Mobile Phone Providers in Australia: Top 10 Listed

Compare the top 10 popular mobile service providers in Australia

Southern Phone
Catch Connect
felix
iiNet
TPG
Dodo
Circles.Life
Belong
Optus
ALDImobile

1. Southern Phone - Affordable plans on the Optus network

Southern Phone's plans offer pretty great value, both with and without discounts and across all data limits.

Southern Phone Finder Exclusive

Unlimited calls & texts
Optus 4G/5G network

50GB
data

$15
per month

for the first 6 months then 50GB for $29. T&Cs apply. Ends by 31.1.25

Go to site

Southern Phone Finder Exclusive

Unlimited calls & text | Optus 4G/5G network

50GB
data

$15
per month

for the first 6 months then 50GB for $29. T&Cs apply. Ends by 31.1.25

Go to site

Southern Phone could be right for you if you:

Want an affordable plan on the Optus network and don't care much about extra bells and whistles.
Are looking for a plan with international call credit. Southern Phone offers $50 across all plans for standard international calls.

Keep in mind: 5G download speeds are capped at 100Mbps but this should still be good enough for most online activities.

2. Catch Connect - Great value long expiry deals

You might know Catch for its deals on everyday items, but that extends to its mobile plans as well.

While it offers decent month-to-month plans, its long-expiry offers are where the value lies.

That's why it was highly commended in the 2024 Finder Product Awards for its Long Expiry Prepaid Plan.

Catch Connect 365 Day Plan 120GB

Unlimited calls & texts
Optus 4G network

120GB
data

$119
per 365 days

for the first 365 days then 120GB for $150.

Go to site

Catch Connect 365 Day Plan 120GB

Unlimited calls & text | Optus 4G network

120GB
data

$119
per 365 days

for the first 365 days then 120GB for $150.

Go to site

Catch could be right for you if:

You can track data usage and manage your plan with its handy mobile app.
Catch was highly commended for its long-expiry prepaid plans in Finder's 2024 Product Awards.

Keep in mind: Light on extra features like data roll over or international call inclusions.

3. felix mobile - The only unlimited data mobile provider in Australia

felix is currently the only provider in Australia to offer a mobile plan with no data caps from the time you sign up.

The caveat is there's a 20Mbps download speed cap throughout, though this is still good enough for social media, streaming etc.

felix Subscription Unlimited GREEN COMPANY

Unlimited calls & texts
Vodafone 4G/5G network

Unlimited
data. Slowed down to 20Mbps after full speed data used up

$20
per month

for the first 3 months then Unlimited Data for $40. T&Cs apply. Use code FELIX50.

Go to site

felix Subscription Unlimited GREEN COMPANY

Unlimited calls & text | Vodafone 4G/5G network

Unlimited
data. Slowed down to 20Mbps after full speed data used up

$20
per month

for the first 3 months then Unlimited Data for $40. T&Cs apply. Use code FELIX50.

Go to site

felix could be right for you if you:

Don't want speed caps but appreciate the concept of endless data on other mobile plans from felix. Download speeds will be slowed to 1.5Mbps once you've exhausted your monthly data allowance meaning. It's the best way to avoid excess data charges.
Want a carbon-neutral plan from a Finder Green Award-winning provider. It also plants 1 tree per active subscription each month.

Keep in mind: felix offers purely digital customer support, which might not work for some people.

4. iiNet - Half-price mobile plans for half the year

iiNet's mobile plans offer fab value against our $1 per GB benchmark, both before and after the 6-month discounts.

iiNet Medium Plan

Unlimited calls & texts
Vodafone 4G/5G network

50GB
data

$17.50
per month

for the first 6 months then 50GB for $35. T&Cs apply.

Read review

iiNet Medium Plan

Unlimited calls & text | Vodafone 4G/5G network

50GB
data

$17.50
per month

for the first 6 months then 50GB for $35. T&Cs apply.

Read review

iiNet could be right for you if you:

Want 100 minutes of standard international calls on the small plan or unlimited international calls and texts to 31 selected countries on the medium and large plans.
Like bundling discounts. You'll get $5 a month off when you bundle iiNet's internet plan with its medium or large mobile plan. This will apply after the 6-month discount runs out.
Want the option to sign up via an eSIM if you have a compatible handset.

