Best prepaid mobile plans in Australia (December 2024)

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(Image credit: Getty Images / Eugenio Marongiu)

The best prepaid plans in Australia should offer flexibility above all else, but low prices and generous data inclusions are also something to keep an eye out for. Sure, most telcos will push you in the direction of the best postpaid plans if they offer them, but in the prepaid world, your plan is handled through recharges rather than rolling costs after the month of service, giving you the edge if you want to change providers regularly.

With this in mind, you also get the option of long term data periods several months, plan lengths as low as seven days, or periods closer to standard thirty day terms (many last up to 28 days in a renewal period).

Looking at the best SIM-only plans in Australia broadly, you might want to pick up a prepaid plan if you want to pay up-front for your data. That’s the point of this article; we’ve found the best plans for various lifestyles, allowing you to control your spending within a period that suits you. Just ensure that you’re getting the right amount of data every month, otherwise you may rack up bills for going over your monthly limit.

Let’s dive into the best prepaid plans in Australia – from budget oriented options to year-long big data selections.

Jump to:
Best prepaid plan for most people – TPG 25GB data for AU$12.50 per 28-day renewal (first six renewals, then AU$25 per renewal)
Best cheap prepaid plan under AU$20 – TPG 50GB data for AU$17.50 per 28-day renewal (first six renewals, then AU$35 per renewal)

Best unlimited data prepaid plan – Felix Mobile unlimited data (20Mbps speedcap) for AU$20 per 28-day renewal (first three renewals, then AU$40 per renewal)
Best long expiry prepaid plan up to 365 days – Kogan Mobile 200GB for AU$139 per 365 day renewal
Best Telstra network prepaid plan – Belong 25GB for AU$30 per 1-month renewal
Best Optus network prepaid plan – Circles.Life 50GB data (first 12 months, then 10GB) for AU$17.50p/m (first 12 months, then AU$20p/m)
Best Vodafone network prepaid plan – TPG 50GB data for AU$17.50 per 28-day renewal (first six renewals, then AU$35 per renewal)

Noteworthy prepaid mobile deals for (December 2024)

We’ve selected the best prepaid mobile plans further down this page, but if you’d just like to see some of the best offers going at the moment, check out this list of sweet prepaid mobile plan deals:

Best prepaid mobile plans: our picks

Best prepaid plan for most people

TPG | 25GB data | 1-month expiry | AU$12.50 per 28-day renewal (first six renewals, then AU$25 per renewal)

TPG | 25GB data | 1-month expiry | AU$12.50 per 28-day renewal (first six renewals, then AU$25 per renewal)

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. After that discount ends, you’ll be paying AU$25 for each 28-day renewal. TPG’s prepaid plans auto-renew every month until you cancel. TPG’s prepaid plans use Vodafone’s 4G network.

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

Best cheap prepaid plan under AU$20

TPG | 50GB data | AU$17.50 per 28-day renewal (first six renewals, then AU$35 per renewal)

TPG | 50GB data | AU$17.50 per 28-day renewal (first six renewals, then AU$35 per renewal)

Déjà vu? While the best prepaid plan for most people is TPG’s 25GB option, the 50GB option isn’t much more expensive, with a discount running for the first six renewals that brings the price down to AU$17.50 per 28-day renewal (AU$35 after). This plan includes access to the Vodafone 5G network, unlimited international minutes for calls to 31 countries, and 50GB of data every month (speed-capped at 150Mbps). If you crave a big data allowance, this plan might be your best bet.

Total minimum cost is AU$12.50 | Total cost for first year: AU$315 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$420

Best unlimited data prepaid plan

Felix Mobile | Unlimited data | 28-day expiry | AU$20 for first three 28-day renewals (then AU$40 per renewal)

Felix Mobile | Unlimited data | 28-day expiry | AU$20 for first three 28-day renewals (then AU$40 per renewal)

Felix Mobile is one of the few telcos in the country to provide unlimited data on a phone plan – and if you’re a data craving phone user who doesn’t care about download speed, this plan could be made for you. Pay only AU$20 per renewal for the first three renewals to access unlimited data with a 20Mbps speedcap (which is quite a lot slower than the speed caps applied to the other plans on this list, and isn’t suitable for things like 4K streaming and quick downloads of big files). Felix Mobile’s plans use the Vodafone network.

Total minimum cost is AU$20 | Total cost for first year: AU$420 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$480

Best long expiry prepaid plan up to 365 days

Kogan Mobile | 200GB | 365-day expiry | AU$190

Kogan Mobile | 200GB | 365-day expiry | AU$190

Kogan Mobile takes the best long expiry title for its medium plan, which includes a AU$190 price tag for 200GB of data. This plan includes the ability to earn Qantas points as you pay. Kogan Mobile operates on the Vodafone 4G network.

Total minimum cost is AU$139 | Total cost for first year: AU$139 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$180

Best Telstra network prepaid plan

Belong | 25GB | 1-month expiry | AU$30 per renewal

Belong | 25GB | 1-month expiry | AU$30 per renewal

Belong takes the best Telstra network prepaid plan spot for two reasons – the data-to-price ratio is quite reasonable and it’s one of the cheapest MVNO prepaid plans to have 5G access on the Telstra network. That’s partially because Belong is 100% owned by Telstra as its budget telco option. Belong customers also get access to data rollover and data gifting to other Belong users.

Total minimum cost is AU$30 | Total cost for first year: AU$360

If you’re after a long expiry plan on the Telstra network, you can pick up a Boost Mobile 365 plan with 170GB data for AU$207 on eBay.

Best Optus network prepaid plan

Circles.Life | 50GB data (first 12 months, then 10GB) | No lock-in contract | AU$17.50p/m (first 12 months, then AU$20p/m)

Circles.Life | 50GB data (first 12 months, then 10GB) | No lock-in contract | AU$17.50p/m (first 12 months, then AU$20p/m)

In classic Circles.life fashion, the telco is offering tremendous value on its plans, so much so that it currently has our favourite plan on the Optus network. With this plan, you get a 12-month data and price offer, bumping the 10GB monthly data limit up to 50GB and the AU$20p/m price down to AU$17.50 for the first year. Remember to use the promo code 12MTHSDEALS50G at the checkout. This plan utilises the Optus 4G network.

Total minimum cost is AU$17.50 | Total cost for first year: AU$210 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$240

Best Vodafone network prepaid plan

TPG | 50GB data | 1-month expiry | AU$17.50 per 28-day renewal (first six renewals, then AU$35 per renewal)

TPG | 50GB data | 1-month expiry | AU$17.50 per 28-day renewal (first six renewals, then AU$35 per renewal)

The best prepaid plan on the Vodafone network goes to Vodafone’s sister telco TPG. TPG is offering 50GB of data for AU$17.50 per the first six renewals. After that time, the cost shifts to AU$35 per renewal. Your prepaid plan will automatically renew every 28 days.

Total minimum cost is AU$17.50 | Total cost for first year: AU$315

Zachariah Kelly
Staff Writer

Zac has been in the tech writing game for six years, having previously written for Gizmodo Australia, Canstar Blue, and The Daily Mail Australia (with articles on Nine, Junkee, Kotaku Australia and Lifehacker Australia). He’s a huge nerd with a deep passion for technology. While his main focus at TechRadar Australia is phones, monitors and peripherals, he also has a deep interest in the growing Australian EV landscape. Outside of Techradar, Zac’s a Headspace (a youth mental health organization) volunteer and an avid gamer.