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If you’re looking to save and get a cheap mobile phone plan, there are plenty of options out there for you. Whether you’re after a cheap -only plan, or a cheap mobile phone and SIM plan, there are plenty of deals to suit your needs. Find out how to compare your options to get the best cheap mobile plan for you in this comprehensive guide.
Cheap mobile plans in Australia are becoming more common and there is an array of options which could suit your needs. Finding the cheapest mobile phone plan to suit you is no different than searching for any other mobile plan. However, you will instead need to factor in your cheaper budget and try to get the best value possible.
The cheapest mobile plan is a SIM-only plan. However, to take advantage of these plans, you must bring your own phone to the deal. If you don’t own your own phone outright, you may have to instead opt for a mobile phone plan which bundles a new phone and SIM plan together. Mobile phone plans are more expensive as you’re paying for a new handset and the accompanying SIM card. However, if you’re after a new phone and SIM card, there are affordable options out there which could very well fit within your budget.
The cheapest mobile plans are usually offered by budget providers known as Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO). MVNOs use the networks provided by Telstra, Optus and Vodafone to give you affordable mobile plans. Reputable Australian MVNOs include Boost Mobile, amaysim, Dodo and Internode. Bear in mind, though, that most MVNOs do not offer new handsets as part of a mobile phone plan.
With SIM-only plans, you have the option of choosing between prepaid, post-paid and pay-as-you-go plans; each option can be cheap and of value to you.
Cheap prepaid mobile plans
Prepaid plans are the most affordable SIM-only option and enable you to only use what you have paid for. They’re available in short-expiry periods of 7-10 days, monthly expiry periods of 28 or 30 days, and long-expiry periods of 3, 6, or 12 months. Once your prepaid plan’s limits are reached or your plan has expired, you will have to recharge to continue using your plan’s services.
Whether you’re looking to save on your mobile plan and make one payment for the year, or you’re just an irregular mobile phone user, the long-expiry prepaid plan could be the most cost-effective option for you. Long-expiry plans provide you with features and limits for the duration of your chosen expiry period. This usually includes an extensive data limit and can include a large international roaming allowance amongst other inclusions. . Long-expiry plans over a 12-month expiry period can cost anywhere from $120 to $300 per year depending on your plan’s features and limits.
Cheap post-paid plan
Although post-paid plans are more expensive, you may get more for what you paid than with a prepaid plan. Post-paid plans typically come with inclusions such as higher data limits and international roaming allowances. In addition, deals and discounts on post-paid plans are more common, which could save you money.
Different to prepaid plans, post-paid plans are billed at the end of every expiry period. If you’re able to keep to your post-paid plan’s set limits, it can be very cheap and affordable. However, some people run into issues when they exceed their plan’s limits, primarily data-related, and end up with a monthly bill which is far more than they had planned for. SIM-only post-paid plans can cost you anywhere from $10-$85. If you’re after a high data limit on a cheap post-paid plan, look at your options with budget providers as they will regularly come to the market with new offers that provide extensive data limits at cheap prices.
Pay-as-you-go plan
An alternative to both prepaid and post-paid plans is the less-common pay-as-you-go (PAYG) plan. PAYG plans are especially suitable to those who rarely use their mobile phones. You will purchase an amount of credit of your choosing upfront and be charged a specific rate as you make calls, texts or use data. Rates vary, so you should check with individual providers to see what they offer.
Although they’re more expensive, there are affordable mobile phone plan options out there if you’re in the market for a new phone in addition to SIM coverage.
One of the most desired mobile phone plans nowadays is an iPhone plan. However, depending on your choice of model, iPhones are usually the most expensive mobile phone on the market. A new model iPhone could cost you as much as $150 per month over 24 months on a mobile phone plan with a SIM card. A price way out of the market for someone seeking a cheap mobile plan. If you’re set on an iPhone, you could consider an older model iPhone to save money. You may be able to get an older model iPhone for as little as $60 per month over 24 months.
