Just logged into Boost App and get a notice Boost Plans are changing 22-10-24
New options(news.boost.com.au)
The noticeable change is that $230 160GB 365 day plan is discontinued and there is no direct placement. The existing 160GB starter kits will be able to be used until their expiry date.
The $300 240GB sim plan is the same.
Boost are going to see a boost in customers leaving.
Probably not, Telstra is increasing pricing across the board on all their brands and wholesale, so those who refuse to use another network or can't go with any other network will stick with one of the Telstra brands.
telstra is good
but not $70 better
@furythree: I agree, but some customers don't have any other choice - particularly remote customers.
Luckily the majority of us don't have this issue :)
The noticeable change is that $230 160GB 365 day plan is discontinued and there is no direct placement
Yikes, that's going to lead to an exodus of customers. A jump from $150 in 2020 to $300 4 years later is insane. People on the $230 plan don't need that extra data and I certainly can't justify it. Going to have to buy a SIM card off eBay for next year then find a different provider which is a shame because full Telstra coverage is handy.
Yep, no more Boost for my family. We'll be jumping to Aldi $119 superpack (365days and 60GB), or maybe $169 (365days and 138GB) if we end up using more data than expected this year. No 5G which doesn't concern me, and no international call which is a shame for my wife whose parents are overseas, but I'm sure we can find another option to cover this.
Yep. We're only on Boost (and previously Belong) for the slightly better coverage to remote areas the 2-3 times a year we travel out of the city, usually for holidays. It is not a big deal at all for us to go back to an Optus of Vodaphone network if it means saving $100 or more on the phone plan per year, per person in the family.
Bye, Felicia Vicki.
Can always pickup a Boost monthly sim (hopefully with cashback) for the holiday months!
Together with Tel$tra, Boo$t have the worst customer service.
Optus: "Hold my beer."
jv has a point, Telstra has the worst customer service… Optus has no customer service…
Telstra you expect some level of service for the price you pay and are always left disappointed. At least with Optus, you go in expecting the worst and are somehow never left surprised.
Other than Optus hack, in comparison, Telstra customer service is the worse. I been with both.
i've only had slightly better experience with boost. i rank them as boost > optus > amaysim > kogan > vodafone > telstra
can't speak for others, as those are the only retailers i have dealt with so far.
I had to call Boost yesterday to resolve an issue with sim activation and spoke to a friendly and helpful Australian withing a minute after navigating the audio prompt menus. I was quite surprised!
In saying that, I've always gone for the $230 160GB option and will look elsewhere next time.
and spoke to a friendly and helpful Australian withing a minute after navigating the audio prompt menus
Reported for #fakenews.
Does anyone know how long a recharge voucher lasts before it expires? Seems if you buy a voucher before the changes then you can still load it after October.
I don't think recharge vouchers have been available since the old "Anytime Plus" plans (ie. 2020), but as for SIM cards, I've scanned some eBay ads and right now they expire around Sept 2025.(ebay.com.au) If you wait until closer to October some newer stock with later expiry dates might be available.
I bought a 230 recharge voucher from 7/11 three months ago. Then you just load it into the phone in the app under recharge and choose voucher instead of say credit card.
And it says the following in FAQ for the notice of price changes.
“I bought a SIM kit or voucher before 22 October 2024. Can I activate it after 22 October 2024?
Yes, you will be able to redeem all SIMs and vouchers purchased before 22 October 2024 for the value at which you purchased them.”
I get the impression the $230 recharge option isn't going to be there post-Oct 22, but the voucher will still load $230 credit?
So you got a full year of data without having to port out and back in? I was under the impression Boost did not allow this any more?
I guess I will have to hunt down some recharge vouchers as my plan expires early December
The current new $230 kits can activated up until about 7/25, this may change , these are for new customers and those that port away and back. They may be in short supply as time draws nearer. Not sure about recharge vouchers.
So kits like this https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/854291 would work until July 2025? Might have to grab one…
If the sim card expiry is indeed 8th September 2025 then you have until that date to start your 365 day plan.
For the record I started one of the old $200 sim plans at the end of last month - the packaging said the sim card expiry was end of December 2024. Upon activation I've got the old inclusion of 130GB which will last me till next June. I even swapped over to eSim through the app and chucked the sim card.
