Last updated on 5 November 2026
Telstra charges A$44 (about €27.67) for a 28-day prepaid plan in Australia with 50 GB, 30 GB of it an activation bonus, and no Australian provider may switch on a prepaid line before it has checked your identity; your passport counts as ID. The POVNOMAD Australia eSIM starts at €2.90 for 1 GB over 7 days, costs €17.90 for 20 GB over 30 days and is installed at home, without a store visit. It runs on Optus or Vodafone, not on Telstra. As of 31 October 2026.
Up to 20 GB the eSIM costs less; above that Telstra wins, with 50 GB for €27.67 against €31.90 with us. Telstra also leads on coverage in Opensignal’s May 2026 report. If you drive the outback for weeks, take the Telstra SIM. For a city trip, a week on the east coast or a stopover, the eSIM saves you the ID check in the store and works when you land.
Local SIM, travel eSIM or roaming: what is the difference in Australia?
| Local SIM (Telstra prepaid) | Travel eSIM (POVNOMAD) | Roaming on your home contract | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | A$15 (€9.43) for 5 GB/7 days, A$44 (€27.67) for 50 GB/28 days, both including an activation bonus | €2.90 for 1 GB/7 days, €17.90 for 20 GB/30 days, €10.90 for 7 days Unlimited Smart | Australia is outside EU roaming, your provider sets its own rates |
| What you need | passport for the identity check before activation, plus an address | eSIM-capable, unlocked phone | roaming enabled on your contract |
| Australian number | yes | no, data only; WhatsApp and similar apps run over data | your home number |
| Network | Telstra | Optus 5G or Vodafone 5G, depending on the variant (product page) | partner network of your provider |
| Coverage award (Opensignal, May 2026) | Telstra, ahead of Optus and Vodafone | not Telstra | depends on the partner network |
| Hotspot | not checked | yes | depends on your contract |
As of 31 October 2026. Telstra prices from telstra.com.au (prepaid offers and rates), identity rules from the Federal Register of Legislation, POVNOMAD prices from the Australia product page. Converted at the ECB reference rate of 30 October 2026 (€1 = A$1.5904).
How much does a prepaid SIM cost in Australia?
We quote Telstra because its prepaid prices are published on its website and because Telstra holds the coverage award. Optus and Vodafone prepaid plans were not compared.
| Telstra prepaid plan | Included | Price | in euros |
|---|---|---|---|
| $15 Pre-Paid Mobile Plan | 5 GB (4 GB + 1 GB activation bonus), 7 days | A$15 | €9.43 |
| $44 Pre-Paid Mobile Plan | 50 GB (20 GB + 30 GB activation bonus), 28 days | A$44 | €27.67 |
Source: telstra.com.au, prepaid offers and rates, retrieved 31 October 2026. The activation bonus is tied to activation; later recharges may include less data. The page lists no separate price for the SIM card. Euro amounts at €1 = A$1.5904 (ECB, 30 October 2026).
Compare that with travel eSIMs bought before departure, as of 31 October 2026:
| Plan | POVNOMAD | Airalo |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | €2.90 (7 days) | €4.00 (3 days) |
| 5 GB, 30 days | €8.90 | €10.50 |
| 10 GB, 30 days | €11.90 | €17.00 |
| 20 GB, 30 days | €17.90 | €28.00 |
| 50 GB, 30 days | €31.90 | €41.50 |
| Unlimited, 7 days | €10.90 (1 GB a day at full speed) | €24.50 |
Read on 31 October 2026 on povnomad.com and airalo.com/de/australia-esim (EUR view). Unlimited Smart: 1 GB at full speed per 24 hours, then up to 1 Mbit/s.
Why does Australia check your ID for a prepaid SIM?
