Introduction to Australian Telecom Operators
Basic Operators
There are about 50 mobile operators in Australia, among which Telstra, Optus and Vodafone are the three giants of Australian telecommunication. They divide the telecommunication market and network coverage in Australia and mainly operate fixed lines, home networks, mobile networks, mobile phone packages, etc. Most of them are postpaid plans. Most of them are Postpaid plans; you need to sign a contract ranging from 1-3 years, and if you end the contract early, you need to pay an early termination fee, which is not cost-effective for many Chinese and international students in Australia.
Telstra
As Australia’s largest mobile operator, Telstra’s network coverage is perfect; the signal and speed of the network are great, and generally will not be disconnected, but the price is relatively high; usually speaking, Telstra is more suitable for office workers or only for speed of the Internet does not care about the cost of the tycoon.
Optus
Australia’s second-largest operator and the most cost-effective, the signal is worse than Telstra’s. Almost in the city, the signal is not a problem, as long as you do not go to more remote places generally no problem. This is also the most favoured by international students in Australia.
Vodafone
The most significant advantage of Vodafone is cheap packages, and playing international long-distance is very cheap; network coverage, although it can not be compared with Telstra, can still be spelt out with Optus; the general remote areas may signal it is not good. But also because of the cheapness, Vodafone is the most popular choice in the student circle.
Network Coverage
- For commuters and students in capital cities, Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone offer generally similar coverage. Telstra’s signal can be weaker in some underground areas.
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For those traveling or working remotely (e.g., tour guides, drivers, holidaymakers), Telstra and Optus provide significantly better coverage outside urban centers.
Mobile Virtual Network Operators(MVNOs)
MVNOs offer the most affordable mobile phone plans in Australia. Rather than owning the network, mobile virtual network operators just buy the right to use the network from providers. Virtual carriers offer cheap prepaid plans with no need for credit checks or contracts. This means you only pay by topping up your credit monthly. If you do not want to use it, you can stop whenever you like. Virtual carriers also provide relatively more data traffic, and many packages offer the benefit of free international calls, generally free unlimited calls to mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, the United States, and other countries. There’s no need to worry about network signals, as they run on the established network of Telstra, Optus, or Vodafone, guaranteeing you reliable nationwide coverage.
Advantages of MVNOs:
Generally speaking, smaller virtual telecom operators’ phone cards are more cost-effective:
- You can keep your phone number, switch with your number at no extra charge, receive your SIM card and activate your new network, usually within 4-24 hours of a successful switch.
- They are usually cheaper at intervals, include more data, and many packages include unlimited international calls.
- Smaller phone companies generally offer SIM-only cards with monthly payments, which are very flexible. If you don’t need it anymore, stop paying at any time and leave.
- These phone companies usually have better customer service than the big phone companies; the big basic ISPs have generally worse customer service, while the smaller phone companies typically have better customer service than the big companies to keep their customers.
- They use the same network: these virtual phone network operators use the same primary network, connect similarly and get the same data speeds.
List of Well-known Virtual Operators in Australia
Types of Mobile Phone Plans in Australia
Prepaid
Prepaid means paying up front and using it later. This is an exceptionally flexible and contract-free mobile phone plan in Australia. Purchase a prepaid SIM card at a supermarket, convenience store, or operator outlet, then top up to buy a ‘call credit bundle’ which typically has an expiry period (e.g., 28 or 30 days).
- Pros: No risk of overspending; no credit checks required; strong privacy protection.
- Cons: Less cost-effective than postpaid plans; limited options for mobile handsets.
SIM Only Plan
Sim Only Plan is currently the most popular and flexible mobile phone plan in Australia. It allows you to purchase only the operators’ services (calls, texts, data), so you need to prepare your own handset.
- Contract term: Typically offers monthly payment plans or 12-month or 24-month contracts. Among them, monthly plans offer the greatest flexibility.
- Pros: Sim Only Plan is cheaper than contract handsets and offers flexible switching between providers. It is suitable for those who already own a handset or wish to purchase one separately.
- Cons: Does not include a handset.
Phone Plan
A phone plan bundles a new mobile phone with a monthly call plan, typically over a contract period of 24, 36, or even 48 months.
- Payment: Your monthly fee comprises two parts: the tariff plan charge + the mobile device instalment.
- Pros: No need to pay the full cost of the phone upfront; access to the latest handsets with no or low upfront payment.
- Cons: The total cost is generally higher than purchasing a phone outright plus a SIM-only plan; Longer contracts; less flexibility.
At present, Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone are the primary providers of these contract plans. While the retail price of the handset is similar across providers, the total monthly cost and included plan benefits (like data, international calls, or streaming subscriptions) can differ significantly. Therefore, it is essential to compare all options carefully before making a decision.
Cheapest Australia SIM Cards and Mobile Plans
Mate
Mate is an Australian virtual mobile provider using Telstra 4G and 5G networks, covering 98.8% of the Australian population.
