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Best Optus Mobile Plans | Pros & Cons + Coverage Map

By Allen Shuford

SEO Content Manager

Optus is one of the largest mobile phone carriers in Australia, and one of three mobile network operators in the country. Optus offers a massive range of mobile phone products and services including all the latest iPhone, Samsung, and Google phones, BYO mobile phone plans, and mobile broadband so you can take the internet everywhere you go. To learn more about Optus mobile services , keep reading below.

What Plans Does Optus Mobile Offer?

Optus Mobile offers prepaid and postpaid mobile plans as well as new mobile devices .

All Optus Mobile plans are SIM-only , meaning that they don't come with a phone. You will purchase the phone plan and then you can purchase a phone separately.

While this may sound like an inconvenience at first, this is good for people who already have a phone or prefer to shop around for deals on phones .

Optus Mobile Prepaid Plans vs. Monthly Postpaid Plans: With prepaid plans , you will pay upfront and add money to your plan as needed. With postpaid plans, you will pay a set price month by month. Both options are good and just depend on what works best for you.

Here is a look at all Optus Mobile Plans in detail, but first, let's take a look at the winners for the best Optus mobile plans.

What are the Best Optus Mobile Plans?

The Winner is:

• Optus Prepaid 4G Optus Flex Monthly

After reviewing all of the plans on offers, we think the best Optus Mobile plan is the prepaid 4G Optus Flex Monthly plan . Here's why:

• This plan comes with 30GB of data which is more than enough to watch videos, make video calls and WhatsApp-style voice calls all without WiFi.
• This plan comes with a monthly expiry period which is more convenient than a shorter period.
• As the plan is prepaid, it comes with data rollover. This means that if you don’t end up using all the data, it rolls over to the next months and keeps accumulating. (< 200GB)
• At $30 a month, it offers all of the right benefits, including unlimited calls and texts, without breaking the bank.
• You get access to the Optus 4G network which is plenty fast enough to use for watching videos and making video calls with good enough quality.

This is why, for us, the best Optus Mobile plan right now is the prepaid 4G Optus Flex Monthly plan.

The Runner-up:

• Optus Monthly Large Choice Plan Plus

Of course, we also had to include a month-to-month plan in our winners' guide! For us, the best monthly Optus Mobile plan is the Large Choice Plan Plus . Here's why:

• This plan comes with 200GB of data which is enough for a whole family of average phone users.
• This plan is only $10 more than the medium plan but comes with 120GB more data than the medium plan.
• This plan is monthly, which means that you can avoid the headache of constantly having to do an Optus recharge when you run out of credit.
• It comes with unlimited international calling to 35 countries, which is great if you travel or contact family, friends, or business acquaintances in other parts of the world.
• You get access to the Optus 5G network.

If you aren't looking for a prepaid plan, then the Monthly Large Choice Plan Plus is our pick for the best Optus Mobile plan on a monthly contract.

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Optus Monthly Mobile Phone Plans

As mentioned above, Optus SIM-only mobile phone plans are month-to-month plans with no lock-in contracts.

With these plans, you will need to purchase a device separately , or already have a device ready for use.

All monthly mobile plans from Optus include:

• Endless data with no excess data charges at 1.5Mbps
• Data sharing with eligible plans on your account
• 5G network access with a 5G-compatible device
• Unlimited standard national talk and text to Australian mobiles and landlines, and voicemail
• International talk, text, and roaming on select plans

*Figures are for illustrative purposes only and don’t compare all products, providers, plan features, offers, or rates. Products are compared like-for-like and any distinctions between products are clearly marked. Not all offers may be available in all locations. Any offers or estimated costs compared are for example purposes only. Offers and availability are subject to change. Valid June 2022.

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Optus Prepaid Mobile Phone Plans

Optus offers lots of prepaid mobile phone plans , with flexible expiry periods, data, and call & text inclusions.

All Optus Mobile prepaid plans come with 200GB of rollover data as well unlimited calls & texts to standard national numbers.

