Cheap mobile plans – feel less guilty about doom scrolling

Pros and cons of cheap mobile plans

Beyond spending less (duh!), consider these aspects:

Comparing cheap mobile phone plans

Price matters, but that doesn't mean you need to skimp. There are 2 main factors to consider when picking the best cheap mobile plan for your needs:

1. 1. Data

Consider how much data you use. You won't find many plans with unlimited data under $20 but you can definitely find plans offering between 10GB and 20GB a month. No matter how much data you're after, a good benchmark for value is to get at least 1GB or more for every $1 you spend.

1. 1. Promotional periods

Many providers offer extra data and a lower price for the first 3-6 months. To maximise savings, switch to a different plan once the promotional period ends.

Cheap mobile plans: Key things to check

Really cheap phone plans tend to cut corners. That's fine as long as you find a plan that cuts corners that don't matter to you. Here are the key ones to look out for.

Expiry

Many cheap phone plans are prepaid plans with weird expiry periods. These can be as short as 5–7 days, which is a dodgy way to trick you. Be careful with plans that costs $1 or $2. We don't list this kind of slop on our tables, but you might find it out there.

Calls and texts

Most phone plans, even cheap ones, include unlimited calls and texts. But there are some plans that bill you extra, like the $4 a month Flip plan. It's a good idea to avoid these by paying just a couple of bucks more for an unlimited talk and text plan.

Data rollover

Some cheap mobile plans offer data rollove,r which is great if you don't use up all your data. Just keep in mind that you need to recharge your plan on time for the rollover to take effect.

Data limit

On many cheaper prepaid plans, it's game over once you hit your data limit. You'll need to recharge for more data. If you plan to use lots of data, you might be better off on a slightly more expensive plan with more monthly data to be safe. On cheap postpaid plans, you could be hit with excess data fees, such as $10 for every 1GB you go over.

Coverage

Most cheap phone plans are sold by Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs). Basically they're resellers of Telstra, Optus or Vodafone's networks. Before signing up, check which network you'll be on.

• Telstra MVNOs (except for Boost) only get access to part of the network, which covers 98.8% of Australians.
• Optus MVNOs get full access to the network, covering 98.5% of the population.
• Vodafone MVNOs get full access to the network, which covers 96% of Australians.

Are smaller networks with cheap plans worth it?

Small phone plan providers are fine, and there's no real catch. Most of them are resellers of a bigger network, but are still very legit businesses. There are a few cowboys out there, but any of the providers on our comparison tables are the real deal.

Because they use the phone networks of the 3 big telcos, MVNOs are able to offer much cheaper plans. They're not paying to maintain the cell towers and other infrastructure, so their overheads are low and they can pass the savings on to you.

The main difference you may find with a mobile plan from an MVNO compared to 1 of the 3 major providers – Telstra, Optus and Vodafone – is that their plans may have fewer bonus features than the bigger players - stuff like getting Optus Sport at a discount, for example.

Which types of mobile plans are the cheapest?

Some of the cheapest plans are those with fewer inclusions targeted at people who don't need very much data (or none) at all or will rarely use their phones. If that sounds like you, a pay-as-you-go mobile plan might be right for you.

If you want to pay upfront (and save money in the long run), a long-expiry plan with inclusions that don't expire until 3–12 months might be better.

Why compare mobile phone plans with Finder?

We know our stuff. We pour over hundreds of mobile plans every month. It's exhausting. But worth it.

You can rely on us. We're constantly updating and fact-checking our data on dozens of Aussie telcos.

We're here to help. We've helped millions of Aussies find better mobile phone plan. And we'll keep doing it.

Frequently asked questions

• Who has the cheapest phone plan in Australia?

  There are a few contenders for the absolute cheapest plan:

  • Straight up cheapest: Telstra's Flip Prepaid plans start at $4 per month. But that only includes 500MB data, 100 texts and 100 minutes of calls, with excess charges for talk and text of up to $40 a month. I find this pretty weird, so I'd avoid it.
  • Cheap but not crap: dodo and Optus have ~$10 phone plans with around 2GB data plus unlimited national calls and texts. These prices stay the same long term, and I would say are the minimum you should be looking at, because they won't slap on extras charges.
  • Most data for your money: For a bit more, providers like Southern Phone, TPG and Felix offer plans with much higher data allowances (like 12GB+) at very decent prices, especially for the first 6 months.

• Are there any downsides to getting a cheap phone plan?

  Yes, there can be a few downsides to cheap phone plans:

  • Less data: Cheaper plans typically come with lower data allowances. This might be fine if you're on Wi-Fi most of the time, but be mindful of extra charges if you go over your data limit.
  • Slower speeds: Some budget plans might throttle data speeds after you reach a certain data usage point. This can make activities like streaming slower.
  • Limited inclusions: Cheap plans might not include extras like international calls, voicemail or data rollover.
  • Network coverage: Most budget providers may piggyback on other telco networks, and coverage might not be as extensive, especially in regional areas.

• Are SIM only plans the cheapest phone plans?

  Generally, yes. SIM only plans are typically cheaper than bundled phone and plan deals, especially if you already have a phone you're happy with. You'll need to purchase the phone upfront, but in the long run, a SIM only plan can save you money.

• Can I get a free phone on a cheap phone plan?

  No, it's unlikely you'll find a completely free phone with a super cheap plan. Phone contracts with free or heavily discounted phones typically come with higher plan costs over a locked period.

  However, some providers might offer occasional promotions where you can get a phone at a reduced price on a specific plan. Just be sure to factor in the total cost of the plan over the contract length to see if it's a good deal.

To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Angus Kidman as part of our fact-checking process.

Written by

Mariam Gabaji

Editor I Tech and utilities expert

Mariam Gabaji is an editor and tech and utilities expert at Finder with 12+ years of experience as a journalist. She's committed to helping households cut through the industry jargon and save money on their bills. Her expertise is often featured in media including the ABC, Yahoo Finance, 9News, 7News, A Current Affair, The Guardian, SBS and Money Magazine. See full bio

Mariam's expertise

Mariam has written 264 Finder guides across topics including:

• Energy
• Mobile
• Broadband
• Consumer tech