SIMs are a really useful thing. A SIM card lets you make phone calls and text people, and lets you access the internet on the go with your phone. But if you’re not big on calls or messaging, there’s also some great SIM plans out there for if you want to cut out the middle-man.
We’re talking about data-only SIMs: SIMs that don’t have any phone numbers, calling or texting involved. Only data – and for that, they can be a lot cheaper, but it really depends on what you want from your SIM plan.
With a data-only SIM, you can also get really creative! We’re in the age of the internet, so although you need to stay connected, there’s not really any obligation to have a phone number or a line you can be texted on.
In this article, we’ll be doing a deep-dive into data-only SIM plans, looking for what the best are for you.
Using a data-only SIM in your smartphone
If you’re going to rely entirely on data in your smartphone and completely miss out on having calling and texting, you’ll want to have a plan that has a lot of data. Typically if you’re not doing much browsing or social media use, a plan around 5GB should be the right size for you, but if you want to be able to use social media and browse freely, consider a plan that offers between 15GB and 30GB a month.
Jump to:
- What is a data-only SIM?
- Which data-only SIM should I buy?
- Why should I get a data-only SIM?
- Data-only SIMs as a backup plan
What is a data-only SIM?
Data-only SIMs have a little extra to them than what it says on the tin. Data-only SIMs cut out needing a phone number and a texting number, giving you solely mobile data to rely on.
Many people use data-only SIMs to connect tablets to the internet, but you can also use them in any device with a SIM card slot. It’s a great alternative to things like mobile broadband and home wireless broadband, and totally worth consideration as a backup plan.
This trade-off does mean that you cannot receive texts and phone calls on a data-only SIM, however, that doesn’t mean you can’t use apps like Skype, Messenger, WhatsApp and Zoom.
Data-only SIM plans
We’ve put together a long list of data-only SIMs for your consideration. None of these plans offer any calling or texting options, but they do have great data deals.
Telstra, Amaysim, Vodafone and Southern Phone all offer data-only SIMs, and their prepaid data-only SIMs are worth checking out, amongst others.
Telstra Mobile Broadband Plans
The following table shows a selection of published Telstra mobile broadband plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. This is a selection of products with links to referral partners.
| Brand | Features | Max Data**/billing period | Advertised Cost^^/billing period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
min. cost $15 over one month |
5GB | $15 | Go to Site |
|
min. cost $25 over one month |
30GB | $25 | Go to Site |
|
min. cost $55 over one month |
75GB | $55 | Go to Site |
|
min. cost $85 over one month |
400GB | $85 | Go to Site |
 View all NBN plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
Vodafone Mobile Broadband Plans
The following table shows a selection of published Vodafone mobile broadband plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. This is a selection of products with links to referral partners.
| Brand | Features | Max Data**/billing period | Advertised Cost^^/billing period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
10GB Mobile Broadband Plan
min. cost $20 over first month |
10GB | $20 |
Link to provider unavailable |
|
40GB Mobile Broadband Plan
min. cost $40 over first month |
40GB | $40 |
Link to provider unavailable |
|
100GB Mobile Broadband Plan
min. cost $60 over first month |
100GB | $60 |
Link to provider unavailable |
| View all NBN plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
Amaysim Mobile Broadband Plans
The following table shows a selection of published Amaysim mobile broadband plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. This is a selection of products with links to referral partners.
| Brand | Features | Max Data**/billing period | Advertised Cost^^/billing period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
SIM Only 7GB
min. cost $15 over 28 day billing period |
7GB | $15 |
Link to provider unavailable |
|
SIM Only 50GB
min. cost $40 over 28 day billing period |
50GB | $40 |
Link to provider unavailable |
|
SIM Only 90GB
min. cost $60 over 28 day billing period |
90GB | $60 |
Link to provider unavailable |
| View all NBN plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
Southern Phone Mobile Broadband Plans
The following table shows a selection of published Southern Phone mobile broadband plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. This is a selection of products with links to referral partners.
| Brand | Features | Max Data**/billing period | Advertised Cost^^/billing period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
min. cost $180 over 12 month plan period |
7GB | $15 | Go to Site |
|
min. cost $300 over 12 month plan period |
15GB | $25 | Go to Site |
|
min. cost $480 over 12 month plan period |
50GB | $40 | Go to Site |
|
min. cost $780 over 12 month plan period |
100GB | $65 | Go to Site |
| View all NBN plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
Why should I get a data-only SIM?
If you’re not big on phone calls and texting, a data-only SIM plan could be what’s best for you. If you want to cut out the middle-man you could be saving some money just by only using the internet to get in touch with people.
But perhaps it’s better to think of data-only SIMs as an extra to your normal phone SIM. If you switched to mobile broadband, you’d be using mobile phone signals to get on the internet. It’d work at a similar speed with similar effect, but it might be a reasonable alternative if your internet is currently failing you due to bandwidth constraints.
Using a data-only SIM as a mobile hotspot
With the right approach, a data-only SIM could also be a solution to having a portable Wi-Fi hotspot. This is what most 4G capable mobile broadband modems are capable of, but you can also create a hotspot with a smartphone.
Is there an unlimited data-only SIM?
Unfortunately, unlimited data-only SIMs don’t exist in Australia. However, you have two options if you want unlimited (or seemingly limitless) data: you can either get a big data mobile broadband plan or you can get a mobile plan with unlimited data.
Telstra, Optus, Vodafone and Felix Mobile all offer such plans: Felix Mobile offers unlimited data off the bat, speed-capped at 20Mbps, whereas Telstra and Optus offer plans with unlimited data speeds until you reach your monthly data allowance limit, where it will restrict to 1.5Mbps speed. Vodafone offers the same deal, except instead of 1.5Mbps, the unlimited speed changes depending on your postpaid plan. You can find unlimited data phone plans below.
The following table shows selected published Optus SIM-only postpaid plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.
The following table shows selected published Telstra SIM-only postpaid plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.
The following table shows selected published Vodafone SIM-only postpaid plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.
Should I get a data-only SIM?
It’s great to think of data-only SIMs as a backup to your phone plan or your internet plan. You don’t even have to get too technical, and if you’re the type of person to have technology lying around, there’s a trick you can play to get yourself a portable backup modem.
If you’ve got a working backup SIM, preferably one with lots of data (and preferably to that, a data-only SIM), you could hotspot your old phone and treat it like a modem. It’s a neat trick!
This is great if the power goes out, if the bandwidth of your modem is being soaked up, or if you’re out in public.
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