Optus is one of Australia’s biggest telcos and it offers a comprehensive range of mobile phone plans, with lots of prepaid and postpaid options to choose from.
In terms of pricing, Optus' cheapest postpaid plan now costs $55 per month and includes 50GB of data and unlimited standard national calls and texts. While that’s cheaper than Telstra, Optus is still expensive on a per GB basis when compared with many smaller telcos. There are lots of other plans on the market that offer more data for a substantially lower price.
However, if you prefer the (theoretical) safety and security that comes with choosing a major provider, or you’re keen on the perks that come with Optus mobile plans, it could be worth it.
Optus mobile plans comparison
Network: | Optus network |
5G: | Yes |
Plan types: | Prepaid (7, 28, 185 and 365 day) and Postpaid (monthly) |
Cheapest plan: | $13 for 5GB (7 day prepaid) |
eSIM support: | Yes |
Data banking: | Yes, up to 200GB |
Optus offers a variety of mobile plans so customers have a lot of choice. In terms of prepaid plans, Optus offers one 7 day expiry plan, four 28 day expiry plans, one 186 day (or 6 month) expiry plan and one 365 day expiry plan. Here are the details of the plans’ pricing and inclusions (not including current discounts):
- 7 day expiry - $13 for 5GB
- 28 day expiry - $35 for 20GB
- 28 day expiry - $39 for 25GB
- 28 day expiry - $49 for 35GB
- 28 day expiry - $59 for 45GB
- 186 day expiry - $180 for 90GB
- 365 day expiry - $350 for 220GB
Optus also offers four postpaid plan options, starting from $55 per month:
- Small Choice Plus Plan - $55 for 50GB
- Medium Choice Plus Plan - $65 for 200GB
- Promo Plan - $69 (for the first 12 months, then $79 per month) for 360GB (includes $10p/m credit to spend on subscriptions of your choice for 12 months)
- Large Choice Plus Plan - $85 for 400GB (includes $20p/m credit to spend on subscriptions of your choice for as long as you stay on the plan)
Optus also offers some unique features with its mobile plans. For example, its postpaid plans come with “endless data”; this means that if you go over your monthly data limit, your download and upload speeds will simply be slowed down to a maximum of 1.5Mbps, so you can continue using the internet (albeit slowly) without having to pay any extra.
Optus postpaid customers also get exclusive perks such as access to Optus SubHub, where you can save 10% per month on the cost of selected subscription services (including Netflix, Prime Video and Binge) if you bring three or more together. You can also receive a sizable discount of $18 per month on a subscription to Optus Sport, meaning you’ll only pay $6.99 instead of $24.99.
If you’re looking for variety, Optus also has a slightly broader selection of plans than most other telcos, including a multitude of prepaid plan options so you can choose the ideal length and data allowance. You can also bundle many of the latest phone models with a plan at Optus.
Optus prepaid plans:
Optus postpaid plans:
What is Optus' mobile coverage?
Optus’ mobile network generally provides great coverage, particularly in well-populated metro areas. It does play second fiddle to Telstra in remote and regional locations, where service often depends on population density. Moreover, many smaller towns and regional highways (even major ones) that offer some measure of Telstra coverage have no Optus presence at all.
Still, Optus’s 4G network covers 96.6% of the Australia population and its newer 5G network covers 80.5% of the population (as of May 2024).
While that 5G figure continues to grow (as it does with Telstra and Vodafone), it’s largely restricted to capital cities at this point. When comparing coverage maps, Optus’s 5G network also offers less consistent ‘blanket’ coverage than Telstra or Vodafone – it’s likely that Optus is still being quite tactical with its rollout, as its maps are quite ‘spotty’. In practical terms, what this means is that you’re more likely to roam in and out of 5G areas with Optus than the other two big telcos.
You can use Optus’ network map to check if your area is covered by the Optus network as well as compare 3G, 4G and 5G access.
Are Optus's mobile plans good value?
Although Optus’ mobile plans are cheaper than comparative ones from Telstra, they’re quite expensive in general when you compare them with plans from smaller providers. This is especially the case when it comes to its postpaid plans which start from $49 per month.
Its prepaid plans are better value, especially if you opt for a 186-day or 365-day plan because you end up paying a pretty competitive rate per month and per GB. These are the plans we recommend and the plans we suggest you avoid if you want a good value mobile plan.
Recommended plans:
- Optus Prepaid $350 Plan - $350 (365 day expiry)
This plan offers pretty good value at a reasonable price, especially with the current deal which gives you 300GB (an extra 80GB) for the first three recharges. With this deal, you are only paying the equivalent of just over $29 per month for 25GB per month.
Optus also has some plans that stand out for being overly expensive, so if you’re determined to sign up for an Optus plan, we recommend avoiding the following options.
Plans to avoid:
- Large Optus Choice Plus Plan - $85p/m for 400GB
Unless you can actually use 400GB of data per month, this plan is very expensive for a postpaid monthly plan and you can find cheaper elsewhere.
What is Optus' best mobile plan?
The word ‘best’ is subjective because everyone has different needs when it comes to a mobile plan. So, to choose Optus’ best plan we compared all of its offerings and chosen a plan that we think would suit the majority of people’s needs.
