Optus SIM-only Plans: The Complete Guide

Nathan Lawrence - Freelance Contributor

Last updated 15 February 2022

The Optus network is second only to Telstra in terms of 3G, 4G and 5G reach. Unlike Big T, Optus tends to offer better value plans when comparing price-to-data inclusions, not to mention some different perks.

While Optus sells many different plans, including NBN plans and prepaid mobile plans, Optus's best SIM plans tend to be postpaid. Let’s take a look at Optus' SIM-only plans before dissecting them:

#1	Optus	Optus $60 Optus Choice Plus Plan 100GB data Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device Deal: $39/mth and 100GB/mth for first 12 months, then 60GB/mth and $60/mth or as notified. New services. Ends 12.11.26. Terms apply. $39.00/mth Min. cost $39 Go to Site	$39.00/mth Min. cost $39	Go to Site
#2	Optus	Optus $69 Optus Promo Plan 360GB data Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device Deal: Get up to $10/mth SubHub credit to use on your favourite subscriptions for 12 months. T&Cs apply. $69.00/mth Min. cost $69 Go to Site	$69.00/mth Min. cost $69	Go to Site
#3	Optus	Optus $70 Optus Choice Plus Plan 240GB data Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device $70.00/mth Min. cost $70 Go to Site	$70.00/mth Min. cost $70	Go to Site

So, what exactly is an Optus SIM-only plan?

There are two main types of mobile phone plans: prepaid and postpaid. We tend to split postpaid plans by using that specific term to describe mobile plans that come with a handset—usually paid off over 12, 24 or 36 months—and SIM-only plans. Postpaid and SIM-only plans tend to be identical in their plan price, data and perks, with the only difference that one has you paying off a phone and the other necessitates you already owning a handset to use.

The core difference between postpaid and prepaid plans is in the name: prepaid is paid ahead of time whereas postpaid tends to be paid at the end of a billing month (except for Telstra Upfront plans, which are SIM-only in how they look but paid in advance). Postpaid plans are paid monthly, ticking over on the same calendar date each month, relative to when your plan kicked off.

Prepaid plans aren’t only paid in advance, they often cover different periods of time. For instance, you can buy a prepaid plan that lasts a day, a week, half a year or a full year. The more popular prepaid plans are monthly, but in the prepaid space, a month can be an actual month, 28 days or 30 days. Most prepaid and postpaid plans tend to have unlimited national talk and text, but SIM-only plans tend to offer better overall dollar-to-data value. Check out our best prepaid plans guide if you're after one of these.

Optus SIM-only plans

Much like Telstra and Vodafone's SIM only plans, all Optus SIM-only plans come with unlimited national calls and SMS and include a few key perks. If you have a compatible handset, all Optus SIM-only plans also let you tap into the speeds of the Optus 5G network (excluding the Northern Territory and Tasmania).

Optus doesn’t have a cheap entry-level SIM-only plan, starting instead with a mid-range Optus Choice Plus Plan for moderate users:

$60 Optus Choice Plus Plan

100GB data
Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device
Deal: $39/mth and 100GB/mth for first 12 months, then 60GB/mth and $60/mth or as notified. New services. Ends 12.11.26. Terms apply.

$39.00/mth

Min. cost $39

Go to Site

$39.00/mth

Min. cost $39

Go to Site

Speeds for Optus Choice Plus mobile plans are capped at 1.5Mbps if you go over that max-download limit. In terms of perks, this Optus SIM-only plan supports data sharing across eligible plans under a single account, plus it includes an Optus Sport + OS Fitness subscription.

For comparison, the list below shows popular SIM-only plans from our database with at least 50GB of data.

