Best mobile plans for seniors

Check out the top 4 budget-friendly mobile plans for seniors this month. Some even come with handy features like unlimited international calls.

Top pick: 365-day
Catch Connect logo
120GB
$119
per 365 days expiry
$119 for the first recharge, then $150/recharge. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 3.12.24
Top pick: International calls
TPG logo
Finder Award
50GB
$17.50
per month
$17.50/mth for the first 6 months, then $35/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply.

While some of the major Australian telcos offer seniors-specific discounts, deals on regular mobile plans are very common. You might find you're better off with a normal plan than one designed for seniors.

The comparison table below shows some of the cheapest mobile plans on Finder that cost under $30 or less a month, including some yearly options which equate to under $30 or less a month.

1 - 3 of 108
Name Product AUFMP-SIM Data Price Apply Price
Southern Phone Finder Exclusive
PostpaidNo lock-in contract
$15/mth for the first 6 months, then $29/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 29.11.24
Southern Phone Finder Exclusive
Postpaid
$15/mth for the first 6 months, then $29/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 29.11.24
Exclusive
  • Unlimited national calls & texts
  • Optus 5G/4G network
50GB
$15
per month
Go to site
View details
Exclusive
$15/mth for the first 6 months, then $29/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 29.11.24
  • Unlimited standard national calls & texts
50 GB
Data
$15
per month
Dodo $28 Online Exclusive
PostpaidNo lock-in contract
$14/mth for the first 3 months, then $28/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Order by 30.11.24
Dodo $28 Online Exclusive
Postpaid
$14/mth for the first 3 months, then $28/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Order by 30.11.24
Exclusive
  • Unlimited national calls & texts
  • Optus 4G network
30GB
$14
per month
Go to site
View details
Exclusive
$14/mth for the first 3 months, then $28/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Order by 30.11.24
  • Unlimited standard national calls & texts
30 GB
Data
$14
per month
TPG Small
PrepaidNo lock-in contract
$12.50/mth for the first 6 months, then $25/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply.
TPG Small
Prepaid
$12.50/mth for the first 6 months, then $25/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply.
Finder Award
  • Unlimited national calls & texts
  • Vodafone 4G network
25GB
$12.50
per month
Go to site
View details
Finder Award
$12.50/mth for the first 6 months, then $25/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply.
  • Unlimited standard national calls & texts
25 GB
Data
$12.50
per month
loading

Finding the best mobile plans for seniors

Our team of mobile plan experts have compared over 300 mobile plans from 49 mobile providers in Australia. We've curated 4 top picks based on price, network and expert analysis. Not all mobile plans will suit your needs so make sure you compare your options before choosing the right one for you.

Why you can trust our research

322 SIM-only plans analyzed

758 Australians surveyed

180+ hours of research

Mariam Gabaji
Expert picks reviewed by Mariam Gabaji – Utilities editor at Finder

Top pick: Best value mobile plan for seniors

Southern Phone Small

Unlimited
Calls & Text
20GB
data
$24
per month
Southern Phone Small logo

Pros & cons:

  • $50 international call credit included.
  • There’s no lock-in contract so you can leave whenever you want. You can also BYO number and sign up via an eSIM if you have a compatible handset.
  • All of its mobile plans are carbon neutral.
  • 5G download speeds are capped at 100Mbps, though this is still good enough for streaming, browsing and social media.

Mobile network: Optus 4G/5G network

Total cost over first 12 months: $288

Why we chose it

To find the best value mobile plan for seniors, we looked at mobile plans on Finder that cost under $30 per month. We then gave each shortlisted plan a value score by assigning weights to a number of 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 seniors on the Telstra network

Tangerine 12GB 4G SIM

Unlimited
Calls & Text
12GB
data
$22
per month
Tangerine 12GB 4G SIM logo

Pros & cons:

  • You can bank up to 500GB of unused data for future use.
  • Plan allows you to BYO number and access unlimited local calls and texts. There’s also no lock-in contract.
  • Get a 10% discount on your mobile plan fees when you bundle internet and mobile with Tangerine.
  • You can add on a travel pack if you’re heading overseas.
  • 4G download speeds are capped at 100Mbps but this is still fast enough for most online activities.

