SIM-only mobile plans compared: The best Australian picks for every budget

If you're not looking to upgrade to the latest handset, a SIM-only mobile plan is the best option for Aussies on any budget, as it allows customers more freedom to decide what they want out of their phone plan.

And if you are looking to purchase one of the best phones of 2024, a SIM-only plan allows you to buy outright, saving you money in the long run by not having to worry about costly handset repayments.

In either of these scenarios, a SIM-only plan could be the right choice for your lifestyle. Dropping handset repayments entirely will not only cut down the cost of your monthly phone bill, it will also grant you the opportunity to bump up your plan and get more data than you normally would.

Major carriers like Telstra, Optus and Vodafone offer a number of great SIM-only plans for every budget, but you can save even more money by checking out what Australia's smaller telcos (or mobile virtual network operators — aka MVNOs) have to offer.

As we mentioned in our cheap mobile plans comparison, it's relatively easy to find SIM-only options which provide a decent amount of data, along with unlimited national calls and texts, starting at just AU$10 per month.

Best SIM-only plan for data

Belong 160GB SIM Only Plan | 160GB data | No lock-in contract | AU$55p/m

Wholly owned by Telstra, Belong is an excellent option for those looking to access Australia's largest network for less. For just AU$55p/m, this plan gets you a massive 160GB of monthly data, which works out to just AU$0.34 per GB. On top of that, you also get 5G network access (capped at 250Mbps).

Total minimum cost is AU$55 (1-month) | Total cost for first year: AU$660

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Best cheap SIM-only plan

iiNet (25GB Small Plan) | 25GB data | prepaid | AU$12.50p/m (first 6 months, then AU$25p/m)

If you're looking for a cheap SIM-only plan, iiNet has an unbeatable half-price promotion going on right now on its 25GB Small Plan. Get 25GB of data, along with unlimited national calls and text, and 100 minutes of international calls to 31 select countries, for only AU$12.50p/m for the first six months. Once that period is up, the plan will go back to full price, which is a still-reasonable AU$25 per recharge.

Total minimum cost is AU$12.50 (first-month) | Total cost for first year: AU$216

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Best 5G SIM-only plan

TPG (100GB Large Plan) | 100GB data | No lock-in contract | AU$22.50p/m (first 6 months, then AU$45p/m)

Want stacks of data without paying through the nose? This excellent deal from TPG gives you a whopping 100GB of data per month for just AU$22.50p/m. Of course, there's a catch — that price is only for the first 6 months, after which the price goes up to AU$45p/m (or AU$40p/m if you bundle it with a TPG internet plan). If that price is too rich for your blood, you can just cancel and switch to another provider. Please note, this offer is only available to new connections.

Total minimum cost is AU$22.50 | Total cost per year: AU$405 for first year, AU$540 each year after that

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How we pick the best SIM-only mobile plans

In order to narrow down our list of choices, our team searches for a balance of several factors which we believe most people are looking for from a SIM-only plan.

Value for money is our top priority — the best SIM-only plans will offer a reasonable amount of data without becoming too expensive. On average, each Australian uses around 12GB of data per month, which is why we've set that amount as the minimum monthly allowance.

SIM-only plans should also offer unlimited calls and text to standard numbers in Australia. Even the most affordable options provide this these days, so you should definitely avoid any plan which imposes a limit on either of them.

Network coverage is another important factor to consider when choosing a SIM-only plan. Depending on the telco you go with, all Aussies will get access to either the Telstra, Optus or Vodafone network.

In terms of coverage, Telstra's network has the widest-reaching 4G and 5G coverage in Australia, with Optus a close second. Vodafone's network size may come in third place, but it's worth noting that its 5G coverage has grown by leaps and bounds, reportedly reaching 85% of the population across 10 major Australian cities and regions.

Additionally, we also take perks into consideration, even if they aren't the main reason for our selections. These can include such things as bonus international minutes, rollover data, access to streaming services and even discounts on your groceries.