The rule comes from the Telecommunications (Service Provider – Identity Checks for Prepaid Mobile Carriage Services) Determination 2017, made by the regulator ACMA. Section 2.3 bars a provider from activating a prepaid mobile service until it has collected your details and verified your identity. Section 4.3 lists what it collects: your name and your residential address. A passport issued in your name is a category A document, the strongest kind, so one passport is enough.
- Bring the original passport to the store. Staff check it before the line goes live.
- Have an address ready; the hotel or holiday flat you are staying at is the practical choice.
- Check that your phone has no network lock.
- If your phone takes only one physical SIM, the Telstra card replaces your German SIM, and bank codes by text stop reaching you. An eSIM runs next to your home SIM.
Source: Federal Register of Legislation, F2017L00399, compilation of 16 December 2025, sections 2.3, 4.3 and 4.4, read on 31 October 2026.
Which network reaches furthest into the outback?
Telstra. In Opensignal’s report of May 2026, based on measurements from January to March 2026, Telstra won the Coverage Experience award outright, ahead of Optus and Vodafone. Optus collected eight awards in the same report, Telstra two. Our Australia eSIM uses Optus 5G or Vodafone 5G, depending on the variant, according to the product page. For Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and the east coast that makes little difference. On long inland drives it does.
Download offline maps before remote stretches; no network covers every road. Unlimited prices of all three eSIM providers are in our Australia eSIM provider comparison. If you travel on to New Zealand, our Australia and New Zealand eSIM covers both countries: 10 GB for 30 days cost €25.90, about the same as two separate plans (€11.90 + €13.90).
Source: Opensignal, Australia Mobile Network Experience Report, May 2026, read on 31 October 2026.
When is the eSIM the better choice, and when is it not?
You install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi (instructions for iPhone and Android); validity starts on first contact with the Australian network. There is no store visit and no ID check after a long-haul flight.
The Telstra SIM is the better deal in these cases:
- You need more than 20 GB in four weeks. Telstra gives you 50 GB for €27.67, our 50 GB plan costs €31.90.
- You spend weeks in the outback, where Telstra has the widest coverage.
- You need an Australian number, for example for work and travel jobs or calls to local businesses.
This guide is also available in German.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Telstra prepaid SIM cost for tourists?
Telstra lists A$15 (about €9.43) for 5 GB over 7 days and A$44 (about €27.67) for 50 GB over 28 days, both including an activation bonus. The page lists no separate price for the SIM card. As of 31 October 2026.
Do I need ID to buy a SIM card in Australia?
Yes. Under section 2.3 of the Determination 2017, no provider may activate a prepaid line before it has checked your identity. A passport issued in your name is enough; you also give an address. As of 31 October 2026.
Is a local SIM cheaper than an eSIM in Australia?
Only for large data needs. Up to 20 GB our eSIM costs less (€17.90 for 30 days); Telstra charges €27.67 for 50 GB over 28 days, our 50 GB plan costs €31.90. As of 31 October 2026.
Which network does the POVNOMAD Australia eSIM use?
Optus 5G or Vodafone 5G, depending on the variant, according to the product page; Telstra is not included. Hotspot is included. As of 31 October 2026.
Will my eSIM work in the outback?
Along the main routes often yes, in remote areas not everywhere. Telstra has the widest coverage according to Opensignal (May 2026), and our eSIM does not use Telstra. For weeks inland, a Telstra SIM is the safer choice.
Do I get an Australian phone number with the eSIM?
No. The POVNOMAD eSIM carries data only, without SMS or calls over the mobile network. WhatsApp, FaceTime and other apps work over data. As of 31 October 2026.
How do I know if these prices are still current?
We read every price on 31 October 2026 on telstra.com.au, povnomad.com and airalo.com. Telstra charges in Australian dollars, so the euro amount changes with the exchange rate. Check the operator’s page before you buy.
Last updated on 31 October 2026. Prices read on that day on telstra.com.au, povnomad.com and airalo.com; ECB reference rate of 30 October 2026. Prices and rules may change at any time.