Optus drops free mobile plan trial: What’s the catch?
Wondering if the Optus mobile network is any good? Well, you can now take it for a 7-day spin at absolutely no cost.
Before we get into the details, here's the main caveat from Optus.
You need to have an eSIM-compatible handset to take advantage of its 7-day free mobile plan trial which will get you 30GB of data.
New to the world of eSIMs? It's essentially a digital SIM card embedded into your phone. You can easily switch providers and not have to wait for a physical SIM card to arrive by post (or make a trip to the store to get one).
Although eSIM-compatible phones are becoming more common, they're still largely limited to premium devices. Some examples include:
- Apple: iPhone 15 range, iPhone 14 range, iPhone 13 range, iPhone 12 range, iPhone 11 range, iPhone SE (2020 and 2022), iPhone XS range, iPhone XR
- Samsung: Galaxy S24 range, Galaxy S23 range, Galaxy S22 range, Galaxy S21 range, Galaxy S20 range, all Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip ranges, Galaxy A55
- Google: Pixel 8 range, Pixel 7 range, Pixel 6 & 6a range, Pixel 5, Pixel 4 & 4a range, Pixel 3 & 3a range, Pixel 2 range
Cool, I can use eSIMs with my phone. What's the Optus 7-day free trial all about?
This is Optus's way of attracting new mobile customers and possibly winning some old ones back. Sorry Vodafone and Telstra!
Here's the tea:
- Download the My Optus app
- Follow the prompts and sign up for the trial - you won't need to enter any payment details
- Activate the eSIM and test out the Optus network for free
"We're incredibly excited to launch the Optus Network Trial. It's a bold move that showcases our confidence in our network," Maurice McCarthy, managing director of customer success at Optus said in a media release.
"With the convenience of eSIM and our highly-rated My Optus app, customers can keep their existing number whilst testing the Optus mobile network.
"We believe that once customers experience the Optus difference, they'll make the switch with confidence."
What happens once the free trial ends?
If the Optus network ends up taking your fancy, you can simply port your existing number to any of Optus's mobile plans.
You can also keep the new number if you want. It'll be held for a month after which it'll be quarantined for 6 months and no other carrier will be able to use it. After 6 months it can be recycled or reallocated.
"Optus takes its security and privacy protocols seriously and this process complies with the relevant data governance guidelines," an Optus spokesperson told Finder.
Here's a look at how much they cost - both their postpaid and prepaid offers.
Optus postpaid plans
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.
Optus prepaid plans
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.
What other options do I have?
Well, if the Optus network takes your fancy, you could always consider a smaller provider (also known as an MVNO) instead.
If they run on the Optus network, they'll have full access to it too so you won't really notice a difference in coverage.
These include the likes of amaysim, Coles Mobile, Dodo, Catch Connect and Moose Mobile.
UPDATED 24 July 2024: We added new information about what happens to the eSIM number once the trial ends.
Compare mobile plans that run on the Optus network to see how they stack up against the major telco itself.
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