The best prepaid mobile plans in Australia (December 2024)

We round up the best everyday, cheap, big-data and long-expiry prepaid plans that offer the best monthly value.

Best value prepaid plan
Kogan Mobile
Medium Monthly Plan
Starts at$25per month
Data
40GB p/recharge
🔥Feature
Cheap monthly recharges
Network
Vodafone 4G
Best cheap prepaid plan
Iinet
25GB Small Plan
Starts at$12.50per month
Data
25GB p/recharge
🔥Deal
50% off first six recharges
Network
Vodafone 4G
Best big-data prepaid plan
TPG
TPG 100GB Large Plan
Starts at$22.50per month
Data
100GB p/recharge
🔥Deal
50% off first six recharges
Network
Vodafone 5G
Best 5G prepaid plan
Iinet
iiNet 100GB Large Plan
Starts at$22.50per recharge
Data
100GB p/recharge
🔥Deal
50% off first six recharges
Network
Vodafone 5G
Best long-expiry prepaid plan
Catch Connect
Catch 365 Day Plan – 120GB
Starts at$150per 365 days
Data
120GB p/recharge
🔥Feature
Low typical price for full year
Network
Optus 4G
Nathan Lawrence
Nov 06, 2024
Icon Time To Read16 min read
Updated on December 04, 2024

Prepaid mobile plans are a great way to stay on top of your spending. While prepaid starter packs offer a cheap way to nab a prepaid SIM card and a discounted recharge, most of the prepaid plans we track operate around a (roughly) monthly cycle. For better value, consider a long-expiry prepaid plan to cover either half a year or, better yet, a full 12 months.

In terms of the monthly options in our database, prepaid plan prices start at around $10–$15 per month. Expect to pay around $25 or more a month for a typically priced prepaid recharge with at least 30GB of base data or at least $40 for double that data. Long-expiry prepaid plans start at around $150 normally but can cost up to $300+ for more data.

Scroll on for our best prepaid plan picks for December.

What is a prepaid plan?

In terms of when you pay, prepaid mobile plans are the opposite of postpaid (SIM-only) mobile plans: namely, you pay ahead of use rather than after. Prepaid plans typically include unlimited talk and text in Australia, and they don’t have contacts.

Buying a prepaid plan means you’re in control of how much you spend each month. What you’re paying for then is a mix of data and recharge duration. Prepaid data starts at around 5GB per recharge but that stretches to hundreds of gigabytes for long-expiry plans. Most mobile providers offer monthly prepaid plans that are either recharged on the same calendar day every month, every 30 days or every 28 days.

We factor in the differences between the various monthly and long-expiry prepaid plans when determining first-year value. All you need is a prepaid SIM card (or eSIM), and you can use a prepaid mobile plan with a new handset, like the iPhone 16 and Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, or a different mobile phone. Certain telcos offer network-locked prepaid mobile phones, which can potentially be used with other mobile providers outside of Telstra, Optus or Vodafone, but only if they operate on that same network.

Best value prepaid mobile plan

Kogan Mobile Medium Monthly Plan

pro
Reasons to buy
  • Competitive typical pricing
  • 40GB of Vodafone 4G data
  • 200GB data rollover
con
Reasons to avoid
  • Promo pricing would be nice
  • No Vodafone 5G
  • Light on perks

How we chose the best prepaid mobile plan:

  • We ranked prepaid mobile plans with at least 30GB of base data (capped at $40 monthly spend) then used dollar-to-data comparisons to find the best value. More widespread networks and our in-depth provider schema are used to settle tie-breaks.

If you use mobile data quite a bit each month, you’ll want at least 30GB of data. That’s the minimum data we set for this category because it’s an amount that allows for everyday app use as well as occasional video streaming. Use your phone or telco companion app to track data usage each month to see if you can save money with a cheaper prepaid plan or need to up your budget for a plan with more data.

While dethroned by Felix Mobile last month, Kogan Mobile returns to take out the top spot again with its Medium Monthly Plan. In the past, it’s been propped up by promo pricing, but even without that, the Medium Monthly Plan is still competitive. Customers pay $25 per monthly recharge for 40GB of data on the Vodafone 4G network. This Kogan plan also comes with up to 200GB of data rollover, so you can store unused gigabytes and use them later. You also earn Qantas Frequent Flyer Points by recharging. For great value prepaid alternatives, consider the Felix Mobile 50GB Mobile Plan or the identical 50GB Medium Plan options from iiNet and TPG.

