Choosing a phone plan in Australia can feel daunting, but the best prepaid plans offer a simple, flexible solution. Unlike lock-in postpaid options, prepaid plans offer the flexibility to pay for exactly what you need – data, calls, or international communication – and switch providers or plans whenever you want.
The top prepaid plans offer a variety of options, with features like data rollover, data pooling and expiry lengths to consider. Don't worry – we've reviewed plans from over 10 providers to make finding the best plan for you easy, no matter your specific needs.
Compare prepaid mobile plans in Australia
Best prepaid plan providers
Vodafone prepaid plans
Vodafone’s mobile plans often present excellent value for money among the major telcos, frequently being more affordable than comparable Optus offerings. Historically, Vodafone lagged behind Optus and Telstra in regional and rural coverage and connectivity, a landscape that has now significantly changed.
Through the TPG-Optus network sharing agreement, Vodafone has expanded its footprint across Australia. While Telstra still holds the widest reach, connecting 99.7% of Australians, Vodafone's access to the Optus network now puts it on par with Optus's own reported 98.4% coverage. This closes a long-standing gap, making Vodafone a much stronger contender for rural Aussies.
Vodafone's prepaid plans generally come with generous data inclusions. For instance, the AU$45 Prepaid Plus plan typically includes 35GB of high-speed data. You can also roll over up to 200GB of unused monthly data. Plans include unlimited international calls and texts, and customers can benefit from a AU$5 discount if they opt-in for automatic recharge on certain plans.
Optus prepaid plans
Despite recent price adjustments to its postpaid plans in 2024 and prepaid plans in early 2025, Optus prepaid options remain a strong middle ground for many Australians. As one of Australia's largest telcos, Optus boasts network coverage competitive with Telstra and often provides considerably more data value than Telstra's prepaid offerings.
Even without current promotions, Optus generally provides excellent inclusions and remains more affordable than Telstra on a like-for-like basis. Attractive deals are often available for new customers, such as Optus' current EOFY sales.
For those who prefer a 'set and forget' approach, Optus' long-term prepaid plans are a popular choice. As of June 2025, you can often find generous bonus data on their 186-day and 365-day SIM plans, often with introductory discounts on the upfront cost. Whether you're a light user or a data-hungry enthusiast, Optus aims to provide a prepaid plan to suit your needs at a reasonable price, particularly with their various promotional offers.
Telstra prepaid plans
Unsurprisingly, Telstra's mobile plans are generally the most expensive on the market, consistently priced higher than comparable plans from Vodafone and Optus.
A significant factor contributing to this higher price point is Telstra's superior network, which remains the most extensive by reaching 99.7% of the Australian population. This is particularly crucial for those in regional and rural areas where connectivity is often critical.
Telstra's prepaid mobile plans were not subject to the recent price increase of its postpaid SIM plan options. Its cheapest plan is the AU$39 prepaid plan, which offers 15GB of data. This plan often comes with bonus data on initial recharges, such as the current '40GB on the first three for new services' deal ending on June 30.
If you need more monthly data from Telstra, plans like the AU$49 prepaid plan which offers 25GB standard data (or more with activation bonuses), or the AU$59 plan with 35GB standard data (and larger bonuses on activation), are options. However, the value proposition for higher-priced Telstra prepaid plans can be challenging when compared to the significant data allowances offered by Optus and Vodafone for similar or lower prices.
While Telstra undeniably offers the best coverage and strong 5G connectivity (reaching 85% of Australians), the overall value provided by its prepaid plans can be difficult to justify for many users, especially those residing in metropolitan areas where Optus and Vodafone offer competitive alternatives at more attractive price points. For those prioritising absolute maximum coverage above all else, Telstra remains the go-to, but for general value, other providers often deliver more data for your dollar.
TPG Mobile prepaid plans
For a long time, TPG has been a favourite MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator), particularly renowned for its affordable NBN plans and often featuring well in the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's (ACCC) broadband performance reports. While their NBN offerings are certainly a highlight (though they might not always offer the absolute fastest speeds), their mobile plans are increasingly worthy of attention.
