Boost Mobile increases prices by $5 per month: should you switch?

Dylan Crismale - Digital Content Editor

Last updated 21 April 2023

Boost Mobile is the latest telco to announce the cost of its mobile phone plans going up. It follows Vodafone's March price increase, which took effect from the 1st of this month.

Boost has started emailing its customers to let them know of the increase which is as little as $2 on its cheapest plan or up to $30 on one of its larger data plans.

Most of its 28-day expiry plans will be going up by $5 per month. Here's the breakdown of the new charges:

Boost Mobile price increases

Current recharge	New recharge (from 4 July 2023)	Expiry
$10 for 3GB	$12 for 5GB	7 days
$20 for 5GB	$22 for 7GB	28 days
$30 for 20GB	$35 for 25GB	28 days
$40 for 30GB	$45 for 35GB	28 days
$50 for 40GB	$55 for 45GB	28 days
$70 for 65GB	$70 for 90GB (no price change)	28 days
$200 for 130GB	$230 for 160GB	12 months
$300 for 240GB	N/A	12 months

Most customers on a 28-day expiry plan are looking at an increase of $60 per year at a time when budgets are already strained.

The new price will take effect when customers next recharge either on or from 4 July 2023.

Why is Boost Mobile increasing its prices?

In its email to customers Boost indicated that the price increases were part of a standard review:

"From time to time the prices of our services are reviewed, and the decision has been made to increase the prices of our plans from 4 July 2023. We know any price rise is hard and it’s not a decision that has been taken lightly."

Boost utilises the Telstra 4G/5G network to provide its service and it's Telstra's policy to review its plan prices annually and increase them according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) each year in July. The CPI is determined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

We've reached out to Boost for further comment.

Should you switch from Boost Mobile?

Boost Mobile is the only MVNO on the full Telstra network that offers coverage for 99.8% of Australians.

This has always distinguished it from other smaller operators on the Telstra wholesale network, which covers 99.5% of Australians. The difference is felt most in regional areas, especially where neither Optus nor Vodafone has reach.

At the same time its prices are going up Boost is increasing the amount of data you get. It's around 1GB per extra dollar being charged. However, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) reports that the average Australian uses just 10.2GB per month. The few extra GBs Boost is throwing their way won't matter.

If being on the full Telstra network isn't important to you and you don't need any more data then it could be worth switching to another provider.

The following is a list of prepaid mobile plans from Telstra MVNOs with at least 20GB of data.

#1	Everyday Mobile	Everyday Mobile Pre-paid Mobile $25 Recharge 22GB data at download speeds up to 100Mbps Uses part of the Telstra 4G Mobile Network Deal: Get 10% off an eligible Woolworths shop in store every month when you link your Everyday Rewards card. T&Cs apply $25.00 Per 30 Day Renewal Link not supplied	$25.00 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	Superloop	Superloop SuperSim Essential 5G Plan 35GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Uses parts of Telstra’s 5G and 4G mobile networks Deal: FREE 2nd recharge for existing Superloop broadband customers or new customers signing up for a mobile & broadband service $35.00 Per 30 Day Renewal Go to Site	$35.00 Per 30 Day Renewal	Go to Site
#4	Exetel	Exetel Plus One eSIM Plan 130GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Uses parts of Telstra’s 5G and 4G mobile networks $40.00 Per 30 Day Renewal Go to Site	$40.00 Per 30 Day Renewal	Go to Site
#5	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

Dylan Crismale

Digital Content Editor

Dylan Crismale is a Digital Content Editor at WhistleOut, has been writing for almost a decade across a variety of Australian publications. He previously worked as a writer at Finder covering energy, internet and mobile plans. Dylan is passionate about finding the best deals to save people money and educating people about tech. When he's not sat at his desk Dylan loves working out, bingeing TV and hanging out with friends.

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