I work with phone plans every day, and this is why I trust small mobile providers

Anula Wiwatowska - Offsite Editorial Lead

Last updated 31 August 2021

When you do something for a living, you gain an intimate knowledge of whatever niche you happen to be in. For me, that is phone and internet plans.

I could tell you which provider charges around $1000 per GB of international roaming data. I can recite which telcos have typical evening speeds of 50Mbps on NBN 50 plans. I know how much it costs to repair every Samsung phone screen, and I can tell you that signing a contract with Starlink means you agree to settle disputes on Mars through self-governing principles.

With my wealth of knowledge about phone plans, I trust smaller mobile providers with my business and you should too.

Network coverage is exactly the same

Smaller providers are called Mobile Virtual Network Operators, or MVNOs for short. Each provider buys access to one of the three major networks, owned and operated by Telstra, Optus or Vodafone. MVNOs using the Optus or Vodafone networks have the exact same 3G and 4G coverage as the major providers, while Telstra MVNOs have a smaller network called the Telstra Wholesale Network available to use. Telstra needs to be able to justify their prices somehow I guess.

Boost Mobile is the only exception to the Telstra rule. Boost has an agreement with Big T which gives them unfettered access to the full 3G and 4G network.

I’ve been with each of the big three telcos; Telstra, Optus and Vodafone, and I’ve been with a smaller provider that uses each of their networks as well; Boost Mobile, Moose Mobile, and iINet. If there is a practical difference in coverage between the major and minor providers, I didn’t experience it.

Naturally I can’t speak for every small provider, but if theoretically each MVNO gets the same treatment (Boost obviously excluded), it begs to reason that the others would too.

#1	SpinTel	SpinTel 25GB Data No Contract $12/mth Min. cost $12 WhistleOut Special: Enjoy $11 off for the first 6 months for new customers - $12/mth for first 6 months, then $23/mth	100%	Go to Site
#2	Dodo	Dodo 40GB Data No Contract $30/mth Min. cost $15 Deal: 50% off for first 4 mths! Get the Medium Mobile Plan for $15/mth for first 4 mths. New and returning mobile customers only. Ends 27.10	34%	Go to Site
#3	Optus	Optus 100GB Data No Contract $39/mth Min. cost $39 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.	4%	Go to Site
#4	Moose Mobile	Moose Mobile 30GB Data No Contract $14/mth Min. cost $14 Deal: Get 30GB for $14 – Includes $9 off for first 6 months, then reverts to $23. Offer ends 30.06.27	3%	Link not supplied
#5	amaysim	amaysim 240GB Data $199 Per 365 Day Renewal Min. cost $199 Deal: Get 240GB for $199 (includes $121 off) on first renewal. Offer ends 31.10.26. New online services only. T&Cs apply.	3%	Link not supplied

#1	Boost Mobile	Boost Mobile 30GB Data $39 Per 28 Day Renewal Min. cost $13 Deal: Grab a $39 SIM for $13 – save $26. Hurry! Offer ends 05.10.26. Terms Apply	100%	Go to Site
#2	Tangerine Telecom	Tangerine Telecom 30GB Data No Contract $30/mth Min. cost $15 Deal: 50% off plan fees for 4 months - $15/mth for 4 months then $30/mth. Offer available until withdrawn.	30%	Go to Site
#3	Telstra	Telstra 75GB Data $54 Per 28 Day Renewal Min. cost $54 Deal: Includes 40GB activation bonus for first 3 recharges, 35GB from your fourth. Ends 01.01.2027	4%	Link not supplied
#4	ALDI mobile	ALDI mobile 12GB Data $28 Per 30 Day Renewal Min. cost $28	3%	Link not supplied
#5	Everyday Mobile	Everyday Mobile 22GB Data $25 Per 30 Day Renewal Min. cost $25 Deal: Get 10% off an eligible Woolworths shop in store every month when you link your Everyday Rewards card. T&Cs apply	3%	Link not supplied

#1	TPG	TPG 30GB Data $15 Per 1 Month Renewal Min. cost $15 Deal: 50% off - $15/mth for first 6 months, then $30/mth ongoing. Available until withdrawn. T&Cs apply.	100%	Link not supplied
#2	felix mobile	felix mobile 25GB Data $30 Per 1 Month Renewal Min. cost $15 Deal: Get 50% off your first 3 mths when you switch to felix. $15/mth for first 3 mths, then $30/mth. Use promo code FELIX50. T+Cs apply	25%	Go to Site
#3	Vodafone	Vodafone 65GB Data No Contract $45/mth Min. cost $45 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.	24%	Go to Site
#4	Kogan Mobile	Kogan Mobile 200GB Data $190 Per 365 Day Renewal Min. cost $190 Deal: Get 200GB data for only $190 on the Medium 365 Day Flex Plan. Offer ends 30.11.26	3%	Go to Site
#5	iiNet	iiNet 100GB Data $22.50 Per 1 Month Renewal Min. cost $22.50 Deal: 50% off - $22.50/mth for first 6 months, then $45/mth ongoing. Available until withdrawn. T&Cs apply.	3%	Link not supplied

I’ve never had an unsolicited sales call from an MVNO

If the fate of the world rested on my ability to recount how many times a big telco called to try and upsell me, then we would be more doomed than we already are. Whether I am currently with the telco or not, Vodafone, Optus and Telstra have all bombarded me with phone calls at one time or another trying to get me to change plans, add on another service, or to come back to them. It is exhausting.

