Updated September 28, 2026 · NomadCue Editorial Team
MobileWiFi vs Vodafone Australia
MobileWiFi
Higher score in this comparison
Vodafone Australia
What sets them apart
| Compare | MobileWiFiReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | Vodafone AustraliaReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Daily price | ZAR 29 | A$0.44 to A$1.83 |
| Data allowance | Not included in rental fee; prepaid data from 29.00 ZAR per GB, top-ups on request, no uncapped packages | 9GB-250GB |
| Devices connected | 8 to 10 | 10 to 16Higher |
| Pickup and delivery | Free delivery and collection in Cape Town CBD within 10 km; 180 ZAR after hours; Cape Town Airport 190 ZAR per trip | Online, Vodafone retail stores and airport stores; data for use in Australia only |
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Key differences
- MobileWiFi scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.3.
- Devices connected is higher at Vodafone Australia: 10 to 16 vs 8 to 10.
- Support channels: only MobileWiFi offers Email.
- Founded is lower at Vodafone Australia: 1992 vs 2010.
Our verdict on each
MobileWiFi
MobileWiFi is a Cape Town pocket WiFi rental aimed at short trips, with the router from ZAR 29 and data bought separately. It suits travelers staying in South Africa who want a local device, a shared hotspot, and free collection in the city centre rather than a multi-country plan.
Vodafone Australia
Vodafone Australia is a carrier plan rather than a travel eSIM, so it suits travellers who already hold an Australian plan and want data switched on before departure. Coverage runs to from 100 on a global plan, with roaming use shaped by a fair use policy.
Score breakdown
| Area | MobileWiFi | Vodafone Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.9HigherRental from ZAR 29 with ZAR 29 a day for the router, and data bought per GB on top, keeps the entry cost low. | 9.4Roaming from AUD 5 ranks 88 of 313 on price from, and broadband days run AUD 0.44 to AUD 1.83. |
| Offer | 9.2Higher | 9.0 |
| Trust | 9.1 | 9.7Higher |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | MobileWiFi | Vodafone Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Travel SIMs and eSIMs | 107 of 926 | 150 of 926 |
| Travel eSIMs | 116 of 918 | 159 of 918 |
| Pocket WiFi rental | 19 of 193 | 27 of 193 |
What we checked
MobileWiFi
- mobilewifi.co.za: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Vodafone Australia
- vodafone.com.au: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | MobileWiFi | Vodafone Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Legal entity | MobileWiFI | TPG Telecom Limited |
| Headquarters | South Africa | Australia |
| Founded | 2010 | 1992Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centreCovers more | Phone, Help centre |
eSIMs
| Fact | MobileWiFi | Vodafone Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | ZAR 29 | A$5 |
| Countries covered | 1 | from 100 |
| Unlimited data | No | YesHas it |
| Hotspot sharing | Yes | Yes |
| Region | Local | Global |
| Features | Hotspot | Unlimited data, Hotspot, Instant activation, Carrier planCovers more |
| Audience | Short trip | Short trip, Long tripCovers more |
| Reference plan prices | Pocket router from ZAR 29/day excl data; data from ZAR 29/GB, top-up anytime | Not confirmed |
| 5G | No | Not confirmed |
| Fair use policy | No daily limits, full speed 24/7; no uncapped packages | $5 extra per day, maximum 90 days of use per calendar year; data capped at 1.5, 2, 10 or 25Mbps is not accessible on $5 Roaming; once included data is exhausted additional data is added at $5/GB; on Ultra+ unlimited data with more than 30GB Hotspot data charged at $5 per extra 1GB |
| Top-ups | Yes | Yes |
| Seller type | Not confirmed | Carrier |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | MobileWiFi | Vodafone Australia | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Devices connected | 8 to 10at the median | 10 to 16above the median | 10 |
Median across 62 listed travel providers.
Pros and cons
MobileWiFi
Pros
- Hotspot sharing is included and 8 to 10 devices can share the connection, so a group travels on a single device.
- The entry price is modest: ZAR 29 a day for the router, with the plan quoted from ZAR 29 and data bought per GB on top.
- Top-ups are available on request, so a heavy-data day is not a dead end, and the fair-use terms read No daily limits, full speed 24/7; no uncapped packages.
