What you need to know about TPG Mobile

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Unlike other big-name telcos like Telstra and Optus, TPG mobile plans are exclusively prepaid and, therefore, contract-free. TPG continues running with this simplified approach by offering four main options, with a fifth entry-level pay-as-you-go alternative.

All of these TPG Mobile prepaid plans utilise the Vodafone mobile digital network, which covers 95.3% of Australia and effectively means you’re operating on Vodafone’s 4G speeds for data. The three higher-tier TPG Mobile prepaid plans

include 100 international minutes (excluding satellite phones) for staying in touch with friends and family who live abroad. Bear in mind that international minutes doesn’t translate to SMS and MMS for international numbers, which are charged at a premium.

Texters eyeing off TPG Mobile prepaid plans are better off sticking to instant-messaging apps for these types of international contact, which use data. Outside of these plans or minutes, it’s best to first check with TPG’s international call rates page.

It’s worth noting that TPG Mobile plans don’t have data rollover, meaning any unused data (or value) expires at the end of each month and doesn’t carry over to the next monthly billing cycle. So be sure to take advantage of your available calls, international minutes and available data before the month ends.

If you go over or flirt with the top of your plan allowance, you can check your TPG Mobile account balance, add extra data, or activate international roaming (which we advise against because of the pre-cost) on your My Account page.

TPG Mobile on a Budget

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TPG Mobile prepaid plans start as low as $21 for the first month on a T4G PAYG Plan. That initial cost includes a $1 monthly service charge and a $20 once-off upfront fee for the first month. After this, the T4G PAYG Plan costs $1 a month, but that low cost only covers a meagre 50MB of data and pay-as-you-go calls and texts.

Step up to the T4G Small Plan for $19.99 per month (with a $10 upfront fee on the first month) and things become more attractive for the average mobile phone user. This plan nets you unlimited standard calls, SMS and MMS to Australian numbers. Outside of competitor flash sales and initial bonus-data offers, the T4G Small Plan is one of the cheapest prepaid mobile plans for what you get.

Every TPG Mobile prepaid option from the T4G Small Plan upwards includes unlimited national talk and text. Jump to $29.99 a month for T4G Medium Plan and you waive the initial upfront cost of the two entry-level plans, plus you start to have the perk of 100 international minutes per month. The lack of an upfront fee and the same international minutes are also true of the two plans above this option, but the T4G Medium Plan only offers 10GB of data per month.

That’s a decent price point, but we stress “only offers 10GB of data” because Ovo’s Small Mobile Plan recently upped its monthly offering. This particular Ovo mobile prepaid plan jumped from 8GB to 10GB at a $19.95 monthly price point for the same offer as the T4G Medium Plan, albeit without the 100 international minutes. If international minutes aren’t important to you, Ovo’s Small Mobile Plan is well worth considering, more so because Ovo uses the Optus network, which offers 98.5% network coverage in Australia.

TPG Mobile’s Big Two Plans

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The last two TPG Mobile prepaid plans run into even stiffer competition. For $34.99 per month you get 15GB of data on the T4G Large Plan, plus everything else offered on the T4G Medium Plan. And for $39.99, it’s the same again for the T4G Extra Large Plan except with 20GB of data. Effectively, at these tiers you’re paying more for the extra data.

The catch is that, despite the plan names, both of these TPG Mobile offers are beaten by the $29.95 Ovo Mobile – Medium plan, which matches TPG on the call front (including 100 international minutes) and chucks in 30GB of data (up from the 20GB Ovo used to offer at the same price point).

Lycamobile, Boost Mobile and amaysim also compete heavily around this $30 price point, with 25GB, 20GB, and 30GB monthly data inclusions, respectively, on top of unlimited international calls (plus unlimited international texts for Boost and amaysim) to select countries.

The Bottom Line of TPG Mobile Prepaid Plans

At the lower end of its mobile prepaid plans, TPG is competitive and certainly worth a look for the no-frills mobile customers. But for those with bigger monthly data demands – which is effectively what you’re paying for as you step up in price – the T4G Medium Plan is mainly suited to those seeking international minutes at a reasonable price point.

FAQs

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How do I recharge TPG Mobile?

TPG Mobile automatically renews each month. To add to your prepaid balance, head to the My Account page, login, then select ‘Add Prepaid Balance’.

How much does extra data cost?

You’ll pay $10 per extra 1GB of data above your monthly allocation.

What mobile network does TPG use?

TPG prepaid mobile plans use the Vodafone mobile digital network across 2G, 3G and 4G technologies.

Can I use TPG to call overseas?

Yes, but it might cost you. TPG’s two cheapest plans don’t offer international minutes. It’s three more expensive options offer 100 minutes per month. International costs can be checked on TPG’s international call rates page.

How can I check my TPG Mobile account balance?

Check your TPG Mobile usage by logging in to the My Account page with your mobile number and the password you nominated during registration. Select ‘View All Mobile Service Accounts’ under ‘TPG Mobile Services’, then select ‘Mobile Usage’.

How do I use my TPG mobile overseas?

You first need to activate international roaming via TPG’s My Account page. Beware that TPG charges a $500 prepaid balance to cover the cost of international roaming usage. The unused balance is transferred back to your account 30 days after you’ve deactivated international roaming.

How good is TPG mobile coverage?

TPG mobile coverage is as good as the Vodafone network, given it piggybacks on the Vodafone mobile digital network. Vodafone’s network covers 95.3% of Australia.