What you need to know
- Public Wi-Fi networks and optimised mobile sites mean you don't need a big data plan to stay connected on the go.
- By going with a smaller data cap, you can save a significant of money on your mobile bill.
With the growing availability of Wi-Fi networks at home, at work and in public spaces like shopping centres and fast-food restaurants, it's becoming easier than ever to get by without large amounts of data.
This is great news for folks wanting to save money, as data is the driving factor behind the price of most mobile plans. Low-usage mobile plans can cost a fraction of what larger, flagship plans do, and they typically still include unlimited standard calls and texts for keeping in touch with family and friends.
Telcos often put most of their marketing dollars behind their large data plans, but these plans are often overkill for what many Aussies actually need. To see if you're paying for more data than you use, check out our mobile data usage calculator which can help you estimate how much data is right for you each month. You may be surprised by just how little data you need every month compared to what you're actually paying for.
Alternatively, you may discover that you need a lot more data each month, in which case it might be worth checking out our guide to mobile plans with more than 20GB of data included in the monthly cost.
The other alternative to low usage mobile plans is to switch to a prepaid service. By paying for your inclusions up front, you can rest easy that you'll never be charged more than you can afford each month. If you'd rather top up with prepaid credit, see our roundup of the best low-usage, long-expiry prepaid plans.
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