Telechoice SIM-only plans: savings vs flexibility

If you’re choosing between SIM-only plans through one of Australia’s many MVNOs, it pays to know which network each provider operates on. Amaysim operates on the Optus network, Hello Mobile is on the Vodafone network, and so on.

Since parting ways with Optus last year, Telechoice has resurrected as a Telstra-network MVNO, reselling Telstra minutes and data over its 3G network.

Some may say Telstra coverage gives Telechoice a leg-up over its competitors, though if there is an advantage, you can’t tell from Telechoice’s cheap plans.

Six times three

Understanding the current range of Telechoice plans is a pretty simple equation: there’s six plans multiplied by three contract terms (monthly, 12-month or 24-month). The longer the contract term, the cheaper the price of the plan.

The cheapest plans offer you exactly the same inclusions: $200 for calls, unlimited text and 200MB data, but for an extra $2.50 per month you can use your credit on overseas calls on the Global Rebel Texter Plan.

The four remaining plans all step up pretty evenly in price and inclusions, with the top plan featuring unlimited calls and messages plus a generous 3GB of data.

The Global Liberty Leader Plan for $35 per-month (Monthly contract) seems like the sweet spot to us. 1.5GB of data is above the average data use per subscriber in Australia, you get unlimited text and you get about 250 standard 2-minute calls for your $650 credit.

Savings vs flexibility

As we mentioned above, the plans get even cheaper if you sign up for a longer period of time. There isn’t a percentage difference in the prices — you don’t save 10% for a 12-month plan and 20% for a 24-month plan — but there is a decent chunk of the bill deducted.

Take a look at the Global Freedom of Speech Plan. The difference in price between a monthly contract and a two-year contract is $20 per month — that’s $480 over two-years for exactly the same service.

The savings are small on lower-priced plans, but when you calculate the difference over time it really adds up.

Joseph Hanlon

Editorial Director | X | LinkedIn

Joe Hanlon has been immersed in mobile phones, plans and the internet for over a decade, having written for publications like CNET, Techradar, Gizmodo and Lifehacker. He steers the editorial ship and makes sure that we are always serving up the most useful guides and recommendations. If you ever bump into Joe on the street, don't be afraid to ask for a phone recommendation. It's embarrassing how much he enjoys talking about this stuff. He also loves listening to podcasts, so feel free to email Joe with recommendations.

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