If you’re looking to ward off bill shock and keep things flexible with a prepaid mobile plan, there’s hundreds of options on the Aussie market to suit every user and budget. But sorting through what’s available can be a struggle, especially if you’re not looking for the cheapest price alone. That’s why Canstar Blue can help you find a deal based on a plan’s overall value, not just pricing.
Best prepaid mobile plans December 2024:
- Best budget prepaid plan: ALDI Mobile $19 Plan
- Best everyday prepaid plan: TPG Small $25 Plan
- Best big data prepaid plan: TPG Extra Large $45 Plan
- Best Telstra prepaid plan: Telstra $39 Prepaid Max
- Best Optus prepaid plan: Optus Flex Plus $35 Prepaid
- Best Vodafone prepaid plan: Vodafone $35 Prepaid Plus
Postpaid offers you might like
The following table shows a selection of sponsored SIM Only plans on Canstar Blue’s database with links to referral partners.
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1 Month Contract (1 month min. cost $16.50) SIM Only Postpaid
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40GB Data/month |
$16.50 Cost/month |
Go to Site |
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1 Month Contract (1 month min. cost $14) SIM Only Postpaid
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60GB Data/month |
$14.00 Cost/month |
Go to Site |
Best budget prepaid plan
ALDI Mobile $19 plan
Value score: 8.7
For lower-to-average data users looking for a no-fuss plan, ALDI Mobile’s 10GB option comes in at $19 per recharge. This plan offers a 30-day expiry and includes unlimited standard talk and text to Australian numbers, plus coverage on the Telstra network nationwide. Customers can also roll over unlimited unused gigabytes, provided their plan remains active.
What’s good about this plan:
- Runs on the Telstra network.
- Unlimited talk and text in Australia to standard numbers.
- Unlimited data rollover.
What to look out for:
- No international call or text inclusions.
- No international roaming options.
- No 5G network access.
The following table shows ALDI Mobile’s $19 plan. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a product from a referral partner.
Best everyday prepaid plan
TPG Small $25 Plan
Value score: 89.0
While TPG is primarily known as a broadband provider, the telco also offers a small range of SIM-only prepaid plans, with coverage on Vodafone’s 4G and 5G network. TPG’s $25 plan includes 25GB of data per month, plus unlimited standard national talk and text. Currently, TPG is offering new customers an introductory price of $12.50 per month for their first six months.
What’s good about this plan:
- Includes international calls to 31 countries.
- No lock-in contract or setup fees.
- Runs on the Vodafone/TPG networks.
What to look out for:
- Discount is only for your first six months.
- Download speed capped at 150Mbps.
- International roaming is pay-as-you-go only.
The following table shows TPG’s $25 plan. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a product from a referral partner.
Best big data prepaid plan
TPG Extra Large $45 Plan
Value score: 9.7
For big data users, TPG’s $45 plan includes 100GB of data each month. This plan includes coverage on the Vodafone 4G and 5G networks, and comes with unlimited standard national talk and text to Australian numbers. Right now, this plan is discounted to $22.50 per month off for your first six months. Customers who also have a TPG internet plan will save a further $5 per month ongoing.
What’s good about this plan:
- Unlimited international calls to 31 countries.
- No lock-in contract.
- 5G network access.
What to look out for:
- Plan discount is only for your first six months.
- Ongoing discount only offered if you have TPG internet.
- International roaming only offered on a pay-as-you-go basis.
The following table shows TPG’s $45 plan. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a product from a referral partner.
Best Telstra prepaid plan
$39 Prepaid Max
Value score: 4.9
Telstra’s $39 Prepaid Mobile plan includes a standard 15GB with each 28-day recharge, alongside unlimited standard national calls and messaging, up to 300 minutes of international calls, and 100 international SMS/MMS. Customers can also continuously roll over any unused data to a maximum of 200GB, provided you recharge your plan before expiry. This plan currently includes 25GB of bonus data for your first three recharges, when you activate by March 10, 2025.
What’s good about this plan:
- Telstra networks cover around 99% of Australians.
- Data rollover allows you to save up to 200GB for later use.
- International call allowances.
What to look out for:
- No international roaming inclusions.
- 5G network access included, but speeds capped to 150Mbps.
- Comparatively more expensive than other plans with similar inclusions.
The following table shows Telstra’s $39 Prepaid Max plan. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a product from a referral partner.
