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Roaming with ALDImobile: What You Need to Know

ALDIMobile offers great value prepaid packs for those who do not want to spend a lot of money on their phone plan. You can also Pay-As-You-Go like with many prepaid providers. But is ALDImobile inexpensive while abroad? And more importantly, can you roam with ALDIMobile and is it worth it? Let's find out.

Table of Contents

Can I roam with ALDIMobile?

ALDImobile subscribers can roam in 60 destinations across the world. Roaming includes all the standard phone services such as calling, texting and using cellular data. ALDImobile does, however, not offer any roaming value packs, meaning you have to pay-as-you-go with rates starting at $0.50 (Australian Dollars) per action.

No idea how roaming works? I made this comprehensive guide about what roaming is and how it works. It is worth the read – promised!

What do I need to know about roaming with ALDImobile?

Although ALDImobile users can roam in destinations such as New Zealand, Thailand, and Singapore, it does not mean the roaming charges are low.

Making and receiving phone calls would cost you between $1/min and $2/min, sending a text message is either $0.50/SMS or $1/SMS, and using data will be charged at $0.50/MB or $1/MB. Receiving text messages is free.

As all actions are charged per usage, which means that using data overseas can become costly very quickly. Using 500 MB in Norway would cost you $250 ($0.50/MB), and the price would be double in Mexico ($1/MB).

Be sure to keep a tab on your usage to prevent unwanted surprises.

Woman holding an iPhone

How do I enable ALDImobile international roaming?

You have to follow the following steps to enable the international roaming add-on:

  • At least one week before you intend to roam, log in to My ALDImobile and select the service you would like to enable for roaming (if you have multiple services enabled)
  • Search for International Roaming in the shortcut menu
  • Enable International Roaming by clicking on it

The international roaming add-on has been enabled!

Do note to add Pay-As-You-Go credit if you intend on roaming. This can be done on My ALDImobile. The ALDImobile app will not work while overseas.

Where can I roam with ALDImobile?

Below is the table with all the destinations one can roam, including the roaming rates.

Notes:
1 Out. Call stands for Outgoing call per minute
2 Inc. Call stands for Incoming call per minute
3 Send SMS stands for the cost of sending an SMS per SMS
4 Data stands for the cost of using data per MB
5 Receiving text messages is free
6 The table is best viewed in landscape mode or desktop view (when on mobile)

DestinationOut. CallInc. CallSend SMSData
Austria $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
Belgium $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
Brazil $2.00 $2.00 $1.00 $1.00
Cambodia $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
Canada $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
China $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
Croatia $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
Czech Republic $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
Denmark $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
East Timor $2.00 $2.00 $1.00 $1.00
Egypt $2.00 $2.00 $1.00 $1.00
Estonia $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
Fiji $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
Finland $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
France $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
Germany $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
Greece $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
Hong Kong $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
Hungary $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
India* $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
Indonesia $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
Ireland $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
Israel $2.00 $2.00 $1.00 $1.00
Italy $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
Japan $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
Latvia $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
Lithuania $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
Luxembourg $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
Macedonia $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
Malaysia $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
Malta $2.00 $2.00 $1.00 $1.00
Mexico $2.00 $2.00 $1.00 $1.00
Netherlands $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
New Zealand $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
Nigeria $2.00 $2.00 $1.00 $1.00
Nigeria $2.00 $2.00 $1.00 $1.00
Norway $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
Papua New Guinea $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
Philippines $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
Poland $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
Portugal $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
Qatar $2.00 $2.00 $1.00 $1.00
Russia $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
Samoa $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
Singapore $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
Slovak Republic $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
South Africa $2.00 $2.00 $1.00 $1.00
South Korea $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
Spain $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
Sri Lanka $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
Sweden $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
Switzerland $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
Taiwan $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
Thailand $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
Tonga $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
Turkey $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
UK $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
United Arab Emirates $2.00 $2.00 $1.00 $1.00
USA $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50
Vanuatu $1.00 $1.00 $0.50 $0.50

Does ALDImobile have preferred roaming providers?

ALDImobile recommends its customers to connect with their preferred operators for a better roaming experience. Usually, your phone will automatically connect to the preferred roaming operator.

If not, then you can manually try to find the operator. If that does not work either, then you can use a non-preferred operator if available.

Who are ALDImobile's preferred operators?

Below you can find the preferred roaming providers per destination.

Note: The display name of the preferred operator may look differently on your phone. For example, Hutchison is often 3 + destination name, so 3 Denmark, 3 Austria, 3 Ireland, etc.

