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Prepaid International Calls From Australia: Prepaid Mobile Plans vs Phone Cards

You can make prepaid international calls from Australia with a prepaid mobile plan that includes international calls, or with a prepaid phone card that works on any phone. This guide compares the two and shows what calls cost.

Updated 19 October 2026

A prepaid phone card is the simplest way to make prepaid international calls from Australia. It works with your current plan, has no monthly recharge and calls 234 countries. Rates start at 1.6c a minute. A prepaid plan with international calls suits people who call the same countries for many hours each month.

Two Ways to Make Prepaid International Calls

Prepaid mobile plan with international calls

You recharge your plan each month. Some prepaid plans include international calls to selected destinations, as a set number of minutes or as unlimited calls to a list of countries.

A recharge each month

Prepaid phone card

You buy credit once and use it for calls to any of 234 countries and territories, from any Australian mobile or landline. There is no monthly recharge.

Pay only when you call

Prepaid Mobile Plans With International Calls

A prepaid mobile plan includes international calls only when it lists the countries. It suits people who call the same few countries for many hours each month. Check these points before you recharge:

  • Selected destinations. The plan includes only the countries on its list. Calls to other countries cost standard international call rates.
  • Landlines and mobiles. Some plans include landlines in a country but not mobiles.
  • Unlimited calls. On most plans, unlimited calls and text means calls inside Australia only.
  • Inclusions end at the next recharge. Check whether unused international minutes carry over.

International Calls vs International Roaming

International calls and international roaming are 2 different things. An international call goes from Australia to another country. Roaming lets you use your Australian phone on a mobile network overseas, and it has its own charges. A phone card is for calls from Australia.

Prepaid Phone Cards for International Calls

A prepaid phone card works with the plan and the phone you already have, on any mobile network in Australia. You dial a local access number, enter your PIN, then dial the overseas number. Your phone plan sees a local call, and the card pays for the international part.

  • No recharge cycle. Credit lasts 6 months from your first call or your last recharge.
  • Card sizes from $5. Bigger cards come with bonus credit on some brands.
  • Every country. One card calls 234 countries and territories, landlines and mobiles.

Recharge a Plan or Buy a Card: Which Costs Less?

A phone card costs less if you call for an hour or two a month. Compare the monthly cost of the calls on a card with the extra cost of a plan that includes them. For example:

  • 2 hours a month of calls to mobiles in India cost $3.36 on a phone card (Hello World).
  • 5 hours a month of calls to mobiles in the Philippines cost $42.00 on a phone card.

If a prepaid plan with those countries costs more than your current plan plus these amounts, the card costs less. Our calling plan calculator works this out for any country.

Prepaid International Call Rates by Country

Calling Landline, no fee Mobile, no fee
USA 1.9c/min Easy Calling 1.9c/min Easy Calling
UK 3.2c/min Super Deal 9.8c/min Super Deal
New Zealand 2.6c/min Super Deal 17.8c/min Super Deal
India 2.8c/min India Call 2.8c/min Hello World
China 2.4c/min Day to Day 2.4c/min Day to Day
Philippines 13.3c/min Mabuhay Pinoy 14c/min Mabuhay Pinoy
Vietnam 5.8c/min Asian Connection 5.8c/min Asian Connection
Pakistan 4.3c/min Super Deal 4.7c/min Super Deal
Sri Lanka 16.5c/min All Seasons 18.4c/min East Star
Indonesia 5c/min Hello World 5c/min Hello World
Italy 2.5c/min Golden Banana 16.7c/min Super Deal
Greece 2.7c/min Hello World 8.4c/min Hello World

Lowest rate a minute on a card with no connection fee. Checked 19 October 2026. See every country from A to Z.

Choose your country and see every card that calls it, with its rate and talk time.

Compare call rates

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make international calls on a prepaid plan?

Yes. You can pay standard international call rates from your credit, choose a prepaid plan that includes calls to selected destinations, or use a prepaid phone card with your current plan.

Does unlimited calls on a prepaid plan include international calls?

Usually not. On most prepaid plans, unlimited calls means calls inside Australia. International calls are included only when the plan lists the countries.

Which prepaid plan is best for international calls?

The best plan includes the countries you call, covers mobiles as well as landlines, and costs less than the same calls on a phone card. If you call only an hour or two a month, a phone card usually costs less.

Where can I buy a prepaid international calling card?

You can buy one online from our shop. We email the PIN and the local access numbers, so you can call straight away.

Can I get unlimited international calls on a prepaid plan?

Some prepaid mobile plans include unlimited calls to a list of countries. Check the list, whether it covers mobiles, and any fair use limit. Calls to countries not on the list cost standard rates.

Which is the cheapest way to make prepaid international calls?

For an hour or two a month, a prepaid phone card is usually cheapest, because you pay no extra recharge. Rates start at 1.6c a minute.

Do prepaid phone cards expire?

Our cards stay active for 6 months from your first call or your last recharge. A recharge restores any credit that has expired.

Will I be charged for calling the local access number?

Your provider charges the access number as a local call. On a plan with unlimited national calls, it costs nothing extra.

More Guides for Calling Overseas