Mobile network: Wholesale Telstra 4G network

Total cost over first 12 months: $264

Why we chose it

We looked at mobile plans on Finder that cost under $30 per month and run on the Telstra wholesale and full network. We gave each plan a value score by assigning weights to a number of factors including cost per data over 12 months (including promotional offers), 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 365-day mobile plan for seniors

Catch Connect 365 Day Plan 120GB

Unlimited
Calls & Text
120GB
data
$119
per 365 days
Catch Connect 365 Day Plan 120GB logo

$119 for the first recharge, then $150/recharge. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 3.12.24

Pros & cons:

  • You're essentially paying just over $10 a month for 10GB of data which is pretty good value for money.
  • Includes unlimited standard calls and texts in Australia.
  • Price reverts to $150 after your first year, but there's no lock-in contract so you can switch at any time.
  • Automatic recharges are turned on by default so you'll need to opt out in your account dashboard if you don't want your plan to renew automatically for the next year.

Mobile network: Optus 4G network

Total cost over first 12 months: $119

Why we chose it

We compared prepaid mobile plans on Finder that cost under $150. We then gave each plan a value score by assigning weights to a number of 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 with international calls

TPG Medium

Unlimited
Calls & Text
50GB
data
$17.50
per month
TPG Medium logo

$17.50/mth for the first 6 months, then $35/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply.

Pros & cons:

  • You’ll get unlimited calls and texts to 31 selected countries including Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Singapore, the UK, USA, Thailand, South Korea, Mexico and Germany.
  • Save $105 over 6 months with the current offer.
  • Pay $30 instead of $35 ongoing after 6 months if you bundle with TPG’s internet plan.
  • 5G download speeds are capped at 150Mbps but this is still fast enough for most online activities.

Mobile network: Vodafone 4G/5G network

Total cost over first 12 months: $315.0

Why we chose it

We looked at mobile plans on Finder that cost under $40 per month and offer international calls and texts for free. We gave each plan a value score by assigning weights to a number of factors including cost per data over 12 months (including promotional offers), data rollover and Wi-Fi calling. Our top pick was chosen based on the plan with the highest value score from a Finder partner.


How to find the best mobile plan for seniors

If you're feeling overwhelmed with choices, you're not alone. With over 300 plans to choose from, it can be tough trying to decide which one is best for you.

To help you find the right one, consider these 4 things when choosing a new mobile plan:

  1. How much are you willing to pay? There are plenty of options for different price ranges starting as low as $5. Make sure you compare your options before deciding on 1.
  2. Do you need extra features? While some plans come with features such as data-free streaming and data rollover, consider whether you'll actually use these. Plans with fewer bonus features will usually still offer unlimited national calls and texts, with better value for data if you need it.
  3. How much data do you need? If you don't use your phone a lot, or you're only occasionally using the "Find My Phone" or weather app, you'll likely only need as little as 1–2GB of data a month. If you don't have a smartphone, you won't need any data at all.
  4. Are you willing to sign up long term to save? Long expiry options exist which can give you enough features to last 6–12 months. This means you won't need to top up your plan every month, as long as you haven't run out before the expiry period. These plans are usually better value over time compared to month-to-month plans since you're paying upfront for a longer period of usage.

Telstra mobile plans for seniors

Telstra seniors discount: If you have a valid Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card or Department of Veterans' Affairs card, Telstra offers a $19 a month discount on its Starter mobile plan. This Telstra Starter mobile plan costs $31 a month for 2GB of data.

The 4G Telstra mobile network covers 99.5% of the Australian population. Its plans also include:

  • No lock-in contract
  • Unlimited standard national calls and texts in Australia
  • No excess data charges, but if you go over the data limit, your speed will be slowed to 1.5Mbps. At this speed, you'll only be able to stream standard definition video, listen to music, browse the web and access social media

Cheapest Telstra mobile plan for seniors:

