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Cheap mobile plans

For under $20 a month, get unlimited calls and texts in Australia. Some plans include unlimited data too.

Finder's top cheap pick:

Exclusive
Finder's top cheap pick: logo image
Promoted

10GB for $10/month for the first 6 months

  • 5GB for $10/month after
  • Unlimited calls + text
  • No lock-in contract on Optus 4G network
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T&Cs apply. Ends 31/07/22 23:59.
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Compare cheap mobile plans under $20

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1 - 10 of 104
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Name Product Features Data Price
Exclusive
  • 10GB for $10/mth for the first 6 months, then 5GB for $10/mth. T&Cs apply. Ends 31.08.22
  • Unlimited standard national calls & texts
10GB
Data
$1.00 per GB
$10
per month
Go to siteView details
Exclusive
10GB
Data


$1.00/GB
$10
per month
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View details
Green Company
Exclusive
-50%
  • $17.50/mth for the first 3 months, then $35/mth. Use code FINDER50. New customers only. T&Cs apply. Ends 31.08.22
  • Unlimited standard national calls & texts
Unlimited data
At speeds up to 20Mbps
$17.50
per month
Go to siteView details
Exclusive
Unlimited data
At speeds up to 20Mbps

-50%
$17.50
per month
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View details
Exclusive
-40%
  • 30GB for $15/mth for the first 12 months, then 30GB for $25/mth. T&Cs apply. Ends 31.08.22
  • Unlimited standard national calls & texts
30GB
Data
$0.50 per GB
$15
per month
Go to siteView details
Exclusive
30GB
Data


$0.50/GB
-40%
$15
per month
Go to site
View details
Exclusive
  • $20/mth for the 1st 3 months, then $30/mth. T&Cs apply. Ends 31.08.22
  • Unlimited standard national calls & texts
40GB
Data
$0.50 per GB
$20
per month
Go to siteView details
Exclusive
40GB
Data


$0.50/GB
$20
per month
Go to site
View details
-50%
  • Pay $5/mth for the first 3 months, then $10/mth. T&Cs apply. Ends 31.10.22
  • Unlimited standard national calls & texts
2GB
Data
$2.50 per GB
$5
per month
Go to siteView details
2GB
Data


$2.50/GB
-50%
$5
per month
Go to site
View details
  • $10/mth for the first 6 months, then $20/mth. T&Cs apply
  • Unlimited standard national calls & texts
12GB
Data
$0.83 per GB
$10
per month
Go to siteView details
12GB
Data


$0.83/GB
$10
per month
Go to site
View details
  • Unlimited standard national calls & texts
2GB
Data
$6.00 per GB
$12
per 28 days expiry
Go to siteView details
2GB
Data


$6.00/GB
$12
per 28 days expiry
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View details
-50%
  • $10/mth for the first 6 months, then $19.99/mth. T&Cs apply.
  • Unlimited standard national calls & texts
8GB
Data
$1.25 per GB
$10
per month
Go to siteView details
8GB
Data


$1.25/GB
-50%
$10
per month
Go to site
View details
  • Unlimited standard national calls & texts
5GB
Data
$4.00 per GB
$20
per 28 days expiry
Go to siteView details
5GB
Data


$4.00/GB
$20
per 28 days expiry
Go to site
View details
  • Optus Flex now lets you connect to a mobile plan with a new number in minutes, all from My Optus app. eSIM capable device required
  • Unlimited standard national calls & texts
1GB
Data
$1.00 per GB
$1
per 1 days expiry
+ $1 upfront
Go to siteView details
1GB
Data


$1.00/GB
$1
+ $1 upfront
$0 upfront when connected via an eSIM
per 1 days expiry
Go to site
View details
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How do I find the best cheap mobile plan?

If price is the main factor you care about, you might think that any plan with the right dollar figure will do.

