When plans have similar inclusions, the cheapest option isn’t always the best. One way to compare is on the value per GB. As a rule of thumb, anything at $1 or under per GB is good value.
$
GB
*Remember, value per GB is just one way to compare. Consider other factors like coverage, plan speeds and more to help make your decision. Note: Some plans may go up in price after introductory offers end. Make sure to consider this in your value per GB comparison.
See our top picks for the best prepaid plans and more
Every month, our expert data team share the best deals from 28 mobile providers. These are their top picks for the best mobile phone plans right now:
Affordability is just one of the many benefits of a prepaid mobile plan. Many cheap prepaid plans also offer data and perks similar to postpaid plans, with the added bonus of better control over spending.
Keep reading to find out if a prepaid mobile plan is right for you and which telco offers the cheapest or best value prepaid plans.
What are the best cheap prepaid plans in Australia?
The cheapest prepaid mobile plans come from 'Mobile Virtual Network Operators' (MVNOs). These are smaller telcos that buy access to one of the three major mobile networks, and then re-sell it for cheap, either as cheap prepaid plans or postpaid plans.
The absolute cheapest prepaid plans are usually restricted to 4G connectivity, but given you can still often get speeds up to 100Mbps, depending on coverage in your area – the lack of 5G can be well worth the amount you save.
The cheapest prepaid phone plans with monthly recharges start just below $20 with around 10GB of data, though sometimes a bit less. But many of them are discounted for the first six months or so after signing up. As such, you can save quite a bit of money by switching providers twice a year.
You could also choose a long-expiry option, such as a 365 day plan. These can be cheaper in the long run but they have a larger upfront cost. They also require a little more attention to make sure you don't blow past your data limit and end up having to recharge early.
These are the cheapest prepaid mobile plans with the most data for $11-$20 in our database this week. Some plans may have extra data as part of an intro deal.
Cheapest prepaid mobile plans for $30 and under
These are the cheapest prepaid plans in our database between $21 and $30 per month:
These are the cheapest prepaid mobile plans with the most data for $21-$30 in our database this week. Some plans may have extra data as part of an intro deal.
Cheapest prepaid mobile plans for $40 and under
These are the cheapest prepaid plans in our database between $31 and $40 per month:
These are the phones plans with the most data for $21-$30 in our database of 28 mobile providers this week. Some plans may have extra data as part of an intro deal.
Cheapest long expiry prepaid mobile plans
These are the cheapest long expiry prepaid plans in our database:
These are the long expiry phone plans with the most data in our database of 28 mobile providers this week. Some plans may have extra data as part of an intro deal.
Expert Tip: Plan hopping is a great way to save
The best way to be on the absolute cheapest prepaid mobile plan is to jump between providers whenever you spot a deal. Prepaid plans don't have lock-in contracts and switching mobile providers is easy, so you can save a good chunk of change without much effort. The only exception is if you bought your phone through a prepaid plan, in which case it might be locked to your provider.
Fergus Halliday, Digital Content Editor
What are prepaid mobile plans?
Prepaid plans are mobile plans where you pay the cost upfront rather than at the end of the month.
How do prepaid mobile plans work?
Instead of getting a monthly bill as you would with a postpaid plan, a prepaid one means that you’ll need to ‘recharge’ your service when you run out of data, calls and texts. If you wait long enough, your allowance of these inclusions and features will expire – leaving you with limited connectivity. If you wait even longer, your provider might disconnect your service entirely.
Fortunately for the forgetful, many prepaid plan providers offer the ability to set up automatic payments and some even offer the ability to save money while doing so.
Prepaid phone plans are great because they allow you greater control over your spending because you can choose a different recharge option each time you top up. So you can pay more or less depending on how much data you need or how much you want to spend within a given expiry period.
Talk, text and data inclusions:
Each recharge includes a certain amount of data, plus access to make calls and sends texts. Most prepaid phone plans in Australia have unlimited national talk and text, but data allowances can vary considerably.
Expiry periods:
Most prepaid plans have a monthly expiry – usually 28 to 31 days. But some are shorter, at just seven days, while long-expiry prepaid plans can last up to 365 days. If you're particularly organised, the cheapest prepaid SIM plans often have a 365-expiry. This means you'll usually pay less in the long run if you can afford a bulk payment upfront. One other obvious downside is the risk of burning through your entire year's data allowance early.
With any length prepaid mobile plan, you will need to recharge before expiry if you still want access to data, calls and texts. Automatic recharges are a simple way to stay on top of this, especially if you regularly use the same recharge.
