What is the average phone bill per month for one person in Australia?

According to Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker, Australians on average spend $60 a month on their mobile phone plan.

Which mobile provider has the best network coverage in Australia?

Telstra has the widest network coverage in Australia, with Optus and Vodafone following close behind. But you don’t need to go straight to the big providers! Over 40 smaller telcos that offer mobile plans on these networks, often at a lower cost. Check out our guide to see how switching to a smaller provider could help you save.

What is the cheapest and best phone provider?

The cheapest provider may not always be the best but that's why we went to have a few different comparison experiences depending on what you're after. You can either: Compare cheap mobile plans if you're on a tight budget Or, check out the top 10 mobile phone providers popular among Finder users

Is a prepaid or postpaid plan better?

The gap between prepaid and postpaid plans has gotten smaller. Even if a provider offers a postpaid plan, it's likely you'll need to pay upfront. The main difference between the two comes down to expiry periods. Postpaid plans are mostly month-to-month, whereas prepaid plans have 7-, 28-, 30-, 180- or 365-day expiries among others. You can checkout our guide breaking down prepaid vs postpaid plans to decide which one best fits your bill.

Best Mobile Plans in Australia for February 2026

Top pick: Prepaid

25GB

$12.50

per month

$12.50/mth for first 6 months, then $25/mth. T&Cs apply.

Top pick: Best value

40GB

$15

per month

$15/mth for first 4 months, then $30/mth. Order by 24 Feb 2026. T&Cs apply.

Top pick: Unlimited data

Unlimited Data

At speeds up to 40Mbps

$20

per month

$20/mth for first 3 months, then $40/mth. Use promo code FELIX50. T&Cs apply.

Top pick: iPhone 17 Pro

50GB

$110.52

per month

Top pick: High data

120GB

$50

per month

$35/recharge for first 12 recharges, then $50/recharge. Ends 7 Apr 2026. T&Cs apply.

Finding the best mobile phone plan for you

At the start of each month, our team of mobile experts analyse hundreds of plans and all the latest mobile deals in the market to find the best value plans for a wide range of categories.

There is no singular mobile plan that will work perfectly for everyone so we try to spread the love by keeping different users in mind.

Best prepaid mobile plan

TPG Small

Unlimited
Calls & Text

25GB

$12.50
per month

$12.50/mth for first 6 months, then $25/mth. T&Cs apply.

Go to site

Pros & cons:

This offer from TPG will save you $75 over 6 months.
The plan also includes 100 international minutes and as many texts to 31 selected countries.
Option to sign up via an eSIM if you have a compatible handset. This takes the hassle of waiting for a physical SIM card to be delivered.
The data might be more than you'd need for light use, but it's still a great value plan. Some other offers may be a dollar or two cheaper, but they usually come with way less data.

The price reverts to $25 a month after 6 months. However, it still stacks up well against our $1 per GB benchmark.

Mobile network: Vodafone 4G network

Total cost over first 12 months: $225

Why we chose it

To choose the best prepaid mobile plan, we looked at prepaid mobile plans in our database from Finder partners with a monthly cost of $35 or under. Of the plans that met those criteria, we then ranked them by our value score and went with the highest-ranking plan.

Best value mobile plan

Dodo $30

Unlimited
Calls & Text

40GB
No excess data charges

$15
per month

$15/mth for first 4 months, then $30/mth. Order by 24 Feb 2026. T&Cs apply.

Go to site

Pros & cons:

You’ll save $60 over 4 months with Dodo’s latest offer.
Unlimited data banking is available. Your unused data won’t ever go to waste as long as you stick with this plan.
Includes $200 worth of international call credit.
There are no excess data charges. If you run out of your monthly data allowance, the download speed will simply slow to 256Kbps.
You can add an international roaming pack to use in over 100 countries.

The price will revert to $30 a month after 4 months.
5G download speeds are capped at 150Mbps, though this should be more than enough for streaming, browsing and gaming.

Mobile network: Optus 4G/5G network

Total cost over first 12 months: $300

Why we chose it

To choose the best SIM-only mobile plan, we looked at postpaid mobile plans from partners in our database with a monthly cost of under $40 a month. Of the plans that met those criteria, we then ranked them by value score and went with the highest-ranking plan.

