Vodafone Australia eSIM. How it works at home and abroad

The advancements in telecommunications and technology have been rapid over the last two to three decades. Not only have mobile phones become smaller for the sheer amount of features they come with, but so have the SIM cards that go into the devices. Although physical sim cards are still used, an eSIM is likely to take over how we access data and phone networks.

Vodafone, a large multinational telecommunications company offers eSIMs as an option with many of their prepaid and postpaid plans. Here is how a Vodafone eSIM works here and abroad.

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What is an eSIM and how does it work?

An eSIM is an embedded chip that is already manufactured into a device which may be a mobile, laptop or Ipad/tablet. This removes the need for a traditional physical sim card and your plan will function exactly the same.¹

Vodafone eSIM plans

Generally, if you have an eSIM enabled device, you can access a range of prepaid and postpaid plans as a Vodafone eSIM.¹ We’ll do a brief breakdown of some of the current offers available.

Prepaid eSIM plans

A key thing to note before purchasing a vodafone prepaid eSIM plan is that you’ll have to purchase and activate the physical sim card first in your device. After this you will be able to swap from sim to eSIM.² The available prepaid plans are as follows.³

Plan*	Price	Data allowance	Expiry	International calls and texts
Prepaid 1	$35	25 GB	28 days	500 mins of international calls to zone 1 50 standard texts
Prepaid 2	$45	35 GB	28 days	1000 mins to zone 1 and 100 mins to zone 2 50 standard texts
Prepaid 3	$55	50 GB	28 days	1500 mins to zone 1 and 200 mins to zone 2 50 standard texts
Prepaid 4	$250	150GB	12 months	50 standard texts

*Pricing as of 10th April 2024

Zone 1 countries include 36 destination countries, while zone 2 includes 54 countries. All prepaid plans include unlimited national calls and texts, with automatic recharges possible to be opted into.

Postpaid eSIM plans

There are three sim only plans that can be set up on an eSIM from the get go.¹

Plans*	Price	Data	International calls and texts
Small sim only plan	$49 per month	50 GB	Unlimited texts
Medium sim only plan	$59 per month	180 GB	Unlimited standard minutes to zone 1 countries and 300 minutes to zone 2 Unlimited standard texts
Large sim only plan	$69 per month	360 GB	Unlimited standard minutes to zone 1 countries and 300 minutes to zone 2 Unlimited standard texts

*Plan pricing and inclusions as of 7th April 2024

Each of these plans are no lock in and come with unlimited national calls and texts. Vodafone also offers eSIMs to those looking to buy a device as well which include a range of eSIM enabled devices such as Iphones, Samsungs or Google.¹ Those who already have a plan with Vodafone using a physical sim can easily swap to an eSIM instead if they have an eSIM compatible device.

Can you use Vodafone eSIM abroad?

Yes you can use your Vodafone eSIM abroad if you have an eligible plan that can access the international roaming offer. The three monthly plans mentioned above are all eligible and will automatically activate by default for Vodafone $5 a day international roaming.

For those with plans that have been ongoing prior to June 2014, international roaming needs to be manually opted into to work abroad. In terms of using a prepaid eSIM plan, such as the ones mentioned above, unfortunately these are not eligible to be used abroad.⁴

You can also use your Vodafone eSIM for other types of roaming including in-flight roaming and maritime roaming. Fees vary in comparison to the standard international roaming offer. For in-flight roaming, you can access your plan with a range of participating airlines during your international flight.⁵

Read more: Vodafone AU international roaming. The rates, fees & how it works

Benefits of Vodafone eSIM

The benefits of a Vodafone eSIM include¹:

1. No physical sim card to maintain or replace
2. Up to 5 plans can be loaded at once on a device²
3. Access to Vodafone 5G network
4. Easy to sim swap between sim types
5. Fast activation
6. Can be used abroad if on a eligible plan

Another benefit extends to those looking for business plans where there are business eSIM options available with Vodafone.

How to get a eSIM with Vodafone

You can get an eSIM with vodafone through the My Vodafone app after deciding which plan you want.

If you want a prepaid eSIM, you’ll have to purchase a physical sim from Vodafone first, activate it on your device and then swap to a eSIM through the My Vodafone app. You can also visit a Vodafone store.²

Cost and fees for eSIM and services with Vodafone

There are no additional costs or fees associated with using or transferring to an eSIM. There are also no additional fees to use your Vodafone eSIM abroad outside the international roaming costs with an eligible plan.⁴

If you are travelling outside an eligible roaming country, you may incur pay-as-you-go roaming fees which accrue on top of your plan.⁴

How to install the eSIM on your device

If you already have a number with Vodafone, you can change your physical sim to a Vodafone eSIM through these general steps.⁶

1. Make sure your device is updated to the latest software
2. Download or go to the My Vodafone app
3. Click settings and ”mobile”
4. Go to mobile plans
5. Click “convert to SIM” or “eSIM” depending on device
6. Follow the prompts

For an Iphone, it can take up to 15 minutes for an eSIM to activate. For Samsung devices, it can take a few minutes. You can check if the transfer was successful in your phone's settings. For new customers to Vodafone, you must transfer your number before you can set up a Vodafone eSIM.

Which devices do Vodafone eSIMs support

There is a large range of devices that can support a Vodafone eSIM. Here are a few of the most popular types of devices.²

Device brand	Type
Apple	Iphones versions SE, XS, XR, 11 - 15 mini pro, plus and pro max Ipads 10.2 inch 7th gen and above Mini 5th and 6th gen Air 2019 and later Pro 11 inch Pro 12 3rd gen and later Watch SE Series 3 to 9 Ultra
Samsung	Galaxy A55, S20, s21, s22, s23, s24 Note Z Flip Z Fold Galaxy Tab S9 11, S9+ 12.4, S9 Ultra 14.6 Galaxy Watch Watch 4G and Active Watch 3 to 6 and classic
Google	Pixel 3a to 8 pro
Oppo	Find X5 and Find X5 Pro

You can find the full list of compatible devices here. If you have an eSIM enabled device but it is not included in the list, then you will need to contact Vodafone.

What to keep in mind when using Vodafone eSIMs abroad

If you have multiple Vodafone eSIMS activated on your device or across multiple devices, you should turn off international roaming on each eSIM you don’t plan on using abroad. If you don’t plan on using your phone abroad or have an eligible plan for roaming, it's recommended to check that your international roaming is switched off before you leave Australia.⁴

Contacting Vodafone

You can contact Vodafone through the My Vodafone app or by calling 1300 100 515 from within Australia. To call Vodafone from overseas, you can call +61 426 320 000.

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Sources:

1. Vodafone what is an eSIM
2. Vodafone prepaid eSIM works
3. Vodafone prepaid
4. Vodafone roaming
5. Vodafone abroad
6. Vodafone install eSIM

Sources checked on: 07 April 2024