Phone plans in Australia: Prepaid, Packages, Contracts

When leaving your home country to come to Australia, one of the first things you might want to figure out before your arrival is to make sure you get an Australian SIM card. But which package should you choose? Which provider? This article will give you an overview of your options when it comes to phones in Australia, so you can choose the most suitable one for yourself.

Having a SIM card in Australia is inevitable if you want to stay in contact with your friends, but also when it comes to organizing your new life Down Under: looking for a job, calling your bank, creating your TFN or renting an apartment. Like in many other countries, the mobile phone market is dominated by a small number of providers, three major ones to be exact. Here are all the information you need to pick the irght phone plan depending on your situation.

How to make an international call from and to Australia

Exit codes and country codes

To make an international call from Australia, you need to enter an exit code then a country code and the phone number. Here are the codes :

• First you need to enter the exit code : the Australian exit code is ‘0011‘ or ‘+‘ on a mobile (to dial +, press and hold 0 on your phone’s keypad)
• Then you need to compose the country code. For example, the UK country code is 44, the New Zealand country code is 64, for the USA, the country code is 1.
• Then enter the phone number including the area code (you will need to drop the ‘0’ from the area code).

To call Australia from overseas, you need to compose + 61 then the phone number.

You should know that some operators offer packages where days of roaming per year are offered throughout the world. So you can go abroad and use your package without worrying about your bill when you return. Other operators offer free roaming to certain destinations. It is therefore important to check with your operator.

Time zones in Australia

There are 3 separate time zones in Australia

Calling from Australia

To make calls in Australia, you have a few options:

• Use your national plan
• Take a prepaid sim card
• Subscribe to a phone plan
• Use a phone box (increasingly rare).

Canberra ACT, Australia is 11 hours ahead of United Kingdom (during winter UK). The best times to make a call from the East Coast and Central Australia to Europe are :

• Morning: between 6am and 8am
• Evening: between 5pm and 10pm

Calling from overseas to Australia

Depending on the time zone in Australia, the time difference with UK is between 7 and 11 hours. You must also take into account the summer and winter time. In winter the time difference is greater.

The ideal times to make a call from UK to Australia are

• In the morning: between 7am and 12pm
• In the evening between 9pm and 11pm

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Phone providers in Australia

Different providers

The number one choice when it comes to providers is Telstra, due to its coverage in almost every corner of Australia. No other network provides you with cell service in as many places as Telstra does.

Its number one competitor is Optus, which covers a very big part of Australia as well, though it does have some faulty areas in Tasmania and the Red Center.

The third provider is Vodafone, which partially uses Optus’ network, although Optus obviously doesn’t offer all its coverage to Vodafone.

Next to these main providers, there are also a couple of companies “Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNOs)”. MVNOs are smaller providers that offer access to the Telstra, Optus or Vodafone network. They use the networks of the three main providers with some restrictions and offer some other packages for lower prices depending what you will be using your phone for.

The below graphic shows you the 3 main operators. Their affiliated “MVNOs” benefit from the network of their parent operator, however limited (less coverage, slower internet network). It will therefore be more advantageous in terms of network coverage to opt for a Telstra reseller than for a Vodafone reseller.

It is difficult to determine who the largest MNVO provider in Australia is in terms of volume. However, Amaysim is probably the best bet. In 2022, this MVNO had 1.2 million customers and held an estimated 35% share of the MVNO market.

National coverage of providers

Depending on the areas where you stay/travel, your network coverage will naturally be more or less satisfactory. Urban areas (particularly medium and large cities) are, of course, very well equipped with internet services.

In major cities like Sydney, Melbourne, or Perth, many mobile offers will surround you. However, be cautious of the enticing displays of operators! They loudly proclaim the extent of their network, but how reliable is it really? Be wary of online offers as well… Some only use them to lure you into their trap!

To better understand how the three major Australian networks divide the territory, nothing beats a visual explanation with these three maps below.

As you may have noticed, operators are struggling to cover the whole country. And there is a reason for this when you consider the size of the Outback! So depending on the type of trip you are planning in Australia, your phone plan needs will be different. One thing is for sure, if you’re planning a road trip, make sure at least one person is with Telstra.

