How to Choose the Best SIM Network in Australia? Australia is a big diversified country with lots of tourist sites and things to do. You will need a dependable and reasonably priced sim card to stay connected whether you want to experience the urban culture of Sydney and Melbourne take in the natural beauty of the Great Barrier Reef and Uluru or appreciate the rustic appeal of the Outback.
Read Also: Best SIM Card in Canada for International Students 2023
But how can you pick the Best SIM network in Australia? There are numerous things to think about including flexibility and the cost and coverage of data. The three major network providers in Australia Telstra Optus and Vodafone as well as a few of the smaller providers who utilize their network will be contrasted in this blog post. Additionally, we will offer you some advice on how to choose the best SIM card in accordance with your requirements and financial limitations.
How to Choose the Best SIM Network in Australia
Coverage
One of the most crucial considerations when selecting a sim network in Australia is coverage. Anywhere you go you should be able to receive a strong signal especially if you intend to travel to isolated or rural places.
Telstra has 99.5% of the population in Australia covered according to WhistleOut1. Vodafone ranks in second with 96% followed by Optus with 98.5%. However, these figures may change based on the region and network type (3G 4G or 5G).
You probably won’t notice much differences between the three network providers if you just visit in major cities. However, it makes sense to use Telstra or one of its MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) such as Boost Mobile Belong ALDI Mobile or Woolworths Mobile if you plan on visiting distant remote parts of Australia. These are smaller companies that use Telstra’s network and give more flexibility and more affordable options.
The whole Telstra network including 5G is only accessible to one Telstra MVNO Boost Mobile. The Telstra wholesale network which has a significantly smaller footprint than Telstra’s complete network is used by the other Telstra MVNOs. However, they continue to provide more coverage than MVNOs like Optus and Vodafone.
The MVNOs for Optus and Vodafone have access to the same network as their parent firms however 5G coverage might not be a part of their plans. Amaysim TPG Moose Mobile Felix and other MVNOs are examples of Optus’s offerings. Kogan Mobile Lebara Mobile and iiNet are some instances of Vodafone MVNOs.
Using WhistleOut’s interactive tool you can examine the coverage maps for each network provider. Simply enter your location to choose between the networks and coverage options.
Data
When selecting a sim network in Australia data is yet another crucial aspect to take into account. Make sure you have adequate data on your phone to use it for internet activities like browsing streaming social media and navigation.
How frequently and extensively you use your phone will determine how much data you require. You will need more data than someone who only uses their phone for the most basic functions like reading emails or messaging if you are a heavy user who enjoys watching movies listening to music or playing games on it.
The good news is that there are many plans that offer generous amounts of data at reasonable prices. You can find plans that offer anywhere from 1GB to unlimited data per month. However, some plans may have speed caps or fair use policies that limit your data usage after a certain threshold.
For example, Felix is an Optus MVNO that offers an unlimited data plan for $35 per month. However, this plan has a speed cap of 20Mbps for both downloads and uploads. This means that you may experience slower speeds or buffering when watching high-definition videos or downloading large files.
Another example is Vodafone’s Infinite Data plans which offer unlimited data at different speeds depending on the price. The cheapest plan costs $40 per month and offers unlimited data at 2Mbps. The most expensive plan costs $120 per month and offers unlimited data at uncapped speeds (up to 5G where available).
If you don’t need unlimited data or prefer faster speeds without restrictions you can opt for plans that offer a fixed amount of data per month. These plans usually range from $10 to $50 per month and offer anywhere from 1GB to 100GB of data.
Some plans also offer bonus data or rollover data features that allow you to get more value for your money. For example, TPG is an Optus MVNO that offers a Large plan with 80GB of data for $25 per month2. This plan also includes 40GB of bonus data every month for six months. This means that you can get up to 120GB of data per month for the first six months.
Another example is Southern Phone a Telstra MVNO that offers a Medium plan with 18GB of data for $20 per month4. This plan also includes rollover data which means that any unused data from your previous month will be added to your next month’s allowance. This way you can save your data for when you need it most.
