Choosing a mobile or internet plan in Australia
Australia has one of the most competitive telco markets in the world, which is good news once you know how to navigate it but overwhelming when you've just arrived. There are three major mobile networks (Telstra, Optus, TPG/Vodafone), about forty resellers running on those networks, and an even larger pool of NBN internet providers. The good news: prices in 2025-26 are the lowest they've ever been, with $20-$30/month getting you generous data and unlimited calls.
The single biggest mistake new arrivals make is signing up for an expensive long-term plan with one of the big-three carriers in their first week, often at the airport or in a shopping centre. Most of those plans are 2-3x the cost of equivalent prepaid or smaller-brand plans on the same networks. A bit of research up front can save you $500-$1,000 a year.
The three networks behind every provider
| Network | Coverage | Major brands | Reseller brands |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telstra | ~99.7% of population, best in regional/remote | Telstra | Boost (full Telstra network), Belong, More Telecom, Tangerine |
| Optus | ~98.5% of population | Optus | Amaysim, Catch Connect, Coles Mobile, Moose Mobile, GoMo |
| TPG (Vodafone) | ~96% of population | Vodafone, TPG, iiNet, Felix, Lebara | Kogan Mobile, Aldi Mobile (partial), Circles.Life, Felix |
The key insight: resellers use the exact same network as the parent brand, with the only practical differences being customer service, plan inclusions, and price. A $25 Aldi Mobile plan and a $65 Telstra plan use the same towers. Pick a network based on coverage where you live and work, then pick the cheapest reseller plan that meets your data needs.
Typical mobile plan pricing in 2025-26
- Light user (5-15GB/month, calls/texts): $15-$25/month with smaller brands like Catch, Felix, Kogan, Moose
- Average user (30-80GB/month): $25-$40/month with Amaysim, Boost, Belong, Circles.Life
- Heavy user (150GB+/month): $40-$60/month, usually with major brands offering 4G/5G prioritisation
- Premium (truly unlimited + perks): $60-$90/month with Telstra, Optus, Vodafone post-paid
Home internet: the NBN explained
Australia's National Broadband Network (NBN) is the wholesale fibre infrastructure that nearly every home internet provider uses. You can't avoid the NBN, so the choice is just which retailer to pick. Plans are categorised by speed tier:
| Speed tier | Typical monthly cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| NBN 25 (basic) | $60-$70 | 1-2 people, basic streaming, email |
| NBN 50 (standard) | $70-$85 | Most households, streaming on multiple devices |
| NBN 100 (fast) | $85-$110 | Heavy streamers, gamers, work-from-home |
| NBN 250-1000 (Superfast/Ultrafast) | $110-$150+ | Multi-person households, 4K streamers, large file uploads |
Major NBN providers include Aussie Broadband (consistently rated #1 for customer service), Superloop, Exetel, Tangerine, Spintel, and the big three (Telstra, Optus, TPG). Most of them offer the same speeds and cost within $10/month of each other. Customer service quality is the main differentiator.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an Australian SIM as soon as I land?
Yes. For everything from verifying your bank account to receiving Centrelink SMS codes, you need an Australian mobile number. The fastest path: buy a prepaid starter pack from any 7-Eleven, Coles, Woolworths, or airport kiosk for $20-$40 on arrival, then transfer to a better plan once you've settled in. Don't sign a contract in your first week.
Prepaid vs postpaid: which is better?
For new arrivals, prepaid is almost always better. Prepaid plans have no credit check (so no need for an Australian credit history), no contract, and are usually cheaper. Postpaid (monthly billing) makes sense if you want to bundle a phone purchase on a plan, but in 2025-26 buying a phone outright and using a SIM-only plan is usually cheaper over 24 months.
Can I bring my existing phone from overseas?
Most modern phones from the US, UK, Europe, Singapore, Hong Kong, and India work fine on Australian networks. The two things to check: that the phone supports the right 4G/5G bands (most do these days), and that it's unlocked from your home carrier. iPhones bought in the US are sometimes locked to specific networks - get them unlocked before flying out.
I work from home - what NBN speed do I really need?
For one or two people doing video calls and standard office work, NBN 50 is plenty. Move up to NBN 100 if you're a household of 3+, regularly upload large files, or stream 4K on multiple TVs. NBN 250 and higher only really make sense for households with 5+ people or specific high-bandwidth needs (Twitch streamers, video editors, etc.).
Can I get phone or internet without an Australian credit history?
For mobile prepaid: yes, no credit check at all. For mobile postpaid contracts: often a barrier, but Boost, Belong, Amaysim and most resellers offer "month to month" postpaid without credit checks. For NBN: most providers do a soft credit check; if you fail, prepaid NBN options exist from Belong and a handful of smaller providers, where you pay a month upfront with no credit check.
What about international calls back home?
Most modern Australian plans include unlimited international calls to common destinations (UK, Ireland, US, Canada, New Zealand, India, China, plus 10-30 other countries). For destinations not on your plan, apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, FaceTime, and Google Meet are free over WiFi or mobile data and give better call quality than traditional international calls.
What this comparison doesn't include
- Business and enterprise plans, which have different pricing and inclusions
- 5G home internet (Telstra, Optus 5G Home) which can beat NBN in some metro areas
- Starlink and satellite internet, which makes sense for very remote areas where NBN is poor
- Bundles (mobile + internet from the same provider), which sometimes offer $5-$15/month discounts
- Special student or pensioner concessions, which a few providers offer
For current pricing across the market, the ACCC's broadband market reports and independent comparison sites like Whistleout or Finder are good starting points.