Picking a cheap plan is no different to picking a high cost one, although you do have to hunt around to make the most of your meagre spend.
Just because you're limited in what you want to spend doesn't mean that you're limited in choice when it comes to picking the right plan to make the most of your money. In many ways, if you're selecting plans at or below this price point you've got much harder choices to make than with plans at a higher pricing tier.
If you’re looking at plans under $20, it’s fair to assume you’re going to be more interested in a prepaid plan than one that operates on a postpaid basis, if only to ensure that you don't spend over your monthly budget. $20 isn’t a lot to spend on mobile services for a month, which means making compromises depending on your needs. Everyone’s circumstances differ, but here are some key factors to think about that should guide you when comparing plans at this price point.
- Do I need data? You’re not going to score much in the way of data with a sub-$20 plan, but the amount you can get can vary widely. Consider your data usage carefully, because you could choose to opt for a plan with greater call or text inclusions rather than data you might not be using. Alternatively, you could consider a postpaid month-to-month plan if you want a little more data, as those plans are typically a little more generous.
- How much do I use my phone? The $20 price point encompasses several pay-as-you-go options such as amaysim’s As You Go plan or ALDImobile’s PAYG plan, which offer 365-day expiry with credit only being used as you actually use services for outbound calls, data or texts. They’re a great budget alternative for very light users, but the rates you pay for calls, texts and especially data can be high.
- Can I score any other extras? At this price point telcos are typically as generous to you as you are to them, but it's worth checking the fine print for any additional bonuses. These could take the form of free calls to other users on the same network, limited free streaming data inclusions or the ability to roll over data or credit if you recharge within the expiry period.
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