Over the past two decades, phones have evolved and become a daily essential in our lives. Whether you’re FaceTiming your loved ones, googling for new information or simply scrolling through Instagram, mobile phones have endless uses that deem them a necessity universally. While choosing your phone brand comes down to preference (team iPhone here!), choosing your mobile phone plans in Australia is a whole different ballgame.
With every good phone, comes a good phone plan. So if you’re wondering which are the best mobile phone plans in Australia, we’ve done our research and have got you covered.
Types of mobile phone plans
Mobile phone plans in Australia are available at different price ranges. These plans allow you to receive or make phone calls, send text messages and access the internet using data.
There are usually prepaid or post-paid phone plans from most mobile phone providers in Australia. Post-paid plans send you a bill at the end of the month, based on your usage, while prepaid requires you to pay before receiving service.
3 main network providers in Australia
Before you scout mobile plan providers and purchase a plan for you, it’s important to know the basics of Australia’s network providers. Australia has three main network service providers – Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. These network service providers also have cheap mobile phone plan options that are affordable for everyone.
Telstra
Out of the three, Telstra has the widest coverage, with its combined 4G and 3G coverage reaching more than 98.8 percent of the population. It also has more than 7,800 4G sites and 8,100 3G sites, ensuring that you have coverage regardless of where you move to Australia. If you’re moving to rural Australia, Telstra will be the network provider you need.
Optus
Optus comes in a close second to the network provider with the widest coverage in Australia. Its 4G and 3G coverage reaches 98.5 percent of the Australian population. It also has 1,200 5G sites all over Australia.
Vodafone
Vodafone is the third network provider in Australia and covers 96 percent of Australia. While marginally less coverage than Optus or Telstra, Vodafone is still suitable for many living in Australia. It also offers a 30-day network guarantee that allows you to opt-out after 30 days if unhappy with its service.
Top mobile phone plans in Australia
Woolworths Mobile
Woolworths Mobile has a multitude of various phone plans, including SIM-only plans, prepaid plans and long expiry plans. The SIM-only plans begin at $25 per month for 20 GB of data. Its prepaid plans are a 30-day contract that begins at $20 per month for 12 GB of data while the long expiry plans are a 180-day contract that begins at $65. All Woolworths Mobile plans offer unlimited calls and texts.
Woolworths Mobile uses part of 3G and 4G Telstra’s network. View phone plans here.
Telstra
As one of the top three network providers, Telstra is obviously also one of the biggest providers of mobile phone plans in Australia and thus one of the best choices available! It also has the largest coverage in Australia, so if you’re living in a more remote location in Australia, Telstra would be your best bet.
If you’re interested in a 5G plan, you’ll be happy to hear that it has one of the largest 5G networks that reaches over 75 percent of Australia. The SIM-only plans begin at $55 per month for 40 GB of data while its prepaid plans start at $30 for $30 GB.
View phone plans here.
Optus
Optus is Australia’s second-largest internet supplier, right after Telstra! Netflix lovers will be pleased to hear that it’s also ranked top for Netflix speed in Australia. It has a large variety of mobile phone plans available, ranging from 20 GB to a whopping 500 GB per month.
Optus starts its SIM-only plans at only $45 per month for 20 GB and $65 for the first 12 months of its 500 GB plan. Moving to Australia with your whole family? Optus also have family mobile phone plans that allow up to four SIMS AND 200 GB to share. Each SIM would cost $37.25 per month, coming up to $149 per month for four SIMs. If you have more than four in your family, each additional SIM would cost $29 per month.
View more phone plans here.
Vodafone
As the third network provider in Australia, Vodafone’s mobile phone plans in Australia are pretty popular too. It covers over 23 million Australians and is seen as a reliable mobile phone provider.
Its SIM-only plans begin at $40 for 40 GB per month. If you’re looking for extra oomph, Vodafone also has an Ultra+ plan that gives you unlimited mobile data at the fastest speed the network can possibly deliver which is $85 per month. With no excess charges, Vodafone offers infinite data for all plans. Vodafone also offers a 30-day guarantee, which means you are able to cancel your plan after 30 days if unsatisfied with the service received.
View more phone plans here.
Southern Phone
Southern Phone was formed in 2002 and is one of the largest providers of Internet communications services and mobile phone plans in Australia. If you’re looking for a more affordable choice for your mobile phones, Southern Phone would be your best bet. Its SIM-only plans use Optus 3G and 4G networks which cover majority of the Australian population.
If you don’t use data much, you’ll be happy with Southern Phone’s 2 GB data plan that only costs $7.50 per month. The rest of its SIM-only plans begin at $25 per month for 20 GB. All of Southern Phone’s plans also come with unlimited voice calls and text messaging. Find more about Southern Phone’s mobile phone plans here.
TPG
Providing quality service since 1986, TPG is one of the largest internet providers in Australia with 2 million customers. It’s also known for having the fastest download speeds of all NBN providers in 2019. TPG mobile has prepaid plans that renew every month. These plans are SIM-only and are automatically renewed every month, without locking you into a long-term contract. It also has a free delivery service when purchasing your SIM card. Plans start at $20 a month for 20 GB, with unlimited calls and text messaging.
Have any burning questions about TPG or potential connectivity issues? TPG has a community where you can ask any queries and receive prompt replies.
Find more about TPG’s mobile phone plans here.
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