Cons
- Unlimited data is not offered, and the data allowance is not part of the rental fee, so heavy browsing depends on prepaid top-ups at the per GB rate.
- Expect an earlier radio standard rather than 5G, so peak speeds depend on how loaded the local network is at the time you use it.
- Coverage is 1, so a single-country scope rules out any multi-country itinerary on the same device.
Vodafone Australia
Pros
- Coverage spans from 100 on a global plan, so the same plan serves trips to different countries.
- Mobile broadband days run AUD 0.44 to AUD 1.83, with data allowances of 9GB-250GB and 10 to 16 devices connected at once.
- Hotspot sharing and unlimited data are both offered, with the fair use policy setting the limits on each.
Cons
- Support runs on phone and help centre only.
- The fair use policy caps roaming use per calendar year, and the higher capped speeds are not available on the roaming add-on.
- Mobile broadband data works in Australia only, so AUD 0.44 to AUD 1.83 buys a local connection rather than one that travels.
Who each suits
MobileWiFi
Who it suits
- Travelers in Cape Town on a short stay who would rather hold one device than swap SIMs each morning.
- Groups sharing a single connection, since 8 to 10 devices can join the same network at once.
- Anyone who can collect or return the router in the city centre, where delivery and collection are free.
Who should look elsewhere
- Multi-country travelers, since coverage is 1; QCell's roaming data packages of 50MB to 2GB per roaming data package suit a different kind of trip.
- Shoppers in Chile, since WOM Chile lists CLP 3,990 a day and that is the figure to set against this one.
- Anyone comparing daily rates across carriers, since Econet Telecom Lesotho lists LSL 71.68 a day for its South Africa package.
Vodafone Australia
Who it suits
- Travellers who already hold a Vodafone Australia plan and want to add data before departure.
- Anyone landing in Australia who needs a broadband device for several gadgets, collected online, in Vodafone retail stores or at airport stores.
Who should look elsewhere
- People who want a trip-only eSIM with no ongoing plan: eSIMGo.is sells from $0.99.
- Travellers who need wider country coverage than from 100: Zwitchy lists 200.
- Buyers chasing the lowest entry price: SimToIsrael is listed from $25.
Current offers
Vodafone Australia
Current offer
Discount code
iPhone 16 Pro Max trade-in offer: $0 handset price plus $1299 credit
$0 based on trade-in of iPhone 14 Pro Max 512GB or iPhone 13 Pro 256GB in Good Working Order plus $1299 credit; $36.09 credit applied monthly for 36 months; remaining credit forfeited if you cancel before 36 months; Powered by Asurion; ends 28/10; T&C apply.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 bonus with Infinite plan: $200 off RRP plus Samsung Care+ for 1 year valued at $229 RRP
Must connect to a no lock-in contract 24 or 36 month Vodafone Infinite Plan; Powered by Asurion; T&C apply.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | MobileWiFi | Vodafone Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | No | Yes |
| South Africa | Yes | No |
Questions about each
MobileWiFi
How much does a MobileWiFi pocket router cost per day?+
The router is ZAR 29 per day, and the plan is quoted from ZAR 29. That covers the hardware only, because data is not included in the rental fee, so the real cost depends on how much you browse. There are no uncapped packages, which keeps the top of the bill predictable but means a heavy day adds to it.
Does the rental include data, or is data unlimited?+
Data is a separate prepaid purchase priced per GB, and top-ups can be requested during the rental. Unlimited data is not offered, so heavy streaming means topping up rather than paying a flat fee. The fair-use terms read No daily limits, full speed 24/7; no uncapped packages, so there is no daily cap to plan around.
Vodafone Australia
How much does Vodafone Australia roaming cost?+
Roaming is added to an existing Vodafone Australia plan and starts at AUD 5. The fair use policy sets the outer limits: a cap on roaming use per calendar year, extra charges once your included data is used up, and the higher capped speeds are not available on the roaming add-on. Check your plan before you leave home.
How many countries does the plan cover?+
Vodafone Australia lists coverage across from 100 and sells the roaming add-on as a global plan. Because it is a carrier plan rather than a destination eSIM, the same arrangement serves trips to different countries. Coverage still depends on the partner network in the country you are standing in.
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MobileWiFi
Vodafone Australia