Mobile phone plans

What our customers are saying

I always use Finder to compare everything. From phone plans, internet, electricity and gas companies, Finder is hands down the best and easiest way to find the best price.

Grace, QLD, Finder Member

The ability to compare almost all offers on the market allowed me to slash my insurance, electricity and phone/internet bills! All of the extra cash I have has gone directly into a high percent savings account that I also discovered on Finder.

Andrew, VIC, Finder Member

After comparing my electricity, NBN, phone and gas bills, I've managed to save over $400 a year.

Tim, NSW, Finder Member

What types of mobile plans can you get in Australia?

Prepaid plans

Prepaid mobile plans come with a recharge or renewal period that usually reset every 28 or 30 days. Just purchase a SIM card and pay at the start of each month to continue your plan.

• Great for your budget. Since you pre-pay, you'll never pay extra on top of your monthly amount.
• Good flexibility. Prepaid plans come with no lock-in contract, making it easy to switch whenever you want.

• Active recharges are needed. Unless you choose to auto-recharge your plan, you'll need to remember to renew it every month to continue your service.
• Limited inclusions. As opposed to postpaid plans, you'll need to recharge when your inclusions run out even if it's before your plan expires.

Postpaid plans

Postpaid plans continue indefinitely. You typically pay for them at the end of the month, but some providers will now charge you at the start.

• Set and forget. Just pay your monthly bill to continue your mobile service.
• Tend to come with higher data caps. This is great if you're streaming or video calling a lot when you're out and about.

• Excess usage fees may apply. If you go over your plan's allowances for the month, you could get charged extra fees (usually around $10 per extra 1GB you go over).
• Contracts still exist. While there are plenty of no-lock-in contract options, some postpaid plans still come with 6- to 12-month contracts.

Mobile phones on a plan

You can also grab a new phone on a mobile plan. Your monthly bill will be the price of your phone repayment plus the plan fees on top. Pay off the phone in monthly instalments over 12, 24 or 36 months.

• Affordable way to own a new phone. Because the cost of your phone gets split into monthly repayments, you can own the latest iPhone or Samsung without forking out $2,000+ in one go.
• Access special telco-only discounts. This is especially true during pre-order periods for new phones. Telcos often throw in discounts or free gifts that you won't get elsewhere.

• Long repayment periods. The longer the repayment period, the cheaper the monthly repayment, but staying with a provider for up to 3 years means you're potentially stuck on a poor value plan and missing out on new deals.
• Buying a phone outright is still cheaper overall. If you have the cash to spare, buying a phone outright is still the cheapest option since you don't need to pay for a potentially expensive plan on top.

Did you know?

Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker found that Australians with smaller mobile providers paid an average of $25 per month for their mobile plan, compared to $61 on plans directly with the big 3 (Telstra, Optus, Vodafone). That's $432 worth of savings over a year if you choose to keep your current phone and get a SIM only plan from a smaller, better value provider!

How do you compare mobile plans?

Don't get stuck paying a loyalty tax. Shop around for a better deal at least once a year. Better yet, compare every 6 months to make the most of introductory offers.

Mariam Gabaji
Utilities editor

Finder Award winners

Overwhelmed by the amount of options? Look to our award-winning mobile providers – we've done the hard work for you.

2023 Finder Award for Best Rated Mobile Provider

amaysim was rated highly by customers for offering value for money and great customer service with its prepaid plans.

Full list of 2023 winners

2023 Finder Award for Best Prepaid Mobile Providers

Both amaysim and felix impressed us this year for offering great value thanks to their competitive pricing and high data allowances.

Full list of 2023 winners

2023 Finder Award for Best Postpaid Mobile Providers

Circles.Life and Belong topped the charts this year for offering value for money. Their plans are well priced and come with generous data allowances.

Full list of 2023 winners

2023 Finder Award for Best Long Expiry Mobile Plan

Kogan's 365-day mobile plans are some of the best around. They offer fantastic value for money and come with Wi-Fi calling and instant eSIM setup.

Full list of 2023 winners

2023 Finder Award for Green Mobile Plan Provider of the Year

For the second year in a row, felix has taken the crown for its sustainability efforts which includes using 100% renewable energy and a tree planting program.

Full list of 2023 winners

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How do you switch mobile plans?

Compare mobile plans. Whether you're looking at a SIM only or phone repayment plan, make sure you find one that suits your data and budget needs.

Sign up and port your number. During the sign-up process, you can choose to keep your existing mobile number by asking for it to be ported to your new provider. Don't cancel your old plan yet!

Activate then cancel. If you've opted for an eSIM, your plan should be available as soon as you purchase it. Otherwise you'll need to wait for your physical SIM to be delivered. Once you activate your SIM card, your number should be transferred within 24–48 hours. You can then break up with your old provider and settle any outstanding bills.