Main plan details

  • Data: 40GB
  • Expiry: Monthly
  • Network: Vodafone 4G
  • SIM fees: No
  • International calls: Add-on
  • International roaming: Add-on
  • Data rollover: 200GB
  • Cost for first 12 months: $300 (12 recharges)

How does this prepaid mobile plan compare?

For alternatives, consider the monthly prepaid plans below with at least 30GB of data that don’t cost more than $40 per recharge (at least not initially).

Best cheap prepaid mobile plan

iiNet 25GB Small Plan

pro
Reasons to buy
  • Excellent promo pricing
  • 25GB of Vodafone 4G data
  • 100 international call minutes
con
Reasons to avoid
  • Price hike post-promo period
  • 150Mbps download speed cap
  • Light on perks

How we chose the best prepaid mobile plan:

  • We ranked prepaid mobile plans with at least 10GB of base data (capped at $25 monthly spend) then used dollar-to-data comparisons to find the best value. More widespread networks and our in-depth provider schema are used to settle tie-breaks.

Cheap doesn’t mean the cheapest. You may find dirt-cheap prepaid plans that only last a few days. But that’s not practical for ongoing everyday use. For this category, we’ve set 10GB as the minimum for an okay amount of data and $25 as the max typical recharge cost, while category contenders need to at least offer 28-day recharge cycles. Only prepaid users with light data usage each month should consider these kinds of plans.

iiNet checks in for its first of two category wins, this time with the 25GB Small Plan. Note that outside of having a different mobile provider in front of its name, the TPG 25GB Small Plan is an identical offering, so consider this a joint win. For the iiNet 25GB Small Plan, users get 25GB of Vodafone 4G data capped at 150Mbps speeds. It usually costs $25 per monthly recharge, but new customers can lock in $12.50 recharges for the first six monthly renewals as part of an ongoing promotion. This iiNet winner also includes 100 standard call minutes to 31 selected dialling destinations. Alternatively, consider the Aldi Mobile $19 Mobile Plan or the Lebara Mobile $19.90 Extra Small Plan.

Additional details

  • Data: 25GB
  • Expiry: Monthly
  • Network: Vodafone 4G (150Mbps cap)
  • SIM fees: No
  • International calls: 100 mins to 31 destinations
  • International roaming: PAYG credit
  • Data rollover: No
  • Cost for first 12 months: $225 (12 recharges)

How does this prepaid mobile plan compare?

For more data or just more options, consider one of the popular prepaid plans below with at least 10GB of data.

Best big-data prepaid mobile plan

TPG 100GB Large Plan

pro
Reasons to buy
  • Great first-year value
  • Unlimited calls to 31 countries
  • Vodafone 5G included
con
Reasons to avoid
  • 250Mbps speed cap
  • No data banking
  • Vodafone network reach

How we chose the best prepaid mobile plan:

    • We ranked prepaid mobile plans with at least 60GB of base data (capped at $55 monthly spend) then used dollar-to-data comparisons to find the best value. More widespread networks and our in-depth provider schema are used to settle tie-breaks.

If you like to stream video, download apps and, generally, be free to regularly use mobile data while you’re out and about, this big-data prepaid category is for you. We use 60GB as the minimum for selecting a monthly prepaid plan and like to keep average first-year costs under $55 per month for our category winners.

TPG wins this category yet again this month with its 100GB Large Plan, which operates on the Vodafone 5G network (with speeds capped at 250Mbps). Normally priced at $45 per monthly recharge, new TPG customers pay $22.50 for the first six monthly recharges. This TPG prepaid plan also supports eSIM phones and offers unlimited call minutes to 31 selected dialling destinations. For big-data prepaid alternatives, consider the identically priced/featured iiNet 100GB Large Plan as a joint winner, the Felix Unlimited Mobile Plan (with 20Mbps-capped unlimited data) or the Kogan Large Monthly Plan.

