How to Use your Mobile Phone in Austria
Travelling is much easier now with a Mobile Phone (Cell phone). You are no longer restricted to paper maps and huge guidebooks.
But how do you ensure that you have access to all the information at your fingertips?
How do you ensure you stay on the ‘grid’ and can message and make important phone calls to family, hotels, tour guides, etc.?
Four options for using your Mobile Phone in Austria
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NOTE:
If you are from Europe, roaming within the EU (and the European Economic Area) has been free since 2017.
This means that in most cases, you can use your SIM card in Austria without any problems or additional costs.
Your Mobile Phone Provider may have restrictions and limits. Check your Mobile Phone Provider’s terms and rules before you travel.
1. Use Available WIFI
In Austria, WIFI is called WLAN.
Austria has very good and widespread WIFI service. Many public spaces have free WIFI, in addition to most hotels, restaurants and cafes.
If you want to use minimal data and are happy to find free WIFI and use offline maps and guides when free WIFI is unavailable- then this is the easiest and cheapest option.
This Website provides an overview of WIFI hotspots in Austria.
If you plan to use WIFI, make sure to turn off international data roaming before your trip to avoid unpleasant bill surprises.
Pro:
- Free
- Can continue to use your regular home mobile phone number
Con:
- May have limited accessibility to WIFI
2. Use an International Plan from your Mobile Phone provider
For many visitors, this may be the most convenient and easy option—BUT it can often be expensive.
Every Mobile phone provider can offer an International Roaming Plan that can be added to your service.
When you visit Austria and use your mobile phone, you are ‘Roaming’.
This means you are connected to two separate mobile networks—your local carrier’s network and a network in Austria. International roaming plans are agreements between both networks that allow you to use the mobile service in Austria. When you roam, you are a guest of an Austrian carrier’s network and get charged a different (typically higher) rate to access their services.
Pro:
-
Can keep your regular phone number
-
Easy to set up before you travel
Con:
-
Roaming charges can be expensive.
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If you use a lot of data and your carrier does not provide unlimited international data, you could be surprised by a large bill when you return home.
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Data speeds on these plans may be slow.
3. Use an eSIM
An eSIM (embedded SIM) is a digital SIM card that allows you to activate a mobile plan remotely via software from a service provider without using a physical SIM.
What you need to use eSIM
- A virtual SIM slot in your mobile phone. Apple iPhones including iPhone XS and newer, Google Pixel devices, the Motorola Razr 5G, and Samsung Galaxy devices, Ipads and some Windows-based laptops are all eSIM enabled.
- Your phone needs to be ‘unlocked’ from your service provider to allow it to access the eSIM service.
There are many options for eSIMs. We have used and recommend Airalo. It is easy to use and cost-effective.
Airalo has eSIM Galli data plan for Austria for as little as $4.50 USD for 1GB for 7 days.
The Galli+ plan includes data, calls and texts starting from $5.50 USD for 7 days.
There are also Europe-wide (Austria + 38 countries) eSIMS starting at $5.50 USD for 1GB for 7 days
Pro:
- Easy to get and install. The eSIM is downloaded onto your mobile phone in a few seconds, and the installation is easy.
- Cost-effective
- Allows you to have more than one SIM- so you can have your home phone number and the Austria Travel eSIM on the same device.
Con:
- Some older phones will not be compatible with eSIMs
- Phones must be unlocked
4. Buy an Austrian SIM card
There are numerous options for buying prepaid Austrian SIM cards. Official shops of mobile network providers A1, Magenta, Drei, and you can also buy prepaid SIM cards in supermarkets (Hofer and Lidl)
Prepaid SIM cards can be bought at international airports, mobile provider stores, convenience stores, or online. The prices at the airports tend to be higher.
To buy a prepaid SIM card in Austria, you usually need the following:
- An unlocked cell phone
- Official, valid photo ID such as a passport or ID card at the point of sale.
- Registration via personal registration or online via VideoID
Remember: You will have an Austrian Phone number. You will need to inform family and friends if they want to call you while you are in Austria.
The main players, A1, Magneta, and Drei, all offer different plans to travellers, ranging from 10Gb to Unlimited.
A1 B.free S 30GB for 15€ valid only in Austria for 4 weeks
Magenta Klax 10€ – 30€ valid for 4 weeks
Drei 15GB 7€ for 30 days
Hofer Hofer is the Aldi in Austria. We use the Hofer HoT Telekom for the internet.
You can purchase a HoT SIM card at any Hofer store for €1.99.
You will need to register at the store or online (will require Official Valid ID).
Pro:
- Easy to get and install. The eSIM is downloaded onto your mobile phone in a few seconds, and the installation is easy.
- Cost-effective
- Allows you to have more than one SIM- so you can have your home phone number and the Austria Travel eSIM on the same device.
Con:
-
Some older phones will not be compatible with eSIMs
-
Phones must be unlocked
TOP TIP:
If you have a data-only package or are worried that you cannot make calls or texts, install WhatsApp.
WhatsApp is a free messenger app for smartphones that uses the internet to send messages, images, audio, or video. The service is very similar to text messaging services; however, because WhatsApp uses the internet to send messages, the cost of using WhatsApp is significantly less than texting.
WhatsApp is very popular in Europe, with many people using it as their primary communication method. Many hotels, accommodations, restaurants, and tour guides also use WhatsApp to communicate with their clients.
