What is a prepaid mobile plan?

A prepaid mobile plan lets you use your own phone and pay for your mobile service upfront. It comes with a set amount of data (depending on the plan you choose), usually unlimited local calls and texts, and no lock-in contract. Expiry periods typically run for 28 or 30 days, though some providers also offer long-expiry prepaid plans that last several months or up to a year.

How much do prepaid mobile plans cost?

The average cost of prepaid mobile plans as per Finder’s database is around $41 a month. However, you can definitely pay under $25-30 a month if you don’t need a lot of data, and likely even less with a long-expiry prepaid plan .

What are the best prepaid mobile plans with eSIM in Australia?

The ‘best’ prepaid eSIM will depend on your budget, data needs and whether you want extra perks such as data banking and international call inclusions. Prepaid eSIM providers include felix, TPG, Optus and Boost Mobile. You can compare plans and the find the best deals in our guide to eSIM plans in Australia .

Best prepaid mobile plans in Australia (August 2026)

Finder Award

TPG Small

Go to site

25GB
$12.50/mth for first 6 months, then $25/mth. T&Cs apply.

Optus Flex Plus $180 186 days

$50 Reward

Go to site

T&Cs apply

$50 Visa gift card from Finder
Save $40 for first 186 days. $180 SIM now only $140. Ends 12 Aug 2026. 140GB for first 3 recharges, then 90GB. New services only. T&Cs apply.

Finder AwardMost Loved

felix Subscription Unlimited

Go to site

Unlimited data at speeds up to 40Mbps
$20/mth for first 3 months, then $40/mth. Use promo code FELIX50. T&Cs apply.

Most Loved

felix Subscription 50GB

Go to site

50GB
$15/mth for first 3 months, then $30/mth. Use promo code FELIX50. T&Cs apply.

Best prepaid mobile plans for August 2026

We’ve compared 151 prepaid mobile plans from 27 providers in Australia and curated our top 9 picks based on price, network and expert analysis. Not every prepaid plan will suit your needs, so be sure to weigh your options before picking the one that’s right for you.

Best value prepaid mobile plan: TPG Small
Best 365-day prepaid mobile plan: Lyca Mobile Medium Long Term
Best prepaid mobile plan on the Telstra network: ALDI $29 5G Plan
Best high data prepaid mobile plan: Yomojo Pro
Best 5G prepaid mobile plan: felix Subscription 50GB
Best unlimited data prepaid mobile plan: felix Subscription Unlimited
Best Optus prepaid plan: Optus Flex Plus $180 186 days
Best Telstra prepaid plan: Telstra $395 Prepaid Mobile Plan
Best Vodafone prepaid plan: Vodafone $180 Prepaid Plus SIM

Our top picks were reviewed by senior utilities editor Mariam Gabaji.

