Updated September 28, 2026 · NomadCue Editorial Team
Boost Mobile AU vs Transatel
Boost Mobile AU
Transatel
Higher score in this comparison
Boost Mobile AU vs Transatel: the differences
| Compare | Boost Mobile AUReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | TransatelReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Countries covered | 42 | from 200 |
| Fair use policy | Pack expires 3, 7 or 14 days after purchase; unused data, calls and texts are lost, no rollover | Prepaid data allowance, no cash refund for unused credit, no excessive network congestion or abnormally high usage |
| Seller type | Mvno | Carrier |
| Price from | A$20 | Not confirmed |
| Unlimited data | No | Not confirmed |
| Hotspot sharing | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Reference plan prices | One roaming price for all 42 countries incl. USA, UK, Japan, Thailand, Turkey and Europe (France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, etc): Small 2GB AUD 20 / 3 days, Medium 5GB AUD 30 / 7 days, Large 7GB AUD 40 / 14 days; Mexico not included | Not confirmed |
| Networks | Telstra | Not confirmed |
Same on both: 5G (Yes), Top-ups (Yes).
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Key differences
- Transatel scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 8.8.
- Support channels: only Boost Mobile AU offers Chat, Phone, Community.
- Support channels: only Transatel offers Email.
- Features: only Boost Mobile AU offers Instant activation, Carrier plan.
- Features: only Transatel offers Hotspot.
- Audience: only Transatel offers Long trip.
Our verdict on each
Boost Mobile AU
Boost Mobile AU suits a short trip that stays inside a single roaming zone, where one price covers the USA, UK, Japan, Thailand, Turkey and Europe. Packs start at AUD 20 and run on the Telstra network, so setup happens inside your own carrier plan rather than on a marketplace.
Transatel
Transatel is a carrier eSIM brand, not a marketplace, for travelers who want broad coverage and a prepaid data allowance instead of a monthly bill. Plans reach from 200 countries with hotspot sharing and top-ups, so a long trip can stay topped up as it runs.
Score breakdown
| Area | Boost Mobile AU | Transatel |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.5 | Not confirmed |
| Offer | 8.9 | 9.1Higher |
| Trust | 9.1 | 9.1 |
How they place
| Ranking | Boost Mobile AU | Transatel |
|---|---|---|
| Travel SIMs and eSIMs | 351 of 926 | 228 of 926 |
| Travel eSIMs | 357 of 918 | 235 of 918 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Boost Mobile AU | Transatel |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Not confirmed | Global |
| Features | 5G, Instant activation, Carrier plan | 5G, Hotspot |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Budget |
| Audience | Short trip | Short trip, Long tripCovers more |
| Legal entity | Telstra Limited ABN 64 086 174 781 (trading as Boost Mobile) | Transatel S.A.S |
| Headquarters | Australia | France |
| Founded | 2000 | 2000 |
| Support channels | Help centre, Chat, Phone, Community | Email, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Boost Mobile AU | Transatel | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | A$20at the median | Not confirmed | A$20 |
| Countries covered | 42lowest quarter | from 200highest quarter | 120 |
Median across 492 listed travel providers.
Pros and cons
Boost Mobile AU
Pros
- A single roaming price covers the USA, UK, Japan, Thailand, Turkey and Europe across 42 countries, so the same pack carries a whole itinerary
- Top-ups are available, and the eSIM range lists 5g, instant activation and carrier plan, so a plan is ready as soon as you buy it
- Support covers help centre, chat and phone, the brand has been trading since 2000, and the service runs on the Telstra network
Cons
- The fair use policy is strict: a pack expires after a set period, and unused data, calls and texts are lost
- Unlimited data is not offered, so heavy use simply runs into the cap the pack size sets
- Coverage of 42 countries sits below the eSIM listing median 76, so it is a set of destinations rather than a global one
Transatel
Pros
- Coverage of from 200 countries, level with Zwitchy at 200 and above eSIMGo.is at 190.
- Hotspot sharing is included, so a phone can serve a laptop or tablet on the move.
- Top-ups let data be added mid-trip, which suits journeys of uncertain length.
Cons
- Support runs on email and help centre only, with no phone line or live chat in the list.
- The fair use policy holds use to the prepaid allowance and rules out cash refunds on unused credit.
- Coverage is global, so a trip to a single market pays for reach it will not use.
Who each suits
Boost Mobile AU
Who it suits
- Travellers on a short trip whose destinations all sit in the covered set, who want a single price across the whole itinerary
- People who would rather buy a carrier plan with instant activation than pick through a marketplace listing
- Travellers who want a person to call while abroad, since support runs on help centre, chat and phone
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone whose itinerary includes Mexico, since Reference plan prices leave it out; Zwitchy covers 200 countries for a wider trip
- Buyers chasing the lowest entry price, since eSIMGo.is starts at $0.99
- Long-trip travellers who want weeks of validity, since Boost packs expire after a set period; Zwitchy at 200 countries fits longer itineraries
Transatel
Who it suits
- Travelers crossing several countries who want from 200 countries of reach on a prepaid plan.
- Both short trips and long stays, since the stated audience covers short trip and long trip.
- People who work from a laptop or share a connection, since hotspot sharing is listed.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone whose trip is only in Israel, since SimToIsrael covers 1 country and needs nothing wider.
- Travelers who want phone or live chat help, since support covers email and help centre; Zwitchy and eSIMGo.is are worth comparing for that.
Current offers
Boost Mobile AU
Current offer
First period offer
$39 SIM/eSIM for $13: AUD 13 for the first 28-day recharge instead of AUD 39
Sale ends 5 Oct. Online only, on new activations. eSIM/SIM includes first recharge; ongoing recharges $39. Activate by 2 Nov 2026, remaining recharges by 5 Apr 2027.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
6-times the bonus on selected 28 day plans: Bonus data on first 6 recharges (e.g. 60GB instead of 30GB on the $39 plan)
New activations; 60GB on first 6 recharges, 30GB from 7th recharge (105GB then 55GB on the $59 plan, 150GB then 100GB on the $74 plan). Activate by 2 Nov 2026, remaining recharges by 5 Apr 2027.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
First period offer
$300 12-month SIM for $265: AUD 265 instead of AUD 300 for the 12-month expiry SIM (290GB)
Sale ends 28 Sept. Online only, on new activations. Ongoing recharges $300.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Boost Mobile AU | Transatel |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Boost Mobile AU
How much does a Boost Mobile AU roaming pack cost?+
Prices start at AUD 20, and the same price applies across every covered country rather than changing by destination. The allowance and the validity window depend on the size you pick, with small, medium and large packs aimed at different trip lengths.
Which countries are covered?+
42 countries are covered, and the same roaming price works in the USA, UK, Japan, Thailand, Turkey and across Europe, including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain. Mexico is listed as not included, so check the destination list before you rely on it.
Transatel
How many countries does the eSIM cover?+
The plan footprint is from 200 countries and is global rather than local, so the same eSIM can be kept through a multi-country trip instead of being replaced at each border. Coverage is the main reason to pick this kind of plan over a regional one.
Can I share data with a laptop or other devices?+
Hotspot sharing is part of the plan, so a phone can pass data to a laptop or tablet while traveling. Both it and the newest network generation sit in 5g and hotspot, which makes the eSIM workable for anyone who needs more than the handset itself, such as remote working on the move.
Other options to compare
Boost Mobile AU
Transatel