Vodafone 12 Months 250GB (150GB + 100GB Bonus Data) Prepaid $179 @ Vodafone
Get a $250 Prepaid Plus Starter Pack for $179. Only available at Vodafone Retail Stores (excluding Airport Stores) & Online. Ends 03/02/25. T&C apply.
Referrer & referee receive $25-$50 credit after referee's 3rd monthly bill.
Coverage is identical like Optus and amaysim, catch, etc. do. Telstra is the only one with a reduced coverage wholesale network.
I see, might just switch over to boost then hmmmm
Its better to get a cheap one month SIM from the provider you want to try. See how it performs in places where you spend most of the time and visit. In my experience, all three are equally bad depending on the location. I use Optus as it works in places I spend most time or visit frequently, after trying Telstra (for few years and then gave up) and Vodofone (mostly ok in these places).
Kogan doesn't currently offer 5G coverage outside of its large monthly plan, so it's not a direct comparison, and I'd be surprised if all MVNOs got to connect to all towers, and that's before considering prioritisation and speed caps.
All Voda & Optus users (and MVNOs) will get a coverage upgrade through sharing of regional networks starting soon, no idea if that helps you.
Using vodafone currently around Melbourne northern suburbs and always loose connection around Moonee ponds to kensigton while in train.
Also have seen issues with connection in cbd areas even when getting full signal when i am around large group of people. Somehow switching to 4g worked around mcg and surrounding areas during boxing day test.
Seems like the issue vodafone has is network congestion atleast in Melbourne.
Thats with any network in that area lol. Im with Telstra full and it loses connection there. It’s a known problematic area.
Surprisingly enough, I moved out to NE Melbourne recently and Vodafone reception is better than Telstra and Optus.
My wife in on this very plan which we got for $99 from Costco last year. We drove north of Adelaide and she didn't have anything more than a a single bar of network strength, and for most of the trip nothing at all. In the cities, I haven't heard anything wrong.
So.. along with YMMV, I'd say you can try the $6-7 monthly sim deals and see the network for yourself before committing to a 12 month plan..
I bought a year of Vodaphone ($250 plan for $125) and it was the biggest mistake I've ever made… Despite my area (20km from Perth) and many surrounding suburbs it having 5G coverage, I get dial-up speeds on a good day and otherwise constant dropouts that make me miss the dial-up days… Doesn't matter if I disable 5G either…
Major suburbs are fine and I can full 5G speeds but there really should be regulations against them lying about their coverage…
The funny part is, I've had Kogan a few years before and it wasn't anywhere near as bad? Did they always use Vodaphone network?
EDIT: Using a Pixel 6a.
Also, sometimes when I call, it tells me I don't have any credit and I need to recharge, despite the prepaid ending around Feb/Mar meaning I have to call a few times to get through…
No vodafone but I noiticed moving from Dodo to Optus direct reception and speeds are muich improved.
I suspect the carriers give some level of priority to services that are with them over the MVNOs
Yes this is true, while your "reception" might be the same, there definitely is prioritisation in play.
MVNOs must compete for it somehow in their contracts. They are able to serve you for a cheaper rate somehow right?
I've noticed even on Catch vs real Optus that you could have 5 bars somewhere but the speed is so slow during peak time that you may as well have 1 bar.
Hi guys, I don't have much knowledge in Vodafone prepaid, could I ask:
Last year Feb 2024 I joined Vodafone and used this for my phone https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/828722
Now that plan is coming to an end, could I use the deal in this current post and keep the same phone number?
Can I transfer my phone number from the current Vodafone to also Vodafone using this same deal?
Thank you
Probs best to grab a 2 dollar sim for other networks to port out to/transfer to and then switch back to this soon after. You can get those almost in any shops.
wow great idea
@ozchobie that sounds great. Any idea if you need to add credit (top up) the other sim in addition to just buying it for $2 to port out the number? Thanx
based on what people are doing on linked thread to port out to $2 telstra sims, they can defer choosing a plan and then switched immediately after activating that to any other network. https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/841500
Do you have to get a different plan when the 12 months finish or can you pay something similar and get another 12 months?
Different plan usually or port out and back in (if another offer is available).
Just remember if you need to receive txt overseas it don't work you have to buy their expensive add on.
Not true, I had no problems getting SMS in Japan last year.
You may have to turn on roaming, but this is fine it won't charge you for anything since the plan is prepaid (the prices otherwise seem diabolical). Note the "It's free to receive an SMS."
Might be a stupid question but it says 100GB Bonus on first 3 recharges. Does that include the initial charge ?
Answered my own question. Only when purchasing it in the fine print does it say "(activation counts as the first recharge)".
How long have we got to activate?
Can you buy it and do an esim so you don’t have to wait for shipping of a physical sim?
Price down to 169 now
For anyone that used Vodaphone and Kogan, how does the reception stack up between the two?
I am aware that Kogan uses Vodaphone network but not the full coverage I would assume?
Reception is pretty bad at my office with Kogan and Im always at a single bar of 4G which next to no internet connection, wanting to switch to something with some actual reception here so i can slack off properly (huh)