SIM-only mobile plans compared: The best Australian picks for every budget

A SIM card being held up by two fingers — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Jump To:

Best prepaid SIM-only plan
Best SIM-only plan for data
Best cheap SIM-only plan
Best 365-day SIM-only plan

For Australians on any budget who aren’t looking to upgrade to the latest phone, a SIM-only mobile plan offers the best value.

With a SIM-only plan, customers have the freedom to choose a phone plan that suits their needs, and they can also purchase one of the best phones of 2026 outright, saving money in the long run by avoiding costly handset repayments.

A SIM-only plan is also a great way to cut down your monthly phone bill while getting more data. Without the added cost of handset repayments, you can easily upgrade your plan and take advantage of larger data allowances.

Major carriers like Telstra, Optus and Vodafone offer a number of great SIM-only plans for every budget, but you can often save even more money by checking out what Australia's smaller telcos (or mobile virtual network operators — aka MVNOs) have to offer.

As we mentioned in our cheap mobile plans comparison, it's relatively easy to find SIM-only options which provide a decent amount of data, along with unlimited national calls and texts, starting at just AU$11.45 per month.

Best prepaid SIM-only plan

Yomojo Pro Plan (Prepaid)
• 105GB data every 30 days
• AU$29.90 per 30-day renewal for first 6 renewals, then AU$34.90
• Optus 4G Wholesale Network
• Speeds capped at 150Mbps

Looking for massive data at a bargain price? Yomojo's Pro Plan delivers incredible value. For the first six 30-day renewals, it's an absolute steal at only AU$29.90, translating to a mere AU$0.28 per GB. Even after the introductory period, when the price adjusts to AU$34.90 every 30 days, it remains a fantastic deal, breaking down to just AU$0.33 per GB. Currently, this promotion runs until September 30, 2026. Ts&Cs apply.

Total minimum cost is AU$29.90 (1 x 30 day renewal) | Total cost for first year: AU$388.80

Best SIM-only plan for data

Vodafone Medium Infinite Plan (Postpaid)
• 220GB data per month
• AU$55 p/m for first 12 months, then AU$68 p/m ongoing
• Vodafone 4G/5G Network
• No speed cap

Now is a great time to sign up to Vodafone thanks to a sweet discount for new customers during their first 12 months. The telco is offering its Medium Plan with a whopping 220GB of monthly data for only AU$55 p/m for the first 12 months, after which the price goes up to AU$68 p/m. If you don’t need that much data, the Small Plan offers 65GB a month and is discounted from AU$58 p/m to AU$45 p/m for the same first-year period. This offer is available until August 31. 2026. Ts&Cs apply.

Total minimum cost is AU$55 (1-month) | Total cost for first year: AU$660

Best cheap SIM-only plan

Pivotel 25GB Mobile Swift Plan (Postpaid)
• 25GB data every month
• AU$11.45 p/m for first 6 months, then AU$22.90 p/m
• Vodafone 4G Network
• AU$2 per extra GB over limit

Ladies and gents, we have a new cheapest plan (with at least 20GB of data) to celebrate! Pivotel is offering its 25GB Mobile Swift Plan at half-price — just AU$11.45 p/m — for new customers during their first 6 months of connection, after which the price goes back to its (still affordable) regular pricing of AU$22.90 p/m. If there's one downside, it's that this is strictly a 4G plan — no 5G access here. Still, this is amazing value. Better hurry though, as this offer is only valid until October 31, 2026. T&Cs apply.

Total minimum cost is AU$12.50 | Total cost for first year: AU$225

TPG Small Month-to-Month Plan (Prepaid)
• 25GB data every month
• AU$12.50 p/m for first 6 months, then AU$25 p/m
• Vodafone 4G/5G Network
• No speed cap

An oldie but a goodie, TPG's affordable 25GB Small Plan mobile plan comes with a generous data allowance and a discounted rate for new customers. Currently, you can get it for half price at AU$12.50p/m for the first six months, after which it reverts to the standard AU$25p/m. TPG utilises the Vodafone 4G network for this entry-level plan and, like most MVNOs, caps speeds at 150Mbps.

Total minimum cost is AU$12.50 | Total cost for first year: AU$225

Tangerine 30GB SIM-Only Plan (Prepaid)
• 30GB of monthly data
• AU$20 p/m for first 4 months, then AU$30 p/m
• Telstra 4G/5G Wholesale Network
• Speeds capped at 150Mbps

Just like the deal above, new customers who sign up for a Tangerine 5G SIM-only plan will get a AU$10 discount on their monthly bill for the first 3 months, reducing the price of the usual price of the 30GB plan from AU$30 p/m to just AU$20 p/m. This deal is available until withdrawn. T&Cs apply.

Total minimum cost is AU$20 (1-month) | Total cost for first year: AU$330

Best 365-day SIM-only plan

Lyca Mobile Medium Long Term Plan (Prepaid)
• 360GB data over 360 days
• AU$150 for 12 x 30-day renewals, then AU$240 ongoing
• Vodafone 4G/5G Network
• Speeds capped at 100Mbps

Lyca Mobile is offering a great deal for those willing to pay upfront for (nearly) a whole year of service. The telco's Medium long-term plan gives you a total of 360GB, which is split into 30GB chunks that are renewed every 30 days for 12 renewals. At its currently reduced price of AU$150 (down from AU$240) that works out to just AU$12.50 per 30-day renewal, making it an awesome bargain. Once the introductory period ends, the price for your next 12 renewals returns to the regular rate. Be sure to choose ‘eSIM’ at checkout to receive your QR code via email instead of a physical SIM. This offer is valid until December 31, 2026. Ts&Cs apply.

Total minimum cost is AU$150 | Total cost per year: AU$150, then AU$240 ongoing

How we pick the best SIM-only mobile plans

In order to narrow down our list of choices, our team searches for a balance of several factors which we believe most people are looking for from a SIM-only plan.

Value for money is our top priority — the best SIM-only plans will offer a reasonable amount of data without becoming too expensive. On average, each Australian uses around 12GB of data per month, which is why we've set that amount as the minimum monthly allowance.

SIM-only plans should also offer unlimited calls and text to standard numbers in Australia. Even the most affordable options provide this these days, so you should definitely avoid any plan which imposes a limit on either of them.

Network coverage is another important factor to consider when choosing a SIM-only plan. Depending on the telco you go with, all Aussies will get access to either the Telstra, Optus or Vodafone network.

Telstra leads the pack in coverage, offering the most extensive 4G and 5G reach in Australia. Optus and Vodafone aren’t far behind, with comparable coverage due to a network sharing agreement. While Vodafone’s 5G is still in third place, it has made impressive progress, now reportedly covering 85% of the population across 10 major cities and regions.

Additionally, we also take perks into consideration, even if they aren't the main reason for our selections. These can include such things as bonus international minutes, rollover data, access to streaming services and even discounts on your groceries.

Stephen Lambrechts is the Managing Editor of Tom's Guide AU and has written professionally across the categories of tech, film, television and gaming for the last 15 years. Before Tom's Guide, he spent several years as a Senior Journalist at TechRadar, had a brief stint as Editor in Chief at Official Xbox Magazine Australia, and has written for such publications as APC, TechLife Australia, T3, FilmInk, AskMen, Daily Telegraph and IGN. He's an expert when it comes to smartphones, TVs, gaming and streaming. In his spare time, he enjoys watching obscure horror movies on physical media, keeping an eye on the latest retro sneaker releases and listening to vinyl. Occasionally, he also indulges in other non-hipster stuff, like hiking.