We’ve compared 216 mobile plans with 5G access from 42 providers in Australia and curated 6 top picks based on price, network and expert analysis. Not every 5G plan will suit your needs, so be sure to weigh your options before picking the one that’s right for you.
Our top picks were reviewed by senior utilities editor Mariam Gabaji.
We compared both month-to-month and long-expiry 5G mobile plans, depending on the category. For each plan, we considered the Finder Score alongside factors such as Finder Award wins and extra features like eSIM support and app availability. Network coverage, price, and data allowance carry the most weight in ensuring the plans genuinely offer good value for money.
Who offers the best 5G network coverage in Australia?
Telstra has the widest 5G coverage in Australia, reaching 91% of the population, followed by Optus at 80.5%.
Vodafone hasn't reported a specific percentage, but its 5G network is now available in over 3,000 suburbs across major cities in Australia.
All three telcos are still rolling out 5G, so these figures will change over time.
Good to know: Smaller providers on the Optus and Vodafone networks have full access to their 4G and 5G coverage. Boost Mobile is the only smaller provider with full access to Telstra's network while the rest use its wholesale network. You might notice a difference in some regional and rural areas.
Which providers offer 5G mobile plans?
There are 40+ mobile providers in Australia that offer 5G mobile plans, giving you plenty of options to shop around.
Here's the full list of providers in our database offering 5G mobile plans:
AGL
ALDI Mobile
Alphacall
amaysim
Aussie Broadband
Belong
Bendigo Telco
Better Life Mobile
Boost Mobile
Cmobile Blue
Coles Mobile
Dodo
Escapenet
Everyday Mobile (Woolworths)
Exetel
EZEE Mobile
felix Mobile
Goodtel
iiNet
iPrimus
JB Hi-Fi
Kogan
Konec
Lebara
Lyca Mobile
MATE
Moose Mobile
More
Optus
Pennytel
Southern Phone
SpinTel
Spriggy
Superloop
Swoop
Tangerine
TeleChoice
Telsim
Telstra
TPG Mobile
Vodafone
ZenSim
How much do 5G mobile plans cost per month?
The average cost of month-to-month 5G mobile plans in Finder's database is around $47 a month as of March 2026 (excluding any promotional offers and student or family plans).
However, that's just the average and you can get a much cheaper plan based on your data needs.
For example, the cheapest plan we have in our database is SpinTel's $22 a month for 25GB deal. The most expensive is Telstra and JB Hi-Fi's $99 plan for 300GB.
As more providers offer 5G on their regular plans, the price gap with 4G plans has narrowed. It's all about comparing options to find the best deal.
"I needed to switch to the Telstra network because of reception dramas, but I didn't want to pay the Telstra price premium. ALDI Mobile had a much more affordable 5G option and I've had no dramas at all since switching."
5G speeds can theoretically reach 1 gigabit per second - about 20 times faster than 4G.
However, you're more likely to see speeds around 100-400Mbps.
Some providers also cap 5G speeds between 100-250Mbps. Factors like location, your device, and your provider can affect your actual 5G speed.
Optus currently has the fastest 5G network in Australia with an average 5G download speed of 229.6Mbps, according to the OpenSignal Mobile Network Experience Report.
Telstra came in at a close second with 215Mbps. However, it had the best consistent quality overall.
Vodafone clocked in 106.8Mbps but did better than Optus and Telstra for 5G availability. Recognises operators for the proportion of time that our 5G users have an active 5G connection.
Is it worth getting a 5G mobile plan in Australia?
If you've got a 5G phone and coverage in your area, then yeah, it can be worth it.
It really depends on how you use your phone and what you're up to online.
With 3G more providers adding 5G to their regular plans, the price difference between 4G and 5G has definitely shrunk.
If mobile prices seem to be creeping up, it's because providers have been raising costs over the last couple of years citing inflation and network costs. It's not only because of 5G.
Finder survey: What mobile plan features are most important to Australians of different ages?
In a survey of 1,110 Australians, 5G was the 3rd most popular feature that respondents were looking for in a mobile plan.
Response
Network coverage
85.32%
Data rollover
34.14%
5G
27.3%
Customer support options
24.32%
Wi-Fi calling
18.02%
Brand
14.14%
International calls
11.17%
Data sharing
10.9%
Other
3.15%
eSIM
2.52%
None of the above
2.34%
Source: Finder survey by Pure Profile of 1110 Australians, December 2023
Why compare mobile phone plans with Finder?
Genuine phone addicts. Unlimited scrolling and streaming, we got you. We track all offers daily so you can stay online all the time.
Cause we all hate caps. Our goal is to bring you all the good stuff, and surface any hidden fees. So you can get back to the fun stuff, like gaming.
Tried and tested. We give these plans a run for their money and listen to the feedback of the millions of Aussies who have used our plans comparison.
Frequently asked questions
5G is the next generation of mobile networks, bringing faster internet speeds and better performance to your phone.
As 3G phases out, 5G will become even more important, ensuring you have a reliable connection, quicker downloads, and smoother streaming.
In Australia, 5G can be up to 20 times faster than 4G.
While 4G typically offers speeds around 25-100Mbps, 5G can theoretically reach speeds of 1Gbps or more.
However, in real-world usage, you're more likely to experience 5G speeds between 100-400Mbps, depending on factors like your location, device, and provider.
It's also good to keep in mind that some providers place download speed caps on both 4G and 5G mobile plans.
In a way, yes. Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone have officially shut down their 3G networks to focus on upgrading and improving their 4G and 5G services.
To check if your phone is 5G, look for the 5G logo in the status bar when you're connected to a 5G network.
You'll see this if you are on a 5G mobile plan and your area is covered by 5G.
You can also check your phone's settings under "Network" or "About Phone" to see if 5G is listed as a supported network type.
If you're still unsure, just do a quick web search for your phone's model. Go to the brand's website directly to check out the specs.
Mariam Gabaji is a journalist with 13 years of experience, specialising in consumer topics like mobile services and energy costs. Her work appears in the ABC, Yahoo Finance, 9News, The Guardian, SBS, 7News, A Current Affair and Money Magazine. Mariam holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and was a finalist for the 2024 and 2025 IT Journalism Award for Best Telecommunications Journalist.
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Hi Billi, Telstra offers the widest network coverage followed by Optus and Vodafone. However, sometimes it depends on your address and the proximity to one of their towers. You can sign up for a cheap mobile plan to test out a provider and its coverage https://www.finder.com.au/mobile-plans/cheap-mobile-plans. Hope this helps!
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whick company has best coverage in FNQ
Hi Billi, Telstra offers the widest network coverage followed by Optus and Vodafone. However, sometimes it depends on your address and the proximity to one of their towers. You can sign up for a cheap mobile plan to test out a provider and its coverage https://www.finder.com.au/mobile-plans/cheap-mobile-plans. Hope this helps!