The best SIM-only mobile plans in Australia (February 2024)

Data from the ACCC’s Internet activity report says that Australians are using around 16GB of data per month. This average data usage grows each year, which is why we use 30GB as a comfortable baseline to cover the recommended plans for this SIM-only category.

This month, Southern Phone is our favourite with its Medium SIM Only Plan. For $20 a month, you’ll get 50GB of data on the Optus 4G network. Better still, new sign-ups pay a $20 monthly fee for the first three months, improving the overall first-year value. This Southern Phone SIM-only plan also comes with $50 of international call credit. For alternatives, consider Moose Mobile’s 24.80 SIM Only plan (40GB), which includes Optus 5G, or Kogan Mobile’s Medium Monthly Plan (40GB) on the Vodafone 4G network.

For more contenders, check out these popular SIM-only mobile plans with at least 30GB of data, which don’t cost more than $40 per month.

While the average monthly SIM-only data use is higher than 10GB in Australia, the best way to save money with a mobile plan is by opting for less data. Choosing a SIM-only plan with 10GB is enough for basic to moderate monthly mobile data needs, plus it’s more manageable if your mobile phone tends to be connected to WiFi most of the time.

Our favourite cheap SIM-only plan this month is the Spintel $22 Mobile Plan, which comes with 25GB of data on the Optus 4G network. New sign-ups pay a $22 monthly fee for the first six months before the plan reverts to its typical $22 monthly cost. For cheaper plans with lower data caps, consider the Moose Mobile 16.80 SIM Only plan (15GB) on the Optus 5G network or the Kogan Mobile Small Monthly Plan (10GB) on the Vodafone 4G network.

For more cheap SIM-only alternatives, consider these popular picks from our database, which have at least 10GB of data and don’t cost more than $25 per month.

30GB is more than enough for most SIM-only users. But if you’re craving more gigabytes, you don’t have to spend a whole lot more to get at least 60GB of monthly data. This big-data category is great for people who are heavy social media users and like to stream videos on their daily commute.

This month, Moose Mobile takes the top spot with its Moose 28.80 SIM Only plan. New sign-ups pay a very competitive $28.80 per month for the first year. After the first 12 months, the place price reverts to a $36.80 typical monthly fee. For that price you get 100GB of Optus 5G data, which is capped at 100Mbps download speeds, but you do get 200GB of data rollover. That’s plenty of speed to download, stream and play for hours on your mobile phone.

If you’re keen to check out more big-data contenders, have a look at this list of popular SIM-only plans with a minimum of 60GB of data that are capped at $55-per-month.

Okay, so maybe 60GB isn’t enough. Maybe you stream so much video and download so many apps on the go that you need hundreds of gigabytes of data. Or perhaps you hotspot for work or play. If that sounds familiar, this epic-data category is for you. These days, there are plenty of telcos offering 150GB+ SIM-only plans, but that doesn’t mean you have to pay top dollar for them.

Our favourite this month is the AGL 4G Large plan, which comes with a chunky 250GB of data. Admittedly, that’s on the Optus 4G network, so don’t expect to get download speeds beyond 100Mbps, but 4G speeds are enough for any application on a mobile device. This AGL SIM-only plan costs $50 a month or its cheaper if you bundle it with AGL gas or electricity. For a big-data alternative, consider the Moose Mobile 44.80 SIM-only plan, which comes with 200GB of Optus 5G data (capped at 100Mbps).

There are plenty of other epic-data SIM-only plans in our database. These popular picks have at least 150GB of data.

There was a time when 5G plans were relegated to the network owners. Not anymore. While 5G SIM-only plans are plentiful, a bunch of them come with restrictive download caps. For this category, we favour 5G SIM-only plans with either fast download caps (150Mbps+) or uncapped data.

With that in mind, our 5G SIM-only plan for this month is the Tangerine Telecom 150GB 5G Mobile SIM. That plan name has all the key info outside of the monthly price, which is $58. Get in by the end of February 2024 to nab two months for free. You’ll enjoy up to 250Mbps Telstra 5G download speeds for that 150GB of data, plus you can take advantage of unlimited calls to 15 selected dialling destinations. Alternatively, if you have Vodafone 5G in your area, consider the uncapped 5G speeds of the Vodafone $59 Medium SIM Only Plan (180GB) or the Belong 160GB Mobile Plan (160GB), which operates on the Telstra 5G network.

