TL;DR — Cheapest Australian Mobile Plans (May 2026)
Australian mobile plans range from AUD 10/month (bare-bones prepaid) to AUD 69/month (Telstra postpaid). The cheapest plans hide in plain sight — Boost Mobile uses the full Telstra network (not the wholesale version) at AUD 12/month for 30 GB. Lyca Mobile offers the lowest entry price at AUD 10/month for 5 GB on Telstra wholesale. Tangerine and More Telecom compete on the Optus and Telstra networks with SIM-only plans from AUD 15–20/month. The real saving comes from switching away from Telstra/Optus/Vodafone direct postpaid plans to a budget MNVO on the same network — same coverage, AUD 20–40/month less.
The Australian Mobile Market: Three Networks, 30+ Providers
Australia has three physical mobile networks: Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone. There are 30+ providers selling plans, but only three companies own towers. Everything else is an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) — a company that buys wholesale access from one of the three and resells it.
The quality tiers matter more than the brand name:
| Network Tier | Providers | Coverage | 5G |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telstra Full Network | Telstra, Boost Mobile | Full Telstra coverage (99.6% population) | Yes |
| Telstra Wholesale | Aldi Mobile, Belong, Lyca Mobile, Woolworths Mobile | Slightly less than full Telstra (~98.8%) | Usually yes |
| Optus Full Network | Optus, amaysim (owned by Optus) | Full Optus coverage | Yes |
| Optus Wholesale | Tangerine, Moose Mobile, Circles.Life | Full Optus coverage | Varies |
| Vodafone Full Network | Vodafone, Kogan Mobile, Lebara | Full Vodafone coverage | Yes |
Boost Mobile is the only MVNO with access to the full Telstra network (including rural towers that Telstra Wholesale excludes). For rural and regional users, this distinction matters — Telstra Wholesale vs full Telstra can mean the difference between 2 bars and no signal on a farm outside Dubbo.
Cheapest Mobile Plans Compared
| Provider | Cheapest Plan | Data | Network | 5G | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lyca Mobile | AUD 10/mo (prepaid 28 days) | 5 GB | Telstra Wholesale | Yes | Absolute cheapest |
| ALDImobile | AUD 15/mo (prepaid 30 days) | 3 GB + data rollover | Telstra Wholesale | No (4G) | Light users, rollover |
| Boost Mobile | AUD 12/mo (prepaid 28 days, first 3 recharges) | 40 GB | Telstra Full | Yes | Best value on best network |
| Tangerine | AUD 15/mo (SIM-only, first 6 months) | 22 GB | Optus 4G (5G on AUD 25 plan) | AUD 25+ plans | Cheapest Optus MVNO |
| More Telecom | AUD 18/mo (SIM-only, first 12 months) | 25 GB | Telstra 5G (CBA customer) | Yes | CBA customers |
| Amaysim | AUD 15/mo (prepaid 28 days) | 25 GB | Optus Full | Yes | Data-heavy light users |
| Southern Phone | AUD 25/mo (SIM-only) | 35 GB | Optus | Yes | Medium usage with Optus coverage |
| Felix Mobile | AUD 20/mo (SIM-only) | Unlimited (20 Mbps cap) | Vodafone | Yes | Unlimited data on Vodafone |
All pricing verified as of May 2026. Prepaid plans run on 28-day or 30-day cycles — a 28-day plan recharges 13 times/year, not 12, adding an extra month’s cost.
1. Boost Mobile — Best Value on Best Network
Boost Mobile is the standout Australian mobile deal. It is the only MVNO with full Telstra network access — not the slightly-reduced Telstra Wholesale network used by Aldi, Belong, and Woolworths Mobile. The full network difference matters for coverage in rural areas (central QLD, western NSW, Tasmania’s west coast) and inside large concrete buildings where Telstra’s extra spectrum bands improve penetration.
The AUD 12/month for 40 GB introductory offer (first 3 recharges, then AUD 49/month) is aggressively priced to acquire customers. After 3 months, the plan reverts to AUD 49/month — still a good deal for 85 GB on the full Telstra network, but no longer the cheapest. The strategy: sign up for 3 months, evaluate, then either stay or switch to another provider’s introductory offer.
Boost’s 5G access is included on all plans and operates on Telstra’s full 5G network (not capped or throttled). Data banking (rollover) lets unused data carry forward — a 280 GB bank maximum on the top plan.
2. Lyca Mobile — Absolute Cheapest Entry Point
Lyca Mobile’s AUD 10/month plan provides 5 GB on Telstra Wholesale with 5G access. For a light user who needs maps, messaging, and occasional browsing, 5 GB covers a month comfortably. Lyca uses 28-day recharge cycles, so the effective monthly cost is AUD 10.83 (13 recharges/year).
Lyca includes unlimited standard international calls to 28 countries — a meaningful feature for Australia’s migrant population. Calls to India, China, UK, New Zealand, and Southeast Asian countries are included at no extra cost.
The trade-off: Lyca’s customer support is offshore and response times are inconsistent. Porting a number in or out can take 48–72 hours (Telstra-to-Telstra ports are usually faster). The app is functional but basic — no usage graphs, no data banking, no family plan management.
