How to choose the best mobile phone plan that's right for you
There are loads of mobile service providers and hundreds of mobile phone plans out there, and finding the one that best fits your needs can be challenging. Sometimes it seems that service providers dazzle us with so many plans, options and add-ons that making a decision becomes very hard to make.
But it doesn’t have to be that complicated. Whether you want to go for a postpaid or prepaid plan, this guide will step you through the ocean of phone plans to make sure you’re getting the one that’s right for you.
Determine your budget
The first thing you need to think about is your budget and how much you’re willing to spend. Quite apart from the mobile phone plan itself, you also need to consider if you need a new phone – either as a monthly add-on to your mobile plan, or as an outright purchase.
Check your average monthly usage
Try to look back and look ahead, then gather this information:
- The number of calls you make in a typical day, then multiply it by 30 days
- Types of phones you usually call – landline or mobile phones
- Location of your calls – domestic, 1300, 0900 and international
- The average amount of data you use
- Average media you use – videos, music, podcasts, etc
Pick a provider
Next, you need to shop around and compare the providers and plans on offer. Make sure you look for a provider whose underlying network has a strong signal in the locations where you are most likely to spend most of your time, like your home, office, and other places you visit often. Check the provider’s mobile phone coverage map on their website to avoid any geographic black spots that may cause a service interruption. And of course, needless to say, compare the plans so you can find the best deal that fits your budget and needs.
Bear in mind that pretty much all mobile providers use either the Telstra, Vodafone or Optus mobile network, so even the lesser known brands will still be using a robust network.
Decide on a phone plan
As the saying goes – different folks, different strokes. Since everyone's needs differ, you have to find the plan that best suits yours best. Here are the choices:
Postpaid plans
The contracts for these plans typically come as BYO mobile (sim-only) and run on a month-to-month basis. Many providers offer new mobile phones for an additional fee, which is usually contracted for 12 to 36 months (the longer the contract, the lower the monthly fee). Nearly all mobile providers have plans that, for a fixed monthly fee, will give you unlimited texts, unlimited national calls and a chunk of data. The more you pay, the more you get, and a higher monthly fee will get you more data and usually, some free international calls.
With a postpaid plan, you’ll receive a bill every month which generally needs to be paid by direct debit (bank account or credit card). If you opt to include a new phone as an add-on and then cancel your plan before you’ve fully paid for it, you’ll need to pay it out on your next bill.
Prepaid plans
The lines between postpaid and prepaid mobile plans are becoming increasingly blurred - as both types of plans feature bundled options that include calls and data for a fixed monthly fee. The main differences are:
- With a prepaid plan there is often an initial set up fee (not usually applicable for a postpaid plan).
- With a prepaid plan, you need to top up / recharge your plan with some credit. No credit equals no calls, texts or data.
- Some providers offer prepaid pay-as-you-go plans – you need to have some available credit, but this doesn’t need to be recharged every month (in some cases, your credit can last a full year). With this type of plan, you’ll pay for every call, text and bit of data that you use, but it’s a great option for anyone who doesn’t use their phone much. You should make sure you check the rates for all usage though, to ensure you don’t end up paying more than you would if you took out a monthly plan (prepaid or postpaid).
With a prepaid plan, some providers also offer a small selection of mobile phones, but you’ll need to pay for it upfront – so if you’re in need of a new phone, it pays to shop around to look for the best deal. And don’t forget to check out the latest offers from the big retailers such as Harvey Norman and JB HiFi too!
Wrapping up
It’s always great to be armed with the right information when you’re looking for a new mobile service provider or mobile phone plan so you can ensure that it’s the best choice for you - and hopefully this blog assists you in your search. Don’t forget – if you need some financial assistance to help pay for a swanky new phone, just take a look at our cash loans up to $5,000 to find out how quick and easy it is to get your hands on some extra funds. Once a loan is approved, the cash is usually in your bank account within a few hours – so you could get your hands on that latest model iPhone or Android phone this week!