Vodafone international roaming costs $5 extra a day with $5 Roaming, in more than 100 destinations. For that $5 you use the data, calls and texts already in your Vodafone plan, as you would at home. If you run out of data, Vodafone adds 1 GB for $5. Two weeks in Japan comes to $70, against about A$21 for a 10 GB travel eSIM.
We sell travel eSIMs (ICY SIM). Vodafone, Telstra and Optus details are from their websites on 27 October 2026. Our prices are in US dollars at checkout; we convert at US$1 = A$1.42.
- $5 extra a day on eligible postpaid plans, charged only on days you use your phone overseas.
- It uses your plan’s included data. Speed-capped data (for example 1.5 Mbps “unlimited” data) doesn’t work overseas.
- Over your data? Vodafone adds 1 GB for $5 automatically.
- You can use it for 90 days a year at most. After that, pay-as-you-go rates apply.
- Prepaid customers buy Roaming Add-ons: $5 for 1 day, $15 for 3 days or $35 for 7 days.
How does Vodafone $5 Roaming work?
- Log in to My Vodafone and check International roaming network is on under Roaming settings.
- When you land and turn your phone on in an eligible destination, $5 Roaming starts by itself.
- You pay $5 on each day you use data, make or receive a call, or send a text. Days you don’t use your phone cost nothing.
- You use your normal plan allowance. Once it’s gone, Vodafone charges $5 per extra GB.
- The $5 charges appear on your next bill.
Receiving a call counts as using your phone, so it starts the $5 for that day. Vodafone also offers $5 Roaming on selected flights with partner airlines.
Vodafone roaming charges: what you pay
| Option | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| $5 Roaming (postpaid) | $5 extra a day | Your plan’s included data, calls and texts |
| Extra data while roaming | $5 per GB | Added automatically when your plan data runs out |
| Ultra+ plans | $5 extra a day | Unlimited phone data; hotspot over 30 GB is $5 per GB |
| Prepaid Roaming Add-ons | $5 (1 day), $15 (3 days), $35 (7 days) | Data, calls and texts; check the amounts in My Vodafone |
| Pay as you go | Per use | For countries or plans without $5 Roaming; calls billed per 30 seconds, $1 minimum |
The 90-day limit covers the whole calendar year, not each trip. Frequent travellers and people working overseas can hit it, and after that every megabyte is charged at pay-as-you-go rates.
Vodafone roaming countries
Vodafone lists more than 100 eligible destinations on its roaming page and says the list can change, so check it before you book. Indonesia (including Bali), Japan and Fiji have been on the list for years. In a country that isn’t on the list, you pay pay-as-you-go rates even on an eligible plan.
Vodafone roaming vs a travel eSIM: trip costs
| Trip | Vodafone $5 Roaming | Travel eSIM (ICY SIM) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 days in Bali | $25 | 5 GB: about A$9 (US$6) |
| 14 days in Japan | $70 | 10 GB: about A$21 (US$15) |
| 3 weeks in Europe | $105 | 20 GB, 30 countries: about A$57 (US$40) |
| 30 days in the US | $150 | 20 GB: about A$50 (US$35) |
The Vodafone figures assume your plan has enough data for the trip. If it doesn’t, add $5 for each extra GB. Vodafone also includes your plan’s calls and texts; the eSIM is data only. Live prices: Indonesia, Japan, Europe, United States.
How to use an eSIM for data and keep your Vodafone number
Because $5 Roaming starts as soon as your Vodafone line uses the network, you need to stop the Vodafone line from using data. Your phone can hold both lines if it supports eSIM; check yours on our compatible devices list.
- Install the travel eSIM at home on Wi-Fi.
- When you land, choose the eSIM for mobile data.
- Turn data roaming off for the Vodafone line.
- To avoid the $5 a day entirely, switch off roaming for your Vodafone service in My Vodafone. Leave it on only if you need calls on your Vodafone number, and remember that receiving a call starts that day’s $5.
- Back in Australia, switch data back to Vodafone.
When Vodafone $5 Roaming is the better choice
- Your plan has lots of data and the trip is a week or less: $5 a day for your normal allowance is good value.
- You call people on their normal numbers a lot.
- Short business trips where nobody wants to change phone settings.
Vodafone vs Telstra vs Optus roaming
| Carrier | Daily price | Data | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vodafone $5 Roaming | $5 | Your plan’s data, then $5 per GB | 90 days a year |
| Telstra International Day Pass | $10 ($5 in NZ and Pacific) | 2 GB a day | Charged on days used |
| Optus Daily Roaming (Choice Plus) | $5 | 5 GB a day | Charged per 24 hours used |
| Optus $10 Roaming Pass | $10 | 1 GB a day | Charged per 24 hours used |
Full details in our Telstra international roaming and Optus international roaming guides. Going to Bali? See the best eSIM for Bali.
