eSIM plans aren't available from all telcos in Australia, but they're becoming more widely adopted and could one day replace physical SIM cards completely. In fact, there's already a few mobile plans that are eSIM-only. And some devices are starting to ship without a physical SIM card slot at all. For example, the iPhone Duo is eSIM-only and the same is true for the iPhone Air.
Let's take a closer look at what the average Aussie consumer can expect to find on the mobile plan market, as well as how eSIMs might affect your day-to-day life.
Popular eSIM plans for phones
Out of the 28 mobile providers in our database, 28 currently offer eSIM plans. For a quick look at what's available, check out our comparison tables below for eSIM plans across a range of price points, ranked by their popularity with WhistleOut's visitors over the last seven days:
Which telcos offer eSIM plans in Australia?
While support isn't quite universal in Australia yet, most providers we track offer eSIM plans and the rest should eventually follow suit. For now, these are the telcos from our database that offer eSIM plans for mobile:
| AGL | Everyday Mobile |
LycaMobile | Superloop |
| ALDI Mobile | Exetel |
MATE |
Swoop |
| amaysim | EZEE |
Moose Mobile |
Tangerine |
| Aussie Broadband |
felix mobile |
More |
Telstra |
| Belong |
iiNet | Optus |
TPG |
| Boost Mobile |
Kogan Mobile |
Southern Phone | Vodafone |
| Dodo |
Lebara |
SpinTel |
Yomojo |
There are also providers that specialise in travel eSIM plans as an alternative to international roaming. These include Airalo, GigSky, Nomad, Jetpac, SimCorner, and Saily.
What is eSIM?
An eSIM is a rewritable SIM card (also called an electronic SIM or embedded SIM) that’s built into a smartphone, smartwatch or other connected gadget. Unlike a physical SIM card, an eSIM never leaves your device – it simply gets reprogrammed as necessary.
Instead of inserting a new card each time you change providers, you get an "eSIM profile" and setup instructions from your telco. If your phone has both an eSIM and a physical SIM card slot, you can usually use both and have two numbers on the one device, meaning you effectively have a dual-SIM phone. (This also requires you to have two separate mobile plans.)
Advantages and disadvantages
If you're interested in using it, there are some eSIM pros and cons to consider:
Convenience
eSIM setup is fast and it makes switching between providers easier. You don't need to pick a new SIM card up in store or wait for one to be delivered. Instead, you just follow some straightforward instructions from your new provider and make the change online.
Dual SIM
You can simultaneously run a physical SIM and an eSIM on most new handsets, basically making it a dual SIM phone. Great for using your phone overseas or using the same phone for home and work.
Number sharing
If you want, you can the same number between your phone and a smartwatch – meaning both devices have the same phone number and share the same plan inclusions. This is has a variety of names, such as number sharing, number syncing, one number, etc. It generally costs $5 or $10 per month extra.
Still not all phones
You can expect to find eSIM support on most new handsets, particularly in the mid-range and up. But it's still not quite universal, and older phones don't necessarily support it.
Smaller choice of plan providers
Not all providers in Australia support eSIM yet, but the list is growing. And the list that supports wearable devices is significantly smaller.
Switching phones isn't as simple
While switching between providers is easier, this isn't the case with phones. It's not arduous, but you can't just pop the SIM card out of one handset and put it into another – it takes a bit of time to work through the steps.
"Physical SIMs still work, but switching to using eSIM opens up more options. There's no problem if you can't make it to a store or wait for delivery of a new SIM card. In most cases, you can be set up with a prepaid eSIM in just a few minutes via an internet connection.
"The few cons that do exist are largely circumstantial and will reduce over time as the technology is more widely adopted."
Dylan Crismale, Digital Content Editor
Is my phone eSIM compatible?
eSIM phones have been available in Australia since 2018 and most top-tier handsets now support the technology, but it's by no means guaranteed. You can check if your phone has an eSIM by calling *#06#. If a 32-digit EID number appears on the screen, your phone supports eSIM. If you don't see a 32-digit number, your phone doesn't support eSIM.
