iiNet Mobile Plans Review: The Verdict
Even when you ignore the deep discounts iiNet offers new customers, its mobile plans tend to be great value if you're after a no-frills option.
What we love
- Great value
- Can bundle with NBN for extra data
What could be improved
- Limited extras
- No international call inclusions
Overall:
iiNet is best known for its internet offering, but did you know it also has SIM-only mobile plans? They're surprisingly affordable, but are they a good deal? In this review, we'll look at value, support options, and the extras you get if you opt for iINet for your next mobile service.
Before we start, here is iiNet's current range of SIM-only mobile plans:
iiNet mobile plans: Value
Mobile plan value can be quite complex. A telco's most affordable plan could be a bad deal, but the same provider could have a much better deal at a higher price point. Our philosophy, however, is that you shouldn't pay for more data than you use.
Based on extrapolated data from the ACCC, the average Australian currently uses about 30GB per month. As such, we base our value score on how much a telco charges for its cheapest plan that meets that criteria, excluding discounts, promos, and extras.
Here is how iiNet's cheapest SIM-only 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
|
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
|
|
#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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When you exclude discounts, iiNet is still one of the most affordable options for getting a plan with at least 30GB. Of course, it is worth noting that iiNet has consistently offered new customers 50% off for their first six months for quite some time now, making your first half-year with the telco even better value.
iiNet mobile coverage
iiNet's mobile plans are powered by the Vodafone network, which currently reaches 96% of the population. It only has access to Vodafone's 3G and 4G connectivity, however. iiNet does not currently have any 5G phone plans.
If you want to check if a certain address has Vodafone 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.
iiNet mobile plans: Support
When judging support, we look at how many avenues a telco has to help its customers, rather than quality. After all, it's hard to judge the quality of support in a quantifiable way. For example, there have been instances when we've had both good and bad experiences with support at a telco. Instead, we focus on how many channels a telco has to help its customers in order to try and gauge its investment in support.
Here is how iiNet's support options compare to the competition:
iiNet Support Options Compared
| Provider | In-store | Call | Chat | Social | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iiNet | - | - | |||
| Telstra | - | ||||
| Optus | - | ||||
| Vodafone | - | - | |||
| amaysim | - | ||||
| Woolworths Mobile | - | - | - | ||
| ALDI | - | - | - | - | |
| Boost | - | - | |||
| TPG | - | ||||
| Circles.Life | - |
iiNet has three main ways to get in touch: you can call up, you can email, or you can reach out to the telco on social media.
iiNet mobile plans: Extras
iiNet is pretty light on extras, but does have one discount bundle offer. Here's how that compares to what other mobile providers offer:
iiNet Extras Compared
| Provider | Perks Program | International Calls | 5G | Discount Bundles | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iiNet | - | - | - | - | |
| Telstra | - | ||||
| Optus | - | ||||
| Vodafone | - | ||||
| amaysim | - | - | - | - | |
| Woolworths Mobile | - | - | - | ||
| ALDI | - | - | - | - | |
| Boost | - | - | - | - | |
| TPG | - | - | - | ||
| Circles.Life | - | - | - | - | - |
If you're an existing iiNet internet customer, you can score a bonus 80GB of mobile data if you also pick up a SIM-only plan. This does however only apply to iiNet's $29.99 per month plan with a base allowance of 40GB. This brings your total mobile data allowance to 120GB if you bundle your iiNet internet and mobile plans.
iiNet mobile plans: Devices
iiNet does not sell phones. All of its plans are SIM-only.
iiNet mobile FAQ
What happens if I want to cancel my iiNet mobile plan?
All iiNet mobile plans are contract-free, so you can cancel at any time.
Do iiNet mobile plans include international calls?
iiNet mobile plans don't include an international call allowance, but you can still make international calls at pay-as-you-go rates. These are billed at $1.50 per minute with a 40 cent flagfall. An international text will cost you 50 cents a pop for SMS, or 75 cents per MMS.
What happens if I go over my iiNet data allowance?
If you need extra data for your iiNet mobile plan, the telco charges $10 for a 2GB block.
What about a different Vodafone-powered provider?
iiNet's mobile plans are powered by the Vodafone network, but there are a whole host of other small telcos where the same is true. Read our guide to smaller providers - also known as MVNOs - here.
Alex Choros
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