The price of data keeps dropping, which has led to some incredible deals on data-only SIMS. Data-only SIMs are traditionally used in portable hotspots for mobile broadband or to get a SIM-enabled tablet online. However, you may have found yourself wondering if you can also use these SIMs in a smartphone?
The short answer is yes. And there are two main reasons why using a data-only SIM in your phone might work for you:
- You want to turn a spare phone into a portable Wi-Fi hotspot
- You've moved away from traditional talk and text to over-the-top services like iMessage, Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp
The exception is where your telco explicitly says its data-only SIMS are for use in a tablet or portable modem only. Telstra and Vodafone are two examples of telcos that specify this.
Use a data-only SIM to create a portable Wi-Fi hotspot
A portable Wi-Fi hotspot is a device that acts as a modem to bring other devices, such as laptops, tablets, or game consoles, onto the internet. Because portable hotspots use the mobile network to connect to the internet, you can use them anywhere you get 4G or 5G coverage – in a cafe, in the park, in your new house that doesn't have the internet set up yet. That's the power of mobile broadband.
While many telcos now have data-only SIM offerings, only a few sell internet dongles and pocket WiFi hotspots that will work with them. In some cases, these are network-locked, in others, you'll need drop a bunch of cash upfront. Because of this, we often get asked if you can use a data-only SIM in a spare smartphone, and then use that smartphone as a portable hotspot. In the vast majority of cases, the answer should be yes. As aforementioned, there are exceptions.
Data-only SIMs and regular phone SIMs both look the same. The key difference is that a data-only SIM only comes with a data allowance; it doesn't come with any talk or text inclusions. Some data-only SIMs may let you make or receive phone calls, but you're likely to be billed extra if you do.
Using a data-only SIM for your mobile plan
These days, you could comfortably get away with using a data-only SIM as your mobile plan thanks to the availability of apps like Telegram, Skype, Viber, WhatsApp, FaceTime, Facebook Messenger and other talk and text services that use the internet to connect. If you're happy using these apps for your texting and don't make a lot of calls, you could save some money by choosing a data-only SIM for your phone.
However, whether or not you will save any money depends a lot on how much data you need. Use our mobile phone plans comparison tool to take a look at what's out there before you make a decision.
Some data-only SIMs may still let you receive calls and messages, and some will let you make them too (but you'll need to pay extra, and typically, per call or per message). This varies from provider to provider, so be sure to check with the telco if this functionality is important to you.
Keep in mind that you may need an active phone number for a range of products and services including verification via SMS and call or even to receive recovery codes if you get locked out.
How to use your phone as a portable Wi-Fi hotspot
Using your smartphone as a portable Wi-Fi hotspot is easy, but the steps will vary depending on if you've got an iPhone or an Android device.
On an iPhone, you'll want to follow these steps:
- Open the Settings app
- Tap Personal Hotspot
- Toggle Allow Others to Join to On
You can now connect to a Wi-Fi network created by your iPhone. It will have the same name as your iPhone, and the Wi-Fi password will be listed under the Personal Hotspot settings menu. You can change both of these.
On Android devices such as Samsung or Google, this process can vary slightly depending on which manufacturer built your phone and which version of the operating system you're running. The following steps should be similar on most devices:
- Open the Settings app
- Tap Connections and then Hotspot & Tethering
- Tap on Mobile Hotspot.This page lets you turn on your hotspot, and configure settings if you need to change them
If you can't find these options, use the search pane at the top of your settings app and type in "hotspot".
If you're using an old phone, you may even consider keeping it plugged in. Using your phone as a hotspot is a battery-intensive task and the older your phone, the weaker the battery will be.
Compare data-only SIM plans
You can use our search engine to compare options for data-only SIM plans. But if you're looking for a quick pick, here are some of the most popular options from our database:
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#1
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ALDI mobile
$95 Data Plan
$95
Link not supplied
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#2
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Telstra
Upfront Data Plan Small
$33/mth
Min. cost $33
Link not supplied
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#3
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SpinTel
Mobile Broadband Unlimited
$49.95/mth
+ $20 Upfront
Min. cost $69.95
Link not supplied
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#4
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amaysim
30GB Data Plan
$25
Link not supplied
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#5
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Belong
20GB Data SIM Only
$20/mth
Min. cost $20
Link not supplied
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#6
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Tangerine Telecom
Editor's Pick
100GB Mobile Broadband Data Plan
$34.90/mth
Min. cost $34.90
Link not supplied
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#7
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Vodafone
Large Data SIM Only Plan
$40/mth
Min. cost $40
Link not supplied
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#8
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Lebara Mobile
Data Plan Medium
$37
Link not supplied
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#9
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Aussie Broadband
X-Large Data Only 5G SIM
$60/mth
Min. cost $60
Link not supplied
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#10
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Yomojo
7GB Data Only
$19.90/mth
Min. cost $19.90
Link not supplied
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Alex Choros
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