These days, mobile phones and data plans are almost as much of an everyday utility as your electricity, water or home internet connection.
What’s more, Australians are spoiled for choice when it comes to mobile data and smartphone providers. Beyond the big three – Telstra, Optus and Vodafone – there are also dozens of MVNOs looking to grow their customer base with a bargain.
Mobile phone plans are an expense that can be hard to avoid, but that’s not to say you can’t do anything to cut down the size of your monthly bill and save some money.
Speaking to nestegg, WhistleOut editor Alex Choros said, “There are a few main steps Australians should consider when looking to save money on a phone plan.”
He said the first is to consider smaller providers outside of Telstra, Optus and Vodafone.
“Every mobile provider in Australia is powered by either the Telstra, Optus or Vodafone network, so if you’re not going with a big brand, you’re still getting access to the same mobile network.”
“In the case of Optus and Vodafone, coverage and quality are identical on smaller providers, while smaller providers on the Telstra network may have a slightly smaller footprint in some regional and rural areas. Since smaller providers have fewer overheads, they’re often able to sell the same product at a lower rate and also offer entry-level plans at cheaper prices.”
Mr Choros also emphasised the importance of right-sizing your plan.
“While many providers are now offering plans with allowances in excess of 100GB, there’s no point in paying for that much data if you’re not going to use it.”
“Recent data from the ACCC suggests the average Australian only uses 25GB of data per month, so you should definitely think about your own data usage needs before picking a new plan.”
The final bit of advice he offered was to pay attention and compare what the market is offering on a regular basis.
“Phone plans are always changing, and often, for the better,” he said.
“In the same vein, many providers offer introductory offers where you’ll get more data or a discounted rate for your first six months or first year.”
Since these plans tend to be contract-free, “it can pay to play the market and jump from provider to provider to ensure you’re always getting the best rate”.
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