The best prepaid mobile plans in Australia (October 2024)

Prepaid mobile plans are a great way to stay on top of your spending. While prepaid starter packs offer a cheap way to nab a prepaid SIM card and a discounted recharge, most of the prepaid plans we track operate around a (roughly) monthly cycle. For better value, consider a long-expiry prepaid plan to cover either half a year or, better yet, a full 12 months.

In terms of the monthly options in our database, prepaid plan prices start at around $10-$15 per month. Expect to pay around $25 or more a month for a typically priced prepaid recharge with at least 30GB of base data or at least $40 for double that data. Long-expiry prepaid plans start at around $150 normally but can cost up to $300+ for more data.

Scroll on for our best prepaid plan picks for October.

If you use mobile data quite a bit each month, you’ll want at least 30GB of data. That’s the minimum data we set for this category because it’s an amount that allows for everyday app use as well as occasional video streaming. Use your phone or telco companion app to track data usage each month to see if you can save money with a cheaper prepaid plan or need to up your budget for a plan with more data.

Kogan Mobile returns for the second win in this category with its great value Medium Monthly Plan, which is proof that not every prepaid plan needs promo pricing to offer great yearly value: pay $25 per monthly recharge for 40GB of Vodafone 4G data. This Kogan prepaid winner also comes with 200GB of data rollover, plus you’ll earn Qantas Frequent Flyer Points for every dollar spent. Alternatively, consider the Felix 50GB Mobile Plan alongside the TPG 50GB Mobile Plan or its identical iiNet 50GB Mobile Plan counterpart.

For alternatives, consider the monthly prepaid plans below with at least 30GB of data that don’t cost more than $40 per recharge (at least not initially).

Cheap doesn’t mean the cheapest. You may find dirt-cheap prepaid plans that only last a few days. But that’s not practical for ongoing everyday use. For this category, we’ve set 10GB as the minimum for an okay amount of data and $25 as the max typical recharge cost, while category contenders need to at least have 28-day recharge cycles. Only prepaid users with light data usage each month should consider these kinds of plans.

Kogan Mobile returns to take out the top spot with its Small Monthly Plan. This cheap Kogan prepaid plan typically costs $15 per monthly recharge, but you can nab the first month for $7 if you get in by 20 October 2024 (extended from 8 September 2024). Even without the discounted first month, it offers unbeatable first-year value for the 10GB-minimum prepaid plans in our database. This Kogan prepaid plan comes with 10GB of data, up to 200GB data rollover and one Qantas Frequent Flyer Point earned for every $2 spent. For cheap prepaid alternatives, consider the TPG 25GB Small Plan and its identically priced iiNet counterpart, alongside the Aldi Mobile $19 Mobile Plan.

For more data or just more options, consider one of the popular prepaid plans below with at least 10GB of data.

If you like to stream video, download apps and, generally, be free to regularly use mobile data while you’re out and about, this big-data prepaid category is for you. We use 60GB as the minimum for selecting a monthly prepaid plan and like to keep average first-year costs under $55 per month for our category winners.

TPG wins this category once again this month with its 100GB Large Plan, which operates on the Vodafone 5G network. Normally priced at $45 per monthly recharge, new TPG customers pay $22.50 for the first six monthly recharges. This TPG prepaid plan also includes eSIM support and unlimited call minutes to 31 selected dialling destinations. For big-data prepaid alternatives, consider the identically priced iiNet 100GB Large Plan, alongside the 20Mbps-capped unlimited data of the Felix Unlimited Mobile Plan or the Yomojo Unlimited Voice & SMS + 75GB plan.

If you want more data or just more options, check out the popular prepaid plans below with at least 60GB of data.

Like the big-data options above, we’ve capped typical recharge costs to $55 for this category. As you might expect, the other eligibility requirement is the prepaid plan needs to be on either the Telstra 5G, Optus 5G or Vodafone 5G network. Given the extra speed potential of 5G, we look for at least 60GB of data, ideally, with beyond-100Mbps downloads (even if 100Mbps is a common cap for 5G prepaid plans).

As with the preceding category, you could go one of two ways here. The iiNet 100GB Large Plan or the TPG 100GB Large Plan, both of which are identical prepaid offerings. Variety is the spice of life, though, which is why we’re going with iiNet here and TPG above. New iiNet customers pay $22.50 per recharge for the first six months before reverting to the typical $45 monthly recharge fee. Unlike most other cheap 5G prepaid plans that tend to tap out at 100Mbps download speeds, the 100GB Large Plan has download speeds up to 250Mbps. It also comes with unlimited standard international call minutes to 31 destinations. For prepaid 5G alternatives, consider the identically priced TPG 100GB Large Plan (250Mbps cap), alongside the Aldi Mobile $39 Mobile Plan for 65GB of Telstra 5G data (100Mbps cap) or the Amaysim Unlimited 80GB Plan on the Optus 5G network (100Mbps cap).

