Receive SMS's Whilst Overseas - Best Longer-Term Option

movieman on 10/10/2021 - 19:19

Hello Everyone,

Currently have the situation where I need to go overseas, and would like to continue to receive SMS's whilst overseas.

This is mainly for Banking / ATO, etc, and will only be received for receiving, not sending.

What longer-term (6 months +) options are available, as it looks like Telstra / Boost prepaid no longer offer this, and Amaysim does, but only for limited countries.

Would also be great if it can be recharged in 6 months, to continue using it, and NOT lose the phone number.

Thanks.

Mobile

Comments

  • mskeggs on 10/10/2021 - 19:25

    There are apps that will forward SMS to email etc. that might be part of the answer (assuming it is stuff like entering 2FA numbers).

  • GS9891 on 10/10/2021 - 20:24

    Cheap ongoing plan with SMS's free to receive + dual SIM phone?

  • Master Bates on 10/10/2021 - 20:36
    +1

    Aldi would be the go to. Credit has a 365 day expiry and it is free to receive SMS whilst overseas. Just make sure you turn data off.

  • billybrown on 10/10/2021 - 21:41
    +1

    $10 amaysim. Free receive sms when roaming

  • Msfrugal on 10/10/2021 - 22:40
    +1

    Hi, currently in situation of being a stranded Aussie. I needed exactly what you asking about. OPTUS was my saviour! When Telstra stopped supporting o/seas texts in October 2020 (1 year ago).

    I bought an OPTUS prepaid SIM, and $30 credit gives me 6 months (180 days) of service, and if recharged before the end of 180 days I get to keep the $30 credit.

    You can set auto recharge (mine auto recharges tomorrow actually!) and I will then have $60 credit to use in Australia when I get back. I have a local SIM card where I am OPTUS was the one to give me international texts I need for govt and banking.
    That SIM card in an old phone and perfect for what specified.
    Best of luck.

    OH NO! I'm so sorry - I've just looked at Optus to get a link to the plan and see that it's no longer available. Hopefully one of the other options here works for you. Am grateful I on this 'legacy' plan .

    • movieman on 10/10/2021 - 23:18

      Thanks anyways, sounds exactly what I need, as then it can keep on being recharged whilst away.

      • Msfrugal on 10/10/2021 - 23:39
        +1

        Hi again, I've just been looking and found this:
        Seems a good deal as uses OPTUS network.

        $99 for 1st year - and then $120 per year .

        https://www.amaysim.com.au/plans/long-expiry-plans/unlimited…

        Then you can look up the countries you going to here:

        https://www.amaysim.com.au/plans/mobile-plans/international/…

        Put in the country (they list the most popular ones but type in where you going) and it looks like Receiving texts is free.

        I don't think you need to 'add' credit to activate the international roaming, but you will need to 'add' credit if you wish to use it for eg. sending text (eg. $1 per text - you can see the rates once you type in the country).

        So it seems that this is perfect for receiving texts and $99 for first 12 months. Let me know it that useful. Again, best of luck.

    • hawkeye93 on 11/10/2021 - 03:05

      Since you’re overseas, I just wonder if VoLTE/Wifi calling still work?

  • parisian on 11/10/2021 - 00:01

    Optus Flex Esim or Sim.
    Pay 1$ for one day - then cancel the subscription.
    Recharge 1$ every 6 months - your line stays active to receive sms.
    Been using that since it has been released on the market and it works very well.

    Cost - 2$ a year to maintain an Australian phone number.

    • Msfrugal on 11/10/2021 - 01:18
      +1

      OMG really? You've been doing this from overseas? That's totally brilliant bargain. Genius!!

    • movieman on 11/10/2021 - 05:17
      +1

      This sounds good too to be true, but is exactly what I need.

      How do I 'Turn off' the auto recharge once it's set up / ported, so that I'm paying the second $1 after six months, and not on day two?

      • parisian on 11/10/2021 - 14:43
        +2

        You manage the plan directly via the Optus app.
        Just click on cancel on day 2 - your card will not be charged and the number stays active for 6 months.

        Create a reminder in your calendar to recharge in 6 months.
        The Optus app tells you how many days you have left before losing the number.

