Long expiry plans give you more time between recharges.
They're typically suited for light phone users.
Not usually a good match for heavy data users.
We've selected the plans with the best overall value for long expiry plan users.
As of 07/11/19, our picks for the best long-expiry prepaid plans remain the same.
Best low-cost pay-as-you-go plan on the Optus network
If you're in an area where your Optus coverage is better than Telstra's, consider amaysim's As You Go plan. The As You Go plan recharges can be as little as $10. Optus offers up its full 4G network to amaysim. Like ALDIMobile's Pay As You Go Plan, data prices are rather high.
Best low-cost pay-as-you-go plan on the Telstra network
ALDImobile's PAYG plans can be recharged for as little as $5 with that full amount lasting 365 days. This makes them a good choice if you just want a contact number and not much else. ALDImobile uses Telstra's 3G and 4G networks, so coverage is generally good. Its data prices aren't spectacular at the PAYG level, so if you did need data, it might pay to look elsewhere.
Best heavy data plan on the Optus network
If you're after lots of data to use on a long expiry plan, Catch Connect's 365 Day plan may be a good fit. The headline feature here is a hefty 375GB of data to use across that year's expiry, but you also get unlimited standard calls and texts, plus 500 international calling minutes as well. $410 is a fair amount to lay down in one hit for a prepaid plan, but it does make your next year's worth of mobile usage easy to deal with.
Best heavy data plan on the Telstra network
Boost Mobile offers full access to the Telstra 4G network for its 12-month prepaid plan. You get 240GB of data along with unlimited standard calls and texts. If your Telstra coverage is better than competing networks, it's a great value deal.
Best heavy data plan on the Vodafone network
Kogan Mobile's Large 365-day option is a standout choice if you're a data-hungry user with good coverage on the Vodafone network. Kogan's approach to prepaid 365-day plans is subtly different to the rest of the market. What you get is essentially a discount on the monthly plan price if you pre-purchase all 12 months at once. It's significantly more expensive than any other comparable "Long Expiry" plan, but if you just wanted to pay once for a year's service and not have to think about it again, it's worth consideration.
Long expiry prepaid plans explained
Pros
Credit lasts a long time. You can simply pay once, and you don't have to think about it again until your expiry period comes up.
Good if you get called more than you phone out. If you just want a phone so that family and friends can stay in touch by calling you, a long expiry plan is a great way to save money.
Good for the elderly. Long expiry plans aren't complex or weighed down with hard-to-understand exclusions or offers.
Easy to keep your number. If you're heading overseas and want to retain your Australian number, it's a low-cost way to do that and leave your SIM at home. For as little as $5, you can secure your number on your SIM card for up to a year, ready for when you return.
Cons
Lower value. Compared to a monthly prepaid plan, you pay more on a PAYG basis or get less value for longer expiry data plans.
Not great for heavy data users. Even for the plans with bundled data inclusions, you're looking at less data than if you paid monthly.
You've got to pay upfront. Long expiry plans are all prepaid, so you've got to stump up the cash before you've even made your first call.
Locks you into a provider. The beauty of a prepaid plan is that typically, you can change providers on a whim. That's a less attractive prospect if you've already sunk a lot of money into a 365-day expiry plan.
Long expiry plans use a prepaid plan structure, so you make an upfront payment for a mobile service that you can then use for 3, 6 or even 12 months without recharging – provided you don't use up all your data or call credit, of course.
There are three main types of long-expiry plans. The simplest operate on a pay-as-you-go basis, so you pay for every call, text and byte of data used.
Then there are the plans that give you a lump sum of call and data inclusions that you can use at your leisure throughout the plan period.
Finally, some plans portion out call and data inclusions on a monthly basis. These plans function much like a regular monthly plan that you're simply paying for in advance. In this case, a six-month plan might come with a total of 60GB of data but only give you access to 10GB each month.
Compare more long expiry plans
If you'd prefer to compare long expiry plans for yourself, check out the table below. You can click "Show More" at the bottom of the table to reveal even more long expiry plan options.
We help you find the best budget phone for your needs with our comprehensive guide to the finest budget phones you can buy in Australia right now. Read more...
Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) provide a cheaper alternative to Telstra, Vodafone and Optus. Here's how MVNOs can save you money on your mobile bill. Read more...
Alex Kidman was the tech and telco editor at Finder and is now a freelance technology writer. He's been a technology writer with experience spanning more than 20 years, writing and editing at Gizmodo, CNET, PC Magazine, Kotaku and many more. Alex has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of New England and a serious passion for retro gaming.
It's hard to fault the hardware in the Huawei Mate 30 Pro, but the lack of proper Google apps makes Huawei's latest flagship phone an absolute non-starter.
I’m looking for a long term data only plan, preferably 5 years if possible. Data usage is low, just monitoring power at a site with no internet access.
Currently, long expiry prepaid plans are up to 365 days which is for a year. Kindly contact your chosen provider if they may provide a modified mobile plan for your needs.
