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With so many mobile phone plans out there, it can seem difficult to find the best one for you. Everyone’s budget and needs for their plan will vary, so there’s no one size fits all approach with what’s considered the best mobile phone plan. They’re constantly improving as providers offer bigger and better deals to get your business, so there’s no shortage of options for you on the market. Find out what to look for in a mobile phone plan and how to compare your options to get the best plan for your needs and budget.
The best mobile phone plan is one that best fits your own needs and is within your budget. To find the best fit for you, you should do the following:
Determine which type of mobile phone plan you need.
SIM-only plan
If you have a mobile phone, you will need to consider a SIM-only plan. SIM-only plans come in prepaid or post-paid Each plan has different benefits and can vary significantly in cost. The best SIM-only plan could cost anywhere between $10-$85 per month but it will depend on the type of plan and provider chosen.
| Type of SIM plan | Explained... |
|---|---|
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Prepaid plans |
Prepaid plans require upfront payments which ensures you won’t exceed your plan’s limits and incur excess charges. Instead, you will need to recharge your plan once its features are used or when your expiry period is over. |
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Post-paid plans |
Post-paid plans are paid for at the end of every month. They provide better features and higher usage limits. They are also more likely to be eligible for promotions or discounts from providers. All SIM and phone plans will come on a post-paid plan and you will pay for both handset and sim card after each month of your contract. |
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Pay-as-you-go plans |
A rarely used alternative as a SIM-only option is a pay-as-you-go plan. Pay-as-you-go plans involve the upfront purchase of credit towards your plan. Any calls, texts, or data used will be charged at a specific rate to your plan’s credit - these rates will vary between providers. Once your credit is used up, you will need to recharge to continue using your SIM card’s services. |
SIM and phone plans
If you’re looking for a new phone but can’t afford one outright, you’ll need to look at getting a phone and SIM card plan. SIM and phone plans break payments down into more manageable instalments for you, as phones can be very expensive – particularly if you’re looking at a more premium option like Apple. These are more
Figure out a budget to dictate how much you can spend on a mobile phone plan.
Mobile phone plans can vary widely in price and scope, which can have a significant impact on what you’ll be paying each month or year for your phone service. This is especially impacted by whether you go for a SIM-only or mobile and SIM plan, the latter of which is substantially more expensive. Make sure you work out a budget based on your financial situation and only consider mobile phone plans within this budget. However, it’s important to not buy a plan solely based on cost; you don’t want to short-change yourself when it comes to data or other usage.
Compare different mobile phone plans
Compare your mobile phone plan options across an array of providers. Each provider has plans at different costs and with varying features, so you should consider the aspects that are most important to you and look at plans with these included. In addition, try to compare plans with usage limits that are relevant to your situation.
Once you have chosen your mobile phone plan, continue to shop around
If you’re on a prepaid plan or a no-contract post-paid plan, it’s smart to continue looking around as better deals will come to the market. As competitors continue to fight for business, deals which meet your needs will become available at cheaper prices. This will give you a chance to get the best mobile phone plan for you at a more affordable price.
Type of mobile phone plan
The type of mobile phone plans you should compare will depend on your needs. If you have a mobile phone and just want an accompanying SIM-only plan, you will have to compare prepaid and post-paid plans. If you’re looking for a new phone on a plan, you’ll need to compare phone and SIM plans which are bundled together.
Plan costs
The cost of your mobile phone plan will be a big factor in determining if it’s the best one for you. Break down your budget and compare the costs of your chosen type of mobile phone plan within your budget. Make sure you find great value through a good balance between cost and your plan’s features.
Data limits
Everyone has different data needs. Some people may not need any data, while others may seek a plan with unlimited data to meet their data usage needs. Figure out your expected data usage and compare plans within this range. Consider choosing a buffer of 5-10GB if your data usage fluctuates to ensure you don’t incur excess charges if you’re on a post-paid plan.
Coverage
International roaming
International roaming is a feature usually found under post-paid plans which are available as SIM-only or part of a phone plan. If you don’t require international roaming, it’s best you compare plans with this feature excluded, as it can run up the cost of your plan. If you do know you’ll make use of international roaming, you should compare options that provide a solid international roaming allowance, so you don’t have to buy add-ons or an additional SIM card purely for travel purposes.
| Best mobile phone plan feature | Feature explained… |
|---|---|
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Unlimited calls and texts |
Most mobile phone plans will provide you with unlimited calls and texts unless you opt for a pay-as-you-go prepaid plan. This is a feature you can usually find in the cheapest of mobile plans so this should be a minimum expectation to ensure you get the best mobile phone plan. |
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Suitable data limit |
You should figure out your expected data usage based on recent months and changes in the future which could affect it. Apply this expected data usage figure when choosing your plan’s data limits and the best mobile phone plan for you. The right data limit should support your data usage needs and not leave too much left over. |
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International roaming |
International roaming is a feature usually found in post-paid plans. If you’re going to make the most of it, international roaming can add great value to your plan. However, if you’re not travelling overseas or making calls and texts to overseas numbers, steer clear of plans with international roaming, as you’ll be paying for a cost you won’t need. |
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Data rollover |
Data rollover is a feature most commonly found in prepaid SIM-only plans. It will enable you to have any unused data roll over to your next month’s data limits and could make the difference in getting you the best mobile phone plan. If your prepaid plan does have a data rollover feature, you must recharge prior to your plan’s expiry for the unused data to rollover to the next expiry period. |
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Data-free music and video streaming |
Data-free music and video streaming can significantly reduce the cost of your mobile phone plan. With popular music-streaming services such as Spotify and video-streaming services like Netflix consuming more data than ever before, data-free streaming has never been as valuable. It will reduce your data usage and enable you to get the best mobile phone plan for you at a cheaper price. |
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If you are able to get the right data limit for your situation, you could have uninterrupted internet access throughout your plan period. This can allow you to browse or download content freely, without any concerns about not being able to connect to the internet home or away.
Many people will consider the best mobile phone plan as the one that gives them the best and quickest network speeds. Access to the 5G network is the way to get the fastest network or internet speeds and it’s available under new mobile phone varieties and certain SIM plans.
With an array of expiry periods available, the best mobile phone plan can offer you a payment period of your choosing. The payment periods on offer will depend on your choice of a prepaid or post-paid plan. You could be paying for your mobile phone plan monthly or even every three, six or 12 months. If you opt for a prepaid plan, you will pay for your mobile phone’s services upfront and remain in complete control of your spending. Alternatively, you could opt for a post-paid plan and pay for your plan’s services at the end of each expiry period.
The best mobile phone plan could give you extra features which benefit you by adding value to your plan. Bonus features such as those listed above can add a significant amount of value for money to your plan, so they might be worth considering to complete the best mobile phone plan for you.
The ultimate benefit to choosing the right mobile phone plan is the peace of mind that you have made the best decision. You should be able to use your mobile phone carefree and without concern over your usage or inability to make the most of your mobile phone’s services.
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.