Since making the switch to smaller providers, I haven’t heard a peep from any of them. Even when porting my number across to a new telco, I’ve avoided the Stage 5 clinger call where they try to bribe me to reconsider with discounts or bonus data.

Practically speaking MVNOs try to maintain smaller overheads by cutting back on things like, storefronts, extra perks, and apparently bustling telemarketing call centres.This isn’t to say that some time down the line this won’t change, or even that some MVNOs already enjoy a sales call, but in my experience I have had far less numbers to block since picking a small SIM service.

#1	Boost Mobile	Boost Mobile 30GB Data $39 Per 28 Day Renewal Min. cost $13 Deal: Grab a $39 SIM for $13 – save $26. Hurry! Offer ends 05.10.26. Terms Apply	100%	Go to Site
#2	Boost Mobile	Boost Mobile 290GB Data $300 Per 12 Month Renewal Min. cost $300 Deal: Get 290GB data on new activations, then 240GB from next recharge. Activate by 02.11.26	8%	Go to Site
#3	Moose Mobile	Moose Mobile 30GB Data No Contract $14/mth Min. cost $14 Deal: Get 30GB for $14 – Includes $9 off for first 6 months, then reverts to $23. Offer ends 30.06.27	4%	Link not supplied
#4	Boost Mobile	Boost Mobile 365GB Data $305 Per 12 Month Renewal Min. cost $305 Deal: Grab the $365 SIM for $305 – save $60. Hurry! Offer ends 12 October 2026. Terms Apply	3%	Go to Site
#5	Boost Mobile	Boost Mobile 8GB Data $28 Per 28 Day Renewal Min. cost $28	3%	Go to Site
#6	Boost Mobile	Boost Mobile 6GB Data $14 Per 7 Day Renewal Min. cost $14	3%	Go to Site
#7	iiNet	iiNet 100GB Data $22.50 Per 1 Month Renewal Min. cost $22.50 Deal: 50% off - $22.50/mth for first 6 months, then $45/mth ongoing. Available until withdrawn. T&Cs apply.	3%	Link not supplied
#8	Boost Mobile	Boost Mobile 150GB Data $74 Per 28 Day Renewal Min. cost $74 Deal: Get 150GB data on first 6 recharges, then 100GB from 7th recharge. New customers only. Activate by 02.11.26	3%	Go to Site
#9	Boost Mobile	Boost Mobile 105GB Data $59 Per 28 Day Renewal Min. cost $59 Deal: Get 105GB data on first 6 recharges, then 55GB from 7th recharge. New customers only. Activate by 02.11.26	3%	Go to Site
#10	Boost Mobile	Boost Mobile 75GB Data $49 Per 28 Day Renewal Min. cost $49 Deal: Get 75GB data on first 6 recharges, then 45GB from 7th recharge. New customers only. Activate by 02.11.26	3%	Go to Site

You get what you pay for, and that is enough

We all know that idiom, "you get what you pay for". Buy something cheap and you’ll get a cheaper feeling product in exchange. While this may ring true for tangible products like clothing or no-frills cheese, when it comes to a phone plan, what you pay for is enough.

Sure, bigger telcos offer extra perks along with their plans. You might be able to get cheap movie tickets or accrue points to use later on down the track, but you need to figure out if these perks are really worth paying the premium every month.

Personally I never used the perks when they were available to me, so I certainly don’t miss them. And I certainly don’t miss paying $60 per month when I now pay $12.50 per month. With that saving I can go to the movies anyway.

#1	Vodafone	Vodafone 65GB Data No Contract $45/mth Min. cost $45 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.	100%	Go to Site
#2	Optus	Optus 100GB Data No Contract $39/mth Min. cost $39 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.	58%	Go to Site
#3	Vodafone	Vodafone 220GB Data No Contract $50/mth Min. cost $50 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.	48%	Go to Site
#4	Telstra	Telstra 180GB Data No Contract $74/mth Min. cost $74 Deal: Get $10 off for first 12 months on new Upfront Essential Mobile Plan. New services only. Ends 05.10.26	16%	Link not supplied
#5	Vodafone	Vodafone 420GB Data No Contract $55/mth Min. cost $55 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.	13%	Go to Site
#6	Optus	Optus 360GB Data No Contract $69/mth Min. cost $69 Deal: Get up to $10/mth SubHub credit to use on your favourite subscriptions for 12 months. T&Cs apply.	10%	Go to Site
#7	Optus	Optus 240GB Data No Contract $70/mth Min. cost $70	6%	Go to Site
#8	Optus	Optus 480GB Data No Contract $90/mth Min. cost $90 SubHub: Receive up to $20/mth SubHub credit when you have an active SubHub account with subs greater than $0. T&Cs apply	3%	Go to Site

Anula Wiwatowska

Offsite Editorial Lead | Instagram

Anula is the Off-Site Editorial Lead for WhistleOut Australia, and an award winning tech journalist. She has been writing about the Australian telco industry, and consumer technology for over five years, and has been known to tell her Uber driver which phone they should upgrade to next.

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