For popular 5G prepaid mobile plans, check out the alternatives below, all of which have 60GB of data and with recharge prices under $55 (at least initially).

Long-expiry prepaid mobile plans are a great choice for prepaid users who want the flexibility of storing data during quieter months and splurging during busier times. Basically, longer-duration prepaid plans can offer great annual value if your phone is almost always connected to WiFi and not regularly using mobile data. We look for long-expiry prepaid plans that average out to at least 10GB per month and prefer recharges that comfortably cover a full year.

Catch Connect takes out the top long-expiry once again spot this month with its 365 Day Plan – 120GB. That prepaid plan name basically says everything you need to know about it, except the price: normally $150 per 365-day recharge, new customers can nab the year-long plan for $119. The only catch is you have to get in by 19 November 2024 to secure the special pricing (extended again from 22 October 2024). Promo and typical pricing come with 120GB of Optus 4G data, which works out to a respectable 10GB per month (great for average-use prepaid customers). Alternatively, get the same year-long data with the Kogan Mobile Small – 365 Day Flex Plan on the Vodafone 4G network or lock in more gigabytes with the Kogan Medium – 365 Day Flex Plan.

For a look at other long-expiry prepaid plans, the list below includes popular picks with at least 120GB of data per recharge.

The Telstra network is the largest in Australia, so it’s understandable that prepaid users are interested in those coverage perks. Telstra and Boost Mobile prepaid customers get access to the full Telstra network, but there are other mobile providers that operate on the slightly smaller Telstra wholesale network, which is still more expansive than the Optus and Vodafone mobile networks. This category is to show the most popular prepaid plan on the Telstra network at the start of the month.

At the start of the month, the Superloop SuperSim Save 4G plan was back as the most popular pick for prepaid plans on the Telstra network. It costs $20 per 30-day recharge for 10GB of Telstra 4G data, with download speeds capped at 100Mbps. On the perks front, this Superloop prepaid plan supports eSIM, has a 500GB data bank, and includes unlimited calls and SMS to 15 selected dialling destinations. For other popular Telstra network alternatives, check out the Aldi Mobile $25 Mobile Plan or the Telstra $45 Pre-Paid Mobile plan.

Check out other popular Telstra network prepaid plans.

The Optus mobile network is home to a range of mobile providers in Australia that typically offer a solid mix of value and features. Consider a prepaid plan on the Optus network if you live and operate in areas with good Optus coverage.

At the start of this month, the Optus Prepaid $35 SIM was the most popular prepaid plan on the Optus network. It costs $35 per 28-day recharge and includes 20GB of Optus 5G data (with a 150Mbps cap). The first three recharges come with 30GB of bonus data, though, and unused gigabytes can be rolled over (up to 200GB) if you use auto-recharge or recharge before plan expiry. This Optus prepaid plan also includes 400 standard minutes to 20 selected dialling destinations. Alternatively, the Catch Connect 365 Day Plan – 120GB and the Amaysim Unlimited 200GB Long Expiry plan were also popular prepaid plans on the Optus network at the start of the month.

For other popular Optus network alternatives, check out the prepaid plans below.

If you’re after competitively priced prepaid plans, start looking at what’s on the Vodafone network. We track half a dozen mobile providers that operate on the Vodafone network, and some of them offer plans that are among the cheapest available. Vodafone network prepaid plans tend to offer competitive pricing and a decent chunk of data.

At the start of the month, the TPG 25GB Small Plan was again the most popular prepaid plan on the Vodafone network. New TPG customers pay a $12.50 monthly recharge fee for the first six months before reverting to the typical $25 recharge cost. This popular TPG plan also includes 100 standard call minutes to 31 selected dialling destinations, plus eSIM support. The iiNet 25GB Small Plan and the TPG 50GB Medium Plan were also popular Vodafone network prepaid plans at the start of the month.

Check out other popular Vodafone prepaid plans below.

There are a few key things to consider when buying a prepaid plan. Some telcos may offer automatic recharging (they may be called “subscriptions”), sometimes with incentives to tick that auto-renewal box, like data rollover. While a convenient way to ensure you’re always connected, automatic recharges don’t provide the freedom of choosing when you pay.