#1	Dodo	Dodo Large Mobile Plan 80GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device Deal: 50% off for first 4 mths! Get the Large Mobile Plan for $20/mth for first 4 mths. New and returning mobile customers only. Ends 27.10 $40.00/mth Min. cost $20 Go to Site	$40.00/mth Min. cost $20	Go to Site
#2	Vodafone	Vodafone $58 Small SIM Only Plan 65GB data Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: Includes $13/mth off plan fees for first 12 months when you stay connected to this plan. Ends 29.10.26. T&Cs apply. $45.00/mth Min. cost $45 Go to Site	$45.00/mth Min. cost $45	Go to Site
#3	Optus	Optus $60 Optus Choice Plus Plan 100GB data Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device Deal: $39/mth and 100GB/mth for first 12 months, then 60GB/mth and $60/mth or as notified. New services. Ends 12.11.26. Terms apply. $39.00/mth Min. cost $39 Go to Site	$39.00/mth Min. cost $39	Go to Site
#4	Tangerine Telecom	Tangerine Telecom 75GB 5G Mobile SIM 75GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Uses parts of Telstra’s 5G and 4G mobile networks Deal: 50% off plan fees for 4 months - $21/mth for 4 months then $42/mth. Offer available until withdrawn. $42.00/mth Min. cost $21 Go to Site	$42.00/mth Min. cost $21	Go to Site
#5	SpinTel	SpinTel $29 Mobile Plan 50GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Optus 5G in selected areas with 5G devices ex. NT $29.00/mth Min. cost $29 Go to Site	$29.00/mth Min. cost $29	Go to Site
#6	Pivotel	Pivotel 80GB Mobile Swift Plan 80GB data On the Vodafone 4G Mobile Network Deal: Incl. 50% off - $22.50/mth for first 6 months, then $45/mth ongoing. Offer ends 31.10.2026. T&Cs apply. $22.50/mth Min. cost $22.50 Go to Site	$22.50/mth Min. cost $22.50	Go to Site
#7	Belong	Belong 25GB Mobile Plan 85GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Uses parts of Telstra’s 5G and 4G mobile networks Deal: Includes 60GB monthly bonus data for first 12 months when you activate your new service by 04.11.26. T&Cs apply. $34.00/mth Min. cost $34 Link not supplied	$34.00/mth Min. cost $34	Link not supplied
#8	Swoop	Swoop 60GB SIM Only 5G 60GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: Includes $10 off for first 6 months - $23/mth for first 6 months then $33/mth after that. Offer ends 30.06.2027 $23.00/mth Min. cost $23 Go to Site	$23.00/mth Min. cost $23	Go to Site
#9	Telstra	Telstra $84 Essential Upfront SIM Plan 180GB data Telstra 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: Get $10 off for first 12 months on new Upfront Essential Mobile Plan. New services only. Ends 05.10.26 $74.00/mth Min. cost $74 Link not supplied	$74.00/mth Min. cost $74	Link not supplied
#10	More	More 75GB 5G Mobile SIM 75GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Uses Telstra Wholesale 4G/5G mobile networks Deal: Get $10/mth off new mobile plans for 36mths, then $4/mth ongoing when you sign up with a CommBank debit or credit card. Ends 31.3.27 $46.00/mth Min. cost $46 Link not supplied	$46.00/mth Min. cost $46	Link not supplied

The next Optus SIM-only plan kicks things up a notch:

$60 Optus Choice Plus Plan

100GB data
Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device
Deal: $39/mth and 100GB/mth for first 12 months, then 60GB/mth and $60/mth or as notified. New services. Ends 12.11.26. Terms apply.

$39.00/mth

Min. cost $39

Go to Site

$39.00/mth

Min. cost $39

Go to Site

This Optus SIM-only plan has better dollar-do-data value than its cheapest offering. If you go over that monthly data limit, speeds are capped at 1.5Mbps. Outside of data sharing and Optus Sport + Fitness, this is the cheapest Optus SIM-only plan to also include unlimited calls and SMS to select overseas countries.

Compare other popular SIM-only plans with at least 150GB of data below:

#1	Vodafone	Vodafone $68 Medium SIM Only Plan 220GB data Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: Includes $18/mth off plan fees for first 12 months when you stay connected to this plan. Ends 29.10.26. T&Cs apply. $50.00/mth Min. cost $50 Go to Site	$50.00/mth Min. cost $50	Go to Site
#2	Swoop	Swoop 250GB SIM Only 5G 250GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: Includes $10 off for first 6 months - $40/mth for first 6 months then $50/mth after that. Offer ends 30.06.27 $40.00/mth Min. cost $40 Go to Site	$40.00/mth Min. cost $40	Go to Site
#3	Optus	Optus $69 Optus Promo Plan 360GB data Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device Deal: Get up to $10/mth SubHub credit to use on your favourite subscriptions for 12 months. T&Cs apply. $69.00/mth Min. cost $69 Go to Site	$69.00/mth Min. cost $69	Go to Site
#4	Telstra	Telstra $84 Essential Upfront SIM Plan 180GB data Telstra 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: Get $10 off for first 12 months on new Upfront Essential Mobile Plan. New services only. Ends 05.10.26 $74.00/mth Min. cost $74 Link not supplied	$74.00/mth Min. cost $74	Link not supplied
#5	Belong	Belong 160GB Mobile Plan 220GB data at download speeds up to 250Mbps Uses parts of Telstra’s 5G and 4G mobile networks Deal: Includes 60GB monthly bonus data for first 12 months when you activate your new service by 04.11.26. T&Cs apply. $59.00/mth Min. cost $59 Link not supplied	$59.00/mth Min. cost $59	Link not supplied
#6	Tangerine Telecom	Tangerine Telecom 160GB 5G Mobile SIM 160GB data at download speeds up to 250Mbps Uses parts of Telstra’s 5G and 4G mobile networks Deal: 50% off plan fees for 4 months - $30/mth for 4 months then $60/mth. Offer available until withdrawn. $60.00/mth Min. cost $30 Go to Site	$60.00/mth Min. cost $30	Go to Site
#7	Aussie Broadband	Aussie Broadband Premium 5G SIM Plan 180GB data at download speeds up to 250Mbps Optus 5G in selected areas with 5G devices ex. NT $60.00/mth Min. cost $60 Link not supplied	$60.00/mth Min. cost $60	Link not supplied
#8	Moose Mobile	Moose Mobile Moose 50 SIM Only 250GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: Get 250GB for $40– Includes $10 off for first 6 months, then reverts to $50. Offer ends 30.06.27 $40.00/mth Min. cost $40 Link not supplied	$40.00/mth Min. cost $40	Link not supplied
#9	SpinTel	SpinTel $50 Mobile Plan 200GB data Optus 5G in selected areas with 5G devices ex. NT $50.00/mth Min. cost $50 Go to Site	$50.00/mth Min. cost $50	Go to Site
#10	Everyday Mobile	Everyday Mobile $60 SIM Only 165GB data at download speeds up to 250Mbps Uses parts of Telstra’s 5G and 4G mobile networks Deal: Get 10% off an eligible Woolworths shop in store every month when you link your Everyday Rewards card. T&Cs apply $60.00/mth Min. cost $60 Link not supplied	$60.00/mth Min. cost $60	Link not supplied

