Which BYO prepaid or contract do you recommend? Budget is <$30/month

[Deactivated] on 20/03/2016 - 15:31
Last edited 20/03/2016 - 15:33

Hey guys,

I've got a part-time job recently and my contract with Vodafone just finished. I'm looking to start paying my own phone bills but I'm not bringing much in so I'm going to start small.

I've already got an old HTC phone lying around. I'm looking for a BYO plan with at least 3GB of data and unlimited calls.

My current 24-month plan is 500mb/month, unlimited texts and $400 calls. I'm paying $40/month. Yes, yes, I know it's terrible but I'm looking to change!

Also, many OzBargainers talk about the advantages of prepaid over contract. Anyone have details they can share?

Thanks!
Michelle.

Mobile

Comments

rockman117 on 20/03/2016 - 15:50

+1

if you have home broadband with optus, you get $10 discount which brings BYO 10gb down to $30/month (originally $60/month) https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/239465
- [Deactivated] on 27/03/2016 - 19:42
  
  Thanks, rockman117! :) I ended up going this way. My ultimate final cost was $26/month because I'm a uni student with home Optus broadband. Yes! Thanks for the tip-off :)
  
  ** The chosen plan was unlimited calls/texts with 10GB of data for $26/month. Nice!
scrimshaw on 20/03/2016 - 15:50
I'd recommend this one, if you can spend 40 a month
https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/239545

And another one by Optus, 40 a month, with a $10 discount for Optus broadband users
http://www.optus.com.au/shop/mobilephones/SimBYO

and lastly amaysim has some great plans under $30
https://pages.e.amaysim.com.au/compare-plans-28/

e.g $24.90 per 28 days
UNLIMITED CALLS
1.5GB Data

International Unlimited calls to the following countries

China Hong Kong India Malaysia New Zealand Singapore South Korea Thailand United Kingdom United States of America

I'm currently with Jenee, which gives me a good amount of data, but only 300 mins of calls, which is very meager

$18 Pennywise Plan

1.8GB Data (Optus 4G) 300 minutes of calls per month to standard Australian landlines and mobiles Unlimited SMS/ MMS for use in Australia

Would I recommend Jenee? Not really — the call quality is a bit poor and reception is not so great, perhaps due to over-subscription. I'd recommend sticking with Telstra.
lost69 on 20/03/2016 - 15:53

Telstra Freedom Plus for $30 a month, if you really need unlimited calls Vodafail does it for $30 as does Optus. I don't recommend contracts, do you really like being locked in to a telco?
dcuksuop on 20/03/2016 - 17:02

Spintel

2.5GB, unlimited calls/text for $30
https://www.spintel.net.au/products/mobile

4gb, unlimited calls, 200 text for $32
https://www.spintel.net.au/products/flexiblemobile
daver on 20/03/2016 - 21:23

+1

After spending hundreds in the app store each year (bill my carrier AC) freedom+ TLS prepaid, cost me near nothing, unparalleled value IMHO.

OR koganafone mobile @$180yr $14.80 pm only 1Gb 3G on a data diet
- drillvoice on 28/03/2016 - 08:58
  
  Can you explain this a bit more please? Is this to do with Telstra starter kits? If I get on to telstra pre-paid, can I use starter kits towards my pre-paid costs?
  - daver on 28/03/2016 - 11:49
    
    Yeah, starter kits work, but I am referring to full retail priced prepaid cost. As I typically use $20 credit on play store content +apps billed out of Freedom Plus, I view the mobile service effectively (<$10 pm) low cost & budget friendly.
    Contrast to optus or Voda or even postpaid Telstra, where would this consume $50 all up.
    Offer refers to https://www.telstra.com.au/latest-offers/google-play
    - drillvoice on 28/03/2016 - 14:36
      
      Great thanks for clarifying - so I could pay $30/40 on a freedom plus prepaid plan, then in addition to the unlimited calls/text I can use the extra credit for play store content? That is pretty sick.
Elppa8 on 20/03/2016 - 21:39

+1

Boost prepaid Uses Telstra network
$40 UNLTD®

YOU PAY
$40 recharge
Up to 30 days

YOU GET
3GB of data PLUS 2GB every weekend
Charged per KB

UNLIMITED SMS

UNLIMITED CALLS
To standard national numbers + MessageBank retrieval & 1300 numbers
maximum on 20/03/2016 - 23:15

+2

I'm with vaya

With unlimited standard talk & text across the range, you just need to pick your data. All our plans are for use Australia-wide.

