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Postpaid mobile plans
Postpaid mobile phone plans make it easy to afford a new smartphone and get a competitive plan at the same time.
We’re reader-supported and may be paid when you visit links to partner sites. We don’t compare all products in the market, but we’re working on it!
Compare postpaid plans
You can use our filters to customise & find the right plans in the table below. We show Finder partners (those with a green "Go to site" link) at the top of the table, and may receive money if you sign up via these links. However, prices are the same as signing up directly on the provider's site.
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Need A New Phone?
What is a postpaid mobile plan?
Postpaid mobile plans differ from prepaid plans in a couple of ways. Here are their main features:
- Can come as SIM-only or bundled with a mobile phone
- SIM-only versions are almost entirely month to month
- Pay for usage plus any excess fees at the end of the month
- Most plans have unlimited calls and texts in Australia
- Recharges automatically, rather than allowing for manual recharges like prepaid plans
How to find the best postpaid mobile plan
Monthly price is important, but it's not the only thing that matters when you're buying a mobile plan. Think about:
- Data. If you go over your data limit, you'll be charged a fee for your excess usage – although there are a number of providers with "unlimited" mobile data where you'll never have to pay for excess use. On the other end, you might be paying too much for data you don't use.
- International inclusions. If you still regularly contact landline or mobile numbers overseas, inclusions for international calls and texts are a must to keep your costs from spiralling out of control.
- Extras. Data banking, data-free streaming, entertainment extras and more can be great value-adds for your phone plan. Just make sure you're not paying for a bonus feature you won't actually use.
- Do you want a contract? Locking into a plan for 12 months may offer extra value compared to a flexible month to month option. Although only Moose Mobile and Southern Phone offer these in our database, you could stand to save a little money by making the commitment. Remember though, you'll need to pay an exit fee if you leave before your contract ends.
What are the benefits of postpaid?
A postpaid mobile plan suits those:
- With regular monthly data usage habits
- Who don't want the hassle of manual recharges
- Keen to get a new phone bundled with their mobile plan
- Who never want to run out of data during the month
- Who want to take advantage of discounts and deals
As a final look at whether a postpaid plan is right for you, check out the pros and cons below.
Pros
- No cut-offs. You won't be cut off from calls or data, since you pay for your actual usage at the end of the month.
- Variety. There's a huge variety of postpaid plans to suit almost anyone's needs.
- Flexible repayment options on postpaid mobile phone contract plans.
Cons
- Bill shock. Because postpaid plans are paid at the end of the month, you could get bill shock by breaking your limit and having excess fees. Luckily, some postpaid plans come with bill shock protection to act as a buffer before you get charged extra.
- Hidden charges. Extra charges may bump up your monthly bill, like credit card or late payment fees.
Is postpaid cheaper than prepaid?
In the past, prepaid plans were held to be the cheaper option while postpaid plans offered greater value for your money, in terms of data and bonus features. However, the gap in value has shrunk in recent years.
According to the 2019-20 Communications Market Report from the ACCC, postpaid plans offer a tiny bit more value at the higher end of the price spectrum, while prepaid services offer slightly more at the lower end, with both being quite similar in the middle.
What is the cheapest postpaid plan?
The cheapest postpaid plan in Finder's database is Dodo's $5 plan, which gives you unlimited talk and text in Australia, but no data whatsoever.
In general, getting 1GB of data will cost you at least $10 per month, although a cheap plan in this range shouldn't be a problem if you're not streaming video or downloading huge files while you're out. The majority of SIM-only plans come with unlimited text and calls, so that shouldn't be a concern on most cheap plans.
If you're willing to switch plans every few months (not too bad since porting your mobile number is actually pretty easy), you can take repeated advantage of 3- or 6-month introductory deals. Just watch out for some providers charging you a "porting fee" for transferring your number to another provider.
Can I get an unlimited data postpaid plan?
Yes, you can get "unlimited" data postpaid plans from the big three providers: Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. Here's how they usually work:
- Full speed data. You have a monthly data allowance, like most postpaid plans. Your plan will function normally until you use it all up.
- Switch to "unlimited" data. Once you're out of full speed data, you can still send texts or make calls, but you'll be moved over to your "unlimited" data.
- Reduced download speeds. "Unlimited" data lasts until your billing period rolls over, but it has a capped download rate. A full speed 4G connection averages around 50Mbps, "unlimited" data is restricted to somewhere in the 1.5-25Mbps range, depending on provider and plan.
You might notice that this isn't really unlimited in the way you'd expect, and actually comes with quite a harsh limit in the form of a speed cap. Truly unlimited postpaid plans don't exist in Australia yet, just those with no excess data charges.
What's the best postpaid mobile plan?
There's no one-size-fits-all best postpaid plan, since everyone has different needs. If you're looking for an up-to-date list, we have a selection of the best SIM-only plans, picked each month from all the plans in our database.
Otherwise, here's what you'll get from each of the major postpaid providers in the way of postpaid plans.
Telstra postpaid plans
All of Telstra's postpaid plans run month to month, with no lock-in contracts from Australia's biggest mobile provider.
- Plans start at $55 per month, with no excess data charges after you hit your limit
- Possible 5G access on some plans
- All plans give access to Telstra Air Wi-Fi network and Telstra Plus rewards program
Find out more about Telstra postpaid plans here.
Optus postpaid plans
Optus may be slightly smaller than Telstra, but it has its own growing 5G network and has the cheapest plans on offer from among these three providers.
- Postpaid plans start at $39 per month, providing up to 500GB monthly data allowance
- No excess data charges, with download speeds capped at 1.5Mbps after you go over your limit
- Possible 5G access on all plans
- Free Optus Sport subscription on some plans
Find out more about Optus postpaid plans here.
Vodafone postpaid plans
Vodafone has a lot of limited-time deals and discounts available, but it has a number of ongoing features.
- Postpaid plans start at $40 per month, with data options all the way up to 100GB monthly
- No excess data charges, but your download speed will be capped past your limit at 2-25Mbps, depending on your plan
- International inclusions on some plans
Find out more about Vodafone postpaid plans here.
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I am happy with my plan at the moment just need a new phone why can’t l have it. I have been with them OPTUS for over 30 years l think it disgusting know a pensioner and am struggling with health issues.
Hi Helen,
Thank you for reaching out to finder.
Optus does have a retention program in place for these types of situations. You may need to call their customer support number but I would not be able to guarantee this. Here is the number that you could dial: 13 39 37 Mon – Fri: 9am – 6pm. Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Reggie
I have just ordered a phone with Vodafone and Qantas and I have to sign a form with you but I don’t know where it is
Hi Eve,
You’ve come through to finder.com.au. We’re an online comparison service that doesn’t represent Vodafone. I would recommend giving Voda’s customer service team call on 1300 650 410.
Thanks,
Brodie