Finder Score	Data allowance	Ongoing price	Special offer
Best value prepaid mobile plan
8 TPG Small Finder AwardPrepaidNo lock-in contract SAVE $75 $25 $12.50 per month for first 6 months	8	25GB Vodafone 4G network	$25 per month per month $25 per month per month	SAVE $75 $25 $12.50 per month for first 6 months	Discount: $12.50/mth for first 6 months, then $25/mth. T&Cs apply.	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading	Why we like it We looked at prepaid plans priced at $25 a month or less. TPG is our top pick for the month, with its latest offer saving you $75 over 6 months. TPG was highly commended in the Best Value Prepaid Mobile Provider category at the 2026 Finder Mobile Awards. Pros The plan includes 100 international minutes and as many texts to 31 selected countries. Option to sign up via an eSIM if you have a compatible handset. This takes the hassle of waiting for a physical SIM card to be delivered. Cons The price reverts to $25 a month after 6 months. However, it still stacks up well against other plans.
Best 365-day prepaid mobile plan
9.5 Lyca Mobile Medium Long Term Finder AwardPrepaidNo lock-in contract SAVE $90 $240 $150 for first recharge	9.5	360GB Vodafone 4G/5G network	$240 per 360 day recharge per 360 day recharge $240 per 360 days expiry per 360 days expiry	SAVE $90 $240 $150 for first recharge	Discount: $150 on activation, then $240/recharge. Ends 31 Dec 2026. T&Cs apply.	View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading	Why we like it We looked at 365-day mobile plans under $350 with at least 300GB and found Lyca Mobile’s Medium Long Term plan to be a standout this month. With the current offer, the cost is about $12.50 a month for 30GB of data in your first year. Lyca Mobile also won Best Long Expiry Prepaid Mobile Provider at the 2026 Finder Mobile Awards. Pros Includes unlimited international calls to 35 selected countries. Access to Vodafone’s 4G and 5G networks. Not many long-expiry plans in our database include 5G access. You can roll over up to 500GB of unused data. Option to sign up via an eSIM if you have a compatible handset. Cons The price will revert to $240 from the second recharge. Unlike some long-expiry plans, Lyca Mobile splits its data into 30-day blocks. It’s still a generous allowance, but worth noting if your usage changes throughout the year. You’ll get charged extra for using its Multimedia Messaging Service ($0.62 per MMS).
Best prepaid mobile plan on the Telstra network
8.8 ALDI $29 5G Plan PrepaidNo lock-in contract BONUS DATA 29GB 58GB for first 6 recharges	8.8	29GB Wholesale Telstra 5G network	$29 per 30 day recharge per 30 day recharge $29 per 30 days expiry per 30 days expiry	BONUS DATA 29GB 58GB for first 6 recharges	Bonus data offer: 58GB for first 6 recharges, then 29GB/recharge. Ends 29 Sep 2026. T&Cs apply.	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading	Why we like it We looked at prepaid plans on the Telstra network that cost under $40 a month and come with at least 20GB of data. ALDI Mobile comes out on top thanks to its double data offer for the first 6 recharges. It also won Provider of the Year - Mobile Phone Plans in Finder’s 2026 Provider of the Year Awards. Pros Unlimited international calls and texts to 20 selected countries, plus 100 minutes and 50 texts to 30 additional countries. You can save all your unused data for future use. Access to a handy mobile app to track your data use and manage plan details. You can easily sign up with an eSIM if you have a compatible handset. Cons The data allowance will drop from 58GB to 29GB after the first 6 recharges. 4G and 5G download speeds are capped at 100Mbps and 150Mbps, respectively. However, this is fast enough for online activities on your phone.
Best high data prepaid mobile plan
8.9 Yomojo Pro PrepaidNo lock-in contract SAVE $30 $34.90 $29.90 for first 6 recharges	8.9	105GB Optus 4G network	$34.90 per 30 day recharge per 30 day recharge $34.90 per 30 days expiry per 30 days expiry	SAVE $30 $34.90 $29.90 for first 6 recharges	Discount: $29.90/recharge for first 6 recharges, then $34.90/recharge. Ends 31 Aug 2026. T&Cs apply.	View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading	Why we like it We looked at prepaid mobile plans with a monthly data allowance of at least 50GB and found Yomojo’s 105GB plan to be our top pick this month. Both its discounted and ongoing prices are really strong for how much data you're getting in return per recharge. Pros Option to sign up with an eSIM if you have a compatible handset. Refer a friend and you’ll both receive a $20 credit. Live chat support is available through Yomojo’s website. Cons There’s no 5G access and 4G download speeds are capped at 150Mbps. However, this is fast enough for things like streaming and online gaming.
Best 5G prepaid mobile plan
9.1 felix Subscription 50GB Most LovedNo lock-in contract SAVE $45 $30 $15 per month for first 3 months	9.1	50GB Vodafone 4G/5G network	$30 per month per month $30 per month per month	SAVE $45 $30 $15 per month for first 3 months	Coupon code: $15/mth for first 3 months, then $30/mth. Use promo code FELIX50. T&Cs apply.	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading	Why we like it We looked at prepaid mobile plans that cost $40 a month or less and include 5G access. felix took the top spot thanks to a strong offer that will save you $45 over 3 months. Even the ongoing price is pretty solid for how much data you’re getting in return. Pros There are no excess data charges. Your download speeds will simply slow to 1.5Mbps if you use up your monthly data allowance. The unlimited data banking feature is quite handy. Your unused data will never go to waste if you stay on this plan. Option to easily sign up via an eSIM if you have a compatible handset. You can add on a roaming pack if you're heading overseas. felix plants a tree monthly for every active subscription. Cons The price will increase to $30 a month after 3 months. felix offers digital-only customer support, which might not suit everyone. 4G and 5G download speeds are capped at 150Mbps. However, this is fast enough for online activities on your phone.