Additional details

  • Data: 100GB
  • Expiry: Monthly
  • Network: Vodafone 5G (250Mbps cap)
  • SIM fees: No
  • International calls: Unlimited minutes (31 destinations)
  • International roaming: PAYG credit
  • Data rollover: No
  • Cost for first 12 months: $405 (12 recharges)

How does this prepaid mobile plan compare?

If you want more data or just more options, check out the popular prepaid plans below with at least 60GB of data.

How much prepaid data do I need?

Get the right amount of gigabytes

According to the latest version of the ACCC’s Internet Activity Report, prepaid mobile services are downloading around 8.3GB of data per month (15% growth from last year’s 7.2GB). That’s an average, which means prepaid users who stick around that number should be okay with 10GB plans. Spend extra for a data buffer with a prepaid plan with at least 30GB of recharge data or go for 60GB+ if you use lots of gigabytes.

Best 5G prepaid mobile plan

iiNet 100GB Large Plan

pro
Reasons to buy
  • Excellent promo pricing
  • 100GB of Vodafone 5G data
  • Unlimited call minutes to 31 countries
con
Reasons to avoid
  • Price hike post-promo period
  • 250Mbps download speed cap
  • No data banking

How we chose the best prepaid mobile plan:

  • We ranked 5G prepaid mobile plans (capped at $55 monthly spend) then used dollar-to-data comparisons to find the best value. More widespread networks and our in-depth provider schema are used to settle tie-breaks.

Like the big-data options above, we’ve capped typical recharge costs to $55 for this category. As you might expect, the other eligibility requirement is the prepaid plan needs to be on either the Telstra 5G, Optus 5G or Vodafone 5G network. Given the extra speed potential of 5G, we look for at least 60GB of data, ideally, with beyond-100Mbps downloads (even if 100Mbps is a common cap for 5G prepaid plans).

As with the preceding category, you could go one of two ways here. The iiNet 100GB Large Plan or the TPG 100GB Large Plan, both of which are identical prepaid offerings. Variety is the spice of life, though, which is why we’re going with iiNet here and TPG above. New iiNet customers pay $22.50 per recharge for the first six months before reverting to the typical $45 monthly recharge fee. Unlike most other cheap 5G prepaid plans that tend to tap out at 100Mbps download speeds, the 100GB Large Plan has download speeds up to 250Mbps. This TPG plan also comes with unlimited standard international call minutes to 31 destinations. For prepaid 5G alternatives, consider the Aldi Mobile $39 Mobile Plan for 65GB of Telstra 5G data or the Lyca Mobile Unlimited Plan M for 80GB of Vodafone 5G prepaid data, both of which have 100Mbps caps.

Additional details

  • Data: 100GB
  • Expiry: Monthly
  • Network: Vodafone 5G (250Mbps cap)
  • SIM fees: No
  • International calls: Unlimited to 31 destinations
  • International roaming: PAYG credit
  • Data rollover: No
  • Cost for first 12 months: $405 (12 recharges)

How does this prepaid mobile plan compare?

For popular 5G prepaid mobile plans, check out the alternatives below, all of which have 60GB of data and with recharge prices under $55 (at least initially).

Best long-expiry prepaid mobile plan

Catch Connect 365 Day Plan – 120GB

pro
Reasons to buy
  • Competitively priced full-year prepaid
  • 10GB per month of Optus 4G data
  • Unlimited national talk and text
con
Reasons to avoid
  • Bring back promo pricing, please
  • Optus 5G not included
  • International inclusions cost extra

How we chose the best prepaid mobile plan:

  • We ranked long-expiry prepaid mobile plans with at least 120GB of base data over one year (180 days minimum recharge duration), then used dollar-to-data comparisons to find the best value. More widespread networks and our in-depth provider schema are used to settle tie-breaks.

Long-expiry prepaid mobile plans are a great choice for prepaid users who want the flexibility of storing data during quieter months and splurging during busier times. Basically, longer-duration prepaid plans can offer great annual value if your phone is almost always connected to WiFi and not regularly using mobile data. We look for long-expiry prepaid plans that average out to at least 10GB per month and prefer recharges that comfortably cover a full year.