I expect you'd get a similar experience with any of the $230 sim cards available today.
Interest rates up to what they were around 2010-2012 and we’re going backwards hardcore in terms of the value for money we get for things now.
Ads introduced on paid streaming service plans, full interest rate not applied to $250k bank balance, increase in prices for phone plan without any marked improvement in coverage (except maybe 5G) — or in this case, removal of a plan that would be very popular with people who don't need a lot of data or are on WiFi often like elderly people probably, AirBnb hosts forcing a cleaning fee on their visitors, credit card bonus point rewards requiring higher 3 month spends, houses and apartments that are basically constructed as consumables … the customer is exploited to a higher degree to maximise profits.
The economic growth observed in the 2010s were fuelled predominantly by ever-decreasing interest rates. We went from having one camera on a smartphone for 10 years to having 3 different cameras on a smartphone in the span of a few years. Australians used to have to go to the restaurant to pick up their food but now with a few clicks you can have an international student deliver you your food. It was truly an age of exuberance. Now we suffer the consequences and by we I mean anyone who doesn't own the means of production. I personally am not surprised at all at the rise in scams we're experiencing.
Large data breaches in companies that didn't bother to shore up their cyber practices (or in Optus' case didn't even put their customer's data behind any sort of security(thenewdaily.com.au) yet they'll happily gaslight the public and say it was a sophisticated attack and the attacker was constantly changing their IP(smh.com.au) — yeah no, we don't live in a Hollywood movie), SMS scams conducted by people domestically(ia.acs.org.au), other scams conducted by people overseas to try and access our wealth. Heck, stories about people's ATO accounts getting hacked have increased lately (if one peruses r/ausfinance at all). Sadly, things are going to get worse before if they eventually get any better.
But let's keep going along as we do and give more money to these companies. After all, c-suite needs another investment property because property is what truly creates happiness in Australia.
PSA: Update your ATO 2FA. Don't use the myGov code generator app though unless you're absolutely certain you'll a) never delete the app or b) accidentally delete the app or c) get a new device because if you do any of that you could lose access to your myGov account lel. Well done on the obviously very, very thorough UX design that went into building that top notch app, taxpayers have definitely got their money's worth there.
It is called "enshittification".
It is global.
It affects everything.
It seems unstoppable.
Finally, someone else who gets it.
Surprised you haven’t been attacked by the nu-left again. But I guess you didn’t mention red so the most easily triggered types weren’t offended this time…
Cool story Hansel
The noticeable change is that $230 160GB 365 day plan is discontinued and there is no direct placement
Yeah thats sh!t….
So establish a low cost service provide minimal support, get people to come across, analyse profit/loss and then get rid of the plan that makes least profit.
Urgh - need to stock up on a voucher or two before 22 October given they'll be honoured afterwards. Still annoying though.
NOT HAPPY JAN!
NOT HAPPY JUL!
Profanity you Boost
Ah man I just escaped from Telstra post paid plans with their ridiculous prices, now Boost is following suite. Not surprised though, was expecting it after the Telstra price bump.
Good find OP. This is bad news
Damnit.
Good for Boost's profits but not so good for customers.
In reality most existing Boost customers will stick with Boost as they want the full Telstra coverage.
The existing $230 plan wasn't cheap compared to other providers, so people who pay $230 will most likely pay $300.
I only hope that Boost continues with their discounts and also fairly generous $50 cashrewards for their $300 offer.
I had to port out to get it but purchased the $300 post-paid for $260, then also $50 cashrewards. Net cost is $210.
Would I pay a $300 recharge if there was no offer? Most likely, it's less than a $1 a day.
Good to hear porting out and back worked. Is one month on a non Telstra carrier enough?
Yeah.
These days, it's very quick and easy to port.
Is one month on a non Telstra carrier enough?
10 mins to a $5 aldi sim has been my go to the last few times
The existing $230 plan wasn't cheap compared to other providers, so people who pay $230 will most likely pay $300.
It is a big jump for us OzBargainers who are used to buying the $200 and $230 plans for $150-$180.
