What is data banking?
Save your unused data for later with data banking and rollover. Find mobile plans that let you keep what you don’t use!
Key takeaways
- Data banking and data rollover are similar, but the amount of data you can save and how long it lasts depends on the provider.
- It allows you to avoid wasting data, have extra for times you need more, and potentially save money by not upgrading to a higher data plan.
- The good news is that 30 out of 48 providers in our database offer this feature, but it's not always available on every plan.
What is data banking or data rollover?
Data banking and data rollover are often used interchangeably, but there are key differences.
Data banking is straightforward - you keep any unused data in a "bank" for future use. There's either a set limit (for example, up to 200GB) or no limit at all.
Data rollover, on the other hand, usually comes with one of two conditions. Some providers only let you roll over data to the next recharge, such as Boost Mobile, meaning you have to use it within the following month.
Others may limit how much data you can carry over.
Either way, both features help you make the most of your mobile plan by saving data you don't use.
Finder survey: What mobile plan features are most important to Australians?
| Response | |
|---|---|
| Network coverage | 85.32% |
| Data rollover | 34.14% |
| 5G | 27.3% |
| Customer support options | 24.32% |
| Wi-Fi calling | 18.02% |
| Brand | 14.14% |
| International calls | 11.17% |
| Data sharing | 10.9% |
| Other | 3.15% |
| eSIM | 2.52% |
| None of the above | 2.34% |
Source: Finder survey by Pure Profile of 1110 Australians, December 2023
Is data banking worth it?
Data banking can be a handy feature, but it's most valuable if your data usage varies from month to month. If you spend a lot of time on Wi-Fi and then have months where you need more mobile data—like when travelling or camping—it can help you avoid extra charges by letting you dip into saved data.
If you regularly use up your monthly data allowance, though, data banking won't make much of a difference since there won't be much left to roll over. It's also worth checking the fine print, as some providers limit how much data you can store or reset your bank if you switch plans. Since it's usually included at no extra cost, it can still be a useful perk when choosing a plan.
"When I was moving house, there was no internet connection for a few days, and I had to rely on my mobile data. Thankfully, having a prepaid plan with data banking meant that I had plenty of data "in the bank" and didn't have to purchase a more expensive plan or recharge earlier for that month."
Which providers offer data banking or data rollover?
While data banking and data rollover are often used interchangeably, we've broken down our list based on the terms each provider uses.
Providers that offer data banking
| Provider | Plan type | Data banking limit |
|---|---|---|
| amaysim | Prepaid | Unlimited |
| Belong | Postpaid | Unlimited (you can keep your data even when you switch to another Belong plan) |
| Better Life Mobile | Prepaid | 500GB |
| Cmobile Blue | Postpaid | 500GB |
| Dodo | Postpaid | 500GB - Unlimited |
| Everyday Mobile (Woolworths) | Both | 500-1000GB |
| felix mobile | Prepaid | Unlimited |
| Konec | Prepaid | 500GB |
| Lebara | Prepaid | 200GB |
| MATE | Postpaid | 500-1000GB |
| Moose Mobile | Postpaid | 500GB |
| More | Postpaid | 500-1000GB |
| Pennytel | Postpaid | 500GB |
| Spriggy | Prepaid | 75-1000GB |
| Superloop | Prepaid | 500-1000GB |
| Swoop | Postpaid | 200-300GB |
| Tangerine | Postpaid | 500-1000GB |
| TeleChoice | Both | 500-1000GB |
| Telsim | Prepaid | 500GB |
Providers that offer data rollover
| Provider | Plan type | Data rollover limit |
|---|---|---|
| ALDI Mobile | Prepaid | Unlimited |
| Boost Mobile | Prepaid | Unlimited, keep your data even when you switch between Boost's plans |
| Coles Mobile | Prepaid | 500-1000GB |
| Exetel | Prepaid | 500-1000GB |
| JB Hi-Fi | Prepaid | 200GB |
| Lycamobile | Prepaid | 500GB |
| Optus | Prepaid | 200GB |
| Telstra | Prepaid | 200GB |
| Vodafone | Prepaid | 200GB |
| ZenSim | Prepaid | 500GB |
Compare mobile plans that let you bank unused data
The SIM-only plans listed below all have data banking or data rollover as an included feature.
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The big telcos such as Optus and Telstra offer data sharing if you sign up to their postpaid plans. You’ll need to compare the plans to find one the best fits your needs.