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.
Top pick: Best prepaid mobile plan
felix Subscription 25GB GREEN COMPANY
Calls & Text
data. Slowed down to 1.5Mbps after full speed data used up
per month
$12.50/mth for the first 3 months, then $25/mth. Use promo code FELIX50. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply.
Pros & cons:
- You’ll save $37.50 over 3 months with felix’s latest offer.
- There are no excess data charges. Using up your data allowance will only slow your download speeds to 1.5Mbps.
- It features unlimited data banking, a handy feature to avoid unused data from going to waste.
- You can sign up via an eSIM if you have a compatible handset. This makes it even easier, and quicker to switch to felix.
- The price reverts to $25 a month after 3 months but it’s still pretty good for how much data you’re getting in return.
Mobile network: Vodafone 4G/5G network
Total cost over first 12 months: $262.5
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. We disqualified any mobile plans with enforced speed caps. Of the plans that met those criteria, we then ranked them by our value score and went with the highest-ranking plan.
Top pick: Best postpaid mobile plan
Belong 40GB
Calls & Text
data. Slowed down to 1Mbps after full speed data used up
per month
Pros & cons:
- You can keep all your unused data for future use as long as you pay on time. The data can also be shared with other Belong users.
- There are no excess charges. Your speeds will simply slow to 1Mbps until the next billing cycle kicks in.
- Option to add on international calls and roaming.
- 4G and 5G download speeds are capped at 150Mbps. However, this is still fast enough for most online activities.
Mobile network: Wholesale Telstra 4G/5G network
Total cost over first 12 months: $420
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.
Top pick: Best 365-day mobile plan
Catch Connect 365 Day Plan 200GB Finder Exclusive
Calls & Text
data
per 365 days
$150 for the first recharge, then $200/recharge. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 19.11.24
Pros & cons:
- You’re essentially paying $12.50 for just over 16GB of data, making this a great bargain.
- You can track data usage using Catch’s handy mobile app.
- There isn’t much in the way of extra features such as data rollover or international call inclusions.
Mobile network: Optus 4G network
Total cost over first 12 months: $150
Why we chose it
We looked at prepaid mobile plans on Finder with a plan length of 365-days or 12 months that cost under $150, 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.
Top pick: Best mobile plan for high data
Belong 100GB
Calls & Text
data. Slowed down to 1Mbps after full speed data used up
per month
Pros & cons:
- You’re essentially paying $0.45 per GB which stacks up extremely well against our $1 per GB benchmark.
- You can keep all your unused data for future use as long as you pay on time. The data can also be shared with other Belong users.
- There are no excess charges. Your speeds will simply slow to 1Mbps until the next billing cycle kicks in.
- Want even more data? Belong’s 160GB plan for $55 a month is a pretty good bargain too.
- 4G and 5G download speeds are capped at 150Mbps though this is still fast enough for most online activities.
Mobile network: Wholesale Telstra 4G/5G network
Total cost over first 12 months: $540
Why we chose it
To choose the best mobile for high data, we looked at mobile plans in our database from Finder partners that came with 40GB of data or more. 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.
Top pick: Best plan on the Telstra network
Tangerine 32GB 5G SIM
Calls & Text
data
per month
64GB/mth for the first 3 months, then 32GB/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 31.1.25
Pros & cons:
- Option to bank up to 500GB of unused data for future use.
- You can bundle internet and mobile with Tangerine and save 10% off your monthly mobile plan fees.
- Unlimited international calls to 15 selected countries including Bangladesh, China, Greece, Japan, Ireland and Malaysia.
- Travel packs are available if you’re heading overseas and need roaming switched on.
- 4G and 5G download speeds are capped at 100Mbps, though this should be fast enough for most online activities.
- Want less data? You can sign up to Tangerine’s 25GB plan for $27 a month instead.
Mobile network: Wholesale Telstra 4G/5G network
Total cost over first 12 months: $396
Why we chose it
To award the best mobile plan on the Telstra network, we compared plans with a monthly ongoing cost of under $40. We then ranked the plans by our value score and selected the highest ranking plan from a Finder partner.
Top pick: Best iPhone plan
Top pick: Best Samsung plan
2024 Finder Award winners
Top 5 mobile providers for customer satisfaction in 2024
Finder's Customer Satisfaction Awards highlight the mobile providers Aussies love and trust most, based on factors like customer service, features and benefits, speed, service reliability, and value for money.
Brand | Overall satisfaction | Customers who'd recommend |
---|---|---|
★★★★★ 4.58/5 | 100% | |
★★★★★ 4.35/5 | 100% | |
★★★★★ 4.33/5 | 100% | |
★★★★★ 4.2/5 | 86% | |
★★★★★ 4.03/5 | 86% |
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:
While there are dozens of mobile plan retailers, there are just 3 network operators. In order of coverage, they are Telstra (99.5%), Optus (98.5%) and TPG/Vodafone (96%).
You can check coverage in your area online before you sign up because even in metropolitan areas, there may be coverage gaps.
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.
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 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.
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Ask a question
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 ??
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
Optus have offered, on a 24 month plan, a new iPhone 7 with unlimited text and national calls together with 10GB of data discounted to $45.20 per month. Is this a good deal?
Hi Roy,
Thanks for getting in touch! It’s helpful to know that when choosing a mobile plan, it should be one that fits your monthly budget and lifestyle. Hope this was helpful. Don’t hesitate to message us back if you have more questions.
Best,
Nikki
Hi,
I would like to know which MVNO using full strength 4G network for voice and data. I heard that Boost is using Telstra’s full network and Virgin is using Optus. Is there any other MVNO using full strength network for both voice and data ??
Cheers!
Samy
Hi Samy,
Thanks for getting in touch with Finder.
The network strength depends on different factors such as time and place. However, in terms of network coverage, the service an MVNO offers shouldn’t differ in any way at all from the service that you’d get from the underlying network provider at the same location. That makes sense because it’s the exact same network infrastructure. If there’s an outage or a reception problem with an MVNO, it’s a question of the underlying carrier’s network, not the MVNO.
We also have a list of MVNOs along with the networks they use. Please check and see if it answers your question.
I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out again.
Have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Joshua
I need a new mobile phone (keeping my existing mobile number) + prepaid monthly plan to receive incoming calls from work and reply back fast and easy … as my job based on how fast I receive the messages from work and can take the shift … so coverage is important … between Caboolture, the Sunshine Coast and Bribie Island . Best/lowest price deals with fast and safe/reliable network even in rain/storm? Any suggestions? Thanks*
Hi Zita,
Thanks for your inquiry.
In terms of speed, calls, and messaging, all Australian telcos are largely using 3G networks. So we couldn’t single out who’s fast and who’s not. You may compare your phone plan using our comparison table and search filters to help narrow down your options. Please see the image below:
Once you have chosen a particular plan, you may then click on the “Go to site” button and you will be redirected to the provider’s website where you can proceed with your application or get in touch with their representatives for further assistance.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
May