Best mobile plan with unlimited data

felix Subscription Unlimited

Unlimited
Calls & Text

Unlimited Data
At speeds up to 40Mbps

$20
per month

$20/mth for first 3 months, then $40/mth. Use promo code FELIX50. T&Cs apply.

Go to site

Pros & cons:

You’ll save $60 over 3 months with felix's latest offer.
At the moment, felix is the only provider that comes close to offering a truly unlimited data mobile plan in Australia. That's why, for the fourth year in a row, it was crowned the best mobile provider for unlimited data in the 2026 Finder Mobile Awards.
You can easily sign up via an eSIM if you have a compatible handset.
All of its mobile plans are certified carbon neutral. It also plants a tree monthly for every active subscription.

Your download speeds will be capped at 40Mbps throughout. However, this is good enough for streaming Netflix in HD, scrolling through social media, browsing and more.
The price of the plan will revert to $40 a month after 3 months. However, this is still pretty decent for getting unlimited data in return.

Mobile network: Vodafone 4G/5G network

Total cost over first 12 months: $420

Why we chose it

To choose the best mobile plan for this category, we looked at mobile plans in our database from Finder partners that came with unlimited data. From these plans, we then ranked them by our value score, which takes into account cost per gigabyte, network coverage and plan features, and went with the highest-ranking plan.

Best 365-day mobile plan

Boost $300 SIM

Unlimited
Calls & Text

290GB

$250
per 12 months

290GB for $250 on activation, then 240GB for $300/recharge. Ends 9 Feb 2026. T&Cs apply.

Go to site

Pros & cons:

You’re essentially paying $21 a month for 24GB of data, which fits our $1 per GB benchmark.
It's the only small provider with access to the full Telstra network. This will make a difference if you live in or are visiting regional and rural areas of Australia.
There are plenty of international inclusions such as unlimited calls to 20 countries, 3600 minutes of standard calls to 30 selected countries and 3600 standard texts to any country.
You can buy an international roaming pack to use in selected countries.

The data allowance will revert to 240GB and price increases to $300 after 365 days.
Download speeds are capped at 150Mbps, though this is fast enough for online activities on your phone.

Mobile network: Telstra 4G/5G network

Total cost over first 12 months: $250

Why we chose it

We looked at prepaid mobile plans on Finder with a plan length of 365-days or 12 months that cost $400 or less, including any promotional discounts. We then gave each plan a value score by weighting different factors including cost per data over 12 months (including promotional offers), network coverage, international call inclusions, data rollover and Wi-Fi calling. Our top pick was chosen based on the plan with the highest value score from a Finder partner.

Best high-data mobile plan

amaysim 120GB Plan

Unlimited
Calls & Text

120GB

$35
per 28 days

$35/recharge for first 12 recharges, then $50/recharge. Ends 7 Apr 2026. T&Cs apply.

Go to site

Pros & cons:

You’ll pay just $35 per recharge for the first 12 recharges. That’s great value for the amount of data you get.
Option to bank all your unused data for future use.
You can make unlimited international calls and texts to 42 selected countries.
Bundle mobile and internet with amaysim and save $10 a month on broadband.
amaysim won the Legendary Service award for mobile providers at the 2025 Finder Customer Satisfaction Awards.
You can easily sign up via an eSIM if you have a compatible handset.

The price increases to $50 after your first 12 recharges. However, you can cancel at any time or switch to another amaysim plan.
A 28-day expiry period means you’ll end up paying 13 bills over the year instead of 12.
5G download speeds are capped at 200Mbps, but this is fast enough for online activities on your phone.

Mobile network: Optus 4G/5G network

Total cost over first 12 months: $420

Why we chose it

To choose the best mobile plan in this category, we looked at high-data mobile plans in our database from Finder partners that offer at least a 40GB monthly allowance and cost under $60 a month. From these plans, we then ranked them by our value score, which takes into account cost per gigabyte, network coverage and plan features, and went with the highest-ranking plan.

Best mobile plan on the Telstra network

Tangerine 30GB 5G SIM

Unlimited
Calls & Text

30GB

$15
per month

$15/mth for first 4 months, then $30/mth. Ends 1 Mar 2026. T&Cs apply.