DestinationPreferred roaming operator(s)
Austria Hutchison
Belgium KPN Group Belgium
Bolivia Nuevatel PCS De Bolivia
Brazil TIM Celular & Vivo
Cambodia Viettel & CamGSM (Non- preferred) 
Canada Bell Mobility, Rogers Wireless Fido & TELUS Communications 
China China Mobile & China Unicom 
Croatia Croatian Telecom, Tele2 & VIPnet
Czech Republic T-Mobile 
Denmark TDC & Telia
Egypt Etisalat 
Estonia Elisa & Tele2 
Fiji Vodafone
Finland Telia 
France Bouygues Telecom & Orange 
Germany T-Mobile & o2 
Greece Cosmote Mobile Telecommunications 
Hong Kong Hong Kong CSL & SmarTone
Hungary Magyar Telekom & Telenor 
Indonesia Excelcom & PT Telekomunikasi 
Ireland Hutchison, O2 & Meteor Mobile Telecommunications Limited 
Israel Cellcom, Pelephone Communications & Wataniya 
Italy H3G & Wind 
Japan NTT DoCoMo & SoftBank Mobile 
Kuwait Wataniya
Latvia Latvian Mobile Telephone & Tele2 Latvia
Lithuania Omnitel & Tele2 
Luxembourg Orange
Macedonia VIP Operator Dooel Skopje & T-Mobile (Non- preferred) 
Malaysia Celcom, DiGi Telecommunications & Maxis Communications (Non- preferred) 
Malta Mobisle Communications 
Mexico Pegaso Comunicaciones y Sistemas 
Netherlands KPN
New Zealand Telecom New Zealand, Two Degrees Mobile & Vodafone NZ (Non- preferred) 
Nigeria MTN 
Norway Netcom NORNC & Telenor 
Papua New Guinea BMobile & Digicel
Philippines Smart Communications & Globe Telecom (Non- preferred) 
Poland PTK Centertel 
Portugal Sonaecom Servicos de Comunicacoes 
Qatar Q Tel 
Russia OJSC VimpelCom
Samoa Digicel Samoa Limited 
Singapore StarHub Mobile & MobileOne (Non- preferred) 
Slovakia Slovak Telekom 
South Africa Cell C, MTN & Vodacom
South Korea SK Telecom
Spain Telefonica Moviles Espana 
Sri Lanka Dialog Telekom PLC & Mobitel
Sweden Tele2 AB, Telenor & Telia 
Switzerland Orange & Swisscom
Taiwan Chunghwa Telecom
Thailand Advanced Info Service, Real Future Company (Non- preferred) & Total Access Communications
Timor Telkomcel, Timor Telecom & VIETTEL
Tonga Digicel
Turkey Turkcell 
United Arab Emirates Etisalat
United Kingdom Everything Everywhere, Jersey Telecom & O2 
United StatesAT&T Mobility & T-Mobile
Vanuatu Digicel & Telecom Vanuatu
Preferred operators in India
Telecom CirclePreferred operator(s)
India_TNBharti Airtel Chennai & Bharti Airtel Tamilnadu
India_APBharti Airtel Andhra Pradesh
India_KarnatakaBharti Airtel Karnataka
India_KeralaBharti Airtel Kerala
India_DelhiBharti Airtel Delhi & Vodafone Delhi
India_GujaratBharti Airtel Gujarat
India_HaryanaBharti Airtel Haryana
India_HPBharti Airtel Himachal Pradesh
India_MHBharti Airtel Maharastra & Goa Bharti Airtel Mumbai & Vodafone Mumbai
India_KolkattaBharti Airtel Kolkata
India_MPBharti Airtel Madhya Pradesh
India_PunjabBharti Airtel Punjab
India_RajasthanBharti Airtel Rajasthan
India_UPWBharti Airtel UP West & Idea Cellular Up West

Can I send MMS messages while traveling with ALDImobile?

Sending MMS messages while abroad is possible. However, data roaming needs to have been enabled to send and retrieve MMS messages.

ALDImobile international MMS charges

MMS TypeCharge
Send MMS (to an Australian Number)Standard rate + data charges for the destination you are in
Send International MMS (to a non-Australian Number)$1.00 + Data Charges for the destination you are in
Send Video MMS$0.75 + Data Charges for the destination you are in
Receive MMS (Standard & Video)Data Charges

Can I roam on planes with ALDImobile?

In-flight roaming is not possible with ALDImobile.

Can I roam on cruise ships with ALDImobile?

Maritime roaming is not available with ALDImobile.

Is roaming with ALDImobile worth it?

Roaming with ALDImobile is expensive because you cannot take advantage of any roaming packages – only Pay-As-You-Go rates are available, which makes roaming an unattractive option.

I am a fan of operators who offer free roaming options with certain plans. Even if it is only 100 MB per day, per week, or per month, it is often still cheaper than paying as you go (although 100 MB of data roaming for a month of traveling very little – still better than nothing, I guess!)

If your home provider offers roaming packs, they can be worth looking at after assessing whether it will be worth it for you depending on the price, the features, and availability.

With ALDImobile, however, you would have to keep a tab on everything you do because even receiving phone calls can cost you up to $2.00/min, which is steep. You will be better off not accepting any phone calls unless it is an emergency or worth it to you.

Woman on the phone

For example, you have to call your Airbnb host in Japan because you have some questions about your Apartment. The call lasts for 15 minutes because you had many questions. That 15-minute call would cost you $15 ($1/min). Making a call with a local SIM card would certainly be cheaper. An international SIM card like OneSimCard, SimOptions, Surfroam, BNESIM, or SimCorner may be something to consider too.

You would be better off using internet-based apps on WIFI like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, or Skype to use the internet instead of data roaming.

Regarding texting, as most people are on a messaging app, it would be cheaper to use those too. Just sending 10 text messages in Brazil would cost you $10 ($1/SMS). That money could be spent on lunch or a souvenir.

Keep in mind that you need Pay As You Go credits to roam abroad, meaning you do not have to worry about bill shock when roaming. However, if you have a lot of credits on your card, have enabled data roaming, and forgot to turn on WIFI while in your hotel, you will run out of your credits quickly.