Best Mobile Plan for New Arrivals in Australia: Prepaid vs Postpaid
Which mobile carrier to pick in your first weeks in Australia, why coverage matters more than price, and why prepaid suits new arrivals before postpaid. Covers Telstra, Optus, Vodafone and the budget MVNOs riding on their networks. Figures as at September 2026.
Read the full guide, with official sources →
Watch
Chapters
- 0:00 Pick the network first,
- 0:12 Only 3 companies
- 0:25 MVNOs resell one
- 0:39 Same network,
- 0:51 Prepaid vs postpaid
- 1:05 Why prepaid suits
- 1:17 How much data
- 1:30 3 ways to activate
- 1:42 Cheapest plan on the
- 1:57 Where to read more
Transcript
Landing in Australia and need a mobile number? Start with the network underneath the plan, not the price on the box.
Only three companies actually own a mobile network in Australia: Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone, now part of TPG. Every other brand you see advertised resells space on one of those three.
Brands like Aldi Mobile, Boost, amaysim and Woolworths Mobile are Mobile Virtual Network Operators. They don't build towers — they buy access to one of the 3 real networks and resell it, usually cheaper.
An MVNO's coverage is identical to whichever network it resells — not better, not worse. Check which network an MVNO actually uses before assuming it'll work where you're moving.
Prepaid needs no credit check and no Australian bank account — you just pay upfront, usually for 28 or 30 days at a time. Postpaid bills you monthly and generally needs a credit check and a bank account.
Prepaid suits most new arrivals in their first few months: no Australian credit history required, easy to switch carriers once a plan expires, and no surprise bills while you're still finding your feet.
How much data you need depends on how you use your phone: mostly Wi-Fi needs less, everyday social media and navigation needs more, and heavy video streaming means aiming towards the top of a provider's range.
You can activate three ways: buy prepaid at the airport with staff on hand, order an eSIM online before you fly so it's ready when you land, or buy in-store after arrival and test coverage first.
The most common mistake is picking the cheapest plan without checking which network it actually runs on, or skipping a check of coverage at your own address. Prices and data allowances change often, so compare each provider's current plans directly.
The full guide, with the official sources, is on migratio.com.au. The link is in the description.
Short versions
- Only 3 companies own Australia's mobile networks (0:35)
- Skip the contract for now (0:32)
- 3 ways to get connected in Australia (0:36)
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