What are WhistleOut Editor's Picks?
Each month, WhistleOut’s team of telco product experts are responsible for combing our database of mobile and internet plans to find the very best plans available to consumers at that moment.
Each plan that is awarded the golden Editor’s Pick ribbon goes into the running for the WhistleOut Awards, which we judge annually.
We are proud to judge all the plans in our database on their merits, regardless of whether they have an active partnership with us.
Editor's Picks — Internet
This is the criteria we use to judge the best internet plans. We look at NBN fixed-line, NBN fixed wireless, Satellite NBN, 4G and 5G home wireless and Mobile Broadband plans.
To judge the best NBN 50 plan we look at plans with the fastest typical evening speeds in the NBN 50 category. We look at the cheapest plans with no lock-in contract. We look at more than introductory pricing by comparing the average monthly cost over a 12-month period to factor in the real ongoing cost.
We also judge based on the number of available support channels, any bundling discounts, satisfaction guarantees or other bonuses that make an offer stand out.
To judge the best NBN 100 plan we look at plans with the fastest typical evening speeds in the NBN 100 category. We look at the cheapest plans with no lock-in contract. We look at more than introductory pricing by comparing the average monthly cost over a 12-month period to factor in the real ongoing cost.
We also judge based on the number of available support channels, any bundling discounts, satisfaction guarantees or other bonuses that make an offer stand out.
To judge the best NBN 500 plan we look at plans with the fastest typical evening speeds in the NBN 500 category. We look at the cheapest plans with no lock-in contract. We look at more than introductory pricing by comparing the average monthly cost over a 12-month period to factor in the real ongoing cost.
We also judge based on the number of available support channels, any bundling discounts, satisfaction guarantees or other bonuses that make an offer stand out.
To judge the best Fixed Wireless Plus plan plan we look at plans with speeds up to 100Mbps. We look at the cheapest plans with no lock-in contract and no monthly data limits. We look at more than introductory pricing by comparing the average monthly cost over a 12-month period to factor in the real ongoing cost.
We also judge based on the number of available support channels, options to purchase networking equipment, satisfaction guarantees or other bonuses that make an offer stand out.
To judge the best Satellite NBN plan we look at plans with speeds up to 50Mbps. We look at the cheapest plans with no lock-in contract, no monthly data limits and prioritise plans with unmetered data. We look at more than introductory pricing by comparing the average monthly cost over a 12-month period to factor in the real ongoing cost.
We also judge based on the number of available support channels, satisfaction guarantees or other bonuses that make an offer stand out.
To judge the best 4G Home Wireless plan plan we look at the cheapest plans with no lock-in contract and unlimited data. We look at more than introductory pricing by comparing the average monthly cost over a 12-month period to factor in the real ongoing cost.
Some providers require upfront payment for a modem. We only consider 4G home internet plans with no upfront fees.
We also judge based on the number of available support channels, satisfaction guarantees or other bonuses that make an offer stand out.
To judge the best 5G Home Wireless plan plan (100Mbps) we look at the cheapest plans with no lock-in contract and unlimited data. For this category, we only look at plans with speeds between 51Mbps and 100Mbps. We look at more than introductory pricing by comparing the average monthly cost over a 12-month period to factor in the real ongoing cost.
Some providers require upfront payment for a modem. We only consider 5G home internet plans with no upfront fees. We do, however, still consider 5G providers with modem policies where you return the modem if you leave the plan within a certain period.
We also judge based on the number of available support channels, satisfaction guarantees or other bonuses that make an offer stand out.
To judge the best 5G Home Wireless plan (Uncapped) we look at the cheapest plans with no lock-in contract. For this category, we only look at plans with speeds that are uncapped, these plans usually have typical evening speeds over 200Mbps. We look at more than introductory pricing by comparing the average monthly cost over a 12-month period to factor in the real ongoing cost.
Some providers require upfront payment for a modem. We only consider 5G home internet plans with no upfront fees. We do however, still consider 5G providers with modem policies where you return the modem if you leave the plan within a certain period.
We also judge based on the number of available support channels, satisfaction guarantees or other bonuses that make an offer stand out.
To judge the best Mobile Broadband plan with light use we look at the cheapest plans with no lock-in contract. For this category, we only look at plans with data allowances between 30GB and 74GB per month. These are plans we consider are best designed for use on-the-go with a tablet.
We look at more than introductory pricing by comparing the average monthly cost over a 12-month period to factor in the real ongoing cost. We also factor in any setup costs, plan bonuses and compare 4G and 5G access.
To judge the best Mobile Broadband plan with heavy use, we look at the cheapest plans with no lock-in contract. For this category, we only look at plans with data allowances with 75GB per month at minimum. These are plans we consider that could be used as a main internet service at home.
We look at more than introductory pricing by comparing the average monthly cost over a 12-month period to factor in the real ongoing cost. We also factor in any setup costs, plan bonuses and compare 4G and 5G access.
Editor's Picks — Mobile
This is the criteria we use to judge mobile plans on WhistleOut. We judge postpaid SIM-only plans, prepaid SIM-only plans, best mobile phone plans as well as a few other special plan types.
