Google Pixel 9a plans: Compare prices and deals

Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone are all offering the Google Pixel 9a on a plan so those looking to pick up the new device have plenty of options when it comes to providers. No matter which avenue you go down, you'll find the same choice of either a 24-month plan or a 36-month plan at the end of it.

Pairing up the Google Pixel 9a with plan that has a 36-month repayment term will usually be a few bucks cheaper. However, you will be paying off the price of the phone itself off over a longer period of time. Meanwhile, going for a plan with a 24-month repayment term means you'll get to own your Google smartphone sooner but pay more each month.

With that said, here are the mobile plans for the Google Pixel 9a (128GB) with a 36-month repayment term.

If you'd prefer a shorter turnaround time, here are the mobile plans for the Google Pixel 9a (128GB) with a 24-month repayment term.

If you're looking to pick up the Google Pixel 9a on a plan, you're going to have to throw in with one of Australia's major mobile providers. MVNOs aren't an option. Unless you choose to buy outright instead, it's either going to be Optus, Vodafone or Telstra.

Although the plans on offer don't vary too much in structure, each of Australia's "big three" has its own perks and plan features. These inclusion might make some options better than others depending on the situation.

If you're not sure where to start when it comes to comparing Google Pixel 9a plans, the first thing you'll want to consider is network coverage. The Telstra network has a well-earned reputation for offering the widest coverage in Australia. Optus sits in second place while Vodafone is a close third.

Those rankings reflect reality but they don't necessarily tell the full story. Vodafone might be in last place but a new network sharing agreement with Optus means that its customers in regional and rural areas now use the Optus network when they need to. As a result, Vodafone can now claim to offer 98.4% population coverage. That's a mere 0.1% behind Optus, which is itself a full 1.2% behind Telstra.

Even Optus' smallest plan has 50GB of data. That's far above the average when it comes to national data usage. As a byproduct of this, Optus' Google Pixel 9a plans come with more than enough data to satisfy even heavier users. 

The more expensive ones also come with unlimited international calls to select destinations, which is always nice to have on hand if you're looking to keep up with  friends or family overseas.

If you're looking to travel yourself, Optus also offers pretty decent roaming add-ons. You can get 5GB of roaming data and unlimited local talk and text for as little as $5 per day, so long as your destination can be found on Optus' list of selected countries.

As is standard from Australia's big three providers nowadays, Optus' mobile plans have no excess data fees. If you exceed your monthly data cap, your speed will be capped at 1.5Mbps but you won't pay an extra cent for it. For those less likely to use  every gigabyte at their disposal, Optus' mobile plans also come with data sharing across multiple plans if they're attached to the same account.

Last but not least, Optus customers  gets discounted access to Optus Sport and the ability to save money via SubHub. This platform lets you combine multiple subscription services (such as Netflix, Microsoft 365, and others) into a single monthly bill and score up to a 5% or 10% discount, depending on how and which services are involved.

Vodafone's Google Pixel 9a plans are typically just that little bit cheaper than Optus when it comes to cost. Despite the cheaper cost, these plans come with a comparable amount of monthly data and plenty of perks.

The smallest plan on offer here (excluding promotions) includes unlimited standard calls and texts plus 50GB of monthly data. There's no data banking or rollover for unused data but nor are there any excess data fees. Instead, Vodafone will slow your connection to 2Mbps should you exceed your monthly data cap. The setup is similar but the speed cap involved is slightly faster than the one found with Optus and Telstra nowadays.

Similar to Optus, those who bundle multiple Vodafone mobile plans together on the same account get the ability to both save and share data. Bundle up to five mobile plans together and you'll save between 5% and 20% off your total monthly bill, depending on how many you bundle. This discount excludes hardware repayments, but it can still offer some savings

All Vodafone mobile plans comes unlimited international texts to select countries as standard, with the more-expensive plans including additional international call inclusions. What's more, For just $5 per day, you can use your phone as normal while overseas. Vodafone's version of international roaming kicks in automatically whenever our phone connects to an overseas network.

If you're keen to pick up the Google Pixel 9a through Telstra, you're probably going to pay a premium for it. Telstra's plans are typically the most expensive when it comes to the big three. However, that cost does come with wider network coverage.

Telstra's 4G network covers 99.7% of the Australian population, which puts it ahead  Optus' 98.5% and Vodafone's 98.4%. Even if that difference is small enough that those living in populated and metropolitan areas might not notice, it can be  everything in certain parts of Australia. 

When it comes to 5G, Telstra has an even bigger advantage. Its 5G network covers 91% of the Australian population. That's well ahead of the 80.5% that Optus offers. Vodafone doesn't even publish its 5G coverage stats, so there's no comparison to be made there either.

The cheaper Google Pixel 9a plan from Telstra offering  50GB per month data allowance. That's far higher than the average Australian uses each month. What's more, there's no way to hang onto what you don't use through data banking.

Still, you can share data between up to 10 mobile services on the same eligible account. That's a perk that might prove particularly useful for families looking to get the most out of the premium they're paying with this particular provider.

Similar to Qantas Frequent Flyer miles, you'll earn Telstra Plus points every time you make an eligible plan payment. You can then put these points towards purchases from the Telstra Plus Rewards store. This online shopfront included everything discounted tickets for movies, concerts and sport events to headphones and other tech products.

Likewise, those who pick up a Google Pixel 9a through Telstra will find plenty to like about the fact that there there are no excess-data fees for going past your monthly data . Instead of being slammed by overage fees, your speed is simply slowed to 1.5Mpbs.

Telstra's Google Pixel 9a plans also come with 30 minutes of international calls. That's not a huge amount of minutes, but the list of eligible destinations is a lot longer than some of the competition.

When it comes to roaming, Telstra's take is relatively easy to rely on. That said, it's not quite as affordable as what Optus and Vodafone have to offer. You can stay connected in most overseas destinations for as little as $10 per day. This add-on also includes 2GB of data. New Zealand is an exception here, with Telstra offering roaming at just $5 per day instead.