Short answer: Optus international roaming costs $5 a day (5GB data plus unlimited standard calls and texts) if you're on an Optus Choice Plus postpaid plan, and $10 per 24 hours (1GB) on most other postpaid plans. Without a pass, data is charged at $1 per MB. Prepaid customers can buy roaming packs from $5 for a day to $45 for 28 days. For a two or three week trip where you mainly need data, a travel eSIM is usually far cheaper.
This guide covers every Optus roaming option, what a real trip costs, how to avoid a surprise bill, and when you're better off with a travel eSIM.
Prices checked against Optus's website on 27 September 2026. Optus can change them at any time, so check the Optus international roaming page before you fly.
Optus roaming prices at a glance
| Option | Who gets it | Price | Data | Calls and texts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optus Daily Roaming | Choice Plus postpaid plans | $5 per day | 5GB per day | Unlimited standard talk and text |
| $10 Roaming Pass | Other selected postpaid plans | $10 per 24 hours | 1GB | Unlimited national talk and text |
| Standard roaming rates | Selected postpaid plans without a pass | Pay as you go | $1 per MB | Charged per minute and per text |
| At sea or in the air | Cruise ships and flights | Pay as you go | $2 per MB | Charged per minute and per text |
| Prepaid roaming packs | Selected prepaid plans | $5 to $75 | 1GB to 15GB | Capped minutes and texts |
These passes work in Optus's Zone 1, which covers more than 150 destinations, including Japan, the USA, the UK, most of Europe, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, India and China.
Optus postpaid roaming explained
Optus Daily Roaming: $5 a day (Choice Plus plans)
If you're on an Optus Choice Plus plan, you get Optus Daily Roaming. It costs $5 a day and includes 5GB of data plus unlimited standard calls and texts in Zone 1 destinations. It is subject to Optus's Fair Go Policy.
According to WhistleOut, if you use all 5GB inside the same 24 hours, another $5 pass starts automatically. Heavy users, such as anyone uploading video or hotspotting a laptop, can pay more than $5 on a big day.
$10 Roaming Pass (other postpaid plans)
On most other Optus postpaid plans, roaming is charged through the $10 Roaming Pass. Each pass gives you 1GB of data and unlimited national talk and text for 24 hours in Zone 1.
If your plan already includes some roaming, the $10 pass is triggered once those inclusions run out.
At $10 a day, a two-week trip costs $140 and a three-week trip costs $210, for 1GB a day.
Standard roaming rates: $1 per MB
If you're outside Zone 1, or your plan has no pass, you pay standard roaming rates. Data costs $1 per MB, which works out at roughly $1,000 per GB. At sea or on a plane, it's $2 per MB. Calls are charged per minute in 60-second blocks, and data is charged in 10kB blocks.
To put that in context, a few minutes of Google Maps and one Instagram story can easily use 50MB, which is $50 at standard rates. This is where most roaming bill shock comes from.
Optus prepaid international roaming packs
Optus prepaid customers don't get daily passes. Instead, you buy a roaming pack before you go. These are the current Zone 1 packs listed on Optus's prepaid roaming page:
| Pack | Lasts | Data | Calls | Texts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $5 International Roaming | 1 day | 1GB | Up to 25 mins | 50 |
| $25 International Roaming | 14 days | 5GB | Up to 50 mins | 50 |
| $45 International Roaming | 28 days | 10GB | Up to 100 mins | 100 |
| $75 International Roaming | 186 days | 15GB | Up to 100 mins | 100 |
Packs are only available on selected plans, and most need an active standard recharge before you can buy one (Optus Flex Plus Traveller is the exception).
How Optus roaming activates (and how to stop it)
Optus roaming switches on automatically. Your pass starts the first time your phone uses calls, texts or data after you land. That can happen before you've even unlocked your phone, because apps refresh in the background as soon as your phone finds a local network.
That means you can be charged for a day of roaming just by turning your phone on at the airport.
How to avoid Optus roaming charges
- Turn on flight mode before you land, then turn Wi-Fi back on if you want to use airport or hotel Wi-Fi. Optus says flight mode stops roaming from starting.
- Turn off data roaming in your phone settings (iPhone: Settings > Mobile Service > Mobile Data Options; Android: Settings > Connections > Mobile networks).
- Check your settings in the My Optus app before you leave, so you know which pass or rates apply to your plan.
- Switch your data to a travel eSIM and keep your Optus SIM for calls and texts only if you need them. More on this below.
What does Optus roaming cost for a real trip?