This will be true for some people, but there are a 2 main factors to consider when finding the best cheap mobile plan for your needs:

  1. Data

    2. Consider how much data you use. You won't find many plans with unlimited data under $20 but you can definitely find plans with data between 10GB and 20GB a month. No matter how much data you're after, a good benchmark for value is to get at least 1GB or more for every $1 you spend.

  2. Promotional periods

    3. Many providers offer their plans with more data at discounts for the first 3–6 months. If you just want the cheapest deal, you could swap plans once the promo expires. Otherwise, make sure you're happy to pay the standard price of the plan.

  • Learn more: Find our top picks for the best mobile plans here, including our favourite cheap mobile plan on Finder.

Is a cheap mobile plan right for you?

Besides the main advantage of having a cheaper mobile bill to pay each month, there are other aspects to consider before you sign up to a cheap mobile plan:

Pros

  • Big range of providers. While we're all familiar with Telstra, Optus and Vodafone, there are plenty of other smaller providers that share the same networks but at a fraction of the price.
  • Flexibility. Most cheap mobile plans are contract-free. If you're unhappy with the service, you can simply switch to another cheap provider.
  • Bundles. You have the option with some providers to save an additional $5–$10 when you bundle with an energy or Internet plan.

Cons

  • Promotional prices. Great for the first 6 months, but remember they'll revert to the full price at the end.
  • Less data. You can't expect to pay low prices and get tons of data.
  • SIM only. If you want to purchase a device with your phone plan, you might need to look at more expensive plans on contracts.
  • Fewer call inclusions. Features such as calls and texts might not be unlimited and international calls may not be included at all.

What points should I look out for on a cheap mobile plan?

There are a few features to look out for when comparing cheap mobile phone plans:

calendar logo

Expiry

Many cheap phone plans are prepaid plans that come with a greater variety of expiry periods. This can include plans with short expiries such as 5–7 days, which means you'd end up potentially paying more than you want with the constant renewals. Just be mindful when purchasing that a plan that costs $1–2 probably only lasts a day or 2.


sim card with plus sign logo

Inclusions

While cheap plans from larger providers tend to include unlimited calls and texts, this might not be the case with all cheap phone plans.


phone data with rollover logo

Data rollover

Some cheap mobile plans offer data rollover which is great if you don't use up all your data. Just keep in mind that you need to recharge your plan on time for the rollover to take effect.


mobile data icon

Data limit

On many cheaper prepaid plans, it's game over once you hit your data limit. You'll need to recharge for more data. If you plan to use lots of data, you might be better off on a slightly more expensive plan with more monthly data to be safe. On cheap postpaid plans, you could be hit with excess data fees, such as $10 for every 1GB you go over.


network coverage icon

Coverage

Many providers that offer cheap plans are mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) that use other providers' networks. Before signing up, check which network you'll be on.

  • Telstra MVNOs (except for Boost) only get access to part of the network, which covers 98.8% of Australians.
  • Optus MVNOs get full access to the network, covering 98.5% of the population.
  • Vodafone MVNOs get full access to the network, which covers 96% of Australians.

Can I trust a smaller provider with cheap mobile plans?

Yes, there's no real catch. Smaller providers or MVNOs are legitimate businesses.

Because they use the phone networks of the 3 big telcos, MVNOs are able to offer much cheaper plans. They're not paying to maintain the cell towers and other infrastructure, so their overheads are low and they can pass the savings on to you.

The main difference you may find with a mobile plan from an MVNO compared to 1 of the 3 major providers – Telstra, Optus and Vodafone – is that their plans may have fewer bonus features than the bigger players.

Which types of mobile plans are the cheapest?

Some of the cheapest plans are those with fewer inclusions targeted at people who don't need very much data (or none) at all or will rarely use their phones. If that sounds like you, a pay-as-you-go mobile plan might be right for you.

If you want to pay upfront (and save money in the long run), a long-expiry plan with inclusions that don't expire until 3–12 months might be better.

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