Do you remember a few years ago when Kogan rocked the mobile world with a plan including 4GB of data for $40 per month? We lived in such simple times.
A lot has changed since then. In fact, things changed again quite recently. If you keep your eye on the BYO market you might have noticed plans shifting for the better a couple of months back, when Optus changed it whole pricing for the MVNOs. A wave of great new plans came all at once from providers like Jeenee Mobile, Moose Mobile, Bendigo Bank Telco, and several other Optus network providers.
And, as you’d expect, Telstra and Vodafone providers moved to catch-up as best they could. Which is all to say that if you haven’t switched mobile phone plans for a while, now is the time to check them out and see if you can get a better deal. For example…
No Contract BYO Phone Plans with 10GB or more
As you can see, you shouldn’t be paying more than about $35 per month for 10GB of data these days. What is more difficult to see in this snapshot is that the majority of the plans are on the Optus network; with the exception of Think Mobile on the Vodafone Network, and Telechoice on Telstra which makes the cut with a bonus data promotion it is currently offering.
Telstra Network Plans with 10GB or more
If access to the Telstra network is essential, there are plenty of great value plans with at least 10GB to choose from which aren’t that much more expensive than the plans on the Optus network.
Belong, which Telstra owns, is an interesting choice with a few unique features in the mix. With a Belong plan you get to ‘bank’ all unused data and build up a giant pool of unused data to use down the track. You can also gift data to another Belong customer, making a good idea to get your friends and family on a Belong plan too.
The list includes a mix of prepaid and postpaid plans, so keep an eye out for this if it makes a difference to you. That said, most prepaid plans have an auto top-up feature these days, so the experience of using is pretty much the same as a postpaid plan.
12 Month Contract Plans with 10GB or more
For the real ‘data per dollar’ winners, most of the telcos now offer their best plans on 12-month contract terms. This won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but it is the best way to pack as much data into your plan, for the lowest price.
In exchange for the yearlong commitment, we tend to think you should get something more than just calls and data. 12 month plans from Telstra and Optus are quite generous and come with a bunch of other stuff, like video and music streaming bonuses, free subscriptions to other services, and access to the Telstra Air public WiFi network. For some, these extras will sweeten the deal enough to lock in for a year.
Joe Hanlon is Publisher at WhistleOut, Australia’s phone and internet comparison website. He’s been writing about phones and plans for far too long.