Roamly vs Optus roaming
What a trip really costs on each, for Australian travellers. Prices checked 19 September 2026.
Optus Daily Roaming is the most generous daily roaming deal of the three big Australian networks: $5 for 24 hours, and that $5 buys 5 GB of its own data plus unlimited standard talk and text. It's switched on by default, it costs the same in every Zone 1 destination, and for a short trip it's genuinely good value. We'd rather say that than pretend otherwise.
Two things are worth knowing before you rely on it. It charges for every day you use your phone, so a fortnight is $70 on top of your normal bill, against $14.30 to $26.40 for a Roamly 10 GB plan covering the same trip. And when the 5 GB runs out it doesn't slow down or stop: it automatically charges another $5 for another 5 GB, again and again, for as long as you keep using data.
What a trip costs
Optus charges by the day, so the longer you’re away the more it costs. A Roamly plan is one price for the whole trip. Here’s the same trip both ways.
| Destination | Roamly | Optus, 7 days | Optus, 14 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indonesia | A$19.4510 GB, 30 daysA$50.55 less | A$35.00A$5.00 × 7 | A$70.00A$5.00 × 14 |
| Japan | A$18.4510 GB, 30 daysA$51.55 less | A$35.00A$5.00 × 7 | A$70.00A$5.00 × 14 |
| Thailand | A$14.3010 GB, 30 daysA$55.70 less | A$35.00A$5.00 × 7 | A$70.00A$5.00 × 14 |
| Vietnam | A$21.3010 GB, 30 daysA$48.70 less | A$35.00A$5.00 × 7 | A$70.00A$5.00 × 14 |
| USA | A$24.5010 GB, 30 daysA$45.50 less | A$35.00A$5.00 × 7 | A$70.00A$5.00 × 14 |
| New Zealand | A$26.4010 GB, 30 daysA$43.60 less | A$35.00A$5.00 × 7 | A$70.00A$5.00 × 14 |
The saving shown is against a 14-day trip. Optus Daily Roaming includes 5 GB a day plus unlimited standard talk and text, which is more data than most travellers use. That's why this table uses our 10 GB plan. If you would genuinely use 5 GB every day, Optus gives you far more data for the money.
What you give up, and what you don't
A Roamly eSIM is data only, and that matters less than it sounds. Much of the world already calls and messages over data: WhatsApp alone has more than 3 billion users a month. iMessage, FaceTime, WhatsApp and Messenger all work on a Roamly eSIM just as they do at home, with no per-minute or per-text charges. What Optus Daily Roaming adds is your Optus number for ordinary calls and texts, with unlimited standard talk and text included, which helps when you need to ring a number that isn't on an app.
And if you want your number too, you usually don't have to choose. Almost every phone sold in Australia in the last few years holds two SIMs at once, so you can leave your Optus SIM in for your number and run the Roamly eSIM alongside it for data. If you want to avoid the daily charge, switch roaming data off on the Optus line before you land, because Daily Roaming is on by default and starts the moment you use the service. Without a pass, Optus charges $1 per MB, $1.50 a minute for calls you make or receive, and 50c per text sent; receiving a text is free.
At a glance
What it costs
Roamly
One price for the whole plan, paid up front in AUD.
Optus
$5 per 24 hours, the same in every Zone 1 destination, charged on each day you use your phone.
Data
Roamly
3 GB to 50 GB for the whole plan, with no daily cap imposed by Roamly.
Optus
5 GB per 24 hours, which is the most generous of the three big networks. Unused data expires at the end of the day.
Running out
Roamly
Top up from My eSIMs when you choose to, without reinstalling.
Optus
Another $5 for another 5 GB is added automatically, and again after that, for as long as you keep using data.
Calls and texts
Roamly
Over data, in iMessage, FaceTime, WhatsApp and Messenger. No number of its own, so keep your Australian SIM in for ordinary calls and texts.
Optus
Unlimited standard talk and text included on mobile phone plans.
Your number
Roamly
Unaffected. Your Australian SIM stays in the phone; only its roaming data needs to be off.
Optus
Keeps working, which is the whole point of the product.
Coverage
Roamly
100+ countries and territories.
Optus
150+ Zone 1 destinations, in Optus's own words. Outside Zone 1 there's no pass, only pay-as-you-go.
If you don't use a pass
Roamly
Not applicable. A plan is bought before you travel and cannot run over.
Optus
Pay as you go at $1 per MB, roughly $1,000 a gigabyte, plus $1.50 a minute for calls made or received.
Who can use it
Roamly
Anyone with an eSIM-capable, carrier-unlocked phone.
Optus
Postpaid customers on eligible plans. Others get the older $10 Roaming Pass, which is $10 a day for 1 GB. Prepaid has separate add-ons.
Hotspot
Roamly
Included on every plan, no restrictions.
Optus
Not stated on Optus's roaming pages, so we can't tell you either way.
How you pay
Roamly
Up front, by card, before you leave.
