Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Best Mobile Plans in Australia (2025): Telstra vs Optus vs Vodafone โ€“ Prepaid & Postpaid Comparison

Choosing the Right Mobile Plan in Australia

Choosing the right mobile plan in Australia can be overwhelming, especially with Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone continuously updating their prepaid and postpaid options. Whether you're looking for affordable mobile data, unlimited calls, or fast 5G speeds, this guide breaks down the latest plans, focusing on data allowances, network speed, and coverage to help you make an informed decision.

๐Ÿ”น Prepaid Plans: Best Data for Your Money

For those who prefer flexibility without contracts, prepaid plans are a great choice. Below is a comparison of Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone prepaid plans, focusing on data and key features.

Provider Plan Name Price (AUD) Data Allowance Expiry Period Key Benefits
Telstra Pre-Paid Mobile Plan $30 10GB 28 days Continuous data rollover, unlimited standard calls & texts.
Optus Prepaid Epic Data $30 10GB 28 days Up to 200GB data rollover, unlimited calls & texts.
Vodafone Prepaid Plus $35 30GB 28 days Infinite data at 1.5Mbps after data cap, unlimited international calls (Zone 1).


๐Ÿ”น Postpaid Plans: More Data & 5G Access

Provider Plan Name Price (AUD) Data Allowance Contract Key Benefits
Telstra Upfront Mobile Plan $55 40GB Month-to-month No excess data charges, 5G included.
Optus SIM Only Plan $49 60GB Month-to-month 5G access, speeds capped at 1.5Mbps after limit.
Vodafone SIM Only Plan $45 50GB Month-to-month 5G access, speeds capped at 2Mbps after limit.


๐Ÿ”น Network Speed & Coverage in Australia (2024)

Network Population Coverage 5G Coverage 4G Coverage
Telstra 99.4% (Best overall) Expanding fast in major cities Strongest 4G network in rural & remote areas.
Optus 98.5% (Growing fast) Expanding in metro & regional areas Reliable 4G coverage, improving in rural zones.
Vodafone 96% (Mainly metro areas) Limited but improving Expanding rural coverage via Optus partnership.


๐Ÿ“Œ Key Takeaways on Network Trends in Australia

  • โœ”๏ธ 3G Shutdown: Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone are phasing out 3G to make way for 4G and 5G improvements.
  • โœ”๏ธ 4G is still dominant: While 5G is expanding, 4G remains the most reliable network, especially in rural areas.
  • โœ”๏ธ 5G is the future: Telstra leads in 5G coverage, with Optus catching up fast. Vodafone lags but is investing heavily.


๐Ÿ”น Final Verdict: Which Australian Mobile Plan is Best for You?

  • โœ… If you want the best overall network โ†’ Choose Telstra for strong 4G & 5G coverage.
  • โœ… If you need more data at a lower price โ†’ Optus offers better value on postpaid plans.
  • โœ… If youโ€™re in a metro area and want cheap 5G โ†’ Vodafone gives affordable 5G access.
  • โœ… If you prefer prepaid flexibility โ†’ Vodafoneโ€™s 30GB + unlimited slow data is hard to beat.