Cheap Mobile Plans Background

Compare Cheap Mobile Phone Plans

The cheapest mobile plans tend to be SIM-only plans, as opposed to plans that are bundled with a phone. But whether you choose a prepaid or postpaid plan and how much data you include in your plan will determine how much you pay. This page will help you narrow down some of the cheapest options available for both postpaid and prepaid users. 

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Southern Phone | Extra Small
SIM-Only postpaid | No lock-in contract
min. total cost $5.00 over 1 month period
star star star star empty
Brand Satisfaction Glossary
  • icon Network provider: Optus Glossary
  • icon Network technology: 4G enabled Glossary
Value Rank Glossary
out of 10 Glossary
2GB Glossary
$5 Glossary
for the first 3 months, then $15.00 Glossary
FLIP | 3GB SIM Plan
SIM-Only postpaid | No lock-in contract
min. total cost $9.90 over 1 month period
Not yet rated
  • icon Network provider: Optus Glossary
  • icon Network technology: 4G enabled Glossary
Value Rank Glossary
out of 10 Glossary
3GB Glossary
$9.90 Glossary
FLIP | 20GB SIM Plan
SIM-Only postpaid | No lock-in contract
min. total cost $9.90 over 1 month period
Not yet rated
  • icon Network provider: Optus Glossary
  • icon Network technology: 4G enabled Glossary
Value Rank Glossary
out of 10 Glossary
20GB Glossary
$9.90 Glossary
for the first 3 months, then $19.90 Glossary
DODO | $10 Sim Only
SIM-Only postpaid | No lock-in contract
min. total cost $10.00 over 1 month period
star star star empty empty
Brand Satisfaction Glossary
  • icon Network provider: Optus Glossary
  • icon Network technology: 4G enabled Glossary
Value Rank Glossary
out of 10 Glossary
2GB Glossary
$10 Glossary
TPG | T4G Small Plan
SIM-Only prepaid | 30.417 days renewal period
Award icon Outstanding Value - SIM Only Pre-Paid Glossary
min. total cost $10.00 spend over 30.417 day expiry
star star star empty empty
Brand Satisfaction Glossary
  • icon Network provider: Vodafone Glossary
  • icon Network technology: 4G enabled Glossary
Value Rank Glossary
out of 10 Glossary
12GB Glossary
$10 Glossary
for six recharges then $20.00/expiry Glossary
iiNet | $19.99 Mobile Voice SIM Only
SIM-Only prepaid | 30.417 days renewal period
min. total cost $10.00 spend over 30.417 day expiry
star star star empty empty
Brand Satisfaction Glossary
  • icon Network provider: Vodafone Glossary
  • icon Network technology: 4G enabled Glossary
Value Rank Glossary
out of 10 Glossary
8GB Glossary
$10 Glossary
for six recharges then $19.99/expiry Glossary
Amaysim | UNLIMITED 10GB Prepaid
SIM-Only prepaid | 7 days renewal period
min. total cost $10.00 spend over 7 day expiry
star star star star star
Brand Satisfaction Glossary
  • icon Network provider: Optus Glossary
  • icon Network technology: 5G enabled Glossary
Value Rank Glossary
out of 10 Glossary
10GB Glossary
$10 Glossary
Moose Mobile | Moose 25GB SIM Only
SIM-Only postpaid | No lock-in contract
Award icon Outstanding Value - SIM Only Post-paid Glossary
min. total cost $11.80 over 1 month period
star star star star empty
Brand Satisfaction Glossary
  • icon Network provider: Optus Glossary
  • icon Network technology: 5G enabled Glossary
  • icon Data Banking of 200GB Glossary
Value Rank Glossary
out of 10 Glossary
25GB Glossary
$11.80 Glossary
for the first 8 months, then $24.80 Glossary
Boost Mobile | $35 Prepaid
SIM-Only prepaid | 28 days renewal period
min. total cost $12.00 spend over 28 day expiry
star star star star empty
Brand Satisfaction Glossary
  • icon Network provider: Telstra Glossary
  • icon Network technology: 5G enabled Glossary
Value Rank Glossary
out of 10 Glossary
45GB Glossary
45GB for 3 months, then 25GB/mth Glossary
$12 Glossary
for one recharge then $35.00/expiry Glossary
Boost Mobile | $12 Prepaid
SIM-Only prepaid | 7 days renewal period
min. total cost $12.00 spend over 7 day expiry
star star star star empty
Brand Satisfaction Glossary
  • icon Network provider: Telstra Glossary
  • icon Network technology: 5G enabled Glossary
Value Rank Glossary
out of 10 Glossary
5GB Glossary
$12 Glossary

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The initial results in the table above are sorted by Advertised Cost (Low-High) , then Value Rank (High-Low) , then Provider Name (Alphabetical) . Additional filters may have been applied, see top of table for details.

