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MATE mobile review
Our verdict: Just like any good friend, MATE mobile looks after you with a bunch of plans that will suit both low and high data users. Plus, you can get $10 off each month by bundling your mobile and internet plans with MATE.
MATE offers decent mobile plans on the Telstra wholesale network, with 6 options to match your data needs. Its higher data mobile plans are much more impressive thanks to lower prices when compared to other providers.
If you're looking to bundle your home internet and mobile plan, MATE also offers $10 a month off on its NBN plans if you sign up under a single account. This means you could have a MATE NBN and mobile plan starting from $69 a month, which is the price of some NBN plans on their own.
Some of the reasons you might enjoy signing up to MATE include:
Local customer support based in NSW.
Some mobile plans run on parts of the Telstra 5G network.
Free international calls and texts to 15 countries on most plans.
Save up to 1000GB of data, depending on which plan you're on, to use at a later date.
There are plenty of reasons to love MATE, but keep in mind that:
International roaming is not available with MATE so you won't be able to take your plan overseas
It uses the Telstra wholesale network, not the full Telstra network – there's a difference of about 0.7%, which isn't huge but might be important for those in rural and regional areas.
MATE has a variety of postpaid plans, ranging from 12GB for $25 a month all the way up to 100GB for $45, so you're sure to find a data limit to suit your needs.
Good to know: MATE's smaller plans offer an average dollar per data value of $1.06 per GB. This is just above the benchmark of $1 per GB you want to aim for when you pick a plan.
However, MATE's larger data plans perform more favourably, offering cheap data for under $1 per GB.
Things to watch out for:
Your data bank will be reset if you downgrade your MATE mobile plan, but not if you upgrade it.
Coverage
If you're after decent coverage, MATE is a solid choice as it runs on the Telstra wholesale 4G or 5G networks:
The Telstra wholesale 4G network covers 98.8% of the population, which is more than both Optus and Vodafone's full 4G networks.
Keep in mind that this is not the same as having full Telstra 4G coverage – there's a 0.7% difference between the full and wholesale networks. You may notice a difference in coverage in rural or regional areas.
Does MATE mobile have 5G?
Yes, MATE offers a mobile plan that runs on the wholesale Telstra 5G network which covers 75% of the population.
Customer service
You can reach out to MATE using any of the following methods:
Ring up its local customer support team between 8:30am and 7pm AEST, Monday to Saturday
Chat to an AI or customer agent via live chat on the MATE website
Leave a message on the MATE Twitter or Facebook page for a timely response
You can also use its mobile app to manage your plan, update billing details and more.
Good to know: MATE's head office and customer support team is based in NSW.
Bonus features
Despite being a small provider, MATE offers a few handy features on its mobile plans.
🔄 Data banking
MATE lets you bank any unused data at the end of the month, meaning you can save up to 1000GB (depending on your plan) to use later on.
The data bank will empty if you downgrade your plan (e.g. going from its $50 plan down to $30), but not if you upgrade it.
🌎 International inclusions
Almost all of MATE's mobile plans come with unlimited calls and texts to 15 selected countries.
This can be a handy feature if you have friends or family overseas that you'd like to stay in touch with.
💰 NBN bundling discount
If you happen to have both a MATE NBN and mobile plan, you'll enjoy a $10 discount off your monthly NBN bill.
Which rivals are giving MATE a run for its money?
MATE's a solid provider, but depending on what you're after, you might want to consider some alternatives.
For cheaper plans:
Moose Mobile has frequent promotions and affordable prices on its mobile plans, making it an excellent budget-friendly pick for most people. It was the winner for Best Postpaid Provider in the 2021 Finder Awards.
For even better coverage:
Boost Mobile is the only other provider (besides Telstra itself) that gives customers access to the full Telstra 4G network rather than the wholesale version. If you're looking for comprehensive coverage, it may be a better fit.
For cheaper data:
If MATE's mobile plans don't give you quite enough data to play with, check out Circles.Life on the Optus 4G network. It offers up to 160GB a month for a price that won't break the bank.
Ready to sign up to MATE?
You can sign up to your chosen MATE mobile plan online and get the SIM delivered to your address for free.
What if I want to keep my current phone number? During activation, you'll be able to choose to keep your current mobile number. MATE will handle the porting process, usually transferring your number within 1 business day.
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.
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Our product database of 52 providers is updated daily with the latest mobile deals in Australia. Our guides are regularly reviewed and fact-checked.
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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.
Sam Baran is a writer for Finder, covering topics across the tech, telco and utilities sectors. They enjoy decrypting technical jargon and helping people compare complex products easily. When they aren't writing, you'll find Sam's head buried in a book or working on their latest short story. Sam has a Bachelor of Advanced Science from the University of Sydney.
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