In this SIM-only plans guide:
- What are the different types of SIM-only plans?
- Which providers offer SIM-only plans in Australia?
- Is it better to buy a phone outright and get a SIM-only plan?
- Can you get cheap SIM-only plans in Australia?
- Which SIM-only plan providers have the best customer satisfaction scores?
- SIM-only plans FAQs
What are the different types of SIM-only plans?
Also known as BYO plans, SIM-only plans come in two types: prepaid and postpaid plans. The main difference between the two is when you pay.
With a prepaid SIM-only mobile plan you pay upfront for your plan.
- These plans come in different expiry amounts. The most common are 28 or 30-day expiry
- When your plan expires, you usually forfeit any remaining credit until your next recharge
- Many telcos offer an option to auto-recharge once you use up your inclusions
Postpaid SIM-only plans are paid for after the fact like most utility bills.
- These plans are billed month to month with no lock-in contract (exact billing date varies by telco)
- If you exceed your monthly data allowance some providers may hit you with "excess data charges"
- Some telcos offer unlimited data (more on that below)
At a minimum, with a SIM-only plan in Australia you'll typically get:
- Unlimited standard national voice calls to other Australian numbers
- Unlimited standard national SMS and MMS to other Australian numbers
- Unlimited calls to 13, 1300 and 1800 numbers
- Some SIM-only plans even include international calling to selected destinations
Other commonly seen features you'll get with SIM-only plans include:
Data rollover
Unlimited data
5G connectivity
Which providers offer SIM-only plans in Australia?
The telcos like Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone aren't the only ones who offer SIM-only mobile plans in Australia, we compare 28 providers on WhistleOut. Smaller providers are officially called Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs). The same mobile networks that power the big three major telcos, power these MVNOs.
Typically, because they don't have to pay the overheads to maintain the network MVNOs have simpler products, and cheaper prices. With an MVNO you can get an affordable service on the much-coveted Telstra network and the popular Optus network, and even a few offer Vodafone coverage.
Telstra SIM-only plans
Telstra SIM-only plans are super simple. There are just three plans to choose from, and they come with:
- Unlimited talk and text
- No lock-in contract
- No excess data fees
- 5G network coverage (where available)
- Family data-sharing options
- Access to the Telstra Plus rewards and perks program
As all plans are no contract, so you're free to switch to a different plan once per month or leave Telstra for a competitor any time you like.
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Telstra
$84 Essential Upfront SIM Plan
$74.00/mth
Min. cost $74
Link not supplied
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Telstra
$74 Basic Upfront SIM Plan
$74.00/mth
Min. cost $74
Link not supplied
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Telstra
$99 Premium Upfront SIM Plan
$84.00/mth
Min. cost $84
Link not supplied
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SIM-only plans on the Telstra network
Telstra has the largest network in Australia, covering 2.14 million square km. Except for Boost Mobile, Telstra MVNOs access only a part of this network which covers 1.4 million square km.
These are the most popular mobile plans with at least 20GB of data from each Telstra MVNO in our database:
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Boost Mobile
$39 Prepaid
$39.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
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Tangerine Telecom
30GB 5G Mobile SIM
$30.00/mth
Min. cost $15
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Exetel
Plus One eSIM Plan
$40.00
Per 30 Day Renewal
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Telstra
$54 Pre-Paid Mobile
$54.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
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Belong
25GB Mobile Plan
$34.00/mth
Min. cost $34
Link not supplied
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Everyday Mobile
Pre-paid Mobile $25 Recharge
$25.00
Per 30 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
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Superloop
SuperSim Essential 5G Plan
$35.00
Per 30 Day Renewal
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ALDI mobile
$34 Mobile Plan
$34.00
Per 30 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
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More
75GB 5G Mobile SIM
$46.00/mth
Min. cost $46
Link not supplied
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EZEE Mobile
100GB Mobile SIM Plan
$45.00
Per 30 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
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Optus SIM-only plans
Optus SIM-only plans cost more than what smaller providers charge, similar to a Telstra plan. However, what sets Optus' plans apart from the smaller providers is the range of extras you get with an Optus plan. Optus' plans all come with:
- Unlimited talk and text
- No lock-in contract
- No excess data fees
- 5G network coverage (where available)
- Data-sharing options
Optus also offers the option to bundle streaming TV and other subscription services together under one bill with Optus SubHub, and there are discounts available for bundling multiple services.