Data inclusions and limits:
Usually, if you hit your data limit, you're either cut off from the internet completely or your connection speed is slowed until you pay for another recharge (depending on your provider). But because even cheap prepaid plans have unlimited talk and text, you'll still have access to those functions until your recharge expires.
Depending on your provider, your unused data might disappear at the end of a recharge period or it might be rolled over or 'banked'. But even the best prepaid plans usually limit of how much unused data you can save up, and sometimes for how long so it's a good idea to always check. You also might lose your banked data if you switch to a lower-cost recharge than your previous one, so keep this in mind.
What are the different types of prepaid mobile plans?
There are three main types of prepaid mobile plan, which all differ when it comes to expiry terms. While those looking to compare prepaid plans will quickly find that there are just as many small differences between them as with their postpaid counterparts, the main thing that separates these mobile plans from one another is the frequency with which you need to recharge.
Month-to-month prepaid plans tend to have an expiry time of between 28 and 31 days. As the name suggests, long expiry prepaid plans offer a more generous window of between 90 and 365 days. The third type of prepaid plans are Pay-As-You-Go plans. With these PAYG plans, you load a dollar amount that gets charged for every call, text or megabyte (MB) of data you use. Once the dollar amount reaches $0, nothing more can be done until more money is added.
If you're confused about the different types of prepaid mobile plans on offer, we've created a handy breakdown below that highlights the inclusions of each and who they're best suited for plus how they differ in terms of expiry times and billing.
Take a look below to find out which is best for your current situation:
Types of prepaid SIM plans
Features
Month-to-month
Long-expiry
Pay-as-you-go (PAYG)
Unlimited Talk
Unlimited Text
Data
Expiry time
28 - 31 days
90 - 365 days
7 - 365 days
Point of difference
Usage deducted off an upfront payment
Paid for upfront in bulk, requires careful monitoring to avoid overspending
Usage is calculated individually and deducted off an upfront payment
Best suited for...
Anyone who uses their device regularly
Mainly adults, due to the overspend risk
Infrequent users, such as the elderly or young kids
Prepaid phone plans compared
Out of the 32 mobile providers we track in our database, 16 currently offer prepaid mobile plans in Australia. This list includes the following:
ALDI Mobile
Boost Mobile
Coles Mobile
Everyday Mobile
Exetel
Felix Mobile
iiNet
Kogan Mobile
LycaMobile
OnePass Mobile
Optus
Superloop
Telstra
TPG
Vodafone
Yomojo
Compare Optus prepaid phone plans
With around 99.1% of Australians covered by the Optus network, and 94.5% of the population covered by its 5G offering, getting service shouldn't be a problem (even if you live outside major cities). In addition, all Optus prepaid mobile plans are contract-free, so you won't be stuck on a plan if you decide Optus isn't right for you.
For most, an Optus Flex Plus prepaid mobile plan could be the right choice. Flex Plus prepaid plans with a 28-day expiry include:
4G and 5G access, with download speed caps starting at 150Mbps
Unlimited talk and text
Generous data allowances
Rollover data up to 200GB if you recharge before expiry
A minimum of 400 international minutes to standard international numbers across 20 select destinations
That said, as one of Australia's three major providers, Optus doesn't exactly have the cheapest prepaid plans around, so be sure to weigh these options up against other providers if you want to find the best prepaid mobile mobile plan for you:
While Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone all offer 'unlimited' data on postpaid plans, Vodafone is the only telco to extend this offer to prepaid plans.
If you go over your data cap on any Vodafone 28-day expiry prepaid phone plan, you can still use your service at capped speeds of 1.5Mbps instead of recharging early or paying for extra data. These speeds are pretty slow, so it's still best to avoid blowing your data allowance. But at least you'll still have internet access if you go overboard.
If you regularly find yourself burning through your data, choosing an unlimited plan like these would make more sense – especially if you don't want to spend money on a larger plan.
Coverage for 99% of the Australian population (stats are different for 5G coverage)
Unlimited talk and text
Generous data allowances
A $5 discount when you opt in for Auto Recharge plus extra data on some plans
Minimum of 500 international minutes to 'Zone 1' locations and 50 standard international texts
Vodafone also has some great options available if you're looking for prepaid mobile broadband. You can get a data SIM on a 30-day recharge for your iPad or tablet with data options to suit any needs. And if you want to use mobile broadband to power another device, Vodafone also offers prepaid plans with a pocket WiFi modem included.
