Porting your mobile number

How do I keep my mobile number?

Before we dive into the steps, there are 2 important things to remember when you're looking to port your number to a new provider.

• Do not cancel your existing mobile plan before your number's been ported and you've received confirmation. If you do, you could lose your number.
• Make sure the number is under your name. If it's not, you will need to request a change of ownership first.

To transfer your mobile number to a new plan:

1. Confirm the number is under your name

You won't be able to port your number unless you have ownership of it. If it is, you're good to go.

2. Buy your new SIM

Simply buy your new SIM either online or in-store to begin the activation process.

During sign-up, you'll receive a request to 'keep my existing number' or wording similar to this. Select this option and your new provider will handle the rest.

• Good to know: Rules set by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) state that a provider must allow you to port your number to another service if you request this. If your old provider refuses to let you go, you're within your right to complain.

3. Wait for porting to complete

Once you've received confirmation that your number has been ported from your new provider, your old plan will automatically be cancelled.

This can take between a few hours to 2 days. In rare cases, it can take up to a week.

Remember to pay off any final bills.

Can I use my old SIM while porting?

You should be able to use your old SIM until your number is ported.

There are a few things you should keep in mind of:

• Make sure you've activated your new SIM once your number's been ported. Otherwise, you won't be able to make calls and texts.
• Once you've received confirmation that your number's been ported, pay off any pending bills with your old provider.
• Oftentimes, your last bill will be finalised after a few days but you won't be charged extra. That's because your old plan gets automatically cancelled once porting is complete.

• Good to know: In case you run into any trouble activating your new SIM, you will still be able to browse, stream, WhatsApp and more using Wi-Fi.

Compare mobile plans for a better deal

Haven't decided which plan you're going to transfer your number to? You can check out the latest mobile deals in our comparison table below.

1 - 5 of 67

Updated regularly

We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.

Learn how we maintain accuracy on our site.

Close

Name	Product	Data	Price	Apply	Price
TPG Large PrepaidNo lock-in contract $15/mth for the first 6 months, then $30/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. TPG Large Prepaid $15/mth for the first 6 months, then $30/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply.	Unlimited national calls & texts Vodafone 4G network	45GB	$15 per month	Go to site View details	-50% $15/mth for the first 6 months, then $30/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Unlimited standard national calls & texts 45 GB Data $15 per month Go to siteView details		loading Fetching your data...
Southern Phone Finder Exclusive PostpaidNo lock-in contract $5/mth for the first 6 months, then $15/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 31.1.24 Southern Phone Finder Exclusive Postpaid $5/mth for the first 6 months, then $15/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 31.1.24 Exclusive	Unlimited national calls & texts Optus 4G/3G network	5GB	$5 per month	Go to site View details	Exclusive $5/mth for the first 6 months, then $15/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 31.1.24 Unlimited standard national calls & texts 5 GB Data $5 per month Go to siteView details		loading Fetching your data...
iiNet Medium Plan PrepaidNo lock-in contract $12.50/mth for the first 6 months, then $24.99/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. iiNet Medium Plan Prepaid $12.50/mth for the first 6 months, then $24.99/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply.	Unlimited national calls & texts Vodafone 4G/3G network	16GB	$12.50 per month	Go to site View details	-50% $12.50/mth for the first 6 months, then $24.99/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Unlimited standard national calls & texts 16 GB Data $12.50 per month Go to siteView details		loading Fetching your data...
Dodo $25 PostpaidNo lock-in contract 50GB/mth for the first 3 months, then 25GB/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Order by 27.2.24 Dodo $25 Postpaid 50GB/mth for the first 3 months, then 25GB/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Order by 27.2.24	Unlimited national calls & texts Optus 4G/3G network	50GB No excess data charges	$25 per month	Go to site View details	50GB/mth for the first 3 months, then 25GB/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Order by 27.2.24 Unlimited standard national calls & texts 50 GB Data $25 per month Go to siteView details		loading Fetching your data...
felix Subscription Unlimited SubscriptionNo lock-in contract $20/mth for the first 3 months, then $40/mth with code FELIX50. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 31.1.24 felix Subscription Unlimited Subscription $20/mth for the first 3 months, then $40/mth with code FELIX50. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 31.1.24 Finder Award	Unlimited national calls & texts Vodafone 4G/3G network	Unlimited data At speeds up to 20Mbps	$20 per month	Go to site View details	GREEN COMPANY $20/mth for the first 3 months, then $40/mth with code FELIX50. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 31.1.24 Unlimited standard national calls & texts Unlimited data At speeds up to 20Mbps $20 per month Go to siteView details		loading Fetching your data...

loading

Prev

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Next

We've done the work

We've researched and reviewed hundreds of phone plans to make our guides as helpful as possible. Our experts can be seen across TV, print and digital media.

