Compare Mobile Plans & Providers

Coverage

One of the most important things to check is the mobile coverage a provider offers in the areas you’ll be using your phone. In most cities, you’ll have decent reception no matter where you are. But once you get out past the suburbs and into more rural areas, it can be tough to get a signal with some providers. In other areas, you may get a strong signal, but it may be on a 3G network. This can be okay if you’re just after basic calls and SMS, but it’s not great for data. It pays to check out the coverage maps of each provider before you sign up, and make sure they have service in the areas you frequent.

Bundle your Mobile Plan and Save

If you are looking for a new mobile plan, chances are that there may be a few other services you use on a regular basis. A landline home phone, although not as popular as they used to be, can be a valuable addition to a household. Broadband internet is also a must-have these days.

So it’s no wonder that bundles that include mobile phone services are increasingly popular. As more and more Australians rely on mobile phones, competition between providers has heated up as they try to find new ways to stand out. Some providers like Telstra choose to throw in subscriptions to streaming TV services, while others like Southern Phone make it easy to get all your devices connected on one plan. The choice is ultimately yours!

Popular Mobile Plan Options

While in the early days of mobile services you’d usually take out a plan that included a mobile phone, these days there’s a lot more flexibility in the types of plans you can sign up to – making it a very popular choice for many people to buy a phone outright, then shop around for a plan to use it on. The options you’ll come across when shopping for a plan these days are:

SIM Only Plans

As the name suggests, this kind of plan gives you the SIM card and leaves it up to you to provide the device. This is a popular choice if you already have a handset, tablet, laptop or dongle and just want to get it connected. You can find SIM only deals that offer calls and text, data, or a mix of the two.

Device Plans

This option is a great choice if you don’t already have a mobile phone, or if you’re looking to upgrade to a newer model. These plans usually involve a contract, with the cost of the phone or other device  built into the monthly payments. This is a good choice if you don’t want to purchase a handset outright, or if you want to spread the cost out over time.

Month-to-Month Plans

A popular choice for those who want to try out a mobile provider before they commit, month-to-month plans are exactly what they say on the tin – contract-free plans where you pay a set amount every month. If you decide you no longer want to stay with that plan you can cancel your payments with no early termination fees or other penalties.

Prepaid Plans

A fantastic option for those on a budget, or who keep their mobile usage to a minimum. Unlike most other plans which involve paying a monthly fee for a service, prepaid plans work on a credit basis. You receive a SIM card and “recharge” it to be able to use the features you want. Different plans charge different amounts for different services. If you use up your credit for the month, you can just top it up with more when you need it.

Contract Plans

Mobile contracts used to form the core of most mobile plans. They involve agreeing to a contract where you agree to pay a set monthly fee for a period of time (usually 12 to 24 months). This is useful if you know that a particular mobile provider offers you more value on a contract plan and you’re happy to stick with them. All mobile providers have to give you the minimum total cost of their contract plans, so you know up-front how much a plan will cost you in the long run. However, it is also a good idea to pay attention to any early termination fees or excess usage fees that may be imposed if you have to leave before the contract is up.