Best unlimited data prepaid mobile plan
9.6 felix Subscription Unlimited Finder AwardMost LovedNo lock-in contract SAVE $60 $40 $20 per month for first 3 months	9.6	Unlimited Vodafone 4G/5G network	$40 per month per month $40 per month per month	SAVE $60 $40 $20 per month for first 3 months	Coupon code: $20/mth for first 3 months, then $40/mth. Use promo code FELIX50. T&Cs apply.	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading	Why we like it We reviewed prepaid mobile plans in our database with truly unlimited data. felix’s plan was the only one that qualified, which is why it also won Best Unlimited Data Mobile Provider at the 2026 Finder Mobile Awards. Right now, you’ll save $60 over 3 months when you sign up to this plan. Pros You can sign up via an eSIM if you have a compatible handset. felix plants a tree monthly for every active subscription. Option to add on international roaming if you’re heading overseas Cons The price will revert to $40 a month after 3 months. Download speeds are capped at 40Mbps throughout. However, this is good enough for streaming Netflix in HD, scrolling through social media, browsing and more.
Best Optus prepaid plan
9 Optus Flex Plus $180 186 days PrepaidNo lock-in contract SAVE $40 + BONUS DATA $180 $140 for first recharge 90GB 140GB for first 3 recharges	9	90GB Optus 4G/5G network	$180 per 186 day recharge per 186 day recharge $180 per 186 days expiry per 186 days expiry	SAVE $40 + BONUS DATA $180 $140 for first recharge 90GB 140GB for first 3 recharges	Discount and bonus data: Save $40 for first 186 days. $180 SIM now only $140. Ends 12 Aug 2026. 140GB for first 3 recharges, then 90GB. New services only. T&Cs apply.	$50 RewardT&Cs apply T&Cs apply Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading	Why we like it We looked at Optus’s monthly and long-expiry mobile plans and found its 186-day option offers excellent value this month. You'll pay $140 for your first recharge and get 140GB on each of your first three recharges. This works out to around $23 a month for about 23GB of data. Plus, you'll get a $50 digital Visa gift card when you sign up to this plan via Finder. Pros You’ll get 20GB bonus data when you set up auto-recharge. Option to roll over unused data up to 200GB so it doesn’t go to waste. Includes 3000 minutes of standard international calls to Zone 1 destinations, 400 minutes to Zone 2, plus 50 international texts. Quickly sign up with an eSIM if you have a compatible handset. Cons The price will revert to $180 from the second recharge and the data allowance will drop to 90GB from the fourth recharge. 4G and 5G download speeds are capped at 250Mbps, though this is fast enough for online activities on your phone such as streaming Netflix and online gaming.
Best Telstra prepaid plan
8 Telstra $395 Prepaid Mobile Plan PrepaidNo lock-in contract BONUS DATA 180GB 330GB for first recharge	8	180GB Telstra 4G/5G network	$395 per 12 months per 12 months $395 per 12 months per 12 months	BONUS DATA 180GB 330GB for first recharge	Bonus data offer: 330GB on activation, then 180GB/recharge. Activate by 10 Aug 2026. T&Cs apply.	View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading	Why we like it We looked at Telstra’s monthly and long-expiry prepaid plans and found its 365-day option to be the best choice, thanks to the current bonus data offer. The plan works out to around $33 a month for roughly 28GB. It’s far better value than the monthly options, particularly for anyone planning to stick with Telstra for a while. Pros Telstra has the widest 4G and 5G network coverage in Australia. Option to sign up with an eSIM if you have a compatible handset. The plan includes 6,000 international minutes to Zone 1, 800 minutes to Zone 2, and 100 minutes to Zone 3 destinations. Cons The data allowance will revert to 180GB from the second recharge. 4G and 5G download speeds are capped at 150Mbps but this is fast enough for online activities on your phone.
Best Vodafone prepaid plan
9.5 Vodafone $180 Prepaid Plus SIM PrepaidNo lock-in contract SAVE $61 + BONUS DATA $180 $119 for first recharge 100GB 160GB for first recharge	9.5	100GB Vodafone 4G/5G network	$180 per 185 day recharge per 185 day recharge $180 per 185 days expiry per 185 days expiry	SAVE $61 + BONUS DATA $180 $119 for first recharge 100GB 160GB for first recharge	Discount and bonus data: 160GB for $119 on activation, then 100GB for $180/recharge. Ends 7 Sep 2026. T&Cs apply.	View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading	Why we like it We looked at Vodafone’s monthly and long-expiry prepaid plans and found its 185-day option easily came out on top thanks to a strong offer. It works out to about $20 a month for 27GB, which stacks up well against our $1 per GB benchmark. Pros Get an extra 30GB when you set up auto-recharge. You can roll over up to 300GB of unused data if you recharge the plan before it expires. There are no download speed caps on its 4G and 5G networks. Option to quickly sign up with an eSIM if you have a compatible handset. Includes 50 standard international texts. Cons The price and data allowance will change to 100GB for $180 from the second recharge.

