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If you’re after a SIM card to accompany a mobile phone you already own, a SIM-only mobile phone plan may be just the fit for you. There are SIM-only mobile phone plans which offer the most basic services at a cheap price, or more expensive SIM-only options which can get you extensive data limits amongst other features. With so many options out there, you’ll be able to find the right one for you. Find out how to compare your options to get the best SIM-only mobile phone plan for your needs.
SIM-only mobile phone plans are those which only provide you with a SIM card. They require you to have your own handset and you can choose from an array of SIM-only plans to accompany it. SIM-only plans come with calls, texts and data usage, but can also include an array of other features specific to each provider or plan.
SIM-only mobile phone plans are available with any larger premium or budget providers, affording you a wide variety of choices when deciding on the best plan for you. They’re also available as prepaid or post-paid plans which give you the flexibility to choose the right type of plan for you.
Unlike mobile phone plans, where you’re paying for a handset and a SIM card, a SIM-only mobile plan won’t lock you into a contract. This will afford you the freedom to continuously switch between SIM-only plans and get the best deal possible if you wish. The exception to this is if you’re locked in to a 12-month post-paid SIM-only contract.
As you’re not paying for the cost of a brand-new handset, your SIM-only plan will be much cheaper and could cost you as little as $10 per month depending on your choice of provider and plan. By bypassing an upgrade to a new phone and instead bringing your own phone to the deal, the best SIM-only plan can give you choice, the flexibility of no lock-in contracts and allow you to save money.
Prepaid plan
Prepaid plans require an upfront payment before you can use your SIM card’s services. Their expiry periods are usually monthly, at either 28 or 30 days. However, there are also short-expiry options of 7-10 days and long-expiry options of 90 days, 180 days, or 365 days. Each period, you pay for your plan’s set inclusions. Once you have reached the limits of your inclusions or your expiry period has ended, you will have to recharge your prepaid plan to renew your services. It’s important that you’re able to budget your phone’s services across your expiry period as once your limits are reached, you will have to recharge to continue using your phone.
Post-paid plan
Post-paid plans are available in monthly plans or 12-month contracts. They require payment at the end of your expiry period e.g., end of the month or after 12 months. Post-paid plans will allow excess usage of data or other features. However, depending on your provider and your plan, this excess usage may be charged to your monthly bill and the costs can add up quickly. You can get basic post-paid plans which offer unlimited calls and texts at a cheap price. Alternatively, there are more complex post-paid plans available which provide high data limits amongst other features.
The features of your SIM-only mobile phone plan will depend on your provider and the type of plan you opt for.
These features could include but are not limited to:
| Feature | Feature explained... |
|---|---|
|
Unlimited calls and texts |
No matter if you choose a prepaid or post-paid plan, almost all SIM-only mobile phone plans will provide you with unlimited calls and texts between Australian numbers. |
|
Data |
Although it’s possible to get cheap prepaid plans with no data, most SIM-only plans will provide you with a data allowance. This could be 1GB of data for your expiry period or as much as 500GB. Data is expensive and if you need a higher data limit, you’ll find it under the more costly SIM-only plans. |
|
International roaming |
Many SIM-only plans will provide you with an international roaming allowance to make calls and texts to overseas numbers or use data whilst overseas. |
|
Data rollover |
Data rollover is a handy feature that will allow any unused data from your previous month to rollover to your next month’s data allowance. Data rollover isn’t included by all providers or all plans. It’s also usually limited to prepaid plans and you’ll be required to recharge your plan prior to its expiry to have your data rolled over. |
|
Bonus features |
SIM-only mobile phone plans often contain bonus features. These bonus features are more prevalent in post-paid plans offered by larger premium providers. Bonus features can include entertainment streaming service subscriptions and data-free music or video streaming. |
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You should compare both prepaid and post-paid SIM-only plans to determine which one best suits your needs. Prepaid plans are great for providing affordability and flexibility. Post-paid plans are usually more expensive but provide greater inclusions and better suit regular mobile phone users.
The costs of SIM-only mobile phone plans vary significantly. If you’re on a limited budget, you should compare SIM-only plans at cheaper prices and consider plans that offer great value at a cheap price. Even if you have a greater budget and are less concerned about the cost of plans, you should still strive to compare the cost of plans to get the best value possible.
Everyone’s data needs are different so it’s important you compare SIM-only plans with data limits that are relevant to your data usage. If you’re a low data user and opt for a plan with an unnecessarily high data limit, you’ll be paying far more than necessary. If you’re a high data user, make sure you’re comparing plans with high data limits. In addition, if you choose a post-paid plan, consider giving yourself a buffer to ensure you won’t incur excess charges if you run over your data limit.
