Mobile Phones - Best Value Monthly Plans

Get the best mobile phone contract for your needs (with or without a phone)

This article is updated monthly - last updated on Monday 8 March 2010

With literally hundreds of different post-paid mobile (or monthly contract) phone plans in Australia, trying to find the best deal for your needs is enough to give anyone a headache. So we've done the hard work for you and compared the best value plans for low, medium and high users of mobile phones, with or without a new phone included.

As well as showing you the current best deals for mobile phone plans with or without a handset, (click here to go to best deals section now), we also give you some handy tips for choosing the right plan, whether you're buying your first phone or a seasoned mobile user.

Things to consider when buying a mobile plan About to finish your current mobile contract? Mobile phone network in Australia - explained The best prepaid mobile phone plans that include a phone - updated 08 March 2010 SIM Card only monthly plans (you've got a mobile phone already) - updated 08 March 2010
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Choose the cheapest tariff

Each provider has tempting 'special deals' and great-looking handsets. However in the long run, the most important thing that impacts the overall cost is the price of the monthly tariff.

Therefore, try your best to work out how many calls and texts you’ll make per month and how much internet data you'll need. It’s much easier to start off on a lower plan as most providers will let you upgrade for nothing. However, once you’re locked into a 24 month plan there’s little chance of reducing your monthly cost.

Need a new phone?

Most of us walk into one of the well known mobile phone shops with the intention of getting a good deal. Before you know it, you've signed up for a plan which is $20 a month more than you budgeted to spend, because the phone has a few extra features. The $20 a month may not sound much when the sales person is telling you what a great phone and tariff you're getting, but over 2 years that's $480 extra that you'll have to pay - equivalent to a nice weekend away!

So before you buy a new mobile decide what features you really need on the phone and work out how much you'll use the phone for calls, text and internet. This will stop you from making an 'impulse purchase' and paying over the odds.

Also remember that there’s never such a thing as a 'free phone' – the providers include the cost of the phone in the monthly plan you pay, generally over 24 months.

Prepaid

If you don't want to be locked into a monthly contract, or if you don't use your mobile phone for too many calls (less than 100 minutes of calls per month), you should consider a prepaid mobile plan as it will save you a bundle of money – see our Prepaid Mobile Guide for more information.

If your current post paid mobile contract is due for renewal, you’re in a good position. You’ve got two options:

Firstly, find a cheaper plan – see below for best deals. It’s incredibly easy to switch and moving your number to a new provider is free and easy to do.

If you want to stay with your current provider, when you come to the end of your contract it’s time to haggle! Here’s what you need to do:

1) Choose a cheap plan from the list below that fits in with your current usage.
2) Call up your current mobile provider and ask to be put through to cancellations (Generally only the cancellations team has any authority to provide you with a better deal. Don't bother with the customer service team or retail staff as they don't have the authority).
3) Use the following line:
“I’ve decided to terminate my contract with you as I can get a better deal with XYZ. Can you match it?”

Mobile phone companies are desperate to keep your business so you’ll be pleasantly surprised by what they’re prepared to do. And if they won't match a competitor's better deal, maybe it's time to move?

If you have any stories about haggling for better deals with mobile providers please share them on our forum. For more information on haggling, read our Haggling Guide.

The main networks in Australia are the 2G/GSM and 3G networks. Both networks are more than adequate for phone calls and text. If you’re going to be using the internet or making video calls on the mobile then you’ll want the 3G network, because data transfer is up to 10 times quicker.

Telstra also offer the Next G network which can be twice as fast as the other providers when using the internet. However, Telstra is expensive, so consider this only if you’re a serious mobile phone internet user. For example Telstra charges $59 per month for a 1GB browsing pack – compared with Virgin Mobile who charge just $15 for 1GB.

Network coverage

There are four terrestrial mobile networks in Australia operated by Telstra, Optus and Vodafone Hutchison Australia. Vodafone Hutchinson Australia, Telstra and Optus operate on both the 2G/GSM and 3G networks. Note that Vodafone and Hutchison have now merged (bringing two networks together) - this will mean Three and Vodafone customers should benefit from better coverage.

If you’re buying your mobile from a lesser known company, don’t worry as they’ll be using one of the big three networks for your service:

This section is verified and updated monthly - last updated Monday 08 March 2010. It is our sole aim to find the best prices in Australia (click here for more details on our honest & independent research promise).

