What is an MVNO and how can they save you money?
Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) are smaller providers that tap into Telstra, Optus, or Vodafone's networks to offer you the same mobile coverage, often at a lower cost.
Key takeaways
- MVNO stands for mobile virtual network operator. It's a drier term for small providers that use the Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone network.
- Signing up with an MVNO can be cheaper than getting a mobile plan from one of the 3 big telcos.
- Plans from MVNOs might have fewer features and perks, but many still cover the key things you care about.
What is an MVNO?
An MVNO, or mobile virtual network operator, is a provider that offers mobile services without owning its own network.
Instead, they buy access to mobile networks from companies that do and then resell it to you.
In Australia, only three telcos — Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone — actually own their networks.
So, all the smaller providers, called MVNOs in short, use one of those networks.
MVNOs are independent, but some are owned by the big 3 telcos themselves.
According to the ACCC's communications market report, 11% of mobile services in Australia come from MVNOs. The remaining 89% belong to Telstra, Optus and Vodafone.
Why are MVNOs cheaper?
The main reason MVNOs can offer cheaper phone plans than the big 3 telcos is that they don't have to cover the costs of building and maintaining the mobile networks.
Plus, since MVNOs are smaller companies, they don't spend as much on advertising either.
The ACCC Communications Market Report from December 2024 found that the median advertised plan price for the big 3 mobile network operators was $58. For MVNOs, the average was $30.
MVNO network coverage vs the big telcos
MVNOs that use the Optus and Vodafone mobile networks have the same coverage as Optus and Vodafone themselves. There's no difference.
Optus and Vodafone's 4G network cover 98.5% of the population.
Things are slightly different with Telstra MVNOs. The majority of them have access to Telstra's wholesale 4G network, which covers 98.8% of the Australian population.
Telstra's full network covers 99.7% of Australians. Boost Mobile is the only Telstra MVNO to have access to it.
Going with Telstra's wholesale network is still a solid bet. You just might notice a difference in some rural or remote areas.
Can I get access to 5G with an MVNO?
Yes, you can. Maybe not with every MVNO, but plenty of them offer 5G access, just like they do with 4G from Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone.
The only catch is that 5G might not be available on all their plans.
Here's the full list of MVNOs in our database offering 5G mobile plans:
Pros and cons of signing up with an MVNO
Iffy about going with a small provider rather than a big name brand?
All we can say is, don't knock it till you try it.
With most mobile plans these days being contract-free, it's easy to test out different providers and networks to find a mobile plan that suits you best.
Here's a quick rundown of the pros and cons of signing up with an MVNO if you're not convinced:
Pros
- Typically offer cheaper plans than the big 3 telcos, giving you access to the same networks at a lower price.
- Most MVNOs provide flexible, month-to-month plans, so you're not tied down with long-term contracts.
- Option to choose between prepaid and postpaid plans, although the difference between the two has massively decreased.
- Plenty of small providers offer features that may be important to you, such as data banking, international call inclusions, and roaming packs.
Cons
- MVNOs may skip on perks such as rewards points and entertainment extras.
- Not all small providers are equal. If you're after more than just calls, texts, and data, you'll need to shop around for the best value.
- Customer support options may be lacking depending on which MVNO you choose.
- You can't get a phone on a plan from an MVNO.
So, you're saying it's worth switching to an MVNO?
Fortunately, there are enough MVNOs that are also well-established enough to give you a good value SIM-only plan.
These include the likes of amaysim, Belong, Boost Mobile, ALDI Mobile, and Woolworths Everyday Mobile.
You can check out our 2026 Mobile Customer Satisfaction Award winners to see how hundreds of Aussies have rated MVNOs.
Alternatively, we've given you some plan options from MVNOs across the 3 major networks.
Compare plans from Telstra MVNOs
Compare other products
How we picked these
Finder Score for mobile plans
We've scored 290+ mobile plans on everything from cost to data allowance and important features.
Our experts give each plan a score out of 10 - totally fair, with no commercial strings attached.
Compare plans from Optus MVNOs
Compare other products
How we picked these
Finder Score for mobile plans
We've scored 290+ mobile plans on everything from cost to data allowance and important features.
Our experts give each plan a score out of 10 - totally fair, with no commercial strings attached.
Compare plans from Vodafone MVNOs
Compare other products
How we picked these
Finder Score for mobile plans
We've scored 290+ mobile plans on everything from cost to data allowance and important features.
Our experts give each plan a score out of 10 - totally fair, with no commercial strings attached.
More resources on Finder
Ask a question
More guides on Finder
-
Best eSIM plans in Australia
Discover the new technology set to replace physical SIM cards altogether.
-
Compare unlimited mobile data plans in Australia
Wave bill shock goodbye. Discounted prices start from under $20 a month for an unlimited mobile data plan.
-
Best mobile plans on the Telstra network November 2026
If you want Telstra's coverage without the price point, there are great ways to save with a smaller provider on the Telstra network.
-
Cheap mobile plans in Australia November 2026
Compare cheap mobile phone plans starting from just under $20 a month.
-
Best mobile plans for international calls November 2026
We pored over 200 mobile plans featuring international calls to find you our top picks for this month.
-
Best mobile plans for students November 2026
From budget-conscious to international students, these mobile plans offer something for every type of student.
-
Best mobile plans for seniors
It's easy to avoid overpaying for your mobile plan, even without a seniors discount. We've rounded up our top 6 picks and shared tips on how to save.
-
Best mobile plans for kids November 2026
Getting a phone for kids or teens is an important decision to make, so here are the things to consider when choosing a mobile plan for them.
-
Top 10 mobile phone providers in Australia
Check out which mobile phone providers Finder users are loving this month and the top plans they're choosing!
-
Compare postpaid mobile plans
Most postpaid plans these days don’t tie you down - you can just go month-to-month and switch whenever you find a better deal.