The best 365-day prepaid and long expiry mobile plans in September 2024

Get Nan on the blower, we’ve rounded up the best 365-day plans and cheapest long expiry prepaid plans for low-usage customers.

Best long expiry under $150
Catch Connect
Catch 365 Day Plan - 120GB
🔥Deal: Discounted to$109 per 365-days
Network
Optus 4G
Data
120GB
Standard calls/text
Unlimited
Best long expiry under $200
Kogan Mobile
Kogan Small - 365 Day Flex Plan
🔥Deal: Discounted to$120 per 365-days
Network
Vodafone 4G
Data
120GB
Standard calls and text
Unlimited
Best long expiry on Optus network
Catch Connect
Catch 365 Day plan - 200GB
🔥Deal: Discounted to$150per 365-days
Network
Optus 4G
Data
200GB
Standard calls/text
Unlimited
Best long expiry on Telstra network
Boost Mobile
Boost Mobile $230 Prepaid
$230per 12 months
Network
Telstra 5G
Data
170GB
Standard calls/text
Unlimited
Adam Smith
Oct 01, 2024
Icon Time To Read7 min read

There was a time when even the best 365-day plans featured only the minimum inclusions and were used more for receiving calls than making them (or parking a phone number). Back then, prepaid plans with 30-day recharge cycles included more overall value for calls and data. These days, most long expiry plans have shifted with the times, focusing more on data-usage than phone calls and texts. 

In this guide, we're going to take a look at the best 365-day plans and long-expiry prepaid plans available in Australia. But first, here's a look at the most popular plans in this category:

The most popular 365-day plans in Australia

Here are the top-five long-expiry plans available in Australia.

What are 365-day prepaid plans?

The best 365-day prepaid plans and where to find them

365-day prepaid plans (also known as long expiry plans) are a type of SIM-only mobile plan that lets you lock in a year of on-the-go coverage and connectivity in advance. You pay upfront, but once you've done that you're free to use all the data and other inclusions your plan includes however you want.

The only catch is that if you use up your data faster than you expect, you may need to recharge and top it early. Otherwise, you've got an entire year from the moment you sign up to use it or lose it.

Best 365-day prepaid plans under $150

Take a look at the best 365-day (and 1-year) long expiry plans currently available for less than $150 below.

Catch 365 Day Plan - 120GB

Additional Info
  • Network: Optus 4G
  • SIM fees: None
  • Delivery fees: None
  • International roaming: Yes, add-on from $5
  • Cost per month over the course of a year: $9.08
pro
Reasons to buy
  • Cheapest 365-day plan
  • Unlimited calls
  • Optus 4G Plus network
con
Reasons to avoid
  • Not a lot of data
  • No data banking
  • No international calls included

Our September pick for the best cheap prepaid plan with a long expiry is the Catch 365 Day Plan. This thrifty entry in our list of the best 365-day plans offers unlimited national calls and texts and a generous 120GB of data for $109 with a 365-day expiry.

120GB of data means you'll still need to watch your data usage, as it equates to 10GB per month. But if you're budget conscious, this is one of the thriftiest plans on the market.

The only catch here is that you'll revert to the usual $150 for 120GB of data on the first recharge and you have to sign up before 22 October 2024 to get the $41 discount.

If Catch's plan doesn't suit your fancy, here's a list of other 365-day prepaid plans for under $150.

How we picked the best cheap 365-day long expiry prepaid mobile plan: 

  • We ranked long-expiry mobile phone plans in our database by price and chose one that offered the best coverage and value at the cheapest price. We factored in the cost per gigabyte and other relevant inclusions.

Best 365-day prepaid plans under $200

Take a look at the most popular 365-day (and 1-year) long expiry plans currently available for less than $200 below.

Kogan Small - 365 Day Flex Plan

Additional Info
  • Network: Vodafone 4G
  • SIM fees: None
  • Delivery fees: None
  • International roaming: From $10
  • Data rollover: No
  • Cost per month over the course of a year: $8.33
pro
Reasons to buy
  • Cheap 365-day plan
  • Unlimited calls
  • Earn Qantas Frequent Flyer points
con
Reasons to avoid
  • Not a lot of data
  • No data banking
  • No international calls included

If you're in the market for a top-value 365-day long expiry plan, it's hard to look past this one from Kogan. It offers all the usual unlimited call and SMS trimmings (nationally), 80GB of data and 4G speeds on the Vodafone network.