Phone contracts: 6 questions to ask yourself

Before binding yourself, you will have to carefully assess your needs, your budget and the restrictions that come with a phone contract. Here are 5 questions that might help you make the right decision:

Should you keep your hometown plan?

It all depends on your preferences! If you prefer to play it safe and easy, you can choose to keep your national SIM card and buy an Australian one, or even carry two phones with you. The second option is not ideal since you might lose one. On the other hand, if you want to travel hassle-free, an Australian SIM card will suffice.

If you do not want to use your national plan, you can cancel your subscription or suspend it during your trip. Temporarily suspending your plan will allow you to keep your phone number at home. Some operators continue to charge their customers monthly but at a reduced rate.

How long do you plan on staying in Australia?

If your answer to this question is anything less than 12 months, it will be very impractical to choose a contract. You might want to choose a package without a contract, namely a prepaid card. If you are staying for longer than 12 months, you can consider a contract, but those packages are more restricting. On the other hand you will have access to more options…

How much are you willing to spend on your phone on a monthly basis?

Less than $20

With a modest budget, the most advantageous option remains the prepaid card. Additionally, you will only be able to choose a reseller-type operator and not the major mobile networks (Telstra, Vodafone, Optus).

There are numerous $10 plans (unlimited SMS and calls) from various operators (including periodic offers). Here are some examples:
– Amaysim offers a $10/month package for 10GB (50% off offer available until mid-March 2024 and renewable within the year)
– TPG offers a $10/month plan for 12GB (rate valid for the first 6 months then increases to $20) or another plan at $12.50/month for 25GB (rate valid for the first 6 months then increases to $25).
– Dodo offers a $10/month plan for 2GB
– iinet offers a $10/month plan for 8GB (rate valid for the first 6 months then increases to $19.99) or another plan at $12.50/month for 16GB (rate valid for the first 6 months then increases to $24.99).

Many special offers and promotions are regularly available. Be sure to check out these deals daily on the operators’ websites!

From $20 to $30

As you might expect, those with a bit more financial freedom can subscribe to a plan that suits their consumption. Or, you can start with a small $10 mobile plan as mentioned above and then continue with the same plan, which will only be slightly more expensive after the 6-month period.

Otherwise, here are some ideas for rates between $20 and $30:
– Dodo offers new customers a $20/month plan for 15GB (30GB for the first 3 months)
– TPG and iinet both offer a $20/month plan for 60GB (TPG) and 55GB (iinet) (rates valid for the first 6 months then double).

Here too, the plans include unlimited SMS and calls.

Above $30

Starting at $30, you will find interesting plans with all operators. You will benefit from substantial internet data and always unlimited SMS/calls in Australia. At Optus or Vodafone, offers at this rate also include several hours of international calls (the same service will cost a bit more at Telstra).

Examples of mobile plans:
– Optus offers a $35/month plan for 20GB (60GB in the first month and 40GB in the 2nd and 3rd months). You also get 400 minutes of international calls to 20 destinations.
– Telstra offers a $35/month plan for 25GB (5G included).

Do you wish to have Internet access every day?

Plans with unlimited internet options in Australia are expensive, even very expensive. If you are truly addicted to the internet or need to create a lot of content, be aware that you will need to budget around $50 for a decent mobile plan in terms of internet data. You can thus benefit from internet access up to approximately 150GB depending on the operators.

Are you going to be staying in a city or do you plan on discovering less inhabited parts of Australia?

If you plan on staying in a city for the majority of your time, all providers can be used as the connection and cell service will be great and you can find free Wifi hotspots anywhere. You will not have to opt for packages with too much data or Telstra’s full package. Instead you can use the smaller and cheaper packages!

If you plan on doing a big road trip, a couple of weeks in the desert, Cape York, Tasmania and all the less inhabited areas, you will at least need to get an Optus coverage, which will not always be ideal, or, the best option, a Telstra coverage, which is the only provider to cover 98% of the country.

As soon as you have answered all five of these questions, you will have to compare various offers. In order to do that, you have the option of going from one provider to the next in a mall and writing down the different packages and their prices before comparing them.

Do you plan on calling back home on a regular basis?

