We compare and choose the best phone plans in Australia every month, whether you’re after the cheapest phone plan, one with plenty of data or a great deal.
The best mobile phone plans in December 2023
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- : iiNet Mobile 40GB Plan
- : iiNet Mobile 8GB Plan
- : Vodafone $45 Small Plan
- : $89 Optus Plus Promo Plan
- : TPG 25GB Mobile Plan
- : Belong 40GB Mobile Plan
- : Aldi mobile $25 Mobile Plan
- : Catch Connect 365-Day Plan - 200GB
- : TPG 12GB Mobile Plan

If you’re in the market for a new phone and the best mobile phone plans that can go with it, there are a couple of categories on this page that’ll be of interest, whether you’re after a shiny new iPhone 15—which you can easily sub out for a Google Pixel 8 or another phone—or a more affordable alternative with a great mobile plan.
Whatever you’re after, from cheap through to data-stuffed and the best Prepaid plans, scroll on for the best mobile plans available in Australia this month.
Best value mobile phone plan: SIM Only
iiNet Mobile 40GB Plan
✓ How we picked this plan:
- We ranked SIM only phone plans in our database by price and chose the one that offered the best coverage and the most data at the cheapest price.
While this mobile plan from iiNet doesn't have as many gigabytes to offer as last month's pick, it does have a pretty compelling promotion attached.
If you're a new customer, you'll score 50% off for the first six month. Those who bundle an active iiNet NBN plan also score triple the usual amount of data. After that honeymoon period is up, you'll be paying $29.99 per month for this particular mobile plan. You get 40GB of monthly data as standard plus unlimited local standard calls and texts.
In terms of coverage, iiNet runs on the Vodafone network, which means most Aussies living in a metropolitan area should be covered by it.
Compare phone plans below from a daily updating list of cheap SIM Only Plans with at least 50GB of data.

The best SIM Only plans in Australia
Your one-stop shop for the best SIM Only plans in Australia.
Best cheap mobile phone plan: SIM Only
iiNet Mobile 8GB Plan
🔥 Deal: 50% off monthly price for the first 6 months.
✓ How we picked this plan:
- We ranked phone plans in our database by price and chose the cheapest one under $15 that offered at least 5GB of monthly data.
This month, the iiNet 8GB plan is our top pick for a cheap SIM only plan. While it’s normally priced at $19.99 per month, you'll pay just $10 a month for your first six months . If you're looking for a cheap SIM only plan and don't need tonnes of data, this one is worth a look.
Compare phone plans below from a daily updating list of popular SIM Only plans in Australia that don’t cost more than $15 a month (at least initially).
Best iPhone plan deal
iPhone 15 + Vodafone $45 Small Plan
✓ How we picked this plan:
- For our best value Postpaid phone plan, we lead with the iPhone 14 128GB model as the handset for our comparisons and plans with 10GB or more on 24-month handset repayment terms. These Postpaid plans can also be paired with other telco-offered iPhone or Android handsets, though the combined monthly price will change.
Vodafone is back again to continue its highly recommendable run when it comes to the best mobile phone plans that let you pay off an iPhone handset over 24 months. This month, we’re going with a cheaper iPhone plan to keep costs closer to $100.
Coupled with the Vodafone $45 Medium Plan, you're looking at a few bucks more than $100 a month with the iPhone 15 128GB. That price nets you 80GB of data on the Vodafone 5G network, capped to 2Mbps speeds if you burn through it all. You also get unlimited minutes of international calls to selected countries.
For comparison, check out the daily updating list of popular iPhone 15 128GB plans below that come with at least 10GB of data.
Best mobile phone plans for big data: SIM Only
$89 Optus Plus Promo Plan
✓ How we picked this plan:
- We ranked no contract phone plans in our database by price and chose the one that offered the most data.
The Optus $89 Plus Promo Plan gets you way more data than you need, minus the speed limits that come with "infinite data" plans. You get 500GB a month to work with, plus unlimited calls, texts and international calls to 35 countries. Plus, for the first 12 months you'll only pay $69 a month.
For a sense of how this compares to some of the other big and unlimited data month-to-month phone plans, check out the widget below.
Best Prepaid mobile plan
TPG 25GB Mobile Plan
🔥 Deal: 50% off for the first six months.
✓ How we picked this plan:
- We ranked prepaid phone plans in our database by price and chose the cheapest one under $30 with at least 20GB of data over a 24 month period.
The best value Prepaid plan you can buy comfortably under our $50 category cap is the TPG 25GB Mobile Plan.
The normal $25-per-month price is decent, but it’s even better for new customers in the first six months at just $12.50 a month. That’s a great price to pay for 25GB of data, even if there’s not much in the way of perks.
If you're looking to compare phone plans, below is a daily updating list of popular Prepaid plans from our database with at least 30GB of data.
Best 5G phone plan
Belong 40GB Mobile Plan
✓ How we picked this plan:
- We ranked 5G phone plans in our database by price and chose the one that offered the best 5G coverage at the cheapest price, excluding promo pricing or network trials.
This postpaid option from Belong runs on the Telstra 5G network and comes with 40GB of data per month. You also get unlimited data banking and 5G speeds of up to 100Mbps.
If you're keen to take advantage of the biggest network available but don't like the idea of paying the steep price are asking then this is our pick of the lot when it comes to the best mobile phone plans with 5G.
For comparison, check out the daily updating list of 5G phone plans below with at least 40GB of data.
Most popular Telstra network phone plan
Aldi mobile $25 Mobile Plan
✓ How we picked this plan:
- We ranked phone plans in our database that use the Telstra network and selected the most popular one.