You can also check out our dedicated guide to eSIM phones in Australia for more details on specific models.
eSIM plans and smartwatches
Even if your smartwatch has an eSIM, you might not be able to sign up to a smartwatch eSIM plan with your current provider. A telco specifically needs to support wearable device plans and sometimes even your specific watch.
You can see our guide on setting up and eSIM on your smartwatch for more information, including which providers offer smartwatch plans and step-by-step breakdowns and to see which smartwatches your telco supports. Some of the more important factors to consider include:
Does your smartwatch even have an eSIM?
Many smartwatches are Bluetooth and WiFi only, without eSIM support. These watches can't sign up to eSIM plans of any kind. Some smartwatches have options with and without eSIM, but in these cases the eSIM option is usually a fair bit more expensive.
Is your eSIM smartwatch supported by a given provider?
Some eSIM smartwatches aren't compatible with smartwatch plans in Australia – or they can sign up with some providers, but not others.
For example, if you have an eSIM Apple Watch, you can sign up to any smartwatch plan from any provider. But this isn't the case with all eSIM Google Pixel Watches, some older models of which are unsupported. Check with your prospective provider before you buy a smartwatch or sign up to a plan.
Do you want number sharing?
Number sharing is when your phone and smartwatch share the same phone number through the same plan and provider. This usually adds $5 or $10 to your existing monthly bill, rather than being a whole separate plan. Among other things, it means you can leave your phone at home and still receive calls, texts, and maintain an internet connection when out and about.
When plans have similar inclusions, the cheapest option isn’t always the best. One way to compare is on the value per GB. As a rule of thumb, anything at $1 or under per GB is good value.
eSIM FAQs about eSIM
Do eSIM plans cost extra?
For phone plans, choosing an eSIM option doesn't cost any more than a regular physical SIM card. If you want to add a smartwatch to a mobile plan (such as for number sharing), this will usually cost extra per month.
Can I roam with an eSIM plan outside of Australia?
Yes, eSIM mobile plans also support roaming for use outside of Australia. Roaming is billed in the exact same way as the telco's equivalent non-eSIM plan. But no Australian eSIM providers currently support international roaming for wearables.
Does eSIM have better mobile signal than a physical SIM?
No, the type of SIM you have does not affect your mobile coverage. That's up to your mobile provider, network provider and, less often, other aspects of your phone's hardware.
What is iSIM?
iSIM (integrated SIM) is like eSIM, but it's inside your phone's processor instead of needing a separate chip. It's still fairly rare, but it doesn't really matter because iSIM uses the same standards as eSIM, so any eSIM provider will also support iSIM. The user shouldn't even notice a difference.
Can I get an eSIM plan before I arrive in Australia?
Yes, visitors to our country can purchase an Australian eSIM either before or after arrival. You'll need to provide an official identity document, such as a passport, as proof of identity. For more info, you can check out our guide to Australian SIM cards for tourists.
eSIM, e SIM, or e-SIM?
While you might also see it referred to as "e SIM" or "e-SIM", the correct shortening of "Electronic SIM" is "eSIM", as laid out by the GSMA – the global organisation that maintains the eSIM standard.
Did you like this article? Good! Why not make us a preferred source in Google? Click below, tick the box, and WhistleOut stories will show up more often when you search for related content.
Dylan Crismale
Digital Content Editor
Related Articles
![[Editor's Picks] Best mobile phone plans for November 2026](https://r3.whistleout.com.au/public/images/articles/2026/01/mobile-phone-plan-Featured.png?w=160&h=160&usm=20&usmrad=0.8&fit=crop "[Editor's Picks] Best mobile phone plans for November 2026")
![[Editor's Picks] Best mobile phone plans for November 2026](https://r3.whistleout.com.au/public/images/articles/2026/01/mobile-phone-plan-Featured.png?w=280&h=280&usm=20&usmrad=0.8&fit=crop "[Editor's Picks] Best mobile phone plans for November 2026")