Go to site

Pros & cons:

Tangerine’s latest offer will save you $60 over 4 months.
You can bank up to 1000GB of unused data.
Option to sign up via an eSIM if you have a compatible handset.
Includes unlimited international calls to 15 selected countries. You can also add on travel packs when heading overseas.
Save 10% off mobile plan costs each month when you bundle with Tangerine’s NBN plan.

The price will revert to $30 after 4 months.
Download speeds are capped at 150Mbps. However, this is fast enough for online activities on your phone, such as streaming and gaming.
There’s a $3.50 non-direct debit fee.

Mobile network: Wholesale Telstra 4G/5G network

Total cost over first 12 months: $300

Why we chose it

To choose the best mobile plan in this category, we reviewed Telstra network plans from Finder partners in our database that cost $40 a month or less. From these plans, we then ranked them by our value score, which takes into account cost per gigabyte, network coverage and plan features, and went with the highest-ranking plan.

Best iPhone plan

- Mobile network: Optus 4G/5G network
- SIM fee: $0
- Delivery fee: $0 – free express delivery
- Total minimum cost $2,053.72
- Total cost over 36 months: $3,978.72
- Get the Apple Watch Series 11 42mm for $180 when you bundle it with an iPhone 17 Pro or Pro Max on the same 24- or 36-month plan and remain connected to an eligible $10 per month Optus watch plan.
- Sign up to the Promo Plan to get 360GB of data and pay only $69 per month for the first 12 months instead of $79.
- No excess data charges. Once you've used up your monthly data allowance, your speeds will be capped at 1.5Mbps until your next billing cycle.
- Option to sign up via an eSIM if you have a compatible handset.
- International calls are not included in Optus's 50GB plan.

Best Samsung plan

- Mobile network: Optus 4G/5G network
- SIM fee: $0
- Delivery fee: $0 – free express delivery
- Total minimum cost $1,453.96
- Total cost over 36 months: $3,378.96
- Sign up to the Promo Plan to get 360GB of data and pay only $69 per month for the first 12 months instead of $79.
- Includes 6 months of free Google AI Pro valued at $197.
- Optus Upgrade and Protect worth up to $540 is included as part of the Promo plan when you purchase the Galaxy S25 series on a 12, 24 or 36 month payment term.
- No excess data charges. Once you've used up your monthly data allowance, your speeds will be capped at 1.5Mbps until your next billing cycle.
- Optus's 50GB plan doesn't include international calls.

We looked at mobile plans in our database for personal use only. Depending on the category, we either looked at SIM-only plans or phones on a plan from Samsung or Apple. For the latter, we based our top pick on popularity among Finder users.

For the remaining best picks, we attached a value score to each plan we compared, looking at factors such as price, daily cost per gigabyte, network coverage and any applicable download speed caps, with the provider having the highest score coming out as the winner.

Here’s a rundown of exactly how our value scoring system works:

Cost per gigabyte. This is calculated by taking the price of the plan over 12 months divided by the amount of data (GB). The price includes any promotional offers.

Network coverage. We awarded scores depending on how wide the network coverage is across Australia.

Data rollover. We weight providers that offer data rollover higher than those that don't have this feature.

International calls. We weight providers that offer data rollover higher than those that don't have this feature. This includes those that offer unlimited calls or credit/minutes for international purposes.

Wi-Fi calling. We weight providers that offer Wi-Fi calling higher than those that don't have this feature.

We then assign a weight to each of the factors in order to calculate a value score. Price and data are given the highest weighting.

How do you find the best mobile plan?

The best mobile plan for you will depend on your personal preferences. Here are some of the things to consider to help get you started:

Do you want access to a particular mobile network?

While there are dozens of mobile plan retailers, there are just 3 network operators. In order of coverage, they are Telstra (99.7%), Optus (98.5%) and TPG/Vodafone (98.4%).

You can check coverage in your area online before you sign up because even in metropolitan areas, there may be coverage gaps.

phone with arrows pointing to opposite direction

How much data do you need?

The average Australian uses 12.8GB a month according to the ACCC's Internet Activity Report.

You can use our mobile data usage calculator to get an estimate of how much data you use, but it's also a good idea to check your latest bill.

Knowing how much data you need will stop you from overpaying on your mobile plan.

What features are must haves for you?

When choosing our top picks, we considered a broad range of features that are useful to have, including data rollover, Wi-Fi calling and international calls and texts.

