 months	BONUS DATA 365GB 375GB for first recharge	375GB on activation, then 365GB/recharge. Activate by 10 Aug 2026. T&Cs apply.	Go to site View details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it We looked at 365-day prepaid plans that cost under $400. Boost Mobile takes the top spot. You'll get unlimited international calls to 20 selected countries, 3,600 minutes to 30 selected countries, plus 3,600 texts to any country. Pros & cons Pros You’re essentially paying $30 a month for around 31GB, which meets our $1 per GB benchmark. It's the only small provider with access to the full Telstra network. This will make a difference if you live in or are visiting regional and rural areas of Australia. You can buy an international roaming pack to use in 42 selected countries. Option to sign up with an eSIM if you have a compatible handset. Cons The data allowance will revert to 365GB from the second recharge. Download speeds are capped at 150Mbps, which is still plenty fast for phone-based activities like streaming and gaming.

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How to find the best mobile plan for international calls

Finding the best mobile plan for international calls depends on your budget, the countries you call, and how often you call them - there's no one-size-fits-all solution.

Here are a few tips to help you choose the right plan:

Make sure the countries you want to call are covered

Check if your provider covers the countries you need to call to avoid extra charges. Popular destinations like China, India, New Zealand, the USA, and the UK are often included, but for places like Pakistan, the UAE, or South Africa, double-check the details.

Are calls unlimited or restricted to minutes?

Providers offer international calls in different ways. Some give unlimited calls to certain countries, while others offer a set credit or minutes. If you don't call often, credit or minutes might work, but if you call more frequently, unlimited calls could be better.

Check the call rates

If your plan includes unlimited international calls, this isn't a concern. But with a call credit limit, you'll need to check the rates for the country you're calling to see how far your credit will go.

Do you need to call a landline or mobile number?

If you're using call credits, be mindful of whether you're calling a landline or mobile, as providers often have different rates for each, even within the same country. Calling a mobile overseas can quickly deplete your credits.

"While most of us use apps like WhatsApp to call friends and family abroad, I knew I needed to sign up to a plan that offered international calls to landlines so I could keep in touch with my grandma overseas who actually doesn't own a mobile phone. I opted for a Boost Mobile plan as it offered unlimited calls to the country I needed for no additional cost to the plan."

Michelle Kwong

Publisher

Which mobile providers offer international calls?

Many providers in our database include international call options in their plans, offering credit, minutes, or unlimited calls to selected destinations (standard numbers only).

However, these inclusions can vary depending on the plan, so be sure to review the details carefully before signing up.

We’ve broken down the list of countries you can call for some popular providers including Optus and Vodafone.

Optus international calls

As mentioned, Optus offers unlimited standard international calls and texts to 35 selected destinations on its postpaid plans.

Its prepaid plans include international minutes to Zone 1 and Zone 2 destinations.

• List of destinations

  Postpaid: Brazil, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, China, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Romania, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, USA and Vietnam.

  Prepaid Zone 1: Brazil, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, mainland China, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Romania, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, UK, USA and Vietnam.

  Prepaid Zone 2: Argentina, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bermuda, Chile, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Rep., Dominican Rep., Egypt, Faroe Is., Gibraltar, Guam, Guatemala, Iceland, Iran, Kenya, Kuwait, Macau, Malta, Mongolia, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, N. Mariana Islands, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia, Slovak Rep., South Africa, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Turkmenistan, UAE, Uruguay and Venezuela.

Vodafone international calls

Vodafone splits its international inclusions across Zone 1 and Zone 2 destinations.

• List of destinations

  Zone 1: Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Germany, Guam, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Puerto Rico, Romania, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, UK, USA and the Vatican (Holy See).

  Zone 2: Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brunei, Cambodia, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Faroe Islands, France, Gibraltar, Greece, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Macau, Malta, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Northern Mariana Islands, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Reunion, Russia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Venezuela and Vietnam.

Telstra international calls

Telstra’s international call inclusions aren’t what they used to be.

You get 30 minutes to any country on its postpaid plans, but that’s about it. For anything more, you’ll need to add on an international calling pack.

Frequently asked questions

• How can I make international calls from Australia for free?

  You can use apps like WhatsApp and Facetime to make free calls from Australia. Alternatively, choose a provider that includes international calls to the countries you want to reach.

  Some options include Optus, amaysim, Boost Mobile, Tangerine, ALDI Mobile, Everyday Mobile (Woolworths) and Coles Mobile.

• Does my Telstra plan include international calls?

  Only if you’re a Telstra postpaid customer - and even then, it’s just 30 minutes, though you can call any country. Need more time? You’ll have to add an international call pack.

• Are WhatsApp calls free internationally on Wi-Fi?

  Yes, they’re completely free! You won’t be charged for using WhatsApp, whether you’re connected to Wi-Fi or using your mobile data.

  However, keep in mind that if you’re relying on mobile data, it will count towards your data allowance.

  So as long as you have enough data or are on Wi-Fi, you can enjoy WhatsApp calls and messages at no extra cost.

Written by

Mariam Gabaji

Senior Utilities Editor & Tech Expert

Mariam Gabaji is a journalist with 13 years of experience, specialising in consumer topics like mobile services and energy costs. Her work appears in the ABC, Yahoo Finance, 9News, The Guardian, SBS, 7News, A Current Affair and Money Magazine. Mariam holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and was a finalist for the 2024 and 2025 IT Journalism Award for Best Telecommunications Journalist. See full bio

Mariam's expertise

Mariam has written 532 Finder guides across topics including:

• Energy
• Mobile
• Broadband
• Consumer tech