Keep in mind: 5G access is not available on its small plan. iiNet's mobile plans also auto-renew each month until you cancel.

5. TPG - 50% off mobile plans for 6 months

TPG's prepaid mobile plans stack up well against our $1 per GB benchmark, both before and after factoring in its 6-month discounts.

TPG Small

Unlimited calls & texts
Vodafone 4G network

25GB
data

$12.50
per month

for the first 6 months then 25GB for $25. T&Cs apply.

Go to site

TPG Small

Unlimited calls & text | Vodafone 4G network

25GB
data

$12.50
per month

for the first 6 months then 25GB for $25. T&Cs apply.

Go to site

TPG could be right for you if you:

Want unlimited international calls and texts to standard numbers across 31 selected countries on its medium and large plans. Or, 100 minutes on its small plan.
Are already with TPG for internet and want to save an additional $5 a month by bundling its medium or large prepaid mobile plan.

Keep in mind: TPG is one of the few providers to sting you with a port-out fee ($11) when you move your number to a new service.

6. Dodo - Plenty of data options and budget-friendly plans

Whether you're after a small or large amount of data that won't break the bank, Dodo has you covered.

Dodo $28

Unlimited calls & texts
Optus 4G network

30GB
data

$14
per month

for the first 3 months then 30GB for $28. T&Cs apply. Order by 25.2.25

Go to site

Dodo $28

Unlimited calls & text | Optus 4G network

30GB
data

$14
per month

for the first 3 months then 30GB for $28. T&Cs apply. Order by 25.2.25

Go to site

Dodo could be right for you if you:

Don't want to be hit with a bill shock. If you go over your monthly data allowance, Dodo will simply slow down your download speeds to 256Kbps until your next billing cycle.
Want international call credit between $100 to $400 depending on the plan. This is available on the majority of Dodo's plans.
Like the option of banking data for future use. This feature is available on all plans.

Keep in mind: Despite being advertised as a postpaid plan, you'll have to pay for the plan at the start of the month.

7. Circles.Life - Great value plans on the Optus network

Circles.Life has something for everyone at a budget-friendly price - whether you're a low, medium or high data user.

8. Belong - Telstra's cheaper sub-brand

Belong was launched as Telstra's sub-brand back in 2013 and has since been offering mobile plans at a lower price using parts of the Telstra network.

Belong 25GB

Unlimited calls & texts
Wholesale Telstra 4G/5G network

25GB
data. Slowed down to 1Mbps after full speed data used up

$30
per month

Go to site

Belong 25GB

Unlimited calls & text | Wholesale Telstra 4G/5G network

25GB
data. Slowed down to 1Mbps after full speed data used up

$30
per month

Go to site

Belong could be right for you if:

You tend to use a little over your monthly data limit – Belong offers no excess usage charges and will just slow your mobile internet speed down to 1Mbps instead.
You want additional features such as unlimited data banking and the option to add-on international calls or international roaming.

Keep in mind: Most of Belong's plans come with 150Mbps download speed caps (or 250Mbps on its largest plan). However, this is still fast enough for most online activities.

9. Optus - Did somebody say Unlimited Data Weekend?

Optus's prepaid plans are the more affordable option if you want to sign up with the telco directly.

Until 16 March 2025, the telco giant's even giving unlimited data every weekend if you set up auto recharge.

Optus Flex Plus $35

Unlimited calls & texts
Optus 4G/5G network

55GB
data

$35
per 28 days

for the first 3 recharges then 20GB for $35. T&Cs apply.

Go to site

Optus Flex Plus $35

Unlimited calls & text | Optus 4G/5G network

55GB
data

$35
per 28 days

for the first 3 recharges then 20GB for $35. T&Cs apply.

Go to site

Optus could be right for you if you:

Like sports and want access to Optus Sport for $12 a month instead of $24.99
Want to roll over unused data (up to 200GB)
Get an additional 5GB by setting up auto recharge
Want access to international call minutes and texts

Keep in mind: 4G and 5G download speeds are capped at 150Mbps but this is fast enough for most online activities.

