Best eSIM for Australia 2026: Top Picks Compared

Looking for the best eSIM for Australia? You’re in the right place. If tracking down a physical SIM at the airport sounds like a hassle, you’re not alone, and that’s why eSIMs have caught on with travelers. You buy a plan, scan a code, and you’re online before you’ve grabbed your bags.

Choosing one is the hard part, since not every eSIM for Australia is worth your cash. Maybe you’re hitting the beaches in Sydney, or answering emails from a café in Melbourne. Either way, you want coverage that holds up and data that won’t drain your wallet. Below, we’ve compared the top options.

Best eSIM for Australia 2026: Detailed Comparison

We spent two weeks bouncing between Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane with these eSIMs running on our phones. We tracked download speeds, how well each one held a signal, how quickly it set up, and whether the data plans were actually worth what we paid. The ones that kept up made the list.

	Saily	Ubigi	Holafly	Airalo	Jetpac
Network	Local partner (undisclosed)	Optus	Optus/Telstra	Optus	Optus
Start Price	$3.99 (1GB/7d)	$4 (1GB/7d)	$3.90 (unlimited GB/1d)	$4 (1GB/3d)	$2.5 (2GB/1d)
5G	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Standout Feature	Built-in security tools	Reusable eSIM, flexible plans	Unlimited data	Wide global coverage	Lounge access, free data

1. Saily: Best Overall

We bought Saily about a week before travel, and it automatically activated its Australia eSIM when we landed. The result was immediately noticeable. Once we landed in Sydney, the 5G icon at the top of our phones told us everything we wanted to know. Fast and reliable, Saily rarely dropped to LTE; only a few times in less urban areas.

During tests, the #1 eSIM for Australia also allowed us to save data by using its ad blocker. It also included a VPN, which allowed us to change virtual locations and unblock sites. Saily is an affordable Australia eSIM. Given our 2-week trip, we picked the unlimited plan for $48.99. However, we bought only one eSIM and shared data from it; there were no tethering limits.

While its 24/7 support could be faster, Saily compensates with a simple setup, so you don’t need to reach out. We also found that it offers the Asia and Oceania plan, which activates an eSIM in Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Japan, and at least 18 other countries, perfect for digital nomads and travelers.

Saily starts at $3.99 for 1 GB of data for 7 days, and you can strip off 15% on any plan with the GIZMODO promo code. This Saily coupon may also help.

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2. Ubigi: Best Coverage

Ubigi is an eSIM for Australia with solid coverage from Optus, primarily relying on 5G data in our 2-week tests. We got LTE dips mostly in Brisbane, the last 3 days of our trip, but even in that case, Ubigi held high speeds during streaming on Netflix and Prime Video. We tested its unlimited data plan for 15 days for $45, though the starting price is $4 for 1 GB for 7 days.

Ubigi even allowed unlimited tethering, so one SIM for the three of us was enough. Before the trip, we activated Ubigi through a QR code. Once we landed, our Australia eSIM was ready. Our favorite features were the ability to top up our eSIM for Australia without actually being online, though we didn’t have to do that with unlimited data.

We also noticed that Ubigi supports Windows laptops. While its app could use an overhaul and its support could be faster to respond, Ubigi checks all the right boxes. It’s reliable all across Australia, fast for heavy online activities, and very affordable.

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3. Holafly: Unlimited Data Australia eSIM

Holafly is our favorite travel eSIM for Australia for intense internet use. It’s clear why: you get unlimited data in all plans. And it’s not that expensive either; $3.90 per day, and for 15 days, it’s $50.90, less than $3.50 per day. Holafly works with Optus to bring 5G connections across all three tested cities, with very few drops to LTE (again, mostly in Brisbane).

During tests, it was just as fast as Saily and Ubigi, though with slightly more LTE dips. Still, it was easy to set up and install, and it automatically activated once we were in Australia. Our favorite Holafly Australia eSIM feature was 24/7 support. It’s not only fast to respond (it takes 10-15 seconds), but it also encourages you to get in touch and ask questions.

Holafly has two issues we found annoying. One, you can only share 1 GB of data, so if you travel in a group, as we did, buy at least 2 eSIMs. Second, its unlimited data is throttled once you pass a certain threshold. While you get unlimited data, you can’t abuse it, as Holafly will impose a speed limit, immediately noticeable when streaming (buffering/quality loss).

4. Airalo: Cheap 5G in Australia

If you get Airalo’s eSIM for Brazil, it throws in SMS/calls, but it lacks them in Australia eSIM plans. But even then, plans scale up to unlimited data, and since it works with Optus, 5G is available nearly all the time. Airalo is fast and consistent, with speeds always at the mid-to-high limits for 5G. But we like its pricing the most.

We tested the unlimited Australia eSIM plan for 15 days for $40; Holafly was $10 pricier. If you’re there briefly, the 2 GB plan for $2.5 for 1 day is a good value for money. It’s even more impressive that you can tether limitlessly and easily top up through the app when your data runs dry.

While Airalo offers multiple support channels (including WhatsApp), it’s not as responsive as Holafly, and typically takes a minute or two. Longer plans, say 30 days, are also a bit pricier than we expected them to be, so Airalo is better for shorter trips.

5. Jetpac: Useful Travel Perks

Jetpac caps off our list of the best eSIMs in Australia with a few travel perks. Unlimited data for Grab, Uber, Google Maps, and WhatsApp Chat, plus optional lounge access for up to 6 persons. It relies on Optus and mainly uses 5G, so it’s fast enough for all activities. We honestly haven’t tested its speeds precisely; we just observed the experience.

In short, it was good, especially for heavy 4K streaming. We used the 14-day Australia eSIM plan with unlimited data at only $31, one of the cheapest here. However, you can start at $3 for 4 GB of data for 1 day, making it officially the cheapest eSIM for Australia. Jetpac doesn’t reinvent the formula.

It’s a solid eSIM for Australia travel, works well, costs little, and has useful travel perks. It’s also one of our top eSIMs overall, with support for 200+ locations. We’d just like to have a bit more responsive customer support and some security features (Jetpac offers a VPN in its eSIM for China, for example).

Conclusion: Which eSIM for Australia Should I Use?

The best eSIM for Australia depends on your trip and how far off the grid you’re headed. Saily takes our top spot, combining reliable coverage across cities and popular spots with built-in security features that keep you safe on public Wi-Fi.

Still, every provider on this list has its strengths, whether it’s Airalo’s flexible plans or Jetpac’s 5G and lounge perks. Compare them against your budget and travel style, and you’ll land online the moment you touch down.

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