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Optus
$60 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$39.00/mth
Min. cost $39
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Optus
$69 Optus Promo Plan
$69.00/mth
Min. cost $69
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Optus
$70 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$70.00/mth
Min. cost $70
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Optus
$90 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$90.00/mth
Min. cost $90
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SIM-only plans on the Optus network
Optus has the second-largest in Australia which 1.2 million square km.
These are the most popular mobile plans with at least 20GB of data from each Optus MVNO in our database:
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SpinTel
Editor's Pick
$23 Mobile Plan
$12.00/mth
Min. cost $12
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Dodo
Editor's Pick
Medium Mobile Plan
$30.00/mth
Min. cost $15
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Yomojo
Starter 29GB Plan
$24.90
Per 30 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
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Optus
$60 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$39.00/mth
Min. cost $39
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OnePass mobile
365 Day Plan - 360GB
$300.00
Per 365 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
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amaysim
UNLIMITED 240GB Long Expiry
$199.00
Per 365 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
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Coles Mobile
Prepaid $240 for 365 Days
$240.00
Per 365 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
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Aussie Broadband
Value 5G SIM Plan
$40.00/mth
Min. cost $40
Link not supplied
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Vodafone SIM-only plans
Vodafone SIM-only mobile plans come with perks that are similar to Optus and Telstra:
- Unlimited talk and text
- No lock-in contract
- No excess data fees
- 5G network coverage (where available)
- Data-sharing options
Vodafone has generous bundle and save discounts. You can bundle up to 10 mobile plans to save $125 per month.
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Vodafone
$58 Small SIM Only Plan
$45.00/mth
Min. cost $45
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Vodafone
$68 Medium SIM Only Plan
$50.00/mth
Min. cost $50
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Vodafone
$78 Large SIM Only Plan
$55.00/mth
Min. cost $55
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SIM-only plans on the Vodafone network
Thanks to a network-sharing agreement Vodafone's network has the same geographic coverage as Optus'. This means you now get extra coverage in regional areas making Vodafone's MNVOs worth a real shot because they have some great offers.
Here are the most popular mobile plans with at least 20GB of data from each Vodafone MVNO in our database:
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TPG
Editor's Pick
30GB Small Plan
$15.00
Per 1 Month Renewal
Link not supplied
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Vodafone
$58 Small Plan
$58.00/mth
Min. cost $58
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Pivotel
25GB Mobile Swift Plan
$11.45/mth
Min. cost $11.45
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Swoop
30GB SIM Only 5G
$14.00/mth
Min. cost $14
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felix mobile
felix 25GB Mobile Plan
$30.00
Per 1 Month Renewal
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Moose Mobile
Moose 23 SIM Only
$14.00/mth
Min. cost $14
Link not supplied
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Kogan Mobile
Medium - 365 Day Flex Plan
$190.00
Per 365 Day Renewal
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Lyca Mobile
Editor's Pick
Unlimited Plan S
$15.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
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iiNet
100GB Large Plan
$22.50
Per 1 Month Renewal
Link not supplied
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Lebara Mobile
$250 SIM Plan - 365 Days
$179.00
Per 365 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
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Is it better to buy a phone outright and get a SIM-only plan?
It depends on your situation but generally, SIM-only mobile plans end up being cheaper than plans that come with a phone in the long run. They have the same bells and whistles as plans with a phone.
This kind of mobile plan might be right for you if:
- You're looking to pay less on your monthly phone bill
- You already have an unlocked phone that you want to keep (or are willing to get it unlocked)
- Your contract is ending, but you're waiting for a new phone release to upgrade. You're searching for a plan to cover the time in between
It might not be the best option for you if:
- You can't afford to buy the phone you want outright
- You want to take advantage of bonuses offered by telcos for buying a new handset
Can you get cheap SIM-only plans in Australia?
Yes, you can find a cheap SIM-only plan to suit all kinds of budgets. While, It's not uncommon to pay up to and over $100 per month for a phone on a plan these days. You can save a lot of money by using your own phone (instead of buying the latest iPhone) and then pair it with a cheap SIM-only mobile plan.
The cheapest SIM-only plans available in Australia start from as little as $10 but those plans typically come with very short expiry periods of less than a week and less than 5GB of data. Cheap SIM-only plans start to get better around the $12 mark but you get the most value on plans starting $20 per month.
A cheap SIM-only plan that's still usable for most people should include at least 12GB. But you can get by on less.
