We pick the best SIM-only mobile plans each month for all users: everyday, cheap, iPhone, big data and more.
The best SIM-only mobile plans in Australia (December 2024)
- : Circles.Life 30GB Monthly Plan
- : Circles.Life 10GB Monthly Plan
- : Circles.Life 50GB Monthly Plan
- : Circles.Life 100GB Monthly Plan
- : Swoop 100GB SIM Only 5G
- : Tangerine 25GB 5G Mobile SIM
- : Circles.Life 6GB Monthly Plan
- : Vodafone $49 Small SIM Only Plan
If you want a good mix of price, data and features, all wrapped up in a monthly payment, SIM-only mobile plans may be up your alley. Our comparison engine has SIM-only mobile plans from a starting promotional price of $14 per month for a little data, or you can pay upwards of $50 typically for hundreds of gigabytes of data.
The only thing you need to use a SIM-only plan is an unlocked mobile phone, like an iPhone 16, Samsung Galaxy S24, a Google Pixel 9 Pro XL or any other smartphone.
Scroll on for the best SIM-only plans for December, including picks for everyday use, big-data needs, cheap alternatives, and more.
What is a SIM-only plan?
A SIM-only plan is one that’s sold without a mobile phone and, except for Telstra Upfront SIM-only plans, is paid for at the end of every billing month. In Australia, SIM-only plans are typically no-contract offerings that include unlimited national talk and text. What you’re effectively paying more for is the monthly data allowance.
Outside of data caps, SIM-only telcos typically compete on plan inclusions. Features start at a network level, with the main Telstra and Telstra wholesale networks offering the best coverage, followed by Optus and Vodafone. Other perks may include access to 5G with varying speeds, international inclusions and data rollover/banking.
Best value SIM-only plan
Circles.Life 30GB Monthly Plan
- Full year of promo pricing
- 75GB bonus data for 12 months
- 500GB data rollover
- Possibility for excess data fees
- Optus 5G not included
- No international inclusions
✓ How we chose the best SIM-only mobile plan:
- We ranked SIM-only mobile plans with at least 30GB of base data (capped at $40 per month) then used dollar-to-data comparisons to find the best value. More widespread networks, plan features and our in-depth provider schema are used to settle tie-breaks.
Research from the ACCC’s Internet Activity Report says that Australians with postpaid mobile plans are using around 17GB of data per month (14% year-on-year growth). 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.
Southern Phone has been dethroned in the first of many category wins by Circles.Life. Why? The SIM-only telco has a month-long deal that’s too good to ignore, across all of its plans. For a good mix of price and data, check out the Circles.Life 30GB Monthly Plan. This winner normally costs $30 per month, but new customers who use the ‘12MTHSDEALS105G’ promo code during sign-up score $22.50 monthly pricing for the first year. Additionally, this Circles.Life plan also includes 30GB of base Optus 4G data plus 75GB extra monthly data for the first year. There’s also a 500GB data bank to store any unused gigabytes. Alternatively, consider the Sothern Phone Medium 5G SIM Plan for slightly cheaper typical pricing, or the Moose Mobile 23.80 Promo Plan.
Main plan details
- Data: 30GB (plus 75GBx12 bonus data)
- Network: Optus 4G
- eSIM: Yes
- International calls: Add-on
- International roaming: Add-on
- Data rollover: 500GB
- Cost for first 12 months: $270
How does this SIM-only mobile plan compare?
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).
Best cheap SIM-only plan
Circles.Life 10GB Monthly Plan
- Full year of promo pricing
- 40GB bonus data for 12 months
- 500GB data rollover
- Possibility for excess data fees
- Optus 5G not included
No international inclusions
✓ How we chose the best SIM-only mobile plan:
- We ranked SIM-only mobile plans with at least 10GB of base data (capped at $25 per month) then used dollar-to-data comparisons to find the best value. More widespread networks, plan features and our in-depth provider schema are used to settle tie-breaks.
While the average monthly SIM-only data use in Australia is above 10GB, 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.
