Get a free trial from new telco Circles.Life

Jacqui Dent - Editorial Strategist

Last updated 17 September 2019

Get 20GB free for four months from new telco Circles.Life

New mobile provider Circles.Life hit the Australian market last Thursday, and to win new customers the telco is offering a free trial of the service to customers who sign up before 30 September.

The free offer applies to the Circles.Life base mobile plan of 20GB with unlimited talk and text. Normally, this plan costs $28 per month.

Circles.Life is offering four months on this plan for free to customers. However, at this point, in practice your trial will be closer to three-and-a-half months for free. That's because, unusually for an Australian telco, Circles.Life starts all customer plans on the 1st day of every month. Signing up for a plan mid-month results in the pro-rating of your first month of service.

That means you get charged less, and you also get less data, until the new calendar month ticks over.

Billshock protection and flexible data add-ons

While the pro-rata plan set-up is more than a little confusing, there are things to like about Circles.Life's new plans.

The first is that, in practicality, the plan actually includes 23GB per month. That's because Circles.Life says its plans come with "bill shock protection". On top of the single base plan, each customer gets an extra 3GB of buffer data, which is free of charge and kicks in if you ever go over your cap.

On top of buffer data, Circles.Life offers customers the opportunity to buy "add-on" data or "boost data" on top of the monthly base plan.

Circles.Life's "boost data" is a once-off purchase of 3GB for $6. Boost data is intended to be used as an emergency top-up if you run over your cap and your buffer data. You can add "boost data" to your plan as many times as you like during the month.

"Add-on" data, on the other hand, is an extra 20GB for $10. You can buy add-on data as a once off, or apply it to your plan every month. But you can't buy it more than once per month.

Add-on data essentially makes your Circles.Life plan 40GB for $38 per month. But here's where it gets interesting: switching on "add-on data" mid-month allows you to get the full 20GB top-up, charged at a pro-rata rate. An example on the Circles.Life website states that "if you turned on the 20GB for $10 add-on on 15 November, you'll only pay $5 for the add-on for that month, but you will still get the full 20GB allocated to your plan."

If you had to take a moment to wrap your head around that, you're not the only one. It takes some mental contorting, but essentially, add-on data is a life hack to score a cut-price 20GB every month, by switching it on only when you need it. Circles.Life says there's no restriction that prevents users from switching "add-on data" on and then off again, every month, to get it for the lower rate.

This is certainly a unique way to set up a phone plan, there's nothing else quite like it on the market right now. And for users who have variable data needs month to month, it could be a tempting offer.

However, there are still other more traditional phone plans on the Australian market that offer better value right now. Here are some competitor prepaid and SIM-only plans that come with 23GB per month or more:

#1	Pivotel	Pivotel 25GB Mobile Swift Plan 25GB data On the Vodafone 4G Mobile Network Deal: Incl. 50% off - $11.45/mth for first 6 months, then $22.90/mth ongoing. Offer ends 31.10.2026. T&Cs apply. $11.45/mth Min. cost $11.45 Go to Site	$11.45/mth Min. cost $11.45	Go to Site
#2	SpinTel Editor's Pick	SpinTel Editor's Pick $23 Mobile Plan 25GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Optus 5G in selected areas with 5G devices ex. NT WhistleOut Special: Enjoy $11 off for the first 6 months for new customers - $12/mth for first 6 months, then $23/mth $12.00/mth Min. cost $12 Go to Site	$12.00/mth Min. cost $12	Go to Site
#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	Moose Mobile	Moose Mobile Moose 23 SIM Only 30GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps On the Vodafone 4G Mobile Network Deal: Get 30GB for $14 – Includes $9 off for first 6 months, then reverts to $23. Offer ends 30.06.27 $14.00/mth Min. cost $14 Link not supplied	$14.00/mth Min. cost $14	Link not supplied
#5	Swoop	Swoop 30GB SIM Only 5G 30GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: Includes $11 off for first 6 months - $14/mth for first 6 months then $25/mth after that. Offer ends 30.06.27 $14.00/mth Min. cost $14 Go to Site	$14.00/mth Min. cost $14	Go to Site
#6	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
#7	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
#8	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
#9	Kogan Mobile	Kogan Mobile Small Monthly Plan 25GB data On the Vodafone 4G Mobile Network $23.00 Per 30 Day Renewal Go to Site	$23.00 Per 30 Day Renewal	Go to Site
#10	Yomojo	Yomojo Starter 29GB Plan 29GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps On the Optus 4G Plus Mobile Network $24.90 Per 30 Day Renewal Link not supplied	$24.90 Per 30 Day Renewal	Link not supplied

