Does Optus work in Bali?

Yes. Optus International Day Pass works in Bali on the Telkomsel network. It auto-activates on first use and costs AUD$5 per day (Zone 1 rate). Days you don't use the network are not billed, but background app syncs count as use.

How much does Optus charge for roaming in Bali?

Optus charges AUD$5 per day for Bali and Indonesia under the International Day Pass (Zone 1 rate). This includes unlimited calls and texts plus 2GB of data per day, throttled to 1Mbps after the cap. A 10-night Bali trip costs AUD$50.

Is a Bali eSIM cheaper than Optus roaming?

Yes, from day 4 onward. Optus Day Pass costs AUD$5/day, so a 3-night trip costs $15 — slightly under the AUD$16 eSIM price. From day 4 (AUD$20 in Day Pass charges) the eSIM is cheaper and the gap widens with every extra day.

Can I use an eSIM and keep my Optus number active in Bali?

Yes. Turn off data roaming on your Optus SIM so the Day Pass never activates. Set the Bali eSIM as your mobile data source. Your Optus number stays active for calls and texts on the physical SIM while the eSIM handles all data.

What network does Optus use in Bali?

Optus roams on Telkomsel in Indonesia, the same network used by Travelren Bali eSIMs. Coverage is effectively identical whether you're on an Optus Day Pass or a Travelren eSIM.

Prices shown are in AUD and may vary. Check the latest prices at travelren.com.

Money Saving

Optus Roaming Bali 2026: $5/day Day Pass vs eSIM

Updated May 2026 6 min read All prices in AUD

Yes, Optus works in Bali. The International Day Pass auto-activates at AUD$5 per day (Indonesia is Zone 1) on Telkomsel's network, giving you calls, texts, and 2GB of data per day. For a 10-night Bali trip that's AUD$50. A Travelren Bali eSIM for the same trip costs around AUD$16. The comparison is more nuanced than with Telstra — here's the honest maths.

Travelren is an Aussie-built eSIM brand and we sell Bali plans, so this comparison has stakes. We've put in the real break-even numbers and the genuine cases where the Optus Day Pass wins.

The quick answer

Optus International Day Pass in Bali: AUD$5/day for unlimited calls + texts + 2GB data, auto-activates, charged per usage day. Zone 1 pricing — the cheapest roaming Optus offers.
Travelren eSIM, 3GB / 30 days: approximately AUD$16
Break-even: Day Pass is cheaper up to 3 nights (AUD$15 vs AUD$16). From day 4 onward the eSIM is cheaper, and the saving grows every extra day.

How Optus actually works when you land in Bali

Optus roams on Telkomsel in Indonesia — the same carrier Travelren Bali eSIMs use. Coverage across Kuta, Seminyak, Canggu, Ubud, and Nusa Dua is strong 4G. Remote areas like Munduk and northern highlands can drop to 3G, but any tourist zone you're likely to visit has reliable signal.

Day Pass auto-activates on first use. Optus sends an SMS confirming the AUD$5 charge for that day. Days you don't use the network aren't billed — but background syncs, push notifications, and iMessage delivery all count as use. If you're on villa WiFi all day, turn mobile data off entirely to avoid a $5 charge for one notification.

Optus International Day Pass detail

AUD$5 per 24-hour usage window from first activation (Zone 1 rate — one of the cheapest in the market)
Includes unlimited standard national and international calls and SMS
2GB of data per day; throttles to 1Mbps after the cap (no extra charge)
Available on most Optus postpaid plans; check the My Optus app to confirm your plan includes it
Choice Plus and similar plans are the most common plans with Day Pass included — verify before you fly

What an eSIM costs for the same Bali trip

Travelren Bali / Indonesia plans (AUD as of May 2026):

1GB / 7 days: approximately AUD$5 — fine for a short trip with pool villa WiFi
3GB / 30 days: approximately AUD$16 — sweet spot for 1 to 2 weeks
5GB / 30 days: approximately AUD$22 — comfortable for two-week trips with Maps, Instagram, and WhatsApp calls home
10GB / 30 days: approximately AUD$28 — heavy use, remote work, tethering
Unlimited / 30 days: approximately AUD$35 — peace of mind, no counting gigabytes

Both options use Telkomsel in Bali. Coverage is identical. Browse the full Bali / Indonesia eSIM range.

Break-even math

Trip length	Optus Day Pass ($5/day)	Travelren eSIM	Cheaper option
1 night	AUD$5	~AUD$16 (3GB/30d)	Day Pass cheaper by AUD$11
2 nights	AUD$10	~AUD$16 (3GB/30d)	Day Pass cheaper by AUD$6
3 nights (Bali weekend)	AUD$15	~AUD$16 (3GB/30d)	Day Pass cheaper by AUD$1
4 nights	AUD$20	~AUD$16 (3GB/30d)	eSIM saves AUD$4
1 week	AUD$35	~AUD$16 (3GB/30d)	eSIM saves AUD$19
10 nights (standard Bali trip)	AUD$50	~AUD$16 (3GB/30d)	eSIM saves AUD$34
2 weeks	AUD$70	~AUD$22 (5GB/30d)	eSIM saves AUD$48
3 weeks (long stay)	AUD$105	~AUD$28 (10GB/30d)	eSIM saves AUD$77

Prices approximate. Check travelren.com/destinations/indonesia/ for current pricing.

