What Carrier Do You Use?? Why??

LRosymo on 07/06/2019 - 14:55

Previous posts don't really have answers to my questions do I'll ask here.

When shopping for a sim-only mobile plan (my phone isn't broken), the big carriers like Optus or Telstra offer plans that start at $30~ and can range to $60 and above. For their cheapest plans of these companies, other companies like Aldi mobile and Kogan offer basically the same, if not in excess, of the data provided and talk/text for much cheaper.

My question is, is it worth it to get a more expensive plan? How do these smaller companies seemingly undercut the prices while providing more data and *using the same network?

What are your experiences with phone services with data/customer service/reliability?

Poll Options expired

  • 4
    Vaya
  • 17
    Lebara
  • 25
    Amaysim
  • 38
    Vodafone
  • 44
    Other (comment)
  • 62
    Aldimobile
  • 72
    Kogan
  • 112
    Boost
  • 142
    Optus
  • 226
    Telstra
Mobile Phone Plan Prepaid Mobile Plan

Comments

  • auna on 09/06/2019 - 05:24

    Telstra Premium $199 plan with Apple iPhone XS Max on release. Truly unlimited data is amazing 😉 The value somewhat gets worse as other plans get better, but… 160GB isn’t close to enough to make me even consider switching.

    • payless69 on 09/06/2019 - 10:02

      some folks buy the Tesla Power edition to only drive it in 40 k limit areas. You must be the reason the rag stores raking in billions…

      • epicttiimm on 10/06/2019 - 17:28

        I know of people who use the $199 plan as their home internet because ADSL/Satellite/Cable/NBN is still slower/not available etc etc. They just tether a phone to a router and unlimited 4G there they go….

        The plan is $199 regardless what phone you choose, so its worth choosing the most expensive phone (ie. iPhone XS Max 512GB etc.)

        My mate got the S10+, and with the promise of a free upgrade to the 5G model when it comes out, $199 seems like a bargain for unlimited 5G and the latest Galaxy.

  • mousie on 09/06/2019 - 08:45

    Kogan. Purchasing 365 days in a.go between myself and my wife. Helps with cash flow in the month and we write off 100% on our tax each year.

  • blonky on 09/06/2019 - 09:08

    Lebara. $16.67 for 24gb per month (6month prepay plan $100) with carryover data

    Likely moving to a Telstra reseller soon as the Voda network speeds have been dropping over time and Optus is non existent in my area

  • payless69 on 09/06/2019 - 09:59
    -1

    What a jungle! Deception pure but to be fair it is also the same in many other countries. With Telstra backstabbing existing customers and giving new ones the same Boost deal under the Telstra brand. Why having 3 names just to keep punishing existing customers with 3 different colored knives?

    Alex Turnbull must have built his failed rideshare company on the Belong network after watching too many episodes of Eurovision.

    Coles mobile must be employing ex Jetstar accountants who have not yet progressed past the abacus stage…

    I used to have Telstra prepaid: 3 Gig and 2 speed tests I got a message that the data were used up…. try figure ?

  • freemoneyhunter on 09/06/2019 - 10:43
    +2

    I use Jeene only $9 for unlimited calls & sms and 1.1GB data. I think the price went up to $12.50 but you get 5GB data now.

  • benderz on 09/06/2019 - 10:51

    Optus. They let me out of my virgin contract 6mnts early and had a special on the phone I wanted. Coverage is average but nothing to complain about really.

  • donnot on 09/06/2019 - 11:13

    Optus - originally with Virgin but they paid out the last 3 months of my last contract and had a great deal on the Mate 20 Pro. Also, Optus Sport.

  • morebunnings on 09/06/2019 - 11:18

    Last few years I have been on Lebara, buying a years worth of credit on their EOFY sales. ~$16/month for unlimited calling to AU & NZ, with ~8gig data or something.

    Popped up today that I have to recharge in 3 days, so its that time of year again :)

  • knk on 09/06/2019 - 12:02

    Wife, non business plan on Aldi. No issues, speeds are slower than on Telstra but afaik coverage is the same.
    Me, Telstra business plan. $60pm with 60gb data unlimited everything else + unlimited call forwarding. If it wasn't for needing the call forwarding I'd be on prepaid.

