Vodafone SIM-only and BYO mobile plans: The complete guide

Vodafone has bragging rights to the third-largest network in Australia. Compared to Telstra and Optus, what it lacks in-network coverage it makes up for with competitive pricing and regularly attractive promo offers.

Given the reach of Vodafone's network, particularly for people looking to future-proof with 5G, it's best to stick inside metro areas. From there, you have a choice of Vodafone prepaid or, the focus of this article, Vodafone SIM-only plans.

Vodafone SIM-only BYO plans

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Vodafone's SIM-only plans are pretty straightforward. Available from $45 per month, customers will get a minimum of 40GB per month with the standard inclusions of a no lock-in contract including, unlimited standard national calls and texts and unlimited standard international texts.

To avoid bill shock, Vodafone won't overcharge you once you reach your data limit. Instead, you'll experience slower speeds of 2Mbps. This is still plenty to speed to search the internet and socials, stream music, watch SD video content and make video calls. Here's how Vodafone's uncapped data speed limits compare to other telcos:

Another perk for customers on SIM-only plans heading overseas is you can take advantage of Vodafone's unique $5 roaming offering. For just $5 a day, you'll get your plan's standard talk and text inclusions to numbers in the country you're visiting plus standard talk and text inclusions to numbers back in Australia. Your data allowance will also remain the same and you'll have access to international 4G network coverage, where available.

Vodafone MVNO SIM-only plans

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Vodafone has the smallest network of the Big Three, covering 96% of Australians but all Vodafone Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) have access to the full Vodafone network.

Choosing an MVNO is a great way to get the same Vodafone coverage for less, just be aware of the perks you'll no longer get if you switch. Here's a selection of the most affordable no-contract Vodafone MVNO plans:

Vodafone prepaid plans

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Prepaid plans are, as the name implies, mobile plans that you pay for before you can use them. They tend to have fewer features than other mobile plans, and they're available in a mix of monthly (28 days, 30 days or an actual month), long-expiry (180 days, six months, 365 days, 12 months) or less standard durations, including daily or weekly.

Vodafone prepaid plans start from $40 per month for 30GB with a 28-day expiry but can go all the way up to 185 and 365-day expiries. Depending on your plan tier, you'll also score a minimum of 1000 minutes to Zone 1 countries and a minimum of 100 minutes to Zone 2 countries. Customers with compatible devices in select areas will also have access to Vodafone's 5G network and if you opt-in for Auto-Recharge, you'll score a $5 discount off every recharge. 

If you're leaning away from a prepaid plan to ensure you get the $5 roaming offer, prepaid plans can simply choose one of Vodafone's prepaid international roaming add-on packs. These are priced from $5 for 200MB of data with a one-day expiry to $35 for 2GB of data with a maximum expiry of seven days. We will say, however, value-wise these aren't the best option.

Vodafone mobile phone plans

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Considering how affordable Vodafone can be, why not choose a brand-new mobile phone on a plan?

Vodafone structures its mobile phone plans much like any other telco:

Your monthly bill = monthly repayment cost of phone + monthly SIM-only plan cost.

Depending on which device you select, you can pay off your phone over 12, 24 or 36 months on a no-lock-in contract. If you choose to leave early, you'll simply need to pay out the remaining cost of your device. With a huge selection of devices from Samsung, Apple, Google, OPPO, TCL and Motorola — you'll be spoilt for choice.

Vodafone coverage

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While it's great that all Vodafone mobile plans include access to the Vodafone 5G network with a compatible handset, Vodafone's 5G footprint is currently the smallest in Australia. As with their respective 4G and 3G networks, the Telstra 5G and Optus 5G networks are both bigger. The Vodafone 5G map is also likely to stay this way if Vodafone's rollout plans are any indication.

Check out our interactive map below to compare the network coverage of the Big Three telcos across Australia:

Is a Vodafone SIM-only plan right for me?

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Vodafone doesn't offer any cheap SIM-only deals for those after a cheap prepaid SIM, focusing instead on plans that range from a decent amount of data to a lot. However, compared to Telstra and Optus, it's certainly the cheapest.

Vodafone offers excellent roaming deals with its $5 roaming offer and solid call inclusions, such as unlimited standard international texts on all SIM-only plan tiers and unlimited standard international minutes to Zone 1 locations on its Medium tier and above.

However, if you're still strapped for cash and need a decent amount of data, you can get Vodafone coverage with MVNO for much less. You can pay $5 less per month on Kogan Mobile's Large Monthly plan which offers the same 80GB of data compared to Vodafone's usual 40GB of data on its Small SIM-only Plan.

The main reason to choose Vodafone directly over an MVNO is to take advantage of its $5 roaming offer. We'd also like to flag that if you live in a rural area and rely heavily on reliable, widespread coverage, Vodafone or an MVNO below them may not be the provider for you.

You can see what we think are the best SIM plans here. 

Vodafone mobile FAQs

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What is Vodafone's cheapest mobile phone plan?

The cheapest Vodafone plan currently on offer is its $30 Prepaid Plus Starter Pack with 20GB of data on a 28-day expiry. New customers get 20GB of bonus data on their first three recharges.

Does Vodafone offer SIM-only plans?

Yes, Vodafone does offer SIM-only plans.

What do I need to get a Vodafone phone plan?

In order to get any phone plan with Vodafone, you will need to be at least 18 years of age and will need to present a credit or debit card, bank account details or a PayPal account to set up ongoing direct debit payments. You will also need to provide either your Australian Driver's Licence or Australian Passport International Passport as a form of identification to prove who you are.

If you're getting a device on a plan with Vodafone, you will be subject to an additional credit check. This is to ensure you meet its current credit criteria and can afford the plan you're signing up for.

Will I need a credit check for a Vodafone SIM-only plan?

It depends. Vodafone's SIM-only prepaid plans are phone plans that don't need a credit check. This is because they are paid upfront so the telco carries no risk handing these over compared to mobile phones on a plan. If you're looking at a SIM-only postpaid plan then yes, you will be subject to a credit check. 

Do Vodafone SIM cards fit all phones?

Vodafone SIMs come in all sizes to suit whatever device you need. There's also the option to opt for an eSIM, for eSIM-compatible devices. The benefits of an eSIM include eliminating the need for a physical SIM, convenience plus you can turn your phone into a dual-SIM device by keeping the physical slot free.