The cheapest long expiry plans tend to start from around $150 per 365-day recharge. Typically, the more you pay, the more data you'll get.
Here is the cheapest 365-day plan in WhistleOut's database:
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Lyca Mobile
$150.00
Per 360 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
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365-day prepaid mobile plans are the ultimate set-and-forget solution for your mobile. You literally just need to think about your long expiry phone plan once, maybe twice per year. So if you're looking to take some life admin off your plate, they might just be the solution you've been searching for.
What types of long expiry plans are available?
There are primarily three different kinds of long expiry plans; those with up to 365-day expiry, up to 190-day expiry and data-only long expiry plans.
365-day expiry plans will last you a year, while up to 190-day expiry plans should serve you for up to six months. Data-only long expiry plans are also known as mobile broadband plans.
Here are popular plans across the different long expiry plan types:
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Vodafone
Editor's Pick
$20/mth
Min. cost $20
Link not supplied
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Tangerine Telecom
Editor's Pick
$34.90/mth
Min. cost $34.90
Link not supplied
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Telstra
$200
Link not supplied
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amaysim
$350
Link not supplied
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Aussie Broadband
$30/mth
Min. cost $30
Link not supplied
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Aussie Broadband
$40/mth
Min. cost $40
Link not supplied
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SpinTel
$49.95/mth
+ $20 Upfront
Min. cost $69.95
Link not supplied
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Belong
$20/mth
Min. cost $20
Link not supplied
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SpinTel
$28/mth
Min. cost $28
Link not supplied
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Telstra
$39/mth
($33 plan + $6 modem)
Min. cost $160.50
Link not supplied
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If you're wondering how a 365-day plan might compare to a monthly plan here's a quick side-by-side comparison of the cheapest of each kind in WhistleOut's database. With the 365-day plan you get the same amount of data and save nearly $50.
| Plan | Days | Data allowance (GB)* | Price ($)* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly plans | 31 | 300 | 206.1 |
| 365 day plans | 365 | 300 | 159 |
*Note: Based on the cheapest of each plan type in WhistleOut's database. Monthly plans data and price figures are multiplied by 12 for comparison. Both plans included any bonus data or discounts over the first 12 months.
How do you a choose 365-day mobile plan?
There are a few of things to consider when choosing a long expiry prepaid mobile plan including the upfront cost, data management and other mobile essentials.
Price
As they're prepaid plans you'll need to pay the cost of a long expiry plan upfront this is usually over $150. While a bigger hit to the hip pocket upfront they usually work out cheaper than month-to-month plans. For example, a plan costing $150 per year-long recharge works out to be around just $12.50 per month.
WhistleOut surveyed over 1,000 of our users of which 26% said they use a long-expiry plan. They're the second biggest group after postpaid SIM-only plan users. Here's why they're choosing 365-day plans over month-to-month options.
| Reason | Number of people (%) |
|---|---|
| Better value for money annually | 40 |
| Monthly plans have too much data per month | 29 |
| Prepaid option without monthly admin | 14 |
| Budget certainty | 10 |
| Other | 7 |
Data
Data is of course a key consideration — this is a finite pool that will need to last a full year. Many providers throw in large data bonuses for the first year-long recharge which ends up being great value per gigabyte. Look at your monthly mobile data usage either on your phone bill or on your phone itself to see how much data you use.
Most of the time, the amount of data people use is far less than they expect, so it’s worth checking to see your own real-life stats. You can then multiply your monthly data usage by 12 to see approximately how many gigabytes you actually need for the year. You can use our calculator when comparing plans.
When plans have similar inclusions, the cheapest option isn’t always the best. One way to compare is on the value per GB. As a rule of thumb, anything at $1 or under per GB is good value.
Other factors
Once you've decided on a price your comfortable with and getting the right amount data consider other perks providers offer. Most long-expiry plans don't come with data rollover which is a big boon if you don't use up all your data before year's end (ALDI Mobile is one of the few that do). You'll also want to double check which network you're joining, if you know a certain network performs poorly in your area you don't want to be committed to them for 12 months.