And here are some competitor plans that come with 40GB per month or more:

#1	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
#2	Moose Mobile	Moose Mobile Moose 30 SIM Only 50GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: Get 50GB for $17– Includes $13 off for first 6 months, then reverts to $30. Offer ends 30.06.27 $17.00/mth Min. cost $17 Link not supplied	$17.00/mth Min. cost $17	Link not supplied
#3	iiNet	iiNet 50GB Medium Plan 50GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: 50% off - $17.50/mth for first 6 months, then $35/mth ongoing. Available until withdrawn. T&Cs apply. $17.50 Per 1 Month Renewal Link not supplied	$17.50 Per 1 Month Renewal	Link not supplied
#4	Pivotel	Pivotel 50GB Mobile Swift Plan 50GB data On the Vodafone 4G Mobile Network Deal: Incl. 50% off - $17.50/mth for first 6 months, then $35/mth ongoing. Offer ends 31.10.2026. T&Cs apply. $17.50/mth Min. cost $17.50 Go to Site	$17.50/mth Min. cost $17.50	Go to Site
#5	TPG Editor's Pick	TPG Editor's Pick 50GB Medium Plan 50GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: 50% off - $17.50/mth for first 6 months, then $35/mth ongoing. Available until withdrawn. T&Cs apply. $17.50 Per 1 Month Renewal Link not supplied	$17.50 Per 1 Month Renewal	Link not supplied
#6	OnePass mobile	OnePass mobile 28 Day Plan - 65GB 65GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Optus 5G in selected areas with 5G devices ex. NT Deal: Save $20 - Get 65GB for only $20 for the first 6 recharges! Recharges $40/65GB. New customers only. T&Cs apply $20.00 Per 28 Day Renewal Link not supplied	$20.00 Per 28 Day Renewal	Link not supplied
#7	Swoop	Swoop 60GB SIM Only 5G 60GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: Includes $10 off for first 6 months - $23/mth for first 6 months then $33/mth after that. Offer ends 30.06.2027 $23.00/mth Min. cost $23 Go to Site	$23.00/mth Min. cost $23	Go to Site
#8	Kogan Mobile	Kogan Mobile Medium Monthly Plan 60GB data On the Vodafone 4G Mobile Network Deal: Get 60GB for $12 (includes $13 off for first month + 20GB bonus data for 3 months), then 40GB for $25 thereafter, valid until 04.10.26 $29.00 Per 30 Day Renewal Go to Site	$29.00 Per 30 Day Renewal	Go to Site
#9	SpinTel	SpinTel $29 Mobile Plan 50GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Optus 5G in selected areas with 5G devices ex. NT $29.00/mth Min. cost $29 Go to Site	$29.00/mth Min. cost $29	Go to Site
#10	Yomojo	Yomojo Essential 42GB Plan 42GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps On the Optus 4G Plus Mobile Network $29.90 Per 30 Day Renewal Link not supplied	$29.90 Per 30 Day Renewal	Link not supplied

You can redeem "boost data" or "add-on" data at any time from Circles.Life the telco's app and start using it instantly. But note that the four months free offer doesn't apply to either bolt-on, if you want to use them you'll have to pay even if you're still in your free trial.

If you exceed your base data, 3GB billshock data, add-on data and/or boost data and haven't added any more you'll be charged overage at pay-as-you-go rates of $0.01/MB. All plans and add-ons are postpaid and no-contract.

Circles.Life plans are offered on the Optus 4G mobile network.

Redeeming the free trial

If you want to take up the free trial offer, all you need to do is use the code "4MONTHSOFF" during check-out on the Circles.Life website. Plans are commitment-free so if you don't like the service you can leave at any time, or at the end of your freebie period.

On top of the free trial, Circles.Life is offering customers a free data bonus for referring a friend. If you refer a friend you'll get a 20GB data bonus for one month, and your friend will get a free 20GB bonus for three months.

To keep your existing phone number when you switch, just select "keep your existing number" and follow the prompts during check out.

Circles.Life may be new to the Australian market but the telco is already present in Singapore, Taiwan, Indonesia, India and the Philippines, with more international markets to roll out in the future.

Jacqui Dent

Editorial Strategist

Jacqui Dent is an Editorial Content Strategist at WhistleOut Australia, where she writes about mobile phone plans, NBN plans and everything in between. Over her ten-year career, she has worked to provide informed advice to the public, first in the sphere of writing and now in the world of consumer tech. Jacqui has also written about consumer telco products for Business Insider, Pedestrian and the 50Up Club.

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