Prepaid starter packs are a great starting point to nab a SIM card, sometimes at a lower promotional price and with bonus data. But those initial prices for prepaid starter packs and potentially a string of initial recharges aren’t indicative of the typical price you’ll pay in the long term.

We strongly recommend evaluating long-term prepaid plans in terms of typical pricing and included data. Alternatively, revisit this page whenever you’re curious to see what’s out there for our recommendations on the best prepaid plans. Thankfully, switching telcos is a relatively straightforward process.

Note that just because a prepaid plan says it lasts for a particular duration, it won’t do you much good if you burn through all of the allocated data. While you may still have access to calls and texts, you usually won’t be able to use any data-dependent apps (which is most of them) unless you’re connected to WiFi or until you recharge. If you find yourself short on data, consider a plan with more gigabytes for breathing space or a telco that offers data rollover or data banking.

While typical pricing and base data are the main factors, also consider the network on which your prepaid telco operates. Telstra, Optus and Vodafone are the three mobile network owners in Australia but there are dozens of telcos who operate across those networks. They’re categorised as mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) and they generally offer cheaper prepaid plans than the network owners.

Still, there’s not much point in snagging a bargain if the network isn’t available in your area. Use the interactive map below for an idea of coverage in the areas you live and frequent. Finally, prepaid plans are typically cheaper than their SIM-only counterparts because they don’t have as many perks. That doesn’t mean prepaid plans are devoid of features; just keep an eye out for the ones that are practically relevant to your mobile needs instead of potentially paying extra for ‘nice to haves’.

In simplest terms, prepaid plans are paid ahead of use while postpaid (SIM-only) plans are paid at the end of a monthly billing cycle. Telstra is the only exception there: all of its so-called “Upfront” SIM-only plans are paid in advance of use. Prepaid plans are available in different recharge durations, but a month isn’t always a month in prepaid terms: it may be 28 days, 30 days or an actual month.

Generally speaking, SIM-only plans may have more data and tend to have more perks than prepaid plans. A lack of any contracts is near universal across prepaid and postpaid plans these days.

What’s not common is to find prepaid plans that are sold alongside mobile phones. You’ll want to own a mobile phone first or pay for a telco-offered prepaid handset to use a prepaid plan. While postpaid plans can be SIM-only—that is, bring your own (BYO) mobile—certain telcos like Telstra, Optus and Vodafone bundle SIM-only plans with a new handset, either bought outright or paid off over 24 or 36 months.

One of the bigger differences between prepaid and postpaid mobile plans is how data is handled. On a prepaid plan, if you use up all of your data, you effectively have to buy another recharge to get back online. For postpaid plans, your data speeds may be capped until the next billing month, you may be automatically charged for surplus data or you may have the option to pay for data in blocks.

The only disclaimer to shifting prepaid telcos is if you’re using a mobile phone that’s locked to the network of your current telco. These days, that’s typically restricted to prepaid mobile phones—a dead giveaway is they have the telco logo whenever you restart the phone—but there are steps for unlocking Telstra, Optus and Vodafone handsets. There may be a fee to unlock a mobile phone that’s currently tied to a particular network.

At the time of writing, there were 17 Australian providers in our database that sell prepaid mobile plans.

Prepaid SIM cards are purchasable at major retailers, including Coles, Woolworths, Officeworks and Kmart. Certain telcos like Telstra, Optus and Vodafone sell SIM cards from their retail stores, too. But the most convenient way to nab a SIM card is to order directly from a telco, though you will have to wait for the SIM card to arrive before you can use it in your phone.

These days, there’s another way. If you have a recent eSIM-capable mobile phone, you can select eSIM instead of a physical SIM card during sign-up to get connected sooner. Here’s a list of the prepaid telcos in our comparison engine that offer eSIM:

• Telstra
• Optus
• Vodafone
• Everyday Mobile
• Kogan Mobile
• Amaysim
• Felix Mobile
• Lebara Mobile
• Superloop
• TPG
• Exetel
• Boost Mobile

Generally, prepaid phone plans are built to be cheaper than postpaid (SIM-only) mobile plans. But cheaper doesn’t always mean better value. Expect to pay more for postpaid plans but you’ll also usually get more data and features for that investment.

Here’s a look at popular prepaid plans in our database that don’t cost more than $20 (at least not initially).

Want more prepaid options? The prepaid plans below are the most popular picks from our comparison engine today across Telstra, Optus and Vodafone networks.