We're reliable

Our product database of 52 providers is updated daily with the latest mobile deals in Australia. Our guides are regularly reviewed and fact-checked.

We're here to help

Since 2015, we've helped over 1.2 million people find the right mobile plan by explaining features clearly and simply. We're here to help you make a decision.

Frequently asked questions

• What does porting your phone number mean?

  "Porting" your number means transferring it from one mobile phone plan to another, so that you can keep your current mobile number, even if you switch providers.

• What if the number isn't under my name?

  If the mobile number isn't under your name, you will need to fill out a transfer of ownership form through your current provider.

  It will require identification documents and consent from both the current account holder and the person taking ownership. Use our guide to transferring ownership to get started.

• How can I check my porting status?

  There's no real way to check where you are in the porting process. Generally, you'll be notified when the process starts and again when it's all finished.

• Does porting your number cancel a service?

  Yes, it does. Once your number's been successfully ported, your service will be cancelled automatically.

• Can I port my number from a postpaid plan to a prepaid plan?

  Absolutely. Numbers can be ported between any kind of mobile service.

• Is there a fee to port your mobile number?

  Most telcos in Australia will let you port your number to another provider for free, however this isn't always the case. Some mobile providers like TPG and Southern Phone will charge a port-out fee for customers who switch providers, so make sure you read the T&Cs whenever you're signing up to a new phone plan.

Latest mobile news

Best Black Friday mobile plans and phone deals for 2023

{"menuItems":[{"label":"How do I keep my mobile number?","anchorName":"#how"},{"label":"Can I use my old SIM while porting?","anchorName":"#how"},{"label":"Compare mobile plans for a better deal","anchorName":"#how"},{"label":"Frequently asked questions","anchorName":"#frequently-asked-questions"}]}

Get up to 65% off on SIM only plans and $500 off on popular phones.

Read more…

Optus customers flock to switch telcos, but where are they going?

{"menuItems":[{"label":"How do I keep my mobile number?","anchorName":"#how"},{"label":"Can I use my old SIM while porting?","anchorName":"#how"},{"label":"Compare mobile plans for a better deal","anchorName":"#how"},{"label":"Frequently asked questions","anchorName":"#frequently-asked-questions"}]}

Alternatives for disgruntled Optus customers.

Read more…

Need extra data? More, Tangerine double data on mobile plans

{"menuItems":[{"label":"How do I keep my mobile number?","anchorName":"#how"},{"label":"Can I use my old SIM while porting?","anchorName":"#how"},{"label":"Compare mobile plans for a better deal","anchorName":"#how"},{"label":"Frequently asked questions","anchorName":"#frequently-asked-questions"}]}

Get double the data for the same price.

Read more…

Vodafone’s new $5 in-flight roaming: How to get it

{"menuItems":[{"label":"How do I keep my mobile number?","anchorName":"#how"},{"label":"Can I use my old SIM while porting?","anchorName":"#how"},{"label":"Compare mobile plans for a better deal","anchorName":"#how"},{"label":"Frequently asked questions","anchorName":"#frequently-asked-questions"}]}

Roam if you want to - on your flight overseas.

Read more…

Exclusive offer: Pay just $5 a month on your mobile plan for half a year

{"menuItems":[{"label":"How do I keep my mobile number?","anchorName":"#how"},{"label":"Can I use my old SIM while porting?","anchorName":"#how"},{"label":"Compare mobile plans for a better deal","anchorName":"#how"},{"label":"Frequently asked questions","anchorName":"#frequently-asked-questions"}]}

Spend no more than $30 for 6 months on your mobile plan.

Read more…

Telstra iPhone 15 plans: $350 bonus trade-in credit and big data for less

{"menuItems":[{"label":"How do I keep my mobile number?","anchorName":"#how"},{"label":"Can I use my old SIM while porting?","anchorName":"#how"},{"label":"Compare mobile plans for a better deal","anchorName":"#how"},{"label":"Frequently asked questions","anchorName":"#frequently-asked-questions"}]}

Save money on an iPhone 15 plan with Telstra's trade-in offer.

Read more…