We currently don't have that product, but here are others to consider:
How we picked these
It can be overwhelming to sift through all the options. Don't worry though, we've simplified the process to help you find a mobile plan that works for you.
This is the first question to ask yourself when choosing a phone plan.
💡 Pro tip: You can keep your existing phone number when switching providers, and it's easy to bring it with you no matter where you switch.
Start by checking how much data you use, because there's a good chance you're paying for more than you need (and could save money!). Many Australians overestimate how much data they need; based on research from the ACCC, the average Aussie uses around 14GB each month on average - far less than the 40GB most people choose as per our research.
💡 Pro tip: If you mostly use Wi-Fi and don't stream much on the go, a smaller data plan could save you money. Second, check your previous bills to get a clear picture of your typical usage. If you're still not sure of how much you use, there's more info below.
Coverage matters, especially if you live in rural or regional areas. Price and data won't matter much if you're constantly losing signal!
💡 Pro tip: Check the mobile phone provider's network coverage map before signing up.
Some mobile plans come with extras like international calls, data rollover or travel roaming.
💡 Pro tip: If you don't need these features, focus on finding a plan with the right price and data (unlimited local calls and texts are usually a given).
You could be overpaying by sticking with the same provider or plan for too long – or only looking at the big brands like Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. As a rule, it's a good idea to compare mobile plans every 6 to 12 months, or anytime your provider raises prices.
In Australia, there are three main types of mobile phone plans:
Each has its benefits depending on your needs.
There's less of a distinction between prepaid and postpaid plans these days, especially with the removal of lock-in contracts for postpaid. Here's a quick breakdown of the differences:
| Prepaid plans | Postpaid plans | |
|---|---|---|
| Contract length | No lock-in contract | Usually no lock-in contract |
| Payment period | Paid upfront | Billed monthly |
| Excess charges | No excess data charges | Some providers charge for excess data use, while others slow your speeds |
| Expiry period | 7-day, 28-day, 30-day, and long-expiry plans (90, 180, or 365 days), as well as monthly options | Monthly |
| Recharges | Unless auto-recharge is set up, you will need to actively renew your plan before it expires | The plan will continue monthly unless you cancel |
Buying a phone outright is cheaper in the long run, but it's not easy to fork out a big chunk of cash upfront, especially if you're eyeing something from Samsung, Apple or Google.
Telstra, Optus and Vodafone allow you to pay for your phone in monthly instalments over 12, 24 or 36 months. There's no lock-in contract, and you can leave anytime by paying off the remaining phone cost.
New phone launches in particular are a great time to get on a plan if you want extra bells and whistles during the pre-order period.
In fact, we'll soon have the first major phone launch of the year in less than a month.
According to rumours, Samsung will be unveiling the Galaxy S26 series on February 2026.
If you’re ready to upgrade and aren’t fussed about the upcoming launch, you can also compare plans for phones from the major tech brands.
Understanding how much data you need is key to avoiding overpaying.
Activities like browsing and social media don't use as much data as you'd think, so you can probably get by with less than 15GB, especially if you're on Wi-Fi most of the time.
Streaming and downloads, however, can burn through data quickly. If you're out and about a lot or have a long commute, you might want some extra buffer: at least 20-25GB a month.
We consider anything above 40GB a month a high data plan.
| Data | Activities |
|---|---|
| 3GB - 10 GB | Enough for casual web browsing, social media, occasional music streaming and some online gaming |
| 15GB - 20GB | Great for regular web browsing, moderate streaming, gaming and occasional YouTube viewing |
| 30GB and above | Perfect for those who frequently stream high-definition videos or download large files like movies, TV shows and video games |
If you're still worried about going over your data allowance, consider an unlimited data mobile plan.
In most cases, once you've used up your data, your speeds will drop from anywhere between 256Kbps to 2Mbps. That's still enough for basic things like checking emails or browsing, but you might struggle with heavier tasks.
"My wife and I were both paying $44 a month each on our mobile plans, with more data than we needed. I thought it was a good deal until I found a 365-day plan with 120GB of data for $119, which works out to $10 each per month. Still, more data than we need since we're almost always connected to our Wi-Fi at home, but it will save us $800 a year!"
Australia's three mobile networks - Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone - each have pros and cons. Smaller providers use their networks to offer mobile plans.
Network coverage is important because it affects how smoothly you can do things like browse the web or stream content on your phone.
