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, Pivotel sells the cheapest postpaid SIM plan, priced at $11.45 per month for the first six months. That’s half its usual monthly price of $22.90, which you’ll pay once the discounted period ends. It comes with 25GB of data via Vodafone’s 4G network.
At its discounted $12 monthly price (down from $23), SpinTel’s 25GB plan costs only an extra 55 cents per month. This SIM plan from SpinTel connects to Optus’ 5G network, so the choice comes down to your network preference.
Moose Mobile (Vodafone 4G) and Swoop (Vodafone 5G) aren’t far behind, selling discounted postpaid SIM plans at $14 per month for the first six months. Afterwards, an ongoing plan with Moose costs $23 per month, while Swoop costs a couple of dollars more at $25 per month.
If you’re keen on a postpaid SIM plan on the Telstra network, Tangerine currently sells the cheapest option. Its $30 monthly plan costs $15 per month for the first four months, including 30GB of data. Keep in mind that this Tangerine plan only uses parts of Telstra’s 5G and 4G networks, so check the coverage map before locking anything in.
Prepaid
At the time of writing, OnePass Mobile is the cheapest prepaid SIM plan with a discounted $12.50 rate for the first six recharges. Normally $25 every 28 days, OnePass Mobile’s 22GB plan connects to the Optus 5G network, while bundling in a OnePass membership at no extra cost.
MVNOs on the Vodafone network round out the next cheapest prepaid SIM plans. Starting with Lycamobile, its 50GB plan costs $15 per recharge for the first six recharges (on a 28-day cycle. Once the discount ends, the price reverts to $30 per recharge. Also $15 are the 30GB plans from iiNet and TPG (Vodafone 5G), but both are billed monthly, netting you an extra few days.
On the Telstra network, the cheapest current prepaid SIM plan is $25 from Everyday Mobile on a 30-day renewal. The Woolies-branded telco uses Telstra’s wholesale 4G network with 22GB of data, plus a 10% discount on one Woolworths shop every month.
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
SpinTel’s discounted $12 plan mentioned earlier is currently the cheapest postpaid 5G SIM plan, followed by Swoop’s $14 monthly plan.
Outside of discounts, postpaid 5G plans start from $23 per month, so it’s a reasonably affordable tier.
Prepaid
Topping both the cheapest overall and 5G prepaid plans, OnePass Mobile features again with its 22GB plan, which costs $12.50 for the first six 28-day recharges. Lyca Mobile, on the Vodafone 5G network, is similarly cheap, priced at $15 per 28 days for the first six recharges, including a large 50GB allocation. Afterwards, it costs $30 every 28 days.
In a slight shakeup to the Telstra side of the market, both Aldi Mobile and Boost Mobile are the cheapest Telstra-based prepaid SIM plans with 5G access. Both cost a flat rate of $28; Aldi’s plan recharges every 30 days, while Boost has a 28-day recharge cycle. 12GB comes with each Aldi recharge, and Boost includes 8GB. However, Boost Mobile’s advantage is being the only MVNO with access to the full Telstra 5G network, reaching further than Aldi’s wholesale network access.
For a bit more data on the Telstra network, Aldi Mobile and Ezee Mobile include 29GB per 30-day 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 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 the next couple of weeks, OnePass Mobile sells the cheapest long-expiry plan. For $149, you can get Optus 4G network access and a large 350GB data allocation. Keep in mind, the regular allocation for future recharges (at the full $200 price) is 200GB, which is still competitive compared with other telcos.
Kogan also currently sells its Small 365-day plan for $149 (down from $179.90). Via the Vodafone 4G network, it includes 220GB with the first recharge, and 140GB with future recharges.
If you want a long-term SIM plan on the Telstra network, Everyday Mobile is currently the cheapest option. Priced at $250 and including 215GB, it provides access to Telstra’s wholesale 4G network. 5G access comes with Boost Mobile’s $300 365-day SIM plan in return for 290GB of data for the first year (subsequent recharges include 240GB).
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 in 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.
Telstra decided to no longer express its network as a percentage of the Australian population, after the rules governing how telcos present network coverage changed midway through 2026. As such, a percentage-versus-percentage comparison is a bit trickier, but Telstra still claims the biggest phone network coverage in Australia by way of square kilometres.
| Network | Network size |
|---|---|
| Telstra | 2.14 million square kilometres |
| Telstra wholesale | 1.4 million square kilometres |
| Optus | 1.2 million square kilometres |
| Vodafone | 1.2 million square kilometres |
More important than percentages and square kilometres is whether your location has coverage. The best way to check is via a telco’s network map:
If you’re not sure which telco to choose, try a plan 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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