Best Optus network alternative mobile plans

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Best cheap short term
Best big data short term
Best cheap long expiry
Best big data long expiry
FAQs

In Australia, three major telcos own and operate the country's three mobile networks – Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. While Telstra is known to have the network that covers the largest percentage of the population, Optus follows closely behind with the second largest.

To put it in perspective, Telstra’s network covers 99.6% of the Australian population, while Optus’s covers 98.5% and Vodafone’s covers 98.4%.

What many people don’t realise is that the big three network owners also sell wholesale access to smaller providers known as mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs). These MNVOs don’t have the same overhead costs as the network owners – they don’t need to fund and maintain the physical infrastructure, for example – so they’re able to offer plans that run on these larger networks at lower prices. Examples of MNVOs that use the Optus network are Moose Mobile, Amaysim, One Pass Mobile, Swoop and Spintel.

So, if you’re keen to access the Optus network but want to avoid paying a premium for a plan directly from Optus, choosing an MNVO that uses the Optus network can be a smart way to save on your mobile bill.

To make identifying the best-value options easier, we’ve analysed all the major providers and plans that run on the Optus network. Below, you’ll find our picks for the best affordable plans, broken down by different needs and budgets.

Best cheap month-to-month mobile plan

Swoop 30GB Sim Only Plan | $15p/m (for the first 6 months, then $29p/m) | 30GB p/m | Optus 5G network
Swoop’s 30GB plan is currently discounted down to just $15 per month for the first six months, which is a very good price for a plan that offers 30GB of data. During the first six months, each GB only costs $0.50. Even after the promotion ends, this plan still offers compelling value, with each GB costing just under $1. Excess data of up to 200GB can also be banked to use at a later date. The only real caveat is that the download speed is capped at 100Mbps – but for a plan at this price point, that’s not unusual and, with only a 30GB allowance, you likely won’t even be doing things where you’ll notice.
Cost and data for the first year: $264 for 360GB

Best big data month-to-month mobile plan

Swoop 220GB SIM Only Plan | $45p/m (for the first 6 months, then $55p/m) | 220GB | Optus 5G Network
This Swoop plan comes with an impressive 220GB per month, and for the first six months, it’s $10 off, bringing it down to $45 per month. While these prices are definitely on the higher end for an MVNO plan, if you want to be on the Optus 5G network and have a large data allowance, this is our recommendation because it’s the only plan (under $60) that offers close to 220GB. The equivalent Optus plan is the $65 Optus Choice Plus Plan which costs $65 per month and comes with 200GB which is much less appealing. This Swoop plan also allows you to rollover unused data up to 300GB so you can bank a bit of extra data to use at a later date. Bare in mind that 5G speeds are capped at 100Mbps, but this is still fast enough for everyday use, including streaming, video calls, social media, and downloading large files, so most users are unlikely to notice a significant difference compared to uncapped 5G speeds.
Cost and data for the first year: $600 for 2640GB

If you don’t mind going with a mobile plan with a longer expiry, such as 180 or 365 days, some good value plans run on the Optus Wholesale Network.

Best cheap long-expiry mobile plan

OnePass Mobile 365 Day 200GB Plan | $149 (for the first 365 days, then $200) | 200GB | Optus 4G network
If you want a cheap long expiry plan, this OnePass mobile plan is a good pick thanks to the current $51 discount for the first 365 days. Usually priced at $200 for 2000GB, this plan is currently down to $149 for the first 365 days – the equivalent of just $12.42 per month for 16.66GB per month. While that isn’t a huge amount of data, if you don’t need a large amount of data, this is a very well priced plan, with each GB only costing $0.75 – a competitive price for a 365 day plan. While this plan runs on Optus’s wholesale network, it doesn’t include access to 5G. For the price, however, you won’t find anything that’s better value for under $15 a month.
Cost and data for the first year: $149 for 200GB

Best big data long-expiry mobile plan

OnePass Mobile 365 Day Plan 360GB | $179 (for the first 365 days, then $300) | 360GB | Optus 4G network
If you want a long-expiry plan with a solid amount of data, this OnePass Mobile option stands out with the largest data allowance of any 365-day plan on the Optus network, and it’s currently discounted to just $179. At this price, the plan works out to the equivalent of $14.92 per month for 30GB of data, which is strong value for a long-expiry option. While 30GB per month isn’t a massive allowance, it’s a generous amount for a 365-day plan, particularly at this price point. During the first year at $179, each gigabyte costs less than $0.50, making it a highly competitive option in the long-expiry category.
The plan also includes 5G access, although speeds are capped at 150Mbps, which is fairly standard for 365-day plans in this price range and still more than fast enough for everyday tasks like streaming, browsing, and video calls.
Cost and data for the first year: $179 for 360GB

FAQs

Can I get an eSIM on a plan from an Optus MNVO?

This depends on the provider. While many smaller Optus-network providers do offer the option for an eSIM (such as Amaysim and Spintel), some don’t (Moose Mobile, for example), so if eSIM is a must, it’s wise to check with the provider before signing up.

Why are mobile plans directly from Optus more expensive?

Optus owns and operates the second-largest network in Australia, which means it’s responsible for maintaining the infrastructure that keeps the network running. These costs are high, so they’re factored into the price of the plans offered directly by Optus. In contrast, smaller providers (MNVOs) that lease access to Optus’s network don’t have to pay to upkeep the infrastructure, so they can offer plans at lower prices.

Compare other mobile plans on the Optus Wholesale network:

Amelia is an Ecommerce Editor at Getprice who specialises in hunting down great bargains and useful discount codes across a wide variety of products and retailers, curating gift guides for all occasions, and doing the maths to calculate the top-value mobile and internet plans for a variety of needs. Her goal is to help make finding the best online discounts as easy as possible. She loves writing about major deals and sales events to help you get the most bang for your buck at sales time.