Expert Picks: Best Phone Plans (October 2022)

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When it’s time to upgrade to a new smartphone, buying on a telco plan is a simple way to spread out your payments and avoid dropping hundreds on a device upfront. But with more providers offering handset plans than ever before – including Telstra, Optus, Vodafone, TeleChoice, Woolworths Mobile and Southern Phone – finding the best deal on your desired device can be a challenge.

If you’re looking to take home a new phone, we’ve picked out some of the highest-rated two-year contract options for some of Australia’s most-wanted devices. Whether you’re after a new iPhone, the latest Samsung Galaxy release, or something from OPPO or Google, here’s where to find the best value phone plans.

How we help you find the best plan

Using Canstar Blue’s unique Value Score, we’ve singled out several plans that combine great features with competitive monthly pricing. This ranking is determined by looking at each plan’s average monthly cost compared with similar plans on the market, as well as functionality and features such as plan inclusions, provider customer service and support, and billing and payment options. Overall, if a plan has a lower cost but better features and inclusions, it’s likely to receive a higher Value Score than a more expensive plan, or one with less features.

The Value Scores for mobile products are displayed on Canstar Blue’s comparison tool, and are the default sort method when searching for mobile plans. Each included plan is given a Value Score of between 0 and 10, with a higher number indicating a better value product. More information on how Canstar Blue’s Value Rank works can be found here. So, see our list of the best value phone plans around right now.

Best Phone Plans October 2022

• Best Value iPhone Plan Vodafone $40 Lite Plan
• Best Value Samsung Plan Vodafone $40 Lite Plan
• Best Value OPPO Plan Woolworths Mobile $25 Small Plan
• Best Value Google Pixel Plan Optus $49 Small Choice Plan
• Best Value 5G Phone Plan Vodafone $40 Lite Plan

Best Value iPhone Plan

Vodafone $40 Lite Plan

Value score: 8.5

Securing the first-place spot for iPhone  14 plans, Vodafone’s entry-level Lite plan includes 10GB of fast data, unlimited data speed-capped at 2Mbps, and unlimited standard talk and text in Australia for $40 per month. You can add the iPhone 14 on a 12, 24, or 36-month device payment, but you’re free to switch between Vodafone’s SIM-only Infinite plans as needed.

If you’re pairing this plan with the 128GB iPhone 14 on a 24-month contract, you’ll pay $98.29 per month for both your plan and phone. This equals a total of $2,358.96 over two years if you stay with the same $40 Vodafone plan.

The following table shows Vodafone’s $40 Plan for the 128GB iPhone 14 on a 24-month device contract. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers.

What’s good about this plan:

• Separate from your phone payments, so you can change between Vodafone plans without affecting your repayments.
• Trade-up options available if you have an unwanted device.
• Customers can bundle this plan with other eligible Vodafone mobile and NBN plans to save up to 20% on plan fees.

What to look out for:

• Network coverage not as extensive regionally when compared to Telstra or Optus, and 5G coverage still in early stages.
• Doesn’t include overseas calls.
• International roaming not included, but $5 and $10 Roaming available in selected countries.

Best Value Samsung Plan

Vodafone $40 Lite Plan

Value score: 8.6

Vodafone again comes out on top for the Samsung Galaxy S22 range, thanks to its entry-level plan price. The telco’s smallest plan includes 10GB of high-speed data each month, plus unlimited standard national talk and text and unlimited speed-capped data, and can be combined with the Samsung Galaxy S22 on a 12-month, 24-month or 36-month device payment plan.

Paired with a 128GB Samsung Galaxy S22 on a 24-month payment plan, you’ll pay $92.04 per month ($2,208.96 over 24 months). This includes $40 per month for the plan itself, and a $52.04 monthly device payment.

The following table shows Vodafone’s $40 Lite plan for the 128GB Samsung Galaxy S22 on a 24-month device contract. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a product from a referral partner.

What’s good about this plan:

• Separate from your phone payments, so you can change between Vodafone plans without affecting your repayments.
• Trade-up options available if you have an unwanted device.
• Customers can bundle this plan with other eligible Vodafone mobile and NBN plans to save up to 20% on plan fees.

What to look out for:

• Network coverage not as extensive regionally when compared to Telstra or Optus.
• Doesn’t include overseas calls.
• International roaming not included, but $5 and $10 Roaming available in selected countries.

Best Value OPPO Plan

Woolworths Mobile $25 Small Plan

Value score: 8.4

Canstar Blue’s number-one rated smartphone brand of 2020, OPPO offers several phones on plans from Telstra, Optus, Vodafone, TeleChoice and Woolworths Mobile. If you’re looking for a solid flagship device on a 24-month plan, OPPO’S Find X5 is available on Woolworths Mobile’s $25 plan, with unlimited standard talk and text in Australia and 22GB of full-speed data per month.