Telstra has the widest network coverage in Australia and leads in rural and regional areas.
Optus offers good coverage in major cities, at a lower price than Telstra.
Vodafone is the most affordable but has slightly limited coverage outside cities.
A 5G mobile connection offers faster speeds, particularly in crowded areas. But if you don't use much data, have an older phone that doesn't support 5G or live where the coverage is patchy, 4G might be enough.
The good news? Many mobile plans now include both 4G and 5G, especially with 3G now phased out, so you won't have to pay a premium price for faster speeds.
There are an overwhelming number of mobile plans available from over 40+ providers. More than 300 to be exact. You also have to figure out how each of their costs stack up against the amount of data you’re getting in return. We group plans into 3 categories - month to month plans, long expiry plans under $250 and long expiry plans for $250 and above.
That's where the Finder Score comes in. The score is a simple way for you to compare mobile plans at a glance.
Here's how the scores work:
Plans for different life stages
Spoiler alert: The gap between prepaid and postpaid mobile plans isn’t as big as it used to be.
We've done the hard work so you don't have to go searching far and wide for the best SIM-only plan.
Our experts have crunched the numbers to help you find the best mobile phone plan in Australia.
Wave bill shock goodbye. Discounted prices start from $12.50 a month for an unlimited data mobile data plan.
Don't pay too much, even if your data needs are large, with these high-data value plans.
Compare cheap mobile phone plans starting from just under $12 a month.
We pored over 150 mobile plans featuring international calls to find you our top picks for this month.
From budget-conscious to international students, these mobile plans offer something for every type of student.
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.
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.
We are moving from Kuala Lumpur. We already have our mobile phones but looking for a the best deal in obtaining an Australian number. We would like a deal that we could call Malaysia at a reasonable price.
Requirements: 1 adult and 2 children
1. mobile service
2. phone and internet service for the home.
Most appreciate your comments on this.
Thank you
Hi HKT,
Thanks for your inquiry.
If you will be making most of your calls to Malaysia, I would recommend Lebara. They are one of the best providers in Australia for international calls. If you will also making calls to Australian numbers and using data, I would recommend a plan with Vodafone. Vodafone offers international minutes as a bonus to standard calls, text, and data inclusions at a reasonable price.
Please ensure to read through the relevant product disclosure statement and terms and conditions to ensure that you got everything covered before you subscribe.
Thanks,
Brodie
Hi Alex- the Testra Travel pass is the best option as it offers unlimited calls, texts and a reasonable data allowance but isnt available for Peru under their zone 3 listing. Neither is the Telstra Data pack product available for Peru. As Students they went to Student Travel and received a StudentTravel SIM that offers calls at half Telstra’s rates but data was a whopping $8 per MB.I suspect a local SIM on arrival may be the best option.
Hi John,
Yes, you’re right — my apologies! Another possible approach (obviously it all depends on budget) would be a cheap calling SIM and a data hotspot to share.
Alex.
My daughter is heading to South America for 2 months. Telstra is introducing a new Travel Pass this week covering Chile, Argentina and Brazil that looks great but nothing for Peru where she will be for 2 weeks. Any suggestions as Telstra are $4.50 per minute for calls out and $3.00 per MB for data there?
Hi John,
Telstra do sell Travel Packs that lower that data cost if it’s imperative that your daughter maintains the same mobile number:
Those are pricey, however any other option would result in a different number while she’s travelling, although you could make that simpler by using a service such as Whatsapp or Skype and contacting her that way. There are a number of locally available roaming SIM products such as Globalgig or TravelSIM that may meet your needs; another option would be to check for SIM availability at her destination, as local products are typically even cheaper when it comes to access costs (although be careful to check the cost for her calling/texting “home”, as that would be an international call or text from that location.
Regards,
Alex.
Thank you for the info, Lorraine.
Do you have a phone for an elderly man with big numbers on it , he does not want any data only a pre paid for 1 year if that is available, not monthly.
Many thanks Lorraine Baumann.
Hi Lorraine,
You’ve come through to finder.com.au. We’re online comparison service and not a mobile handset retailer. Though, I am more than happy to point you in the right direction. For such low usage, I would recommend the Virgin Long Expiry. For $49.00, it gives you $49 of calls and text with a 365-day expiry. For a handset, I would recommend something like the Doro PhoneEasy – it’s a flip phone, with large buttons and an extra loud ringtone.
Hope that helps,
Brodie