So, What’s the best mobile plan?
If you’ve ever asked yourself, “What’s the best mobile plan?” — you’re not alone. With so many telcos out there, and prices that seem to change every other week, it’s no wonder so many Aussies are paying more than they need to. The truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The best mobile plan comes down to three key factors: network coverage, your data and call needs, and who’s offering the best deal — often smaller providers, not the big three.
Let’s break it down.
1. Network Coverage Still Matters in 2025
In Australia, there are three mobile networks: Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone. Every provider you’ve heard of — from ALDI Mobile to Belong to Kogan — operates using one of these three.
Telstra has the widest coverage, especially in regional and remote areas. Optus covers most populated areas well. Vodafone has improved in cities and after a recent deal with Optus, utilises the Optus rural network meaning they have the same rural coverage outside of the cities.
If you travel often, live regionally, or just don’t want to risk dodgy signal, make sure your mobile plan is on the right network for your area. It could even be worth having one phone in the family on the full telstra network while the others can use alternate, cheaper networks. It is worth knowing that if you are with Optus and in an area where there is only Telstra signal, you can still call the emergency line 000 as when you do this, it will default to use any network available.
2. Data and Inclusions — Know What You Really Use
It’s easy to get sucked into “unlimited” everything — but do you really need 200GB a month?
Most Australians use less than 15–20GB per month, especially if they’re often on Wi-Fi. Some of the cheapest mobile plans in Australia offer 10GB to 20GB for under $20/month, which is plenty for calls, socials, music streaming, and even some video.
Think about what you actually need:
Do you make international calls?
Do you need data banking?
Are you regularly hotspotting?
The best mobile plan for you is one that matches your usage without paying for things you don’t need.
3. Smaller Providers Are Often Cheaper (and Just as Good)
Here’s a secret: smaller providers use the exact same towers as Telstra, Optus and Vodafone — but they charge a lot less.
Plans from providers like:
Belong, Boost Mobile, and ALDI Mobile (on the Telstra network)
Amaysim, Moose Mobile, and Circles.Life (on the Optus network)
TPG, Kogan and iiNet (on the Vodafone network)
…are often $10–$30 cheaper per month than the big names, with no lock-in contracts and similar speeds for most users.
So why do people stay on the big providers? Usually because switching feels too hard or confusing — especially when bundled with internet or a device.
Final Thoughts: The Best Mobile Plan Is the One That Fits You
There’s no universal best mobile plan in Australia. But if you:
Know what network you need,
Understand your actual data and usage needs, and
Compare plans from smaller telcos,
…you’re likely to cut your bill without cutting corners.
Need help finding the best plan for you or someone in your family? At Churna, we help Aussies switch to better-value mobile and internet deals — and we even handle the entire switch for you.
Want to stop overpaying? Let’s chat.