Name Product AUFMP-SIM Data Price Apply Price
Telstra $39 SIM Kit
PrepaidNo lock-in contract
40GB/recharge for the first 3 recharges, then 15GB/recharge. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Activate by 10.3.25
Telstra $39 SIM Kit
Prepaid
40GB/recharge for the first 3 recharges, then 15GB/recharge. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Activate by 10.3.25
  • Unlimited national calls & texts
  • Telstra 5G/4G network
40GB
$39
per 28 day recharge
View details
40GB/recharge for the first 3 recharges, then 15GB/recharge. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Activate by 10.3.25
  • Unlimited standard national calls & texts
40 GB
Data
$39
per 28 days expiry
loading

Vodafone mobile plans for seniors

Vodafone seniors discount: Vodafone offers seniors card holders 10% off monthly plan fees on its Infinite Plans and Infinite Data Plans.

Vodafone's mobile network reaches 96% of Australians. Vodafone's SIM Only plans come with:

  • No excess data charges, you can keep using your phone, but your speed will be slowed
  • Unlimited standard international texts
  • No limits on the number of calls to standard numbers and texts in Australia

Cheapest Vodafone mobile plan for seniors:

There's a couple options for a cheap seniors Vodafone plan. You can either take advantage of the 10% discount and get Vodafone's Small Infinite plan for $36 instead of $40, or go for its cheapest prepaid plan which costs less than that.

Name Product AUFMP-SIM Data Price Apply Price
Vodafone Small SIM-only Plan
PostpaidNo lock-in contract
Black Friday Deal: $39/mth when you stay connected with the plan, instead of $49/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 2.12.24
Vodafone Small SIM-only Plan
Postpaid
Black Friday Deal: $39/mth when you stay connected with the plan, instead of $49/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 2.12.24
  • Unlimited national calls & texts
  • Vodafone 5G/4G network
50GB
No excess data charges
$39
per month
View details
Black Friday Deal: $39/mth when you stay connected with the plan, instead of $49/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 2.12.24
  • Unlimited standard national calls & texts
50 GB
Data
$39
per month
Vodafone $35 Prepaid Plus Starter Pack
PrepaidNo lock-in contract
60GB for $12 on activation, then 60GB for $35/recharge for the next 5 recharges. Eligibility criteria and T&Cs apply. Ends 2.12.24.
Vodafone $35 Prepaid Plus Starter Pack
Prepaid
60GB for $12 on activation, then 60GB for $35/recharge for the next 5 recharges. Eligibility criteria and T&Cs apply. Ends 2.12.24.
  • Unlimited national calls & texts
  • Vodafone 5G/4G network
60GB
No excess data charges
$35
per 28 day recharge
View details
60GB for $12 on activation, then 60GB for $35/recharge for the next 5 recharges. Eligibility criteria and T&Cs apply. Ends 2.12.24.
  • Unlimited standard national calls & texts
60 GB
Data
$35
per 28 days expiry
loading

Optus mobile plans for seniors

Optus seniors discount: None.

Optus doesn't offer specific mobile plans for seniors, but does have a regular range of prepaid plans for you to choose from. The 4G Optus mobile network covers 98.5% of Australians. Most of its prepaid plans come with:

  • Unlimited standard national calls and texts in Australia
  • Included minutes to call to selected countries
  • Rollover of up to 200GB of unused data, which means you can move any data you don't use by the expiry date to the next 28 days.

Cheapest Optus mobile plan for seniors:

Name Product AUFMP-SIM Data Price Apply Price
Optus Flex Plus $35
PrepaidNo lock-in contract
Black Friday: $12 1st 28 days, ends 4.12.24 + 55GB on 1st 3 recharges, activate by 7.3.25 + Unlimited data weekends with AutoRecharge, ends 16.3.25. T&Cs apply
Optus Flex Plus $35
Prepaid
Black Friday: $12 1st 28 days, ends 4.12.24 + 55GB on 1st 3 recharges, activate by 7.3.25 + Unlimited data weekends with AutoRecharge, ends 16.3.25. T&Cs apply
  • Unlimited national calls & texts
  • Optus 5G/4G network
55GB
$35
per 28 day recharge
Go to site
View details
Black Friday: $12 1st 28 days, ends 4.12.24 + 55GB on 1st 3 recharges, activate by 7.3.25 + Unlimited data weekends with AutoRecharge, ends 16.3.25. T&Cs apply
  • Unlimited standard national calls & texts
55 GB
Data
$35
per 28 days expiry
loading

ALDImobile plans for seniors

ALDImobile seniors discount: None.