Circles.Life returns for its second successive win—in terms of categories on this page and its second month for this cheap category—albeit with even better value this month. Instead of a six-month promo, it’s a full year for any new customer who signs up for the Circles.Life 10GB Monthly Plan and uses the ‘12MTHSDEALS50G’ promo code by 31 December 2024. Normally priced at $20 per month, you’ll get a $17.50 monthly fee instead, plus 40GB of bonus data each month for the first 12 months. There’s even 500GB of data rollover to store unused gigabytes in the first year or beyond if you stick around. For cheap SIM-only alternatives, consider the Spintel $22 Mobile Plan or the Moose Mobile 14.80 SIM Only plan.
Main plan details
- Data: 10GB (plus 40GBx12 bonus data)
- Network: Optus 4G
- eSIM: Yes
- International calls: Add-on
- International roaming: Add-on
- Data rollover: 500GB
- Cost for first 12 months: $210
How does this SIM-only mobile plan compare?
For other 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).
Best big-data SIM-only plan
Circles.Life 50GB Monthly Plan
- Full year of promo pricing
- 75GB bonus data for 12 months
- 500GB data rollover
- Possibility for excess data fees
- Optus 5G not included
- No international inclusions
✓ How we chose the best SIM-only mobile plan:
- We ranked SIM-only mobile plans with at least 60GB of base data (capped at $55 per month) then used dollar-to-data comparisons to find the best value. More widespread networks, plan features and our in-depth provider schema are used to settle tie-breaks.
For SIM-only data, 30GB is 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. Note that we only consider plans with up to 150GB of monthly data for this category. Normally, we’d rule out our winner below because of the base data, but given it’s a 12-month promotion with data banking, we’ve allowed it this month.
Circles.Life takes out its penultimate category win, this time with the 50GB Monthly Plan. That plan name refers to the 50GB of base data but doesn’t mention the 75GB of bonus monthly data included for the first year. You can access that deal if you’re a new Circles.Life customer who signs up by 31 December 2024 with the ‘12MTHSDEALS125G’ promo code. Not only do you get the bonus data, the typical $40 monthly fee is reduced to $30 per month for the first year, too. Plus, any unused monthly data can be stored in the 500GB-capped data bank. For big-data alternatives, check out the Southern Phone Large 5G SIM Plan or the Swoop 100GB SIM Only 5G plan.
Main plan details
- Data: 50GB (75GBx12 bonus data)
- Network: Optus 4G
- eSIM: Yes
- International calls: Add-on
- International roaming: Add-on
- Data rollover: 500GB
- Cost for first 12 months: $360
How does this SIM-only mobile plan compare?
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).
Best epic-data SIM-only plan
Circles.Life 100GB Monthly Plan
- Full year of promo pricing
- 75GB bonus data for 12 months
- 500GB data rollover
- Possibility for excess data fees
- Optus 5G not included
- No international inclusions
✓ How we chose the best SIM-only mobile plan:
- We ranked SIM-only mobile plans with at least 150GB of base data then used dollar-to-data comparisons to find the best value. More widespread networks, plan features and our in-depth provider schema are used to settle tie-breaks.
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. This month, we’re allowing a winner that doesn’t have base 150GB data, but only because it’s a full year of bonus data (with a generous data bank to store unused gigabytes).
Circles.Life takes out yet another category this month, albeit without promotional pricing. Despite the fixed $50 monthly cost of the Circles.Life 100GB Monthly Plan, it’s the bonus data that really makes it shine. New Circles.Life customers who use the ‘12MTHSDEALS180G’ promotional code during sign-up score 80GB of bonus data per month for the first year. Price-wise, that’s unbeatable value for competing plans in our database. You’ll get 180GB of Optus 4G data, and there’s a 500GB data bank if you have any leftover gigabytes per month. For epic-data alternatives, check out the Spintel $50 Mobile Plan or the AGL 5G Large Plan, both of which include Optus 5G network access.
Main plan details
- Data: 100GB (80GBx12 bonus data)
- Network: Optus 4G
- eSIM: Yes
- International calls: Add-on
- International roaming: Add-on
- Data rollover: 500GB
- Cost for first 12 months: $600
How does this SIM-only mobile plan compare?