#1
Vodafone
Vodafone
$40 Prepaid Plus Recharge
90GB data
Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices
Deal:
Includes 60GB bonus data for first 3 recharges + $5 off with every Automatic Recharge
$40.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
$40.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
#2
Vodafone
Vodafone
$50 Prepaid Plus Recharge
120GB data
Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices
Deal:
Includes 80GB bonus data for first 3 recharges + $5 off with every Automatic Recharge
$50.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
$50.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
#3
Vodafone
Vodafone
$60 Prepaid Plus Recharge
165GB data
Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices
Deal:
Includes 110GB bonus data for first 3 recharges + $5 off with every Automatic Recharge
$60.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
$60.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
#4
Vodafone
Vodafone
$250 Prepaid Plus Starter Pack
225GB data
Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices
Deal:
$250 SIM for $179 + Includes 75GB bonus data on activation + Extra 50GB on every Automatic Recharge
$179.00
Per 365 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
$179.00
Per 365 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
#5
Vodafone
Vodafone
$180 Prepaid Plus Starter Pack
160GB data
Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices
Deal:
Includes 60GB bonus data on activation + Extra 30GB on every Automatic Recharge
$180.00
Per 185 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
$180.00
Per 185 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
Vodafone SIM-only plans are also a great option if its prepaid plans aren't for you. Take a look at our guide.
While Telstra certainly doesn't have the cheapest prepaid plans, they do boast a long list of perks, bonuses, and inclusions worth considering. For example, with the possible exception of Boost Mobile, these are the best prepaid plans when it comes to network coverage.
Telstra prepaid plans with at least 28-day expiry come with:
Coverage on the super-fast Telstra 4GX and 5G network (where available), with download speed caps starting at 150Mbps
At least 300 mins of international calls to 'Zone 1' destinations and at least 60 minutes to 'Zone 2' destinations on plans over seven-day expiry
100 texts to all countries
It's also worth noting all Telstra prepaid plans get you access to the Telstra Plus perks program. Telstra Plus lets you earn points for every dollar you spend on your monthly bill or recharge. You can put your points toward gadgets like speakers, headphones, phones and more, as long as they're available from the points store. And you can choose to cash in your points for a discount on devices.
Telstra Plus also gets you discounted movie tickets at Event Cinemas in NSW, QLD, WA, SA and NT, as well as Village cinemas in VIC and TAS, plus presale tickets to sports, concerts and art events, and other little perks from time to time.
Here are Telstra's prepaid mobile plans:
#1
Telstra
Telstra
$44 Pre-Paid Mobile
50GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps
Telstra 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices
Deal:
Includes 30GB activation bonus for first 3 recharges, 20GB from your fourth. Ends 01.01.2027
$44.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
$44.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
#2
Telstra
Telstra
$54 Pre-Paid Mobile
75GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps
Telstra 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices
Deal:
Includes 40GB activation bonus for first 3 recharges, 35GB from your fourth. Ends 01.01.2027
$54.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
$54.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
#3
Telstra
Telstra
$64 Pre-Paid Mobile
100GB data at download speeds up to 250Mbps
4GX on the Telstra Mobile Network
Deal:
Includes 55GB activation bonus for first 3 recharges, 45GB from your fourth. Ends 01.01.2027
$64.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
$64.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
#4
Telstra
Telstra
$74 Pre-Paid Mobile
155GB data
Telstra 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices
Deal:
Includes 75GB activation bonus for first 3 recharges, 80GB from your fourth. Ends 01.01.2027
$74.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
$74.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
#5
Telstra
Telstra
$200 Pre-Paid Mobile Plan
160GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps
Telstra 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices
Deal:
Includes 80GB bonus data on activation or first recharge, 80GB on future recharges. Activate by 02.11.2027.
Telstra came away with top-marks in this year's WhistleOut Awards, earning our recommendation when it comes to customer satisfaction and network coverage.
Compare Boost Mobile prepaid plans
Boost Mobile prepaid plans are among the rare beasts that offer the best of both worlds – small telco prices with big telco perks. This is largely because Boost Mobile is the only Telstra reseller with access to Telstra's full network, as opposed to its smaller Wholesale network.
Boost Mobile plans offer fantastic data-for-dollar value.
Here's what you can expect on a Boost Mobile prepaid plan:
A range of expires ranging from 28 days to 365 days
Access to Telstra's 5G network
Unlimited international calls to 20 countries, and a minimum of 300 minutes to 30 countries, excluding Boost's 5GB and 7GB 28-day plans, and its 365GB 12-month plan
A minimum of 300 standard texts to international destinations, excluding Boost's 5GB and 7GB 28-day plans, and its 365GB 12-month plan
Data rollover for its 28-day plans (except the 5GB plan), as long as you recharge before expiry. This data is only for use until the following recharge
While most Telstra resellers are powered by Telstra's smaller wholesale network, Boost Mobile's access to the full Telstra network should give it better coverage in some regional and rural locations. If you'd like to know more, check out our guide on how Boost Mobile's coverage compares to other Telstra MVNOs.
