TPG Mobile Phone Plans Review

Founded by enigmatic billionaire David Teoh back in 1986, TPG is now Australia’s second largest internet provider and one of the biggest challenger mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs). TPG utilises the Vodafone 4G Network to provide fast 4G speeds to the vast majority of its customers, and offers several cheap, good value phone plans in keeping with its overall budget image. Recently, TPG announced it would build its own network to challenge the Big 3 – Telstra, Optus and indeed Vodafone. However, until that happens, TPG customers will be on the Vodafone network, which is definitely not a bad thing.

In a sea of low-cost, value-packed phone plan providers, it isn’t easy for a company to have its voice heard. But as the old saying goes, the squeaky wheel gets the oil, and TPG has been causing a squawk in the telco industry lately with its takeover of iiNet. However, there’s more to TPG than strict business – it offers some competitive SIM Only mobile phone plans that could entice you to ditch your existing carrier and get on the TPG bandwagon. Here, we outline what to expect from TPG’s prepaid mobile plans, as well as how its inclusions compare to the competition.

TPG Mobile Phone Plans

Source: TPG website

In short, TPG offers five distinct, concise, ‘no-fuss’ plans across a range of price points. All service options are SIM Only, allowing you to bring your own device, and come on a month to month basis – meaning you won’t be locked into a contract if you’re unhappy with your service.

• A one-off $10 SIM card fee applies if you’re taking out a plan for the first time. This is $30 for the $1 ‘pay as you go’ (PAYG) plan
• Besides the three plans with international minutes included, PAYG apply to international calls – Canada is a mere 3c/minute plus 35c flagfall, for example
• For the first six months, the four plans with unlimited talk & text are available at knocked down prices – half price in some cases.

Let’s get a better rundown of all plans on offer from TPG.

TPG $1 Phone Plan

With 50MB of data as a given, you’re otherwise left to fend – or pay – for yourself from then on. Luckily call and text rates are pretty cheap:

• 9c per minute plus 10c flagfall for calls, making the cost of a 2-minute call 29.8c
• 9c for each text message
• Additional data is 10c/megabyte

This means that for about $30, you could potentially get up to: 100 texts ($9.90), 50, 2-minute long calls ($14.90) and 102 total megabytes (50MB standard, plus 52MB equaling $5.20). Credit is preloaded as with any usual prepaid plan would be and your usage is deducted from that.

TPG $19.99 Phone Plan

The next step up is a pretty significant one. For less than $19.99 a month (though you’ll pay just $10 a month for the first six months), you get a nice value inclusion as well as 2GB of data. Once again excess data is 10c/MB. You also get unlimited calls to TPG mobile and landline phones. As for how much you can get for your $550 value:

• A 2-minute phone call costs $2.38, including 40c flagfall
• Standard texts are 25.3c each

Beyond that, having 1.5GB of data is a solid amount for casual social media browsing, maps directions and the like. While you likely won’t get very far with video or YouTube streaming, it’s a good amount for the casual user.

TPG $29.99 Phone Plan

A significant step up, putting $10 more on the table will see your data inclusions double, and you won’t have to worry about calls and texts anymore – they’re unlimited! This is a serious step-up in the value stakes, which will see you browsing and gaming with the best of them. No maths is required to see how many texts or calls you have left either – you can chat and type until your heart’s content. This is also the first of the plans to include 100 international minutes, which is a nice cherry on top. This plan is reduced to $15 a month for your first six months, which is outstanding given the amount of data included.

TPG $34.99 Phone Plan

For a mere fiver more, you’ll see yourself receiving 5GB worth of extra data. This is a pretty good ploy by TPG – who wouldn’t want 5GB more for $5?! With this much data you’ll be able to stream the odd footy game or two, play games on the bus and look up memes til your dark humour cravings are well and truly satisfied. This plan is reduced to under $20 for your first six recharges.

TPG $39.99 Phone Plan

The top-end plan in TPG’s line-up is still quite cheap by comparison to a lot of other telcos. For under $40, you can dive into 12GB of data heaven, which will have you gaming and streaming with the best of them. This is a great plan for those always on the move and needing web access wherever they are. Plus, with Vodafone’s 4G coverage, you can be assured you’ll be browsing with decent speeds – especially in major metro areas. This plan comes down to under $25 for the first six months.

How does TPG compare to other mobile providers?

TPG’s plans range from $20 to $40 per month, which lands the MVNO right in the mainstream in terms of both pricing and credit inclusions. Let’s see how the above plans stack up in a heated prepaid mobile competition.

$1 Plan Compared

As one of the lowest-cost plans in Australia, what you get with TPG is pretty decent call and text rates, a little data to play with… and not much else. In the prepaid sphere it competes alongside the lowest-cost plans in the country, and what you’ll find is that for a little bit more per month you’ll get some more inclusions, but nothing beats the flexibility that TPG affords with this plan. Yomojo has a plan you can customise and make your ow, and Telstra’s ‘Day2Day’ plan is also worth looking at. OVO Mobile is one of the cheapest providers to offer 1GB of data for a normal 30 day recharge.

$19.99 Plan Compared

This plan sits nicely amongst the competition. TPG’s main rivals in this price bracket are ALDI Mobile, Coles Mobile and Yomojo. But TPG looks set to take the crown here. While Coles wins out in the data inclusions, it should be noted it’s on a 28 day billing period, meaning you effectively get billed 13 times a year instead of 12. TPG’s six month deal is pretty hard to beat here, though Coles’ bonus data is tempting.

$29.99 Plan Compared

The $30 range of prepaid mobile plans sees TPG up against some tougher competition. In this price bracket, there are simply more service providers usually offering much more data. The question is, who reigns supreme? TPG competes against Amaysim, Kogan and Lebara. These three offer a little bit extra for a similar price, but again TPG’s discounted deal for the first six recharges is noteworthy. All in all, it’s pretty neck and neck and bonus offers can come into effect here as well.

$34.99 Plan Compared

As we move up in the mid-tier of mobile plans, we see that telcos are ramping up the data inclusions. TPG again sits very well among the competition, being a data leader for $35. However, for only a couple of dollars more, Kogan offers 10GB. Also in the running is ALDI Mobile again with generous international inclusions, but TPG trumps this plan on data by 2GB.

$39.99 Plan Compared

TPG faces even more providers in this price bracket. However, a promising thing to learn is that TPG is the only prepaid provider to offer 12GB of data for less than $40! If that’s not value, then we’re stumped. Here, TPG stacks up against providers like Amaysim and OVO. Vodafone also offers an interesting plan for $50, which is over 35 days – an unusual expiry period.

Is a TPG mobile plan worth the money?

Throughout TPG’s prepaid offerings, you will notice a trend. That is, TPG is always at or near the front of the pack when it comes to included value at the price points it competes in. As plan prices increase, so too does the value – and dramatically. At less than $20, the $19.99 plan faces the hardest time out of TPG’s six plans. You’ll find that the $39.99 plan is arguably the most exciting – if you’re in the market for a prepaid plan around $40, then going with TPG will give you the most data. Overall, TPG is consistent in offering good value for money, and if you’re in the market for a plan at the prices TPG offers, then we suspect you’ll be putting TPG into your list of telcos to consider.

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What do customers think about TPG prepaid mobile plans

In 2017, Australian customers gave TPG 3 out of 5 stars for Overall Customer Satisfaction for prepaid mobile plans.