The best SIM-only mobile plans in Australia (May 2024)

Data from the ACCC’s Internet Activity Report says that Australians are using around 16GB of data per month. This average data usage grows each year, which is why we use 30GB as a comfortable baseline to cover the recommended plans for our best value SIM-only category.

Circles.Life takes out the top spot this month thank to a timely deal. Normally, the Circles.Life 30GB Monthly Plan has a $30 monthly fee for 30GB of data. But new Circles.Life customers who sign up by 3 June 2024 with the CUTCOSTC30 promotional code will pay a $11 monthly fee for the first six months. This Circles.Life plan also comes with 500GB of data rollover plus support for eSIM smartphones. For alternatives with more data, consider the iiNet Mobile 40GB Plan or the Moose Mobile 19.80 Promo.

For more contenders, check out these popular SIM-only mobile plans with at least 30GB of data, which don’t cost more than $40 per month (at least not initially).

While the average monthly SIM-only data use is higher than 10GB in Australia, the best way to save money with a mobile plan is opting for less data. Choosing a SIM-only plan with 10GB is enough for basic monthly mobile data needs, plus it’s more manageable if your mobile phone tends to be connected to WiFi most of the time.

Moose Mobile takes out the top spot again this month. While the telco used to be a fan of 12-month promotional pricing, the Moose 11.80 Promo offers new customers the first eight months for $11.80 apiece. Afterwards, the price reverts to a typical $24.80 monthly fee. Either price nets you 25GB of Optus 5G data, capped at 100Mbps download speeds. That’s fast enough for every mobile task, plus Moose offers a 200GB data bank to store spare gigabytes. For cheap alternatives, consider the Kogan Mobile Small Monthly Plan or the Moose 14.80 SIM Only plan.

For more cheap SIM-only alternatives, consider these popular picks from our database, which have at least 10GB of data and don’t cost more than $25 per month (at least not initially).

30GB is more than enough for most SIM-only users. But if you’re craving more gigabytes, you don’t have to spend a whole lot more to get at least 60GB of monthly data. This big-data category is great for people who are heavy social media users and like to stream video on their daily commute.

Southern Phone recently rejigged its plans and is making a statement with some great specials. Case in point, the Southern Phone Large 5G SIM Plan. Normally priced at $34 a month, new Southern Phone customers can nab it for a $24 monthly fee for the first six months. Just use the EOFY24 promo code at the checkout before 30 June 2024. Either price comes with 80GB of Optus 5G data, capped at 100Mbps download speeds. This Southern Phone SIM-only plan also comes with $50 of standard international call credit. Alternatively, get more data with the typically pricier Moose Mobile 24.80 Promo plan or the Spintel $35 Mobile Plan.

If you’re keen to check out more big-data contenders, have a look at this list of popular SIM-only plans with a minimum of 60GB of data that are capped at $55 per month (at least initially).

Okay, so maybe 60GB isn’t enough. Perhaps you stream so much video and download so many apps on the go that you need hundreds of gigabytes of data. Or maybe you hotspot for work or play. If that sounds familiar, this epic-data SIM-only category is for you. These days, there are plenty of telcos offering 150GB+ SIM-only plans, but that doesn’t mean you have to pay top dollar for them.

Moose Mobile returns for a second category this month, this time with the 44.80 SIM Only plan. That “44.80” in the plan name refers to the $44.80 monthly cost for the first eight months. Afterwards, this Moose plan reverts to a typical $54.80 monthly fee. Whichever price you’re paying, you’ll get 200GB of Optus 5G data, plus a 200GB data bank for any unused gigabytes. This Moose winner also comes with $400 of talk and text credit to anywhere in the world. For big-data alternatives, consider the Circles.Life 160GB Monthly Plan or the Belong 160GB Mobile Plan.

There are plenty of other epic-data SIM-only plans in our database. These popular picks have at least 150GB of data.

There was a time when 5G plans were relegated to the network owners. Not anymore. While 5G SIM-only plans are plentiful, a bunch of them come with restrictive download caps. For this category, we favour 5G SIM-only plans with either fast download caps (150Mbps+) or uncapped download speeds. Note that you don’t really need download speeds beyond 100Mbps for a mobile plan, but we do like SIM-only plans that let you tap into at least some of the speed potential of Australia’s 5G networks.

The Belong 100GB Mobile Plan offers a good mix of price, data and 5G perks, which is why it’s this month’s winner. And it doesn’t even need promotional pricing to come out on top. It costs $45 a month for 100GB of Telstra 5G data. While that is capped at 150Mbps download speeds, Belong doesn’t have any excess data fees. Instead, plan speeds are capped at 1.5Mbps if you burn through the 100GB monthly data allowance. Speaking of data, there’s also unlimited data banking or you can gift unused data to Belong customers. Alternatively, consider the faster download speeds of the Belong 160GB Mobile Plan or Mate Soul Mates 5G plan.