There are plenty of other epic-data SIM-only plans in our database. These popular picks have at least 150GB of data.
Best 5G SIM-only plan
Swoop 100GB SIM Only 5G
- 100GB of Optus 5G data
- 200GB data rollover
- $50 international credit
- 100Mbps download cap
- eSIM not supported
- Potential excess data fees
✓ How we chose the best SIM-only mobile plan:
- We ranked 5G SIM-only mobile plans with at least 60GB of base data (capped at $60 per month) then used dollar-to-data comparisons to find the best value. More widespread networks, plan features and our in-depth provider schema are used to settle tie-breaks.
There was a time when 5G plans were relegated to the network owners. But there’s more competition nowadays. 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, better yet, uncapped download speeds, unless there’s a great deal (like this month). 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 more of the speed potential of Australia’s 5G networks.
We recently added Swoop SIM-only plans to our comparison engine, and there’s a lot to like about their offering. Take the Swoop 100GB SIM Only 5G plan, for instance. It’s normally priced at $40 per month, but new customers pay a $32 monthly cost for the first six months. Either price includes 100GB of Optus 5G data, capped at 100Mbps download speeds, which is plenty for basically every mobile use case. If you don’t use up your quota, tuck away up to 200GB of gigabytes for busier months. This Swoop plan also includes $50 of international credit for calls, SMS and MMS. For 5G alternatives, consider the Southern Phone 5G Large SIM Plan, which has cheaper typical pricing, or the Moose Mobile 29.80 Promo for cheaper promo pricing.
Main plan details
- Data: 100GB
- Network: Optus 5G (100Mbps cap)
- eSIM: No
- International calls: $50 call and text credit
- International roaming: Add-on
- Data rollover: 200GB
- Cost for first 12 months: $432
How does this SIM-only mobile plan compare?
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).
Popular Telstra network SIM-only plan
Tangerine 25GB 5G Mobile SIM
✓ How we chose the popular SIM-only mobile plan:
- We highlighted the most popular Telstra network SIM-only mobile plans on 4 December 2024.
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 both Telstra networks with SIM-only users.
The Tangerine Telecom 25GB 5G Mobile SIM is back as the most popular pick for SIM-only plans on the Telstra network. Admittedly, that may be because of a deal that was due to end at the start of the month. Regardless, the 25GB 5G Mobile SIM plan costs $14.50 per month for the first six months before reverting to its $29 typical monthly fee. Either price comes with 25GB of base data and, at the start of the month (at least), 25GB of bonus data Telstra 5G data for the first three months (capped at 150Mbps). Users also get unlimited calls to 15 selected international dialling destinations, plus a hefty 1,000GB data bank. The Belong 25GB Mobile Plan and the Tangerine 32GB 5G Mobile SIM were also popular picks on the Telstra network at the start of the month.
Main plan details
- Data: 25GB (25GBx3 bonus data)
- Network: Telstra 5G (150Mbps cap)
- eSIM: Yes
- International calls: Unlimited to 15 destinations
- International roaming: Add-on
- Data rollover: 1,000GB
- Cost for first 12 months: $261
Other popular Telstra network SIM-only plans
You’ll find other popular Telstra network SIM-only plans below.
Popular Optus network SIM-only plan
Circles.Life 6GB Monthly Plan
✓ How we chose the popular SIM-only mobile plan:
- We highlighted the most popular Optus network SIM-only mobile plans on 4 December 2024.
The Optus mobile network is nipping at the heels of the coverage potential of the Telstra network, supporting a selection of telcos that deliver solid coverage options with competitive pricing. Consider the Optus network if you’re after widespread 4G coverage or faster 5G options.
The Circles.Life 6GB Monthly Plan was again the most popular SIM-only plan on the Optus network at the start of the month. The promo pricing is back, so new customers will pay $10 per month for the first year before reverting to a $15 typical monthly fee. There’s also 14GB of bonus data per month for the first year. Just sign up by 31 December 2024 with the ‘12MTHSDEALS20G’ promo code to secure the deal. This plan also has eSIM support, but not much else in the way of perks. At the start of the month, the Dodo $28 Mobile Plan and the $52 Optus Choice Plus Plan were also popular SIM-only picks on the Optus network.
