Best Telstra mobile plans: which Offer is right for you?

If you’re looking for a mobile service that gives you the best coverage, speed and reliability, there’s really only ever been one answer – giant Telstra Mobile. We’ll admit, it’s not always the cheapest option. But their extensive network had a head start when the digital mobile era began (thanks to Telstra having built the entirety of Australia’s mobile network up to that point). Plus, they’ve continued to expand and enhance their coverage in the many years since.

The Best Telstra Mobile Plans

It’s not just about coverage. Though Telstra covers almost all populated areas of Australia, so do rivals Optus and Vodafone these days. The real key to the popularity of the Telstra network is the depth of coverage. Incredibly responsive to issues such as “blackspots” and busy areas, Telstra provides coverage that works no matter where you are. No mobile network can be immune to problems. But issues such as call drop-outs, unresponsive web sites or missed calls are incredibly rare with the Telstra network. People who value reliability and coverage above all else are happy to pay a bit extra to get it.

These days, mobile is an incredibly competitive market in Australia. And while Telstra has long had the reputation of being an expensive mobile provider, that’s far from the truth. We’re especially referring to with some of the more recent Telstra mobile deals available. Alongside the basic mobile service, there’s also an array of free perks that come with most plans. And in our opinion, they’re valuable extras.

What Plans does Telstra offer?

The days of being told “it’s expensive because it’s the best” are over when it comes to Telstra’s current offerings across both SIM-only and phone plans. While the Telstra mobile network has continued to improve over the past few years, prices have come down. Right to the point where there’s real value to be had compared to the competition.

SIM-Only 40GB Plan

Let’s take a look at Telstra’s SIM-only 40GB plan, for example. It already comes with unlimited national calls and texts compared to the previous $500 worth of calls included in the older, lower-tier plan. While $500 worth of calls seems good enough, nothing beats limitless. That’s why unlimited texting and calling are now available across all BYO and phone plans.

With unlimited talk and text on all SIM-only plans, gone are the days when you have to stress over going your allowance. And that’s just one factor that’s made Telstra’s mobile lineup highly accessible more than ever. There’s also the matter of data allowance, for which every mobile customer will find appealing with the generous amount the telco is giving out as bonuses.

SIM-Only 80GB Plan

So with all that in mind, what are the best Telstra mobile plans? Well, let’s start with the SIM-only category, where our vote would go to the mid-tier 80GB plan. It’s on a month-to-month contract and comes with unlimited national calls/texts and a hefty 80GB included data — all for only $65 per month. If you need to make international calls often, it’s only $10 extra per month.

Postpaid/Prepaid Plans

If you don’t want to go on a contract, it’s a good thing that Telstra’s postpaid plans are now on a month-to-month basis. For those who prefer prepaid to save on monthly costs, the telco also offers a convenient range of prepaid plans. The lowest plan would be the $10 prepaid but that comes with a 7-day expiry.

Unless that’s something you specifically need, the best value among prepaid plans would be the $40 prepaid plan. It includes 18GB data + 17GB bonus and unlimited national calls and texts, as well as standard international call minutes to selected destinations. You even get a $10 extra credit. All these for only $40 with a 28-day expiry.

Mobile Phone Plans

If you’re in the market for a new phone, on the other hand, and are after Telstra mobile deals that will save you some money, there’s a huge range of plans on offer. It’s hard to give a raw dollar figure on them specifically, as what you’ll pay entirely depends on which phone you choose. The 40GB mobile plan is a winner here with some of the most desirable phones on the market. For example, the new iPhone SE on this plan is priced at just around $87. That includes the phone repayments over 24 months.

You get unlimited calls, texts, and MMS within Australia along with 40GB of data per month. Best of all, you won’t be locked into a 24-month contract. Should you leave, you just need to pay off your device, no penalties for cancelling soon. Now that’s a mobile plan packed with massive value and flexibility. If you’re in need of a new, better phone, this is it.