To judge the best SIM-only plan with light use we look at postpaid mobile plans with base data between 15GB and 29GB of data per month. We look at a combination of lowest price and value for money ($ per GB). plans are no lock-in contract. We look at more than introductory pricing by comparing the average monthly cost over a 12-month period to factor in the real ongoing cost.
We also judge based on 4G and 5G access, the number of available support channels, any bundling discounts, satisfaction guarantees or other bonuses that make an offer stand out. Plans are no lock-in contract.
To judge the best SIM-only plan with medium use we look at postpaid mobile plans with base data between 30GB and 50GB of data per month. We look at a combination of lowest price and value for money ($ per GB). We look at more than introductory pricing by comparing the average monthly cost over a 12-month period to factor in the real ongoing cost.
We also judge based on 4G and 5G access, the number of available support channels, any bundling discounts, satisfaction guarantees or other bonuses that make an offer stand out. Plans are no lock-in contract
To judge the best SIM-only plan with medium use we look at prepaid mobile plans with base data between 15GB and 29GB of data per month. We look at a combination of lowest price and value for money ($ per GB). We look at more than introductory pricing by comparing the average monthly cost over a 12-month period to factor in the real ongoing cost.
We also judge based on 4G and 5G access, the number of available support channels, any bundling discounts, satisfaction guarantees or other bonuses that make an offer stand out. Plans are no lock-in contract.
To judge the best SIM-only plan for heavy use we look at prepaid mobile plans with at least 30GB of base data per month. We look at a combination of lowest price and value for money ($ per GB). We look at more than introductory pricing by comparing the average monthly cost over a 12-month period to factor in the real ongoing cost.
We also judge based on 4G and 5G access, the number of available support channels, any bundling discounts, satisfaction guarantees or other bonuses that make an offer stand out. Plans are no lock-in contract
To judge the best Samsung phone plan for light use we look at the latest Samsung Galaxy Ultra model paired with the best value option on a 36-month repayment term. We only consider plans with at least 30GB of base data. We look at the price over the total 36-month term, including any discounts.
To judge the best Samsung phone plan for heavy use we look at the latest Samsung Galaxy Ultra model paired with the best value option on a 24-month repayment term. We only consider plans with at least 30GB of base data. We look at the price over the total 24-month term, including any discounts.
We use heavy here to refer to users who may want to switch their phone every 2 years.
To judge the best iPhone plan for light use, we look at the latest iPhone Pro model paired with the best value option on a 36-month repayment term. We only consider plans with at least 30GB of base data. We look at the price over the total 36-month term, including any discounts.
To judge the best iPhone plan for heavy use, we look at the latest iPhone Pro model paired with the best value option on a 24-month repayment term. We only consider plans with at least 30GB of base data. We look at the price over the total 24-month term, including any discounts.
We use heavy here to refer to users who may want to switch their phone every 2 years.
To judge the best plan for kids we consider prepaid plans with at least 5GB of base data per month for less than $25 per month. We look at a combination of lowest price and value for money ($ per GB). We look at more than introductory pricing by comparing the average monthly cost over a 12-month period to factor in the real ongoing cost.
We only consider plans with unlimited talk and text and no excess data charges.
We also judge based on 4G and 5G access, the number of available support channels, any bundling discounts, satisfaction guarantees or other bonuses that make an offer stand out. Plans are no lock-in contract.
To judge the best plan for international calls we consider plans with unlimited calls to at least 15 destinations and at least 15GB of base data for under $40 per month. We look at a combination of the total number of destinations, lowest prices and value for money ($ per GB). We look at more than introductory pricing by comparing the average monthly cost over a 12-month period to factor in the real ongoing cost.
We also judge based on on 4G and 5G access, the number of available support channels, any bundling discounts, satisfaction guarantees or other bonuses that make an offer stand out. Plans are no lock-in contract.
Meet the experts behind WhistleOut's Editor's Picks
On WhistleOut, you'll find thousands of phone and internet plans to compare. Each month, our product team experts make hundreds of updates to reflect the real pricing and inclusion information you see on telcos' websites.
Crystal Feng
As the Product Lead at WhistleOut, Crystal uses her eagle-eyed attention to detail to navigate the ins and outs of the complex telco market. Driven by a passion for problem-solving, she’s dedicated to helping everyday consumers save money through seamless digital experiences.
Outside of work, Crystal has traded wireframes for power tools, spending her weekends fully immersed in a Home DIY era and knocking out home projects one weekend at a time.
Mitch Mercado
Mitch is a telco product expert with over five years of experience. She's a pro at reviewing telco plans and making sure they are precise and up-to-date for our users. Her real passion? Helping people pick the right plans, and she does this by breaking down complex telco details into straightforward terms, so everyone can understand and decide with confidence.
When she’s not simplifying the telco world, Mitch loves going on road trips, travelling, attending live concerts, and scouting out cozy neighbourhood cafes.
Maricel Calibjo
Maricel is a seasoned product expert with over five years of experience in the telco industry. She's awesome at keeping track of all the product updates, making sure the consumers are always in the loop on the latest plans and deals in the market. She has a knack for guiding people to the right plans, making those complicated choices feel straightforward and simple.
When she's not diving into the world of telco, she's busy cultivating peace outside of work. You can find her exploring new destinations on out-of-town travels with friends, finding her green thumb while planting at home, and carving out quiet time for herself whenever she can.
