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 runs on Telstra’s Network. Most MNVOs who run on Telstra's network only have access to Telstra's WholeSale Network which doesn't offer the exact same level of coverage as Telstra's full network, particuarly in remote and regional areas. However, if this doesn't bother you, MNVO's who use the wholesale network include Tangerine Telecom, More, Belong, Everyday Mobile, Superloop, Exetel and Mate. If you want full access to Telstra's network, Boost Mobile is one of the only providers that offers full access.

We’ve thoroughly assessed the plans from all of the providers that run on Telstra's network (both Wholesale and the full network) 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

Superloop Supersim Saver 4G Plan | $25 | 15GB | 30 day expiry
Superloop’s mobile plans run on the Telstra Wholesale Network and this plan is one of the cheapest options that comes with more than 12GB of data per month. If you need more data, you’ll obviously need to spend a bit more money, but if 15GB a month is enough for you, this plan offers decent value. While this plan doesn’t offer 5G access and download speeds are capped at 100Mbps, we believe that for this price and with a respectable 15GB of data, it’s a plan worth considering.
Cost and data for the first year: $300 for 180GB

Best big data short-expiry mobile plan

Exetel Plus One eSIM Plan | $40p/m | 130GB | 30 day expiry
Exetel’s only mobile plan offering costs $40 per month and comes with an impressive 130GB of data. This is the cheapest plan we’ve seen on the Telstra network that offers anywhere near this amount of data. Per GB, you’re only paying $0.31 which is a competitive price. This plan also allows you to bank up to 1000GB of unused data so it won’t go to waste if you don’t go through it all each month. The only caveat is that speeds are capped at 150Mbps but that should be more than fast enough for everyday use.
Cost and data for the first year: $480 for 1560GB

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 Network.

Best cheap long-expiry mobile plan

Boost $300 Plan | $265 (for the first 365 days, then $300) | 290GB (for the first 365 days, then 240GB) | 365 day expiry
Boost’s 365 day $300 plan is currently discounted down to $265 and instead of 240GB, you get 290GB for the first year. This means that per month, you are paying the equivalent of just over $22.83 for just over 24GB of data, which is a competitive price for a 365 day plan, especially one that runs on the full Telstra network and offers 5G access. If you wish to recharge this plan after the first year, you will pay $300 for only 240GB of data.
Cost and data for the first year: $265 for 290GB

Best big data long-expiry mobile plan

Boost Mobile $365 SIM | $365 | 365GB | 365 day expiry
Boost Mobile’s $365 SIM with 365GB is the largest data long expiry plan we’ve seen that runs on the Telstra network. With this plan, you’re paying the equivalent of just under $30.50 for 30.40GB of data per month, which is a very good price, especially considering that it runs on the full Telstra network and you get access to 5G. While just over 30GB of data isn’t a huge data allowance, it’s the most you’re going to get with a long expiry plan on the Telstra network. The only caveat is that 4G and 5G speeds are capped at 150Mbps but with only 31GB per month, you shouldn’t notice it.
Cost and data for the first year: $365 for 365GB

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

If you're not fussed about being on the Telstra network but want a good value plan, we have guides to help you out. Check out guides on the best mobile plans under $20 per month, best mobile plans under $30 per month and best mobile plans under $50 per month.

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.