See the five cheapest SIM-only plans with at least 28-day expiry from our database of 28 providers:
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Pivotel
25GB Mobile Swift Plan
$11.45/mth
Min. cost $11.45
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SpinTel
Editor's Pick
$23 Mobile Plan
$12.00/mth
Min. cost $12
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OnePass mobile
28 Day Plan - 22GB
$12.50
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
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Moose Mobile
Moose 23 SIM Only
$14.00/mth
Min. cost $14
Link not supplied
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Swoop
30GB SIM Only 5G
$14.00/mth
Min. cost $14
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Which SIM-only plan providers have the best customer satisfaction scores?
Belong and ALDI Mobile tied for first place on overall rating in the latest WhistleOut customer satisfaction survey. Want to know how other Aussies feel about their telco? See the rest of the results of our 2025 customer satisfaction survey here:
| Provider | Overall rating | Data | Coverage | Price | Customer service | NPS* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Telstra | 4.32 | 4.3 | 4.28 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 35 |
| Optus | 4.16 | 4.18 | 4.18 | 3.96 | 3.91 | 38 |
| Vodafone | 4.4 | 4.52 | 4.06 | 4.02 | 3.79 | 40 |
| TPG | 4.22 | 4.4 | 3.92 | 4.26 | 3.87 | 20 |
| Belong | 4.58 | 4.18 | 4.26 | 4.24 | 4.1 | 42 |
| amaysim | 4.5 | 4.46 | 4.06 | 4.58 | 4.06 | 55 |
| Kogan Mobile | 4.2 | 4.58 | 3.9 | 4.58 | 3.83 | 43 |
| Boost Mobile | 4.48 | 4.36 | 4.24 | 3.92 | 3.5 | 46 |
| Everyday Mobile | 4.48 | 4.62 | 4.28 | 4.46 | 3.75 | 54 |
| ALDI Mobile | 4.58 | 4.44 | 4.28 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 58 |
| Dodo | 4.24 | 4.34 | 3.9 | 4.06 | 3.76 | 29 |
Scores are out of five. Overall rating is not an average of individual components.
*Net Promoter Score. % of customers that would strongly recommend this provider.
The annual WhistleOut mobile customer satisfaction survey asks mobile customers to rate their mobile provider on data, coverage, price, customer service, and overall score. Mobile providers are included when at least 50 respondents identify as current customers.
SIM-only plan FAQs
What is a SIM card?
A SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card is a small, removable card that stores data needed to identify a subscriber on a mobile network. You can remove your SIM from your current phone and insert it into any other compatible device, provided it's not "locked" to a network. Since 2018, there's also been the option of an electronic SIM or eSIM, although eSIM isn't yet a universal offer from providers.
How do you switch SIM-only plans?
Switching to a new mobile plan is as simple as finding one you like and signing up. As part of the process, you can even decide if you want to "port" your number so you can keep your existing phone number. Transferring your number can take as little as 10 mins and up to a couple of hours depending on the telco. Your new telco will have information about the times and days it processes transfers.
If you've ported as soon as your new plan is activated you're good to go. If you've got a new number you'll need to remember to cancel your old plan as it won't be done automatically.
Does my phone need to be unlocked to get a new mobile plan?
Yes, if you're moving to a new carrier your phone will need to be unlocked. However, the good news is phones are rarely locked to by carriers these days.
Can I keep my mobile number when I switch mobile plans?
Yes, during the switching process, you have the chance to port your number to your new mobile plan provider. When you cancel a service without transferring, your number is quarantined for six months. During this time you are able to be reconnected back to that number.
Can I choose my mobile number when signing up for a SIM-only mobile plan?
Yes, a handful of telcos let you choose your mobile number for a fee. This includes Telstra, Optus, Vodafone and amaysim.
Can I get a 5G SIM-only mobile plan in Australia?
Yes, with the 5G rollout in Australia well underway several Aussie telcos now offer 5G SIM-only plans.
What is the cheapest SIM-only mobile plan?
At the time of writing amaysim's Unlimited 10GB is the cheapest in WhistleOut's database with a cost of $10 per renewal. That gets you 10GB of data with unlimited national calls and texts. So what's the catch? Well, this plan has a seven-day expiry. This means in a typical month you'd need to spend at least $40 dollars anyway to keep your plan active. This makes it more suited for visitors to Australia then as an ongoing monthly mobile plan.