10. ALDImobile - Affordable plans on the Telstra network

ALDI's known for budget-friendly groceries, and that same great value carries over to its mobile plans too - perfect if you're after affordable access to Telstra's network.

ALDI $29 5G Plan

Unlimited calls & texts
Wholesale Telstra 4G/5G network

50GB
data

$29
per 30 days

for the first 3 recharges then 25GB for $29. T&Cs apply. Ends 31.1.25

Go to site

ALDI $29 5G Plan

Unlimited calls & text | Wholesale Telstra 4G/5G network

50GB
data

$29
per 30 days

for the first 3 recharges then 25GB for $29. T&Cs apply. Ends 31.1.25

Go to site

ALDImobile could be right for you if:

You're after a variety of options, whether that's different data allowances or family-friendly plans.
Having a mobile app is important. Its app will help you stay on top of your data usage and manage your plan.
You want access to unlimited data rollover. This means your unused data won't ever go to waste.
You care for unlimited international calls and texts and 20 selected countries.

Keep in mind: The majority of its plans come with download speed caps of 100Mbps though this is fast enough for most online activities.

To find the top 10 best mobile phone providers, we look at the total number of clicks by Finder users in the previous month. This includes all different types of plans including prepaid, postpaid and subscription-based plans.

Keep in mind that the providers on this list are Finder partners, which means we may be paid if you click links to partner websites. Learn more about how we make money.

We're still editorially independent, and in our breakdown of these providers and their plans, we'll be upfront about any sneaky terms and conditions we think are important to call out.

Who is the best mobile phone provider in Australia?

The best provider for you is going to depend on what you value most in a mobile phone company. That can range from anything such as network, price or included plan features.

There are a few stand-outs that we've awarded across a range of categories to help narrow down the list for you.

2024 Finder Award for Best Budget Mobile Provider

TPG was a standout this year for the budget category because it stacks up well for price and data, especially when it's running frequent promotional offers.

Full list of 2024 winners

2024 Finder Award for Best Prepaid Mobile Providers

TPG and felix impressed us this year for offering great value thanks to their competitive pricing and data allowances.

Full list of 2024 winners

2024 Finder Award for Best SIM Only Mobile Providers (Postpaid)

SpinTel and Circles.Life topped the charts this year for offering value for money. Their plans are well-priced and come with generous data allowances.

Full list of 2024 winners

2024 Finder Award for Best Long Expiry Prepaid Mobile Provider

Kogan's 365-day mobile plans are some of the best around. They offer fantastic value for money and come with Wi-Fi calling and instant eSIM setup.

Full list of 2024 winners

amaysim came out as the winner for Best Rated Mobile Provider for Customer Satisfaction for the second year in a row, thanks to its great value for money and customer service. amaysim also won the 2023 Finder Award for Best Prepaid Mobile Provider (Value).

felix took out both wins for Green Telco and Green Mobile Plan Provider of the Year thanks to its sustainable operations and tree planting initiatives. felix also won the 2023 Finder Award for Best Prepaid Mobile Provider (High Data).

Full list of 2023 winners

Cutting through the noise, Circles.Life and Belong came out strong in the 2023 Finder Awards, winning for Best Postpaid Mobile Provider (Value) and Best Postpaid Mobile Provider (High Data) respectively.

Full list of 2023 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 compare mobile service providers in Australia?

When looking for a new mobile phone plan you'll want to consider a few factors:

Network

This determines the kind of coverage you get. Those outside of metropolitan cities should focus on plans on the Telstra or Optus network. If you're looking at 5G plans, make sure to check the provider's coverage map before you sign up.

Price

Decide how much you're willing to spend and whether you want a postpaid or prepaid plan. Postpaid plans are month-to-month but prepaid plans are more flexible with monthly, short-term and long-expiry plans up to 365 days.

Data

Australians download around 12.8GB of data on average every month according to the ACCC. However, everyone's usage is different. Look at your online account, phone app or previous bills to see how much data you use and sign up for a plan accordingly.

Features

Consider which features are most important to you. Some plans include endless data with speed caps while others offer data rollover. You can get plans with or without international calls and handy options such as data rollover or Wi-Fi calling.