Presented by: Anula Wiwatowska - WhistleOut telco expert:
If you're sick of your phone plan getting mroe expensive every few months here's one way to guarantee it stays the same for a whole year.
You've probably already heard of long expiry prepaid plans, maybe you've even had one before. But, at some stage you switched to a postpaid plan, and I'm telling you now, it is probably time to switch back.
With a 365 day plan you pay for your year upfront. It makes it easier to budget your spend and plus, they're generally cheaper than postpaid plans.
You cna pay as little as $150 for the year, which is the same as $12.50 per month.
You want to make sure you're looking for one with enough data to keep you going, but if you're looking for ways to cut down your phone bill or cut off a telco that keeps raising it on you, these are a good one to look in to.
Which providers offer 365-day mobile plans?
There are currently 11 mobile providers in WhistleOut's database that provide a variety of long-expiry prepaid plans with up to 365 days of service. Here's a list of Australian mobile providers that offer 365-day long expiry plans:
Telstra network
- ALDI Mobile
- Boost Mobile
- Everyday Mobile
- TeleChoice
- Telstra
Optus network
- amaysim
- Coles Mobile
- OnePass Mobile
- Optus
Vodafone network
- Kogan
- Lebara
- Lycamobile
- Vodafone
"365-day long expiry plans are also a great option if you’re looking for a SIM card for a tablet, like a 4G or 5G enabled iPad. You don’t specifically need to get a data-only plan, and in some cases, regular 365-day mobile plans can be more affordable than data-only options.
"A 365-day mobile plan is an especially good idea if you’re not planning on using a lot of data on your tablet, and can work out to be a lot cheaper than even the most affordable month-to-month data-only plans."
Alex Choros, Managing Editor
FAQs
How long does a long expiry prepaid plan last?
Expiry periods on prepaid plans vary across providers in the Australian market. Long expiry prepaid plans, like the ones in this guide, can take up to 365 days to expire. Most prepaid plans will expire after 28 to 31 days, after which time you'll need to renew to keep using them. Common expiry periods for long expiry prepaid plans in Australia are:
- 90 days
- 180 days
- 360 or 365 days
Can you get a 365-day long expiry prepaid plan with unlimited data?
Few long expiry prepaid plans in Australia come with unlimited mobile data. Vodafone offers unlimited data prepaid plans. These plans offer a set amount of full-speed data, followed by unlimited data capped at 1.5Mbps.
Other than Vodafone prepaid, only felix mobile currently offers unlimited data on prepaid and its a month-to-month plan. felix describes its plans as a "subscription" which is considered prepaid as you pay for it at the start of every month. That particular felix mobile plan comes with unlimited data capped to speeds of 40Mbps.
Do you get access to all the data upfront on a 365-day long expiry prepaid plan?
Yes, in most cases you get access to the full inclusions all at once. This makes it possible to get through all your data in less than 365 days. Some providers such as Lebara, break down your included data over into allotments divided by 12 months.
It's always worth checking the terms and conditions of any plan before you sign up in case that doesn't suit your needs.
What is the difference between a long expiry prepaid plan and pay-as-you-go plan?
A pay-as-you-go (PAYG) plan is a type of prepaid plan that allows you to purchase credit as you need it, which you then spend on calls, texts and data - charged at a set rate. PAYG credit generally expires after 365 days.
PAYG mobile plans can be a great value choice for those who use their mobile phones very, very occasionally. However, if you regularly use your phone, and especially if you want to use mobile data, the PAYG charges will add up fast.
Are long expiry prepaid plans cheaper than regular prepaid plans?
Long expiry prepaid plans can work out cheaper when compared to some month-to-month plans. You can think of it as a discount for buying data in bulk. You've paid one bill upfront for the entire year rather than paying monthly where you could leave anytime.
Of course, because most long expiry prepaid plans also come with no contract, you can technically leave one of those at anytime too. But you won't be refunded for any inclusions you haven't used.
Dylan Crismale
Digital Content Editor
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