Optus’s best mobile plan: Optus Prepaid $350 SIM | 365 days | 300GB (first 3 recharges, then 220GB) | $350
The Optus $350 prepaid plan is a 365 day plan and costs $350 for 220GB, however Optus is currently running a deal where you get an extra 80GB (equalling a total of 300GB) for the first three recharges – i.e. the first three years. This is a great value deal, giving you 25B per month and costing the equivalent of $29.17 per month. With this discount, you are paying $1.17 per GB which is a decent price for a 365-day plan. From the fourth recharge, you will only get 220GB which is only 18.33GB per month and each GB costs a more expensive $1.59. Obviously this plan won’t work for you if you can’t afford to pay the large upfront fee, or if you don’t want to commit to a 365 day plan. However, if you can do these things, this is one of Optus’s best value plans, especially with the extra data you get for the first three recharges.
Total cost and data for first year: $350 for 300GB
Best alternative Optus mobile plan: Optus Prepaid $39 SIM | 28 days | 45GB (first three recharges, then 25GB) | $39
If you don’t want to commit to a 365 day plan, the next best option is Optus’s Prepaid $39 SIM plan which has a 28 day expiry. This plan costs $35 per month and usually comes with only 25GB, but for the first three recharges, you get an extra 20GB (a total of 45GB). During this time, each GB costs $0.86 which is not a bad price for an Optus plan. From the fourth recharge the data drops to the regular 20GB per 28 days, but this plan allows you to roll over any leftover data (up to 200GB) and continue to use it, so if you don’t use all your bonus data during the promo period you should have a decent data bank to rely on. After you’ve used all the leftover data, you may want to consider switching to a cheaper prepaid plan.
Total cost and data for first year: $468 for 360GB
Does Optus support international roaming?
Yes, Optus supports international roaming for both postpaid and prepaid mobile customers.
Customers on eligible Optus postpaid plans can turn on international roaming and automatically get 5GB to use per day for $5 per day to use in over 150 Zone 1 destinations. For customers on non-eligible postpaid plans, international roaming is available at pay-as-you go rates where standard rates apply per minute and vary by country.
For prepaid customers, rates for prepaid roaming vary by country and include charges per minute for calls, per SMS, and per MB of data.
Does Optus sell phones or other devices?
Yes, Optus sells a wide range of phones, tablets, smartwatches and accessories. Devices can be purchased outright or added to a plan and paid off over 12, 24 or 36 months. As one of Australia’s major providers, Optus stocks the latest smartphones from popular brands like Apple, Samsung and Google, as well as headphones and smartwatches from these brands. It also offers devices from smaller and emerging brands such as Nothing, CMF, razr, nubia and more.
Optus also often offers pre-orders on newly announced phones, including the latest iPhones and Samsung Galaxy devices. These pre-orders frequently come with bonus offers, such as free storage upgrades or discounts on the device.
Should I sign up with Optus?
If you absolutely must be on an Optus plan, some options are certainly better than others. Because everyone uses their mobiles differently, we’ve broken down a number of reasons why we think an Optus plan may be a good pick for some people as well as reasons why some people may be better off looking elsewhere.
Reasons to sign up
You don’t mind spending a bit extra to be with a ‘real’ provider: It’s no secret that mobile plans from the top three telcos are on the more expensive side. However, if you really want to be with Optus and you don’t mind paying a bit of a premium, an Optus plan could be a good option for you.
You can take advantage of Optus’ endless data on postpaid plans: All Optus postpaid plans come with endless data, which means that if you go over your data allowance, Optus will just slow your download speed to 1.5Mbps so you can continue browsing without extra charges.
You need a lot of data: Optus’s postpaid plans are generally pricey, however by and large they do come with a lot of data. For example, the Optus Medium Choice Plus Plan ($65p/m) and the Optus Large Choice Plus Plan ($85p/m) come with 200GB and 400GB per month respectively. If you need that much data, these plans may be worth it because the cost per GB is very low - the Medium plan costs only $0.32 per GB and the Large plan costs $0.21 per GB. However, if you’re not going to use all the data, you’re better off finding a cheaper plan.
Reasons not to sign up
You want a competitively priced postpaid plan: Compared to other postpaid plans on the market, Optus’ are quite expensive. While its Small ($49) and Medium ($59) plans are better value than Telstra, you can find similar plans for lower prices from many other providers.
- Optus discount codes: latest mobile and internet deals and promos
Optus mobile plans FAQs
Where can I get support from Optus?
There are various ways you can get support from Optus, including via the 24-hour messaging service on the Optus App or in the My Account section on the Optus website. You can also call the Optus support line on 133 937, which is available Monday to Friday 9am - 6pm and 9am to 5pm on Saturdays. For more information on how to contact Optus for support, check out its contact us page.
How can I check Optus’ service coverage in my area?
Optus has an interactive coverage map so you can see all the areas that have 4G and 5G coverage on the Optus network. You can also enter an address, such as your home or work, to check whether Optus coverage is available at that location.
What is Optus’ cancellation policy?
Optus has different cancellation policies, depending on the service.
Postpaid: SIM-only postpaid plans have no cancellation fees, however if you are on a plan that includes a monthly handset repayment (for 12, 24 or 36 months), you’ll have to pay out the remaining cost immediately if you cancel before you’ve fully paid off your handset.
Prepaid: Because of the nature of prepaid plans, there are no cancellation fees – you can just stop purchasing recharges at any time. Note, however, that if you’ve set up an automatic recharge, you’ll have to cancel this before the next date of the recharge. If you don’t cancel ahead of time, you won’t be able to get your money back.
Does Optus support eSIM?
Yes, when you sign up for a new service for Optus, you are given the option for an eSIM.
Does this provider offer data rollover?
Yes, on prepaid plans Optus allows you to rollover excess data of up to 200GB when you recharge before expiry. However you can’t rollover unused data on an Optus postpaid plan.
Compare Optus's plans with plans from similar providers:
