Compare the best mobile phone plans and deals in Australia

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The best phone plans in Australia aren't purely decided by those that provide the largest number of bonuses – they prioritise customer needs and affordability.

Australia offers a huge variety of phone plans, including the best Vodafone plans and Optus plans, as well as the top SIM-only plans. Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) often provide better value due to their lower overheads, as they don't own the networks they operate on. However, when it comes to pairing a device like the best iPhone 16 or Samsung Galaxy S25, one of the major telcos is your best bet.

Comparing plans from Australia's three major telcos and their 20-plus MVNOs is tough. That's where we come in. We’ve studied what every provider in Australia offers so you don't have to. Below, you'll find the eight best phone plans for every Aussie – from the budget buyer to those who want a set-and-forget yearly plan.

Best overall postpaid plan

Tangerine 25GB 5G Mobile SIM | 25GB data | AU$29 p/m | save 10% by bundling Mobile and NBN plans

Tangerine 25GB 5G Mobile SIM | 25GB data | AU$29 p/m | save 10% by bundling Mobile and NBN plans

This plan, running on Telstra's 5G and 4G mobile networks, is a bit dearer than what we'd usually recommend for our top pick – but it offers excellent value. Not only do you get 5G connectivity, but it also throws in unlimited international calls to 15 selected spots, data banking up to 1000GB and the option for a quicker setup with an eSIM. Plus, you can snag a 10% saving on Tangerine mobile plans if you bundle it with your NBN plan.

Total minimum cost: AU$29 | Total cost for first year: AU$348

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Best cheap postpaid plan

Dodo AU$23 Mobile Plan | 30GB data  | AU$23 p/m

Dodo AU$23 Mobile Plan | 30GB data (for first 3 months, then 15GB) | AU$23 p/m

As most providers wind back their EOFY and mid-year deals, this Dodo plan is a stellar option. While the plan typically offers 15GB of data per month, customers will get an increased 30GB for the first three months. Any unused data also rolls over. Additionally, it includes AU$100 of international call credit. This plan operates on the Optus 4G network.

Total minimum cost: AU$23 | Total cost for first year: AU$276

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Best high data postpaid plan

Vodafone | 400GB data | No lock-in contract | AU$73 p/m

Vodafone | 400GB data | No lock-in contract | AU$73 p/m

Vodafone is no longer running its 'double data and AU$10 discount' deal, it remains a top contender – particularly if you're after a high-data plan. This 5G option offers a generous 400GB of monthly data for just AU$73 p/m. It also includes unlimited international calls and texts to selected countries, plus 300 minutes to other eligible nations.

Total minimum cost: AU$73 | Total cost for first year: AU$876

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Best overall prepaid plan

TPG | 25GB data | 1-month expiry | AU$12.50 p/m

TPG | 25GB data | 1-month expiry | AU$12.50 p/m (first 6 months, then AU$25 p/m)

This TPG prepaid plan is 50% off for your first six renewals, so you’ll initially pay just AU$12.50 for 25GB of data. Once that discount ends, you’ll pay AU$25 for each 28-day renewal. This plan is limited to 4G connectivity and includes 100 minutes to 31 international countries. TPG's Medium Plan, however, offers 5G and unlimited calls and text for AU$17.50, on top of 50GB of data.

Total minimum cost: AU$12.50 | Total cost for first year: AU$225 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$300

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Best long expiry prepaid plan

Kogan Mobile Extra Large plan | 500GB data | 365-day expiry | AU$300

Kogan Mobile Extra Large plan | 500GB data | 365-day expiry | AU$300 (then AU$335)

Need a set-and-forget plan? You won't find many better options than this Kogan Mobile plan. While limited to 4G connectivity on the Vodafone network, this plan lets you earn Qantas Frequent Flyer Points. The main draw, however, is a substantial 500GB of data, paid for with a single upfront cost. What's more, it's currently discounted by AU$35.

Total minimum cost: AU$300 | Total cost for first year: AU$300 | Total cost without discount: AU$335

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Best Vodafone plan

Vodafone | 60GB data | No lock-in contract | AU$53 p/m

Vodafone | 60GB data | No lock-in contract | AU$53 p/m

While Vodafone's small plan is no longer offering 100GB for just AU$39, it's still perhaps the best option from Australia's big three telcos. Offering 60GB of data as part of the Vodafone 5G network for a very affordable AU$53 p/m, this plan also offers unlimited international texts.

Total minimum cost: AU$53 | Total cost for first year: AU$720

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Best Optus plan

Optus Small plan | 50GB data | No lock-in contract | AU$55 p/m

Optus Small plan | 50GB data | No lock-in contract | AU$55 p/m

The Optus Small plan is one of the more attractive offerings from Australia's major telcos – competing directly with the Vodafone option above. This plan runs on the Optus 5G network and provides access to Optus SubHub, letting you manage subscriptions in one place and save up to 10% by doing so.

Total minimum cost: AU$55 | Total cost for first year: AU$660

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Best Telstra plan

Telstra Basic plan | 50GB data | No lock-in contract | AU$70 p/m

Telstra Basic plan | 50GB data | No lock-in contract | AU$70 p/m

Telstra has the most expensive phone plans among the three major telcos by a long margin. The benefit of Telstra is its wide-reaching network coverage and big data limits, but Optus was a solid second choice for some time – and it boasted a faster mobile network as of October of 2024. Now, Vodafone matches the network coverage of Optus (reaching 98.4%), giving Telstra's coverage competition and offering rural Aussies greater choice.

Total minimum cost: AU$70 | Total cost for first year: AU$840

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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.

According to OpenSignal’s October 2024 mobile network experience report, Optus boasts the fastest mobile speeds in Australia on average. Telstra wins on coverage experience for both 4G and 5G – reaching 99.7% of the nation. However, Optus wins on consistent quality and has long offered the second-best coverage in the nation at 98.8%. Now, thanks to the partnership between TPG Telecom and Optus, Vodafone now nearly matches Optus' coverage with 98.4%.

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. However, we can assume that it slots in at the same or lesser than Optus' 5G coverage which is 80.5% of the population.

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.

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.

Max Delaney
Staff Writer

A Digital Content Writer for the Australian TechRadar team, Max covers all things tech and lifestyle and is keen on using tech to make life easier. A 2023 journalism graduate, Max has written across sports, entertainment and business for brands like Zero Digital Media and Valnet.Inc, but found his love for tech in his time at GadgetUser. At home when covering everything from the latest deal and coupon code to the most recent streaming service output, phone or smartwatch, Max excels at using his research, experience and writing ability give you more time to use your tech, not waste time finding it. 

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