It’s important you compare the mobile coverage under various providers. All Australian mobile plan providers operate under a Telstra, Optus or Vodafone network. Telstra offers the most extensive coverage across Australia and can support your phone in the most rural parts of the country. Optus and Vodafone both provide good coverage but are better suited to those who live in the city.
Consider comparing the added features offered by various providers to get the best SIM-only plan. Larger premium providers tend to be the best at offering extra features such as data sharing or data-free music or video streaming. These added features can add significant value to your SIM-only plan.
Monthly prepaid or post-paid plans provide the ultimate flexibility and allow you to shop around and choose the best SIM-only plan at the end of every expiry period.
By providing your own mobile phone, your plan will far cheaper. You may be able to get SIM-only plans as cheap as $10 per month whereas phone and SIM plans could cost you as much as $150 per month.
Post-paid plans will allow you to use in excess of your plan’s set limits but often at a cost. If you go over your data limit, your provider may charge you as much as $10 for each 1GB of data used in excess of your limit.
Access to the 5G network is usually only available to new mobile phones which you can get through a phone and SIM card plan. A mobile phone of your own that isn’t relatively new, may not have access to the 5G network and its faster browsing and download speeds.
If you’re opting for an expensive 12-month SIM-only contract on a post-paid plan, your provider may run a credit check. This is more common with phone and SIM plans, but the more expensive your 12-month SIM-only post-paid plan, the more likely it is that a credit check will apply.
Prepaid plans will allow you to pay for your services upfront and you will only use what you pay for. This will prevent you from exceeding your limits (such as data usage) and ensure that you avoid any surprise charges on your bill at the end of the expiry period.
SIM-only mobile phone plans will often include features which you don’t need. These features such as international roaming, data-free music or video streaming or bonus features could run up the cost of your plan. Simply choose a SIM-only plan which only contains the features that matter to you the most.
Data is one of the biggest contributors to the cost of your SIM-only plan. To limit the cost of your plan, you can opt for a low data limit and make the most of Wi-Fi at home or when out in public as it’s often available in public places. In addition, you should try to get a plan which offers data rollover. This may enable you to choose a cheaper plan with a lower data allowance as whatever data is unused will rollover to your next month’s data limit
Disclaimer:
Savvy is partnered with Econnex Comparison (CIMET Sales Pty Ltd, ABN 72 620 395 726) to provide readers with a variety of mobile phone plans to compare. We do not compare all retailers in the market, or all plans offered by all retailers. Savvy earns a commission from Econnex each time a customer buys a mobile phone plan via our website. We don’t arrange for products to be purchased directly, as all purchases are conducted via Econnex.
Any advice presented above is general in nature and doesn’t consider your personal or business objectives, needs or finances. It’s always important to consider whether advice is suitable for you before purchasing a mobile phone plan. For further information on the variety of mobile phone plans compared by Econnex, or how their business works, you can visit their website.
Quantum Savvy Pty Ltd (ABN 78 660 493 194) trades as Savvy and operates as an Authorised Credit Representative 541339 of Australian Credit Licence 414426 (AFAS Group Pty Ltd, ABN 12 134 138 686). We are one of Australia’s leading financial comparison sites and have been helping Australians make savvy decisions when it comes to their money for over a decade.
We’re partnered with lenders, insurers and other financial institutions who compensate us for business initiated through our website. We earn a commission each time a customer chooses or buys a product advertised on our site, which you can find out more about here, as well as in our credit guide for asset finance. It’s also crucial to read the terms and conditions, Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) or credit guide of our partners before signing up for your chosen product. However, the compensation we receive doesn’t impact the content written and published on our website, as our writing team exercises full editorial independence.
For more information about us and how we conduct our business, you can read our privacy policy and terms of use.
© Copyright 2024 Quantum Savvy Pty Ltd T/as Savvy. All Rights Reserved.
© Copyright 2024 Quantum Savvy Pty Ltd T/as Savvy. All Rights Reserved.
Quantum Savvy Pty Ltd (ABN 78 660 493 194) trades as Savvy and operates as an Authorised Credit Representative 541339 of Australian Credit Licence 414426 (AFAS Group Pty Ltd, ABN 12 134 138 686). We are one of Australia’s leading financial comparison sites and have been helping Australians make savvy decisions when it comes to their money for over a decade.
We’re partnered with lenders, insurers and other financial institutions who compensate us for business initiated through our website. We earn a commission each time a customer chooses or buys a product advertised on our site, which you can find out more about here, as well as in our credit guide for asset finance. It’s also crucial to read the terms and conditions, Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) or credit guide of our partners before signing up for your chosen product. However, the compensation we receive doesn’t impact the content written and published on our website, as our writing team exercises full editorial independence.
For more information about us and how we conduct our business, you can read our privacy policy and terms of use.