Features:
- Simple activation
- Unlimited talk and text
- NO lock-in contracts
Official website and address: https://www.letsbemates.com.au/mobile/
Plan details
Mate offers six SIM card plans, all providing unlimited local calls and texts in Australia. And it comes with data banking, which can store unused data volume for later use. This is very humane. Please note that if you downgrade your package, the traffic in the data bank will be zeroed out.
| Feature | Better Mates | Best Mates | Soul Mates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Promo Data (First 6 months) | 64GB | 120GB | 320GB |
| Standard Data (After 6 months) | 32GB | 60GB | 160GB |
| Speed Cap | 150Mbps (4G & 5G) | 150Mbps (4G & 5G) | 250Mbps (4G & 5G) |
| Monthly Cost | $32 | $42 | $57 |
| Data Banking | Yes (1000GB) | Yes (1000GB) | Yes (1000GB) |
| Domestic Talk & Text | Unlimited (Std. Aussie Nos.) | Unlimited (Std. Aussie Nos.) | Unlimited (Std. Aussie Nos.) |
| International Talk & Text | Unlimited (15 Select Countries) | Unlimited (15 Select Countries) | Unlimited (15 Select Countries) |
| eSIM Support | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| VoLTE & Wi-Fi Calling | Enabled | Enabled | Enabled |
| Bundle & Save | Yes (Save $10/mth with internet) | Yes (Save $10/mth with internet) | Yes (Save $10/mth with internet) |
| Promotion | Double Data (Ends 3 Feb 2026) | Double Data (Ends 3 Feb 2026) | Double Data (Ends 3 Feb 2026) |
Mate offers the cheapest mobile plans in Australia, all packed with value and modern features. The generous 1000GB data bank can automatically roll over your unused monthly data, ensuring nothing goes to waste. For those with international connections, the plans include unlimited calls and texts to 15 selected countries, like the US, UK, and Canada. They also support modern conveniences like eSIM for instant activation and Wi-Fi Calling to enhance coverage indoors. Furthermore, you can save an additional $10 per month on your plan by bundling it with Mate’s home internet service.
Amaysim
Amaysim is a well-known mobile virtual network operator in Australia. It does not build its own physical network but instead leases Optus’s nationwide 4G and 5G network in its entirety. Amaysim offers network quality comparable to Optus’s, often at more competitive prices, with simple, transparent plans and no contracts.
Features:
- No-lock-in contracts: All plans are pay-as-you-go, cancellable at any time, offering exceptional flexibility.
- Straightforward Plans: Clear plan structures with no complex hidden terms.
- Data Sharing: Plans support creating up to 10 additional ‘data-only SIM cards’ to share data allowances with the main plan.
- Easy Purchase: SIM cards are readily available at major supermarkets (Coles, Woolworths), electronics retailers (JB Hi-Fi), and via their official website.
Official website and address: https://www.amaysim.com.au/plans/mobile-plans/
Plan details
1. Prepaid
This is Amaysim’s most distinctive offering, ideal for those requiring minimal cost to retain a number or as a backup SIM. Its mobile phone plan, No Worries Connect, ranks among Australia’s cheapest number retention plans. A one-off payment of $10 means you won’t need to worry about phone bills for a whole year.
2. Monthly Plans
Amaysim has subscription plans billed monthly, offering larger data allowances for everyday use.
| Plan Name | Monthly Cost | Data Allowance | Calls & Texts (within Australia) | Key Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unlimited Small | $20 | 15GB | Unlimited | A great value entry-level plan for everyday use. |
| Unlimited Medium | $25 | 40GB | Unlimited | A mid-sized data allowance, suitable for most users. |
| Unlimited Large | $30 | 60GB | Unlimited | Designed for users with higher data demands. |
| Unlimited X-Large | $35 | 100GB | Unlimited | The best choice for heavy data users. |
Amaysim SIM card supports travel and roaming in more than 50 countries/regions, but the cost is high; for example, roaming in China costs $1/minute for incoming calls and 50c/text messages, and receiving is free. Data roaming is 50c/MB.
Tangerine
Tangerine Telecom is an Australian broadband NBN provider and a mobile telecom company that offers SIM-only phone cards. It also uses the Telstra base network, covering 98.8 per cent of the Australian population.
Features:
- No contract is required, from 1 month.
- Bring your mobile phone.
- Own number portability.
- Support paid international roaming.
Official website and processing address: https://www.tangerinetelecom.com.au/mobile/sim-only-mobile-plans
Plan Details
Tangerine offers 7 SIM-only plans, which provide unlimited local calls and SMS to Australia. The cheapest SIM Only plan is the 1GB SIM Only plan.
| Plan | Data Traffic/GB | Local Australia Calls and SMS | International Calls + SMS | Price (per month)/$ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1GB MOBILE SIM | 1 | Infinitely | / | 9.9 |
| 3GB MOBILE SIM | 3 | Infinitely | / | 14.9 |
| 5GB MOBILE SIM | 5 | Infinitely | Infinitely | 19.9 |
| 15GB MOBILE SIM | 15 | Infinitely | Infinitely | 29.9 |
| 30GB MOBILE SIM | 30 | Infinitely | Infinitely | 34.9 |
| 60GB MOBILE SIM | 60 | Infinitely | Infinitely | 59.9 |
| 100GB MOBILE SIM | 100 | Infinitely | Infinitely | 69.9 |
The 15GB SIM Only plan and above offer unlimited calls to 15 countries and territories, including China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, the UK, Germany, India, New Zealand, Korea, Vietnam, Greece, Ireland, Indonesia, Thailand, and the USA.