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How to choose the best cheap mobile plan


When it comes to choosing a phone plan, the key to comparing plans — considering most plans include unlimited standard national calls and SMS — is how much mobile data is offered. It’s a great indication as to which telcos offer what value for money.

1. The most important thing to consider is data

Data inclusions are perhaps the most important part of a plan for many of us — it lets us check maps, upload to social media, and stream video on the go and without the need for WiFi. That’s why knowing how much mobile data you actually need on your plan will help you to determine if a cheap plan will have enough gigabytes for you.

2. Check the data usage on your current plan

One of the easiest ways to work out how much data you use is to check your current mobile plan — you can either check your mobile bill, or log in to your account on the website or via the telco’s app (if available) to find your data usage. Check back during different billing cycles, or look at old bills, to work out how much you typically use.

3. Check your device to see how much mobile data your apps use

Most devices should offer information on how much data is consumed from the apps your using (Apple’s iOS shows how much over a certain period of time, which could be for as long as you’ve had your phone) — simply go to your device’s settings and find the ‘mobile data’ section to see what information is available (navigating to this will vary between devices).

4. What kind of mobile user are you?

Light user — you mostly use your phone when connected to a WiFi network, however when you’re using mobile data, you occasionally use maps, browse the web and check emails, for less than 10 hours per month: requires 1GB to 10GB of data.

Moderate user — you use WiFi but are also out of the house frequently and rely on mobile data for regular social media checking, web browsing, emails, music streaming and occasional video streaming for several hours each week, around 20 hours per month: requires 10GB to 40GB data.

Heavy user — you use mobile data every day for several hours and for activities like video streaming, gaming, social media, music streaming and general web browsing: requires 50GB data or more.

Once you have a clearer picture of how much data you need, you’ll know which data inclusions to look for when you compare phone plans. Heavy users will of course need to fork out a bit more cash for a higher data plan, while light and moderate users can easily find cheap plans with the right amount of data for their needs.

If you’ve signed up to a cheap plan that doesn’t have enough data for your usage requirements, you could find yourself paying excess data charges or constantly recharging your prepaid plan, and suddenly the plan isn’t so cheap. Be realistic about how much you’ll need, and look for plans with the right data inclusions for you.

 

What are the cheapest phone plans?


Here is a list of some of the cheapest phone plans currently on market. Keep in mind not all plans will include unlimited calls or SMS and plan prices and inclusions may change.

Cheapest Phone Plans

  • Flip 500MB SIM-only postpaid — $4 per month, 500MB data, 100 minutes standard national calls, 100 SMS/MMS
  • Flip 3GB SIM-only postpaid — $9.90 per month, 3GB data, unlimited standard national calls and SMS
  • Australia Post $10 Plan SIM-only prepaid — $10 per 30 days, 2GB data, unlimited standard national calls and SMS
  • Catch Connect 4GB $10 SIM-only prepaid — $10 per 30 days, 4GB data, unlimited standard national calls and SMS
  • Dodo $10 SIM-only postpaid — $10 per month, 2GB data, unlimited standard national calls and SMS

 

Pros and cons of cheap mobile phone plans


Just because a plan is cheap, doesn’t mean it’s going to be the best plan for you. Depending on your needs, a cheap plan might not offer you the best value for money.

Here are some of the pros and cons you might want to consider about cheap phone plans. In this instance, we’re talking about plans that are $40 per month or less.

Pros:

  • They’re cheap — obviously!
  • Plenty of choices of SIM-only prepaid and postpaid plans
  • Providers now offering more data at cheaper prices

Cons:

  • Not great for big data users
  • Might not include any extras such as international calls
  • Only available as SIM-only (no new smartphone included)

What to expect from a cheap phone plan


Cheap phone plans can be a great option if you’re looking to save money, but they can also include some serious value. These days, cheaper phone plans often include bigger data amounts, so if you’re looking to save some money, there are plenty of options to choose from.

What to expect from cheap plans under $10

Several providers tend to start their phone plans at that $10 mark, although a few do offer plans for under $10 per month or expiry period. These plans are ideal for anyone who doesn’t use their phone much, such as young kids or seniors.

Plans around this price point will include a small amount of data, usually around 1GB-2GB, and some telcos might also restrict your call minutes. You can find both prepaid and postpaid plans at this price point, although some of the prepaid plans might run on a short expiry period, such as seven days.