Generally the mobile retail providers offer you the same or similar phones as each other; so choose the best tariff first, and then choose the phone. In this section we have reviewed the mobile phone providers with a retail/shop presence (Crazy Johns, Optus, Telstra, Three*, Virgin, and Vodafone* ). However, if you already have a mobile phone or buy one separately, then check out the SIM card only plans below - this section reviews all the online providers and there are some great deals to be found here.

Mobile phone providers make it very difficult to review their products on a 'like for like' basis. To cut through the marketing hype we've highlighted the phone plans that give you the most call time, texts and data for your dollar. For call time we have only considered credit that can be used to call any phone in Australia (Most mobile providers offer additional free calls when calling phones on their network).

Three* offer one of the best deals on their $29 Cap (24 month plan). In addition to a new phone, you’ll get $150 of calls and text. Calls are 40c per 30 seconds with a 35c connection fee. Texts are 25c. Whilst many other providers offer $29 caps, Three offer the cheapest call rates, so you get more minutes overall. Data is not included in this plan. They are also currently offering the first 3 months for free on a 24 month plan when you buy certain phones online.

Crazy Johns come a close second with their $29 Cap (12 or 24 month plan). Again you’ll get a phone and $150 of calls, text plus data. Calls are 42c (2c more per minute than Three) per 30 seconds with a 35c connection fee. Texts are 25c. Data is $2.05 per MB.

If you need internet data,Virgin's $35 Rollover Cap Plus (24 month plan) provides $150 of calls and text. Calls are 90c per 60 seconds with a 40c connection fee. Texts are 25c. However, whilst the call rate is more expensive you also get 300MB of internet data included in the price. Virgin also offer free voicemail pick up and unlimited free calls to other Virgin mobiles, plus you can roll over unused talk and text to the following month. You can also use your credit for overseas calls.

Both Crazy Johns and Three* are the cheapest for calls & texts with $350 credit for on their $49 cap plans:

Three* (24 month plan) charges calls at 40c per 30 seconds with a 35c connection fee. Texts are 25c. Three are also offering $50 free credit when you select certain phones online (check out their website for phones). Crazy Johns (12 or 24 month plans) has the same call and text rate but they also allow you to use the $350 credit for data at $2.05 per MB.

Vodafone* is a very close second with $350 of calls and text on their $49 cap (12/24 month plan). Calls are 40c per 30 seconds with a 35c connection fee. Texts are 28c. Whilst texts are 3c more than Crazy Johns & Three, you do get free voicemail (via ringalert) and a bonus option of 100 free texts per month. Data is extra.

Virgin Mobile is great value if you want included data. You get a phone and $350 worth of calls and text per month for $55 (24 month plan) on their 'Rollover Caps Plus'. Calls are slightly more expensive (than Crazy Johns, Vodafone and Three) at 90c per minute with a 40c connection fee and texts are 25c each. However, Virgin also includes 300MB of data for free, which is great if you want to check emails or surf the net. You also get free voicemail, free calls and text to other Virgin Mobiles plus you can roll over unused talk and text to the following month. You can also use your credit for overseas calls.

At the higher price levels there are different plans depending on whether you use your phone more for calls/text or web browsing. Check out the following:

If you want a plan that gives you the most calls for your credit then Three* (24 month contract) give you $650 credit per month for on their $69 cap. Calls are cheap at 35c per 30 seconds with a 35c connection fee (that's over 10 hrs of 1 minute calls). Texts are 25c.

If you’re looking for a plan with plenty of data then check out Vodafone* (12/24 month contract). On their $69 cap you get 1GB of data plus $400 worth of calls and text per month (call rates 40c per 30 seconds plus a 35c connection fee. Texts are 28c).

For textaholics Optus have a good deal. You get unlimited free national texts and $330 worth of credit on their $59 cap plan (24 month plan). Call rates are 80c per minute with a connection fee of 35c (that’s 287 one minute calls). Data is not included.

If you’re a major chatterbox, using the phone over 15 hours per month, or a serious mobile internet user, then look at the Three* (24 month contract) $99 'The Works' plan. You get 3,000 minutes worth of calls and 500 text/mms per month, plus 3GB of data.

Alternatively Vodafone* (24 month contract) provide unlimited free calls, texts and 1.5GB worth of data for $99 a month on their new Unlimited Cap Plan. Note however that there is a separate charge for voicemail retrieval.

