The best phone plans in Australia aren't simply the ones with the most data or the best inclusions, and right now, there are a range of bargains to be had on phone plans as we head into the Black Friday sales period.
Between the big three, being Telstra, Optus and Vodafone, along with dozens of much smaller telcos, you want to find the phone plan that strikes the sensible balance between how much you're willing to spend and what inclusions you get with your plan.
And that is what we're here to help you with. We’ve done the hard work for you, and below you’ll find our top eight picks for the best mobile phone plans in Australia. We've tallied the plans up based on how much data do you need, what kind of coverage you're looking for and what kind of budget you're handling.
Prices, perks and inclusions are constantly fluctuating, so it’s always a good time to look around for a new mobile phone plan – you might find a better deal than what you’re currently using. Keep an eye on what Telstra, Optus and Vodafone are offering, but don’t count out smaller telcos, as you could score a bargain.
Best overall postpaid plan
Best cheap postpaid plan
Best high data postpaid plan
Best overall prepaid plan
Best long expiry prepaid plan
Best Optus plan
Best Vodafone plan
Best Telstra plan
Mobile phone deals FAQ
Which mobile network is best in Australia?
Between the three mobile networks across Australia, it’s difficult to chalk up a definitive ‘winner’. Speed is subject to so many variables at any given time that it’s difficult to truly pit the three head-to-head at an Australia-wide level, and availability varies between networks and locations.
Going off OpenSignal’s April 2024 mobile network experience report, Optus is the best provider for 5G network speeds in Australia on average, and while Telstra wins on coverage experience for both 4G and 5G, Optus wins on consistent quality. Vodafone and Optus were tied on network availability (measured on the proportion of time people had a network connection in the places they commonly visit), with Vodafone winning on 5G availability in particular.
When it comes to 5G, Telstra offers the greatest coverage across Australia, with 89% of the population able to connect to Telstra’s exclusive 5G signal with an eligible Telstra plan (per WhistleOut). MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) operating through Telstra’s networks generally utilise the Telstra Wholesale network, which only covers 75% of the population. The only MVNO that operates on Telstra’s full network is Boost Mobile. You can view a map of Telstra’s network coverage on its website.
Vodafone hasn’t provided any figures on its 5G network, though you can view a map of Vodafone’s network coverage on the telco’s website. 80.5% of the population is covered by Optus’ 5G footprint, and just like with the other big telcos, an Optus network coverage map is available. When it comes to 4G coverage, the line between the telcos is quite thin: Telstra covers 99.6% of the population, Telstra’s wholesale network covers 98.8%, Optus covers 98.5% and Vodafone 96%.
Speaking specifically about the actual plans on offer from Telstra, Optus and Vodafone, you’ll usually find they’re some of the most expensive plans in the country (though every now and then you’ll see a bargain). If you’d like to save as much as possible, we’d recommend you check out some of the smaller providers that operate on the 4G and 5G networks run by the big three.
- Learn more details about the best Optus mobile plans
- Learn more details about the best Vodafone mobile plans
- Learn more details about the best Telstra mobile plans
What is an MVNO?
A mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) is a smaller telco that utilises a larger provider’s network to run their service. In Australia, MVNOs resell access to either the Telstra, Optus or Vodafone networks, and pricing is often lower than what the big three will offer themselves.
Some popular MVNOs in Australia include Amaysim (Optus), Belong (Telstra), Circles.Life (Optus) and Everyday Mobile (Telstra). There are also small mobile providers reselling Vodafone’s network, such as TPG and iiNet.
An important aspect to note about MVNOs is that they typically only provide partial access to the bigger provider’s network, rather than the full access which the larger telco’s customers receive. In most cases, the MVNOs also may not provide access to a carrier’s 5G network, and instead serve you with 4G and 3G coverage, though there are a few exceptions.
Most MVNOs tend to offer SIM-only plans or prepaid plans, and it’s not often you’ll get the latest flagship phones via an MVNO. One exception is Amaysim, which offers the latest iPhones along with select models from Google and Samsung.
Do I need 5G?
If you value high speeds and need them for big downloads (such as for 4K video streaming and constant high quality music streaming) then 5G should be high on your list for phone plan inclusions – although even if you’re constantly downloading, 4G should be fine for day-to-day use as long as the downloads aren’t too big (otherwise they’ll be loading slowly on your device).
There are still a lot of providers in Australia that as of right now don’t offer 5G access (and plans offered by providers that are limited to 4G), but 5G will eventually become the standard phone network band in Australia, just like 4G and 3G before it (and it will likely be followed by 6G sometime down the road).
For the moment though, while 5G is currently being rolled out by Australia’s three mobile network operators (Telstra, Optus and Vodafone), it’s still not as readily available as 4G. With this in mind it’s worth having a look at coverage maps to see which network currently offers 5G in your area.
Should I pair my phone with a plan or buy outright?
When searching for a new phone contract, there are more options now than there used to be. You could purchase a phone from a major telco and pair it with a plan, paying it off over 12, 24 or 36 months. Or, you could buy a handset outright and combine that with one of the best SIM-only plans. Some retailers such as Samsung will allow you to buy a phone and pay it off over a set period, with 0% interest.
This option of buying a phone through a telco and signing up to one of its plans tends to be the more popular option. This method is good for someone who can’t front the entire cost of the new phone upfront, or those that want an easy way to upgrade to the latest device without the huge initial cost. Telstra, Optus and Vodafone all offer these plans on a no lock-in contract, so you can leave anytime (you’ll just have to pay out the remaining cost of the phone).
Alternatively, if you’ve got the cash upfront, it can sometimes be more sensible to purchase the phone you want and pair it with one of the excellent SIM-only plans available, which are getting much more compelling as time goes on – offering exponentially more data at lower prices than they have in the past.
How much data do I need on my phone plan?
0-5GB: Phone plans offering data limits below 5GB are not a worthwhile pick for most people, however for the lightest of on-the-go internet access, which includes social media access (without video), messaging app use and maybe some low quality music streaming, the money you could save on a low data phone plan might be worth it. We highly recommend using Wi-Fi whenever you can though.
5-15GB: Going for a plan with a data offering between 5GB and 15GB is probably the best bet for folks that won’t be using their phones too much on the go, but want a safety net in case the home internet goes out or in case you’re going to be away from Wi-Fi for a while. Data limits like this allow you to use Google Maps and music streaming apps regularly, but you’ll still likely want to avoid regular video streaming.
15-50GB: In December 2023, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) found that the average mobile user in Australia uses 15.9GB of data a month. So, phone plans in this bracket will be perfect for most people. If you like to stream music or videos and download podcasts when you’re on 4G or 5G, or you use map apps on a daily basis and generally have a data-intensive lifestyle, this is likely to be the cap you should be looking at. If you regularly spend time commuting via public transport, this could be a good option too. Lots of phone plans fall within this bracket, and users can generally get monthly data in this range at a reasonable price.
50-100GB: Phone plans within this data range should only be for serious data-drainers, as plans with over 50GB aren’t necessary for most Australians that regularly have access to secure Wi-Fi networks. This range could be for you if you download apps or other large files on the go, stream in HD, frequently tether to your phone for an internet connection or work from somewhere that doesn’t have Wi-Fi.
100GB-unlimited: Plans with over 100GB of data are going to be overkill for most mobile users. You may need this kind of data if you spend hours down a TikTok/YouTube rabbit hole (via a 4G or 5G connection), you’re travelling around Australia without Wi-Fi, or you’re using your phone’s hotspot as your only internet connection. A small MVNO mobile provider called Felix is the only telco currently offering an unlimited data plan, but speeds are capped at 20Mbps.
