Telstra mobile alternatives: top plans to get Australia's best coverage for less

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Cheap short expiry
Big data short expiry
Cheap long expiry
Big data long expiry
FAQs

You’ve probably heard of the three major telcos in Australia: Telstra, Vodafone and Optus. These three aren’t just the biggest telcos in the country, they are also the owners of the only three mobile networks in Australia. Of the three, Telstra has the largest network, covering an impressive 99.6% of the population, followed by Optus which covers 98.5% and then Vodafone’s 96%.

While the differences may seem small based on the numbers, if you look at each network’s coverage map, you’ll find that the differences are much starker in regional and rural areas. So, if you live in a more remote area or travel a lot and are worried about coverage, a Telstra mobile plan is the obvious choice. The downside is that plans directly from Telstra come with quite a premium price tag – however, there is a way to get the same level of coverage (or just about) for a significantly lower price.

As mentioned above, because there are only three mobile networks in Australia, smaller telcos (also known as Mobile Virtual Network Operators or MVNOs) all technically run on one of these existing networks. Telstra, Optus and Vodafone lease their network capacity to these MVNOs and because they have lower overheads, they can afford to offer their plans at cheaper prices.

While the wholesale networks don’t always provide exactly the same amount of coverage, Telstra’s wholesale network comes pretty close, covering 98.8% of the population, which is still more than Optus’ main network.

So, if you want a plan that provides the most coverage without paying Telstra pricing, you should opt for a smaller provider that uses Telstra’s Wholesale Network. MVNOs who run on the Telstra Wholesale Network include Tangerine Telecom, More, Belong, Everyday Mobile, Superloop, Exetel, Mate and Boost Mobile.

We’ve thoroughly assessed the plans from these and other Telstra-powered providers to make finding the right one for you quick and easy. Here’s the rundown on which we think offer the best value for money for various needs:

Best cheap short-expiry mobile plan

Tangerine Telecom 12GB Mobile SIM | $22 | 12GB | 1-month expiry

Tangerine Telecom’s mobile plans run on the Telstra Wholesale Network and this plan is the cheapest we have seen that comes with more than 10GB of data per month. If you need more data, you will obviously need to spend a bit more money, but if 12GB a month is enough for you, this plan is good value. It doesn’t offer 5G access and download speeds are capped at 100Mbps but, for this price and with a respectable 12GB of data, we believe it’s a plan worth considering.

Best big data short-expiry mobile plan

Belong 160GB Mobile Plan | $55 | 160GB | 1-month expiry

Telstra-owned Belong’s $55 plan is our top pick for those who want a plan on the Telstra Wholesale Network that includes as much data as possible. While $55 per month is on the more expensive side, customers get an impressive 160GB of data per month. If you don’t need this much data, you could definitely find a cheaper plan, but if you will use close to the included 160GB, this plan will only end up costing you $0.34 per GB, which is very reasonable. Not only does this plan run on the Telstra network, but it also comes with 5G access so you can use top speeds. This plan also offers unlimited data rollover, so you can bank any leftover data to use at a later date.

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

Best cheap long-expiry mobile plan

Everyday Mobile 215GB Plan | $250 | 365-day expiry

This mobile plan from Woolworths’ Everyday Mobile is a 365-day expiry option and (when compared on a cost-per-month basis) is the cheapest plan we’ve found that provides more than 11GB per month. The outright cost of $250 equals the equivalent of $20.83 per month and gives you 17.92GB per month. You can also rollover any leftover data (up to 500GB) at the end of the 365 days if you choose to recharge this plan. The only caveat is that this plan doesn’t offer 5G, but for this price it’s still good value.

Best big data long-expiry mobile plan

FAQs

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

This depends on the provider. While many small providers do offer the option for an eSIM (such as Tangerine Telecom, Boost and Superloop), some don’t (including Belong), so you will have to check with the provider you choose to go with.

Why are Telstra’s phone plans more expensive?

Because Telstra has the largest mobile network in the country, it can afford to charge premium prices for its plans. Many customers are also loyal and value the Telstra name and network, and are willing to pay to get a plan directly from Telstra. Telstra, Optus and Vodafone also have to pay overhead costs to maintain their networks, which is one reason why MNVOs (who don’t have these overhead costs) can afford to charge less for their plans.

Compare other mobile plans on the Telstra 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 you buck at sales time.