Buying a Australia eSIM on Airalo costs more than it needs to. We put both sites' published prices side by side, plan for plan.
On 8 matching plans altesim.com came out cheaper than Airalo, by 59% to 64%.
How we compared
Both columns are the prices each site published on 11 September 2026, listed in US dollars. We used each site's actual selling price, not a struck-through list price.
Every comparison uses altesim.com's full price, ignoring the 10% site-wide discount it runs one day in three — the strictest reading against ourselves.
A "matching plan" means the same number of days and the same data allowance, with per-day plans compared only against per-day plans.
Specification comparison: How much do altesim.com and Airalo differ?
| Plan | altesim.com | Airalo | You save |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 days · 10GB total | US$5.98 | US$16.5 | 64% |
| 15 days · 10GB total | US$6.64 | US$17.5 | 62% |
| 30 days · 10GB total | US$6.98 | US$18 | 61% |
| 7 days · 5GB total | US$3.82 | US$10 | 62% |
| 15 days · 5GB total | US$4.14 | US$10.5 | 61% |
| 30 days · 5GB total | US$4.33 | US$11 | 61% |
| 15 days · 20GB total | US$11.74 | US$29 | 60% |
| 30 days · 20GB total | US$12.44 | US$30 | 59% |
When travelling in Australia, choosing the right eSIM is crucial. We compared altesim.com and Airalo's Australian eSIM plans and found that altesim.com offers 8 plans cheaper than Airalo, with savings ranging from 59% to 64%. The most striking example is the "7 days, 10GB total" plan, where altesim.com charges US$5.98 while Airalo charges US$16.5, a saving of 64%. As the duration increases, the savings decrease slightly. For instance, the "10GB total" plan is 64% cheaper for 7 days, but only 61% cheaper for 30 days. This pattern is consistent across the "5GB total" and "20GB total" plans as well.
If you're travelling to Australia and mainly want to use maps, communicate with friends, then the "10GB total" plan should suffice. If you frequently use navigation, upload photos, and watch some videos, then the "20GB total" plan would be more reliable. For those who hotspot to others or frequently watch videos or stream live, the "20GB total" plan is the best choice.
How to use a data-capped plan without running out midway
With a data-capped eSIM, you don't need to count your data usage daily, allowing you to use more data on days when you need it more. In Australia, the most data-consuming activities include using navigation, uploading photos, watching videos, or streaming live. To estimate how many GB you need, consider this general guideline: if you have Wi-Fi at your accommodation and mainly use maps and communication, 1GB daily should be enough; if you frequently use navigation, upload photos, and watch some videos, plan for about 5GB to 10GB per week; if you hotspot to others or frequently watch videos or stream live, you'll need around 20GB for 10 days.
Note that with altesim.com's daily plans, once the high-speed data is used up, the speed will be reduced to 128kbps but won't disconnect, and it will return to high speed the next day. So, if you choose a data-capped plan, make sure to plan your daily usage to avoid running out of data midway.
How many options are available on altesim.com's Australia page?
altesim.com's Australia page offers over 100 plan options, ranging from 1 day to 365 days, allowing you to choose based on the length of your trip. These plans are divided into data-capped and daily plans. Data-capped plans are suitable for those who don't want to count their data usage daily, while daily plans are ideal for those with consistent daily usage. Additionally, altesim.com offers multi-country plans that cover multiple destinations, including Australia, so if you plan to travel to multiple countries, you won't need to buy several eSIMs.
The website offers over 2,000 plans across 84 destinations, so no matter where you're travelling, altesim.com likely has a plan that suits your needs.
How much data do you actually need in Australia? Three itineraries to consider
In Australia, different itineraries require different data usage. Itinerary A: If you mainly stay in accommodations with Wi-Fi and use maps and communication, then "10GB total" should be sufficient. Itinerary B: If you frequently use navigation, upload photos, and watch some videos, then "20GB total" would be more reliable. Itinerary C: If you hotspot to others or frequently watch videos or stream live, then "20GB total" is the best choice.
Note that the duration of your stay will affect which plan you choose. If you plan to stay in Australia for a longer period, opting for a higher capacity plan will be more cost-effective.
What are the advantages of altesim.com?
altesim.com's eSIM plans offer several benefits. You can hotspot to share with others, so everyone doesn't need to buy their own eSIM, saving money. altesim.com offers instant purchase and use; the QR code will appear immediately on the order page and will also be sent to your email, so you can scan it with your phone and be set up in no time. Third, you can buy up to 10 eSIMs in a single order, making it convenient for travel companions to get set up all at once without having to buy individually.
Three things to do before buying
Before purchasing an eSIM, there are three things you should do. First, check if your device supports eSIM; recent iPhones, Samsung Galaxy S series, and Google Pixel models do, but older models and some China versions may need further checking. Second, look if it's a 10% off day; if so, you can save an additional 10%. Third, visit the destination page to check the current price, as prices on these platforms often change, so you can get the best deal.
Prices are as published on 11 September 2026 and can change at any time; check the page on the day you buy.