TPG currently offers some of the best prepaid mobile plans for those seeking relatively large data allowances at highly competitive prices, positioning them perfectly for most customers.
A significant recent development enhancing TPG's appeal is the Optus-TPG network sharing agreement, which commenced in early 2025. This partnership will revolutionise the rural mobile experience for TPG customers by allowing access to Optus's regional network infrastructure where Vodafone coverage is limited. It's important to remember that TPG merged with Vodafone in July 2020 to form TPG Telecom, Australia's third-largest telco. As TPG mobile plans operate on the Vodafone network, they benefit from Vodafone's speeds and connectivity, but with typically more affordable MVNO pricing.
TPG is frequently running attractive promotions on its prepaid plans. As of June 2025, they are offering 50% off the first six months on a range of their prepaid mobile plans, making them exceptionally good value for new connections. These plans often come with generous data inclusions (e.g., 25GB, 50GB, 100GB options), unlimited national talk and text, and increasingly, 5G access on eligible higher-tier plans. Some plans also include international call minutes.
OnePass mobile
Formerly Catch Connect, this telco officially rebranded to OnePass Mobile on May 1, 2025, following the closure of catch.com.au. However, its core offerings remain the same: plenty of attractive prepaid plans, especially noteworthy for those who prefer long-term options and appreciate a good deal. OnePass Mobile operates on the Optus 4G Plus network, providing reliable coverage across Australia.
While OnePass Mobile offers various 28-day plans, such as an introductory offer of 60GB for AU$14 for the first 28 days (normally AU$40), we might still recommend other MVNOs like TPG for those primarily seeking frequent short-term plans with high data.
Where OnePass Mobile truly shines is with its long-expiry plans. Its flagship offering is often the 365-day plan, currently providing 360GB of data for an entire year. While usually priced at AU$300, new customers can often get it for just AU$179, working out to an incredibly affordable AU$14.92 per month for 30GB. They also offer a 200GB plan for AU$149 (first recharge), equating to around AU$12.42/month for 16.6GB.
OnePass Mobile (Catch Connect) plans currently do not include 5G access; they operate exclusively on the Optus 4G network. However, for those seeking excellent value and extended expiry, particularly on a 4G service, OnePass Mobile is a strong contender.
Felix Mobile prepaid plans
Felix Mobile stands out for its simplicity and commitment to sustainability, being a carbon-neutral provider that plants one tree per active subscription each month. Operating on the Vodafone network, Felix offers reliable speeds and 5G access on all its plans where available and with a compatible device.
Felix Mobile currently offers attractive promotional discounts for new customers. As of June 2025, deals include 60% off the first four months on all their plans. For example, during the promotional period, their 25GB plan could be as low as AU$10/month, the 50GB plan at AU$12/month and their unique Unlimited plan at AU$16/month.
A key feature across all Felix plans is unlimited data banking, meaning any unused data from your monthly allowance is added to your data bank. For customers seeking a straightforward, set-and-forget plan with reliable Vodafone network access, especially those interested in a truly unlimited (albeit speed-capped) data experience, Felix Mobile offers a compelling and environmentally conscious choice.
Kogan Mobile prepaid plans
Like Catch Connect, Kogan prepaid plans are easiest to recommend when looking to purchase long-term contracts other than the usual monthly payments. Even more so when there are discounts to be had.
Kogans plans are affordably priced no matter which one you go with, but there are often both cheaper or better value plans from other Telcos. Right now, though, Kogan's two 365-Day plans are offering massive amounts of bonus data, that make them very hard to ignore if you want a plan you can buy, then forget about.
iiNet prepaid plans
iiNet is consistently featured among the best SIM-only plans and their prepaid mobile offerings continue this trend. iiNet plans typically operate on 1-month renewal periods (auto-renewing monthly), providing flexibility without lock-in contracts. They offer generous data allowances, ranging from 25GB to 100GB, at very competitive prices, especially when promotional discounts are active.
A significant enhancement for iiNet mobile customers is their expanded network in early 2025. Operating on the Vodafone network, iiNet now leverages the TPG-Optus network sharing agreement, effectively doubling its national reach. This means iiNet customers can now stay connected in more places than ever before, covering 98.4% of the Australian population – on par with Optus.