There are other 5G SIM-only plans to choose from. Here are the popular picks today from our comparison engine with at least 60GB of data that don’t cost more than $60 per month.

Telstra and Boost Mobile customers get access to the full Telstra mobile network. But there are also plenty of other telcos that operate on the slightly smaller but still expansive Telstra wholesale network. This category is designed to acknowledge the popularity of the Telstra network with SIM-only users.

At the start of the month, the Tangerine 12GB Mobile SIM was the most popular pick. It comes with 12GB of Telstra 4G data for $22 a month. Get in before the end of February to nab a $0 fee for the first two months. Tangerine sells eSIM-ready plans, so you don’t have to wait for a physical SIM card with the right mobile phone, plus there’s a 500GB data bank to store unused gigabytes.

You’ll find other popular Telstra network SIM-only plans below.

The Optus mobile network is nipping at the Telstra network’s heels, supporting a selection of telcos that deliver good coverage options with competitive pricing. The Optus network is built for those after widespread 4G coverage or faster 5G options.

At the start of the month, the Dodo Mobile $10 Mobile Plan was the most popular SIM-only plan on the Optus network. It comes with 2GB of Optus 4G data and no excess data charges, albeit speeds are capped to a sluggish 256Kbps if you go over your monthly allocation. Still, that’s a great regular price for those with basic mobile data needs.

Check out more popular Optus network SIM-only plans from our database.

While its 5G network isn’t as widespread, most Australians can happily access the Vodafone 4G network. And with that access comes some great comparative SIM-only savings, both from Vodafone SIM-only plans as well as Vodafone mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) who all use the same network.

At the start of the month, the iiNet Mobile 8GB Plan was the most popular SIM-only pick on the Vodafone network. Part of that appeal is likely because of the long-running iiNet six-month discount: $10 per month instead of the typical $19.99 monthly fee. Whether discounted or typical, that monthly price nets 8GB of Vodafone 4G data.

For more popular Vodafone SIM-only plans, check out the list below.

All SIM-only mobile plans in our database come with unlimited calls and text in Australia, so you’re really dealing with data caps. The more you pay, the more data you get. But before you go too far down that rabbit hole, consider which mobile networks you have access to in the areas you frequent.

For most Australians, that’ll be all mobile networks, at least for 4G coverage. If you’ve had coverage issues in the past or travel a lot in Australia, particularly off the beaten track, a Telstra network plan is your best bet. For Aussies who frequent metro areas, you can also consider the generally cheaper Optus network plans and cheaper still Vodafone network options.

Use the interactive map below to get an idea of Telstra, Optus and Vodafone network coverage in the areas you visit most.

With the network out of the way, it’s time to think about data. Aim for around 15–20GB of data if you’re the average user. If you find you use less data each month, save money with a cheaper SIM-only plan. Alternatively, if you’re constantly needing to top up or getting stung with excess data bills, get a plan with more data.

Speaking of excess data, not every SIM-only telco charges for it these days but speeds may be capped to the point where doing more than just the online basics feels like a sluggish chore. To separate closely priced plans, we advise taking first-year costs into account. Six months of promotional pricing is great, but it’s not great if the typical price leaps to a point that nullifies the discount.

The data suggests that most people tend to stick with their telcos, though, so if that’s you, pick someone with competitive ongoing price relative to your data needs. If you find your monthly data usage fluctuates, go for a telco with data banking, so those quieter months can help support heavier months with stored gigabytes.

To help further separate contenders from your chosen telco, consider inclusions. eSIM, for instance, is a great way to avoid having to wait for a physical SIM card to arrive. International talk and text is another consideration, as is straightforward international roaming via add-ons rather than pay-as-you-go (PAYG) credit.

Changing SIM-only plans is straightforward. Once you’ve chosen the plan that’s best for you, follow these steps:

1. Click the ‘Go to Site’ button next to the plan you want. Alternatively, if a link is not supplied, visit the telco’s site.
2. On the telco’s site, confirm your SIM-only mobile plan selection and follow the prompts. You’ll likely have to create an account, provide personal details and may need to verify your identity.
3. During plan sign-up, specify whether you’d like to transfer your number or get a new one. Also choose between eSIM or physical SIM card options (where available).

The benefit of eSIM is not having to wait for a physical SIM card to arrive by mail to start using your new plan. SIM activation should take around half an hour but it may take longer. Just remember to not remove your old physical SIM card for your current plan before the new one is ready to go.