3:03

Are you looking for a prepaid mobile plan that fits your needs but doesn't break the bank? With more than 150 offers out there, it can feel a bit overwhelming to narrow down your options. Hi, I'm Mariam, Finder's tech and utilities expert, and I'm here to help you figure out how to pick a prepaid plan that actually works for you.

Prepaid plans are all about flexibility. If you already own your own phone, you pay upfront for a set period, which could be 7 days, 28 days, a month, or even a full year. Before that period ends, you can recharge the same plan, switch to a different one if your needs have changed, or even try another provider if you find a better deal.

There are no lock-in contracts. Porting your number is usually pretty easy as long as it's under your name. And best of all, there are no surprise bills. Just keep an eye out for auto-recharge as some providers switch it on by default. If you don't plan to renew, make sure to turn it off or cancel the plan before your next recharge date.

So, how do you narrow things down? Start by thinking about how much data do you really need and then look at network coverage, plan features and finally the total cost.

Let's talk about data first. On average, Australians use about 10GB a month on a prepaid plan. But if you stream, game, or work from your phone often, you'll probably need closer to 15 to 20GB a month at least. Check your previous bills, your provider's app, or online portal to see your typical data use. This can be a good benchmark to work from. Some plans even let you roll over unused data to the next recharge so you don't lose what you've already paid for. It's a simple way to make sure you're getting value for your money.

Next, think about network coverage. All that data doesn't mean much if you can't get a strong mobile signal. There are three main networks in Australia: Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. Telstra has the widest coverage followed by Optus and then Vodafone. Smaller providers use these same networks to get you online. It's always worth checking a provider's coverage map on their website before signing up to make sure you'll get a good signal where you live or travel.

Then there are the extras. Some prepaid plans include international calls to certain countries or let you add on roaming if you travel. Just make sure you're not paying for extras you don't actually need.