There are no mobile plans for seniors on ALDImobile, but it still offers some cheap options. Its prepaid mobile plans run on the wholesale Telstra mobile network, which covers 98.8% of the population in Australia. ALDImobile's plans come with:

  • Unlimited standard calls and SMS to Australian numbers
  • 5G on selected plans
  • Unlimited data rollover
  • Unlimited calls and texts to 20 selected countries on some plans

Cheapest ALDImobile plan for seniors:

Name Product AUFMP-SIM Data Price Apply Price
ALDI $19 Plan
PrepaidNo lock-in contract
ALDI $19 Plan
Prepaid
  • Unlimited national calls & texts
  • Wholesale Telstra 4G network
10GB
$19
per 30 day recharge
View details
  • Unlimited standard national calls & texts
10GB
Data
$19
per 30 days expiry
loading

TPG mobile plans for seniors

TPG seniors discount: None.

While there are no seniors plans for TPG, its plans still offer great value for money, especially for the first 6 months with prices being discounted by 50%.

TPG plans run on the Vodafone mobile network, which covers 96% of Ausralians and come with:

  • Unlimited talk and text to Australian standard numbers
  • No lock-in contracts
  • Free express delivery of SIM card in metro areas

Cheapest TPG mobile plan for seniors:

Name Product AUFMP-SIM Data Price Apply Price
TPG Small
PrepaidNo lock-in contract
$12.50/mth for the first 6 months, then $25/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply.
TPG Small
Prepaid
$12.50/mth for the first 6 months, then $25/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply.
Finder Award
  • Unlimited national calls & texts
  • Vodafone 4G network
25GB
$12.50
per month
Go to site
View details
Finder Award
$12.50/mth for the first 6 months, then $25/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply.
  • Unlimited standard national calls & texts
25 GB
Data
$12.50
per month
loading

Southern Phone mobile plans for seniors

Southern Phone seniors discount: None, but offers a seniors-friendly mobile phone.

Southern Phone doesn't offer mobile plans for seniors, but it does offer a mobile phone that's specifically aimed at seniors and easy to use, the Swissvoice C50s. You can bundle the Swissvoice C50s with a Southern Phone SIM Only plan of your choice. These plans come with:

  • Unlimited calls and texts in Australia
  • At least $50 call credit for standard international calls
  • No lock-in contract
  • Runs on the Optus network, accessible to 98.5% of Australians

Cheapest Southern Phone mobile plan for seniors:

Name Product AUFMP-SIM Data Price Apply Price
Southern Phone Finder Exclusive
PostpaidNo lock-in contract
$15/mth for the first 6 months, then $29/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 29.11.24
Southern Phone Finder Exclusive
Postpaid
$15/mth for the first 6 months, then $29/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 29.11.24
Exclusive
  • Unlimited national calls & texts
  • Optus 5G/4G network
50GB
$15
per month
Go to site
View details
Exclusive
$15/mth for the first 6 months, then $29/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 29.11.24
  • Unlimited standard national calls & texts
50 GB
Data
$15
per month
loading

How we researched the best mobile plans for seniors

  • We looked at SIM-only plans in our database designed for personal use.
  • Other selection criteria to narrow down our shortlist included looking at active Finder partners across the categories which allowed for this.
  • Promotional discounts were also taken into account during scoring.

How does Finder's value scoring system work?

For certain categories, we use a value scoring system to choose the best mobile plans for seniors by scoring the following factors:

  • Cost per gigabyte. This is calculated by taking the price of the plan over 12 months divided by the amount of data (GB).
  • 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. 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.