    Have been on Optus previously but reception is just so much better on Telstra in my area.

  • Golazo on 09/06/2019 - 12:58

    Optus

    • iPhone 8 Plus
    • $115/month
    • 30GB data
    • Entertainment Extras (Optus Sport, Nat Geo, Spotify and Netflix (both require subscriptions), few others which I have no interest in)
    • Entertainment Extras don't count towards data cap

    Not sure what my next move will be, but a sim-only plan for 12 months might be more than enough. Gives me enough time to see what 5G phones will be on the market.

    edit.
    Removed irrelevant stuff.

  • j4ck on 09/06/2019 - 13:26

    Just switched to Optus after about 8 years of Telstra.

  • KezzaHub on 09/06/2019 - 14:49

    Jeenee is my preferred carrier. It's basically a reseller of Optus. Where they differ is that they are a social enterprise and a lot of their profit goes towards helping those with disabilities. Prices are very cheap too with my current 30GB/month is $30 with unlimited calls, SMS and MMS. I have no need for international call credit.

  • DU99 on 09/06/2019 - 15:30

    My self and my Mrs use aldi pay as you go..data we rarely use,and we get a good phone coverage wherever we travel..my daughter ditched her Optus account in point cook because very poor coverage…big data and sms

  • swen83 on 09/06/2019 - 15:57

    Optus, only one with coverage at my house, also significantly better plan for less.

  • Nexo on 09/06/2019 - 16:00

    I used to be a huge Kogan fan and had been a customer for 2 1/2 years until earlier this year. I really liked Kogan because they were always giving free data upgrades throughout the years sometimes they even doubled your data plan for free and the Kogan network was pretty good in my experience but the 4g was the weak point of this network for me. It was especially bad on my train line (T4) Central to Cronulla, as it had many dead zones and then earlier this year something happened in my residential area with the Kogan/Vodafone towers and my 4g speed went from 30-40 Mbps to 2-3 Mbps standard. When I would drive through my suburb to the next one it would go back to 30-50 Mbps. Sometimes I have to switch to my 4g at home for certain things and the internet was unbearable.

    I switched over to Boost in May and the Telstra network is ridiculously good. They have network coverage literally everywhere and the 4g is blazing fast, even on my train line which usually had dead zones with Kogan. Call quality is excellent and now my phone (Galaxy S10) also has a video call feature (pretty much like Facetime) which the Kogan network did not offer.

  • dbun1 on 09/06/2019 - 16:17

    Telstra - had coverage issues a few years back and changed all the phones to Telstra. No issues since and no reason to look elsewhere.

  • jowu15 on 09/06/2019 - 16:32

    Boost, vodafone and optus at the same time at the moment.

  • kevkay on 09/06/2019 - 17:46
    +1

    Aldimobile - 14GB for $25 with rollover. What's not to love?

  • TheOtherLeft on 09/06/2019 - 17:50
    +1

    I recently switched from Aldi to Boost due to the better plan for the reportedly slightly(?) better reception even though both are using Telstra infrastructure. Boost's 6 mth plan equates to only 5 months with Aldi in terms of price but with more data.

  • tony23 on 09/06/2019 - 18:29

    Kogan, havnt had any issues with reception

  • [Deactivated] on 09/06/2019 - 19:07
    +1

    Optus prepaid Epic Value. It was recently discounted to $120 for 12 months, with 60GB.

    5GB per month is more than enough (I'm rarely away from WiFi), and $10/month is reasonable for a phone plan with unlimited calls/SMS. Plus, there are the various "Optus perks" discounts which can be decent.

    I switched from Telstra because there was spotty Telstra coverage at my new office, whereas Optus has a tower just across the road.

  • echelon6 on 09/06/2019 - 23:56
    +3

    Nimitz class supercarrier always. Dual nuclear reactors, 50+ years without refuelling, huge fleet carry capacity etc…

  • solidussnake on 10/06/2019 - 01:12

    Second hand S8 for $199
    Optus byo $35 for 58gb of data happy here

  • [Deactivated] on 10/06/2019 - 01:47

    My phone is dual sim so got the $10 Amaysim yearly pay as you go plan and a $5 Kogan new sim for 40gb every month.

