Pros
- Choice of Vodafone or Telstra 4G networks
Cons
- $6.90 application fee on all plans
- Vodafone Red plans are strictly inferior to Telstra Blue plans
CMobile review
Our verdict: While having a choice between the Telstra or Vodafone network is nice, there’s not much else going for it.
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CMobile review: Our verdict
CMobile's plans are unique for offering the choice between joining the Telstra or Vodafone 4G network. Almost all other mobile providers operate on 1 network only.
Besides this though, most of CMobile's plans aren't priced kindly, with its compulsory $6.90 application fee bumping up the cost.
- The choice to join either the Telstra or Vodafone 4G network.
- Free calls and texts to 15 countries on a few Blue plans on the Telstra network.
But there are a few drawbacks with CMobile:
- Its plans are pretty terrible value – all plans cost over $1 per GB which is the standard benchmark you want to aim for.
- You must pay $6.90 extra on any mobile plan when you first sign up as an 'application fee'.
- There's no mobile app for plan management.
Read a more detailed review on
Value for money
CMobile's cheaper plans on the Telstra network, $10 for 1GB and $15 for 3GB, are similarly priced to others on the Telstra network.
But besides this, the rest of its plans average $1.34 per GB, which isn't that great against a benchmark of $1 per GB.
CMobile's Red plans are extremely expensive for the data you get.
- Good to know: CMobile's Red plans average to $5.16 per GB. This is terrible compared to a benchmark of $1 per GB.
Since these plans run on the Vodafone 4G network, it means you get worse coverage than on a CMobile Blue plan.
Overall, CMobile's Red plans leave you worse off than its Blue plans.
Things to watch out for:
- All new CMobile plans come with a $6.90 "application fee", which isn't usually charged by other providers.
Coverage
CMobile is unusual in that it has plans on 2 separate 4G networks: Telstra and Vodafone.
- You shouldn't have problems in metro areas: Blue plans are on the Telstra wholesale network reaching 98.8% of the population.
- Red plans have identical coverage to those bought directly from Vodafone, reaching 96% of the population.
- You may experience a drop in reception in certain rural or regional areas, especially on Red plans. Both CMobile networks come with less coverage than Telstra's full 4G network, which reaches 99.5% of Australians.
Customer service
While there aren't a huge number of contact options, CMobile is available during the week. You can:
- Ring up the customer support centre between 9am–6pm, Monday to Friday.
- Leave a message on the CMobile Facebook page if you have a question.
Bonus features
CMobile is rather light on bonus features, but does offer:
🌏 International inclusions
Some of the Telstra Blue plans come with unlimited talk and text to 15 countries. This could be handy if you have friends or family overseas that you'd like to stay in touch with.
Which rivals are giving Boost a run for its money?
If CMobile isn't doing it for you, consider these other providers:
For better value on the Telstra network:
ALDImobile operates on the Telstra wholesale network too and has plans that are cheaper than CMobile's Blue plans.
For better value on the Vodafone network:
iiNet offers cheap plans with big data thanks to 50% off plan fees for the first 6 months. With no contract in play, you're free to switch at any time.
For more international inclusions:
If you call overseas frequently, you'll get a lot of mileage out of plans with Lebara. You can get free calls to up to 63 countries, and international minutes on even the cheapest plans.
Ready to sign up to CMobile?
Unfortunately, CMobile plans aren't available to purchase via Finder. You'll need to visit www.cmobile.com.au to sign up. Or you can continue comparing plans from 45 other mobile providers on Finder.
What if I want to keep my current phone number?
To keep your number, just let CMobile know during the SIM activation process. According to CMobile, the majority of transfers are completed in less than an hour.
If your current number is under someone else's name (a parent or a partner), it might involve a few more steps. Check our guide on how to transfer ownership of your mobile number.
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