All iiNet prepaid mobile plans come with unlimited national calls and texts to standard Australian numbers. While iiNet plans are prepaid (paid monthly in advance), they don't typically offer data banking, but rather an option to add 2GB for AU$10 if you run out of data by topping up your prepaid balance. For existing iiNet internet customers, there's often an additional AU$5 monthly discount on Medium and Large mobile plans, making them even more affordable.
Superloop prepaid plans
Superloop, a well-established name in the broadband market, has quickly become a highly recommendable MVNO for prepaid mobile plans since its entry into the market. Even without special deals, their plans offer excellent value.
Superloop mobile plans operate on parts of the Telstra 4G and 5G networks, providing extensive coverage across Australia (reaching over 23 million Australians). Plans typically renew every 30 days and offer competitive data allowances with both 4G and 5G access.
All Superloop prepaid plans include unlimited national calls and texts, plus a generous data bank allowing you to roll over unused data (with limits of 500GB or 1000GB depending on the plan). Additionally, all plans come with unlimited standard international calls and SMS to 15 selected countries. For those needing to call more destinations, a 'Minutes Add-on' for 300 minutes to 30 countries is available for a small fee.
While specific promotional deals can vary, Superloop frequently offers introductory discounts for new customers. Their standard pricing, combined with strong network performance and a range of speed options, makes Superloop an easy recommendation for robust prepaid mobile services on the Telstra wholesale network. Existing Superloop internet customers can also benefit from bundle discounts, saving up to AU$15 per month on their broadband bill when adding mobile services.
Amaysim prepaid plans
Amaysim is a prominent mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), operating on the comprehensive Optus 4G and 5G network, which covers 98.5% of Australians. As an MVNO, Amaysim benefits from not owning or maintaining its network infrastructure, allowing it to provide more competitive prices compared to the major telcos.
While historically a SIM-only provider, Amaysim has expanded its offerings. It now provides a range of popular smartphones that can be paired with its prepaid plans, including recent iPhone, Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel models. However, a key distinction is that Amaysim does not offer these phones on repayment plans over 24 or 36 months, unlike Optus, Vodafone and Telstra. If you choose to get a phone through Amaysim, you'll need to purchase it outright, with only your mobile plan being prepaid.
Amaysim's prepaid plans offer flexibility with various expiry options, including popular 28-day, 6-month and 12-month (365-day) renewals. A significant perk across all Amaysim prepaid plans is unlimited data banking, allowing you to roll over all unused data as long as you stay on your plan.
Most Amaysim plans include unlimited international talk and text to a generous list of selected countries (42 countries on higher tiers and 28 on lower ones). For customers in eligible areas with a compatible device, 5G network access is now included on most plans, with download speeds typically capped at 150Mbps or 200Mbps depending on the plan, ensuring a fast and reliable connection for everyday use.
Boost Mobile prepaid plans
Similar to Amaysim, Boost Mobile's prepaid plans are a highly popular, excellent-value alternative to Australia's three major telcos. As an MVNO, Boost Mobile uniquely provides full access to the Telstra 4G and 5G networks, covering 99.7% of the Australian population. This is a significant advantage, as other Telstra MVNOs typically only access parts of the wholesale network, making Boost the go-to for those who want Telstra's extensive regional and rural coverage without the higher price tag of its own plans.
Boost Mobile's prepaid plans come with flexible expiry options, including 28-day and 12-month periods. All plans include unlimited calls and texts to standard national numbers in Australia. For 28-day expiry plans, you also benefit from data rollover, allowing you to bank any unused data into your next month with no stated limit on accumulation.
Many Boost Mobile prepaid plans also include international call and text inclusions. For example, plans often come with unlimited standard calls to 20 selected destinations, plus a set number of minutes to an additional 30 destinations and standard international texts to any country. Boost frequently offers bonus data promotions for new activations, particularly on their long-expiry and higher-value 28-day plans, making them even more appealing.
How to choose the right prepaid plan
Is prepaid cheaper than a postpaid plan?
As the names suggest, the main difference between prepaid and postpaid plans is when you pay your bill. As you pay for prepaid plans before you use them, the main advantage of this type of phone plan is that you won’t be receiving any nasty shocks from excess data usage or other surprise charges.
