Exetel mobile plans aren't very exciting. Its prices aren't too expensive, but also aren't that very cheap falling somewhere in middle. Where you might some value is if you are looking to bundle your mobile and NBN plans together.
Its 500GB data banking feature is handy, bumping up the amount of value you can squeeze from its plans, but other than that, there isn't too much going on.
Exetel could suit you if:
You're already an Exetel NBN customer. Customers who bundle an Exetel mobile plan with an Exetel NBN plan can get $5–15 off their monthly bill.
You like flexibility. Exetel has no lock-in contracts and its 500GB data bank can store your extra data for later use (so long as you don't downgrade your plan).
You prefer longer recharge periods. Exetel's plans last 30 days, meaning 1 less recharge in a year in comparison to providers that offer 28-day recharges.
But keep in mind that Exetel:
Has mandatory auto-recharge until you cancel your plan, and this feature can't be disabled.
Uses only parts of the Telstra 4G network. If you live in a rural or regional area, you may appreciate a plan with full access to the Telstra 4G network instead (from Boost Mobile or Telstra itself).
Has few contact options. If you aren't prepared to wait on hold for its call centre, your only other option is to send an email.
Exetel mobile plans aren't the best or worst in the market.
Its entry-level plan is around standard for its plan inclusion, as lower data plans tend to hover around $10–$15 a month.
Good to know: The rest of Exetel's plans average out to $1.39 per 1GB, which isn't great against a benchmark of $1 per 1GB. Although, like most mobile providers, you'll get better value for money if you choose a larger plan.
Things to watch out for:
You can't manually recharge your plan – instead, it will auto-recharge every 30 days and you can't disable this feature until you cancel your plan altogether.
When you run through your data allowance, you'll need to either purchase a data add-on or recharge to access more data.
Coverage
If you're after wide coverage in Australia, Exetel is a good choice:
You get access to parts of the Telstra 4G mobile network, which covers 98.8% of the population.
It has wider coverage than either Optus (98.5%) or Vodafone (96%).
Coverage is slightly less than the full Telstra 4G network (99.5%), so you might feel the difference in rural or regional areas.
Does Exetel have 5G?
Yes, Exetel offers 5G connectivity via the Telstra 5G network but only on its 100GB and 150GB plans. If you sign up to any of Exetel's other plans you'll be on the 4G network.
Customer service
If you need to get in touch with Exetel, its service team is available 8:30am–5:30pm (AEST) Monday to Friday, and its tech support team is available 8:30am–10pm, Monday to Sunday.
You can:
Ring up the customer support team on the phone.
Send through an email, though this may result in a slower response.
Bonus features
Exetel has quite a number of bonus features available on its plans:
🔄 Data banking
At the end of each month, any unused data you have left over is stored in a data bank, up to a maximum of 500GB.
Keep in mind that if you downgrade your plan, your data bank will be reset.
🌏 International inclusions
Exetel's 30GB and 45GB plans include unlimited talk and text to 15 countries, which can be useful if you have friends or family living overseas.
All plans allow you to purchase 300 minutes of international calls to 30 countries for $6. These minutes expire with your next plan recharge.
💰 Discount for bundling
So long as you also hold an Exetel broadband account, you'll get a discount on your broadband bill for additional Exetel services (including its mobile plans).
This discount starts at $5 a month with 1 extra service and increases to $15 a month at 5 additional services.
➕ Data add-ons
If you find yourself running out of data before the month is up, you can purchase 1 of 2 data top-ups:
1GB for $10
5GB for $25
Which rivals are giving Exetel a run for its money?
For full Telstra coverage:
Boost is the only provider besides Telstra with full Telstra 4G coverage (99.5%) rather than the reduced wholesale network (98.8%). It has affordable prepaid plans too.
For more data: If you're after more than the 38GB Exetel can provide, Circles.Life has cheap mobile plans offering up to 160GB per month.
For better bundling
Sign up to any Vodafone mobile plan and you'll get a stock-standard $15 off your Vodafone NBN plan. Vodafone also rewards those with multiple services under 1 account too.
Ready to sign up to Exetel?
Sadly, Exetel mobile plans are not available via Finder. You'll need to visit Exetel's website exetel.com.au/mobilephone and complete the application to sign up.
Or continue comparing mobile plans on Finder from 47 other providers to find the best plan for you.
What if I want to keep my current phone number? Once you've completed your purchase, Exetel will send you a SIM card (2–3 business days for delivery). During activation, indicate that you want to keep your number and it should be transferred in a few hours (though it can take up to 2 business days).
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
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:
There are just 3 mobile networks in Australia but over 50 phone companies to choose from. The choice can be overwhelming so we’ve made it easier by rounding up the 10 mobile service providers on Finder instead.
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