{"menuItems":[{"label":"E.Tel mobile review: Our verdict","anchorName":"#e-tel-mobile-review-our-verdict"},{"label":"Value for money","anchorName":"#value"},{"label":"Coverage","anchorName":"#coverage"},{"label":"Customer service","anchorName":"#cs"}]}
Pros
Australia-based customer support
Great value PAYG plan for those who don't use their phone often
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
E.Tel's monthly plans compare well against the rest of the market, boosted by promotional discounts or bonus data for the first 1–6 months depending on what plan you choose.
While they lack any particular bonus features, you get a pretty good deal when it comes to data per dollar.
E.Tel's pay-as-you-go (PAYG) plan stands out for its low rate for voice calls at 1c/minute, though it does include a 25c flagfall. This could be ideal for people who like to make infrequent but long calls and need almost nothing in the way of data.
E.Tel could be right for you if:
You're after a fairly cheap PAYG plan. The Mini plan has great rates on calls and texts.
Local support matters. E.Tel's customer support team operates out of North Sydney in New South Wales.
But keep in mind that E.Tel:
Only has PAYG international roaming. You'll need to contact E.Tel before travelling overseas to activate roaming at PAYG rates. This can add up costs pretty quickly.
Does not include MMS. You'll be charged an extra 25–45c for each MMS you send depending on your plan.
E.Tel's 2 pay-as-you-go plans don't offer any fixed inclusions, but deduct usage charges from the credit you purchase.
You'll be charged 25c flagfall but only 1c/min for national calls as well as 25c per SMS and 1c/MB of data.
Good to know: These call rates are some of the cheapest around for long voice calls. But keep your personal phone usage in mind as PAYG plans are only best for those who seldom use their phone. It won't help those who want to use a lot of data.
E.Tel has a couple of 28-day plans to choose from. Its entry level 4GB for $9.95 plan is pretty great value, with many similar plans from other providers costing more for the same amount of data.
The other plan offers 15GB for $18.95, making it $1.26 per 1GB. This is more expensive then the benchmark of $1 per 1GB. So you might be able to get better value elsewhere
E.Tel's monthly plans have an average data value of $1.19 per 1GB, which is slightly higher to the benchmark of $1 per 1GB.
Good to know: Since they have full-month expiry periods, you won't have to buy any extra recharges during the year as you would with a 28-day plan.
Things to watch out for:
While E.Tel advertises its plans as being postpaid, you'll actually have to pay for your mobile plan at the start of each month rather than at the end.
Coverage
E.Tel uses the Optus 4G network for mobile coverage.
The Optus network reaches 98.5% of the population. This beats Vodafone's coverage (96%) but not as much as Telstra (99.5%).
You'll get identical coverage to a plan bought directly from Optus.
You shouldn't have any reception issues in metro areas, but you could lose some coverage in rural and regional areas.
Customer service
Australia-based customer support
The E.Tel customer support team can assist you with questions and issues between 9:30am and 6pm AEST, Monday to Friday. You can:
Ring up the customer support line.
Send an email enquiry (though this may have a slower response).
Good to know: E.Tel has a local Australian customer support team based in North Sydney, NSW.
Which rivals are giving E.Tel a run for its money?
For cheaper data:
If you're chasing better value plans, gomo is a subscription mobile service that comes with big data caps with fairly cheap price tags.
For more extras:
Belong has a few useful bonus features on its plans, including unlimited data banking between months and included MMS.
For wider coverage:
Boost Mobile is the only provider outside of Telstra itself to have access to the full Telstra 4G network, which reaches 99.5% of Australians.
Ready to sign up to E.Tel mobile?
Unfortunately, E.Tel isn’t available via Finder. You’ll need to visit etel.com.au and sign up for your desired plan there.
Alternatively, keep comparing plans on Finder to find one that works best for you.
What if I want to keep my current phone number? All you need to do is let E.Tel know that you’d like to keep your current number when signing up. They'll handle the transfer and your port should be done within 2–6 business days.
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.
SPONSORED: Upgrade your internet before the end of 2023 and get ahead on your life admin! We take a look at some of the benefits of a faster internet connection.
How likely would you be to recommend finder to a friend or colleague?
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Very UnlikelyExtremely Likely
Required
Thank you for your feedback.
Our goal is to create the best possible product, and your thoughts, ideas and suggestions play a major role in helping us identify opportunities to improve.
Important information about this website
finder.com.au is one of Australia's leading comparison websites. We are committed to our readers and stands by our editorial principles
We try to take an open and transparent approach and provide a broad-based comparison service. However, you should be aware that while we are an independently owned service, our comparison service does not include all providers or all products available in the market.
Some product issuers may provide products or offer services through multiple brands, associated companies or different labeling arrangements. This can make it difficult for consumers to compare alternatives or identify the companies behind the products. However, we aim to provide information to enable consumers to understand these issues.
We make money by featuring products on our site. Compensation received from the providers featured on our site can influence which products we write about as well as where and how products appear on our page, but the order or placement of these products does not influence our assessment or opinions of them, nor is it an endorsement or recommendation for them.
Products marked as 'Top Pick', 'Promoted' or 'Advertisement' are prominently displayed either as a result of a commercial advertising arrangement or to highlight a particular product, provider or feature. Finder may receive remuneration from the Provider if you click on the related link, purchase or enquire about the product. Finder's decision to show a 'promoted' product is neither a recommendation that the product is appropriate for you nor an indication that the product is the best in its category. We encourage you to use the tools and information we provide to compare your options.
Where our site links to particular products or displays 'Go to site' buttons, we may receive a commission, referral fee or payment when you click on those buttons or apply for a product. You can learn more about how we make money.
When products are grouped in a table or list, the order in which they are initially sorted may be influenced by a range of factors including price, fees and discounts; commercial partnerships; product features; and brand popularity. We provide tools so you can sort and filter these lists to highlight features that matter to you.
Please note that the information published on our site should not be construed as personal advice and does not consider your personal needs and circumstances. While our site will provide you with factual information and general advice to help you make better decisions, it isn't a substitute for professional advice. You should consider whether the products or services featured on our site are appropriate for your needs. If you're unsure about anything, seek professional advice before you apply for any product or commit to any plan and read any disclosure documents (such as any Target Market Determination (TMD) and/or Product Disclosure Statement (PDS)) issued by the provider before making a decision.
Providing or obtaining an estimated insurance quote through us does not guarantee you can get the insurance. Acceptance by insurance companies is based on things like occupation, health and lifestyle. By providing you with the ability to apply for a credit card or loan, we are not guaranteeing that your application will be approved. Your application for credit products is subject to the Provider's terms and conditions as well as their application and lending criteria.
Please read our website terms of use and privacy policy for more information about our services and our approach to privacy.