Mariam Gabaji's headshot
Written by

Editor I Tech and utilities expert

Mariam Gabaji is an editor and tech and utilities expert at Finder with 12+ years of experience as a journalist. She's committed to helping households cut through the industry jargon and save money on their bills. Her expertise is often featured in media including the ABC, Yahoo Finance, 9News, 7News, A Current Affair, The Guardian, SBS and Money Magazine. See full bio

Mariam's expertise
Mariam has written 298 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Energy
  • Mobile
  • Broadband
  • Consumer tech
Mark Neilsen's headshot
Co-written by

Utilities writer

Mark Neilsen is a writer at Finder, specialising in streaming, broadband and mobile. He looks for deals on all those services and keeps you abreast of any changes to see what's worth it for you. He has over 20 years' experience in print and digital media and while at Finder, Mark’s expertise has been featured in Yahoo Finance, The New Daily, Ad News, Tech Guide and news.com.au. In his time at Finder he has done over 300 articles on streaming, mobile and broadband. In his time away from Finder he is trying to get through the watchlists of the 11 streaming services he is currently subscribed to. See full bio

Mark's expertise
Mark has written 53 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Entertainment streaming
  • Sports streaming
  • Broadband
  • Mobile

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10 Responses

    Default Gravatar
    CatherineAugust 30, 2023

    I want to know which providers allow you to pay with Paypal?

      AvatarFinder
      MariamSeptember 4, 2023Finder

      Hi Catherine, it’s rare that a provider offers Paypal as a method of payment. You can check here which places offer you to pay via Paypal https://www.paypal.com/au/webapps/mpp/shop-with-paypal. Telstra used to but it may have gotten rid of the option. It’s best to verify with the provider directly before signing up.

    Default Gravatar
    LuffyOctober 18, 2018

    what plan and Iphone would you recommend for my 83 yr old dad

      AvatarFinder
      JohnOctober 19, 2018Finder

      Hi Luffy,

      Thank you for leaving a question.

      The plans that are offered to Seniors are of different categories. You may want to check first how to maximize the value of the plan you wish to take based on how you would be using it. Will you be using it more on data? Text and calls perhaps? Please include these factors when choosing a plan that suits your needs. As per the Iphone, Depending on your budget, you may want to check the newest flagship of Apple which is the iPhone X. But if you are not into getting the newest version, most of the older iPhones have most of the features present in the new flagship. Hope this helps!

      Cheers,
      Reggie

    Default Gravatar
    MaggieApril 26, 2018

    I have a 94yo friend and want to get her a very cheap (no data or internet) phone with large numbers – where can I find a comparison?

      Default Gravatar
      JoelApril 26, 2018

      Hi Maggie,

      Thanks for leaving a question on Finder.

      We have outlined everything you need to know in our article above. If your friend is careful with her money or surviving only on a pension, she does not have the money to splash around on high-end mobile plans. For her, a mobile phone is a calling tool first and foremost, with a strong focus on a lower overall cost of usage. She can check out Amaysim As You Go or ALDImobile PAYG

      You can also check out our list of mobile plans so you can personalize your search. 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.

      Cheers,
      Joel

    Default Gravatar
    RayJuly 5, 2017

    I am just on 64, almost retired & have a 2G mobile phone . I’ve received emails & texts saying that I have to upgrade to a 3G or 4G mobile phone by August 1st. I don’t use the phone very much. I usually get $30 Virgin credit & it lasts me for about 6 months. I would like to get a replacement (probably 4G) mobile with similar conditions. Can you advise a phone & will it still be possible to get the $30 credit so that I only get charged on the calls or texts that I make?

    Regards
    Ray

      Default Gravatar
      JonathanJuly 6, 2017

      Hello Ray!

      Thanks for the comment. :)

      Please be advised that you have reached finder and we provide generic advice.

      Whether buying it outright or checking your telco provider if they offer this on a cheap mobile plan is your choice. Getting into a plan may give you bigger calls and texts value, not to mention, you may qualify for some Senior’s Discount! :)

      Good Luck with your choice! I know you want this to keep connected to your loved ones.

      Hope this helps.

      Cheers,
      Jonathan

    Default Gravatar
    JuliaMarch 28, 2017

    I am about to transfer my number to another person and need a new number. Am I able to have a choice of numbers and pick a favorite?

      AvatarFinder
      MayMarch 28, 2017Finder

      Hi Julia,

      Thank you for your inquiry.

      There are providers that will let you choose a mobile number. In order to request this, please contact your chosen mobile plan provider directly.

      Cheers,
      May

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