I wouldn't be surprised if the prices rise on those $300 SIM card listings once the $230 is gone
This sucks but caused by Telstra's price rise and Boost is still the cheapest without switching to Optus or Vodafone (no thanks).
That's just about the last straw for me.
Is there any other provider that offers cheap VoWiFi while OS?
The removal of the cheapest 365 day option is likely a breaker for me to move on. I originally moved across as it was reasonably cheap and just a minimum data requirement. It jumped to $200 then $230 and now you can't even get it….
Does anyone know what's the next best long term expiry prepaid after? Would it be woolies , amaysim or say aldi? Formerly amaysim and woolies before this haha.
Same. I probably wouldn't go for a telco powered by Optus. The Aldi Super Pack is good, but for $229, although you get more data (which you sound like you don't need) overseas calls and texts are not included.
EDIT: Vodafone 12 month prepaid sim when half price at Woolworths sounds like a good option if you're in a metro area.
Woolworths seems to have just phased out the 365 day plans, unbelievably. Otherwise, yes they were the best value option if you make use of the 10% off monthly shop.
The next best option looks to be Aldimobile:(m3.aldimobile.com.au)
- $169 138GB
- $199 199GB
- $229 250GB
They have uncapped data banking. I think the only way to get those is when they're offered as a special buy online/in-store (there might be some stock left).
How does the aldi mobile coverage work though? Having only used boost is the Telstra wholesale market noticeable in suburban city areas for coverage? And the woke priority of speed thing is it impacted by slower data speed than being direct Telstra and boost?
I may have a saving grace for a yr in the sense my current boost ends in August so I presume it I renew for another year I can still access the $230 prepaid plan before it's phased out in September ?
now that the wholesale network has access to VoLTE, should be fine in metro areas. data speed might take a hit though….
you should be fine if you want to recharge Boost in august. it's october i think it's being dropped, so the cheapest 12 month recharge only goes up to $300 then.
@MELso: Can you elaborate? If I renew in August on my app I can then buy a voucher than can be redeemed to recharge it in August 2025 again for the same $230 data plan? So defer any decision to move for two yrs essentially haha.
Where are the vouchers obtained?
@SaberX: Yes, the vouchers offer at least 18 months of expiry IME (I have a $200 one I bought last year for this year's recharge which had about 20 months expiry). You can buy them at the self-checkout at supermarkets.
@MELso: Ok thanks! I'll check out Woolworths for the $230 voucher they're phasing out. I wonder when they'll stop selling them.
If they're 18 months expirey I could recharge my current one expiring in August over my boost app as per normal, and save the voucher for next August 2025 renewal right? That way I'm covered for 2 X 12 month renewals??
I can't even see any 365 day plans on the Aldimobile website. Looks to me like they only have 365 day Data only plans.
@JackedBargain: PAYG is 365 days https://www.aldimobile.com.au/collections/payg but only useful for limited calls and data.
No 5G though?
Is it still available? I didn't find a link to it on their website, and found only this through Google, and it says unavailable https://www.aldimobile.com.au/products/169-super-pack
It looks ALDI may also be in the process of phasing out (?) or repricing these super packs
https://www.aldimobile.com.au/products/199-super-pack
https://www.aldimobile.com.au/products/229-super-pack
Aldi also have a $119 superpack (with 60GB data) as a recharge only.
https://m3.aldimobile.com.au/docs/critical_information_summa…
(I just confirmed it is available as a recharge via a relatives Aldi account).
Thanks, could I potentially buy the $5 PAYG SIM and recharge with the $169/199 plans? Or are they not an option
@Techie4066: My expectation is you can do that. I would be very surprised if there was a requirement from Aldi that you first had to buy a superpack sim in store, before being about to recharge to a superpack. I can't 100% check though, the account I checked the recharge option on is already on a superpack plan.
@braddsey: I think it might be appearing as a recharge option because they're already on a super pack. I've also heard those recharge options are available to others when the super packs are being sold as a special buy. Do you know how they got their first super pack?
@Techie4066: They come on sale from time to time as an Aldi special buy. I guess I'll be watching the special buy catalogue between now an November when my Boost plan expires.
If nothing comes up, $5 isn't much to test the theory and see if the 365 recharge options are available.
