Hold the phone! Telstra hikes mobile plan prices…and Boost Mobile and Belong

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Telstra and smaller providers using its network are changing mobile plan prices again in another costly blow.

Along with the price of just about everything else, mobile plans from some of the well-known telcos including Telstra are getting more expensive.

Here's a gist of what's going on before we jump into more details.

  • Telstra's raising the price of the majority of its postpaid mobile plans from 27 August by $3 to $4 a month.
  • Telstra's prepaid mobile plans are going up in price by $1 to $4 a month for 7- and 28-day expiry periods, and by $20 to $30 a month for its long-expiry plans.
  • Boost Mobile is hiking its 7- and 28-day mobile plans by $1 to $4 a month from 22 October. It will discontinue its $230 long-expiry plan. The others will remain unchanged.
  • Belong's doing a small price increase - its 25GB SIM-only plan will cost $30 a month instead of $29 from 30 July.

Telstra's hiking mobile plan prices by $2 to $4 on average

When a few months ago Telstra said it wouldn't increase prices in line with inflation, it wasn't lying.

It has stayed true to word, scrapped Consumer Price Index-related changes and just gone higher with the charges.

Last year, Telstra postpaid customers were hit by a price increase of $3 to $6. Prepaid customers had to fork out an extra $2 to $5.

Something similar is unfolding between August and October this time around.

Postpaid plans

PlanCurrent price and data allowanceNew price and data allowance
Starter
$50 a month for 2GB
$50 a month for 5GB
Basic
$62 a month for 50GB
$65 a month for 50GB
Essential
$72 a month for 180GB
$75 a month for 180GB
Premium
$95 a month for 300GB
$99 a month for 300GB
Bundle
$50 a month for 25GB
$52 a month for 25GB

Prepaid plans

PlanCurrent price and data allowanceNew price and data allowance
$12 SIM Kit
$12 for 7 days for 3GB
$13 for 7 days for 3GB
$35 SIM Kit
$35 for 28 days for 15GB
$39 for 28 days for 15GB
$45 SIM Kit
$45 for 28 days for 25GB
$49 for 28 days for 25GB
$55 SIM Kit
$55 for 28 days for 35GB
$59 for 28 days for 35GB
$65 SIM Kit
$65 for 28 days for 70GB
$69 for 28 days for 70GB
$160 SIM Kit
$160 for 6 months for 70GB
$180 for 6 months for 70GB
$320 SIM Kit
$320 for 12 months for 165GB
$350 for 12 months for 165GB

According to Telstra, it is now "simplifying its pricing approach for consistency".

"It takes a lot of work and cost to run a mobile network as large as ours, and even more to support the increased usage we have seen on our network," Telstra wrote in its blog post.

The investments we make in our mobile network don't just help to keep your phone connected to your favourite content and apps. We know those are important, but our network does so much more every single day.

Boost Mobile price changes

It was a similar story for Boost Mobile last year. It increased prices by $2 to $30 across the majority of its 7-, 28-day and 12-month expiry plans.

Here's what is in store for October.

PlanCurrent price and data allowanceNew price and data allowance
$12 SIM (7-day expiry)
$12 for 5GB
$13 for 5GB
$22 SIM (28-day expiry)
$22 for 7GB
$26 for 7GB
$35 SIM (28-day expiry)
$35 for 25GB
$39 for 25GB
$45 SIM (28-day expiry)
$45 for 35GB
$49 for 35GB
$55 SIM (28-day expiry)
$55 for 45GB
$59 for 45GB
$70 SIM (28-day expiry)
$70 for 90GB
$74 for 90GB
$230 SIM (12-month expiry)
$230 for 160GB
To be removed as an option from 22 October 2024
$300 SIM (12-month expiry)
$300 for 240GB
No change
$365 SIM (12-month expiry)
$365 for 365GB
No change

"Any changes to our pricing structure is not something we take lightly, especially in this economic climate, but is done so that we can maintain the very best in mobile coverage and performance," said Jason Haynes, general manager of Boost Mobile in an email.

We have worked hard to ensure some of our most popular options for consumers remain unchanged with our 12-month long-life plans, accessing full coverage on the Telstra network for just $25 a month.

Belong mobile plan price hike

Interestingly, Belong's only making changes to its entry-level plan...again.

Last year its 25GB monthly plan went up from $25 to $29. This time it's receiving a $1 increase and will cost $30 a month.

Sooo...what do I do now?

If you don't want to sign up for a handset repayment plan, it's easy enough to ditch Telstra and save money with one of the smaller providers that use its network.

Boost Mobile, despite its price hikes, offers full access to Telstra's 4G and 5G networks and is the closest alternative.

Its $300 long expiry plan is a pretty solid option.

Otherwise, other providers on the wholesale Telstra network could also save you some bucks.

Here's a look at some of the options you could consider.

BrandProduct AUFMP-SIM Data Price Apply Price
  • Unlimited national calls & texts
  • Wholesale Telstra 4G network
12GB
$22
per month
Go to site
View details
Tangerine 12GB 4G SIM
  • Unlimited standard national calls & texts
12GB
Data
$22
per month
  • Unlimited national calls & texts
  • Wholesale Telstra 4G/5G network
25GB
No excess data charges
$30
per month
Go to site
View details
Belong 25GB
  • Unlimited standard national calls & texts
25GB
Data
$30
per month
  • Unlimited national calls & texts
  • Telstra 4G/5G network
265GB
$255
per 12 months
Go to site
View details
Boost $300 SIM
265GB for $255 on activation, then 240GB for $300/recharge. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 24.2.25
  • Unlimited standard national calls & texts
265 GB
Data
$255
per 12 months
ALDI $29 5G Plan
PrepaidNo lock-in contract
ALDI $29 5G Plan
Prepaid
  • Unlimited national calls & texts
  • Wholesale Telstra 4G/5G network
25GB
$29
per 30 day recharge
View details
ALDI $29 5G Plan
  • Unlimited standard national calls & texts
25GB
Data
$29
per 30 days expiry
Everyday $30 Prepaid Plan
PrepaidNo lock-in contract
Everyday $30 Prepaid Plan
Prepaid
  • Unlimited national calls & texts
  • Wholesale Telstra 4G network
32GB
$30
per 30 day recharge
View details
Everyday $30 Prepaid Plan
  • Unlimited standard national calls & texts
32GB
Data
$30
per 30 days expiry
More 25GB 5G
PostpaidNo lock-in contract
$27/mth for the first 12 months for CommBank customers, then $28.80/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 28.2.25
More 25GB 5G
Postpaid
$27/mth for the first 12 months for CommBank customers, then $28.80/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 28.2.25
  • Unlimited national calls & texts
  • Wholesale Telstra 4G/5G network
25GB
$32
per month
View details
More 25GB 5G
$27/mth for the first 12 months for CommBank customers, then $28.80/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 28.2.25
  • Unlimited standard national calls & texts
25GB
Data
$32
per month
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Not married to the idea of using Telstra's network? We've rounded up some of the best SIM only plans for July that are worth checking out.

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