Why TPG?

Originally known for its competitive broadband plans, TPG also offers customers a selection of contract-free, SIM-only mobile plans. These plans currently start from as little as $10.00 per month (for unlimited calls and texts within Australia, and 2GB of data), up to $24.99 (for unlimited Aussie calls, 12GB of data, and 100 international minutes each month). 

Although TPG's plans don't offer the bells and whistles you'll find on mobile deals from bigger providers (such as data-free streaming, included overseas roaming, and bonus entertainment subscriptions), you will get unlimited talk and text, plus generous data inclusions, for prices that won't tank your monthly budget.

TPG has announced future plans to build its own mobile network, although there's no confirmed date as to when it will go live. For now, all of TPG's mobile plans use Vodafone's nationwide network, including its 4G network where available.

Types of TPG plans

TPG offers four no-contract, bring-your-own-device mobile plans, all of which include unlimited standard Australian talk and text. The base 2GB plan doesn't include international features, but all plans of 4GB and above come with 100 minutes of monthly international calls. 

If you jump on board with TPG right now, you can save up to 50% on your monthly plan fee for the first six months. More info on each plan, and each six-month introductory price, is below.

If you think you're likely to go over your plan's data inclusions, or want access to extra features such as international roaming or additional international calls, you can add an optional 'prepaid balance' to your account. This will go towards any services that aren't already included in your plan, and is separate from your monthly plan fee. 

If you're a light or occasional user, TPG also provides customers with a pay-as-you-go plan, starting from $1 per month. The $1 includes 50MB of data, with additional data use and calls/texts charged on a per-use basis. Calls are priced at $0.10 per minute (with a $0.10 flagfall), texts are $0.10 per message, and excess data is $0.10 per megabyte.

How to switch to TPG

Changing your mobile phone provider can seem like a daunting proposition. We often get asked about how long it takes, whether you can keep your number, and when exactly your number changes hands. The good news is that it is very easy to change telco in Australia, and laws exist that protect your right to switch and ensure you always keep your phone number.

Your number is held by your provider, but only as long as you allow them to. If you want to switch to TPG, your old carrier will automatically relinquish your number and transfer it across when you activate your new service.

Here's the process:

1. Find the TPG plan you're after and sign-up online or in-store. 
2. When signing up, you'll be asked whether you want to 'port' or transfer your current number to your new account. Simply put in your number, and specify your existing provider.
3. After you receive your SIM card (if you order online), you'll need to activate it. Doing this begins the process of transferring your number. If you bought a SIM in-store, this will happen as part of the initial setup.

Note that your old service will keep working until porting is completed. This typically takes somewhere between a couple of minutes and an hour or two, but there's cases where it can take a day or longer. You'll typically know your new TPG plan is live when your previous service stops working.

SIM cards store very little information these days, which means all of your contacts, phone numbers, emails and photos are either on your phone or in the cloud. Switching to TPG will not delete any of your personal information from your device.

Still not sure? We've gone over the steps of switching providers in this video:

TPG FAQ

What happens if I want to cancel my TPG plan?

As TPG's SIM-only plans are all contract-free, you won't be charged any cancellation fees if you decide to cease your service. You'll only be liable for whatever is owing in your last billing cycle. 

What happens if I go over my monthly data allowance? 

If you do exceed your plan's included data, you'll be automatically charged $10 for an additional 1GB of data (this excludes pay-as-you go data on the T4G PAYG plan, which is priced at $0.10 per megabyte).

What kind of SIM cards does TPG use? 

SIM cards come in nano SIM, micro SIM, and standard SIM sizes.

Does TPG have prepaid plans?

All of TPG's plans are charged on a prepaid basis. This means that you'll pay for each month in advance, and that any excess charges will be debited from your optional prepaid balance.

Does TPG still have a 2G network? 

TPG offers services on Vodafone's networks. As Vodafone's 2G network is no longer active,  you'll need a 3G or 4G-capable device to sign up for a TPG plan.

Does TPG offer international roaming? 

TPG customers can use their devices when travelling internationally, although all usage is charged on a pay-as-you-go basis. When a customer activates international roaming, TPG will charge their prepaid account with a $500 bond to cover roaming costs; any unused credit will be refunded once a customer returns from overseas.

A country's roaming rate is calculated according to which 'zone' it falls under. As most popular destinations for Australians are Zone 1 countries, minimum roaming rates are as follows:

Calls: $1.00 per minute to make and receive calls

SMS: 50c per text sent

Data: 50c per megabyte (charged per 10 kilobytes)

Be aware that some countries incur data roaming charges of up to $15.50 per megabyte - that's $15,872 per gigabyte of use. For more info, check TPG's website, or read up on our prepaid international roaming guide here. 

Want to contact TPG?

TPG Feature Breakdown