If you're after a huge amount of data and an iPhone, then Virgin Mobile provide 5GB of internet data and $540 worth of calls for $100 a month on their Apple iPhone plan. (call rates 90c per minute plus a 40c connection fee. Texts are 25c).

¹based on calls lasting one minute in duration

The following providers’ tariffs have been compared: Woolworths Everyday Mobile, Optus, Vodafone, Telstra, Three, Virgin, Savvytel, Think mobile, Crazy John’s, Boost, Dodo, Just Prepaid, 2easy Telecom, GoTalk, Reward Mobile, iPrimus, TPG, Revtel, Simpliciti, mobiSIM, kissmobile, Pennytel and Slimtel.

This is where you make the big savings, because you get a lot more value if you have your own phone, or buy a new phone separately. Plus you're not locked into a 24 month contract - handy for those of us who have been known to lose our mobiles from time to time! (note: this section shows monthly plans - if you're looking for the best prepaid deals read our prepaid mobile article).

The Slimtel VIP (Vodafone network) plan is a good plan for low usage, but you can only get it if you’re moving your number from a current monthly plan with another provider (otherwise they’ll charge you $4.95 per month).
There is no monthly fee and no contract. They just charge you a call rate of 11c per 30 seconds to landline phones and 17c per 30 seconds to mobiles (calls to Vodafone mobiles are only 11c per 30 seconds). But it gets better – there is no call connection fee and calls are billed per second. So a 70 second call to a mobile phone would be 40c (the same call would cost approx $1.50 with most other providers). Both domestic and international SMS are 18c. Data is 25.3c per MB. Note that there is an $11 fee if you leave the plan.

Alternatively the Pennytel SIM card charges $8 a month and has dirt cheap calls -$0.08 call connection fee + $0.08 per 30 seconds (per second billing) to Australia landlines and mobile calls. Texts are 25c.

However, if you make more than one hour of calls each month, then consider the following:

For under $20 iPrimus (on the Telstra 2G Network) has the following deals:

$9.95 gives you $75 credit per month – that’s approx 1 hr of 1 minute calls and 23 texts.
$12.95 gives you $180 credit per month – that’s approx 2 hrs of 1 minute calls and 160 texts.
$19.95 gives you $350 credit per month – that’s approx 4.5 hrs of 1 minute calls and 156 texts.

All iPrimus plans above have the same call rate at 40c per 30 seconds plus a 35c call connection. Texts are 25.3c. A $29.95 fee is charged for the SIM card and they’ll also debit $20 which is kept as credit in your account. Note this is a 2G plan, so not recommended if you need mobile internet data.

If you need more credit then check out TPG* (Optus network). They offer the following deals:

$39.99 gives you $550 credit per month – that’s approx 6.5 hrs of 1 minute calls and 200 texts.
$49.99 gives you $1,000 credit per month. That’s approx 11.5 hrs of 1 minute calls and 400 texts plus you get 500MB of data.

All TPG plans above have the same call rate at 40c per 30 seconds plus a 35c call connection. Texts are 25.3c. Note that a $20 fee is charged for the SIM card and they’ll also debit $20 which is kept as credit in your account.

Again TPG’s* $79.99 no contract plan is the best value plan with a massive $2,000 of call value a month (see call fees above). That’s the equivalent of 26 hours of 1 minute calls and 400 texts. You also get 2GB of download included.

If you need more than 25 hours of calls a month¹ and unlimited texts, then go for the Virgin Topless plan* (no contract). You get unlimited calls and texts and in Oz plus 1GB of data for $99 per month.

¹based on calls lasting one minute in duration

Want to comment on the above article? Any stories or experiences (good or bad) about providers that you'd like to share? Have you got any other money saving tips or reviews on mobile phones? Please share them on our Forum.

Important disclaimer: Money Saving Master is passionate about helping you to save money. However the information we provide here is only general and done through journalistic research, hence the products may not be right for you. If you visit any of the above sites please ensure that you read and fully understand all the product details and conditions before you sign up for any product or service. Whilst we strive to produce the most accurate and up-to-date information, the information above could be incomplete or have changed since this article was published.

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Our research is NEVER impacted by any revenue we earn from these links. If we feature a provider as a 'best buy' and they do not offer a paid link, we will still tell you about them, but we will not always provide a link through to their site. We think that's fair enough....we hope you do to.

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