Best Optus prepaid plan
Optus Flex Plus – Monthly $35
Value score: 6.1
Optus’ $35 Flex 4G prepaid plan gives you 20GB of data to use every 28 days, with the option to roll over up to 200GB of unused data when you recharge your plan before expiry. You’ll also get unlimited standard national talk and text in Australia, unlimited standard international calls to 15 selected countries, and the option to tailor your plan with add-ons such as unlimited data or overseas roaming. Currently, new customers can receive 35GB bonus data on their first three recharges, and pay $12 for their first recharge when activating by March 7, 2025.
What’s good about this plan:
- Monthly plan.
- Unlimited international call inclusions.
- Up to 200GB data rollover.
What to look out for:
- Bonus data for first three recharges only.
- International roaming not included, although add-ons are available.
- 28-day expiry.
The following table shows Optus’ $35 Flex plan. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers.
Best Vodafone prepaid plan
$35 Prepaid Plus
Value score: 6.1
Vodafone’s standard $35 prepaid SIM pack offers slightly more value than Optus and Telstra, giving you 25GB of full-speed data each recharge, plus unlimited data capped at speeds of 1.5Mbps. This plan also includes unlimited standard talk and text in Australia, 500 minutes of international calls to Zone 1 countries, and the option of banking up to 200GB of unused data when you recharge before expiry. Vodafone also regularly offers discounts and bonus data to new customers; currently, this starter pack includes a bonus 35GB on your first six recharges when you sign up by March 31, 2025.
What’s good about this plan:
- $5 monthly discount when you enable AutoRecharge.
- Includes unlimited data, known as ‘Infinite data’ at a capped speed of 1.5Mbps.
- Customers can roll over up to 200GB of unused high-speed data.
What to look out for:
- Network coverage not as extensive regionally when compared to Telstra or Optus.
- International roaming not included, but add-ons available.
- 28-day expiry, rather than a full month.
The following table shows Vodafone’s $35 Prepaid Plus plan. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a product from a referral partner.
More expert picks courtesy of our Value Rank formula
Our Value Score methodology: How we rank the best prepaid mobile plans
While price is clearly important, there’s more to finding a great phone plan than simply looking for the cheapest deal. After all, an extra few dollars could earn you a bucket load more data or other useful extras. That’s why, in addition to comparing on price, Canstar Blue gives you the opportunity to search for plans based on our unique Value Score, so you know you’re getting a great deal overall.
Value Scores range from 1 to 10, with a higher score indicating a better value prepaid phone plan. The Value Score consists of a Price Score and Feature Score: the Price Score accounts for 70% of the overall ranking, with the Feature Score contributing to 30%.
Price Score
Price Scores are calculated by comparing a plan’s monthly cost to the price of other plans in the market. Canstar Blue uses a plan’s average cost, rather than advertised prices, to account for plans that don’t renew on a standard monthly basis – for example, prepaid plans that expire every 10, 14, or 28 days. Using a plan’s average monthly cost, mean average monthly cost, and the standard deviation of the average monthly cost, Canstar Blue calculates and assigns a Price Score between 0 and 100.
Feature Score
The Feature Score compares over 100 features found on mobile plans, which are grouped into the following three categories:
- Customer Service and Support (40% of score): Application channels, website functionality, online help/support, call centres, etc.
- Inclusions (35% of score): Call, data, and SMS allowances, additional plan inclusions such as international calls or data free streaming.
- Billing and Payments (25% of score): Payment, statement, and billing frequency and options.
The Value Score, Pricing Score and Feature Scores of plans are re-calculated daily, with changes then reflected on Canstar Blue’s comparison tool. When you visit our site, you know you’re looking at the best deals around.
Frequently Asked Questions
How we pick the best value plans
- Best Budget Prepaid Plan: The best-ranked SIM-only prepaid plan under $15 per month, as determined by Canstar Blue’s Value Score.
- Best Everyday Prepaid Plan: The best-ranked SIM-only prepaid plan with around 20GB of monthly data, as determined by Canstar Blue’s Value Score.
- Best Big Data Prepaid Plan: The best-ranked SIM-only prepaid plan with a minimum of 60GB of monthly data, as determined by Canstar Blue’s Value Score.
- Best Telstra Prepaid Plan: The best-ranked Telstra SIM-only prepaid plan, as determined by Canstar Blue’s Value Score.
- Best Vodafone Prepaid Plan: The best-ranked Vodafone SIM-only prepaid plan, as determined by Canstar Blue’s Value Score.
- Best Optus Prepaid Plan: The best-ranked Optus SIM-only prepaid plan, as determined by Canstar Blue’s Value Score.
In the event that two or more plans have the same value score in any given category, the cheapest option will be featured.
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