Prepaid plans can sometimes be cheaper than postpaid plans, but this isn’t always the case. For example, Telstra offers a prepaid plan that comes with 40GB for AU$40, and it has a 28-day expiry. If you were to buy the same amount of data on a Telstra postpaid plan, you’d be looking at AU$58 a month.
But Telstra complicates matters if you want more data. Telstra’s prepaid plan with 65GB can be had for AU$60 with a 28-day expiry, or you can pay AU$68 on a Telstra postpaid plan and get a massive 180GB of data to burn through. So, prepaid can sometimes be cheaper than a postpaid plan, but it really depends on how much data you want.
Paying for prepaid plans in advance can also be seen as a disadvantage, as once you’ve run out of data or credit on your prepaid plan, it will no longer function. This might save you the possibility of paying the often expensive excess data rates, but you will be left with a phone that’s unable to connect to the internet when you’re away from Wi-Fi networks.
The vast majority of postpaid plans are paid monthly, whereas prepaid plans can have expiry periods ranging from a single day to a full year. For those that use little data but want unlimited talk and text, the longer expiry plans can work out as better value than a monthly postpaid plan.
In most cases, prepaid plans also avoid any form of lock-in contract. It’s a more simple transaction overall – you buy the data, calls and texts you plan to use, and it only runs out once the expiry date arrives or you reach your limit.
On the other hand, postpaid plans can allow you to pay off a new phone over 12, 24 or 36 months, and they sometimes come with added perks too, such as free streaming subscriptions for a set amount of time.
What is the downside to prepaid plans?
The main drawback of a prepaid plan, is that once the expiry runs out, you could be left without access to your plan when you need it. Of course, you can recharge earlier or add-on extra data if you run out before the end of your renewal, but forgetting to do so can prove costly when on a prepaid plan.
This leads us to the second downside of prepaid plans – having to manually recharge each time. To avoid this, you can set up auto recharge. However, being able to use up your data before the expiry of your plan can mean you recharge earlier, meaning prepaid plans can cost you more in the long run if you underestimate your monthly needs.
Why do people prefer prepaid?
Simply, by opting for prepaid over postpaid, you can pay for what you want, rather than for features you don't use. Prepaid plans are simple, and allow you to pay for credit and data you need, with no surprise charges for accidentally going over the limit.
This makes them good for children and teens who will struggle to stay within the bounds of their postpaid plan. They're also super easy to setup, and add on to if needed. Prepaid plans also allow you to pay for an entire years worth of connectivity in one go, thanks to long-expiry plans.
What are the types of prepaid plans?
As we’ve hinted at, not all prepaid plans are created equal – there are a few different types on offer and each is useful for different kinds of customers.
The typical plan is month-to-month, with a 28-day or 30-day expiry that you top up once it’s expired. These are best-suited for everyday users, and tend to be the closest to postpaid plans in terms of value. They often include unlimited talk and text too.
Long-expiry plans can stretch anywhere from 180 days up to 365 days, and typically include larger data inclusions in order to go the distance. For those that can monitor their usage or use very little, this is a great set-and-forget option and will save you decent money if you last the full expiry.
Pay as you go (PAYG) offers the option to only pay for the calls, texts and data as, and when you use it. These plans don’t offer great value for everyday users, but if you’re frugal with your usage and still want to have a mobile plan, this can be a good choice.
Although rare, there are also prepaid plans with expiries as short as a single day, and while prepaid plans under 10 days aren’t terrific value for most Aussies, they can be ideal for travellers visiting the country.
Are prepaid plans good for seniors and kids?
Thanks to the lack of bill shock and other excess charges in prepaid plans, they can make for great options for both seniors and kids that are looking for something simple to manage and affordable to sustain.
Long-expiry plans in particular can be great for seniors that don’t use much (or any) data, but still want to have a phone for calls and texts that they don’t have to worry about for extended periods of time.
On the other hand, month-to-month prepaid plans can be a great way for kids (or parents) to only pay for the data they actually use, avoiding extra charges if they exceed their cap.
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