Are you looking to save on your phone bill? We’ve rounded up the cheapest SIM plans from a range of different carriers to help you find the best price. If you’re unsure about whether a SIM-only mobile plan is what you need, our quick guide to SIM only mobile plans will get you up to speed.
Generally speaking, if you don’t want a new phone or a lock-in contract, a SIM plan is the way to go. It’s easy to get what you need without paying for excess features. Unlimited phone calls and text messages usually come standard, with data and international roaming the main points of difference. If you do want a phone, however, check out the current deals on phone plans, including discounted handsets.
We update this article monthly, so bookmark this page to keep up to date with the cheapest SIM plans. Prices update in real-time, meaning you get the latest deals available in Australia right now. You can also use a custom search to choose a plan that suits your exact needs.
All of the plans featured in this article include an expiry period of at least 28 days. You can purchase a SIM plan with a shorter recharge window, ideal for travellers who only need a bit of data while visiting Australia.
Want to save on your internet bill, too? Check out the cheapest NBN plans to save even more money. You can also compare the best Telstra SIM-only plans, Vodafone SIM-only plans, and Optus SIM-only plans.
Contents
- Cheapest SIM plans
- Cheapest 5G SIM plans
- Cheapest 365-day SIM plans
- What you need to know: eSIM, prepaid, postpaid
- Phone number portability
- Best network coverage
Cheapest SIM plans
Postpaid
At the time of writing, you can find two postpaid SIM plans for $15 per month or less. SpinTel, an Optus MVNO, is one of them, priced at $14 per month for the first six months, bundling 25GB of data.
Swoop is the other, charging $15 per month for the first six months, providing Optus 5G access and 30GB of data. After discounts, SpinTel is cheaper at $22, compared to SpinTel’s full $29 monthly price.
As for a Telstra network alternative, the current cheapest postpaid SIM plan comes from Tangerine. At $25 per month, it connects to Telstra’s wholesale 4G network, while providing 14GB of rolling data each month.
Prepaid
The usual suspects of iiNet and TPG top the current cheapest prepaid SIM plans, with both priced at $12.50 per month for the first six months. Both telcos connect via Vodafone’s 4G network and include 25GB of data per recharge. After the discounted period ends, iiNet and TPG’s base-level plans cost $25 per month.
Unlike a lot of prepaid plans, iiNet and TPG operate on a monthly billing cycle, lasting slightly longer than those on 28-day or 30-day cycles.
For a few dollars more, you can get a 5G TPG prepaid SIM plan with 50GB. TPG’s introductory pricing is $17.50 per month for the first six months, which then reverts to the standard monthly price of $35.
On the Telstra network, the cheapest current plan is $23, the price offered by both Ezee Mobile and Aldi Mobile for a 30-day renewal. Each plan uses Telstra’s wholesale 4G network, covering 98.8% of the Australian population. Ezee bundles in 22GB of data, while Aldi includes 12GB.
If you want a reasonably affordable prepaid SIM plan on the Optus network, OnePass Mobile is the way to go. It costs $20 per 28-day recharge, coming with 15GB of data.
Cheapest 5G SIM plans
5G coverage reaches more of Australia than ever, bringing with it faster download speeds. Phones compatible with 5G are also increasingly affordable, making it easier to access high-speed networks.
In some cases, 5G plans can cost more, but as you’ll see below, they can also be among the cheapest.
Postpaid
The cheapest 5G postpaid plans look almost identical to the overall cheapest plans earlier, led by SpinTel and Swoop’s sub-$15 products.
Outside of discounts, postpaid 5G plans start from $22 per month, so it’s a reasonably affordable tier.
Prepaid
TPG and iiNet also lay claim to the cheapest prepaid 5G SIM plans in Australia. Specific to the 5G tier, both are priced at $17.50 per month for the first six months. They come bundled with 50GB of data, while TPG also offers a 100GB option at a discounted price of $22.50 per month.
After discounts, TPG and iiNet cost $35 per month for ongoing 5G access.
Amaysim flies the flag for cheap Optus 5G plans, costing $25 per 28 days for 15GB of data. That’s the standard price, too, so you don’t need to worry about any limited-time discounted period.
Boost Mobile is the cheapest Telstra-based plan with 5G access, priced at $26 per 28-day renewal. It normally comes with 7GB of data each recharge, but a current promotion sees that allocation increase to 21GB for the first three recharges. Boost is also the only MVNO with access to the full Telstra network, reaching further than most other telcos.