If you have chosen a package with a lot of data, Skype, Viber or Whatsapp will be your new friends. A couple of packages also offer a certain credit that allows you to call to landlines and international mobiles from Australia. The prices vary between the providers, depending on the connection fees on each call.
Remember to check that your home country is in the list of the countries you can call for free from your package deal.

How much does it cost to call in Australia?

The Cheapest Plans

To get the best prices, you should turn to the resellers of the major mobile companies. Here, we will only discuss plans that are valid for one month, as these are typically what you will choose for your stay in Australia.

Prices generally range from $10 to $15/month. You will get some data (up to around 10GB) and unlimited calls and texts within Australia. If you are not a heavy internet user or you will be staying in more remote areas where the network is weak (or nonexistent), this is already very good! International calls and texts are typically not included in this type of plan, or if they are, you will have very limited credit. You would then need to pay to add more credit or pay for each call/text sent, with the rate depending on the country chosen.

For the Telstra operator and its resellers, the lowest rate for a similar plan is around $20-$25/month.

Some price examples:

• Yomojo Mobile (Optus) – $14.90/month for 6GB – unlimited calls and texts in Australia
• Amaysim (Optus) – $10/month for 10GB – unlimited calls and texts in Australia
• Lebara (Vodafone) – $14.90/month for 4GB (+ 4GB bonus upon activation) – unlimited calls and texts in Australia – up to 300 minutes of international calls to 8 countries
• TPG (Vodafone) – $10/month (first 6 months then $20) – 12GB – unlimited calls and texts in Australia – unlimited international calls to 37 countries for an additional $5/month
• Everyday Mobile (Telstra) – $25/month for 22GB – unlimited calls and texts in Australia – unlimited calls and texts to 22 countries
• Aldi Mobile (Telstra) – $19/month for 10GB – unlimited calls and texts in Australia. This is the cheapest offer from Telstra resellers!

These offers often benefit from discounts once or several times a year and can be discounted up to 50% off their initial price. For example, you can get the Lebara plan for $7/month. Check the operator sites daily for these deals.

You can find even cheaper plans (less than $10), but you will not get all these advantages. Often, you will have less than 5GB of internet, and calls and texts will not be unlimited or may be paid since they are not included in the plan.

Some examples of prices:

• Lyca Mobile (Telstra) – $5/month for 1GB – calls and texts not included
• Virgin Mobile (Optus) – $8/month for 5GB – unlimited calls and texts in Australia – unlimited calls and texts to the UK
• Reward Mobile (Vodafone) – $9/month for 50MB – $40 credit for calls and texts in Australia, then paid (30c/text).

Below $10, plans offer very limited options! It seems best to opt for plans between $10-$15 to benefit from all the main features: unlimited calls and texts in Australia, reasonable internet credit, and the added bonus of international credit included in some plans.

Mid-Range Plans

In general, the price of an Australian plan is higher than what we are used to paying in Europe. Expect to pay around €20 (A$30) per month for 30 to 50GB (depending on the operator) and €40 (A$60) per month for more than 50GB.

Examples of plans under A$40/month:

• Optus offers a plan at A$35/month for 20GB (60GB for the first month and 60GB for the next two months).
• Boost and Dodo offer a plan at A$35/month for 45GB (90GB for the first three months at Dodo).
• Vodafone offers a plan at A$30/month for 40GB.
• Amaysim offers a plan at A$30/month for 32GB.

Examples of plans under A$60/month:

• Vodafone offers a plan at A$40/month for 60GB or A$65/month for 80GB (current offers).
• Optus offers a plan at A$45/month for 30GB (90GB for the first month and 60GB for the next two months).
• Telstra offers a plan at A$55/month for 45GB.

Note: ask about the latest promotions when you visit the operator so that you can take advantage of some of the benefits.

Prepaid cards: The most common choice among travellers

Prepaid cards are the most common choice among backpackers, as they don’t ask you to sign a contract and you pay for what you use/need. The down side is that usually a recharge only lasts for 28 or 30 days. Thus it is important to only recharge your package whenever you really need it.