        Rinse and repeat.
        You can receive SMS but not send or call as your line is 'restricted'. You can remove the restriction by topping up your account by 1$ for a day. Works well.

        • charliechao on 01/02/2022 - 21:48

          is this optus flex esim plan price gone up to $2 per day now?
          so still the same thing, that pay $2 on the first day then cancel it => recharge every 6 month or keep?

          I would buy a local sim card(physical) to use in overseas and a optus $2 esim to receive SMS with roaming turned on, is this correct?

          Thanks!

          • charliechao on 03/02/2022 - 12:13

            @charliechao: just replying myself that seems the $2 per day is the 5G service which doesn't support international SMS.
            the $1 per day 4G service which is not excluding so I will assume that would allow us to receive sms in overseas.

        • charliechao on 08/03/2022 - 16:43

          hi mate, how do you cancel the sim? I can't find the "cancel? button in the app. or if we do not recharge/top up the number should just stay there but inactive after 1 day?

    • plapic on 11/10/2021 - 09:32

      So its a dollar for every day you're overseas to receive text doesnt sound cheap unless you are saying text are still received after you cancel the subscription?
      Can you forward sms that you would have received to the flex plan number automatically or do you have advise of your new number to every sender which would be a real pain?

      • parisian on 11/10/2021 - 14:46
        +1

        one dollar for one day then cancel the automatic recharge: the number stays active for 6 months. no restrictions to receiving SMS.
        and repeat the process every 6 months.
        With an esim it's great.

        you would just port out your existing number to Optus under their new offer 'Flex'.

        It's a great prepaid plan - and when you are back in Australia, recharge 30$ or change providers for your stay and then back to Optus flex for overseas travel.

        • bobo12345 on 28/12/2021 - 18:25

          Can you receive SMSs overseas without having to pay for additional international roaming? Likewise can you receive calls overseas?

          How does diverting to voicemail work, e.g. if you have divert to voicemail if no answer, do you get charged for the diversion and how can you get that voicemail while overseas?

          • parisian on 09/02/2022 - 17:22

            @bobo12345: Yes for SMS

            Unsure for calls - I believe it would go to your voicemail directly and you would receive an sms lettting you know you have one message to listen to

    • qaharrison on 23/06/2022 - 12:46

      Does it matter which country you are in? I'm moving to Nicaragua in Central America to live permanently and need to receive bank security codes via SMS. I've talked to different providers and they all say different things. It's a bit nerve wrecking as currently all of our funds are still in Australian banks. I talked to Optus about this and they say it works - but the plan they say it works on is their new flex $180 prepaid for 365 days (down to $150 online) and you will receive free texts while overseas. Like you I don't need to make calls or send texts - it's literally to just receive these darn codes!

      • parisian on 23/06/2022 - 13:51

        https://www.optus.com.au/mobile/plans/international-roaming/…

        Nicaragua is not supported unfortunately for prepaid so Optus flex will not work.

        • qaharrison on 23/06/2022 - 14:15

          So weird - they have told me it will… and that I don't need roaming… I know people in Nica receiving them, but they are on different plans now? It's a bit stressful I keep getting told different things… Thanks for getting back to me.

          • Stingo on 23/06/2022 - 14:39

            @qaharrison: They're probably on post-paid plans. You could port your number to a VoIP provider like Crazytel that will convert SMSs to email or deliver them via SIP. A virtual mobile number works out slightly cheaper on their Crazy DID Saver Whirlpool offer assuming that is still available. Alternatively, set up your own hardware solution if you can leave the SIM here and have somewhere to host the hardware. For SMS to email forwarding that could just be a phone left permanently on charge and connected on a friend's/relative's WiFi network running a suitable app. Or you could just move your funds to a bank that doesn't use SMS authentication if you would otherwise don't need to receive SMSs when you're out of the country.

          • parisian on 24/06/2022 - 08:49

            @qaharrison: I would suggest either Telstra Prepaid / Boost or a telstra post paid account
            .
            It allows you to use voWIFI overseas and receive SMS and calls for free while connected to the internet. You can then call back Australia and send SMS and MMS for free.

            This only works if you have a device that support Telstra VOWIFI.
            Buy a 1y recharge on Boost or Telstra and that should work.