Suppose you activate the phone outside of Australia. In that case, it will automatically activate a 24-hour subscription for $12, unlimited calls to the country you are travelling to and back to Australia within 24 hours, and includes 200Mb of traffic/day.
ALDImobile
As one of the three major supermarket chains in Australia, in the past two years, it began to operate a mobile phone business. Aldimobile has shown its distinctive speed of development.ALDImobile uses the Telstra primary network, covering 98.8% of the Australian population. It’s cheap, and it works.
Features:
- There are no contracts to sign, and you can switch packages anytime.
- You can bring your mobile phone.
- You can bring your number or buy a new one.
- International calls are free.
- Traffic accumulation.
- Provide a 3-in-1 SIM card
Official website and processing address: https://www.aldimobile.com.au/
Plan Details
| Data Traffic/GB | Local Australia Calls and SMS | International Calls + SMS | Price (per month)/$ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Infinitely | / | 15 |
| 20 | Infinitely | Infinitely | 25 |
| 40 | Infinitely | Infinitely | 35 |
| 65 | Infinitely | Infinitely | 45 |
Aldimobile offers prepaid phone plans in Australia with four sizes, valid for 30 days. All packages include unlimited calls and texts within Australia. 20GB+ packages provide unlimited calls to 15 countries and regions.
Boost Mobile
Boost Mobile is the only mobile virtual network operator to use Telstra’s entire retail network. It offers Telstra’s 4G and 5G mobile networks, covering 99.7% of the population and 3 million square km of Australia.
Features:
- No lock-in contracts.
- Bring your own number.
- Connect faster with eSIM.
- Long-term prepaid plans.
- Support data rollover.
Official website and address: https://boost.com.au/
Plan Details (based on a 28-day cycle):
- $25 Plan: Approximately 20GB data + unlimited calls and texts.
- $30 Plan: Approximately 35GB data + unlimited calls and texts.
- $40 Plan: Approximately 55GB data + unlimited calls and texts.
- They also offer long-term plans such as $150/140GB (valid for 365 days).
Select Boost Mobile prepaid plans include unlimited international calls to 20 countries. This service allows customers to conveniently contact friends and family overseas, with calls to standard numbers included in their plan allowance. International roaming is available in 40 countries.
How to Choose Cheapest Australia SIM Cards and Phone Plans?
When selecting a SIM card or mobile plan in Australia, focusing only on price may lead to a poor experience. To help you make the most informed decision, we listed the following key factors:
1. Network Coverage and Quality: Telstra, Optus, Vodafone, and their virtual operators provide excellent signal coverage in Australian cities and major towns. However, if you reside in a remote area or frequently travel by car, Telstra’s network is the only reliable option, or you can choose its full-network virtual operator, Boost Mobile.
2. Data and Call Allowances: Should you frequently call friends or family abroad, selecting an Australian mobile phone plan like Lebara’s with unlimited international calls can yield significant savings. Regarding data allowances, choose a plan suited to your usage patterns.
- 5GB – 20GB: using Wi-Fi, and occasional social media browsing;
- 30GB – 60GB: commuting with video streaming, daily usage;
- 100GB+: hotspot sharing, extensive HD video streaming.
3. Contract Periods and Flexibility: Prepaid and monthly SIM-only plans operate without contracts, allowing users to switch providers at any time. These are ideal for new customers, short-term visa holders, or those wishing to avoid long-term commitments. Contract handsets or 12/24-month SIM-only plans involve fixed-term contracts. Whilst minor discounts may apply, early termination incurs penalty charges.
4. Additional Perks: The extra benefits included in the cheapest mobile phone plans in Australia enhance value for money, such as data rollover, entertainment subscriptions, and shopping discounts.
5. Customer Service and Support: Major carriers typically offer in-store support, while many mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) only have online customer service or telephone support. If you lack confidence in communicating in English, you may wish to consider selecting an operator offering multilingual support.
FAQ
There are several providers of cheap phone cards in Australia, including Lebara, LycaMobile, and Amaysim. The prices vary depending on the services and features offered.
Value for money can depend on your specific needs—however, providers like TPG and Circles. Life and Boost Mobile generally offer competitive packages.
Not necessarily. Many affordable phone cards provide excellent call quality. However, reading reviews and understanding the provider’s network coverage is essential.
Some providers may charge additional fees for services like international calling or data usage beyond your package limit. Always read the terms and conditions carefully.
Comparison websites can help you compare plans based on price, data allowance, call minutes, and other features.
