These Are the Best Plans in Australia Right Now

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You don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to get a good cell phone. Telstra and Optus may have quite expensive plans, but you have plenty of other options. There are a host of smaller providers offering similar, more affordable services. To help you separate the telco wheat from the chaff, we’re going to help you choose the best cheap mobile plan possible.
If you have your own phone, the best way to save money on a mobile phone plan is to switch to a smaller provider with a SIM-only plan. Smaller providers are powered by the same networks as Telstra, Optus and Vodafone, but tend to offer much cheaper plans.
That’s because they have lower overhead, smaller advertising budgets, don’t always stock cell phones, and tend to be a more bare-bones affair. You get data, talk and text with these plans, and not much else.
With that in mind, here are some cheap cell phone plans right now.
Best Cheap Phone Plans
Cheap mobile plans under $10 per month
Dodo currently has one of the cheapest mobile plans you can find at just $8 a month. It only gives you a 1GB allowance, but Dodo will currently double that for your first six months. This offer ends on January 31 next year. Dodo is powered by the Optus network.
If you need more data, Moose Mobile is a good option. You get 6GB for $8.80 a month for your first year and then pay $14.80 a month after that. Moose is powered by the Optus network.
TPG is another good choice, where you’ll get 12GB for $10 a month for your first six months. You will pay $20 per month after that. iiNet is powered by the Vodafone network.
Cheap mobile plans under $20 per month
As far as plans under $20 go, Moose is again a solid contender. You can get 12GB of data for $11.80 per month for your first year, which then reverts to $17.80 per month after that.
SpinTel is also worth considering. A 17GB plan will set you back $12 per month for your first six months, and $20 per month after that. SpinTel is powered by the Optus network
Finally, TPG is a good choice for those who want a little extra data every month. 25GB will set you back $12.50 per month for your first six months, and $25 per month after that. If you’re an existing TPG internet customer, the full rate drops to $20 a month.
Cheap mobile plans under $30 per month
As we move up the price scale, you start getting access to Telstra-powered providers like Exetel, where you’ll pay $22 a month. It gets you 30GB of data for your first six months, then reverts to 15GB allowance.
Tangerine has a similar offer on its $24.90 per month plan. You get 44GB for your first six months, which then drops back to 22GB.
If you want 5G, Telstra’s own budget brand Belong offers a 20GB plan for $25 a month. This plan has 5G connectivity, but speeds limited to 100 Mbps.
Finally, Kogan Mobile has a 40GB plan for $25 a month, but you can currently get your first month free if you sign up before the end of the year. Kogan is powered by the Vodafone network.
Alex Choros is managing editor at WhistleOutAustralia’s phone and internet comparison site.
This article has been updated since it was first published.