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Search and compare phone plans
Search and compare costs, features and benefits of plans from some of Australia’s top providers.
40+ phone plan providers in RateCity’s database
2500+ phone plan products in RateCity’s database
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How do you search for the best phone plan?
There is no one best phone plan as your ideal phone plan will be one that suits your needs and budget. This is where comparison tools come in, like the comparison table on this page.
You can compare apples with apples by filtering down and comparing phone plans side by side based on what you’re specifically looking for. Choose between phone plans, SIM-only prepaid and postpaid plans, as well as the data allowance you may need and monthly costs you’re comfortable servicing.
Then you’ll want to make sure you’ve done your research around which phone plan type would best suit you, including whether you already own a device or are looking to purchase one through a provider.
What phone plans are available in Australia?
When it comes to choosing your ideal phone plan, there are a lot of options to consider. But whether or not you already own a device is one of the biggest factors that determine the type of phone plan that may best suit you.
In Australia, there are three main types of phone plans that suit different customers:
Phone on a plan
A popular option for those who do not have the cash to purchase a device outright and upfront. Purchase your device on repayments spread out over a fixed contract period, typically between 12-36 months. You will also pay for your data allowance and typically be offered unlimited calls and texts.
SIM-only prepaid plan
If you already own your device, you may choose to prepay your phone through a SIM-only plan. Unlike phones on a plan, this option does not come with a lock-in contract and you can choose to switch providers when needed. You may opt for a month-to-month prepaid plan (data allowance over 28-30 days), a long-expiry plan (data allowance over 90 – 365 days, or a PAYG plan (pay to recharge your credit to gain more data as you need).
SIM-only postpaid plans
Similar to the above, except customers will pay for the data and mobile services used after the fact. Unlike prepaid SIM-only plans, if you use up your monthly data allowance your usage will not be paused. Instead, you may be able to pay for a data top-up, or rollover into using more data at capped speeds, depending on your provider.
How do you compare phone plans?
If you’re searching for your best phone plan option, you’ll want to know what features of a phone plan to compare.
It’s worth prioritising these factors in your phone plan comparison:
| Phone plan feature | About |
| Advertised cost | The most impactful component to your budget. This is the amount you will pay each billing period. |
| Data allowance | Depending on your appetite for using data, your provider will offer different plans with different payment tiers based on the data allowance, such as 40GB or 80GB. |
| Network | Choose between Telstra, Optus and Vodafone networks for your mobile service. Some areas, even in capital cities, may not have full network access, so it’s worth checking which network best serves your area. |
| Calls and texts | Nowadays, most providers will offer customers unlimited domestic calls and texts, with some restrictions or caps around international calls. However, PAYG plans will generally charge customers for the texts and calls made. |
| Features | Some providers may offer helpful features, such as data rollovers or data sharing across multiple plans under one account. |
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^Words such as "top", "best", "cheapest" or "lowest" are not a recommendation or rating of products. This page compares a range of products from selected providers and not all products or providers are included in the comparison. There is no such thing as a 'one- size-fits-all' financial product. The best loan, credit card, superannuation account or bank account for you might not be the best choice for someone else. Before selecting any financial product you should read the fine print carefully, including the product disclosure statement, target market determination fact sheet or terms and conditions document and obtain professional financial advice on whether a product is right for you and your finances.
