You can use the filters in the comparison table below to customise your results and find the most suitable plan for your needs.
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The best SIM only plan for you depends on what you're looking for. As a general rule, consider:
According to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), the median data allowance is around 30GB but the average mobile customer only uses 10.2GB a month. While big data mobile plans might seem great value, consider whether you actually need all that data or whether you'd be better off with a cheaper, smaller plan.
With mobile plans, your location matters. The Telstra network is often the safest bet to sign up to because it offers the widest coverage in Australia, but those spending time mostly in metro areas could be equally well-served on the Optus network.
Prepaid plans tend to be a bit cheaper than postpaid plans, but postpaid plans usually come with more data. A good way to measure value is to make sure you get at least 1GB or less for every $1 you spend.
The 2023 Finder Awards have rewarded prepaid and postpaid providers in Australia that offer good value for money to help you find the right plan.
Both Circles.Life and Belong impressed us this year with plans that offer heaps of data without the hefty price tag.
Kogan's long expiry plans are some of the best around and come with Wi-Fi calling, instant eSIM setup and the option to earn Qantas points.
For more top picks, check out the best SIM only plans as chosen each month by our team of experts, highlighting the some of the latest deals available in the country.
A SIM only plan isn't paired with a handset. It's also known as a BYO mobile phone plan since that's essentially what you're doing. Rather than paying for a phone with your new plan, you only need to pay for the plan itself and any inclusions.
Prepaid plans come in 3 types:
Postpaid plans are:
The cheapest SIM only plan on Finder is the $1 e.Tel plan, but this plan comes with no data and a $50 advance payment making it pretty expensive (a total of $51) when you first sign up.
Our top pick this month for a cheap mobile plan you can actually use is Dodo's $20 plan.
See what other plans made it for our top picks for the best SIM only plans.
It depends. While SIM only plans usually come with a physical SIM card for you to activate your new plan on, eSIMs now exist to make switching plans and providers even easier.
eSIMs (or embedded SIMs) are built into your phone and remove the need for a physical SIM card. Many newer handsets are eSIM-compatible, allowing you to have more than 1 number on the same device.
With an eSIM, you don't have to worry about waiting for a SIM to arrive in the mail. You can simply sign up to a new phone plan online and activate it on your phone without a physical SIM.
If you don't have an eSIM-compatible phone, that's fine too. Traditional SIM cards still exist that can be delivered to your door or easily picked up in-store.
SIM only plans can offer a range of features including:
Smaller providers are fast gaining ranks for offering a lot more perks on their plans including access to 5G, international roaming packs and more. They may not have the same big brand energy as the likes of Telstra, Optus and Vodafone but they can end up saving you money down the line. That's why it's so important to compare plans before switching.
Mariam Gabaji
Utilities editor
While there are dozens of mobile plan providers, there are just 3 mobile networks in Australia: Telstra, Optus and Vodafone.
The big 3 let other providers use their networks as mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs).
Telstra operates Australia's largest 3G/4G mobile network that covers 99.5% of people. Its 5G network covers around 80% of Aussies.
Telstra has the widest mobile network for regional coverage. Besides Boost Mobile which shares Telstra's full 4G network, smaller providers on the Telstra network access 98.8% of the coverage.