Here's what a three-week (21-day) trip to Japan costs on each Optus option, assuming you use your phone every day:
| Option | 21-day cost | Total data |
|---|---|---|
| Optus Daily Roaming (Choice Plus) | $105 | Up to 105GB |
| $10 Roaming Pass | $210 | 21GB |
| Prepaid $45 pack (28 days) | $45 | 10GB |
| RoamMate Japan eSIM | $22.99 | 10GB |
Most travellers use far less than 5GB a day. Maps, messaging, email and some social media usually come to around 0.5GB to 1GB a day, so on a daily pass you're often paying for data you'll never use.
Optus roaming vs a travel eSIM
A travel eSIM is a digital SIM you download to your phone before you leave. It gives you a local data connection at your destination, without swapping physical SIM cards, and your Optus number stays on your phone.
| Optus roaming | RoamMate eSIM | |
|---|---|---|
| How you pay | Per day, or per MB | One upfront price per trip |
| Risk of bill shock | Yes, if a pass doesn't apply | No, it's prepaid |
| Data | 1GB or 5GB a day, or a prepaid pack | Choose the data you need |
| Calls and texts | Uses your Australian number | Data only. Use WhatsApp, iMessage or FaceTime |
| Setup | Automatic | Scan a QR code before you fly |
| Online when you land | Yes | Yes, before you reach baggage claim |
When Optus roaming makes sense
- You're on Choice Plus, your trip is short, and you need to make a lot of normal phone calls.
- You need people to reach you on your Australian number by standard call or SMS all day.
- Your employer is paying the bill.
When a travel eSIM makes sense
- Your trip is longer than a few days and you mainly need data for maps, messaging and bookings.
- You're on a non-Choice Plus plan and would otherwise pay $10 a day.
- You want to know exactly what the trip will cost before you leave.
Keeping your Optus SIM active for texts (such as bank verification codes) while using an eSIM for data gives you the best of both. Just make sure data roaming is off on your Optus line so it doesn't trigger a pass.
How to set up a RoamMate eSIM before your trip
- Check your phone supports eSIM. Most iPhones from the XS onwards and recent Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones do. Your phone also needs to be unlocked.
- Buy your plan for your destination on RoamMate.
- Install it at home by scanning the QR code while you're on Wi-Fi.
- When you land, turn off data roaming on your Optus line, switch mobile data to your RoamMate eSIM, and you're online before you reach baggage claim.
Browse eSIM plans by destination
Optus roaming FAQs
How much is Optus roaming per day?
Optus roaming costs $5 a day on Choice Plus postpaid plans, with 5GB of data and unlimited standard calls and texts. On most other postpaid plans, the $10 Roaming Pass costs $10 per 24 hours and includes 1GB of data.
Does Optus roaming turn on automatically?
Yes. Optus roaming starts automatically the first time your phone uses calls, texts or data in an eligible destination. Turning on flight mode stops it from starting.
How do I turn off Optus international roaming?
Turn off data roaming in your phone's settings, or switch on flight mode and use Wi-Fi. You can also check your roaming settings in the My Optus app before you travel.
Does Optus roaming work in Japan?
Yes. Japan is an Optus Zone 1 destination, so the $5 Daily Roaming, the $10 Roaming Pass and prepaid roaming packs all work there.
What happens if I use all my Optus roaming data?
On the $5 Daily Roaming pass, WhistleOut reports that another $5 pass starts if you use all 5GB within 24 hours. On prepaid packs, you'll need to buy another pack or add-on once your data runs out.
How much is Optus roaming without a pass?
Standard Optus roaming rates are $1 per MB of data in Zone 1 and Zone 2, and $2 per MB on cruise ships and flights. Calls and texts are charged per minute and per message.
Can I keep my Optus number and use an eSIM overseas?
Yes. Most eSIM phones hold two lines at once. Keep your Optus SIM on for calls and texts (with data roaming off), and use the travel eSIM for data.
Is an eSIM cheaper than Optus roaming?
For most trips longer than a few days, yes. A 21-day trip costs $105 on Optus Daily Roaming or $210 on the $10 Roaming Pass. A RoamMate eSIM for Japan costs $22.99 for 10GB over 30 days.
The bottom line
Optus roaming is simple, since it switches on by itself, but you pay for that simplicity every day you're away. If you're on Choice Plus and taking a short trip, the $5 a day pass is fair value. For everyone else, and for longer trips, a travel eSIM gets you online when you land for a fraction of the cost.
Related reading: More roaming guides