            What I usually do is keep my Boost sim card in my iphone and use an e-sim to have 3/4/5G internet access. This way, I can receive/place calls and talk via SMS when Telstra can see my device online overseas. Works very well.

    • Miller42 on 01/02/2023 - 23:12

      Hello, is this still working for you guys? I'm overseas and got the $1 prepaid sim.. However have not recieved a single sms.. Optus are telling me I need to buy a data package for it to work? :/

      • parisian on 02/02/2023 - 11:21

        Check that the roaming toggle is on in the Optus App.

        For some reason - sometimes it's off, sometimes it's on…

        • Miller42 on 06/02/2023 - 05:16

          Hi mate thanks for your reply! It was off but been on now for a week or two.. no messages. Frustrating because I cancelled my Telstra plan..

  • eutama on 11/10/2021 - 01:17
    +1

    Technically Boost should still work - over WiFi as they have VoWifi. so as long as you/the phone is connected to wifi, you should be able to make calls / receive / send sms

    • parisian on 11/10/2021 - 14:48
      +1

      Yes boost and telstra prepaid have wifi calls overseas.
      incredibly convenient and work very well.
      Used in NZ, UAE, UK and inflight.

      • hawkeye93 on 11/10/2021 - 15:04

        You have any idea about Optus prepaid Wifi calling overseas?

        • parisian on 12/10/2021 - 11:45
          +1

          Only Telstra works overseas for now
          My optus sim will not allow Wifi calls overseas

          • hashtagbargain on 21/10/2021 - 23:21

            @parisian: That’s when you can use a VPN to get an Aussie IP.

            • hawkeye93 on 21/10/2021 - 23:25

              @hashtagbargain: few months ago I used VPN to get a US IP while being in Australia. Wifi calling still worked so maybe that's not the solution.

              • hashtagbargain on 22/10/2021 - 01:00

                @hawkeye93: Ah interesting. About 2 years ago I had to get onto an oz vpn to have it work for me when I travelled. Things could have changed since, cheers.

          • G-Bard on 28/03/2022 - 16:41

            @parisian: When you mentioned Telstra, does it include Boost?

            • G-Bard on 13/04/2022 - 09:21

              @G-Bard: Confirming that Boost still supports Wi-fi calling!

      • Huntz on 23/02/2022 - 19:04

        Boost did not work with VoWifi for me on a recent trip - not the counties you mention though.

        • parisian on 23/02/2022 - 21:22

          What phone do you use with your Boost Sim card ?

        • G-Bard on 28/03/2022 - 16:34

          Bump

        • G-Bard on 28/03/2022 - 20:18

          I contacted the Boost support and they confirm that until Boost has international roaming again, the Wi-fi Calls feature is unlikely to work overseas.

          So, my plan is to sign up for a Skype call for a month while I am having a holiday and forward the calls to Skype number.

          • G-Bard on 13/04/2022 - 09:22

            @G-Bard: Confirming that Wi-fi calling works in Singapore!

            • free hot drink on 06/05/2022 - 16:16
              +1

              @G-Bard: Hey @yao1993 would you be able to let me know if receiving SMS on Wi-fi calling worked as well ?

  • Munki Kundi on 11/10/2021 - 05:37

    I am not sure, but wouldn't prepaid Telstra do the job? Why would they stop SMS being sent to you? As long as you are not sending and just receiving, it shouldn't cost them anything

    Have you checked with them ?

    Edit:. You are correct, their website explicitly says you cannot use their prepaid service while overseas for anything. Their explanation is so cocky as to why they are removing so many features from prepaid.

  • Munki Kundi on 11/10/2021 - 05:52

    Amaysim seems to be the "boost" of Optus. Their plans keep a lot of people happy

  • karma25 on 09/03/2022 - 09:14

    Travelling overseas next month, hopefully Boost will work with VoWiFi. I have tested VoWiFi calling in Australia with Airplane mode turned On and only connecting only with WiFi. Both calling and SMS worked over VPN connection to US & UK.

    • crazyboy on 11/04/2022 - 23:10

      Can you confirm if Boost VoWiFi worked for you?

      I am planning to travel overseas for 2 months so wanted to know. I need to be able to make and receive calls while I am overseas. I don't need data as I would have access to WiFi at all times.