The 10-night maths

A standard Bali trip runs 10 nights. At AUD$5/day that's AUD$50 in roaming. A 3GB Bali eSIM covers the same trip for around AUD$16 — a saving of AUD$34. Unlike Telstra (where the gap is AUD$184), the Optus case is less dramatic but still clear for any trip over 3 nights.

When Optus Day Pass genuinely wins

Short stopovers of 1 to 3 nights — the Day Pass comes out ahead by up to AUD$11 for a single night. If you're transiting through Bali for a weekend, Day Pass is the right call.
Your phone doesn't support eSIM — older Android flagships and some budget phones. Check the device check page for the full compatibility list.
You make a lot of standard voice calls — Day Pass includes unlimited calls back to Australia; the eSIM is data-only and you'd use WhatsApp or FaceTime for voice.
Corporate expense account covers it — if your employer reimburses Optus roaming, Day Pass costs you nothing out of pocket.
You need your Australian number for 2FA — single-SIM phones only. Dual-SIM devices can run both simultaneously (eSIM for data, Optus SIM for calls and texts).

When the eSIM is the better call

Any trip of 4 nights or longer — the eSIM crossover is day 4; the saving grows from there.
You want more than 2GB — Optus Day Pass throttles at 2GB. A 5GB or 10GB eSIM gives you more data for less money.
You're travelling with family — four people on a 10-night trip is AUD$200 in Day Pass charges; four eSIMs is approximately AUD$64. Savings scale fast.
You want the dual-SIM setup — eSIM for data + Optus physical SIM for calls and texts. No Day Pass charges, Optus number stays active.

How to run dual SIM in Bali

Buy the Bali eSIM before you fly

Choose a plan at travelren.com/destinations/indonesia/. You'll receive a QR code by email within minutes.

Install the eSIM on Wi-Fi at home

iPhone: Settings → Mobile Data → Add eSIM → Use QR Code.
Android: Settings → Connections → SIM Manager → Add eSIM → Scan QR code.
Install before you leave Australia — you need Wi-Fi for the initial download.

Turn off data roaming on your Optus SIM

iPhone: Settings → Mobile Data → your Optus line → Data Roaming → off.
Android: Settings → Connections → SIM Manager → your Optus SIM → Data Roaming → off.
This stops the Day Pass from activating. Without this step, Optus charges $5 even when the eSIM is doing all the work.

Set the eSIM as your mobile data source

When prompted which SIM to use for mobile data, select the Bali eSIM. Your Optus SIM handles calls and texts; the eSIM handles data.

Common questions

Does the $5/day Day Pass apply to all Optus plans?

The AUD$5/day International Day Pass is included on most Optus postpaid plans including Choice Plus, My Plan, and similar. Check the My Optus app under International Roaming before you travel — some older or cheaper plans have different rates or don't include Zone 1 at $5.

Is coverage the same on Optus Day Pass and a Bali eSIM?

Yes. Both use Telkomsel as the underlying network in Indonesia. Signal strength, speeds, and coverage gaps are identical. Ubud town has solid 4G; the rice terraces and Nusa Penida can be 3G or weaker on both options.

Will iMessage and WhatsApp work?

Yes. Both are registered to your Apple ID and Australian phone number, not the physical SIM or eSIM. Any active data connection — Day Pass or eSIM — lets iMessage and WhatsApp function normally.

Can I buy a local SIM at Ngurah Rai airport instead?

Yes. Telkomsel and XL Axiata have booths in arrivals. Local tourist SIMs run roughly AUD$5 to $10 for 3GB to 10GB over 7 to 30 days. The main friction is queuing, cash-only payment at some booths, and the hassle of swapping SIMs. An eSIM installed before departure avoids all of that, especially useful for late-night arrivals.

The bottom line

Optus's Zone 1 pricing makes Bali one of the few destinations where the Day Pass is worth a genuine calculation rather than an automatic rejection. For trips of 1 to 3 nights, the AUD$5/day Day Pass is cheaper than a AUD$16 eSIM. For 4 nights or more — which covers most Bali trips — the eSIM is cheaper, and the saving grows every extra day.

The smart move for a typical 10-night Bali trip: eSIM for data, Optus SIM for calls and texts (data roaming off on Optus), total cost approximately AUD$16 instead of AUD$50.

Going longer than 3 nights? The eSIM wins.

Same Telkomsel network. No daily charges. Instant QR delivery.

Browse Bali / Indonesia eSIM plans