While Optus may be one of the biggest telcos in Australia, you don’t need to pay the big bucks to join its network. Like Telstra and Vodafone, Optus also resells access to its network to smaller phone providers. Known as MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators), these telcos gain the same coverage as Optus’ 4G Plus Mobile Network (although some have 5G access now), but at a lower price.
Here are the cheapest phone plans from providers that are powered by the Optus network.
This article has been updated since its original publication.
Cheap mobile plans with 5GB or more on the Optus network
If you’re looking for the cheapest plan on the Optus network, that currently belongs to Moose Mobile. The telco is currently running an offer where you can pick up its 6GB SIM-only plan for $10 per month for the first 12 months of your plan. After that year passes, you’ll be paying $15 per month.
This offer also extends to Moose Mobile’s 16GB plan, which is priced at $12 per month for 12 months, and then $19 per month thereafter. Considering the price difference between the 6GB and 16GB plans is only $2 per month during the deal period, it’s well worth it for the extra data.
SpinTel is also another decent option. The provider is currently offering a 25GB plan for $14 per month for the first six months you’re with it, and then $22 per month after that. That discount price also makes it the cheapest plan within this data bracket.
If you want a plan with a consistent price that’s under $20, Catch is offering its 10GB plan for $17 per 30-day renewal. If your budget has a little extra space, you can grab Catch’s 30GB plan for $25 per 30-day renewal.
Cheap mobile plans with 30GB or more on the Optus network
If you’re after a plan with at least 30GB of data, as far as dollar-to-data value goes, Southern Phone is one of your best options in this bracket. The provider is currently offering its 50GB plan for $20 per month, for the first six months that you’re connected. After this discount period ends, you’ll be paying $25 per month, which is still quite an impressive amount of data for under $30 per month.
Moose Mobile‘s introductory deals also extend to its other plans, so you can get a 40GB plan for $21 per month and a 55GB plan for $27 per month. Like the plans covered in the previous section, these prices will last for the first 12 months you’re with Moose, before increasing to $29 per month and $35 per month, respectively. Moose also gives you the offer to bank your unused data.
For comparison, Optus is currently offering its 20GB prepaid plan with double the data for the first three months of your connection (to a total of 40GB). This plan will set you back $35 per 28-day renewal and will drop back to 20GB per month from your fourth recharge. As you’d expect, this plan also has access to Optus’ 5G network.
Cheap mobile plans with 60GB or more on the Optus network
Amaysim is currently offering a 60GB plan for $15. There are a few catches though. After your first renewal, the plan’s price will increase to $30 and after your third renewal, its data allowance will drop down to 32GB. This MVNO’s plan also has access to Optus’ 5G network.
Two of the best value plans in this data bracket come from Southern Phone and SpinTel, which both offer 100GB plans for a flat rate of $35 per month. While you might not need 100GB per month, most plans in this range offer less data for a higher monthly price.
If you want access to Optus’ 5G network, Southern Phone is also offering a 100GB plan with a 5G SIM for $50 per month.
If you want a phone plan with a lot of data, this is where Optus shines. The provider is currently offering its 500GB plan for $69 per month for the first 12 months of your plan, before increasing to $89 per month. Considering that its 220GB plan is $69 per month and its 300GB plan is $89 per month, this deal is some unbeatable value.