In terms of pure data-for-dollar value, Vodafone ranks just below average when compared to other providers, but ahead of Telstra, ALDI Mobile, and Boost Mobile. Although Vodafone doesn't offer many cheap (sub-$30 per month) plans, it does offer generous data allowances, particularly on higher-cost plans.

And, if you're in the market for a new phone, Vodafone typically represents the cheapest entry point for buying a new iPhone, Samsung or other device on a plan at $58 per month (often discounted for the first year).

Every Vodafone plan also includes unlimited standard national calls and text, 5G access with uncapped speeds on allotted data, no excess data charges and $5-per-day roaming. Plan speeds are slowed to 2Mbps once you've used your included data amount, or 1.5Mbps for prepaid plans.

If you're on a budget, there are much better SIM-only deals to be had from the likes of Moose Mobile, Swoop, SpinTel and Coles Mobile if you're happy to go without perks like no excess data charges and cheap, easy international roaming.

See how Vodafone's plans compare to the most popular SIM-only plans in our database.

It used to be the case that Vodafone had the smallest coverage of the big three telcos in Australia, but thanks to a recent network consolidation effort, it's now the same size as Optus. Although Vodafone and Optus' combined footprint of 1.2 million square km is smaller than Telstra's 2.14 million square km, it's still more than reliable enough to cover most Australians in urban and large regional areas.

If you're worried about whether Vodafone can service your area, take a look at the coverage map below. If your address (and the places you regularly visit) are covered in purple, you should be absolutely fine with Vodafone coverage. There are still other factors that might impact your signal, but the map below is a reliable indication of Vodafone's coverage in Australia.

Like its fellow big telcos Telstra and Optus, Vodafone isn't exactly designed for budget seekers. But what it lacks in ultra-affordable plans, it makes up for in perks.

Remarkable as it may sound, Vodafone is one of the only telcos to offer a bundling discount for customers who have multiple eligible mobile services with them. Adding a second service will save you a total of $5 a month, another service will save you $20 total per month, and a fourth service a solid $35 per month, making it a great option for families.

Vodafone is also one of the few providers that offers discounted phone plans for seniors, with 10% off all its postpaid plans for eligible customers with a seniors' card.

As for plan-specific features, you can expect uncapped 4G and 5G data speeds on all plans, no bill shock with endless speed-throttled data (2Mbps for postpaid and 1.5Mbps for prepaid) once you've used up all your full-speed data, and up to 300GB data rollover per recharge on prepaid plans. All plans are available an eSIM or physical SIM and also include unlimited standard international texts, with selected plans also offering talktime.

Every Vodafone mobile plan (both postpaid and prepaid) offers some amount of international text or call inclusions. While the cheaper plans are limited to texts only, pricier plans also include calls to Zone 1 (which covers most common countries) and Zone 2 destinations. There are also add-ons available should you exhaust your allotted inclusions.

Perhaps Vodafone's biggest perk is its easy and affordable international roaming system. For $5 per day on top of your usual postpaid plan fee, you can use your plan's included calls, texts, and data in over 100 destinations.

Although a local SIM or travel eSIM is likely to end up cheaper for longer trips, Vodafone's $5 roaming is excellent value for shorter holidays, or if your phone doesn't support eSIM.

Although prepaid Vodafone customers don't have access to the same $5 roaming add-on, you can purchase prepaid roaming packs for use in over 80 destinations for essentially the same price:

• $5 for 1GB data, 100 standard call minutes and 100 standard texts (1-day expiry)
• $15 for 3GB data, 150 standard call minutes and 150 standard texts (3-day expiry)
• $35 for 7GB data, 350 standard call minutes and 250 standard texts (7-day expiry)

If something goes wrong or you have a question, Vodafone has plenty of avenues to ask for help. In addition to 24/7 self-service options through the Vodafone app or website, you can speak to customer support over live chat, social media, or by giving them a call on 1300 650 410 (or 1555 from your Vodafone service).

Although there are lots of options for assistance, Vodafone's customer satisfaction is quite low, going by its meagre 1.5-star rating on Product Review (for reference, Telstra is 1.4 stars and Optus is 1.3 stars). On Reddit, users seem to be mostly satisfied with coverage in metro areas, but many say the more rural you get, the less reliable the network is.