Optus
Charged to your Optus account as you go, including the automatic repeat charges.
| Feature | Roamly | Optus |
|---|---|---|
| What it costs | One price for the whole plan, paid up front in AUD. | $5 per 24 hours, the same in every Zone 1 destination, charged on each day you use your phone. |
| Data | 3 GB to 50 GB for the whole plan, with no daily cap imposed by Roamly. | 5 GB per 24 hours, which is the most generous of the three big networks. Unused data expires at the end of the day. |
| Running out | Top up from My eSIMs when you choose to, without reinstalling. | Another $5 for another 5 GB is added automatically, and again after that, for as long as you keep using data. |
| Calls and texts | Over data, in iMessage, FaceTime, WhatsApp and Messenger. No number of its own, so keep your Australian SIM in for ordinary calls and texts. | Unlimited standard talk and text included on mobile phone plans. |
| Your number | Unaffected. Your Australian SIM stays in the phone; only its roaming data needs to be off. | Keeps working, which is the whole point of the product. |
| Coverage | 100+ countries and territories. | 150+ Zone 1 destinations, in Optus's own words. Outside Zone 1 there's no pass, only pay-as-you-go. |
| If you don't use a pass | Not applicable. A plan is bought before you travel and cannot run over. | Pay as you go at $1 per MB, roughly $1,000 a gigabyte, plus $1.50 a minute for calls made or received. |
| Who can use it | Anyone with an eSIM-capable, carrier-unlocked phone. | Postpaid customers on eligible plans. Others get the older $10 Roaming Pass, which is $10 a day for 1 GB. Prepaid has separate add-ons. |
| Hotspot | Included on every plan, no restrictions. | Not stated on Optus's roaming pages, so we can't tell you either way. |
| How you pay | Up front, by card, before you leave. | Charged to your Optus account as you go, including the automatic repeat charges. |
Where each one wins
Where Optus wins
- 5 GB a day for $5 is the most data per dollar of any daily roaming pass from the big three.
- Nothing to set up. It's on by default and starts when you land.
- Your own number keeps working for ordinary calls and texts, with unlimited standard talk and text included.
- One flat price across 150+ Zone 1 destinations, so a multi-country trip needs no planning.
- If something goes wrong, you're dealing with your own carrier.
Where Roamly wins
- A fortnight costs $14.30 to $26.40 on a 10 GB plan, against $70 of daily charges.
- No automatic repeat charges. You decide whether to top up, so the price you paid is the price you pay.
- One price up front, rather than charges appearing on your account while you travel.
- Works on any plan, including prepaid and plans that only qualify for the older $10 pass for 1 GB.
- Hotspot on every plan, with no restrictions.
- Calls, video calls and messages in iMessage, FaceTime, WhatsApp and Messenger work as normal, with no per-minute or per-text charges.
Which should you pick?
A week or more away? Roamly. Seven days of Daily Roaming is $35 and a fortnight is $70; a 10 GB plan costs less than a week of passes and lasts a month.
A few days, and you want your number to just work? Optus. At $5 for 5 GB and unlimited talk and text, a short trip is genuinely good value and there's nothing to set up.
Worried about what you'll be charged? Roamly. Optus keeps adding $5 charges automatically as you use data, with no ceiling. A Roamly plan is paid for before you leave and can't run over.
On the older $10 Roaming Pass? Roamly, comfortably. $10 a day for 1 GB is ten times the price per gigabyte of Optus's current pass, and a fortnight of it costs $140.
Common questions
As of 19 September 2026, Optus Daily Roaming is $5 per 24 hours and includes 5 GB of data plus unlimited standard talk and text, at the same price across 150+ Zone 1 destinations including Indonesia, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, the USA and New Zealand. Customers on plans that aren't eligible get the older $10 Roaming Pass, which gives 1 GB for $10 a day.
Optus doesn't slow you down or stop you. It automatically adds another Daily Roaming charge of $5 for another 5 GB, and it will keep doing that for as long as you continue using your service. There's no published ceiling on how many times this can happen in a trip, so it's worth watching if you use a lot of data.
Yes, through apps that run on data. iMessage, FaceTime, WhatsApp and Messenger work on a Roamly eSIM just as they do at home, for messages, voice calls and video calls, with no per-minute or per-text charges. What you don't get is a phone number, so ordinary calls and SMS still go through your Optus SIM, which can stay in the phone alongside the eSIM.
Yes, on a phone that supports two SIMs at once, which is almost every phone sold in Australia in recent years. Leave your Optus SIM in for calls and texts, switch its roaming data off so Daily Roaming isn't triggered, and use the Roamly eSIM for data. Daily Roaming is on by default, so turning roaming data off before you land is the step that matters.
Its standard roaming rates are $1 per megabyte of data, which is roughly $1,000 a gigabyte, $1.50 a minute for calls you make or receive, and 50c for each text you send. Receiving a text is free.
For a trip of about a week or more, yes. Fourteen days of Daily Roaming is $70; our 10 GB plans for those destinations run from $14.30 to $26.40 and last 30 days. For a few days, Optus at $5 for 5 GB plus unlimited talk and text is good value and hard to argue with. It also keeps your number working for ordinary calls and texts. On a Roamly eSIM, calls and messages go through apps like iMessage, FaceTime, WhatsApp and Messenger instead.
Optus figures were read from optus.com.au on 19 September 2026. Roaming prices, zones and inclusions change, and what you get depends on which plan you're on, so check with Optus before you travel. We re-check this page monthly. If you spot something out of date, email hello@onroamly.com and we'll fix it.
See what your trip would cost
Plans for 100+ countries and territories, priced in AUD.
Roamly figures are from our own plan catalogue and policies. Optus figures were read from optus.com.au, its international roaming and rates pages and its plan Critical Information Summary on 19 September 2026, and checked a second time the same day. Roaming prices, inclusions and zones change, and what you pay depends on your own plan, so check with Optus before you travel. We re-check this page monthly. Spotted something out of date? Email hello@onroamly.com. Optus is a trademark of its owner. Roamly is not affiliated with Optus.
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