Australia Carriers & SIM Card Comparison Complete Guide

"I need to buy SIM immediately after arriving in Australia. Which carrier should I choose?"

Australian carriers are divided into top 3 carriers (Telstra, Optus, Vodafone) and budget carriers (ALDI Mobile, Boost, etc.). Each has different prices, coverage, and data rollover policies, so choose what fits your needs.

This guide is based on actual reviews from 300+ working holidaymakers.

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1. Australia Top 3 Carriers Comparison

1.1. Overall Comparison Table

Carrier	Coverage	Price	Data Rollover	International Calls	Recommended For
Telstra	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Best	Expensive	No	Some plans	Frequent rural travel
Optus	⭐⭐⭐⭐ Good	Medium	No	Some plans	City-focused life
Vodafone	⭐⭐⭐ Cities only	Cheap	No	Some plans	Budget priority
ALDI Mobile	⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Telstra)	Cheapest	Yes	15 countries free	Best for working holiday

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2. Telstra

2.1. Features

Australia's #1 Carrier:

• Best coverage (cities + rural)
• Fast speed
• Expensive

One-line Review:

"Best coverage but pricey. Only recommend for those going to rural farms."

2.2. Plans

Prepaid:

• $30/28 days: 40GB
• $40/28 days: 60GB
• $50/28 days: 100GB

Postpaid:

• $58/month: 80GB
• $68/month: 120GB

2.3. Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Best coverage (farms, outback)
• Fast speed
• Reliable

Cons:

• Expensive
• No data rollover

Recommended For:

• Farm/rural city work
• Frequent travelers

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3. Optus

3.1. Features

Australia's #2 Carrier:

• Good coverage (cities)
• Reasonable price
• Most popular among working holidaymakers

One-line Review:

"Good value with sufficient city coverage. Most working holidaymakers choose this."

3.2. Plans

Prepaid:

• $30/28 days: 50GB
• $40/28 days: 100GB
• $50/28 days: 180GB

Special Benefits:

• Free international calls (some countries)
• Optus Sport (sports streaming)

3.3. Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Good value
• Sufficient city coverage
• Available at airport

Cons:

• Weak rural coverage
• No data rollover

Recommended For:

• Sydney/Melbourne-focused life
• Moderate budget

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4. Vodafone

4.1. Features

Australia's #3 Carrier:

• Cities-only coverage
• Cheap price
• Slow speed (peak times)

One-line Review:

"Cheap but weak coverage. Only for city-focused residents."

4.2. Plans

Prepaid:

• $30/28 days: 60GB
• $40/28 days: 120GB

4.3. Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Cheap
• Large data allowance

Cons:

• Weak coverage
• Slow speed

Recommended For:

• Budget priority
• City-only life

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5. ALDI Mobile (Best for Working Holiday)

5.1. Features

Budget Carrier (MVNO):

• Uses Telstra network (good coverage)
• Very cheap price
• Data rollover available (unique)

One-line Review:

"Best value. Telstra network + cheap price + data rollover. Best choice for working holidaymakers."

5.2. Plans

Prepaid:

• $15/30 days: 6GB + rollover
• $25/30 days: 18GB + rollover
• $35/30 days: 42GB + rollover
• $45/30 days: 80GB + rollover

Special Benefits:

• 365-day data rollover
• Free international calls (Korea included, 15 countries)
• Unlimited texts

5.3. Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Cheapest price
• Telstra network (good coverage)
• Data rollover (1 year)
• Free Korea calls

Cons:

• Only at ALDI stores (not airport)
• Slow customer service

Recommended For:

• Budget-conscious working holidaymakers
• Want data rollover
• Frequent Korea calls

5.4. How to Buy ALDI Mobile

Step 1: Find ALDI Store

• Google: "ALDI near me"
• ALDI supermarket

Step 2: Buy SIM Card

• Ask counter for "ALDI Mobile SIM"
• Cost: $2 (SIM card)

Step 3: Recharge

• Recharge at checkout (e.g., $25)
• Or recharge online

Step 4: Activate

• Website: aldimobile.com.au
• Enter passport info
• Activated in 5-10 minutes

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6. Airport vs City Purchase Comparison

6.1. Airport Purchase

Pros:

• Use immediately upon arrival
• Convenient

Cons:

• Expensive (10-20% more)
• Limited choices

Recommended:

• Optus (T1 International Terminal)
• $30-40 plans

6.2. City Purchase

Pros:

• Cheaper
• More choices

Cons:

• No internet on first day (need Wi-Fi)

Recommended:

• ALDI (best value)
• Coles, Woolworths (Optus, Telstra)

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7. Online Purchase Discount Tips

7.1. eSIM Usage

What is eSIM:

• No physical SIM card needed
• Activate online immediately
• iPhone XS+, some Android supported

Recommended eSIM:

• Optus eSIM
• Vodafone eSIM

Discount:

• 10-20% off with online signup

7.2. Long Expiry Plans

Long-term Plans:

• 365-day validity
• Data rollover
• Cheaper

Example (ALDI Mobile):

• $95/365 days: 42GB (1 year)
• Monthly average: $7.9

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8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. Must I buy SIM at airport?

A. If you need urgent contact on first day, buy at airport. But if backpacker has Wi-Fi, buying at ALDI next day is much cheaper.

Q2. Why is data rollover important?

A. If you don't use all data in a month, it's wasted (Telstra, Optus). ALDI has 365-day rollover so no waste.

Q3. I need to call Korea frequently.

A. Recommend ALDI Mobile. Korea included in 15 countries with unlimited free calls.

Q4. Going to farm, which carrier is best?

A. Recommend Telstra or ALDI Mobile (Telstra network). Optus, Vodafone may not work in rural areas.

Q5. Can I change SIM carriers?

A. Yes, change anytime. No contract, so switch immediately if unsatisfied.

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9. Final: Carrier Selection Checklist

Budget Priority:

• ALDI Mobile ($15-45/month)

Coverage Priority:

• Telstra ($30-50/month)

Balanced:

• Optus ($30-50/month)

Special Benefits:

• Data rollover: ALDI
• Free Korea calls: ALDI
• Sports streaming: Optus

Choose carrier that fits you and use smartly!

Related Articles:

• Australia Bank Account Opening Guide
• Australia First Week Checklist
• Sydney Working Holiday Complete Guide

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Related Articles

• Australia SIM Card Guide
• Australia Bank Account Opening Guide
• Australia First Week Guide

About the Author The WHRESUME team is in their 3rd year living in Melbourne and genuinely supports Australian working holiday makers. This guide is based on feedback from the working holiday community and analysis of official Australian sources.

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