These mobile plans stack up extremely well for overall cost and data allowance over 12 months plus network coverage. You may also get a little something extra such as Wi-Fi calling and data rollover.
7+
Great
These mobile plans are competitively priced and offer a decent amount of data. You might need to compromise just a little bit on extra features.
5+
Standard
Usually these mobile plans are just okay for overall cost over 12 months and the amount of data you're getting in return. Network coverage and extra features can be lacking.
0+
Basic
You can generally do better than what these mobile plans have to offer in terms of cost, data costs, network coverage and features. In short, they're poor value for money.
Finding the best mobile plans for kids and teens
Our team of mobile plan experts have compared 316 SIM-only plans from 47 mobile providers in Australia. We've curated 4 top picks based on price, data, network and expert analysis. Not all mobile plans are created equal, so make sure you compare your options before choosing the right one for you.
Best mobile phone plans for kids and teens for October 2024
Best value mobile plans for kids and teens: Southern Phone Small
Best mobile plan for kids and teens to avoid bill shock: felix Subscription 25GB
Best mobile plan for kids and teens on the Telstra network: Belong 25GB
Best long-expiry prepaid plan for kids and teens: Catch Connect 365 Day Plan 120GB
Why you can trust our research
316Mobile plans analysed
758Australians surveyed
180+hours of research
Expert picks reviewed by Mariam Gabaji – Utilities editor at Finder
Best value mobile plan for kids and teens
Southern Phone Small
Unlimited Calls & Text
20GB
data
$19 per
month
$19/mth for the first 6 months, then $24/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 29.10.24
You’ll save $30 over 6 months with Southern Phone’s current offer.
$50 international call credit included.
There’s no lock-in contract so you can leave whenever you want. You can also BYO number and sign up via an eSIM if you have a compatible handset.
All of its mobile plans are carbon neutral.
The price jumps to $24 a month after 6 months but it’s still good value for how much data you’re getting in return.
Mobile network: Optus 4G/5G network
Total cost over first 12 months: $258
Why we chose it
To choose the best value mobile plan for kids and teens, we looked at plans in our database from Finder partners that cost $30 a month or less. We then gave each plan a value score by weighting different factors including cost over 12 (including promotional offers), network coverage, international call inclusions, data rollover and Wi-Fi calling. Our top pick was chosen based on the plan with the highest value score from a Finder partner and the cheapest cost.
Best mobile plan for kids and teens to avoid bill shock
felix Subscription 25GBGREEN COMPANY
Unlimited Calls & Text
25GB
data. Slowed down to 1.5Mbps after full speed data used up
$12.50 per
month
$12.50/mth for the first 3 months, then $25/mth. Use promo code FELIX50. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply.
There are no excess charges. Even if your kid goes over their monthly data allowance the download speeds will simply slow to 1.5Mbps.
You’ll only pay $12.50 a month for the first 3 months, a saving of $37.50 overall.
Unlimited standard calls and texts to local numbers, plus unlimited data banking so that unused data will never go to waste.
The price reverts to $25 a month after 3 months.
Mobile network: Vodafone 4G/5G network
Total cost over first 12 months: $262.5
Why we chose it
To choose the best mobile plan for kids and teens to avoid bill shock, we looked at plans in our database from Finder partners that come with either unlimited data or no excess charges and cost under $35 a month. We then gave each plan a value score by weighting different factors including cost over 12 (including promotional offers), network coverage, international call inclusions, data rollover and Wi-Fi calling. Our top pick was chosen based on the plan with the highest value score from a Finder partner and the cheapest cost.
Best mobile plan for kids and teens on the Telstra network
Belong 25GB
Unlimited Calls & Text
25GB data. Slowed down to 1Mbps after full speed data used up
You can bank all of your unused data without having to worry about any limits. All you have to do is keep renewing the plan before it expires.
You can share data with other Belong users.
Option to add on international roaming. This can be quite handy, especially when kids or teens are travelling overseas on a school trip and may not have immediate access to a local SIM or Wi-Fi.
4G and 5G download speeds are capped at 150Mbps. However, this is fast enough for most online activities.
Mobile network: Wholesale Telstra 4G/5G network
Total cost over first 12 months: $360
Why we chose it
To choose the best mobile plan for coverage for kids and teens, we looked at options in our database from Finder partners that cost $30 a month or less and on Telstra's full or wholesale network. Of the plans that met our criteria, we then ranked them by our value score and went with the highest-ranking plan.
Best long-expiry prepaid plan for kids and teens
Catch Connect 365 Day Plan 120GB
Unlimited Calls & Text
120GB
data
$109 per
365 days
$109 for the first recharge, then $150/recharge. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 22.10.24
You’re essentially paying just over $9 a month for 10GB of data which is really good value for money.
There’s a handy mobile app to help you or your kid manage their plan and track data usage.
Unlimited calls and texts to standard numbers plus no lock-in contract.
The price reverts to $150 after 365 days.
There are no additional plan features such as international call inclusions or data banking.
Mobile network: Optus 4G network
Total cost over first 12 months: $109
Why we chose it
To choose the best long-expiry prepaid mobile plan for kids and teens, we looked at 365-day plans in our database from Finder partners that cost $150 or less. Of the plans that met our criteria, we then ranked them by our value score and went with the highest-ranking plan.