Check out Boost Mobile's prepaid mobile plans below:
Unlimited data rollover, as long as you recharge using an equal or higher-priced eligible plan within 24 hours of expiry
Unlimited standard international calls and texts to 20 select countries (except on its 10GB plan)
3-in-1 SIMs that fit any handset
Compare ALDI Mobile's prepaid mobile plans below:
#1
ALDI mobile
ALDI mobile
$28 Mobile Plan
12GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps
Uses parts of Telstra’s 5G and 4G mobile networks
$28.00
Per 30 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
$28.00
Per 30 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
#2
ALDI mobile
ALDI mobile
$34 Mobile Plan
45GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps
Uses parts of Telstra’s 5G and 4G mobile networks
$34.00
Per 30 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
$34.00
Per 30 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
#3
ALDI mobile
ALDI mobile
$39 Mobile Plan
75GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps
Uses parts of Telstra’s 5G and 4G mobile networks
$39.00
Per 30 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
$39.00
Per 30 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
#4
ALDI mobile
ALDI mobile
$49 Mobile Plan
120GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps
Uses parts of Telstra’s 5G and 4G mobile networks
$49.00
Per 30 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
$49.00
Per 30 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
#5
ALDI mobile
ALDI mobile
$59 Mobile Plan
175GB data at download speeds up to 250Mbps
Uses parts of Telstra’s 5G and 4G mobile networks
$59.00
Per 30 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
$59.00
Per 30 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
Mobile Customer Satisfaction - Network Coverage
ALDI came away with top-marks in this year's WhistleOut Awards, earning our recommendation when it comes to customer satisfaction and service.
Compare amaysim prepaid phone plans
Now part of the Optus family, amaysimis one of the biggest names in prepaid plans. The company is known for offering competitive bring-your-own-phone plans, plus outstanding customer service.
amaysim prepaid plans include:
A range of expiries from 28 days up to 365 days
4G access with max speeds of 100Mbps
5G access with max speeds of 100Mbps on 28-day expiry plans (150Mbps on its most expensive plan)
Plenty of data choices
Unlimited talk and text
Unlimited international talk and text options to at least 28 countries, with exception to its Unlimited 10GB plan and some long-expiry plans
amaysim is a smaller provider owned by Optus. But it still buys access to the Optus network and re-sells, making it both an Optus subsidiary and an Optus MVNO.
Since MVNOs tend to have lower overheads and smaller advertising budgets, they generally offer the same basic products as larger telcos, but at cheaper rates. Though admittedly, amaysim is in a slightly different position than most other MVNOs, being owned by its network operator.
Here are amaysim's prepaid mobile plans with standard or long-term expiries:
#1
amaysim
amaysim
UNLIMITED 15GB Plan
15GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps
Optus 5G in selected areas with 5G devices ex. NT
$30.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
$30.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
#2
amaysim
amaysim
UNLIMITED 42GB Plan
75GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps
Optus 5G in selected areas with 5G devices ex. NT
Deal:
Save $23 for first renewal & includes 33GB bonus data for first 3 renewals when you sign up by 15.11.26. Online only. T&Cs apply
$35.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
$35.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
#3
amaysim
amaysim
UNLIMITED 80GB Plan
80GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps
Optus 5G in selected areas with 5G devices ex. NT
Deal:
Save $27 for first renewal when you sign up by 11.10.26. New services only. T&Cs apply
$40.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
$40.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
#4
amaysim
amaysim
UNLIMITED 95GB Plan
95GB data at download speeds up to 200Mbps
Optus 5G in selected areas with 5G devices ex. NT
$45.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
$45.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
#5
amaysim
amaysim
UNLIMITED 120GB Plan
120GB data at download speeds up to 200Mbps
Optus 5G in selected areas with 5G devices ex. NT
Deal:
Save $32 for first renewal when you sign up by 19.10.26. New online services only. T&Cs apply
$50.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
$50.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
Mobile Customer Satisfaction - Network Coverage
Amaysim came away with top-marks in this year's WhistleOut Awards, earning our recommendation when it comes to overall customer satisfaction.
Are prepaid mobile plans good for kids and seniors?
Prepaid mobile phone plans are an excellent idea for kids. A finite credit limit can help teach them the value of money, while also protecting parents from excess charges and bill shock.