Optus ups the data considerably for its largest Optus Choice Plus Plan:

$69 Optus Promo Plan

360GB data
Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device
Deal: Get up to $10/mth SubHub credit to use on your favourite subscriptions for 12 months. T&Cs apply.

$69.00/mth

Min. cost $69

Go to Site

$69.00/mth

Min. cost $69

Go to Site

There are few mobile plans in our database with this much data, plus if you do manage to (somehow) exceed it, you're merely slowed to 1.5Mbps, rather than paying overage fees. All of the previous inclusions apply here, too: unlimited calls and texts to select overseas countries, Optus Sport + OS Fitness and data sharing.

Because there are only a few plans with at least this much data or more in our database, the daily updating list below shows popular SIM-only plans with at least 250GB of data.

#1	Swoop	Swoop 250GB SIM Only 5G 250GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: Includes $10 off for first 6 months - $40/mth for first 6 months then $50/mth after that. Offer ends 30.06.27 $40.00/mth Min. cost $40 Go to Site	$40.00/mth Min. cost $40	Go to Site
#2	Optus	Optus $69 Optus Promo Plan 360GB data Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device Deal: Get up to $10/mth SubHub credit to use on your favourite subscriptions for 12 months. T&Cs apply. $69.00/mth Min. cost $69 Go to Site	$69.00/mth Min. cost $69	Go to Site
#3	Vodafone	Vodafone $78 Large SIM Only Plan 420GB data Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: Includes $23/mth off plan fees for first 12 months when you stay connected to this plan. Ends 29.10.26. T&Cs apply. $55.00/mth Min. cost $55 Go to Site	$55.00/mth Min. cost $55	Go to Site
#4	Telstra	Telstra $99 Premium Upfront SIM Plan 300GB data Telstra 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: Get $15 off for first 12 months on new Upfront Premium Mobile Plan. New services only. Ends 05.10.26 $84.00/mth Min. cost $84 Link not supplied	$84.00/mth Min. cost $84	Link not supplied
#5	Moose Mobile	Moose Mobile Moose 50 SIM Only 250GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: Get 250GB for $40– Includes $10 off for first 6 months, then reverts to $50. Offer ends 30.06.27 $40.00/mth Min. cost $40 Link not supplied	$40.00/mth Min. cost $40	Link not supplied

Optus 5G network

It’s a neat inclusion that all Optus SIM-only plans let users take advantage of Optus 5G network speeds, but there are a couple of provisos. For starters, you first need a compatible 5G handset. Second, you also need to ensure you live, work and/or play in an area that has Optus 5G coverage. While the Optus 5G network isn’t as wide-reaching as the Telstra 5G network, it is available to 1.2 million households.

You can use the interactive map below to see if the Optus 5G network is available in your area.

Click to Activate Interactive Map

Coverage information is collected from carriers and other third party sources. This is approximate coverage only and does not include indoor coverage. Actual speed and performance depends on your location and device. Local conditions and things like natural and artificial physical features of an area all affect your reception. Coverage © Mosaik

Which Optus SIM-only plan is right for me?

If you like the Optus network but want a cheap plan, you’re better off checking out the plans on offer from Optus MVNOs that operate on the Optus network but offer cheaper prices. Most of these Optus MVNOs offer services on the Optus 4G network, but SpinTel does sell plans that operate on the Optus 5G network.

The smallest Optus Choice Plus Plan is meant for the person seeking the cheapest Optus SIM-only plan. Despite being the smallest, it still offers more than double the data the average Australian uses in a month, so will be fine for most people. We’d advise treating this Optus Choice Plus Plan as the best first pick.

If you’re incredibly heavy on data usage each month, both Optus' more-expensive plans offer huge data caps – it's up to you to decide just how much you think you'll burn through. The most-expensive offers the most data per dollar, but have a think about how much you really need.

Nathan Lawrence

Freelance Contributor

Nathan Lawrence is a freelance writer with over 11 years of experience. He has contributed to publications including WhistleOut Australia, Review.org/au, IGN, STACK, Fandom, Red Bull, and AusGamers. Nathan specialises in researching, writing, and editing content around technology, telecommunications, and gaming.

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