Find the best mobile plan for your kids
We understand that staying connected with your kids wherever they are is a top priority.
If you're a parent looking to get your kid or teenager on the right mobile plan, here's a breakdown of some key points to consider.
1. Don't pay too much
You don't want to be spending a fortune on your kid's mobile plan. These days, most plans come with unlimited talk and text, so it's really just data you need to look out for.
Prepaid plans can be a great way to limit spending for your kid so you don't get hit with excess charges.
Long expiry plans can also be good value for money (and possibly cheaper overall) but you're going to have to commit to a minimum of 90 days.
2. Keep an eye on data usage
If your child's big on streaming and video calling on the go, you might want to consider opting for a decent data allowance instead of paying excess charges or topping up data on the fly.
The good news is that most mobile plans come with no lock-in contract these days, so you can always switch to a plan with more suitable data inclusions if one doesn't work out.
3. Check the provider's mobile app
To make sure your kid isn't going overboard on using the Internet while they're out and blowing through their mobile plan inclusions, consider providers that offer a user-friendly mobile app.
These apps can track your kids' data usage to help you avoid excess charges and make use of other features such as recharging your plan.
4. Cyber safety features
If you're worried about your child's safety online and how much time they spend on their screen, you can sign up to specific mobile providers that offer features to address your concerns.
Optus and Woolworths Mobile both offer family-friendly features across some of their mobile plans:
Optus offers free access to The McAfee Safe Family App on the Optus Family Plan or Optus Kids Plan. This will help you with content restrictions, screen time rules and location tracking.
Woolworths Mobile has partnered with Family Zone to help parents keep track of how their kids are spending their time online. All you have to do is download Family Zone's mobile app to control what your child can access online. It'll also help you manage their screen time and track their device.
There are also a number of other apps available to help you ensure your child's safety, both online and offline, ranging from making sure the content they're viewing is safe to locating their device.
How does Finder's value scoring system work?
For certain categories, we use a value scoring system to choose the best mobile plans for kids and teens by scoring the following factors:
Cost per gigabyte. This is calculated by taking the price of the plan over 12 months divided by the amount of data (GB).
Network coverage. We awarded scores depending on how wide the network coverage is across Australia.
Data rollover. We weight providers that offer data rollover higher than those that don't have this feature.
International calls. This includes those that offer unlimited calls or credit/minutes for international purposes.
Wi-Fi calling. We weight providers that offer Wi-Fi calling higher than those that don't have this feature.
We then assign a weight to each of the factors in order to calculate a value score. Price and data are given the highest weighting.
Compare to find the best mobile plan for your kids
There's no one-size-fits-all when it comes to finding the best plan.
To see what else is available, we've collected mobile plans in our database that cost under $30 a month in the table below.
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Both prepaid and postpaid plans come with different advantages. The best type of mobile plan for your kid will largely come down to how restrictive you want to be.
Prepaid plans are set up so that once the plan's inclusions have been used up, you'll get cut off until you recharge your plan again. This means you won't have to worry about getting slammed with excess usage fees.
Postpaid plans guarantee that your kid won't be left stranded without any mobile data while they're out and about. On a postpaid plan, if you use more data than allocated on your plan, you'll automatically be charged extra so you can continue to use your plan as normal.
Family mobile plans allow you to have all your family's mobile plans from 1 provider under 1 account. It makes for easier management when it comes time to pay your bills.
While it might help with keeping organised, the lack of plan controls available on most family plans could be problematic. With family plans, all the data across the different mobile plans become pooled together. This gives your kids the opportunity to use up all the data themselves.
We think getting your kid their own mobile plan could be a better way to go. This way, you can limit their usage and not stress over your data disappearing suddenly.
If you're looking for a more affordable way to get your kid a smartphone, you can consider signing up to a phone on a plan.
Instead of forking out hundreds or thousands of dollars outright, getting a phone on a plan breaks down the cost of the phone over monthly repayment periods.
Just keep in mind that plans that come attached with new phones are often more expensive than SIM only plans. This option may not be the best for those with tighter budgets at the forefront of their minds.
Mariam Gabaji is an editor and tech and utilities expert at Finder with 12+ years of experience as a journalist. She's committed to helping households cut through the industry jargon and save money on their bills. Her expertise is often featured in media including the ABC, Yahoo Finance, 9News, 7News, A Current Affair, The Guardian, SBS and Money Magazine. See full bio
Mariam's expertise
Mariam has written 285 Finder guides across topics including:
There are just 3 mobile networks in Australia but over 50 phone companies to choose from. The choice can be overwhelming so we’ve made it easier by rounding up the 10 mobile service providers on Finder instead.
Trying to find mobile phone for teen with disability diagnoses. Safety and security of utmost importance.
Finder
AngusSeptember 24, 2024Finder
Both iPhone and Android have a range of assistive features, so either could be good choices. In practice, it might make sense to opt for whichever platform you’re already using yourself, as you’ll be more familiar with it and can check/test features on your own device as well. Hope this helps.
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Trying to find mobile phone for teen with disability diagnoses. Safety and security of utmost importance.
Both iPhone and Android have a range of assistive features, so either could be good choices. In practice, it might make sense to opt for whichever platform you’re already using yourself, as you’ll be more familiar with it and can check/test features on your own device as well. Hope this helps.