Combined with your monthly X3 Find Pro payment, you’ll pay $86.50 per month over 24 months – $25 for your plan, and $61.50 per month for your phone ($2,076 over two years).

Here is Woolworths Mobile’s Small Plan for the OPPO Find X5 on a 24-month device contract. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a product from a referral partner.

What’s good about this plan:

• Can bank up to 500GB of unused data, provided your account is up-to-date.
• 10% off one grocery shop every month for Woolworths Rewards members.
• Woolworths’ Zero Bill Shock Promise means you won’t pay excess usage fees when you hit your data limit: customers can choose from buying extra data, or ceasing data service until their plan resets.

What to look out for:

• International extras aren’t included, but are available as optional add-ons.
• No 5G coverage, but Telstra 4G is included.
• Your plan and phone are combined, so you’re limited to one plan option for the whole payment term.

Best Value Google Pixel Plan

Optus $49 Small Choice Plan

Value score: 8.7

The Google Pixel 6 is available now to pair with Optus’ range of postpaid plans, including the $49 option with 30GB of fast data. This plan includes unlimited standard national talk and text in Australia, unlimited data speed-capped to 1.5Mbps, and access to Optus’ 5G network where available.

Pick up the 128GB Google Pixel 6 on a Small Optus Choice plan, and you’ll pay $90.61 per month over 24 months – $49 for your plan, and $41.61 per month for your phone ($2,174.64 over two years).

The following table shows Optus’ Small plan for the 128GB Google Pixel 6 on a 24-month device contract. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a product from a referral partner.

What’s good about this plan:

• Separate from your phone payments, so you can change between Optus plans without affecting your repayments.
• Data pooling available – share data across eligible plans on a single account.
• No excess data charges in Australia.

What to look out for:

• International calls and texts not included.
• Heavy data users may prefer to upgrade to a larger plan with more monthly gigabytes.
• International roaming not included, but customers can add an Optus Roaming Pass from $10 per day.

Best Value 5G Phone Plan

Vodafone $40 Lite Plan (with the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G)

Value score: 9.5

If you’re looking for a 5G-capable phone, Telstra, Optus and Vodafone now offer devices that are compatible with their respective 5G networks. 5G coverage is still rolling out, but the Apple iPhone 12 and 12 Pro, iPhone 13 and 13 Pro, Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G, the Samsung Galaxy S22, S22+ and S22 Ultra 5G, Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G, Google Pixel 6, and the OPPO Find X2 and X3 range are available on plans from Telstra, Optus, Vodafone (and some are even available from Woolworths Mobile, Southern Phone and TeleChoice). However, for the sake of this comparison we’ll look at the best value phone plan with access to a 5G network.

One of the lowest-priced and newest 5G devices available on telco plans is the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G. Currently, Vodafone has the best value 24-month 5G plan at $69.12 per month ($40 plan + $29.12 device payment). Over 24 months, you’ll pay $1,658.88 for your device and plan‬.

The following table shows Vodafone’s Lite Plan for the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G on a 24-month device contract. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers.

What’s good about this plan:

• Separate from your phone payments, so you can change between Vodafone plans without affecting your repayments.
• Trade-up options available if you have an unwanted device.
• Customers can bundle this plan with other eligible Vodafone mobile and NBN plans to save up to 20% on plan fees.

What to look out for:

• Network coverage not as extensive regionally when compared to Telstra or Optus, and 5G coverage still in early stages.
• Doesn’t include overseas calls.
• International roaming not included, but $5 and $10 Roaming available in selected countries.

Phone Plans Compared

Our Value Score Methodology for Phone Plans

There’s so much more to finding the right phone plan than just price alone. Especially when you’re looking for a great new handset, you’re unlikely to want the cheapest deal around because it inevitably means you’ll be sacrificing plan inclusions, or even the type of device itself. That’s why, in addition to comparing on price alone, Canstar Blue gives readers the opportunity to search for plans based on our unique Value Score, which ranks based on the best value, rather than just lowest price.

Value Scores range from 1 to 10, with a higher score indicating a better value product. The Value Score consists of a Price Score and Feature Score: the Price Score accounts for 70% of Canstar Blue’s overall ranking, with the Feature Score contributing to 30%.

Price Score

Price Scores are calculated by comparing a plan’s average monthly cost to the price of other plans available in the Aussie 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 and products are re-calculated daily, with changes then reflected on Canstar Blue’s comparison tool.

For a better understanding of how Canstar Blue’s Value Score works, view our Phone Methodology Document here.