If you sign up before November 30 2024, you'll score an additional 40GB and pay just $120 rather than the usual $179.99. Recharges will revert the cost to the usual rate, but if you're after a lot of data and 365-day expiry this is a standout choice.

For other options, check out the list below for more 365-day prepaid plans for less than $200 per month.

How we picked the best 365-day long expiry prepaid mobile plan under $200: 

  • We ranked long-expiry mobile phone plans in our database by price and chose one that offered the best coverage and value. We factored in the cost per gigabyte and other relevant inclusions.
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Need more data?

If these long expiry plans aren't enough to satisfy your appetite for calls and data, head to our round-up of the very best no-contract prepaid deals currently available. 

Best long expiry plans on the Optus network

Take a look at the most popular 365-day (and 1-year) long expiry plans currently available on the Optus network

Catch 365 Day plan - 200GB

Additional Info
  • Network: Optus 4G
  • SIM fees: None
  • Delivery fees: None
  • International roaming: Yes, add-on from $5
  • Cost per month over the course of a year: $12.50
pro
Reasons to buy
  • Unlimited calls
  • 4G Plus network
con
Reasons to avoid
  • No data banking
  • No international calls included

Another popular option that includes a bit more data for long-expiry plans and providers on the Optus network at the moment is powered by Catch. This prepaid plan includes 200GB of data with a 365-day expiry, which works out to be a bit more than 16GB per month. That might not be enough if you stream Netflix in your morning commute but if you don't use much data and want to set and forget about your mobile bill, it should do the trick.

Optus does also have options for long expiry prepaid with included data, one 186 days expiry plan and one 365 day plan.

How we picked the best 365-day long expiry prepaid mobile plan on the Optus network: 

  • We ranked long-expiry mobile phone plans on the Optus network in our database by price and chose one that was the most popular.

Best long expiry on the Telstra network

Take a look at the most popular 365-day (and 1-year) long expiry plans currently available on the Telstra network

Boost Mobile $230 Prepaid

Additional Info
  • Network: Telstra 4G/5G
  • SIM fees: None
  • Delivery fees: None
  • International roaming: From $3
  • Data banking: Yes
  • Cost per month over the course of a year: $30.41
pro
Reasons to buy
  • Full Telstra 5G network
  • International calls included
  • Unlimited calls
con
Reasons to avoid
  • More expensive
  • No data banking

We've gone with Boost Mobile for our September pick of the best 365-day plans on the Telstra network for a few reasons.

Firstly, it offers decent data-per-dollar value at $230 for 170GB on your first recharge (plus unlimited standard national calls). This prepaid plan also has unlimited international calling to 20 different countries, plus 3600 minutes of international calls to another 30, and 3600 texts to any country in the world.

The other reason we've gone with Boost is its data banking. If you recharge before your expiry, you can roll over any unused data. Here's a look at other long-expiry plans available on the Telstra network.

How we picked the best 365-day long expiry prepaid mobile plan on the Telstra network: 

  • We ranked long-expiry mobile phone plans on the Telstra network in our database by price and chose one that was the most popular.

How we choose the best long-expiry plans

Our methodology

As always, all of our returning picks for the top long expiry mobile plans have been vetted to ensure they’re the best value at the start of the month. We compare all relevant Prepaid recharges and subscriptions to pick new winners or confirm the continued reign of incumbent victors.

When looking at plans, we compare on price and inclusions. A cheap plan might not be great value if the included data allowance is stingy. We weigh up both price and included data to determine the best value long-expiry plans.

You can find out more about how we review mobile providers here.


Which providers have 365-day prepaid plans?

The best 365-day prepaid plans are found with these providers


How to pick the best 365 day prepaid plan for your needs

Read the fine print and pay attention to the terms and duration of your recharge.

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Expert Advice
"365-day long expiry plans can be a an excellent choice for mobile customers who use very little data each month and want to save by paying a bigger amount up front."
Dylan Crismale, Digital Content Editor
Digital Content Editor

Long expiry prepaid plans are, by their very nature, relatively straightforward and no-fuss. That simplicity is a big reason that people opt for them. Still, there's a few things to keep an eye out for when choosing a 365 day or 1 year prepaid phone plan:

Longer recharge durations

There are a few different types of long expiry prepaid options. The most common is the 365-day recharge, but there are also 90-day and 180-day options. Every now and then, telcos will off one-year recharge options, which won't necessarily last you 365 days, instead they expire on a year from the day you activate. 

