Catch Connect review

Our verdict: Catch Connect offers some of the best-value long expiry prepaid mobile plans as long as you're happy to commit for 3 months or longer.

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Congratulations, Catch connect!

Catch connect received the highly commended award for 'Long Expiry Prepaid Mobile Plan' in the 2024 Product Awards.

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Pros

  • Comprehensive app for plan management on the go

Cons

  • No bonus features on plans

Compare Catch mobile plans

Name Product AUFMP-SIM Data Price Apply Price
Catch Connect 90 Day Plan 20GB
PrepaidNo lock-in contract
Catch Connect 90 Day Plan 20GB
Prepaid
  • Unlimited national calls & texts
  • Optus 4G network
20GB
$40
per 90 day recharge
Go to site
View details
  • Unlimited standard national calls & texts
20GB
Data
$40
per 90 days expiry
Catch Connect 365 Day Plan 120GB
PrepaidNo lock-in contract
$119 for the first recharge, then $150/recharge. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 3.12.24
Catch Connect 365 Day Plan 120GB
Prepaid
$119 for the first recharge, then $150/recharge. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 3.12.24
  • Unlimited national calls & texts
  • Optus 4G/3G network
120GB
$119
per 365 day recharge
Go to site
View details
$119 for the first recharge, then $150/recharge. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 3.12.24
  • Unlimited standard national calls & texts
120 GB
Data
$119
per 365 days expiry
Catch Connect 365 Day Plan 200GB
PrepaidNo lock-in contract
$150 for the first recharge, then $200/recharge after. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 3.12.24
Catch Connect 365 Day Plan 200GB
Prepaid
$150 for the first recharge, then $200/recharge after. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 3.12.24
  • Unlimited national calls & texts
  • Optus 4G/3G network
200GB
$150
per 365 day recharge
Go to site
View details
$150 for the first recharge, then $200/recharge after. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 3.12.24
  • Unlimited standard national calls & texts
200 GB
Data
$150
per 365 days expiry
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Catch Connect review: Our verdict

Following the cheap everything model of its parent company Catch.com.au, Catch's set of mobile plans delivers on value for those who just want a basic plan.

It has some of the best-value 30-day prepaid plans on the market and equally great value across its longer expiry plans too.

Catch could be the right choice for you if you:

  • Enjoy sign-up deals as there are frequent promotional offers on its mobile plans.
  • Want a user-friendly app to help you manage your plan.
  • Want acess to either short-term or longer-term plans that wont break the bank.

 
That said, there are a few things to consider before signing up to Catch:

  • You won't get any extra perks such as free international call inclusions or the option to roll over unused data.
  • It doesn't offer access to Optus's 5G network.
  • Its plans are best suited for low to moderate data users.

"I was looking to upgrade my mobile plan as I noticed my data usage was a little restrictive and my previous plan had a discount that was soon ending. I signed up to Catch Connect for my mobile plan and tripled my data pack for only $15 a month, which was a great deal. Porting your sim these days only takes about 2 hours and I connected over the weekend. You can auto-recharge each month to ensure your always connected. It's so simple."

Amy Lee
Finder crew member

Read a more detailed review on


money icon

Value for money

Catch Connect's monthly plans offer great value for money compared to similar options from other providers in Finder's database.

Its 30GB plan for $25 a month stacks up well against our benchmark of $1 per GB of data.

Catch Connect has 1 plan with a 90-day expiry period and 3 that last for a year. They're great value with and without discounts.

The 90-day expiry plan offers 20GB for $40 over 90 days, which is good if you don't want to deal with the frequency of monthly recharges.

However, if you need more data and use 16GB or less each month, Catch's 365-day plans will be worth it for you.

Spreading the cost over a year, its long expiry plans will cost less than most equivalent monthly plans.

Things to watch out for:

  • Auto-recharge is activated by default. If you're not keen on this feature, you'll need to deactivate it through the Catch Connect app or its online portal.

coverage icon

Coverage

Catch Connect runs on the Optus 4G mobile network, which reaches about 98.5% of the Australian population.
  • This is identical to the coverage you'd get from purchasing a plan directly from Optus itself.
  • You shouldn't experience any issues in metro areas, but might notice a loss of reception in some rural or regional areas compared to Telstra's 99.5% coverage.

customer service icon

Customer service

If you're having problems with your Catch Connect service or would like a question answered, you can reach out in the following ways:

  • Call the customer support team to chat with a customer support rep from 9am–8pm AEST weekdays or 10am–6pm AEST weekends and holidays.
  • Chat with the support team online via live chat on the website.
  • Keep in mind: Catch Connect does not have a physical store where you can speak to representatives for in-person help.

Which rivals are giving Catch Connect a run for its money?

While Catch Connect is undeniably cheap, you might want to consider one of these other mobile providers if you're looking for a little bit more on your plan:

For more features:


aldimobile logo

ALDImobile has affordable plans that also come with useful features such as data rollover and international call inclusions.

For more data:


aldimobile LOGO

Catch has great deals, but offers a maximum of 30GB per month. If you're looking for more data, check out Circles.Life and its budget-friendly 100GB and 160GB plans.

For better coverage:


boost logop

Boost Mobile is the only small provider that has access to the full Telstra network, reaching 99.5% of Australians. As a smaller provider, its prices are also cheaper than Telstra itself.

Ready to sign up to Catch Connect

You can sign up to your chosen Catch Connect mobile plan online and get the SIM delivered to your address within 3–8 working days with standard delivery, depending on where you live.

phone icon

What if I want to keep my current phone number?
During activation, you'll be able to choose to keep your current mobile number. Simply slect "keep your number" and enter your current digits. Catch Connect will handle the porting process, usually transferring your number within 1 business day.


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To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Jason Loewenthal as part of our fact-checking process.
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Written by

Writer

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. See full bio

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Co-written by

Writer

Cameron Micallef was an investment and utilities writer for Finder. He previously worked on titles including Smart Property Investment, nestegg and Investor Daily, reporting across superannuation, property and investments. Cameron has a Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies/ Commerce from the University of Wollongong. Outside of work Cameron is passionate about all things sports and travel. See full bio

Cameron's expertise
Cameron has written 163 Finder guides across topics including:
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