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The mobile market is built to make you overpay
Most mobile plans are sold on a single big number, the data allowance, and that number is where Australians overpay. Almost everyone buys more gigabytes than they will ever use, on a network they never needed to pay a premium for. These guides flip that around. Each one takes one decision behind your phone bill, the plan type, the network, the amount of data, the handset, and shows how it actually behaves in practice and what it means for what you pay each month. Work out how much data you really need on the right, then read the part you need.
The idea that explains your phone bill: there are only three real networks in Australia, Telstra, Optus and Vodafone, and almost every other brand is an MVNO reselling one of them, often on the very same towers, for far less. So the premium you pay the big three is mostly for the brand, not the coverage. Match a smaller telco on the right network to the data you genuinely use, and you keep the coverage while cutting the bill.
What you are really paying for
Three things that decide your mobile bill
Forget the marketing. Get these three right and a cheaper, better-fitting plan almost always exists.
The network, not the brand
Coverage comes from one of three networks. An MVNO on full Telstra coverage can cost half of a Telstra plan with identical reception, so pick the network you need, then the cheapest brand that runs on it.
The data you actually use
Most people buy far more gigabytes than they touch. A plan sized to your real usage, rather than the biggest number on the ad, is usually the single largest saving on your bill.
The phone, kept separate
Bundling a handset into your plan hides its cost and locks you in. Buying the phone outright or refurbished, then pairing a SIM-only plan, almost always works out cheaper and keeps you free to switch.
The lever you control is the fit: pick the right network, size your data allowance to how you really use your phone, and keep the handset on its own.
Explore mobile
Every plan type, network and phone, explained
Independent guides to each decision behind your phone bill, and reviews of the providers you can genuinely switch to.
Find your plan
All mobile plans
Compare every plan type side by side and find the best value for your data and budget.
Mobile providers
Independent reviews of Telstra, Optus, Vodafone and 25 plus MVNOs, with coverage and contact details.
All mobile guides
Every Selectra mobile guide in one place, from plans and SIMs to phones, networks and your rights.
SIM-only plans
Bring your own phone and pay less each month on a no-lock-in SIM-only plan.
Prepaid plans
No bills and no credit checks. Compare recharges and long-expiry prepaid deals.
No-contract plans
Month-to-month freedom with nothing locking you in, so you can switch whenever a better deal lands.
Data and networks
How much data do I need?
Match your data allowance to how you actually use your phone, so you stop paying for gigabytes you never touch.
Unlimited data plans
When truly unlimited data is worth it, where speed caps kick in and which telcos offer it.
5G in Australia
Where 5G is available, which plans include it and whether it is worth switching for.
eSIM explained
How eSIMs work, which providers support them and how to activate one on your phone.
International plans
Plans with included international calls, and the cheapest way to call home from Australia.
Roaming overseas
The cheapest way to use your phone abroad, from roaming day passes to travel eSIMs.
Phones
Phones and handsets
Whether to buy a phone outright or on a plan, and how to land the right handset for less.
iPhone plans
The cheapest way to get a new iPhone in Australia, outright versus on a plan.
Android plans
Samsung, Google and the best Android handsets, and the plans that pair with them.
Refurbished smartphones
Save hundreds on a near-new phone, with the grading and warranty traps to avoid.
iPhone vs Android
A practical head-to-head to settle which ecosystem actually suits you.
Top providers
Telstra
The widest network in Australia at a premium price. See what the coverage is really worth.
Optus
Strong city and town coverage, usually cheaper than Telstra. Read the trade-offs.
Vodafone
Aggressive pricing and big data on a network that has come a long way in the cities.
Amaysim
Long-running Optus-network MVNO known for big-data SIM-only plans and long expiry.
Boost Mobile
The only MVNO with full Telstra coverage, so you get the big network for less.
ALDImobile
No-frills prepaid on the Telstra network, with some of the cheapest annual plans around.
Keep exploring
Sort the rest of your household bills too
Once your mobile is sorted, the same Selectra approach trims your home internet, your streaming and your move.
Home internet
Compare NBN and home broadband plans by speed and price, and stop overpaying for a tier you do not need.
ExploreStreaming
Work out which streaming services are worth keeping, and how to trim the ones quietly draining your wallet.
ExploreMoving home
A step-by-step checklist to set up electricity, internet and your other connections when you move.
ExploreCommon questions
A Selectra expert answers your mobile plan questions
Far less than most people buy. Light users who mainly message, browse and check email get by on under 10GB a month. Regular social media and music streaming pushes you toward 20GB to 40GB, and only heavy video streaming on the go genuinely needs 50GB or more. The estimator above gives you a personal figure, and most Australians find they are paying for an allowance they never reach.
There are only three mobile networks in Australia: Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. Every other brand, an MVNO, resells one of those three networks, often the same towers, for less money. So a Boost plan runs on full Telstra coverage and an Amaysim plan runs on the Optus network. The coverage can be identical while the price is much lower, which is why it pays to check which network an MVNO uses rather than the brand name.
Almost always, yes. On a SIM-only plan you bring your own phone and pay only for the service, with no lock-in. A plan that bundles a handset spreads the phone cost over 12, 24 or 36 months, and you usually pay more in total than buying the phone outright. SIM-only also lets you switch the moment a better deal appears, which a phone contract does not.
Yes. Number portability is standard in Australia, so you keep your existing mobile number when you move to a new provider. You sign up with the new telco, request to port your number, and the switch usually completes within minutes to a couple of hours. Do not cancel your old plan first, as porting the number is what closes it.
Only if you have a 5G-capable phone and live or work where 5G has been rolled out. 5G is much faster than 4G in covered areas, but a good 4G plan is plenty for browsing, social media and standard video. Many plans now include 5G at no extra cost, so the question is less whether to pay for it and more whether your phone and your area can use it.