At the start of the month, the Catch Connect 365 Day Plan – 120GB had ditched its promotional pricing, but that still wasn’t enough to dethrone the consecutive victor. That’s because the regular $150 recharge cost is great value for a full year of Optus 4G coverage. That 120GB of annual data breaks down neatly to 10GB per month, which is a decent amount for light users keen to save money by avoiding monthly prepaid plans. For long-expiry alternatives, consider these other two for more data: the Catch Connect 365 Day Plan – 200GB or the Coles Mobile Prepaid $240 for 365 Days.

Additional details

  • Data: 120GB (10GB per month)
  • Expiry: 365 days
  • Network: Optus 4G
  • SIM fees: No
  • International calls: Add-on
  • International roaming: PAYG credit
  • Data rollover: No
  • Cost for first 12 months: $150 (one recharge)

How does this prepaid mobile plan compare?

For a look at other long-expiry prepaid plans, the list below includes popular picks with at least 120GB of data per recharge.

Popular Telstra network prepaid plans

Superloop SuperSim Save 4G Plan

How we chose the popular prepaid mobile plan:

  • We highlighted the most popular Telstra network prepaid mobile plans on 4 December 2024.

The Telstra network is the largest in Australia, so it’s understandable that prepaid users are interested in those coverage perks. Telstra and Boost Mobile customers get access to the full Telstra network, but there are other mobile providers that operate on the slightly smaller Telstra wholesale network, which is still more expansive than the Optus and Vodafone mobile networks. This category is to show the most popular prepaid plan on the Telstra network at the start of the month.

At the start of the month, the Superloop SuperSim Save 4G plan was back once again as the most popular pick for prepaid plans on the Telstra network. It costs $20 per 30-day recharge for 10GB of Telstra 4G data, with download speeds capped at 100Mbps. On the perks front, this Superloop prepaid plan supports eSIM, has a 500GB data bank, and includes unlimited calls and SMS to 15 selected dialling destinations. For other popular Telstra network alternatives, check out the Superloop SuperSim Choice 5G Plan or the Superloop Essential 4G Plan.

Main plan details

  • Data: 10GB
  • Expiry: 30 days
  • Network: Telstra 4G (100Mbps cap)
  • SIM fees: No
  • International calls: Unlimited to 15 destinations
  • International roaming: PAYG credit
  • Data rollover: 500GB
  • Cost for first 12 months: $260 (13 recharges)

Other popular Telstra network prepaid plans

Check out other popular Telstra network prepaid plans.

Popular Optus network prepaid plans

Catch Connect 365 Day Plan – 120GB

How we chose the popular prepaid mobile plan:

  • We highlighted the most popular Optus network prepaid mobile plans on 4 December 2024.

The Optus mobile network is home to a range of mobile providers in Australia that typically offer a solid mix of value and features. Consider a prepaid plan on the Optus network if you live and operate in areas with good Optus coverage.

At the start of this month, the Catch Connect 365 Day Plan – 120GB was still the most popular prepaid plan on the Optus network. Normally priced at $150 per 365-day recharge, new Catch customers pay $119 for the first year. Admittedly, that promo was due to expire at the start of December (unless it’s extended again). Promo and typical pricing include 120GB of Optus 4G data. For other popular prepaid picks on the Optus network, the Optus Prepaid $35 SIM and Catch Connect 365 Day Plan – 200GB plans were in second and third at the start of the month.

Main plan details

  • Data: 120GB (10GB per month)
  • Expiry: 365 days
  • Network: Optus 4G
  • SIM fees: No
  • International calls: Add-on
  • International roaming: PAYG credit
  • Data rollover: No
  • Cost for first 12 months: $119 (one recharge)

Other popular Optus network prepaid plans

For other popular Optus network alternatives, check out the prepaid plans below.

Popular Vodafone network prepaid plans

TPG 25GB Small Plan

How we chose the popular prepaid mobile plan:

  • We highlighted the most popular Vodafone network prepaid mobile plans on 4 December 2024.

If you’re after competitively priced prepaid plans, start looking at what’s on the Vodafone network. We track half a dozen mobile providers that operate on the Vodafone network, and some of them offer plans that are among the cheapest available. Vodafone network prepaid plans tend to offer competitive pricing and a decent chunk of data.