For new services activated before 31-Mar-16
$0 Express Delivery
$0 SIM Card
Unlimited S
Price
for the first 6 months

$18/mth
Gets you 1.5 GB, Unlimited Talk, Standard SMS, N/A Per 60 sec with N/A Flag Fall on a 1 month term.
Price for the first 6 months

Price after 6 months $20 pm

Standard Talk
Standard SMS
Included Data 1.5 gb

$20 pm Gets you 2 GB, Unlimited Talk, Standard SMS

$26/mth
Gets you 3 GB, Unlimited Talk, Standard SMS

$34/mth Gets you 7 GB, Unlimited Talk, Standard
Seems ok I have spoken to customer service before. Cheapest I could find when I signed up.
- PLA74 on 22/03/2016 - 15:26
  
  My Vodafone contract recently expired as well and switched to Vaya Unlimited S plan! Very happy so far - SIM card arrived next day after order and was activated (ported my Vodafone number across) in a few hours!
CheapskateQueen on 25/03/2016 - 14:56

+1

After almost 2 decades of dumb loyalty to Vodafone (my whole family was on vf) I'm finnaallly going to be free soon. Now that I got my own samsung S5 (with a "me-proof" case) i'm debating which BYO plan to go on.

Im debating between Vaya $20 for 650 calls and 2gig data (which is essentially twice as much as ive got now) or Optus unlimited and 10 gig data which will be $30 pm with their current deal.

I mean, I've spent years rationing my 600mb per month so i feel like 2 gig will be plenty. but now that i train to work instead of drive, maybe it wont? what do you guys think? i'll be basically paying $11 extra per month on Optus for the huge data which is excessive for a true OB like me.. and yet it's such a great deal. i'm conflicted.

thoughts?
- Findmebargain on 25/03/2016 - 15:31
  
  +1
  
  If you have narrowed down to these 2 deals, given your circumstances I would choose Vaya to start with considering it is a month to month plan. $11/mth is a lot of money if you're paying for something you don't use.
  
  You then have $11 up your sleeve, to pay $10 for excess 1GB if you do go over the 2GB in your spare time traveling to and fro work. You might even go for Vaya's unlimited calls/2GB data plan which is currently on $20/mth special. After a couple of months, you will notice your data usage pattern and only then you may decide to upgrade or switch to Optus or another deal for more generous data allowance if that's what you need.
  - CheapskateQueen on 25/03/2016 - 16:13
    
    Yep, perfect advice! That's what i was thinking but I was concerned I was being too cheap and missing out on a good deal re optus. haha. But your points are right on, thanks!
- bghunter on 25/03/2016 - 19:37
  
  or Optus unlimited and 10 gig data which will be $30 pm with their current deal.
  
  How do I get this deal?
  - CheapskateQueen on 25/03/2016 - 20:05
    
    optus has their $60 plan at $40 until end of march if you sign up online. if you have broadband with optus then you're eligible for $10 off one mobile account plan too. pretty good deal http://www.optus.com.au/shop/mobilephones/SimBYO
    - bghunter on 25/03/2016 - 21:12
      
      Pretty good deal but unfortunately no broadband so no discount. Thanks anyway
Brianqpr on 29/03/2016 - 11:28

Vaya and iinet both have good cheap plans on the Optus 4G network. Vaya 1.5GB and decent call allowance for $18 a month. iinet 2GB and I think $400 of calls for $20 a month. No contract, can leave anytime.

Plenty of negative comments about Vaya but I've been with them (plus 2 others in our house) over 2 years and its been fine. Great value.

Which BYO prepaid or contract do you recommend? Budget is <$30/month

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