The award that proves prepaid isn't just for kids (And that it can save you heaps of money)

Anula Wiwatowska - Offsite Editorial Lead

Last updated 02 August 2021

Prepaid gets a bad wrap. Somehow people still affiliate prepaid phones with kids, or even burner phones. The thing is though, prepaid really isn’t all that different to postpaid plans - even Telstra is taking a more upfront payment approach even renaming their postpaid plans to Upfront Plans. Just say that it's prepaid Telstra, there’s nothing to be ashamed of!

In fact, prepaid providers offer some of the best value out there for phone plans, and those pain-points we all remember from way-back-when have been resolved. You don’t need to manually top-up anymore - there is auto recharge for that. A whole bunch of plans are billed on a calendar month basis, not every 28-days! And, unlike other phone plans, you don’t need to go through a credit check in order to get one.

While we can try and convince you with words, sometimes numbers speak louder. Below are the winning prepaid providers for this year’s WhistleOut Awards. The WhistleOut Awards are judged by telco experts and recognise mobile and internet providers that consistently offer great prices, and high value for customers. Winners are judged throughout the entire year, gaining points each month if their plans pass our rigorous judging metrics, and are deemed to be in the top three in the country. At the end of the financial year, the telcos with the most points in each category wins.

It’s hard to argue with numbers, but take a look at our winners and see if you still think that silly prepaid is just for kids.

Best Prepaid Provider, Value Plans
Plans with at least 10GB of data per month

Winner: gomo

Runner up: TPG

#1	Coles Mobile	Coles Mobile Prepaid $30 for 28 Days - Starter Pack 32GB data On the Optus 4G Plus Mobile Network Deal: Get the $30 SIM for only $10! Offer ends 27.10.26 $10.00 Starter Pack 28 Day Expiry Link not supplied	$10.00 Starter Pack 28 Day Expiry	Link not supplied
#2	amaysim	amaysim 7-day UNLIMITED 10GB Plan 10GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Optus 5G in selected areas with 5G devices ex. NT $10.00 Per 7 Day Renewal Link not supplied	$10.00 Per 7 Day Renewal	Link not supplied
#3	OnePass mobile	OnePass mobile 28 Day Plan - 22GB 22GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Optus 5G in selected areas with 5G devices ex. NT Deal: Save $12.50 - Get 22GB for only $12.50 for the first 6 recharges! Recharges $25/22GB. New customers only. T&Cs apply $12.50 Per 28 Day Renewal Link not supplied	$12.50 Per 28 Day Renewal	Link not supplied
#4	Boost Mobile	Boost Mobile $39 Prepaid 60GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Telstra 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: Grab a $39 SIM for $13 – save $26. Hurry! Offer ends 05.10.26. Terms Apply $13.00 Starter Pack 28 Day Expiry Go to Site	$13.00 Starter Pack 28 Day Expiry	Go to Site
#5	Vodafone	Vodafone $13 Prepaid Plus Recharge 5GB data Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: Get 1GB extra data on every Automatic Recharge when you opt-in to Automatic Recharge $13.00 Per 7 Day Renewal Link not supplied	$13.00 Per 7 Day Renewal	Link not supplied
#6	Boost Mobile	Boost Mobile $14 Prepaid 6GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Telstra 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices $14.00 Per 7 Day Renewal Go to Site	$14.00 Per 7 Day Renewal	Go to Site
#7	Lyca Mobile Editor's Pick	Lyca Mobile Editor's Pick Unlimited Plan S 50GB data at download speeds up to 100Mbps Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: $15 for first 6 renewals when you activate this plan. Offer ends 31.12.26. T&Cs apply $15.00 Per 28 Day Renewal Link not supplied	$15.00 Per 28 Day Renewal	Link not supplied
#8	iiNet	iiNet 30GB Small Plan 30GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: 50% off - $15/mth for first 6 months, then $30/mth ongoing. Available until withdrawn. T&Cs apply. $15.00 Per 1 Month Renewal Link not supplied	$15.00 Per 1 Month Renewal	Link not supplied
#9	TPG Editor's Pick	TPG Editor's Pick 30GB Small Plan 30GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: 50% off - $15/mth for first 6 months, then $30/mth ongoing. Available until withdrawn. T&Cs apply. $15.00 Per 1 Month Renewal Link not supplied	$15.00 Per 1 Month Renewal	Link not supplied
#10	Telstra	Telstra $15 Pre-Paid Mobile SIM Starter Kit 4GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Telstra 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices $15.00 Starter Pack 7 Day Expiry Link not supplied	$15.00 Starter Pack 7 Day Expiry	Link not supplied

The 2020-2021 winner for the best prepaid provider offering plans with at least 10GB of data is gomo. Owned and operated by Optus, gomo is an ongoing subscription service that focuses on the basics.

When first launched, gomo had just one plan but has since expanded out to offer three options. Each comes with a 30-day expiry, and data rollover up to 200GB to use on a rainy day. The upper echelon of gomo plans also come with unlimited international calls to 15 countries, but unfortunately no text messages.

30GB Small Plan

30GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps
Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices
Deal: 50% off - $15/mth for first 6 months, then $30/mth ongoing. Available until withdrawn. T&Cs apply.

$15.00

Per 1 Month Renewal

Link not supplied

$15.00

Per 1 Month Renewal

Link not supplied

After gomo, comes TPG. Operating on the Vodafone network TPG is synonymous with cheap internet plans, and it’s mobile plans live up to that reputation. Now, you can also bundle your TPG internet and mobile plans for a discount, so it’s worth considering to save some cash.

Prepaid really not your style?

If you are really opposed to prepaid, fear not! We’ve got winners across 25 mobile, internet, and smartphone categories so you’re bound to find something you’re looking for.

Peruse all our mobile award winners here, or for the best SIM-only providers specifically check here.

Best Prepaid Provider, Large Plans
Plans with at least 30GB of data per month

Winner: amaysim

Runner up: Lebara Mobile

7-day UNLIMITED 10GB Plan

10GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps
Optus 5G in selected areas with 5G devices ex. NT

$10.00

Per 7 Day Renewal

Link not supplied

$10.00

Per 7 Day Renewal

Link not supplied

If you’re looking to stick with prepaid but need some more breathing room around your data, then a Large Plan is what you should be looking for.

You’ve probably heard of our winner this year. amaysim is arguably the most popular prepaid provider in Australia, and even though it was acquired by Optus the telco continues to pump out great value for customers.

Tack on referral bonuses, and amaysim keeps on giving to its customers.

$25 SIM Plan

25GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps
Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices
Deal: Get the $25 SIM for $9 online until 05.10.26. T&Cs apply

$25.00

Per 28 Day Renewal

Link not supplied

$25.00

Per 28 Day Renewal

Link not supplied

In second place comes Lebara Mobile, a Vodafone subsidiary with a focus on international calls. Not only does the provider offer some generous bonus data, but every single one of its plans comes with some kind of international call allowance. Even the cheapest one. For those with families and friends overseas, it is well worth checking out.

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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