Telstra Mobile Plans Review: The Verdict
Telstra mobile plans are the most expensive option around, but your money gets you a wide range of extras and access to Australia's most extensive network.
What we love
- Australia's widest mobile network
- Great range of extras
What could be improved
- Expensive
- Only a small amount of international minutes each month
Overall:
Picking a new mobile plan can be hard. In addition to The Big Three, there are now a whole heap of smaller providers doing their own thing. As Australia's biggest telco, Telstra is a natural starting point for many, but is it the best deal? In this review, we'll look at value, support options, and the extras you can get for being a Big T mobile customer.
Before we start, here's Telstra's current range of SIM-only mobile plans:
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Telstra
$84 Essential Upfront SIM Plan
$74.00/mth
Min. cost $74
Link not supplied
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Telstra mobile plans: Value
Value is a complex issue when it comes to mobile plans. A telco's cheapest plan may be far too expensive, but you could get oodles of data at the top end. At the same time, you shouldn't be paying for more data than you use.
Based on extrapolated data from the ACCC, the average Australian currently uses about 30GB per month. In order to determine value, we've looked at how much a telco charges for its cheapest plan that meets that criteria, excluding discounts, promos, and extras.
Here is how Telstra's cheapest postpaid plan with at least 30GB compares to the competition:
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#1
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Moose Mobile
Moose 23 SIM Only
$14.00/mth
Min. cost $14
Link not supplied
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#2
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Belong
25GB Mobile Plan
$34.00/mth
Min. cost $34
Link not supplied
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#3
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Coles Mobile
$35 Mobile Plan
$35.00/mth
Min. cost $12
Link not supplied
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#4
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Optus
$60 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$39.00/mth
Min. cost $39
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#5
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Everyday Mobile
$40 SIM Only
$40.00/mth
Min. cost $40
Link not supplied
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#6
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Vodafone
$58 Small SIM Only Plan
$45.00/mth
Min. cost $45
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#7
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Telstra
$84 Essential Upfront SIM Plan
$74.00/mth
Min. cost $74
Link not supplied
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As you can see, Telstra sits at the high-end of the pricing spectrum; you can easily get better data-for-dollar. There are plans with similar data allowances at a lower monthly bill, or spending the same amount as Telstra's cheapest plan with any other provider will get you far more data. No matter which way you cut it, the price you'll pay to get at least 30GB is higher on Telstra than any other provider.
All Telstra Upfront plans are free from excess charges. If you go over your allowance, you'll be able to keep using your service at capped speeds of 1.5Mbps.
Telstra coverage
Telstra's network currently reaches 99.5% of the population, with its 5G now reaching over 75% of the population. When it comes to coverage, Telstra is easily the best of the best.
If you want to check if a certain address has Telstra coverage, you can use our coverage checker tool to do so.
All you need to do is punch in your address when searching for a new phone plan. After you've done so and hit Search, you can jump straight to the coverage map by tapping See Coverage Map and then tapping Click To Activate Interactive Map.This map will show you what kind of coverage you have in your area. 5G coverage is highlighted using the darkest shade of purple, 4G in the medium shade, and 3G in the lightest.
Coverage maps are only approximate, only show outdoor coverage, and may be impacted by local conditions such as buildings.
Telstra mobile plans: Support
When it comes to support, we're looking at how many different avenues a telco has to help a customer, rather than quality. Support quality is difficult to gauge in a meaningful way; across the team, there are times we've had a really great experience with a telco, but times it's been awful. Instead, we're looking at the number of channels a telco has in order to try and gauge its investment in support.
Here is how Telstra's support options compare to the competition:
Telstra Support Options Compared
| Provider | In-store | Call | Chat | Social | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Telstra | - | ||||
| Optus | - | ||||
| Vodafone | - | - | |||
| amaysim | - | ||||
| Circles.Life | - | ||||
| Woolworths Mobile | - | - | - | ||
| ALDI | - | - | - | - | |
| Boost | - | - | |||
| TPG | - |
Telstra's support options are about as full-featured as they comes. You can call Big T up, you can use web chat via its site or app, there's a monitored social media presence, or you can go into a store. The only option we'd expect to see that Telstra doesn't offer is a contact form on its website. From my personal experiences, I've found Telstra's social media presence the most helpful option for getting issues resolved.