      Other option that I know is get $40 Vodafone plan and get $5 roaming per day.

      • Chippy47 on 13/04/2022 - 20:24

        I was overseas a few months ago and boost does not work. Aldi Mobile however does

        • crazyboy on 15/04/2022 - 02:12

          WiFi calling was also not working?

        • TooSerious2 on 08/07/2022 - 19:37

          Did Aldi support SMS receiving without having to pay for roaming? Prepaid or post? Thanks

          • Stingo on 08/07/2022 - 22:46
            +1

            @TooSerious2: AFAIK, no AU providers charges for SMS reception while roaming. Unless a providers requires that you buy roaming add-ons providers don't charge for roaming just for usage overseas which doesn't include incoming SMS but does include incoming calls and data including data for MMS reception and weirdly calls that are conditionally diverted (e.g. divert to voicemail on no answer.) Aldi is prepaid, so would have roaming available in fewer countries than a postpaid provider.

          • Chippy47 on 11/07/2022 - 10:42

            @TooSerious2: I just used an Aldi $5 prepaid sim. No additional charge for roaming/receiving SMS overseas, you just need to activate roaming on your service:

            https://www.aldimobile.com.au/blogs/using-and-managing-your-…

      • karma25 on 11/07/2022 - 10:30

        Yes, worked fine in Singapore and India. I could call International numbers for the first couple of days however It got restricted to calls to/from Australia only. SMS worked fine too on Samsung S21.

  • jaurwin on 05/04/2022 - 13:09

    Another option would be Vodafone prepaid. I.E Pay and Go, where you can get a $30 credit sim card that will last 180 days, this credit can be used to receive/make phone calls as well as to send SMS. Receiving SMS's are free of charge. Once the credit expires, you can continue to use it to receive SMS, not sure how low the number will remain active with Vodafone between recharges, but I believe is 1 year.

    The cool thing about this is that is E-SIM compatible, so can be set as a second number/line on a compatible phone.

    Link to the Pay and Go information: https://www.vodafone.com.au/prepaid/plans/pay-and-go

    • acidfreako on 14/05/2022 - 04:38

      Thanks for your comment .Have you tried receiving sms while oversea ?

      • jaurwin on 15/05/2022 - 15:47

        No problem. Yes, I received SMS while overseas recently with the above mentioned pre paid long expiry sim without any issues for all the usual two factor authentication sites/apps.

  • Valjew on 10/06/2022 - 20:38

    Does anyone know an option where you can receive SMS overseas but also divert calls to another number?

    My phone is used for both business and personal use. I need SMS while overseas for personal use (i.e., mobile banking). But I also need to divert calls so that people at work can call me as normal.

    For call forwarding I had set up a second Australian number in Skype that I forwarded calls to. As long as I had the Skype app open on my phone, Skype would then ring on my phone overseas as-is they were calling me directly. If the Skype app was closed and/or I wasn't available, I could also receive VM on Skype.

    I had done the call-forwarding a few years ago when I was on a long-term Telstra plan. I'm now on pre-paid and haven't been able to find anything that does this and can also receive SMS when I pop the sim.

    • Stingo on 15/06/2022 - 15:05
      +1

      I guess you are really saying your current provider doesn't offer call forwarding. I don't think Vodafone prepaid is an option. Possibly, you're saying Telstra prepaid isn't either. I have no idea about them. Optus MVNOs do allow it though you should confirm just in case with your chosen provider. Amongst the Optus MVNOs, amaysim would offer you a year of service on PAYG for $10. Another option would be to port your number to a VoIP provider that supports both calls and SMSs to virtual mobile numbers. With a VoIP softphone there would be no forwarding charges. Crazytel is one such provider and they offer voicemail. The numbers works out to be slightly cheaper per month on their Whirlpool DID Saver offer assuming it is still available. You could also consider Crazytel to host your Skype-in number. Their more recent Crazy Saver WP offer reduces the price for geographic 'landline' numbers.

      If you don't want to port you'd have to look at a hardware solution where a device receives an incoming mobile call and either makes an outgoing call to wherever that call should be forwarded, probably via VoIP, or acts like a SIP server for VoIP softphones. You'd do something similar for SMS probably converting them to email and using the appropriate email protocols unless you wanted to keep them as SMSs or convert them to another format.