Telstra Mobile 2020 Promotions

Whether you’re a new customer or upgrading an existing service, you can take advantage of Telstra’s latest mobile offers with no excess data charges. in Australia. Sign up for any postpaid plan and enjoy it contract-free. New mobile plans offer 40GB up to 180GB with prices ranging from $55 to $115 per month. Postpaid consumers also get three months of BINGE and one month of Foxtel Now subscription for free to stream some of the greatest shows and movies. To top it off, 5G access is already included in the higher-tier plans provided you’re in a 5G area and your device is 5G compatible.

Last audited 16 September 2020

What does Telstra offer its customers?

There’s one other advantage to having a Telstra mobile service – and this applies to Telstra SIM only plans as well as selected prepaid plans. While they rarely advertise it, you get a bunch of very valuable extras by default with your Telstra service, which are as follows:

BINGE Streaming

Signing up to any of Telstra’s postpaid mobile plans gets you a free BINGE subscription lasting three months. Enjoy BINGE Basic or Standard plan and save $10 or $14/month on plan fees. BINGE is Australia’s newest streaming service, which houses only acclaimed shows and movies from around the globe. Getting a Telstra postpaid plan ensures you get access to binge-worthy content and with awesome streaming features to boot.

Foxtel Now Streaming

Streaming offers don’t seem to end with Telstra. Postpaid customers can also enjoy full access to all of Foxtel Now’s channel packs free for the first month. This lets you watch the best of drama, entertainment, lifestyle, reality, sports, and movies on over 75 channels.

Apple Music Streaming

For starters, there’s data-allowance-free streaming of Apple Music on all plans. That’s right, you can stream music all day and not have any of it count against your data allowance. And to sweeten that deal, every plan on a contract gets Apple Music subscription included free. It’s worth noting that your Apple Music subscription gets linked to your Telstra account.

Watch Sport Live

Sport fans, meanwhile, will love the totally free access to both the AFL and NRL Live apps on iOS and Android – something footy and rugby fans on other networks have to pay monthly for. You get comprehensive live streaming of every game, videos on demand, interviews, stats, and much more for the agreeable sum of zero dollars.

Those on Telstra prepaid plans get access as well. More sports have since been added, which makes Telstra’s mobile plans even more valuable with AFLW, Netball, and the Hyundai A-League as the latest additions. Not to mention the free WiFi data Telstra subscribers can access at more than 1 million Telstra Air hotspots across the country. When it comes to the “bonuses without a catch” department, Telstra is the clear winner.

Compare Plans

Plan

Inclusions

Price

Sports Streaming Apps

• Sports Streaming Apps
• No Lock-in Contract
• Available on all mobile providers
• Exclusive coverage and content not available on TV
• $26/mth

$26/mth

Min Cost - $313.85/yr if subscriptions maintained on all 5 apps

Go

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Mobile Sports Bundle

• Free with all Telstra mobile plans
• Mobile Sports Bundle
• No Lock-in Contract
• Years of game replays on demand
• Stream data-free on the Telstra mobile network
• $0/mth

$0/mth

Min Cost - included with Telstra postpaid ($55 - $115/mth) & prepaid ($30 recharge & above) mobile plans

Go

Last audited 09 September 2020

Telstra Plus

There are truly countless rewards and perks when you’re a Telstra subscriber. As long as you’re over 18 and an active personal customer, you can register for a Telstra Plus membership for free using your Telstra ID. The benefits for being a registered member? You can earn points (10 points for every dollar) and exchange them for rewards, such as must-have accessories. Telstra Plus members can also score discounted tickets for movies, sporting events, arts performances, concerts, and more. Want to earn more points? Select postpaid customers can fast-track their rewards so they can earn 50% more points across their accounts.

Summary: Is Telstra worth it?

With the best mobile coverage in Australia, the latest mobile data tech for fast speeds on a blazingly fast data network, and a bunch of extra perks that just sweeten the deal, there’s never been a better time to get a Telstra mobile plan. Getting a new phone on a plan with Telstra does have some advantages – including the ability to swap out to a brand new phone every year for a modest fee. But even for those who just want a SIM for the handset they have now, Telstra has really upped the stakes in terms of value.

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