You can compare the data offerings of different plans using Finder’s comparison. Just enter your desired amount of data and filter by network price and other features.
Price
Price is another important aspect of choosing a sim network in Australia. You want to make sure that you get the best deal for your needs and budget.
The price of a SIM card in Australia will depend on several factors such as the network the data the contract length and the extras. Generally speaking, the more data you want the more you will pay. However, there are also some ways to save money and get discounts on your SIM card.
One way to save money is to go for a prepaid SIM card instead of a postpaid SIM card. A prepaid SIM card allows you to pay upfront for a set amount of data and calls for a certain period of time usually 28 or 30 days. A postpaid sim card allows you to pay at the end of each month for the data and calls you have used usually with a minimum contract length of 12 or 24 months.
A prepaid sim card has several advantages over a postpaid sim card. First it gives you more flexibility and control over your spending. You can choose how much you want to spend each month and change your plan or provider anytime without penalties. Second it does not require a credit check or a deposit. This means that you can get a prepaid sim card easily without any hassle or risk. Third, it often offers better value and deals than a postpaid sim card. You can find prepaid plans that offer more data or features for less money than postpaid plans.
For example, Optus Flex is a prepaid service that allows you to customize your plan according to your needs. You can choose how many data calls and texts you want for each day week or month. You can also change your plan anytime using the Optus app. The cheapest option is $7 for 7 days with 7GB of data.
Another example is Amaysim an Optus MVNO that offers prepaid plans with unlimited calls and texts and various amounts of data5. The cheapest option is $10 for 28 days with 1GB of data. The most expensive option is $40 for 28 days with 60GB of data.
You can compare the prices of different prepaid plans using WhistleOut’s comparison tool. Just enter your desired amount of data and filter by network price and other features.
Another way to save money is to look for special offers or discounts from different providers. Many providers offer promotions or incentives to attract new customers or retain existing ones. These may include bonus data free trials cashback gift cards or rewards points.
For example, Kogan Mobile is a Vodafone MVNO that offers prepaid plans with unlimited calls and texts and various amounts of data3. The cheapest option is $4.90 for 30 days with 2GB of data. The most expensive option is $69.90 for 365 days with 20GB of data per month. However Kogan Mobile often runs promotions that offer discounts on its plans or freebies such as Kogan credit or vouchers.
Another example is Boost Mobile a Telstra MVNO that offers prepaid plans with unlimited calls and texts and various amounts of data1. The cheapest option is $10 for 7 days with 3GB of data. The most expensive option is $300 for 365 days with 240GB of data (20GB per month). However Boost Mobile also offers perks such as free Apple Music streaming (data charges apply) free international calls to selected countries and access to Telstra Air Wi-Fi hotspots.
You can find the latest offers and discounts from different providers using Finder deals. Just browse by category or provider and see what’s available.
Flexibility
Flexibility is another factor to consider when choosing a sim network in Australia. You want to make sure that you have the freedom and convenience to use your phone as you wish.
Flexibility can mean different things to different people. For some, it may mean being able to change their plan or provider anytime without penalties or fees. For others, it may mean being able to use their phone overseas without extra charges or hassle.
As mentioned earlier prepaid plans are generally more flexible than postpaid plans in terms of changing your plan or provider anytime without penalties or fees. However, some postpaid plans may also offer flexibility in terms of allowing you to upgrade or downgrade your plan anytime without fees.
Which SIM is best in Australia?
The best SIM card in Australia depends on your needs and preferences, such as coverage, data, price, and international calls. Some of the possible options are:
1- Telstra or its MVNOs for the best coverage especially in rural and remote areas but at a higher cost.
2- Vodafone or its MVNOs for the best data value with competitive network and deals but lower coverage than Telstra.
3- Optus or its MVNOs for the best international calls and texts with strong network and unlimited calls to selected countries but higher price than Vodafone.