What to expect from cheap plans under $20

If you’re after more data than the 1GB-2GB on offer from the cheaper plans, spending around $20 for your plan will give you more choices. There are still smaller data inclusions, but you’ll also find plans with 10GB of data or more around this price point.

Generally you can expect a wider range of prepaid and postpaid providers offering plans at this price point than the plans around $10. These plans can offer good value for money if you’re looking to save on your phone plan, but need a bit more data.

What to expect from cheap plans under $30

Moderate phone users can easily snag a bargain when comparing plans for $30 or under. Generally you can find plans around this price point with anywhere between 10GB to 30GB of data.

Prepaid and postpaid plans in this price range are great for moderate to higher data users who are still looking to save on their phone plan.

What to expect from cheap plans under $40

Plans at $40 or under are still rather cheap when you consider how much higher plan prices can go, especially from the big telcos.

Typically plans at this price offer rather generous data inclusions to suit moderate to higher data users. You can find prepaid and postpaid providers offering data around 50GB at this price point.

 

Competitive market means cheaper phone plans


The good news is that the phone plan market has never been more competitive. Not only do customers have the choice of the big name telcos, but also a huge number of smaller telcos, all vying for your business. However, while everyone likes to save money, the cheapest plans aren’t going to suit everyone.

The bigger telcos might offer the flashier extras and bonuses, but the smaller telcos are trying to win customers over by offering more data at cheaper prices. As the competition heats up, telcos continually add on more data to plans and lower prices. Plans between $20-$30 and with around 10GB of data or more are now more widely available than they used to be.

Extras such as international calls will typically be included on more expensive plans — if they’re available at all— so you’ll need to keep in mind if the simple call, SMS and data inclusions are all you require on a plan.

The cheapest phone plans come from smaller telcos

You will find these cheaper plans come from smaller telcos, known as Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs). Some of these telcos might be unfamiliar names and, understandably, you could feel hesitant about signing up to a lesser-known provider. While it’s important to note that you won’t get the exact same service as you would signing up to the big three telcos (which all own and operate their own mobile networks), the MVNOs typically still have a wide network range, and will use one of the three mobile networks to deliver services. However, it’s still worth checking the network coverage map before signing up to a new telco.

 

Do cheap phone plans have a catch?


You might look at a cheap phone plan and think that what it’s offering is too good to be true, and that could be the case. A couple of the key things you’ll need to be on the lookout for with a cheap plan is the plan length and any limitations on inclusions.

1. Check the expiry period

The cheapest prepaid phone plans are often offered on a short expiry period of around seven days. That means you’ll need to recharge your plan at least four times a month and suddenly it isn’t so cheap.

2. Are there any limits on calls or SMS?

Another thing to look out for is if the plan has limitations on calls and/or SMS. While it’s not very common anymore (unlimited standard national calls and SMS is offered by default from most telcos), there are still a few cheap prepaid and postpaid plans floating around with limited minutes for phone calls. If you make a lot of calls, you might want to look at plans with unlimited calls.

3. Try a plan out before committing long term

If you’re unsure about signing up to a cheap plan from a smaller provider, look for plans where there aren’t any cancellation or early exit fees — such as prepaid plans or month-to-month postpaid plans — so you can cancel your plan if you’re unhappy or if it isn’t meeting your needs. But be sure to check the plan’s critical information summary for any exit or cancellation fees or other catches, before signing up.

Otherwise cheap phone plans can offer some great value for money — just make sure the plan suits your needs.

 

About our phone experts


Emma-Bradstock-small

Emma Bradstock: Senior Telco Specialist

As Canstar Blue’s Senior Telco Specialist, Emma Bradstock covers all things mobile phone and internet, which she’s focused on for the past four years. Emma has over a decade of professional writing experience across print and digital media outlets and for digital agencies, and has turned her hand to multimedia content and social media management.  She has a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Media from Macquarie University. You can follow Emma on LinkedIn.

Meet the Editorial Team

 

 

Josh Filosi: Data Insights Analyst

Josh Filosi is Canstar’s Data Insights Analyst, and helps develop and deliver the methodology for Canstar Blue’s Value Rankings and Awards for the telco industry. He holds a double-major in Economics and Behavioral Science, and enjoys interpreting complex data. Connect with Josh on LinkedIn.

Meet the Research Team

 

FAQs about Cheap Phone Plans

Australia’s cheapest phone plans start at under $10 per month (or expiry period). The cheapest phone plan in Australia according to Canstar Blue’s database is the Flip’s 500MB $4 per month SIM-only postpaid plan. However telcos will often change their plans and prices, so what is the cheapest plan now, may not be the cheapest plan in the future.