At the start of the month, the TPG 25GB Small Plan was yet again the most popular prepaid plan on the Vodafone network. New TPG customers pay a $12.50 monthly recharge fee for the first six months before reverting to the typical $25 recharge cost. This popular TPG plan also includes 100 standard call minutes to 31 selected dialling destinations, plus eSIM support. The Kogan Mobile Small – 365 Day Flex Plan and the iiNet 25GB Small Plan were also popular Vodafone network prepaid plans at the start of the month.

Main plan details

  • Data: 25GB
  • Expiry: Monthly
  • Network: Vodafone 4G (150Mbps cap)
  • SIM fees: No
  • International calls: 100 minutes to 31 destinations
  • International roaming: PAYG credit
  • Data rollover: No
  • Cost for first 12 months: $225 (12 recharges)

Other popular Vodafone network prepaid plans

Check out other popular Vodafone prepaid plans below.

icon-expertise

How we choose the best prepaid plans

We track 80+ prepaid plans in our database, and we compare them each month to see which ones take out the top spots for our categories. Price is important but we also use dollar-to-data value to determine category winners alongside an in-depth comparison schema and our expert knowledge. Monthly plans are counted 12 times to assess first-year value, 30-day recharges are tallied 13 times to cover a full year, and 28-day prepaid plans are counted 14 times to cover the full 365 days.

How long do prepaid plans last?

Prepaid expiry explained

Prepaid plans have different recharge cycles. On the shorter side, you may be able to buy a day or few and up to a week. Most prepaid plans that we track cover roughly a month: 28 days, 30 days or a full month. Note that monthly prepaid plans will only need 12 recharges for a full year but 30-day plans need 13 to cover all days and 28-day plans need a 14th recharge to keep you connected for a full 365 days. We consider this when evaluating first-year pricing.

Long-expiry prepaid plans start at around 90 days but then there’s a leap to around six months: 180 days or 186 days are available. Alternatively, you may be able to prepay a full year but note that these durations vary, too: 360 days, 365 days and 12 months are the year-long options.

What to look for in a prepaid plan

Here’s a complete guide to prepaid mobile plans

There are a few key things to consider when buying a prepaid plan. Some telcos may offer automatic recharging (they may be called “subscriptions”), sometimes with incentives to tick that auto-renewal box, like data rollover. While a convenient way to ensure you’re always connected, automatic recharges don’t provide the freedom of choosing when you pay.

Prepaid starter packs are a great starting point to nab a SIM card, sometimes at a lower promotional price and with bonus data. But those initial prices for prepaid starter packs and potentially a string of initial recharges aren’t indicative of the typical price you’ll pay in the long term.

We strongly recommend evaluating long-term prepaid plans in terms of typical pricing and included data. Alternatively, revisit this page whenever you’re curious to see what’s out there for our recommendations on the best prepaid plans. Thankfully, switching telcos is a relatively straightforward process.

Note that just because a prepaid plan says it lasts for a particular duration, it won’t do you much good if you burn through all of the allocated data. While you may still have access to calls and texts, you usually won’t be able to use any data-dependent apps (which is most of them) unless you’re connected to WiFi or until you recharge. If you find yourself short on data, consider a plan with more gigabytes for breathing space or a telco that offers data rollover or data banking.

While typical pricing and base data are the main factors, also consider the network on which your prepaid telco operates. Telstra, Optus and Vodafone are the three mobile network owners in Australia but there are dozens of telcos who operate across those networks. They’re categorised as mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) and they generally offer cheaper prepaid plans than the network owners.

Still, there’s not much point in snagging a bargain if the network isn’t available in your area. Use the interactive map below for an idea of coverage in the areas you live and frequent. Finally, prepaid plans are typically cheaper than their SIM-only counterparts because they don’t have as many perks. That doesn’t mean prepaid plans are devoid of features; just keep an eye out for the ones that are practically relevant to your mobile needs instead of potentially paying extra for ‘nice to haves’.

What's the difference between prepaid and postpaid plans

The prepaid plans vs postpaid plans

In simplest terms, prepaid plans are paid ahead of use while postpaid (SIM-only) plans are paid at the end of a monthly billing cycle. Telstra is the only exception there: all of its so-called “Upfront” SIM-only plans are paid in advance of use. Prepaid plans are available in different recharge durations, but a month isn’t always a month in prepaid terms: it may be 28 days, 30 days or an actual month.