There are other 5G SIM-only plans to choose from. Here are the popular picks today from our comparison engine with at least 60GB of data that don’t cost more than $60 per month (at least initially).

Telstra and Boost Mobile customers get access to the full Telstra mobile network. But there are also plenty of other telcos that operate on the slightly smaller but still expansive Telstra wholesale network. This category is designed to acknowledge the popularity of the Telstra network with SIM-only users.

At the start of the month, the Belong 25GB Mobile Plan was still the most popular SIM-only plan on the Telstra network. For $29 a month you get 25GB of max-speed data, with no excess data charges. Admittedly, post-25GB speeds are throttled to 1Mbps, which isn’t particularly fast. Within the data cap, though, expect max download speeds up to 150Mbps on the Telstra 5G network, plus you can store or gift unused monthly data.

You’ll find other popular Telstra network SIM-only plans below.

The Optus mobile network is nipping at the Telstra network’s heels, supporting a selection of telcos that deliver solid coverage options with competitive pricing. The Optus network is a good choice for those after widespread 4G coverage or faster 5G options.

At the start of the month, the Moose Mobile 11.80 Promo plan is the top pick again, which isn’t surprising given it took out one of our categories above. This Moose Mobile plan normally costs $24.80 a month, but the first eight months are charged at $11.80 apiece. Either price nets you 25GB of Optus 5G data, with up to 100Mbps download speeds and a 200GB data bank.

Check out more popular Optus network SIM-only plans from our database.

While its 5G coverage isn’t as widespread, most Australians can happily access the Vodafone 4G network. And with that access comes some great comparative SIM-only savings, both from Vodafone SIM-only plans as well as Vodafone mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), all of which use the same network.

At the start of the month, the Vodafone $49 Small SIM Only Plan was the most popular SIM-only plan on the Vodafone network. That $49 monthly fee comes with 50GB of Vodafone 5G data, with no excess data fees. That said, speeds are capped at 2Mbps if you go over your monthly allowance. Vodafone SIM-only plans also come with a 30-day network-satisfaction guarantee if you want to try before you settle into an ongoing plan.

For more popular Vodafone SIM-only plans, check out the list below.

All SIM-only mobile plans in our database come with unlimited calls and texts in Australia, so you’re ultimately dealing with data caps. The more you pay, the more data you get. But before you go too far down that rabbit hole, consider which mobile networks you have access to in the areas you frequent.

For most Australians, that’ll be all three mobile networks, at least for 4G coverage. If you’ve had coverage issues in the past or travel a lot in Australia, particularly off the beaten track, a Telstra network plan is your best bet. For Aussies who frequent metro areas, you can also consider the generally cheaper Optus network plans and potentially cheaper still Vodafone network options.

Use the interactive map below to get an idea of Telstra, Optus and Vodafone network coverage in the areas you visit most.

With the network out of the way, it’s time to think about data. Aim for around 15 to 20GB of data minimum if you’re the average user. If you find you use less data each month, save money with a cheaper SIM-only plan. Alternatively, if you constantly need to top up or get stung with excess-data bills, upgrade to a plan with more gigabytes.

Speaking of excess data, not every SIM-only telco charges for it these days but speeds may be capped to the point where doing more than just the online basics feels like a sluggish chore. To separate closely priced plans, we advise taking first-year costs into account. Six months of promotional pricing is good, but it’s not as great if the typical price leaps to a point that nullifies the discount.

The data suggests that most people tend to stick with their telcos, too. If that’s you, pick a mobile provider with competitive ongoing pricing relative to your data needs. Alternatively, if you find your monthly data usage fluctuates, go for a telco with data banking, so those quieter months can help support heavier months with stored gigabytes.

To help further separate contenders from your chosen telco, consider plan inclusions. eSIM, for instance, is a great way to avoid having to wait for a physical SIM card to arrive. International talk and/or text is another consideration, as is straightforward international roaming via add-ons rather than pay-as-you-go (PAYG) credit or telcos that require a roaming prepayment. Whatever the plan perk, don’t pay more for a plan feature if you don’t intend on using it.

Changing SIM-only plans is straightforward. Once you’ve chosen the plan that’s best for you, follow these steps:

1. Click the ‘Go to Site’ button next to the plan you want. Alternatively, if a link is not supplied, visit the telco’s site.
2. On the telco’s site, confirm your SIM-only mobile plan selection and follow the prompts. You’ll likely have to create an account, provide personal details and may need to verify your identity.
3. During plan sign-up, specify whether you’d like to transfer your number or get a new one. Also choose between eSIM or physical SIM card options (where available).

The benefit of eSIM is not having to wait for a physical SIM card to arrive by mail to start using your new SIM-only plan. SIM activation should take around half an hour, but it may take longer. Just remember to not remove your old physical SIM card for your current plan before the new one is ready to go.