I intend to buy a prepaid mobile plan for 365 days. My present plan will end on 25/04/2019. Can I buy now and activate the SIM card nearer to the end date of my present plan?
There are SIM providers that may allow you to buy a SIM now and then activate on a later time. You may need to check this with the specific SIM provider whom you are considering to buy a prepaid SIM so you can be advised accordingly. This is normally applicable if you are to get a new mobile number. If you intend to port your number, you need to let the incoming provider know that you are planning to move your number and check their porting time frame so you can consider and check your options.
Hello, great article, but it seems as though none of the pre-paid plans listed allow calls to be received when roaming internationally? What prepaid long expiry plans allow you to receive calls internationally?
Our company finder.com.au is a financial comparison website and general information service designed to help consumers to make a better decision. Please note we do not represent any company we feature on our pages.
On this article, you may need to contact the providers to inquiry if they have an offer to receive a call from overseas.
You can use any of the SIM cards featured on this page if you have an unlocked mobile phone, however, you can only use a Telstra SIM card on a Telstra locked phone. You can get in touch with Telstra for assistance in unlocking your Telstra locked phone.
How likely would you be to recommend finder to a friend or colleague?
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Very UnlikelyExtremely Likely
Required
Thank you for your feedback.
Our goal is to create the best possible product, and your thoughts, ideas and suggestions play a major role in helping us identify opportunities to improve.
Important information about this website
finder.com.au is one of Australia's leading comparison websites. We compare from a wide set of major banks, insurers and product issuers.
finder.com.au has access to track details from the product issuers listed on our sites. Although we provide information on the products offered by a wide range of issuers, we don't cover every available product. You should consider whether the products featured on our site are appropriate for your needs and seek independent advice if you have any questions.
Products marked as 'Promoted' or "Advertisement" are prominently displayed either as a result of a commercial advertising arrangement or to highlight a particular product, provider or feature. Finder may receive remuneration from the Provider if you click on the related link, purchase or enquire about the product. Finder's decision to show a 'promoted' product is neither a recommendation that the product is appropriate for you nor an indication that the product is the best in its category. We encourage you to use the tools and information we provide to compare your options and find the best option for you.
The identification of a group of products, as 'Top' or 'Best' is a reflection of user preferences based on current website data. On a regular basis, analytics drive the creation of a list of popular products. Where these products are grouped, they appear in no particular order.
Where our site links to particular products or displays 'Go to site' buttons, we may receive a commission, referral fee or payment.
We try to take an open and transparent approach and provide a broad based comparison service. However, you should be aware that while we are an independently owned service, our comparison service does not include all providers or all products available in the market.
Some product issuers may provide products or offer services through multiple brands, associated companies or different labelling arrangements. This can make it difficult for consumers to compare alternatives or identify the companies behind the products. However, we aim to provide information to enable consumers to understand these issues.
Providing or obtaining an estimated insurance quote through us does not guarantee you can get the insurance. Acceptance by insurance companies is based on things like occupation, health and lifestyle. By providing you with the ability to apply for a credit card or loan we are not guaranteeing that your application will be approved. Your application for credit products is subject to the Provider's terms and conditions as well as their application and lending criteria.
Please read our website terms of use for more information about our services and our approach to privacy.
I’m looking for a long term data only plan, preferably 5 years if possible. Data usage is low, just monitoring power at a site with no internet access.
Hi Dean,
Thank you for getting in touch with Finder.
Currently, long expiry prepaid plans are up to 365 days which is for a year. Kindly contact your chosen provider if they may provide a modified mobile plan for your needs.
I hope this helps.
Thank you and have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Jeni
I intend to buy a prepaid mobile plan for 365 days. My present plan will end on 25/04/2019. Can I buy now and activate the SIM card nearer to the end date of my present plan?
Hi John,
Thank you for reaching out to Finder.
There are SIM providers that may allow you to buy a SIM now and then activate on a later time. You may need to check this with the specific SIM provider whom you are considering to buy a prepaid SIM so you can be advised accordingly. This is normally applicable if you are to get a new mobile number. If you intend to port your number, you need to let the incoming provider know that you are planning to move your number and check their porting time frame so you can consider and check your options.
Hope this helps.
Kind Regards,
Mai
Hello, great article, but it seems as though none of the pre-paid plans listed allow calls to be received when roaming internationally? What prepaid long expiry plans allow you to receive calls internationally?
Hi Matt,
Thank you for your inquiry.
Our company finder.com.au is a financial comparison website and general information service designed to help consumers to make a better decision. Please note we do not represent any company we feature on our pages.
On this article, you may need to contact the providers to inquiry if they have an offer to receive a call from overseas.
Cheers,
Harold
Can these SIM cards be used in a Telstra mobile phone?
Hi Aldimobile,
Thank you for your enquiry.
You can use any of the SIM cards featured on this page if you have an unlocked mobile phone, however, you can only use a Telstra SIM card on a Telstra locked phone. You can get in touch with Telstra for assistance in unlocking your Telstra locked phone.
Cheers,
Jason