Boost Mobile review Australia

Boost Mobile Australia has long been the cheapest way to get access to the full Telstra 4G and 5G network, and while that's still the case, Boost is no longer a market leader for value. For around the same price as Boost's cheapest plan, you can get double the data (or more) with other budget providers.

Still, if that superior coverage is necessary for you but you don't want to pay Telstra prices, Boost is still a solid option, offering a comprehensive range of plans with 28-day data rollover, plus long expiry recharge options to suit just about every need.

Like any prepaid mobile service, Boost Mobile’s low-commitment plans are a great choice for parents looking to purchase a SIM for their kids. With auto-recharge disabled, parents can have peace of mind that they aren’t going to receive a big, nasty bill when the next season of Fortnite drops.

Here's how Boost's plans currently stack up against other popular providers on the Telstra network. While Boost is certainly cheaper than Telstra proper, other MVNOs do have it beat for value.

Boost Mobile is the only MVNO in Australia with access to Telstra’s full 4G and 5G network, which is the largest in Australia. Other MVNOs using the Telstra network only have access to the provider’s wholesale network, which covers slightly less of the population.

If you're unsure whether your workplace or home will be covered by Boost Mobile, you can use the interactive map below to check. Just be sure to select Telstra in the drop-down menu.

Boost Mobile also offers 5G network access on every plan, but speeds are capped at 150Mbps for lower-cost plans and 250Mbps for higher-cost plans. Only the $74 plan offers uncapped speeds. 

If you’re particularly budget-conscious and own your own handset, it’s hard to pass up Boost Mobile’s Telstra-powered prepaid plans. All Boost Mobile plans come with unlimited calls and text and most include unlimited international calls and text to 20 regions (plus 100 minutes to an additional 35 countries).

Boost Mobile also offers long expiry prepaid plans with 6 or 12-month recharges (as opposed to the usual 28-day expiry). Long expiry plans are typically the best choice for low-usage customers who don’t require a lot of inclusions/data and don’t want the hassle of recharging every month.

If you manage to whip through your allocated data amount for the month, Boost Mobile offers low-priced data add-ons ($5 for 1GB with 7-day expiry or $20 for 4GB with 28-day expiry) to get you by until it’s time to recharge again. You can also set up auto-recharge, so it's easy to just set and forget.

Boost Mobile has three international roaming packs for use in 42 destinations:

• 7GB for $40 (14-day expiry)
• 5GB for $30 (7-day expiry)
• 2GB for $20 (3-day expiry

If you’re looking to nab the latest and greatest smartphone on a contract without any upfront fees, Boost Mobile won’t be able to provide you with what you need. However, Boost does offer a range of refurbished iPhones and other devices for those looking to upgrade on a budget.

If you find yourself in a pinch with your service, Boost Mobile offers a few port of calls. In addition to self-service through the My Boost Mobile app, there's a live chat on the Boost website, or you can call customer service any time between 8am and 8pm, 7 days a week on the following numbers:

• 125 8881 (current customers)
• 1800 100 933 (new customers).

In terms of Boost Mobile’s customer satisfaction scores, like most Aussie telcos, they're pretty average. On ProductReview, Boost has a score of just 1.9 out of 5 stars, putting it ahead of Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone, but behind fellow Telstra MVNOs Exetel and Belong. Customer comments on Reddit are a bit kinder, with most customers calling out the great coverage but noting how the value for money has gone down over the last couple of years.

If Boost Mobile isn't quite ticking all the boxes, you have plenty of other options. For those after long expiry plans, consider Kogan Mobile, OnePass Mobile, or for another Telstra MVNO, Everyday Mobile. Otherwise, if you're open to month-to-month plans and don't mind which network you're on, consider one of these popular plans: