Telstra is one of Australia’s largest and most well-known telecommunication companies. The company’s origins go back to 1901 when the Postmaster-General’s Department was formed, and it was responsible for postal and telecommunication services. In 1975, PMG was split into two separate entities, which thereafter became Australia Post and Telecom Australia. Telecom Australia was then privatised and rebranded as Telstra in the 1990s.
Today, Telstra has the biggest mobile network in the country and provides coverage to 99.6% of the Australian population. In terms of its 5G coverage, Telstra has the most extensive range compared with Optus and Vodafone, with its 5G network currently reaching over 85% of the Australian population. This figure is continuing to grow, with the stated goal of hitting 95% in 2025.
Telstra offers a wide range of mobile plans, including prepaid, SIM-only and postpaid plans that include handsets.
Telstra's mobile plans comparison
Telstra offers multiple prepaid and postpaid mobile plans. It currently has five prepaid plans, ranging from $12 for 7 days all the way up to $320 for 365 days. These prepaid plans are generally the telco’s best overall value offerings, especially when they’re on special, providing extra data for the first few recharges which can be banked for later use.
Telstra also has three postpaid plans – Basic, Essential and Premium – that include the following prices and data allowances:
- Basic - $62 for 50GB
- Essential - $72 for 180GB
- Premium - $95 for 300GB
While these plans are expensive, especially when compared with prepaid plans from other providers, they do come with huge amounts of data and, when you look at the cost per GB, the prices are very reasonable. However, not many people need 180GB or 300GB per month and it’s not necessary to pay that much if you won’t be using all the data.
What is Telstra's mobile coverage?
As you would expect, Telstra’s mobile plans run on the telco's own mobile network. Telstra’s network is known for being the largest in Australia, covering an impressive 99.6% of the population. In comparison, Optus’ network covers 98.5% and Vodafone’s covers 96%.
If you want access to a vast network that reaches more remote areas, Telstra is your best bet. You can check where you will be able to get coverage with Telstra’s network via its coverage map. You can also use the map to check if your area is covered by Telstra’s 5G network.
However, the company’s own mobile plans aren’t the only way you can connect via the Telstra network. There are some smaller telecommunication companies (MVNOs) that offer plans that run on the Telstra network. Because these companies don’t have to worry about overheads such as network maintenance, their mobile plans can end up being quite a bit cheaper and you still get all the benefits of being on the Telstra network. Some of the MVNOs that use the Telstra network include Boost, Superloop, Exetel, Aldi Mobile, Belong and Tangerine Telecom.
Are Telstra's mobile plans good value?
While some mobile plans from the big three telcos are often more expensive than plans from smaller companies, this isn’t always the case. While Telstra’s postpaid plans are undeniably expensive, some of its prepaid plans are actually quite good value when compared with similar plans on a cost-per-GB basis.
Our three current favourites all have limited-time deals going, including a discount on the price alongside a hefty amount of bonus data.
Recommended plans:
• Telstra $35 SIM kit – 28 day recharge (prepaid)
This plan offers pretty good value at a reasonable price, especially with the current deal which gives you 35GB instead of 15GB for the first three recharges.
• Telstra $160 SIM kit – 6 month recharge (prepaid)
This 6-month plan currently gives you 110GB on the first recharge, which means you are getting just over 18GB per month and paying the equivalent of $26.67 per month – a good price for Telstra.
• Telstra $320 SIM kit – 1 year recharge (prepaid)
This plan is currently reduced to only $280 for the first 365 days and gives you 65GB of bonus data in total. That’s the equivalent of $23.33 per month for just over 19GB per month.
On the other hand, there are some plans that stand out in terms of being particularly poor value, so if you’re going to sign up with Telstra regardless, we’d at least steer clear of the following options.
Plans to avoid:
• Telstra Premium plan (postpaid)
This plan costs a whopping $95 per month and unless you’re going to use anywhere close to 300GB, it’s not worth paying that much.
• Telstra Essentials plan (postpaid)
This plan is also very expensive compared with other postpaid plans on the market, costing $72 per month. It would only be worth it if you will use 180GB per month.
What is Telstra's best mobile plan?
The word ‘best’ is somewhat subjective and we are aware that no plan is perfect. With that said, we’ve researched all of Telstra’s plans in an effort to find and recommend the one that offers the best value while being suitable for most people’s needs.
Telstra’s best mobile plan: $320 SIM Kit | 365 days | 230GB (first recharge, then 165GB) | $320 $280 (first recharge, then $320)
While a prepaid plan doesn’t suit everyone, Telstra’s range offers significantly better value than its postpaid plans. That being said, we believe Telstra’s best mobile plan is its $320 SIM Kit, which is currently discounted to $280. This prepaid plan comes with 12 months expiry, unlimited calls and texts to standard Australian numbers and, most importantly, 230GB of data. If you’re willing to pay $280 upfront, this plan is not only great value but you won’t have to worry about recharging or paying another phone bill for a whole year. When you break it down, $280 is equivalent to paying just over $23 for 19GB of data per month. Be aware this deal is only available for the first recharge – the second recharge will cost $320 and you will only get 165GB of data. Because of this, we recommend shopping around for a better deal when it comes time to recharge.
Total cost and data for first year: $280 for 230GB
Best alternative Telstra mobile plan: Telstra $35 SIM Kit | 28 days | 35GB (first three recharges, then 15GB per recharge) | $35
Of course, not everyone wants a 365-day plan or can afford to pay a large amount upfront. So, if you prefer a 28-day prepaid plan, the best value Telstra plan is the $35 SIM Kit which comes with 35GB of data for the first three recharges, then 15GB of data from the fourth recharge onwards. While 15GB of data may not be enough for some people, this plan allows you to rollover any unused data (up to 200GB) if you recharge before the plan expires. This means that you can save any leftover data from those first 3 months (a total of 105GB) and draw on that when needed in the future. While there are definitely cheaper prepaid plans on the Telstra network, if you want to be connected directly with the Big T, this plan is the option we recommend.
Total cost and data for first year: $456.25 for 255.5GB
Should I sign up with Telstra?
Everyone uses their phones differently and as such, everyone has different needs when it comes to mobile plans. Telstra’s plans are unique and they work for some people. So, here’s a breakdown on the reasons why we think it might be worth signing up for a Telstra plan or why we think you should probably opt for another provider.
Reasons to sign up
You can take advantage of a good Telstra deal: As an example, Telstra’s $45 SIM Kit isn’t usually great value because it only comes with 25GB of data (a pricey $1.80 per GB), however, this plan is currently on sale for $20 per month and you get 50GB instead of 25GB for the first three recharges.
You can commit and pay upfront for a 365 day plan: Telstra’s prepaid plans are some of its better-value options, especially so when the telco is offering a discount and/or extra data on the first few recharges. For example, the 365 day $320 SIM Kit is currently discounted to $280 with 230GB of data, which makes it reasonably good value. This plan is equivalent to $23.33 per month with 19GB of data per month – enough for most users. Be aware that when it comes time to recharge the cost does go back up to $320 for 165GB of data – so we recommend shopping around for a better deal when it comes time to recharge.
You want lots of data – and don’t mind paying for it: While Telstra’s postpaid plans are expensive, they do come with a lot of data so if you’re actually going to use all those gigs, these plans are decent value when you look at the price per GB. For example, the Essential Plan costs $72 per month and comes with 180GB of data. This means that per GB, you’re paying $0.40 – a fair bit below the current postpaid average of $0.70. If you need even more data, the Premium plan costs $95 per month for 300GB, or a very competitive $0.32 per GB.
You only want a phone service at the lowest price: Telstra has a unique prepaid plan called Pre-Paid Mobile Casual $35 which costs $35 for six months, with the (big) caveat that it only provides 350MB of data. This plan wouldn’t work for a lot of people because of the very small data allowance, however it could be perfect for someone who just wants phone service at the lowest price.
Reasons to not sign up
You want an affordable phone plan: Telstra’s prepaid plans are some of the most expensive on the market on a cost-per-month basis, and while many do come with a lot of data, based on Australian statistics, it’s more data than most people actually need. So if you’re like most Australians and use less than 20GB per month, you’ll be better off finding a more reasonably priced plan with less data elsewhere.
Telstra's mobile plans FAQs
Where can I get support from Telstra?
To contact Telstra, customers can use the Contact Us section in the My Telstra app to get fast support. If you don’t have the My Telstra app, there is a Message Us option on the Telstra website that you can use instead, or alternatively you can call the Telstra helpline at 13 22 00.
How can I check Telstra’s service coverage in my area?
You can check if you can get Telstra coverage (3G, 4G and 5G) in your area on the Telstra coverage map.
What is Telstra’s cancellation policy?
Telstra’s mobile services are all contract-free, so you can technically cancel at any time. However, if you have a mobile on a payment plan with your service, you will have to pay off the balance of the device repayments.
