Product highlights: Large variety of plans to suit different needs, support for the latest smartphones and attractive extras like Optus Sport.
Watch out for: Optus' prepaid plans only support data rollover for their regular data inclusions - any bonus streaming-only data does not rollover across recharges.
Optus prepaid plans
Optus's prepaid plans explained
Optus has an enormous range of prepaid plans covering everything from long-term expiries to massive data caps to unlimited international calls. These plans are split into four key categories based on what they offer: Epic Data plans for data junkies, Epic Value plans for those wanting a decent balance of data and a long-expiry period, Daily Plus plans for those who prefer paying as they go and Long Expiry plans for those who use their phones less frequently.
Optus has plenty of postpaid SIM-only plans for folks who already have a smartphone. These plans are available only on 12-month contracts. The higher-tier plans also come with an allotment of international talk and text, plus all plans include a free subscription to Optus's sports streaming service, Optus Sport.
Optus offers a wide range of current mobile phones on 24-month contracts with its My Plan Plus plans. You'll typically find all the latest handsets from Samsung, Apple and other flagship smartphone manufacturers, with a choice of plans ranging from small 4GB options to 200GB smorgasbords.
Like many contract plan carriers, you can't sign up for just a SIM service, so for comparative purposes, we've listed Optus's current pricing for the Apple iPhone XS Max in the table above.
A vast array of contract, postpaid and prepaid plans to choose from
Plenty of extras like Optus Sport and National Geographic subscriptions
Some of the largest mobile data caps on the market
Optus has been notably aggressive in the Australian telco space, and that translates to deals at most levels that are highly competitive, although, as always, it depends on what you're after.
In the mobile handset space, Optus typically offers all the big brand name handsets, as well as a few exclusive models. By way of comparison, here's what you'd pay for an iPhone XS from Optus and other major carriers offering Apple's high-powered handset:
In the SIM-only space, its 12-month contract terms offer some of the largest data quotas around. Here's how Optus compares against its competition if you're happy to sign up for a year on a postpaid SIM-only contract:
Optus is the largest provider of MVNO services in Australia by a very wide margin, with only a handful of virtual operators not on the Optus 4G network. That gives it plenty of competition in the prepaid space. Here's how Optus stacks up against prominent providers on its own network:
Why should you consider Optus?
Optus's 4G network spans the vast majority of the Australian population, although (as is common with every other Australian mobile network) not quite the entire landmass. It's notably a heavy lifter in terms of pushing forwards data limits on plans, with many other carriers following Optus's lead when it comes time to up quotas.
Optus also operates its own entertainment services, bundled with many of its postpaid plans or available as a paid extra if you're on a lower tier. The jewel in its crown is the exclusive rights to English Premier League games and Cricket Australia fixtures for mobile streaming. So, if like many Australians you're keen on "proper" football or Cricket, Optus may be a great match for your needs.
If you've got multiple Optus accounts in your family, you can pool all your data quotas together at no additional cost, meaning that you can maximise your data's real value rather than letting it go to waste.
Optus also operates a satisfaction guarantee on postpaid plans with bundled handsets, so if you're unhappy for any reason in the first 30 days, you can return your undamaged handset and you can walk away simply paying that first month's charges.
Optus prepaid recharge options
Different Optus prepaid plans have different expiry periods, and it’s worth noting if there are bonuses such as data or credit rollover if you recharge within your expiry period. Here’s how you can recharge your Optus prepaid services:
Online through Optus: Optus provides the ability to purchase recharges through its web portal for customers. You can recharge your own mobile phone or any number associated with an Optus prepaid mobile account. Optus accepts payments via Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB Card, PayPal, Internet banking or from a pre-purchased voucher.
Via the MyOptus App: Optus provides a dedicated free-to-download app for iOS (download it here) or Android (download it here) mobile customers to recharge their mobile services on the go.
Via PayPal: You can use Optus’s prepaid payment portal to pay directly via PayPal if that’s your payment method of choice.
By phone: You can recharge your phone by dialling 555 from your prepaid handset. This is a free call.
Via a voucher: Recharge vouchers can be purchased for Optus prepaid services at many large retail outlets, as well as at any Optus store itself.
Via Autorecharge: Optus has a facility for you to store credit card details pertaining to your prepaid service so that it automatically recharges your prepaid balance at a set expiry period. As with any automatic recharge, it’s up to you to keep an eye on what it’s doing if you’re not using an Optus service any more, as it will continually bill unless you adjust it.
Alex Kidman is the tech and telco editor at Finder. He's been a technology writer with experience spanning more than 20 years, writing and editing at Gizmodo, CNET, PC Magazine, Kotaku and many more. Alex has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of New England and a serious passion for retro gaming.
While Optus no longer offers unlimited mobile data, the fact that it was willing go down that route could have huge implications for the mobile industry.
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