Edit: https://www.aldimobile.com.au/blogs/getting-started-and-sett…
Existing ALDImobile customers
…
If you wish to renew or add a Super Pack
Please follow the steps below:
….
This implies you can add a Super Pack to an existing account.
@braddsey: This is what ALDImobile said in an email to me.
To get the 1-year Super Pack, you must check the nearest ALDI store if they still have it in stock. The promotion to get it online has ended.
If there is no Super pack available in store, you may wait for next announcement on when it will be next released or check our website (https://www.aldimobile.com.au/) for more information or updates. It may also be published in the ALDI Catalogue if it will be in offer.
@Techie4066: I'll be keeping an eye out for the Super Pack then. I do have the luxury that my Boost is valid until 9th November. If nothing comes up in that time, I'll do the $5 starter sim test and see how it goes. Worst case we go to a monthly contract for a couple of months until it comes up.
Historically (based on a really scant memory) they have done a 1-year Super Pack sale pre-christmas. Maybe it helps capture a few more subscribers for the kids who get a new phone at that time.
There's another thread (https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/854813) where the same discussion is ongoing, with people planning to switch to Everyday Mobile (Woolies) before those long expiry plans are removed September 3. For me, my kids don't use enough data to warrant it, but if your data usage is high enough, it's also a good option.
@braddsey: Finally received an email responding to all my questions, 2 months later.
If I'm on another ALDImobile plan, can I recharge with a Super Pack at any time, or during the special buy period?
- Super Packs are available for recharge only to customers who have previously subscribed to them. Occasionally, there may be promotions for existing customers who do not currently have a Super Pack.
What if the particular Super Pack I want is not available as a special buy?
- Unfortunately, if the desired Super Pack is not available as a special buy, it cannot be obtained.
Is the information on the below link about adding a Super Pack not relevant to ALDImobile customers on other plans? https://www.aldimobile.com.au/blogs/getting-started-and-sett…
- Yes, but the section stating "If you wish to renew or add a Super Pack" applies specifically to existing customers who are currently subscribed to that pack and are eligible for any ongoing promotions.
I might purchase a Super Pack months in advance to prepare to switch carriers. Are the Super Pack activation periods generally quite long?
- The SIM starter pack and voucher may specify a particular activation date or timeframe. If the SIM card or voucher is not activated or used by that date or within the specified period, it will no longer be usable.
I'm currently on a month to month, $35/28 days plan. Is there any down side to moving to the $230/1 year plan before it is discontinued?
If you can restrict data useage to 170GB/year you are ahead with the 1yr package
Damn I just got an email from Boost for these price changes. I definitely have to change providers now. I'm currently on the $230 annual plan but I can't take the price jump to $300. That's way more data than I need and I probably only use a third to half the 160gb data on the current plan.
Any recommendations on where to port to instead?
I'd be watching this thread too… We have been on boost for yonks now. I think I was spending less than $11/month when we started. I know data inclusions have been increasing but all three members of our family, including the teenager have never hit the caps… even when they were still low.
At 300, it works out to $25/month. Not the end of the world, but I'd still like to get better value.
That ALDI deal looks pretty good, TBH. We just don't know what the difference will be compared to Boost/Telstra full network? At one time, MVNOs off telstra didn't fare quite as well. I dunno how things are now.
buy a 170gb starter sim pack now - as long as the expiry is after the current plan end date and then just churn over to aldi/etc for couples days for $5? solid plan, no?
Was mostly with boost for the international minutes and Telstra coverage. i guess all good things must come to an end…
the new pricing is out of control!
Looks like some of us will be looking for a new provider next year, as I would had thought the $230 for 160GB was the middle ground for many users.
As $300 for 240GB will price out many imo.
Paying for AI to make more staff redundant while it also chews up power which will be falling on their user base to fork up. (imo).
Ahh well, Boost having to do dance to the Telstra Fiddle or have to hit the road. Feels very sad with no concern for a competitive range, to maintain a solid userbase. :(
Similar to lots of others - the $230 plan was at the upper end but ok for me and my wife - $300 x 2 seems to high and I dont need that much data.
