Compare Telstra prepaid plans

Telstra prepaid plans

Telstra offers a wide selection of prepaid phone plans and recharges, catering to most usage types. Whether you’re after lots of data, a long-term plan you can set and forget, or a simple short-term plan, there are Telstra prepaid plans for almost everyone.

There are two different types of Telstra prepaid plans to choose from: the standard prepaid plans or prepaid casual plans. The standard prepaid phone plans are available over seven-day, 28-day, six-month and 12-month expiry periods.

However, depending on your needs, you may prefer to sign up to Telstra’s long-expiry casual prepaid plans, which are more like the traditional pay-as-you-go prepaid plans.

If you have a spare phone, if you want to keep your Australian phone number while you’re overseas for an extended period, or you’re an infrequent phone user looking for an occasional/emergency-use-only plan, these long-life recharges could be your perfect prepaid match.

As Telstra’s prepaid plans offer different inclusions for different usage needs, it shouldn’t be too hard to decide which type of plan is best for your needs, as it will come down to your phone usage.

Telstra recharge plans

When you sign up to a Telstra prepaid plan, you’ll have a choice between starter packs, however you may have more options for recharging your plan. While the standard prepaid starter packs are pretty much the same as the Telstra recharge plans available, if you opt for a casual prepaid plan, you’ll have a wider range of recharge options compared to the casual starter plan on offer.

What’s included in Telstra prepaid mobile plans?

Telstra’s standard prepaid plans include unlimited standard national calls and SMS, a range of data inclusions and continuous data rollover up to 200GB. However, data rollover is not included on long-expiry plans.

You’ll also get international call inclusions on most plans, with set amounts for Zone 1 and Zone 2 countries, along with 100 standard international SMS and MMS to all countries. Plans also include 5G network access but data speeds may be capped to 150Mbps or 250Mbps speeds, or uncapped, depending on your plan.

Telstra’s casual long-expiry prepaid plans are available as a starter kit with six-month expiry, while recharges are available over 60 days, six months and up to 12 months. The biggest features of these plans is that it will come with limited amounts of calls, text and MMS inclusions along with smaller data allowances than the standard plans, while price and data inclusions vary between recharges.

Customers with a Telstra prepaid plan may also be able to access Telstra’s rewards program, Telstra Plus, however eligibility criteria will apply. Telstra Plus offers a range of perks such as discounted sports and movie tickets, concert pre-sales and the ability to earn and spend points in the rewards store.

Where can you buy a Telstra prepaid SIM card?

You can pick up a Telstra $2 prepaid SIM card or starter pack from the Telstra website or in Telstra stores. You can also pick up Telstra SIMs in a range of retail stores such as Woolworths, Coles, Officeworks, Kmart and more.

How do you recharge Telstra prepaid plans?

Telstra customers can recharge their prepaid plans online, either through the Telstra website or via the Telstra app. You can also set up auto-recharge, which will renew your plan for a set recharge amount automatically before your calls, texts and data expire or your credit runs out.

Telstra prepaid phones

If you want a new phone to pair with your Telstra prepaid plan, Telstra offers a range of prepaid phones to choose from. Typically these are cheaper phones than what Telstra offers to bundle with a phone plan.

You’ll find devices from manufacturers including HMD, Motorola, Samsung, OPPO, Telstra-branded smartphones and even the iPhone SE, which are to be used with Telstra’s prepaid plans. Usually these phones are not part of the plan deal, but by purchasing one outright through Telstra in conjunction with a plan, you may get a discount on the RRP compared to outright prices from retailers.

Of course, it’s important to remember that these devices are usually locked to Telstra. This means that if you want to cancel your Telstra service and use your phone with a plan from another provider, you’ll need to request for your device to be unlocked and pay any fees for unlocking your device.

How do Telstra prepaid plans compare?

Telstra has a wide variety of prepaid plans to choose from, tailored for a range of needs. Whether you’re a regular phone user who requires unlimited calls, unlimited texts and plenty of data, or if you’re a light phone user looking for a low-maintenance plan, Telstra likely has you covered.

Telstra has ramped up its plans to better reflect the competitive prepaid market, but there may be some MVNOs that offer more data for a cheaper price. The Telstra network is still the largest in Australia — although Optus isn’t far behind — but for the vast majority of people, it’s probably worth keeping your eyes peeled if you’re looking to save money on your phone plan.

However, Telstra tends to offer a bit more than just its phone plans, such as its rewards program, so for some, the higher prices might be worth it. But it’s always worth comparing a wide range of phone plans and providers to find the best value for money plan for your needs.

About our phone experts

Emma Bradstock: Senior Telco Specialist

As Canstar Blue’s Senior Telco Specialist, Emma Bradstock covers all things mobile phone and internet, which she’s focused on for over five years. Emma has over a decade of professional writing experience across print and digital media outlets and for digital agencies, and has turned her hand to multimedia content and social media management.  She has a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Media from Macquarie University. You can follow Emma on LinkedIn.

Josh Filosi: Data Insights Analyst

Josh Filosi is Canstar’s Data Insights Analyst, and helps develop and deliver the methodology for Canstar Blue’s Value Rankings and Awards for the telco industry. He holds a double-major in Economics and Behavioral Science, and enjoys interpreting complex data. Connect with Josh on LinkedIn.