Generally all the providers have similar offers. SIM cards cost $2 and after buying one, you can choose from one of the packages. Generally speaking you will be fine with a $30 recharge in order to fulfill your needs (calls and text messages, checking your emails, social media…).

As the number of offers is very large, we would recommend comparing them before making a final decision, so you can find the most convenient option. For those of you who plan to travel throughout Australia, Telstra will be the best option (followed by Optus), as they provide the best national coverage. Just remember, not even with Telstra do you have a stable connection in the most abandoned regions of Australia.

Prepaid cards comparaison

There are many offers for Prepaid card more than package offers. These offers are attractive because they are suitable for short stays and do not require a commitment from the consumer. In addition, resellers can offer reduced rates as they reduce their costs by using the network of operators such as Optus and Telstra.

Expiry of balance

In some cases, operators issue a special close when purchasing a prepaid card. Depending on the offer you choose, we invite you to check the expiration of your balance. Your balance may be automatically reset after 30 days, even though there may be a few dollars left on the card… So keep an eye out.

Package comparison

Operators offer between 3 and 4 packages: small, medium, large, extra-large. This table compares the medium packages of the main operators (Optus, Telstra, Vodafone) and the equivalent packages of resellers (Moose, Aymasim). The elements of comparison are the prices and the services included in the package.

Good deal: “Pay as you go” packages, valid between 6 months and 1 year

If all the listed prices up to this point seem exaggerated to you, it might be good to know that there are also some good deals in Australia. Packages that allow you not to spend too much, with some key advantages in comparison to prepaid packages.

Basically, some providers seem to have understood that certain customers don’t need use up whatever is included in their package within one single month. Thus prolonging the length of use over a larger time span would be more appropriate. Thus, Optus as well as Vodafone, Telstra and Aldi mobile offer to charge our card with a certain amount of money, which you can use freely for calls, text messages and data throughout 6 to 12 months.

Optus use a similar method: you buy $10 to $100 of credit to use within 6 months. $1 or $2 are debited from your credit, depending on the offer you have chosen, as soon as you receive a call, a text message or use the internet. So, the day you need to make calls or use the internet, you will have until midnight to make use of your daily offer.

This can be a great option under the condition that you are very careful and aware of turning off your data when you are not using it. When you are in areas where you don’t have cell service, those “lost days” will not be costing you anything. If you take a monthly offer, you will sometimes even lose entire weeks. When you don’t have cell service and cannot make use of your package. Obviously, you would only have a small number of days to use all your texts, calls and data, which is in principle the same as the Optus offer, just a lot more expensive.

Out of data: the survival kit

Are you stuck without internet access? You have some research to do but you want to minimize your GB consumption? No problem! We have solutions! And for that, we thank Wifi.

First of all, you should know that some cities offer free wifi throughout their streets like Melbourne, Sydney. Very practical when you want to reduce your internet usage. To do this, simply go to your phone settings and find the name of the dedicated network (free access, no lock on it).

Secondly, large libraries offer a connection area to everyone who visits the premises. A quiet and sheltered place where you can enjoy your research in peace.

For those with a sweet tooth, enjoy a break at a restaurant or fast food to send messages or read notifications. If the wifi code is not displayed, don’t hesitate to ask the staff who will be able to inform you.

The same goes for shopping centres (Westfield for example or mall), where you can connect to the Wifi free of charge. You will still need to enter your email address and accept the terms of use.

You’re about to go on a road trip but you’re afraid your mobile phone package won’t be enough? Well, we can help you there too! All you have to do is install the app MapsMe on your phone. It will serve as your GPS even in the most isolated parts of Australia. How does it work? No internet data is required. Simply select the map of the state or country you want to visit, download it first and then go! You’re ready to start your adventure!

Conclusion

In conclusion, before choosing your phone package for Australia, ask yourself the five essential questions that will make you understand your needs. Really think about getting small packages and packages for 6-12 months. Because the phone in Australia will mainly be there to help you to look for a job, you will have too much to see and do! Always remember to ask if the package includes a credit bonus for international calls. Also ask for the price per minute for these international calls (do not be fooled by the “$ 500 international bonus” when the price the minute is actually incredibly high).

Finally, make use of the competition between the providers and don’t hesitate to ask about special offers.