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Compare SIM-only mobile phone plans

Alex Kidman

SIM-only plans offer a solution to make the most of the smartphone you already own.

Unlimited national/international calling + 30GB data at $40

Unlimited national/international calling + 30GB data at $40 from Belong Mobile deals

  • Comes with 30GB data at $40/month
  • Unlimited national & international calls/text
  • Unlimited data banking and gifting
  • Free SIM delivery

    • View details
    Our comparison table below can help you sort through the available SIM plans. We have preselected month-to-month SIM-only plans, but if you want to see 12 or 24 month SIM only options, click on "Contract" inside the filters. We've left the usage filters entirely open, but you can adjust any figure you like by clicking on "Filter results" to generate the right plan for your needs and compare against the market today.

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    What is a SIM-only mobile plan?

    As the name suggests, a SIM-only mobile phone plan concentrates on providing only a mobile phone SIM card, through which mobile call, text and data services are delivered. It doesn't include a bundled phone, so if you need a new handset consider a contract plan instead.

    SIM only mobile phone plans operate on a postpaid basis with a set level of supplied calls, texts and data usage. You are then billed at the end of each billing cycle, typically monthly, for your service. If you use more than your allowance, you may end up paying more.

    Pros

    • Enjoy freedom without running out of credit
    • Better choice for travelling internationally
    • Flexibility of a month-to-month prepaid plan
    • Switch plans, carriers or phones at your convenience (usually monthly)

    Cons

    • Potential for bill shock as in postpaid contract plans
    • No phone inclusion - you'll need to BYO

    What’s the difference between SIM-only and prepaid mobile plans?

    On one level, there’s not much difference between a postpaid SIM only plan and a prepaid one, because all the telco will provide you is a tiny sliver of plastic to fit into your phone. Depending on your device, you will need a regular, micro or nano SIM card.

    With a prepaid plan you pay for your usage upfront and that’s all you’ll get unless you buy add-on packs to cover additional usage. Postpaid SIM only packs won’t "run out" of value, but instead charge you on a predetermined basis for additional usage. These days this is most pertinent in relation to data usage, as many SIM only plans offer unlimited calls and texts within Australia as standard.

    The other big difference between SIM plans and prepaid plans is in the level of value you’re offered at the same price tier. In return for the prospect of additional cash for month-to-month SIM plans, or a minimum overall spend in the case of 12 or 24 month SIM only contracts, you can often get more data, or better call and text packages than on some prepaid plans. As always, it pays to do your research.

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    How should I compare SIM only plans?

    • Monthly minimum cost: The monthly minimum is the least you’ll pay each month for a SIM only plan. You do need to remember that any additional usage (such as roaming, overseas calls or excess data) will incur additional costs, but you’ll never spend less than the minimum, because the contract is structured that way.
    • Data charging: Different SIM only plans come with different levels of data, and with the rise of "unlimited" call/texts packages, this is a key differentiator. If you spend a lot of time on Facebook or watching YouTube videos, go for a plan with plenty of data, but also make sure you can easily buy data top-ups. It's also important to check whether your provider counts data charges per KB block, rather than a larger amount as this will eat up your data quickly. We have a guide to how different providers count data if you want to know more.
    • Network coverage: SIM only plans can be procured from a large number of providers, but they will only ever be using one of three different networks. Telstra, Optus and Vodafone provide the infrastructure for every mobile provider, so it’s worth checking both coverage and expected speeds for the SIM only carrier of your choice, as not every MVNO has access to the full 4G network of its parent provider.While network coverage maps are largely indicative rather than entirely accurate, they're a good gauge of overall coverage that can help you decide which provider to choose. Our guide to the difference between 3G and 4G covers this in more detail.
    • International coverage:
      One of the key benefits of a contract plan is that pretty much any supported global roaming country will be open to you to use – for a fee. If you travel regularly, it’s well worth looking at the relative costs for global roaming usage in your most common destinations, as that could make a given provider much better value than a competitor. The flip side of this is that if you don’t travel but do make a lot of calls to international destinations, it’s well worth checking if your destination of choice is on a reduced or even free call list with a given provider. As the value equation has shifted away from national fixed line and mobile calls to data, we’re seeing more providers offer packages that include international calling provisions as an added extra.

    Need a new phone to go with your SIM-only plan?

    Check out the latest bargains in our roundup of eBay Australia's mobile phone deals.

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    7 Responses

    1. Default Gravatar
      SamFebruary 27, 2019

      I am looking for a best sim only plan for Sri lanka calls. Belong mobile was best, but not anymore as they removed Sri Lanka calls from their add-on since last week. I don’t need big data plan (happy with even 2GB). Please advice.

      Reply
      • Avatarfinder Customer Care
        JeniMarch 1, 2019Staff

        Hi Sam,

        Thank you for getting in touch with Finder.

        Sorry to hear that change with your current provider. Regarding your query on providers that offer international calls to Sri Lanka, you may consider Virgin, Lebara, Optus and Lycamobile. You may also check out this page to start comparing mobile plans with international calls.

        I hope this helps.

        Thank you and have a wonderful day!

        Cheers,
        Jeni

        Reply
    2. Avatarfinder Customer Care
      MayDecember 20, 2018Staff

      Hi Sanjay,

      Thanks for reaching out.

      Basically, the mobile plans you can compare with cheap international calling (including India) are listed on this page. Local calls are usually unlimited, but for international calls, number minutes are generally capped. You can find that information in the description of the plans listed on the page. Once you’ve chosen your plan, you can go directly to the provider’s page and apply from there.

      Hope this has helped.

      Cheers,
      May

      Reply
    3. Default Gravatar
      jeffDecember 8, 2018

      I cannot receive Optus bills as normal automatic email attachments. I have asked five different Optus shops to set it up for me and they all said that I would receive a link. Result – no link or anything else received.

      Reply
      • Avatarfinder Customer Care
        JohnDecember 12, 2018Staff

        Hi Jeff,

        Thank you for reaching out to finder.

        You may log in to your online Optus account so you could opt in to receiving your bill via your email. If this does not work, calling the Optus customer support number would help so they could set it up directly for you. Hope this helps!

        Cheers,
        Reggie

        Reply
    4. Default Gravatar
      tapioMarch 22, 2018

      Best mobile deal for international calls?

      Reply
      • Avatarfinder Customer Care
        RonMarch 23, 2018Staff

        Hello Tapio,

        Good day! Appreciate you contacting finder regarding your inquiry.

        You have multiple options when it comes to mobile plans with international calling feature. Depending on your preference, you can check the following pages to look for the plan that’s right for you.

        1. https://www.finder.com.au/best-mobile-plans-international-calling
        2. https://www.finder.com.au/mobile-cheap-international-calls

        Kindly review the call rates per network provider and ensure that the country you are going to call is included on the supported country list.

        Hope this helps!

        All the best,
        Ron

        Reply
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