That being said, you may just be happy with a regular plan with national calls and texts and data. If that sounds like you, don't be fooled by fancy extras and stick to a simpler plan for cheaper instead.

Buying outright vs phone on a plan

Buying outright will always be cheaper in the long run as you won't be tied to the major telcos and their premium prices.

However, phone repayment plans can work out better if you don't want to pay a hefty amount upfront.

If you do end up getting a new phone on a plan, you'll need to decide which repayment period works best. You can typically choose between 12-, 24- and 36-months.

You can read our guide to buying outright vs on a plan for more tips.

Haven't found what you're looking for?

We've got a lot more plans and deals for you to compare.

Compare mobile plans

Frequently asked questions

The cheapest provider may not always be the best but that's why we went to have a few different comparison experiences depending on what you're after.
You can either:
- Compare cheap mobile plans if you're on a tight budget
- Or, check out the top 10 mobile phone providers popular among Finder users
The gap between prepaid and postpaid plans has gotten smaller. Even if a provider offers a postpaid plan, it's likely you'll need to pay upfront.
The main difference between the two comes down to expiry periods. Postpaid plans are mostly month-to-month, whereas prepaid plans have 7-, 28-, 30-, 180- or 365-day expiries among others.
You can checkout our guide breaking down prepaid vs postpaid plans to decide which one best fits your bill.

Sources

Written by

Mariam Gabaji

Senior Utilities Editor & Tech Expert

Mariam Gabaji is a journalist with 13 years of experience, specialising in consumer topics like mobile services and energy costs. Her work appears in the ABC, Yahoo Finance, 9News, The Guardian, SBS, 7News, A Current Affair and Money Magazine. Mariam holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and was a finalist for the 2024 and 2025 IT Journalism Award for Best Telecommunications Journalist. See full bio

Mariam's expertise

Mariam has written 449 Finder guides across topics including:

Energy
Mobile
Broadband
Consumer tech

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16 Responses

PeterNovember 24, 2025

I have a samsung s23 ultra,l am looking for the best phone plan,with coverage (Gwandalan.NSW 2259),
I currently use approx 40gb of data/month……can you assist. Thank you

Finder

MariamDecember 5, 2025Finder

Hi Peter, you can compare high data sim only plans here: https://www.finder.com.au/mobile-plans/high-data-sim-only-mobile-plans. When you choose a provider, just go on their website to double check the coverage map. Hope this helps!

JuanitaJuly 15, 2025

looking for plan that is mostly incoming calls little to no data usage and no phone attached to plan

Finder

MariamJuly 16, 2025Finder

Hi Juanita, you can compare cheap mobile plans here: https://www.finder.com.au/mobile-plans/cheap-mobile-plans. Use the filters in the table to find a plan best suited to your needs or you can scroll a bit further down to guide to check out our table highlighting the top 10 cheapest plans for the month. Hope this helps!

fredMay 21, 2025

Have a genbolt camera to use at my club. I have no idea how much data i will use per month. How do I calculate my data requirements?

Finder

MariamMay 23, 2025Finder

Hi Fred, it’s tricky to calculate, but I reckon it might be worth finding a plan with around 100GB of data and seeing what your usage is like in the first month. You can compare options here: https://www.finder.com.au/broadband-plans/mobile-broadband/data-only-sim-plans. They’re all month to month, so it’ll be easy to switch around — even to a different data limit with the same provider. Hope this helps!

christopherApril 3, 2025

what are the countries included in you plan pleaes?

Finder

SarahApril 3, 2025Finder

Hi Christopher, I’m not sure which plan you’re referring to, as there are many different providers listed on this page. If you can share more details we can do our best to find the information you’re looking for.

stewartApril 23, 2024

I tried to move my $50 phone account from optus to telstra However after a week with Telstra , optus said i had to move it back as I had 2 years to go in my prepaid account, I moved it baxk and now optus are trying to bully me in to paying $600+ instead of $about $50, What carrier can i take my phone number to ??

Finder

SarahApril 23, 2024Finder

Hi Stewart,

We’re not licenced to provide personal advice, so we suggest you get in touch with Optus’s customer service and dispute resolution team to work out what your next steps might be. Best of luck

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Best mobile plans for February 2026