Given the premium that its mobile plans typically command, it's little surprise that Telstra is rarely the most popular pick on its own network. Most consumers don't realise it but MVNOs like Boost, Mate and Belong can offer the same level of connectivity at a significantly cheaper price point.
This month, ALDImobile is the provider behind the most popular plan choice on the Telstra network. This particular prepaid plan comes with 5.5GB of data per 30-day renewal.
For comparison, the updated list of popular month-to-month phone plans on the Telstra network below will give you a good opportunity to compare phone plans.
Please note the plan above and the ones below may change daily based on the most popular mobile plans on the Telstra network.
Most popular Optus network phone plan
Catch Connect 365-Day Plan
✓ How we picked this plan:
- We ranked phone plans in our database that use the Optus network and selected the most popular one.
Long expiry prepaid plans aren't for everyone, but if you're looking for a good set-and-forget plan, it's hard to go past Catch Connect's 365 day plan. You'll get 200GB of data for the year, and if you jump on the deal before 12 December you'll get an extra 60GB on top of that.
For a sense of how the most popular plan (in our database) that uses the Optus network compares to some of the other options available, check out the widget below.
Please note the plan above and the ones below may change daily based on the most popular mobile plans on the Optus network.
Most popular Vodafone network phone plan
TPG 12GB Mobile Plan
✓ How we picked this plan:
- We ranked phone plans in our database that use the Vodafone network and selected the most popular one.
As of this month, the TPG 12GB Mobile Plan has its nose in front of Vodafone's 40GB Mobile Plan. This TPG Prepaid plan comes with 12GB of data but has no data banking or international talk and text inclusions.
There aren’t as many Vodafone MVNOs on the scene as there are for Optus and Telstra, but Australia’s third-largest mobile network has plenty of providers with plans that offer great value and plenty of data.
You can compare the people's pick for the best Vodafone phone plan using the widget below.
Please note the plan above and the ones below may change daily based on the most popular mobile plans on the Vodafone network.
What to look for in a mobile plan
What type of plan do you need?
To compare phone plans, it’s worth understanding the three different types available to Australian consumers. All three should let you keep your number as you switch between telcos, but some are going to be a better fit for your needs than others.
Postpaid mobile plans range from cheap to expensive and bundle a monthly plan with a handset. This is a straightforward way to pay off a new smartphone without having to think about pairing a new handset with a SIM Only or Postpaid plan. Regardless of whether it has 5G or not, handsets tend to be offered as interest-free monthly repayment terms of either 24 months or 36 months.
SIM Only and Prepaid plans assume you already have a phone. Either you need an unlocked handset or you’ll have to stick with the carrier network that your phone is currently locked to. SIM Only plans are identical to Postpaid plans in terms of data, coverage and inclusions, minus the additional cost of handset repayments, which makes them cheaper overall.
Prepaid plans are paid in advance of a month, instead of afterwards like Postpaid and SIM Only plans (except for Telstra Upfront plans, which are paid ahead of usage). The duration of Prepaid plans varies from one day to a full year, but a month is typically broken down into 30 days, 28 days or, rarely, an actual month. Prepaid plans tend to have fewer bells and whistles than Postpaid and SIM Only plans but are a great way to stay in control of monthly costs.
How to pick the best phone plan in Australia
In order to pick the best phone plan in Australia, you need to factor in not just the type of plan but also what it includes and whether the network involved can meet your individual connectivity needs. These days, the best mobile plans offer more than just data and calls. They also incorporate things like data banking, excess-free data, international calls and the ability to save by bundling or family plans.
When it comes to picking the best mobile phone plans, we only use mobile plans that can be paired with a handset. That narrows down the number of eligible telcos dramatically. We then weigh the included data, calls/text (standard national), international (roaming and international calling/texting) and perks (music streaming, Optus Sport + Fitness, etc.) against the monthly price to find the cheapest plans with the most inclusions.
We use a small selection of premium handsets to compare these plans with, which change as new flagship handsets are released, though we tend to lean towards the latest iPhone handset as they are the most popular (plus, they also tend to be great smartphones). You can read more about how we rate mobile service providers.
For our other categories, we opt for the best-fit plan that offers the best dollar-to-data value. There are times when we also weigh up factors such as network coverage, a telco’s mobile plans review score, or other included perks. Generally, we want to promote the best mobile phone plans that offer the best first-year value with a good mix of pricing and plenty of data.
FAQs about Australian mobile phone plans
Australia doesn't lack competition when it comes to mobile providers, with a whole range of companies offering mobile plans. But, all mobile providers are on one of three networks: Telstra, Vodafone or Optus.
Telstra has the largest mobile network, covering 99.5% of Australians. Its wholesale network, which is used by providers like Tangerine, Mate and ALDI Mobile, to name a few, covers 97.9% of the Australian population.
By comparison, the Optus network covers about 98.5% of the population, while the Vodafone network covers 96%.
There's no single provider that has the best mobile plans for everyone. It really boils down to your personal preference and network needs.
The best coverage comes from Telstra plans, then telcos that use the Telstra network. Optus offers a mix of coverage and value, which is also true of telcos on the Optus network. Vodafone is behind Telstra and Optus for coverage but offers plenty of value, and so too do the telcos that use its network.
You can find cheap phone plans for either Prepaid or SIM Only. Prepaid lets you control costs a bit more but SIM Only tends to offer better overall value for plans, including cheap SIM Only plans.
If you have budgeted for the outright cost of a new iPhone or another smartphone, you can save money with a SIM Only or Prepaid plan, plus you’ll have the flexibility to move to other plans and/or telcos without hardware exit fees. That said, paying off a new iPhone or another smartphone with 12, 24 or 36-month handset repayment terms is a great way to avoid the big sting of an upfront cost.
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