3. Tangerine Telecom — Cheapest Optus MVNO
Tangerine offers an introductory AUD 15/month for 22 GB on the Optus 4G network for the first 6 months, reverting to AUD 25/month. 5G access requires the AUD 25/month plan or higher. Tangerine’s parent company also owns More Telecom, giving it buying power with Optus that smaller MVNOs lack.
The Optus network covers 98.5% of the Australian population. Metropolitan and regional centre coverage is strong, but rural coverage on Optus is noticeably weaker than Telstra. If you live in a capital city and rarely venture beyond the suburbs, Optus coverage on Tangerine is indistinguishable from Telstra. For road trips and regional living, Telstra-based providers (Boost, Aldi, More Telecom) are safer choices.
4. More Telecom — CBA Customers Get a Discount
More Telecom offers 25 GB for AUD 18/month for the first 12 months (Telstra 5G) with a CBA (Commonwealth Bank) customer discount. Without the CBA link, the price is AUD 25/month. CBA customers also get AUD 10/month off NBN plans if bundling.
More uses the Telstra Wholesale network with 5G access. The 12-month discount period is longer than most introductory offers (Tangerine: 6 months; Boost: 3 months), making it a good option for people who want to set, forget, and not churn every few months.
How to Save AUD 200–400/Year on Your Mobile Plan
The four-step path to a cheaper mobile plan:
- Check which network works at your home, work, and frequent destinations. Telstra has the best coverage but costs more. If Optus works fine where you spend time, an Optus MVNO saves AUD 5–15/month.
- Work out your actual data usage. The average Australian uses 15–25 GB/month. Telstra and Optus postpaid plans sell 80–180 GB that most people never touch. Check your last 3 bills for actual usage and buy a plan sized to match.
- BYO phone. A SIM-only plan costs AUD 15–35/month. A phone-on-a-plan costs AUD 55–100/month. The AUD 40/month difference is essentially a loan repayment for the phone. Buy a phone outright and go SIM-only.
- Churn introductory offers. Boost (3 months at AUD 12), Tangerine (6 months at AUD 15), More (12 months at AUD 18) — rotating through introductory offers saves AUD 100–200/year and takes 10 minutes each time you switch. Porting your number is free and usually completes within hours on a business day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Telstra Wholesale coverage noticeably worse than full Telstra?
In capital cities and major regional centres: no, the difference is negligible. In rural and remote areas: yes, the difference can be the difference between having signal and having none. Telstra Wholesale excludes some rural towers and limits access to certain spectrum bands. If you live in a regional area or travel rurally regularly, stay on a provider with full Telstra access (Telstra, Boost) or test a Telstra Wholesale SIM in your area before switching.
What is a 28-day plan and why does it matter?
Many prepaid plans (Lyca, Boost, amaysim) use 28-day recharge cycles, not calendar months. Over a year, a 28-day plan recharges 13 times, not 12. A “AUD 20/month” 28-day plan actually costs AUD 20 × 13 = AUD 260/year = AUD 21.67/month. Multiply across multiple years and the difference matters. ALDImobile is one of the few prepaid providers using a true 30-day cycle.
Can I keep my number when switching providers?
Yes. Porting your number is free and the ACCC requires providers to complete ports within 1 business day. Most ports complete within 1–4 hours. You need your current account number (not your phone number — the account number is on your bill). Do not cancel your old plan before porting — the port automatically cancels the old service.
Which providers support eSIM?
Boost Mobile and amaysim support eSIM activation. Lyca, Tangerine, and ALDImobile are physical SIM only. More Telecom supports eSIM. eSIM is convenient but limits your ability to keep a spare physical SIM for international travel or backup.
Do any cheap plans include international roaming?
Budget plans generally do not include international roaming beyond pay-as-you-go rates. Boost Mobile includes some international roaming inclusions on its AUD 49+ plans. For travel, a travel eSIM (Airalo, Holafly) is almost always cheaper than roaming on an Australian plan.
Is 5G worth it on a cheap plan?
For everyday use — maps, messaging, social media, browsing — 4G at 20–80 Mbps is more than enough. 5G matters for: downloading large files on the go, high-quality video streaming, tethering a laptop for work, and future-proofing as apps become more data-hungry. Providers that offer 5G on cheap plans (Boost, Lyca, More) provide better value than 4G-only plans at similar prices.
Can I get a family discount?
More Telecom offers a AUD 5/month discount per additional service. Tangerine does not offer explicit family plans but multiple SIMs on the same account share a dashboard. Boost and Lyca do not offer family discounts. For families of 3+, the savings from a multi-service discount (More Telecom) can match or beat individual cheap plans from different providers.
Final Verdict
Boost Mobile at AUD 12/month for the first 3 months is the best-value Australian mobile deal on the best network. After the introductory period, evaluate whether to stay (AUD 49/month for 85 GB) or switch to an Optus MVNO like Tangerine (AUD 25/month for 22 GB) or a Telstra Wholesale provider like More Telecom (AUD 25/month). The cheapest long-term option for a light user is Lyca Mobile at AUD 10/month for 5 GB. For unlimited data, Felix Mobile at AUD 20/month on Vodafone is the cheapest unlimited plan.
Check Boost Mobile → | Compare Lyca →
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission when you sign up through these links — at no extra cost to you. Plan details and pricing are based on publicly available information as of May 2026.