"Inclusions like unlimited calls and texts are pretty standard on mobile plans these days. When you're picking a plan, look out for considerations like data amounts, data speed and extra data charges. Look out for inclusions like international calls, too. These can make a big difference to your overall mobile spend."

Tom Goodwin

Editor

How many phone companies are there in Australia?

Provider	Network	Plan type
AGL	Optus (4G/5G)	Postpaid
ALDImobile	Telstra wholesale (4G/5G)	Prepaid
Alphacall	Telstra wholesale (4G/5G)	Postpaid
amaysim	Optus (4G/5G)	Prepaid
Aussie Broadband	Optus (4G/5G)	Postpaid
Belong	Telstra wholesale (4G/5G)	Postpaid
Bendigo Telco	Optus (4G)	Postpaid
BetterLife	Telstra wholesale (4G)	Prepaid
Boost Mobile	Telstra (4G/5G)	Prepaid
Catch Connect	Optus (4G)	Prepaid
Circles.Life	Optus (4G)	Postpaid
CMobile Blue	Telstra wholesale (4G/5G)	Postpaid
CMobile Red	Vodafone (4G)	Postpaid
Coles Mobile	Optus (4G)	Prepaid
Dodo	Optus (4G)	Postpaid
E.Tel	Optus (4G)	Postpaid
EscapeNet	Telstra wholesale (4G)	Postpaid
Everyday Mobile (Woolworths)	Telstra wholesale (4G/5G)	Prepaid and postpaid
Exetel	Telstra wholesale (4G/5G)	Prepaid
felix mobile	Vodafone (4G/5G)	Prepaid
Flip	Optus (4G)	Postpaid
Goodtel	Telstra wholesale (4G/5G)	Postpaid
iiNet	Vodafone (4G/5G)	Prepaid
iPrimus	Optus (4G)	Postpaid
JB Hi-Fi	Telstra (4G/5G)	Prepaid and postpaid
Kogan Mobile	Vodafone (4G)	Prepaid
Konec	Telstra wholesale (4G/5G)	Prepaid
Lebara	Vodafone (4G/5G)	Prepaid
Lycamobile	Vodafone (4G/5G)	Prepaid
Mate	Telstra wholesale (4G/5G)	Postpaid
Moose Mobile	Optus (4G/5G)	Postpaid
More	Telstra wholesale (4G/5G)	Postpaid
numobile	Telstra wholesale (4G/5G)	Postpaid
Optus	Optus (4G/5G)	Prepaid, postpaid, phone repayment plan
Pennytel	Telstra wholesale (4G)	Postpaid
Reward Mobile	Vodafone (4G)	Postpaid
Southern Phone	Optus (4G/5G)	Postpaid
SpinTel	Optus (4G)	Postpaid
Spriggy Mobile	Optus (4G/5G)	Prepaid
Superloop	Telstra wholesale (4G/5G)	Prepaid
Swoop	Optus (4G/5G)	Postpaid
Tangerine Telecom	Telstra wholesale (4G/5G)	Postpaid
TeleChoice	Telstra wholesale (4G/5G)	Prepaid and postpaid
Telsim	Telstra wholesale (4G/5G)	Prepaid
Telstra	Telstra (4G/5G)	Prepaid, postpaid, phone repayment plan
Think Mobile	Vodafone (4G)	Postpaid
Think Mobile Classic	Telstra wholesale (4G)	Postpaid
TPG	Vodafone (4G/5G)	Prepaid
Vodafone	Vodafone (4G/5G)	Prepaid, postpaid, phone repayment plan
Yomojo	Optus (4G)	Prepaid
ZenSim	Vodafone (4G/5G)	Prepaid

