Belong mobile phone plans review

Belong is one of two mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) owned and operated by Telstra, the other being Boost Mobile. That might make you think the two provide near-identical services, like TPG and iiNet, but they are actually quite different.

To begin with, Belong provides flexible month-to-month SIM-only mobile plans, whereas Boost Mobile operates solely on prepaid options. Another major difference is that Belong operates on Telstra's wholesale network, while Boost Mobile offers access to Telstra's full network. This means Belong users might get spotty coverage in Australia's more remote areas. Thankfully, all of Belong's plans offer 5G access.

Belong's prices are quite similar to other Telstra resellers, with its more expensive plans offering the best value for your data needs. Great inclusions are also part of the package, such as unlimited data banking and the option to share data with other Belong customers. However, international calls and texts are considered add-ons for all but the telco's highest-tier mobile plan.

Regarding customer service, Belong has a mixed reputation — though some of the telco's support team is based in Australia, the company does use overseas call centres, which will never compare to speaking with a locally based representative.

Overall, Belong provides a solid alternative to the major telcos with its data-friendly plans, affordable pricing, and the dependable coverage of Telstra's wholesale network.

Belong mobile phone plans: pricing

• Data-friendly plans
• Budget-friendly rates

Belong offers just four SIM-only mobile plans, all of which offer 5G network access. Pricing starts at AU$30p/m for the 25GB plan, which works out to AU$1.20 per GB.

The plan that follows provides a significant boost in value, and not just because it currently delivers double data for the first 12 months. Belong's 40GB plan is priced at AU$35p/m, which works out to AU$0.87 per GB. Factor in the double data bonus, and you'll be paying AU$0.44 per GB for the first year of connection.

Next up is the 100GB plan, which is priced at AU$45p/m and also comes with double data for the first 12 months. That's an incredible price to pay for 200GB of monthly data, which works out to AU$0.22 per GB during your initial year.

Finally, there's the 160GB plan, priced at AU$55p/m. Unlike the other two plans, this one doesn't include double data, but you do get 80GB of bonus data each month for the first year, bringing the total to 240GB. That means you'll be paying just AU$0.23 per GB during that initial 12-month period.

Generally, Belong's pricing is aligned with what other carriers on the Telstra wholesale network are offering, give or take a buck or two. For example, Tangerine's 25GB plan is priced slightly lower at AU$29p/m, while its 150GB plan offers less data than Belong's 160GB plan (even before the bonus data) and is slightly more expensive at AU$58p/m.

Belong mobile phone plans: coverage

• Access to Telstra's wholesale network
• Coverage is better in metropolitan areas

Belong offers the reliability of Telstra's wholesale network, which, while not as extensive as Telstra's full network, still provides slightly more coverage than Optus and Vodafone.

Overall, Belong's network reaches about 98.8% of the Australian population, covering all major metropolitan areas, though getting a good signal in remote regions might be challenging.

In terms of download speeds, Belong's first three plans are capped at 150Mbps, while its top plan is fastest at 250Mbps.

As previously noted, Boost Mobile is the only reseller providing full access to Telstra's network, covering 99.6% of Australia's population. However, Boost Mobile operates solely on a pre-paid basis, which might not appeal to everyone.

Belong mobile phone plans: extras, perks and offers

• Unlimited data banking
• Data gifting to other Belong customers

Belong is a great choice for your data needs. With unlimited data banking as long as you pay your bills on time and generous data limits on the top two plans, running out of data might become a thing of the past.

Additionally, you can share data with friends or family on Belong up to five times a month in 1GB chunks, which is pretty handy in a pinch.

Belong's biggest drawback when it comes to extras is that international calls and texts are excluded from three out of the telco's four plans. This means that unless you’re on the 160GB top plan, you’ll have to pay an additional AU$5p/m for unlimited standard calls and texts to 30 selected destinations.

It's also worth mentioning that Belong's international roaming rates are outrageously high, costing AU$30 for just 3GB of data, usable in 45 selected destinations for only 15 days. At AU$10 per GB, it fares even worse than Telstra, which offers 2GB of data for AU$5 per day.

Belong mobile phone plans: customer service and community reviews

• Mixed customer reviews
• Overseas call centres

Based on online reviews, Belong's service seems to be a mixed bag. Belong holds a disappointing score of 2.6 out of 5 on Product Review, and an even lower score of 1.7 out of 5 on Trustpilot. While some customers praise the telco's affordability, others criticise its service quality and complain about the lack of customer support.

Regarding Belong's service quality, that largely depends on the customer's location. While Telstra's wholesale network is generally reliable, its coverage isn't as extensive as Telstra's full network, which could lead to poor reception in rural areas.

The complaints about Belong's customer support likely stem from the use of overseas call centres. Although the exact location of these offshore teams isn't publicly disclosed, many user reviews highlight issues with their quality, citing scripted responses and lack of escalation as key concerns.

Belong mobile phone plans: bottom line

Belong offers flexible SIM-only plans with a focus on affordability. Pricing is competitive, with higher-tier plans offering better data value, unlimited data banking, and data sharing, though international calls and texts will cost you extra, and its roaming charges are absurd. It's also unfortunate that customer service quality isn't up to snuff, likely due to the use of overseas call centres. However, Belong is a good alternative to major providers, offering competitive plans, reasonable pricing, and reliable coverage in metropolitan areas via Telstra's wholesale network.

• Best Telstra network mobile plans from resellers