And lastly, price. The average prepaid plan on Finder at the time of recording sits at around $39 a month, but there are cheaper options. For example, you can often find plans for around $25 with about 25GB of data. So, it really does pay to compare. If you already know which network you want and how much data you typically use, you could even save more with a long expiry prepaid plan. These can work out cheaper overall, but keep in mind you'll need to pay the full amount upfront.

So, whether you're after something short-term, long-term, or just want to stay in control of your spending, there's a prepaid plan out there that will fit your needs. You can easily spot current offers on Finder and use the filters to narrow down your options. Check out the link in the description to find the best prepaid plan or leave a comment if you have any questions. Bye.

How do you find the best prepaid mobile plan?

Finding the prepaid mobile plan that suits your needs best doesn't need to be complicated. Here are 4 factors to consider

Which mobile network serves you best?

Only 3 telcos operate the mobile networks in Australia that deliver calls and texts to your device: Telstra, Optus and TPG/Vodafone. You'll notice the difference in coverage within parts of metro areas but especially in regional Australia. You can check coverage for areas you frequent online before you sign up.

phone with arrows pointing to opposite direction

How much data will you use?

Depending on the type of prepaid plan you're after, you can get data in amounts as small as 1GB all the way up to 200GB, 300GB or even unlimited data with felix. Look at how much data you currently use: the average Australian downloads 14.5GB of data a month, according to the ACCC.

What inclusions do you want?

When choosing our top picks, we factor in features that may appeal to a broad range of people such as data rollover, Wi-Fi calling and international calls. Other features offered by some providers include things like eSIMs, data gifting or sharing between users. You can even score discounts on your groceries.

How much and how often do you want to pay?
Prepaid plans come in all shapes and sizes depending on your needs. There are plans that are essentially pay as you go (PAYG) as well as those designed to last a week, month-to-month or even up to 365 days.

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Frequently asked questions

A prepaid mobile plan lets you use your own phone and pay for your mobile service upfront.
It comes with a set amount of data (depending on the plan you choose), usually unlimited local calls and texts, and no lock-in contract.
Expiry periods typically run for 28 or 30 days, though some providers also offer long-expiry prepaid plans that last several months or up to a year.

Sources

Thank you for your feedback!

Written by

Mariam Gabaji

Senior Utilities Editor & Tech Expert

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. See full bio

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Mariam has written 586 Finder guides across topics including:

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2 Responses

PeterOctober 31, 2025

Can I port my number, and do I change the NBN account yo the new provider (mobile and data)
Cheers
Peter Pankiewicz

Finder

MariamNovember 5, 2025Finder

Hi Peter, yes you are able to port your existing number when switching to another provider. I’m unsure of the last part of your question so if you could give me more details I can help accordingly. If you’re asking if you have to switch over your NBN account as well, no that’s not necessary as you can have NBN and mobile with two different providers. Hope this helps!

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Best prepaid mobile plans August 2026

We pored over 150+ prepaid mobile plans to find you our top picks for this month.

Best prepaid mobile plans for August 2026

Best value prepaid mobile plan

Why we like it

Pros

Cons

Best 365-day prepaid mobile plan

Why we like it

Pros

Cons

Best prepaid mobile plan on the Telstra network

Why we like it

Pros

Cons

Best high data prepaid mobile plan

Why we like it

Pros

Cons

Best 5G prepaid mobile plan

Why we like it

Pros

Cons

Best unlimited data prepaid mobile plan

Why we like it

Pros

Cons

Best Optus prepaid plan

Why we like it

Pros

Cons

Best Telstra prepaid plan

Why we like it

Pros

Cons

Best Vodafone prepaid plan

Why we like it

Pros

Cons

How we choose the best prepaid mobile plans

How do you find the best prepaid mobile plan?

Frequently asked questions

What is a prepaid mobile plan?

How much do prepaid mobile plans cost?

What are the best prepaid mobile plans with eSIM in Australia?

Sources

Mariam Gabaji

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