Our verdict: ZenSIM offers decent value if you want extra perks like referral discounts, data banking and international calls on your prepaid plan. It also stands out by offering travel eSIMs.
ZenSim is one of the newer telcos specialising in prepaid mobile plans and travel eSIMs.
Its prepaid plans start at $25 per month for 20GB of data and max out at $65 per month for 100GB. In terms of value, these prices sit somewhere in the middle of the pack; neither especially good nor bad.
All monthly ZenSim plans come with a 30-day billing cycle. This means you only get charged 12 times per year, instead of 13.
ZenSim also sells a range of "endless data" plans for an added premium. Instead of cutting access to the network once you run out of data, these plans cap your speeds to 2Mbps.
Unfortunately, the value proposition isn't great. ZenSim's 50GB endless data plan costs the same as its standard 70GB plan. Most people will be better off with 20 extra gigabytes at full speed.
It's worth noting that all ZenSim plans are eSIM only. If you're using an old phone or simply prefer using physical SIM cards, you're out of luck.
Pros
Option to bank unused data up to 500GB
Between 250 and 1,000 minutes of international calls to selected countries
ZenSim runs on Vodafone's 4G and 5G networks, although 5G is only available on higher-tier plans.
The Vodafone network recently received a significant expansion thanks to a network-sharing agreement with Optus. It now reaches approximately 98.4% of the Australian population.
You can expect to receive reliable coverage anywhere there are lots of people.
On ZenSim's standard plans, 4G and 5G speeds are both capped at 150Mbps. This isn't as fast as some rival prepaid plans, but should be perfectly adequate for all data-based activities, including streaming.
On endless data plans, network speeds are uncapped. This means you can reach speeds of up to 500Mbps in city centres.
ZenSim travel eSIMs
ZenSim's travel eSIMs start at $17. There are individual options for over 200 destinations around the world.
You can also opt for a 30-day global eSIM that works in 119 countries. Prices start at $35 for 3GB, which is pretty standard for a global eSIM.
Note that this is a separate product from its prepaid mobile plans, not an add-on.
What features and perks does ZenSim offer?
ZenSim has a few interesting perks up its sleeve, including:
Squad Savings
For each new monthly customer you refer to ZenSim, the telco will credit you 100% of their first payment. For example, if they sign up to a $40 plan, your account will receive a $40 credit, for example.
To refer a friend, you simply send them the unique URL contained within the Squad Savings tab in the ZenSim app.
The referred customer, meanwhile, receives $5 off their monthly bill for their first 3 renewals. Your account also receives the same $5 credit. In other words, if they renew 3 times, you'll both receive $15 credit over 3 months.
There is no limit to how many friends you refer. If you have lots of friends (and don't mind spamming them with mobile plan deals), you could potentially get free mobile coverage for months on end.
Data banking
Wasted data is a real shame, so ZenSIM lets customers bank up to 500GB for future use.
This allowance is about average compared to other providers - some allow banking up to 1000GB or even offer unlimited data banking.
However, 500GB is fairly reasonable for the average user.
International calls
All plans include international call inclusions to the following 25 countries: Bangladesh, Canada, China, France, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, UK, USA and Vietnam.
The number of free minutes you receive depends on the plan, ranging from zero to 1000.
International roaming
If you want to use international roaming on your prepaid plan, ZenSim offers a 7-day travel add-on for $35.
It provides 2GB of data, 90 minutes of calls and 100 SMS in 31 countries.
How good is ZenSim's customer service?
As a recently launched startup, ZenSim is not currently listed in complaint records from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) or the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO).
There is, therefore, no formal benchmark available for assessing its customer service performance.
You can get in touch with ZenSim in the following ways:
Whatsapp
Facebook Messenger
Email via the website
ZenSim's customer service is online only. It promises to respond to all customer queries within 24 hours.
Still deciding on ZenSim Mobile?
Take our quick quiz to find a plan that fits your needs.
Frequently asked questions
No. All plans are month-to-month and contract-free. You can cancel at any time.
You can cancel at any time through the ZenSim app. Your service will remain active until the end of your current billing cycle.
Most flagship phones released by Apple, Samsung and Google have been eSIM compatible since around 2019. To check if your model is compatible, you can use the eSIM compatibility checker on ZenSim's website.
Your eSIM can be activated through the ZenSim app - just open it and follow the prompts.
Sources
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To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by
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Chris Jager is a seasoned journalist with over 15 years of experience in the Australian tech industry. He has contributed his expertise to top tech publications like PC World, Gizmodo, Business Insider, and Lifehacker Australia, where he also served as editor for five years. Chris holds a Bachelor of Communications in Journalism from the University of Western Sydney and is widely regarded as a trusted voice in the tech space.
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Is it easy to top up a travel esim if needing it for more than 30 days with ZenSIM?
Hi ES,
You can top up your travel sim directly through the ZenSIM app with options for 10 or 30 days. (You can also use the app to check your data usage.)
ZenSIM eSIMs are non-renewing, so you’ll need to activate top-ups manually.
Have fun on your trip!