Frequently asked questions

The primary difference between mobile networks in Australia is coverage. Each network covers the following percentage of Australians:
- Telstra: 99.5%
- Optus: 98.5%
- Vodafone: 96%
Where it gets a little tricky is when we start to include smaller network providers known as MVNOs. These providers don't own their own mobile network but basically rent it out to sell their own plans.
MVNO network coverage really only differs for Telstra. Apart from Boost Mobile, all other Telstra MVNOs operate on the wholesale Telstra network which covers 98.8% of Australians.
MVNOs that use the Optus and Vodafone mobile networks have the same coverage as Optus and Vodafone themselves.
This can vary month-to-month depending on which mobile phone provider's offering the best deal.
Luckily for you, we handpick the best mobile plans in Australia every month, looking at factors such as network, price, data allowance, excess data charges and more.
Check out our top picks for this month and find out which mobile plans have made the cut.
If you want access to Telstra's network without paying higher prices, look for a Telstra MVNO. Boost Mobile is a great option as it has access to the full Telstra network. Other Telstra network providers use parts of the Telstra wholesale network rather than the full network, which covers 98.8% of Australians instead of 99.5%.
There's only a 0.7% difference between Telstra's wholesale network and its full one, but this difference may be noticeable for those in rural and regional parts of Australia.

Thank you for your feedback!

Written by

Mariam Gabaji

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

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Mariam has written 305 Finder guides across topics including:

Energy
Mobile
Broadband
Consumer tech

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2 Responses

RezaDecember 10, 2024

Hi, I’m planning to stay in Australia (Queensland) for 6 months (in this call), please recommend me a convenient plan with minimum price, 25 GB internet per month would be enough for me, but would like to have possibly of international calls.

Finder

MariamDecember 10, 2024Finder

Hi Reza, this guide should help you out with a roundup of the best plans + info on how to choose the best plan: https://www.finder.com.au/mobile-plans/best-mobile-plans-international-calling. Alternatively, some providers you can check out include ALDImobile, TPG, iiNet, Boost Mobile, amaysim. Hope this helps!

Top 10 mobile phone providers in Australia (get the inside scoop)

Check out which mobile phone providers Finder users are loving this month and the top plans they're choosing!

Compare the top 10 popular mobile service providers in Australia

1. Southern Phone - Affordable plans on the Optus network

Most popular Southern Phone plan on Finder:

Southern Phone Finder Exclusive

Southern Phone Finder Exclusive

2. Catch Connect - Great value long expiry deals

Most popular Catch plan on Finder:

Catch Connect 365 Day Plan 120GB

Catch Connect 365 Day Plan 120GB

3. felix mobile - The only unlimited data mobile provider in Australia

Most popular felix plan on Finder:

felix Subscription Unlimited GREEN COMPANY

felix Subscription Unlimited GREEN COMPANY

4. iiNet - Half-price mobile plans for half the year

Most popular iiNet plan on Finder:

iiNet Medium Plan

iiNet Medium Plan

5. TPG - 50% off mobile plans for 6 months

Most popular TPG plan on Finder:

TPG Small

TPG Small

6. Dodo - Plenty of data options and budget-friendly plans

Most popular Dodo plan on Finder:

Dodo $28

Dodo $28

7. Circles.Life - Great value plans on the Optus network

Most popular Circles.Life plan on Finder:

8. Belong - Telstra's cheaper sub-brand

Most popular Belong plan on Finder:

Belong 25GB

Belong 25GB

9. Optus - Did somebody say Unlimited Data Weekend?

Most popular Optus plan on Finder:

Optus Flex Plus $35

Optus Flex Plus $35

10. ALDImobile - Affordable plans on the Telstra network

Most popular ALDI plan on Finder:

ALDI $29 5G Plan

ALDI $29 5G Plan

How we researched the best mobile phone providers

Who is the best mobile phone provider in Australia?

2024 Finder Award for Best Budget Mobile Provider

2024 Finder Award for Best Prepaid Mobile Providers

2024 Finder Award for Best SIM Only Mobile Providers (Postpaid)

2024 Finder Award for Best Long Expiry Prepaid Mobile Provider

Top 5 mobile providers for customer satisfaction in 2024

How do you compare mobile service providers in Australia?

Network

Price

Data

Features

How many phone companies are there in Australia?

Frequently asked questions

What are the differences between mobile networks in Australia?

Who has the best mobile plans in Australia?

Is there an alternative to Telstra?

Is Telstra better than Optus?

Mariam Gabaji

More guides on Finder

Ask a question

2 Responses

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