What I do like about Boost thou is it includes free calling to a bunch of other countries - I use this a fair bit - anyone else know a good plan that includes this for similar sort of terms as the $230 plan
My prediction is Boost mobile will be medium/ premium tier and upcoming Mobile X will be Economy /Medium tier under Boost branch.
all we know in September.
Can we recharge now or before 22 October to get the $230 for 12 months?
yes
If your current plan expires in May next year but you recharge before 22 Oct 2024 (is it possible?), will the 12 mth period be added after May 2025, not Oct 2024?
it will be restarted on the day of recharge happened. means you have to miss out between nov to may on your existing plan.
Interesting to see that the cashback providers are now showing $0 for Boost Mobile
Going downhill for sure
Stocked up on a few starter kits from auditech for $187. Sim expiry 07/2025.
I'm seeing $194 delivered here: https://www.auditech.com.au/boost-mobile-230-prepaid-sim-sta…
Is there a better deal?
They must've increased it since yesterday.
Cheapest I could find is Lucky Mobile(luckymobile.com.au) for $190 but they haven't listed the sim expiry, so you'd have to contact them.
Expiry date 08-09-2025 for LuckyMobile, now on website.
Auditech is $190 each posted for 5+ with code "Bonus" for those getting in early before supply drops off. Have a feeling prices will rise from here on in as it disappears after Oct 22, especially if Boost limit supply.
Kogan Mobile Prepaid Voucher Code: LARGE (365 Days FLEX | 300GB) for $169 a good deal?
has anyone bought the recharge vouchers from woolworths etc. recently?
I bought one around the 15 august for my expiry, and i noticed the voucher only lasted to June 2025.
I was hoping to buy another voucher by the october 2024 date the $230/plan disappears, but im just wondering if they all expire by June 2025, which is 2 months earlier than my renewal. hopefully someone can confirm that the voucher expiry moves with how late you buy it?
Buy from Coles as you'll usually get 23 months, and Flybuys points to boot.
i ended up getting some yesterday and indeed, expiry was feb 2026 for the first two. the third one was sep 2026, really puzzled why it is so different to woolworths. I am now tossing up getting one more voucher so i can renew in aug 2025 and aug 2026, to take me out to 2027 haha.
I don'tt usually use vouchers. Is there any risk that the voucher doesn't "work" when i get to 2026 - it's some fair time away so i don't want to deal with any drama if it isn't working.
The last Boost voucher I bought from Woolworths had an 18 months expiry.
That was before the new plans were announced, not sure about now.
Oh they might have cut it shorter knowing people were doing this. I'm about to buy recharges for my parents. I'll see if the expiry is any longer. If not they've curtailed it
I'll be interested to see what the expiry date on the recharge is.
My plan ends May next year.
@Bystander: I just went to coles yesterday. It was really odd. THe recharge vouchers came up as Feb 2026 at first.
I bought two - one for each parent.
Then decided i'd go and get one for myself, assuming i could use it in August 2025 when the recharge i just did in August 2024 lapses. My recharge voucher came up as Sep 2026 expiry?! i'm not sure if it's becuase i had bought the prior two vouchers. So it had gone onto a 'later' voucher. Perhaps someone with knowledge of prepaid vouchers knows how the expiries and numbering works - i'm presuming that they're like buying an item in a store, the later ones are printed/created later so perhaps have later expiry dates.
Either way, now that i have one sep 2026 voucher, I'm tossing up getting one more (so that i can renew aug 2025 and aug 2026). If so i can get all the way to aug 2027 haha, which by then i'd hope something superior exists.
I was going to do one coles and one woolworths, but after whatt the coles came back with i bought them all at coles. I'd suggest you do the same.
@SaberX: Thanks SabreX
I've been to Coles and they tell me that they can see the $230 recharge voucher but it doesn't say that it is for a 12 month recharge. Does it say anything on your receipt about it being for a one year plan?
I'm just wondering if when it comes to renewal time Boost might say yes, this is a credit for the $230 and now you need to pay the $70 difference.
@HardQuiz: Boost say that it will be valid to recharge at the current price. I hope they are right.
The Coles voucher says nothing about which plan It is for. And it has a July 2026 expiry.
Yes, the last increase was just in Jul 2023.
Popular options $35 to $39, $45 to $49.
https://news.boost.com.au/latest-plans/