Generally speaking, SIM-only plans may have more data and tend to have more perks than prepaid plans. A lack of any contracts is near universal across prepaid and postpaid plans these days.

What’s not common is to find prepaid plans that are sold alongside mobile phones. You’ll want to own a mobile phone first or pay for a telco-offered prepaid handset to use a prepaid plan. While postpaid plans can be SIM-only—that is, bring your own (BYO) mobile—certain telcos like Telstra, Optus and Vodafone bundle SIM-only plans with a new handset, either bought outright or paid off over 24 or 36 months.

One of the bigger differences between prepaid and postpaid mobile plans is how data is handled. On a prepaid plan, if you use up all of your data, you effectively have to buy another recharge to get back online. For postpaid plans, your data speeds may be capped until the next billing month, you may be automatically charged for surplus data or you may have the option to pay for data in blocks.

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Expert Advice
“Choosing a prepaid or postpaid phone plan really comes down to whether you want to pay for your service upfront and reap the benefits of a usually cheaper plan or pay for your phone plan afterwards and typically enjoy some extra perks.”
Kate Reynolds
Kate Reynolds
Digital Content Editor
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How to change prepaid plans

Switching it up

Changing prepaid plans depends on whether you want to shift to a different recharge with your current telco or shift entirely. If you’re happy with your current prepaid telco, use their companion app, website portal or call them to ask for assistance in shifting prepaid plans.

But if you want to shift from one telco to another and keep the same number, do it before your current prepaid recharge expires. Find the new plan you want, select the option to port or transfer your old number across, then complete sign-up and start using your new plan once the SIM card arrives (or just use eSIM if your phone and telco support it).

Are prepaid mobile phones locked?

The only disclaimer to shifting prepaid telcos is if you’re using a mobile phone that’s locked to the network of your current telco. These days, that’s typically restricted to prepaid mobile phones—a dead giveaway is they have the telco logo whenever you restart the phone—but there are steps for unlocking Telstra, Optus and Vodafone handsets. There may be a fee to unlock a mobile phone that’s currently tied to a particular network.

Which telcos offer prepaid mobile plans in Australia?

At the time of writing, there were 17 Australian providers in our database that sell prepaid mobile plans.

Where can I buy a prepaid SIM card in Australia?

Prepaid SIM cards are purchasable at major retailers, including Coles, Woolworths, Officeworks and Kmart. Certain telcos like Telstra, Optus and Vodafone sell SIM cards from their retail stores, too. But the most convenient way to nab a SIM card is to order directly from a telco, though you will have to wait for the SIM card to arrive before you can use it in your phone.

These days, there’s another way. If you have a recent eSIM-capable mobile phone, you can select eSIM instead of a physical SIM card during sign-up to get connected sooner. Here’s a list of the prepaid telcos in our comparison engine that offer eSIM:

  • Telstra
  • Optus
  • Vodafone
  • Everyday Mobile
  • Kogan Mobile
  • Amaysim
  • Felix Mobile
  • Lebara Mobile
  • Superloop
  • TPG
  • Exetel
  • Boost Mobile

Is it cheaper to have a prepaid phone plan or postpaid?

Generally, prepaid phone plans are built to be cheaper than postpaid (SIM-only) mobile plans. But cheaper doesn’t always mean better value. Expect to pay more for postpaid plans but you’ll also usually get more data and features for that investment.

Here’s a look at popular prepaid plans in our database that don’t cost more than $20 (at least not initially).

What’s the difference between postpaid and prepaid phone plans?

The difference is more than just when you pay.

Still looking for a new prepaid mobile plan?

Want more prepaid options? The prepaid plans below are the most popular picks from our comparison engine today across Telstra, Optus and Vodafone networks.

Nathan Lawrence
Written by
Nathan Lawrence has been banging out passionate tech and gaming words for more than 11 years. These days, you can find his work on outlets like IGN, STACK, Fandom, Red Bull and AusGamers. Nathan adores PC gaming and the proof of his first-person-shooter prowess is at the top of a Battlefield V scoreboard.