Get a better deal: mobile phone plans

Most of us have a mobile phone but how often do you receive a bill, only to be unhappy with the price or see charges you didn’t know were there? Well, there are much better deals out there, and even if you are locked into a contract and think you can’t get a better deal, you may be able to. Telcos change their plans all the time so chances are that you could be getting the same plan for $20 less, but your provider hasn’t told you.

It’s important to note that although there are dozens of service providers, only Telstra, Vodafone and Optus have their own towers and distribute down. For example, if you use Dodo as your service provider, they run off the Optus network.

Here’s the best deals for someone looking for ….

1. A better deal in their existing plan or just a new plan (want to use existing phone)

If you are already in a 12 or 24 month contract, it still pays to look around for the best deals. These are three examples of different needs and plans to match:

• Mary uses her phone everyday for emails, as well as heaps of calls and texts. She loves Facebook and watching YouTube videos.

  • Amaysim (Optus network) $44.90 UNLIMITED plan: unlimited calls and texts, 5GB data, month-to-month (no contract)
  • Virgin Mobile $80 plan: unlimited calls and texts, 6GB data, 24 month contract
  • Amaysim $44.90 UNLIMITED prepaid plan: unlimited calls and texts, 5GB data, 30 day expiry
  • Lebara (Vodafone network) $39.90 Mega prepaid plan: unlimited calls and texts, 5GB data, 30 day expiry

• John uses his phone now and then and likes to text and call his family, and uses Facebook once a day. He also likes to read the news and play games

  • Think mobile (Vodafone network) Ultimate $32.95 plan: unlimited calls, 2GB data, month-to-month (no contract)
  • jeeneemobile (Optus network) Large $35 SIM pack plan: $650 calls and texts, 3GB, month-to-month (no contract)
  • Vaya (Optus network) $18 Power Plan 18 (V2): $650 calls and texts, 1.5GB, month-to-month (no contract)
  • Live Connected $29 Rapid 29 BYO 4G Plan: $650 calls and texts, 1.5GB, month-to-month (no contract)
  • Spintel (Optus network) $36 Extra Large plan: unlimited calls and texts, 2.5GB, month-to-month (no contract)

• Lisa seldom uses her phone and only goes on the internet a couple of times a week

  • Vaya (Optus network) $18 Power Plan 18 (V2): $650 calls and texts, 1.5GB, month-to-month (no contract)
  • TeleChoice (Telstra network) $20 Global Liberty Starter Plan: $500 calls and texts, 1GB data, 24 month contract
  • Live Connected $23 Rapid 23 BYO 4G Plan: $500 calls and texts, 1GB data, month-to-month (no contract)
  • jeeneemobile Medium $25 SIM Pack Plan: $500 calls and texts, 1.5GB data, month-to-month (no contract)

2. A new phone and plan

If you’re in the market for a new phone, you might not know where to start with plans so we have chosen the 2 most popular new phones and the plans to compare with them:

iPhone 6 16GB

• For the person who needs unlimited calls, texts and lots of data
  • Virgin $80 plan: unlimited calls and texts, 6GB data, 24 month contract
  • Vodafone $78 Red plan ($70 plan + $8 handset repayment): unlimited calls and texts, 4GB data, 24 month contract
  • Optus $80 Optus My Plan Plus: unlimited called and texts, 5GB data, 24 month contract
• For the person who needs a normal amount of calls, texts and data
  • Virgin $66 plan ($50 plan + $16 handset repayment): $500 calls and texts, 3GB data, 24 month contract
  • Virgin $74 plan ($60 plan + $14 handset repayment): $700 calls and texts, 4GB data, 24 month contract

Samsung Galaxy S5

• For the person who needs unlimited calls, texts and lots of data
  • Virgin $80 plan: unlimited calls and texts, 6GB data, 24 month contract
  • Vodafone $80 Red plan: unlimited calls and texts, 5GB data, 24 month contract
  • Optus $80 Optus My Plan Plus: unlimited called and texts, 5GB data, 24 month contract
• For the person who needs a normal amount of calls, texts and data
  • dodo (Optus network) $69.90 Mobile 4G Mega: unlimited calls and texts, 2GB data, 24 month contract
  • Vodafone $70 Red plan: unlimited calls and texts, 4GB data, 24 month contract
  • Optus $60 Optus My Plan Plus: unlimited called and texts, 1.5GB data, 24 month contract

What phone company are you with? Do you like their service? Would you consider changing? Tell us below.