For a bit more data on the Telstra network, Aldi Mobile and Ezee Mobile include 29GB per recharge for $29. Both rely on Telstra’s wholesale network, so check the coverage map to be sure if your area is covered.
Depending on your data needs, you can generally pick up a 5G prepaid plan for $25 or less per recharge.
Cheapest 365-day SIM plans
If you know what you need over a longer period and want to save money in the process, a 365-day SIM plan might do the trick. Simply pay once per year, and get a bank of data to use with unlimited calls and texts. It’s a cost-effective way of paying your phone bill for basic internet users who aren’t big downloaders.
For most of March, OnePass Mobile dominates the cheapest 365-day SIM plans, occupying several of the top spots. Via Optus’ 4G Plus network, it starts at $149 for 200GB, a discount of $51. OnePass Mobile matches the $149 price of Kogan Mobile, which is on the Vodafone 4G network, while beating Kogan’s 140GB allocation.
OnePass also has a $168 (280GB) and a $179 (360GB) long-expiry option, discounting its regular pricing by as much as $121.
A long-term Telstra SIM plan costs more, however. Everyday Mobile, Woolworths’ telco that recently sunset some legacy plans, costs $250 for 365 days with 215GB. Meanwhile, Boost Mobile’s $300 long-expiry plan includes 290GB on the first recharge, and 5G access, compared to Everyday Mobile’s 4G.
What you need to know about SIM only plans
It’s fairly easy to change your SIM plan provider. Even more so with the rise of embedded SIM (eSIM) technology, letting you change plans almost instantly with a compatible device. Instead of requiring a physical card, eSIM stores network information directly to your phone.
Irrespective of which service provider you go with, the actual network used will be either Optus, Telstra or Vodafone. Many of the cheapest SIM plan providers are mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs). This refers to carriers that use the network infrastructure of another company.
Boost Mobile is a popular MVNO that has full access to Telstra’s network, reaching 99.5% of Australians. Not every MVNO includes a network’s full coverage, so it’s worth checking a company’s website to ensure your area is serviced.
In terms of how much data you should choose, data from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) found that Australians generally pay for more than what they need. On average, Aussies use 10.2GB of phone data per month, so it’s likely you could get away with a smaller allowance that costs less.
It also depends on how much you stream and download content using your phone. If you mainly use home or office Wi-Fi and don’t stream much, stick with a cheaper plan.
Postpaid versus prepaid
There are a couple of slightly different SIM plan options to choose from. Postpaid refers to plans that operate on a monthly billing cycle, where you pay at the end of each cycle. Postpaid SIM plans generally don’t involve a lock-in contract, so you can freely swap if your needs change or a better deal comes along. If you hit your data cap for a month, your telco might limit speeds until the next cycle or charge extra costs, so check the fine print beforehand.
Prepaid, on the other hand, sees you pay at the start of each cycle for a fixed number of days. Most prepaid SIM plans have a 28-day expiry cycle instead of a full month. Shorter expiries are also available if you need a SIM while travelling, making it a flexible option. The upside is that if you go over your data limit, you won’t incur extra costs. A lot of prepaid plans don’t automatically recharge by default but you can set up auto-recharge manually, with some telcos offering discounts or bonuses if you do so.
Phone number portability
The SIM changeover process takes about 10 minutes of your time or even less if you choose an eSIM. You will receive instructions to visit a website, provide your details, prove your identity (online) and then insert your new SIM.
Note you will have a choice to migrate your existing mobile number or choose a new one. About 15 minutes later, you should be up and running. However, the documentation will indicate it may take up to 24 hours and be affected by working hours.
Best network coverage
Network coverage is one of the most important factors to consider when buying any phone plan. Low prices and all the data in the world don’t mean much if you can’t get a signal. Fortunately, Australia’s mobile phone network coverage is more competitive than ever because of the TPG Telecom and Optus partnership.
Telstra still boasts the broadest network coverage, reaching 99.7% of the Australian population. Optus and Vodafone aren’t far behind, covering 98.5% and 98.4% respectively. Optus expects to rapidly expand its 5G network, so expect plenty of competition in the next couple of years.
| Telco | Overall network coverage | 5G network coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Telstra | 99.7% | 95% |
| Telstra wholesale | 98.8% | 75% |
| Optus | 98.5% | 80.5% |
| Vodafone | 98.4% | Not advertised |
More important than percentages is whether your location has coverage. The best way to find out is to check each telco’s coverage map:
The best way to find out if a plan suits you is to try one for a month. Lock-in contracts are largely a thing of the past, so it’s easier than ever to try one provider and swap if it doesn’t work out.
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