Better dollars-to-data value

The easiest way to compare long expiry prepaid options is to calculate the equivalent monthly cost and inclusions. This allows you to compare 180-day and 365-day recharge options in a like-for-like way. For example, Kogan's $120 Small Flex Plan costs $120 for the first year and gets you 80GB of data to use over the year. That works out at roughly $10 and 6.6GB of data per month.

Data rollover

Different telcos offer different data rollover offers (some don't offer it at all). Some allow you to bank a limited amount of unused data for your next recharge, others let you rollover all of your unused data if you recharge before the expiry date. It's important to know which data rollover or data banking option is available to you before signing up. 

Auto-recharge with no excess data fees

Again, different telcos have different ways of handling excess data charges. Some will simply charge a per-megabyte rate for all data used in excess of your inclusions, deducting that amount from the dollar value of your recharge amount. Others offer convenient auto-recharge options that automatically top-up your balance via direct debit when you run out of credit or your plan expires

Long expiry prepaid plan and recharge FAQs

Here are the most commonly asked question we get about the best 365-day prepaid and long expiry plans

Is it cheaper to get a 365-day plan?

While 365 day and 1 year prepaid phone plans do command an expensive upfront cost, they can sometimes work out to be cheaper than their month-to-month counterparts. However, the downside of this affordability is that they tend to offer significantly less value from a dollars-per-gigabyte perspective. You're paying less, but you aren't getting as much for your money.

Are long expiry prepaid plans better value than monthly plans?

Long expiry, 365 day and 1 year prepaid phone plans are great for those who don't use that much data or like the idea of locking in the cost of their phone bill ahead of time. However, they aren't necessarily going to be the right for everyone as monthly plans can offer significantly more data, perks and flexibility.

Is there a 365-day long expiry plan with unlimited data?

At the time of writing, there are no long expiry prepaid plans with unlimited data. If you do want excess-charge free or unmetered data, you'll have to go with a postpaid provider like Felix or Dodo.

Are there any 365 day mobile plans that don't expire?

No. Unfortunately, every prepaid mobile plan in Australia has some sort of timeline on when it will expire. If you're keen to put off having to think about your mobile plan for as long as possible, a 365-day long expiry plan like the ones featured on this page may be the best choice.

What happens if I don't use up all my prepaid data?

Typically, Aussies signed up for a long expiry prepaid mobile plan like the ones featured on this page lose any remaining or unused data once their expiry date arrives. However, some providers offer a form of data banking or data rollover. So long as you meet that (and any other) criteria, some amount of your data will carry over into your next recharge.

What is the cheapest 365 day plan?

If you're looking for the cheapest 365-day mobile plan, you're probably looking at spending around $100. However, that only applies if there's a good deal going. If there isn't, then you're looking at closer to $120.

Do you get access to all the data for a 365-day plan upfront?

Yes. Usually, prepaid plans give you all the data at the start of your plan's life rather than later on. The upside of this is that you can use the data how you want when you want. The downside is that you can get through your data allowance well before your expiry date arrives if you aren't careful. To help with that, some providers allow you to break your data out into neat monthly allotments.

How long does a long expiry prepaid plan last?

Long expiry prepaid plans vary in terms of how long they last. Shorter long expiry plans can last either 90 or 180 days while longer ones can last you a whole year.

Adam Smith
Written by
Adam Smith has been a journalist for the past 18 years, writing on subjects as varied as music, entertainment, finance and technology. Since moving to Australia from Kentucky (before you ask, yes, he knows the secret recipe) by way of New Zealand, Adam has led an editorial team at Finder, launched editorial operations at Freelancer.com and hosted podcasts about personal finance, streaming, emo music, the crypto craze and the award-nominated We Review Stuff podcast. These days, Adam spends most of his time behind the scenes managing the team of reviewers on Reviews.org but he will occasionally pop in to spin wild conspiracy theories about Chris Messina being a glitch in the simulation in The Watchlist newsletter.