Telstra mobile plans: Extras
Telstra mobile plans are packed with perks. Here's how the extras you'll get compare to other mobile providers:
Telstra Extras Compared
| Provider | Perks Program | International Calls | 5G | Discount Bundles | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Telstra | - | ||||
| Optus | - | ||||
| Vodafone | - | ||||
| amaysim | - | - | - | - | |
| Circles.Life | - | - | - | - | - |
| Woolworths Mobile | - | - | - | ||
| ALDI | - | - | - | - | |
| Boost | - | - | - | ||
| TPG | - | - | - |
Telstra has Australia's widest 5G network, now covering over 75% of the population. You won't get 5G on Telstra's cheapest Upfront plan, however, and most of the telcos prepaid plans don't include next-generation connectivity either.
All Telstra Upfront plans include 30 minutes of international calls per month to any destination and unlimited international SMS and MMS. Further minutes can be purchased starting from an extra $10 per month.
When it comes to international roaming, you'll pay $10 per day while overseas for a daily 500MB allowance, unless in New Zealand in which case it drops to $5. If you go over your 500MB, you'll be charged an extra $10 for 1GB which can be used over the following 30 days. Telstra roaming works in over 80 destinations.
All Telstra mobile plans get data-free access to Apple Music.
You'll also get access to the Telstra Plus perks program. This includes:
- $12.50 movie tickets for Event and BCC cinemas, excluding sessions after 5pm on a Saturday, public holidays, and special events
- Discounted tickets to select sporting events
- Pre-sale tickets for select concerts and events
If you're a Telstra Plus member, you'll also earn points for every dollar you spend on your monthly bill. These can then be redeemed for gadgets or a discount on a more expensive product.
Telstra's biggest extra category comes in the form of streaming and entertainment. To start, you can add Kayo to your account and save $10 per month compared to retail, but only for your first year.
You can also add Binge or Netflix to your monthly bill, but you'll pay the standard market rate.
Lastly, you can bundle an Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S onto your mobile plan as an entertainment option. Instead of buying your console upfront, you pay it off over 24-month months.
Xbox All Access also includes Game Pass Ultimate, Microsoft's Netflix for game subscription service which gets you access to hundreds of titles across Xbox and PC. All of Microsoft's upcoming first-party titles for Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S will be available on Xbox All Access on day one.
Telstra's Xbox All Access plans are as follows:
| Inclusions | Details | |
|---|---|---|
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Telstra |
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Telstra |
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One extra Telstra doesn't offer is a discount or bonus for bundling your mobile plan with your NBN. This is a feature that is becoming increasingly prevalent, with providers such as Vodafone, TPG, and iiNet all rewarding customer loyalty with discounts or extra perks.
Telstra mobile plans: Devices
Telstra offers a wide range of phones on a plan, including the latest from Apple, Samsung, and Google. Here are a few popular options.
iPhone 18 Pro 256GB
- 6.3 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 48MP, 48MP, 48MP
- Front Camera: 18MP
Galaxy S26 Ultra 256GB
- 6.9 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 200MP, 10MP, 50MP, 50MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
Pixel 11 256GB
- 6.3 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 48MP, 10.8MP, 13MP
- Front Camera: 10.5MP
215
- 2.4 inch display
- 128MB int. memory (useable capacity will be less)
- Released in October 2020
See all phones available on Telstra here.
Telstra mobile FAQ
What happens if I want to cancel my Telstra mobile?
Telstra's Upfront mobile plans are contract-free, so you can leave anytime - regardless of whether you go SIM-only or buy a new phone. If you got your phone through Telstra, you will need to pay out the remainder of your monthly handset repayments when you leave.
Do Telstra's mobile plans include international calls?
All Telstra Upfront plans include 30 minutes of international calls to any destination and unlimited international SMS and MMS. All Telstra prepaid recharges worth at least $30 include some international calls.
What about a Telstra-powered provider?
If you're looking for Telstra coverage, Telstra isn't your only choice. There are whole host of smaller providers that run on the Telstra network and are typically more affordable. Read our guide on Telstra-powered plans providers to learn more.
Alex Choros
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