  • mitt on 10/06/2019 - 09:26
    +1

    I go with Jeenee mobile.

    Started on their $9.90 a month plan with 1 to 1.2gb of data (depends if you contract or not) & moved to their 5gb plan for $12.50 (was $13.50 when I switched).

    They are cheap & I have had no issues. Optus network.

  • mroarsome on 10/06/2019 - 11:07

    $30 Amaysim plan with 30GB data. Simple plan with no first month bonuses etc. I spend 99% of my time in Brisbane City area so coverage isn't an issue for me.

  • Bullion78 on 10/06/2019 - 11:11

    I slut around. But at my happiest when a telstra sim is in my phone.

  • quanticism on 10/06/2019 - 11:24

    Was on Vodafone family plan for many years. Switched to Kogan's $15 for 3 month deal after returning from abroad. Planning to switch to Boost's 12 month 80GB plan once I'm done with Kogan to see if Telstra has less dead zones on the South West train line to the city.

  • jaffar on 10/06/2019 - 16:24

    Vodafone got rid of their $10 365 PAYG plan so I'm on Aldi now.

  • spacemannn on 10/06/2019 - 23:03

    Optus, on a 12 month SIM plan.

    I pay $41.25 for $80 gb of data, unlimited talk/text within Australia and 35 other countries which I will probably never call. I've had good reception with Optus, speeds are good and the deal is great since I pay for my phone outright and keep it for a while. I use alot of data streaming stuff wherever I am so I really like it.

  • gstfree on 10/06/2019 - 23:22
    1. Optus at the time they promote "yes time" and "yes weekend";(long time ago)
    2. Moved to B Digital ( I think they changed name from B Clear and Simple to B Digital);
    3. Moved to Orange;
    4. Orange migrated to "3";
    5. "3" migrated to VHA,Been with VHA until 2017;
    6. Ported my number to Woolworths Mobile for the Galaxy S8+ launch deal in April 2017;
    7. After Woolworths contract expires in April 2019, I moved to Kogan. Now with Kogan.

    Will switch to Aldi mobile or Belong later this year.

  • Aced21 on 11/06/2019 - 08:12

    Switched from Vodafone's crappy coverage to Telstra and never looked back.

    Was with Vodafone for 6 years, but being on the train everyday and getting so many white screens, no loading on videos, dropouts each minute really made me switch.

    Telstra for me is 2 dropouts (Wynyard and Harbour bridge which is understandable) for the entire T2 line.

  • berger on 11/06/2019 - 08:47

    Whoever my work uses, i use. Not my choice. Recently changed to Optus because around 25% cheaper. I noticed slower internet & poor reception in regional areas. Overall not too bad, but Telstra just seemed that bit better

  • daver on 11/06/2019 - 19:15

    I'll pay ~$120 each for 1.04 TB in my Kogan and Boost licenses fy20. 80 G for reach in 4G700, 960 for the city stuff.
    Another duo simmer I am.

  • kimba88 on 18/06/2019 - 21:00

    Was with optus on a sim only plan for $30/month - unlim calls/text,15gb data (however, optus increased it to 35gb for free after 1yr), 300mins of international calls and optus sport access.

    I have just changed over to the jbhifi 12month sim only deal which is $65/month with unlim calls/text and 60gb data and I got a free TV worth $745. I then contacted telstra via chat and got them to upgrade my plan to $69/month (which is currently reduced to $49/month). This added in unlim calls/text to 15 international countries, peace of mind data (caps data speed at 1.5mb/s if I go over my data limit) and an extra 5gb data per month. So, I'm paying $588 for 12months with a free TV essentially.

  • branners on 19/06/2019 - 16:35

    Lebara. I prepaid 6 months for $120, 2 x 12gb/pm deal, and the 24gb data was increased (by them) to 28gb after a few weeks. International calls to everyone I know well enough to ring in other countries, and quite a few I don't. Great value and never had any problems with the reception.

  • baybaboy on 04/07/2019 - 14:10

    coming from a x virgin customer.
    Optus $30 unlimited talk/txt within oz. with 15gb data. 300min international.
    data shared to 2x 200gb $140. one at my parents house and the other for my house as i have no phone line.
    total 415gb shared between 3 sims.

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