Our verdict: Optus has excellent coverage and some of the fastest 5G mobile speeds in the country. However, its plans are priced at a premium, which might not suit all budgets.
Optus is Australia's second-largest network, covering 98.5% of the Australian population (Telstra covers 99.7% and Vodafone covers 98.4%). Optus may not have Telstra's extensive coverage, but it should be more than enough for most people.
While Optus doesn't offer the cheapest entry-level plans, it does have options that come with generous data inclusions and the ability to pay off new phones over 12, 24 and 36 months on postpaid plans.
Plus, its range of perks, including access to its 5G network and access to Optus SubHub.
Optus may be the right choice for you in the following situations:
You prefer generous data limits up to 500GB a month, with no excess-data charges on postpaid plans
You plan to use international roaming for the occasional short overseas trip
You want the security of being with a first-party, established network
You are interested in connecting to a 5G network
However, it's worth keeping a couple of things in mind:
Optus shares its 4G network with a large number of MVNOs, meaning you can get the same coverage for cheaper
Access to its 5G network will vary depending on your location
What do Australians think of Optus mobile provider?
3.67/5 overall for Customer Satisfaction - lower than the average of 4.15, and this was the lowest score in the category
3.69/5 for Trust - lower than the average of 4.43, and this was the lowest score in the category
3.54/5 for Customer Service - lower than the average of 4.01, and this was the lowest score in the category
Optus prepaid plans give you the option to pay weekly, monthly, every six months, or annually, giving you control over how and when you use it. The most affordable prepaid Flex plan includes 10GB per 7 days (with data rollover up to 200GB) and unlimited calls and texts.
These Flex plans are okay since they hit the benchmark of $1 per GB, but aren't anything too special.
Its longer expiry 365-day plan offer about 23GB–25GB a month (depending on current offers) and is great value if you're willing to commit to the plan for a full year.
Good to know: The ACCC says the average person actually uses less than 15GB of data a month so Optus's 365-day plans could be within your sweet spot. Plus, if you have the cash up-front, that's a huge saving over time compared to getting one of its regular 28-day prepaid plans.
Optus's Choice Plus plans start with 50GB of data for $55, which is $8 higher than the average price of 30GB plans on Finder ($41).
Things get more reasonable with Optus's 200GB for $65 plans and higher, with data getting cheaper the more you're willing to spend on your plan.
Keep in mind: Optus's postpaid plans are often a few dollars more expensive than other similar plans and offer more data than most people actually need in a month.
If you want the latest phone from Apple, Samsung or Google, but aren't able to pay for it outright, Optus will allow you to buy it and pay it off over a 12-, 24- or 36-month repayment period.
Keep in mind: Phone contracts end up being more expensive in the long run compared to buying outright, but pre-order offers and other sales throughout the year might get you a good deal so watch out for those.
Coverage
Optus has the second-largest network in Australia, narrowly behind Telstra and covering a decent amount more than Vodafone.
Its 4G network covers 98.5% of the Australian population (compared to Telstra's 99.7% and Vodafone's 98.4%)
Optus's outdoor 5G mobile coverage is available in selected metro areas, mostly on the east coast, with more areas coming soon
4G coverage is available in metropolitan, regional and most rural areas. Those in more remote areas should check Optus's coverage maps to ensure they're within its scope
Customer service
You can reach Optus's support team all week through various points of contact.
Phone support is available 8am–8pm 7 days a week
Live messaging in the app is available 24/7
You can also go into an Optus store any day of the week to ask questions and get assistance
Bonus features
With Optus being one of the big 3 telcos in Australia, its customers get access to a whole slew of perks:
👨👩👧👧 Data sharing
You can share data between Optus plans under the same account. This can be handy for families looking to bundle all their plans under one account.
🔄 Data rollover
With Optus, you can roll over up to 200GB on most prepaid plans.
🌏 International roaming
Postpaid plans: For $5 a day, in 110+ Zone 1 destinations, you get unlimited calls as well as 5GB to use per day. Optus will automatically add 5GB for $5 when you run out of data.
Prepaid plans: For $5 per day, you can get 1GB of data, 100 texts and up to 100 minutes to use in Zone 1 destinations. Another option include 7GB for $35 over 7 days.
Ready to sign up to Optus?
If you're after a prepaid or postpaid plan, just click the "Go to site" button in our comparison tables, which will take you straight to Optus where you can purchase the plan directly.
Can I keep my current phone number? Absolutely. If your number is in your name, just notify Optus you want to transfer it when you sign up. All you have to do is fill out a form.
If your number isn't currently in your name (perhaps under that of a parent or partner), let Optus know and they'll give you an extra form for you and the owner to fill out.
Sam Baran is a writer for Finder, covering topics across the tech, telco and utilities sectors. They enjoy decrypting technical jargon and helping people compare complex products easily. When they aren't writing, you'll find Sam's head buried in a book or working on their latest short story. Sam has a Bachelor of Advanced Science from the University of Sydney. See full bio
My phone needs new update what are the prices for yearly payment I own the phone samsung S21
Finder
MariamOctober 16, 2024Finder
Hi Doreen, if you’re looking to get on a phone repayment plan with Optus, you can compare plans across various models here: https://www.finder.com.au/mobile-plans/compare-samsung-galaxy-plans. Use the filters to select the phone you’re after and our table will tell you how much it’ll cost per month or quarter. Hope this helps and please do reach out again if there’s anything else I can help with.
How does data sharing work for Optus' mobile plans? We've got the full explanation.
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These mobile plans stack up extremely well for overall cost and data allowance over 12 months plus network coverage. You may also get a few bonus features attached to your plan.
7+
Great
These mobile plans are competitively priced and offer a decent amount of data. You might need to compromise just a little bit on some features.
5+
Standard
Usually these mobile plans are just okay for overall cost over 12 months and the amount of data you're getting in return. Network coverage and other features can be lacking.
0+
Basic
You can generally do better than what these mobile plans have to offer in terms of cost, data costs, network coverage and features. In short, they're poor value for money.
My phone needs new update what are the prices for yearly payment I own the phone samsung S21
Hi Doreen, if you’re looking to get on a phone repayment plan with Optus, you can compare plans across various models here: https://www.finder.com.au/mobile-plans/compare-samsung-galaxy-plans. Use the filters to select the phone you’re after and our table will tell you how much it’ll cost per month or quarter. Hope this helps and please do reach out again if there’s anything else I can help with.