Main plan details
- Data: 6GB (14GBx12 bonus data)
- Network: Optus 4G
- eSIM: Yes
- International calls: Add-on
- International roaming: Add-on
- Data rollover: No
- Cost for first 12 months: $120
Other popular Optus network SIM-only plans
Check out more popular Optus network SIM-only plans from our database.
Popular Vodafone network SIM-only plan
Vodafone $49 Small SIM Only Plan
✓ How we chose the popular SIM-only mobile plan:
- We highlighted the most popular Vodafone network SIM-only mobile plans on 4 December 2024.
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, primarily from Vodafone SIM-only plans, as Vodafone mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) tend to be offering prepaid plans more these days.
The Vodafone $49 Small SIM Only Plan was the most popular pick at the start of the month. There’s no promotional pricing, but that $49 monthly fee includes 50GB of Vodafone 5G data. If you burn through your max-speed data allowance, speeds are capped at 2Mbps for the rest of the billing cycle. There’s also a 30-day network satisfaction guarantee if you’d like to try before fully committing. For popular Vodafone alternatives, consider the Vodafone $59 Medium SIM Only Plan or the Vodafone $69 Large SIM Only Plan.
Main plan details
- Data: 50GB
- Network: Vodafone 5G
- eSIM: Yes
- International calls: PAYG
- International roaming: Add-on
- Data rollover: No
- Cost for first 12 months: $588
Other popular Vodafone network SIM-only plans
For more popular Vodafone SIM-only plans, check out the list below.
The best mobile phone plans in Australia
Haven’t found what you’re looking for? Have a gander at our mobile plan picks by clicking the link below.
What to look for in a SIM-only plan
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 at least 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.
How to switch SIM-only plans
Changing SIM-only plans is straightforward. Once you’ve chosen the plan that’s best for you, follow these steps:
- Click the ‘Go to Site’ button next to the plan you want. Alternatively, if a link is not supplied, visit the telco’s site.
- 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.
- 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.
How we choose the best SIM-only plans
Every month, we re-evaluate the dozens of SIM-only plans in our comparison engine relative to the respective categories outlined above. At the top level, plans are separated into relevant data, cost and/or network-type brackets, then we break down the first-year dollar-to-data value. Our dollar-to-data values are determined based on average monthly pricing, which factors in any relevant plan promo pricing.
Max plan cost caps for relevant categories help stop pricier plans with loads of data from automatically rising to the top, and we lean towards the ones with cheaper first-year costs. That said, cheapest isn’t always the best per category, which is where we consider the network, whether it’s 4G or 5G, maximum plan speeds and relevant inclusions.
The perks that we favour most are eSIM for convenience, international talk and text, as well as data banking/rollover. We also use an in-depth SIM-only schema with dozens of fields to separate contenders from winners based on price, data, features, support pathways and reported customer satisfaction.
SIM-only plans frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between postpaid and prepaid?
The big difference between postpaid and prepaid is when you pay: prepaid is upfront and postpaid is after a billing month. The only exception is Telstra Upfront SIM-only plans, which are also paid ahead of use. Once a prepaid plan’s data is exhausted, you have to top up. Conversely, postpaid (SIM-only) plans may charge extra fees or cap your speeds for the rest of the billing cycle.
Do SIM-only plans need a credit check?
Is unlimited really unlimited for SIM-only?
Can I use a SIM-only plan for home internet?
How much data do I need?
According to the ACCC, you need at least 17GB of data on average per month. We recommend 10GB for light use, 30GB+ for everyday use and 60GB+ for heavier users. If you want a more specific answer, use your telco’s companion app or smartphone to track monthly data use and switch to a plan with less or more data based on your data tracking.
When do you pay for a SIM-only plan?
What happens if I go over my monthly data allowance?
A few different things can happen if you go over your monthly SIM-only data allowance. Some telcos automatically charge extra, either by megabyte, gigabyte or with a data bundle. Others have data banks that will be used to support extra data needs, if you have enough stored. Others still slow plan speeds significantly for the rest of the billing cycle.