While there aren’t many telcos offering unlimited data phone plans, there are a few providers. However, most unlimited data plans have a catch — the unlimited data is at a capped speed. Keeping this in mind, Felix Mobile offers a plan at $35 with unlimited data, capped at speeds of 20Mbps.

You can get prepaid plans and postpaid plans for as little as $10 per month or expiry period. Both plan types have their pros and cons, so before signing up, it’s important to consider which payment method will suit you best.

One thing to consider with a cheap prepaid plan is that these expiry periods can differ. Some plans might only be a seven-day expiry period (which will end up being more expensive if you use it for your regular plan), and even those cheap plans on 28 or 30-day expiry periods, might require you to recharge 13 times a year, compared to the 12 bills you receive a year with a postpaid plan.

Switching to a cheaper phone plan — or switching phone plans in general — is fairly straightforward. Once you’ve compared a range of phone plans and providers, and chosen the plan that best suits your needs and budget,, you’ll need to decide if you want to get a new phone number or keep your old number.

When you choose to get a new phone number, all you need to do is sign up to your new plan and get in touch with your old telco to cancel your service. Your old telco might require you to pay any final costs such as device payments, exit fees or a final bill.

If you choose to keep your phone number, your new telco will do the hard work for you. Your new telco will organise switching your phone number across — known as porting — and cancel your old service once the number has been transferred. You might still need to pay your old provider any outstanding costs such as exit fees, a final bill or pay off any device if you had a phone on a plan.

The approximately 50 mobile providers in Australia all operate on three mobile networks – that being either Telstra, Optus, or Vodafone’s infrastructure. This means that cheaper providers won’t necessarily be impacted by worse coverage, however it is dependant on the coverage capabilities of the networks’ infrastructure. Some people experience differing connection qualities based on geographical and housing factors. Also keep in mind that smaller providers may not have access to the full mobile network being used, including 5G coverage.

PAYG plans are not offered by many providers as they fill quite a specific niche. They have a likeness to old-school prepaid plans, in which you fill up a certain amount of credit for your plan and have no obligation to keep recharging until you run out of credit. These are ideal for light phone users, elderly people, or those with a spare phone, however the need for a PAYG plan has fizzled out in recent years.

SIM-only plans have gotten increasingly cheaper, with more benefits than ever before. It’s worth comparing other prepaid and postpaid options before you look into PAYG plans.

Important information

For those that love the detail

This advice is general and has not taken into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider whether this advice is right for you.

Canstar Blue may earn a fee from its Online Partners for referrals from its website tables, and from sponsorship or promotion of certain products. Fees payable by product providers for referrals and sponsorship or promotion may vary between providers, website position, and revenue model. Sponsorship/promotion fees may be higher than referral fees. If a product is sponsored or promoted, it’s an ad and it is clearly marked as such. An ad might appear in different places on our website, such as in comparison tables and articles. Ads may be displayed in a fixed position in a table, regardless of the product's rating, price or other attributes. The location of an ad doesn’t indicate any ranking or rating by Canstar Blue. Payment of fees for ads does not influence Value Rank or Customer Satisfaction Ratings. See How We Get Paid to find out more.

Mobile Value Rank & Sort Order 

The data in the table is updated within 24 hours of Canstar Blue becoming aware of a change. You can find a description of the initial sort order below the table. You can use the sort buttons at the top of each column to re-order the display. Learn more about our Mobile Value Rank Methodology

Our Value Rank compares a plan’s data allowance over a calendar month which is approximately 30.4 days regardless of a plan’s expiry period. When showing results filtered by data, a calendar month average will be used.

Please note that the Customer Satisfaction rating displayed in the table is a rating relating to customer overall satisfaction with the brand, and should not be confused with an individual product rating. Learn more about Mobile Customer Satisfaction ratings and for more information on how the Customer Satisfaction ratings are calculated, read the Canstar Blue Customer Satisfaction Ratings Methodology.

The ratings shown are only one factor to take into account when considering products. The results do not include all Mobile retailers or products in the market, and may not compare all features relevant to you. Canstar Blue does not supply mobile services. If you decide to apply for a particular Mobile product, you will deal directly with the mobile retailer, and not with Canstar Blue. Fees, charges, product information, costs,  and contract terms should be confirmed directly with the relevant mobile retailer. 

Unlimited Data

Where 'unlimited' is used in relation to Data available on a plan it is likely to be subject to a fair use policy. Please confirm any terms of a fair use policy with your selected provider before making a purchase decision.

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