How much data do I need?

How much data you will need is going to depend on how you use it.

Activities like browsing and social media don't use that much data so you should be able to get through the month with a smaller amount. On the other hand, multimedia streaming and downloads use a fair bit.

Here are some examples of the activities you can perform on these data allowances:

Calculate an estimate of your mobile data usage to get a better idea of how much you need.

If that's not enough data then consider an unlimited data mobile plan (and avoid excess data charges).

Which mobile network is right for you?

Australia is home to just 3 mobile networks: Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. The main point of difference between them is coverage and price.

Telstra

Telstra is host to Australia's largest mobile network.

• Its 3G/4G network reaches 99.5% of the population
• Has the most extensive 5G coverage in Australia (80%) and is still expanding.
• Wide coverage means Telstra's plans are a good option for those living in regional areas
• No lock-in contracts on all prepaid and postpaid plans

• Tends to be the most expensive mobile provider

Some of the providers that use the Telstra network include:

Optus

Optus comes next but it's no second fiddle.

• Its 3G/4G network reaches 98.8% of the population
• Its prepaid and postpaid plans are a little cheaper than Telstra
• The Optus 5G rollout is still underway – Optus recently expanded the range across 1,000 mobile towers

• It covers a little less of Australia than Telstra – this difference in coverage is mostly felt in regional areas

Some of the providers that use the that use the Optus network include:

Vodafone

Vodafone has the smallest network but is also the most affordable.

• 3G/4G covers 96% of the population
• 5G rollout is ongoing – Vodafone recently set a speed record on its network achieving close to 2Gbps
• Vodafone has the cheapest plans

• Not the best network for those living outside of metropolitan areas

Some of the providers that use the that use the Vodafone network include:

Looking for a phone with your plan?

While you could fork out for a shiny new phone, purchasing it on a phone plan can make the cost more manageable.

Telstra, Optus, Vodafone and even a few smaller providers like Woolworths Mobile and Southern Phone allow you to pair your mobile plan with a new handset. You then pay the cost of the phone monthly over a 12-, 24- or 36-month repayment period.

Compare iPhone plans

Compare Samsung plans

Compare Google Pixel plans

Major phone launches in 2023

We've seen a lot of new phones announced this year, including the Samsung S23, Google Pixel 8 and ofcourse, the iPhone 15.

Compare iPhone 15 plans in Australia

The next major phone release is hinted to be around mid-January 2024 when Samsung releases Galaxy S24 series at its Samsung Unpacked event.

Read our expert reviews on other popular mobile phones

iPhone 15 Pro

iPhone 15 Pro Max

iPhone 15

iPhone 14 Pro

Samsung S23 Ultra

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

• Which is the best mobile phone provider in Australia?

  Mobile providers aren't one-size-fits-all and neither are mobile plans. Check out this month's top picks if you're keen to narrow down your options.

  Alternatively, you can find the full list of providers we compare on Finder.

• What is the cheapest way to get a phone plan?

  If you're looking to stick to a budget, prepaid mobile plans are your best bet.

  They're generally cheaper and you won't overspend as there's a set amount you're required to pay upfront.

• Can I keep my current phone number?

  Yes, you can. Most providers allow you to port your number to their service.

  When you sign up to a new plan online, you'll be asked if you want to keep your existing number. Click yes and your new provider will handle the rest.

  If your current mobile number isn't registered under your name, you'll need to change ownership of your phone number first.

• How long does it take for a new SIM to be delivered?

  Some providers offer same-day express delivery while others could take a day or 2 (maybe longer) depending on the postal options in your area.

  Besides a physical SIM, eSIMs are becoming more common, making it easier to switch mobile plans. If you have an eSIM-compatible phone and your choice of provider offers eSIMs, you'll be connected instantly.

• How fast are mobile internet speeds in Australia?

  Your mobile phone could be connected to 3G, 4G or 5G depending on where you live and what plan you're on.

  At the moment, Optus boasts the fastest 5G download speeds based on Opensignal's most recent report from October 2023, clocking 226.5Mbps. Telstra trails behind with 201.9Mbps and Vodafone takes the last spot with just 102.5Mbps.

  If 5G isn't available in your area yet, you may be connected to a 3G/4G network. You can expect maximum download speeds of 42Mbps on 3G and 150Mbps on 4G.

  Keep in mind that if you're looking for a 5G connection, you'll also need a 5G mobile plan – not all plans in Australia currently operate on a 5G network.

• What if I want to use my mobile plan overseas?

  It's usually better to pick up a local SIM because roaming can be an expensive option or excluded as a feature on some mobile plans.

  If you're going on a short trip or you just want to have access to your phone as soon as you land, Vodafone's $5 roaming add-on is a hard-to-beat bargain if the country you're travelling to is included in its list.

  Check out our guide on international roaming for more options.

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