Choosing the right mobile plan in 2023

According to the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s (ACMA) 2020 Communication Report, the average user’s mobile data usage jumped from 18.3 GB per month in 2019 to 22.5 GB in 2020.

This, of course, is no surprise when you consider the myriad digital activities we now perform on the go - streaming video and audio content, navigation, browsing, playing games etc. In addition, technology has improved such that digital accessibility is so high that an internet connection is almost essential for much of society - applying for government support, searching and applying for jobs, booking medical appointments etc.

With all this in mind, we should also consider that while the average usage represents all of us in Australia, it may not be that helpful for any particular individual (depending on their lifestyle and circumstances) in determining the right mobile plan for them. Which leads us to our first point…

How much mobile data do I really need?

Of course, this will depend on how you use your mobile data, the intensity of the tasks you use mobile data for and how critical it would be for you to run out of data (or have your connection slowed significantly).

Here is a very rough guide for the bracket of data usage you may fall into depending on how you use your mobile device:

How to compare mobile plans

Mobile plans come in all shapes and sizes. These days, large telecommunications retailers like Telstra, Optus and Vodafone tend to offer month-to-month plans (without a device attachment) - which means as long as you bring your own phone, you won’t be locked into a contract. If you do choose to get a new phone with your mobile plan, you’ll typically be able to choose a 12, 24 or 36-month contract length, with the cost of the device split accordingly. This can be a good option for people who are absolutely sure that their mobile plan will satisfy them for the foreseeable future, and benefit from having the cost of their device divided across a payment plan.

Typical mobile plans in 2023 come with unlimited domestic calls and text messages, being priced primarily on the amount of mobile data provided. Sometimes providers will offer special discounts on plans, but be careful - often these discounts can only apply for only a certain amount of time, reverting back to the original price after the offer has elapsed. Make sure you know the full details of an offer before committing to it, just so you don’t run into a nasty surprise later on.

Another thing to watch is what happens when you use all the data provided in your plan - will the provider automatically add additional data to your service for a fee? Will your connection speed be throttled until your next billing period? Answers to questions like this will be included in a document called the ‘Critical Information Summary’ or CIS (sometimes called a ‘Product Disclosure Statement’). If you’re buying your plan online, the CIS should be available as a link under every plan; and if you’re buying a plan in-store, ask whoever’s helping you to show you the CIS and go through it with you thoroughly.

Don’t get sucked in

Like any business, telecommunications retailers are perpetually trying to maximise the amount each of their customers spends with them. This means that you are more than likely to encounter several upsells, package deals and additional product attachments while buying your mobile plan. Some of these offers can be genuinely useful (such as device insurance, for example), but others are designed to incentivise customers to make rushed decisions - ‘oh why not, sure let’s add Airpods to the plan, it’s only $11 a month. Oh and I guess the Apple Watch could come in handy too...’

It should be fairly straightforward to stay focused while buying a mobile plan online, but if you do visit a brick-and-mortar store, be prepared to swat away offers left and right from well-trained salespeople. Just remain polite and remind them what you came in for, and that this is the only product you’re interested in committing to.

Prepaid mobile plans

Prepaid plans can be a great option for very low-touch users and people who are willing to dedicate more attention managing their mobile plan in order to save money. Prepaid plans are less committal, more flexible and can be less expensive. Some retailers even offer long-term prepaid options, such as ‘60 GB over 180 days’ for example.

If you can, look for prepaid plans that allow you to ‘roll over’ your data - meaning unused data from one recharge will carry over to your next recharge.

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