    • [Deactivated] on 26/06/2022 - 18:39

      Here's my setup, FWIW.

      I'm in Europe and have dual sim phone with local SIM used for everything and Australian Amaysim (PAYG $10/year) used for incoming SMS only, mostly for Internet banking.

      For calls I registered account with Crazytel and bough local DID number, $1/month. Then I setup call diversion from Amaysim to Crazytel DID and connected Zoiper Beta client on mobile to Crazytel SIP account (their own SIP client is a spectacular garbage). Incoming calls are not free, you pay 35c/min to Amaysim, but cheaper than direct calls to my mobile in roaming ($1/min to receive call) plus you can easily direct calls where you need them to go in Crazytel interface. You can also use your Crazytel DID landline number for incoming calls. Outgoing calls - you pay Crazytel tariffs only.

      • Stingo on 26/06/2022 - 23:36

        For comparison, Optus prepaid direct charges 10¢/min for diversions to AU numbers with no option to divert to international numbers. amaysim appears to allow diversion to international numbers, all diversions have a 20¢/min surcharge applied on top of the (PAYG) calling rate which is where the 35¢/min above comes from.

        • [Deactivated] on 27/06/2022 - 01:19

          From https://www.amaysim.com.au/help/mobile/manage-account/manage…

          We don’t support call diversions to international numbers.

          However they say in other document that diversion to international numbers will be charged according to their roaming fees. Go figure. I don't see any point in diversion to international.

          • Stingo on 27/06/2022 - 01:41

            @[Deactivated]: I just looked at their rate table. Admittedly an old copy. Looking at the portal it says Australian numbers only, makes sense given Optus don't allow it for their own direct customers. Looking at the page you linked via web.archive.org amaysim changed their policy between 2018 and 2019. Anyway, its irrelevant to the OP's question.

      • nsonha on 08/07/2022 - 19:24

        why not just port your number to Cazytel and bypass call forwarding entirely?

        • [Deactivated] on 08/07/2022 - 19:35

          Because I want receive SMS in real time to the phone even if I don't have data connection (have you ever been to the airport that wants send you SMS to allow use Wifi?) and it's $22 a year instead of $95.40. Also Crazytel app does not work well on my S21, it just does not receive calls when it's closed.

          • nsonha on 10/07/2022 - 13:36

            @[Deactivated]: good to know, I'm asking because I'm weighting between those options. It sounds like even the call forwarding is pretty useless because you wont likely have the app on when there is a call.

            • [Deactivated] on 10/07/2022 - 17:04

              @nsonha: Well, it's my experience and it might work differently on your phone, but on mine Zoiper Beta reliably receives calls (at expense of a quite significant battery drain) and Crazytel's softphone with allegedly push technology doesn't. Don't know why exactly is that.

            • Stingo on 10/07/2022 - 19:28

              @nsonha: You don't need to use the Crazytel app or any other app. You could set up the virtual number to forward calls to an overseas number. Likely that would be a better rate than forwarding from an Australian SIM but not necessarily

      • discounthunter2022 on 08/02/2023 - 23:52

        I've looked at the Amaysim and Optus Flex options and I can't see ANY $1 options for 1 year or $10 options for 1 year? Am I missing something?

        • Stingo on 09/02/2023 - 05:27

          Optus Flex is $1/per day. Service expires 186 days after last subscription. Yes, they have stopped advertising the $1/day option but it is still available as a recharge subscription option, Worst case is that you sign up on another plan then change plans. Cheapest is Flex 5G at $2/day or $0 for 7 days on Flex 4G if you opt for an eSIM (change back to a physical SIM after if required) I haven't signed up to amaysim recently but if they no longer offer it for purchase you could use a similar strategy or buy a $2 SIM at the supermarket and see whether you can apply AYG as a recharge.Looking at the site just now, I found a link for it hidden under the students category so you can still sign up directly.

  • Robc on 09/02/2023 - 03:32

    Dead thread, but still applicable… I've been using Aldi mobile. 15 bucks a year, can renew it online. Basically keeps my banking alive while I'm overseas. Works fine. Ridiculously expensive roaming charges, but that's only applicable if you send messages, or receive calls. Been on Aldi for three years overseas, no drama.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join