International roaming with your existing prepaid plan
Reduce your global roaming costs with these handy tips.
International roaming isn't restricted to postpaid plans alone — many prepaid plans come with the option for you to take your handset overseas and get service. Be aware that most of these providers will charge you pay-as-you-go (PAYG) rates which are far more expensive than making calls or sending texts in Australia.
We explain how prepaid roaming works with Telstra, Optus and Vodafone, including whether you need to buy a roaming pack or add-on and how pay-as-you-go charges apply. Always check your provider's own roaming page for current rates before you travel. We focus on five of the most popular places Australians travel to: China, India, New Zealand, the UK and the US.
Telstra prepaid international roaming
Telstra no longer charges prepaid customers an automatic daily roaming fee. Instead, you buy a Pre-Paid Travel Pack for your trip (listed under International Roaming Packs in the My Telstra app), through the app, Telstra's recharge website or by phone. Each pack gives you a set amount of data, SMS and call minutes for a fixed number of days, and packs don't renew automatically. China, India, New Zealand, the UK and the US are all eligible destinations. Check Telstra's prepaid international roaming page for current pack prices and inclusions.
Telstra says you won't be charged pay-as-you-go rates to use your prepaid phone overseas. If you're travelling somewhere that isn't an eligible destination, it suggests using Wi-Fi or buying a local SIM.
Finder survey: Are Australian travellers of different ages more likely to use international roaming on their current plan or buy a travel SIM?
| Response | 75+ yrs | 65-74 yrs | 55-64 yrs | 45-54 yrs | 35-44 yrs | 25-34 yrs | 18-24 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buy a local SIM when I arrive | 24.14% | 9.71% | 10.47% | 9.33% | 9.64% | 9.63% | 10.31% |
| Keep current plan and use international roaming | 18.97% | 14.86% | 15.12% | 10.88% | 9.64% | 10.55% | 4.12% |
| Buy a travel SIM before I fly out | 8.62% | 12.57% | 6.98% | 7.25% | 4.06% | 7.34% | 7.22% |
Source: Finder survey by Pure Profile of 1110 Australians, December 2023
Optus prepaid roaming
There are a couple of options when it comes to roaming on an Optus prepaid plan. You can buy an International Roaming Add-on, which gives you a set amount of data, SMS and call minutes to use in Optus's Zone 1 destinations for a fixed number of days. Add-ons are available on Optus Prepaid Epic Data, Optus Prepaid Epic Value, Optus Flex Plus, Optus Flex Plus Casual and Optus Flex Plus Traveller, and you'll need an active recharge to buy one unless you're on Optus Flex Plus Traveller. Check Optus's prepaid roaming page for current add-on prices and inclusions.
Outside an add-on, you'll be charged Optus's pay-as-you-go international roaming rates, which are deducted from your prepaid credit balance.
| China | India | New Zealand | United Kingdom | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Make or receive calls | $1.00/min | $1.00/min | $1.00/min | $1.00/min | $1.00/min |
| Send SMS | $0.50/SMS | $0.50/SMS | $0.50/SMS | $0.50/SMS | $0.50/SMS |
| Cost of data | $0.50/MB | $0.50/MB | $0.50/MB | $0.50/MB | $0.50/MB |
Vodafone prepaid roaming
With a Vodafone prepaid plan, you can purchase 1 of 3 roaming packs for $5, $15 or $35. Expiry periods range from 1 to 7 days, data from 200MB to 2GB, 25 mins to 200 mins of standard incoming and outgoing calls and 30 to 300 SMS. These prepaid roaming add-ons only apply in 80 countries.
Otherwise, you will be charged international roaming rates that depend on the country you're in. Charges will be deducted from your prepaid credit based on your usage.
| China | India | New Zealand | United Kingdom | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Make or receive calls | $1.00/min | $1.00/min | $1.00/min | $1.00/min | $1.00/min |
| Send SMS | $0.75/SMS | $0.75/SMS | $0.75/SMS | $0.75/SMS | $0.75/SMS |
| Cost of data | $1.00/MB | $1.00/MB | $1.00/MB | $1.00/MB | $1.00/MB |
"While many telcos still charge an arm and a leg for roaming, some allow you to roam for a $5 or $10 daily charge. Last time I went on holiday with my parents, it cost me $70, but my dad got stung for nearly $200. Don't be my dad."
Is it a good idea to roam using a prepaid plan?
Roaming on a prepaid plan could come in handy in emergency situations if you need a hit of Internet while you're out and about. Just remember to turn your roaming off right after you use your phone or it'll keep incurring charges.
But if you're planning to use your mobile plan quite a bit while you're overseas, using a prepaid plan and paying often outrageous roaming rates is not always the best idea. You're likely to end up spending quite a lot of money on roaming without realising it. Fortunately, there are alternatives. We have a guide if you're interested. Consider these options instead if you're looking for a more budget-friendly way to use your phone while travelling:
- Travel or global SIM. For example, Australia Post sells a prepaid TravelSIM that lets you stay connected while you're overseas. You can also send free texts and make free calls between your TravelSIM and other TravelSIMs. Many of these kinds of SIMs exist, from different providers.
- Local SIMs. If you're in a foreign country, you can usually pick up a local SIM or phone plan to cover you while you're there.
- Data services. Find some free local Wi-Fi or get an overseas pure data pack and use services like email, WhatsApp or other online messaging to get in contact without needing to call.
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I am a retired Aussie and travel constantly.
Up to now I’ve used one prepaid Lebara phone for each country.
Somebody recently gave me a smart phone, so I’d like to investigate having a single plan – probably based in Sydney – for worldwide use.
I realise this will cost more, but the convenience of just one phone might make this worthwhile.
I’d really welcome any suggestions.