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Optus mobile plans
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 99.5% and Vodafone covers 96%). 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 Sport (for an additional cost on postpaid plans), might justify the premium price for some.
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 3G/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
Optus's prepaid plans come in 2 types: Flex and Epic plans.
Optus Flex plans are pretty simple: $1 a day for 4G or $2 a day for 5G, billed daily, weekly, monthly, bi-annually or annually so you can control how and when you use it. Prepaid Flex includes 1GB a day (which can roll over 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.
If you need more data, Optus's Epic plans come as 28- or 365-day recharges.
Its longer expiry 365-day plans offer about 10GB–25GB a month and are 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 30GB of data for $49, which is $8 higher than the average price of 30GB plans on Finder ($41).
Things get more reasonable with Optus's 100GB for $59 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 3G and 4G network covers 98.5% of the Australian population (compared to Telstra's 99.5% and Vodafone's 96%)
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:
⚽️ Optus Sport
Optus Sport is the exclusive broadcaster for the English Premier League in Australia. Access is discounted at $6.99 for Optus customers on all postpaid plans.
Non-Optus customers can watch for $24.99 a month.
👨👩👧👧 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.
🏋️ OS Fitness
Optus Sport Fitness is also included with your Optus Sport subscription and will give you access to a variety of video workouts you can follow from home.
🔄 Data rollover
With Optus, you can roll over up to 200GB on most prepaid plans.
🌏 International roaming
Postpaid plans: For $5 a day, in "Zone 1 countries", you get unlimited calls as well as 5GB to use per day. Alternatively, you can pay $35 for 35GB over 7 days. The add-on expires once inclusions are used up.
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. Other options include 7GB for $35 over 7 days or 10GB for $20 over 14 days.
Which rivals are giving Optus a run for its money?
Optus has some serious rivals, especially considering it shares its network with so many smaller providers.
For more coverage:
Telstra is Australia's largest network with the best coverage. Just remember that you'll pay more for that improved service.
For cheaper 5G:
SpinTel operates on the full Optus network, with a couple of 5G plans that cost less than Optus's.
For cheap and big data:
Circles.Life has mobile plans at ridiculously low prices on the Optus 4G network. Its $45 plan includes 100GB of data, which is far better value than Optus's $49 for 30GB plan.
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.
We've researched and reviewed hundreds of phone plans to make our guides as helpful as possible. Our experts can be seen across TV, print and digital media.
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Our product database of 52 providers is updated daily with the latest mobile deals in Australia. Our guides are regularly reviewed and fact-checked.
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Since 2015, we've helped over 1.2 million people find the right mobile plan by explaining features clearly and simply. We're here to help you make a decision.
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.
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