If you’re not an iPhone fanatic and are more so focused on getting a cheap mobile phone of any kind, the best option is to steer clear of iPhones altogether and instead opt for an Android phone. Android phones are made by a plethora of different companies and there are hundreds of options out there for you. You can get Android devices of all shapes, prices and functions to suit your situation. They can be as inexpensive and basic as network-branded phones from the likes of Telstra, Vodafone or Optus, or more expensive like handsets from Samsung. While a network-branded phone could cost you as little as $50 outright, more premium Android phone plans can fall anywhere from $40-$120 per month on a 24-month plan.
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Firstly, you will need to figure out what type of plan you need. Are you after a cheap SIM-only plan? If so, would you prefer a prepaid or a post-paid plan? If you’re after a phone and SIM plan, what type of phone are you looking to get?
Mobile plans will vary in cost significantly based on the type of plan you choose. SIM-only plans will be the cheapest option, but you will have to provide your own phone. If you’re after a mobile phone plan, it will cost you significantly more as you’re paying for both the handset and a SIM card. Once you’ve chosen the type of plan you want, you need to factor in your budget and compare their costs.
If you’re after cheap mobile plans, there’s every chance that data limits don’t matter as much to you. However, it’s still possible to get cheap mobile plans in Australia with reasonable data limits of between 10-30 GB per month. You should break down your recent data usage and compare plans with data limits similar to your usual usage. If your data usage fluctuates, consider comparing plans with data limits a bit higher than your average usage.
Coverage is an important aspect to your choice of mobile phone plan that is often looked over. If you live in the city, coverage provided by any mobile plan and provider will be sufficient. However, if you live in a rural area or regularly make trips to rural areas, you should consider comparing mobile plans offered by Telstra to ensure you have the best chance at coverage no matter how remote your location is.
Extra features such as international roaming, data rollover, data-free streaming or subscriptions to entertainment services are rare under cheap prepaid plans in particular. However, it’s more likely you will be able to get extra features under a cheap SIM-only post-paid plan or as part of a mobile phone plan. Consider also that extra features such as these are common in plans offered by major providers than those from budget providers.
The main benefit of the cheapest mobile plan is the obvious savings that you can experience in contrast to more expensive options.
Cheap prepaid mobile plans are the cheapest mobile plan option, and they provide great flexibility with no lock-in contracts. During or after your prepaid plan’s expiry period, you can shop around to get the best deal for you.
As competition amongst mobile phone plan providers increases, as does the amount of cheap mobile plans on offer. No matter your situation or your needs, there should be a cheap mobile plan for you.
While cheap mobile plans can still offer great value, they usually consist of lesser features. If you’re after a cheap mobile plan with unlimited everything, your options will be limited if at all.
Budget providers have the cheapest mobile plans, but they can also provide weaker coverage than major providers.
If you opt for a cheap mobile plan with a budget provider, you’ll learn that they tend to lack the same quality customer service offered by major providers. If you have issues with your mobile plan’s service, you may experience delays or issues with getting your concerns tended to.
While many features might look appealing on paper, you may not need them. Before purchasing a mobile plan, consider all its features and their worth when deciding on whether its price is worth it.
If you opt for a plan with a short billing period (7-10 days), your mobile plan will undoubtedly appear to be very cheap. However, you must consider the costs of these periods on a monthly basis, as you will be paying for 3-4 billing periods per month. Only then can you truly compare the cost effectiveness of a short billing period compared to your other options.
If you’re a high data user, the data limits offered by cheap mobile plan’s might not fit your needs. Choosing a low data cap could result in you exceeding your limits and incurring excess charges on your monthly bill or having to renew your prepaid plan before its expiry. This could leave you further out of pocket and negating the benefit of what was once a cheap mobile plan.
Prepaid plans are great for affordability and flexibility. If you’re not a regular phone user, a prepaid plan can suit your limited needs at a cheap price. Prepaid plans will also allow you to shop around at the end of every expiry period and get the best deal for you.
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.
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© 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.