Optus vs Vodafone mobile match-up

While Telstra continues to offer the biggest mobile network in Australia, the gap between the Optus network and Vodafone's network has narrowed significantly.

In January 2025, Optus and Vodafone's network sharing agreement went live, meaning both telcos' coverage footprint got a nice boost. In terms of percentage of the population covered by each 4G network, Optus is now at 99.1% while Vodafone clocks in at 99%. For 5G, both are equal at 94.5%. These figures also extend to all Optus and Vodafone Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs).

Although Optus is technically a head of Vodafone (by 0.1%), it safe to assume that, unless you live somewhere particularly rural, you'll likely be covered by both. To check if your home or workplace is covered, use the interactive map below.

Comparing the two telcos' real-world speeds, Optus is faster than Vodafone. According to OpenSignal's latest Mobile Network Experience Report, Optus had the fastest average 5G download speeds at 199.9Mbps, quite far ahead of both Telstra (171.1Mbps) and Vodafone (161.8Mbps). It's a similar case for 4G download speeds, with Optus out in front on 58.3Mbps, compared to Telstra's 51.7Mbps and Vodafone's 39.3Mbps. Interestingly though, Vodafone comes out on top for both 5G and 4G upload speeds.

The maximum data speeds that you'll get out of any given device on either mobile network can be shaped by a number of factors. Both Optus and Vodafone offer uncapped 4G and 5G speeds on their plans, meaning you can achieve the maximum speeds theoretically possible, under the right conditions. However, it's important to note that most MVNOs place data speed caps on their plans, often ranging from 100Mbps to 250Mbps, so you'll need to stick to Optus or Vodafone proper to unlock those uncapped speeds.

Sporadic deals notwithstanding, the cheap SIM-only end of town for Optus and Vodafone starts around a similar price point, with the latter coming in $2 cheaper. It’s safe to assume these plans are competing with each other, and both include unlimited standard national calls and texts as standard.

The cheapest Optus SIM-only plan is the $60 Small Choice Plus Plan, which comes with 60GB of data and no excess data charges if you go over (there is a 1.5 Mbps speed cap, though).

As for Vodafone, its cheapest SIM-only plan is the $58 Small Plan, which comes with 65GB of max-speed data before being throttled at 2Mbps.

If you’re willing to spend more, however, the overall value improves significantly for both Optus and Vodafone plans, which you can see below.

When it comes to big data plans, Optus has the largest allotment on offer, but Vodafone isn't far behind with a much cheaper alternative.

The Optus Large Choice Plus Plan costs $90 per month and gets you 480GB of full-speed data. It also includes $20 per month to spend on subscriptions of your choice (including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Kayo, Binge, and more).

Vodafone's Large Plan, on the other hand, boasts 420GB max-speed data for a lower $78 per month, albeit with no streaming perks.

Optus and Vodafone offer no-contract postpaid phone plans and both telcos let you pick whether you want to pay off a new handset in either 12, 24 or 36 months. If cheaper monthly costs matter most, longer-duration handset repayment terms are a solid choice. Regardless of which of these three options you choose, you’ll pay pretty much the same for the handset.

For postpaid phone plan comparisons between Optus and Vodafone, we’re using an iPhone 18 Pro 256GB handset with 24-month repayment terms and at least 10GB of data.

Both telcos are neck-and-neck when it comes to monthly device cost, but Vodafone's lower plan prices usually make it the cheaper option overall. Still, both providers offer regular discounts, so keep an eye on the below plans as they may change.

Dealing with at least 10GB of data per 28-day recharge – which is how both telcos classify a month in prepaid terms – there's not much separating Optus and Vodafone.

Both have plans around the $40, $50, and $60 price points, all with similar data inclusions, data rollover (up to 200GB with Optus and 300GB with Vodafone), and both include some amount of international calls and text. However, only Vodafone offers no excess data charges on its prepaid plans, throttling speeds to 1.5Mbps if you use up your data.

If you prefer a long-expiry plan, both telcos have options for you. As these plans tend to attract a lot of promotional pricing and bonus data, we're calling this one a tie. Below is a snapshot of Optus and Vodafone's 365-day prepaid plans.

Although price and data are typically the main factors we consider when deciding a mobile plan's value, there are other things to consider.

Both Optus and Vodafone offer $5-a-day roaming, but there are slight differences. While Optus gives you 5GB per day (plus unlimited talk and text), Vodafone allows you to use your plan's data (plus talk and text), meaning if you happen to use more than 5GB in one day, you won't be slugged with an extra charge.

On the other hand, Optus wins out for entertainment options thanks to SubHub. Optus customers who manage their streaming subscriptions through SubHub can save up to 10% on monthly fees. Although it's not a lot, it's still better than full price. Furthermore, the Large Choice Plus Plan comes with $20 per month credit to spend on subscriptions of your choice, which could feasibly cover your monthly streaming bill.

At the time of writing, there are seven Optus MVNOs in Australia. While the pricing, data speeds, and perks of each provider may vary, you should expect the same level of coverage from them as you would Optus.

Below is a daily updating list of popular SIM-only plans from Optus MVNO telcos.

At the time of writing, there are nine Vodafone MVNOs in Australia. As with Optus, these providers can offer the same level of coverage at a better price. However, be sure to take a closer look at the terms and conditions before you sign up.

Below is a daily updating list of popular SIM-only plans from Vodafone MVNOs.