When comparing prepaid plans for children, we recommend getting one with unlimited talk and text, so your child can always get in touch with you, and vice versa. Even the cheapest prepaid plans in our database have this feature, so you don't have to worry about added cost for this kind of security. You can then decide how much data your child should get, based on how much they use the internet (and how much you want them to).
Prepaid phone plans can also be a great tool for seniors who might not use a mobile phone frequently.
Light phone users might want to consider a long-expiry plan to get the most out of their plan's inclusions. Just pop the SIM card into a cheap phone and use credit as needed, without having to pay for a recharge every month.
Are there any downsides to prepaid mobile phone plans?
Prepaid mobile phone plans can be a great way to save money but they do have a few downsides, such as the lack of handset repayment options, features, and connectivity should you forget to recharge your plan before it expires.
Here are a few things you should be aware of before signing up.
Loss of internet access
Prepaid plans sound like an excellent money-saving idea because they're paid as you go or upfront. This makes them a popular choice for elderly relatives or children who just learning the value of a phone plan. But if they burn through all their allowance early on, they won't be able to access certain features until they recharge again. Thankfully, unlimited talk and text exists so they'll still be able to call and text, as long as they're within their expiry period.
No handset repayment options
Prepaid plans don't come with phones, mainly because they're exempt from credit checks and therefore carry a lower risk to the telco. If you want a new phone and a prepaid plan, you'll have to buy it separately yourself, which can be a large one-off purchase – unless you opt for a refurbished model. Sometimes you can buy a phone with a slight discount, paired with a prepaid plan. But if you do, it will likely be locked to that provider or network.
Bare bones
Prepaid phone plans are cheaper because they generally come with fewer bells and whistles. They're often exempt from limited discounts or extra perks like free streaming service access. You'll have to either sign up for a handset and mobile plan or choose a postpaid SIM-only plan for added freebies. That said, the average monthly data usage for mobile plans in Australia is estimated to be only 18GB for postpaid plans and 9.7GB for prepaid plans, according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
Do prepaid mobile plans have better coverage?
There's no inherent difference between coverage on prepaid plans versus postpaid, but not all plans have the same coverage – even if they operate over the same mobile network.
4G limitations on prepaid
Some cheaper mobile plans are restricted to 4G coverage – and this is particularly true for prepaid plans.
But this is actually fine, given providers tend to limit 4G download speeds to 100Mbps, which is the same as an NBN 100 plan. Given 4G is also what Australian networks rely on for calls and text, you should rarely encounter a situation where a lack of 5G puts you at a significant disadvantage.
Other plans might include 5G, but also have a download speed limit, commonly 150Mbps or 250Mbps. For the most part, you'll only find uncapped 5G speeds if you sign up to a plan directly with Telstra, Optus, or Vodafone.
Mobile networks
All national mobile plans in Australia operate over the Telstra, Optus, or Vodafone networks. Optus and Vodafone open up their full networks to resellers (though including 5G is up to each reseller), but Telstra limits its MVNOs to the Telstra 'Wholesale' network. The only exception is Boost Mobile, which has full Telstra network access.
The Wholesale network has an almost identical 4G footprint to the full Telstra network, but its 5G coverage is quite a bit smaller.
Australian Mobile Network Coverage
Network
4G coverage
5G coverage
Network Size
Telstra network*
N/A
N/A
2.14 mil square km
Telstra Wholesale network
N/A
N/A
1.4 mil square km
Optus network
99.1%
94.5%
1.2 million square km
Vodafone network
99%
94.5%
1.2 million square km
Numbers shown are a percentage of the Australian population. *Telstra no longer provides population-based coverage figures. Boost Mobile is the only Telstra MVNO with access to the full Telstra network.
Is a prepaid mobile plan right for you?
In general, you might want to consider signing up for a prepaid phone plan if you don't mind sacrificing perks for a smaller phone bill or you want to avoid going over data usage at all costs. This type of plan is also a good option for those who want to stay connected while they work out which postpaid plan provider is going to best fit for your needs or are unable to get a postpaid plan due to a bad credit check.
Prepaid plans can also be the right choice if you want to prioritise the flexibility to change your phone plan costs each time you recharge or don’t use your phone often enough to warrant paying a regular monthly bill. While prepaid plans aren’t a good option if you have multiple people in your household willing to bundle their mobile plans together, a more niche long expiry plan might be a fantastic fit if you’re looking to help a child or older relative get and stay connected without having to commit to the ongoing costs of a month-to-month phone plan.
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