When you first sign up for an Optus prepaid mobile phone plan , you can choose any of their SIM starter kits, and then change and recharge your plan as you want.

Optus prepaid plans come in 3 categories:

• 4G Flex Plans
• 5G Flex Plans
• Epic Data Plans

Here's a look at them all.

1. Optus 4G Prepaid Mobile Plans

Optus Flex prepaid gives you the choice to purchase a set daily, weekly, or monthly amount of data for your phone.

This is good if you plan to use different amounts of data throughout the month, or if you run out and just need a quick, temporary top-up.

2. Prepaid Optus 5G Mobile Plans

These plans are similar to the Flex 4G except you get access to faster speeds on the Optus 5G network.

3. Optus Epic Data Plans

The Epic Data plans are considered Optus' premium prepaid plans .

You can get the same amount of data with these plans as found in some of their other prepaid plans, but with the Epic Data plans you also get international calling , Internationational roaming, and premium SMS included in the plan at "no extra charge".

These plans would be good for frequent travellers or to top up with if you plan to travel this month, etc.

Optus Mobile Broadband Plans - Data SIM

We can't forget Optus Mobile data plans,  also known as Optus mobile broadband .

With the data-only mobile plans, you won't be able to make phone calls using these plans, but if you have a tablet, mobile hotspot, or mobile broadband modem you can use these to connect to the internet on the go . You can also use this plan for a standard phone, but as mentioned before, you won't be able to make or receive phone calls.

Optus mobile broadband plans are available month-to-month with many different price points, data inclusions, and the option to include a mobile broadband dongle or modem.

Optus SIM-only mobile broadband plans are month-to-month data-only SIM cards with a mobile broadband plan.

All Optus Mobile Broadband plans come with:

• No lock-in contract
• Endless data with no excess data charges at 1.5Mbps speed
• Data sharing across eligible plans on one account

Optus tablets and iPads While Optus SIM-only mobile broadband plans are bring-your-own-device, you can pair your Optus data SIM with any of the latest tablets or iPads from optus and pay it off over 12, 24, or 36 months.

Optus Mobile Phones With a Plan

You can no longer buy Optus Mobile phones with a plan. This can seem confusing at first because Optus Mobile sells mobile phone plans, and it sells mobile phones, but it no longer sells plans that include a phone and calling/data plan together.

You can still purchase mobile devices from Optus Mobile on their website or at an Optus store. One of the benefits of buying an Optus mobile phone is that you can pay it off month by month.

Optus Mobile financing plans come in 12, 24 or 36-month increments , depending on how quickly you want to pay off the device. Logically, the longer you pay, the cheaper your payments will be each month.

Optus also sells prepaid mobile phones from Samsung , Motorola, Oppo, and more . When you purchase a new Optus mobile phone, you’ll get an included SIM card and a free $30 recharge included.

How Does Optus Compare to Other Companies?

Optus offers a wider variety of packages than other companies which is great for families as there is something for everyone's needs.

Another benefit of being with Optus is that you can bundle your home internet , your mobile plan, and your home phone , as well as get access to streaming TV (like Optus Sport ) all through the same provider.

Therefore, when comparing Optus Mobile to other companies it's important to consider what exactly you are looking for. If you want 5G service, Optus is a great choice as it has several affordable plans and uncapped data speeds.

However, if you are looking for a simple and basic plan, you may want to take a look around at some other options. It can also be notable difficult to contact optus , if this is something high on your list.

Here is a look at the pros & cons of Optus Mobile:

Optus Mobile Pros

• Many plans to choose from
• Huge network coverage
• 5G plans available
• Good value for the money

Optus Mobile Cons

• Low customer rating
• 5G not available everywhere
• No plans with phone included
• Spotty coverage in rural areas

Is Optus a Good Deal?

As with any review, you may be wondering: Is Optus a good deal?

This really depends on what you are looking for. For example, Optus is a good deal if you are looking for 5G access , but if you are looking for a cheap no frills plan, maybe not.

If you ask "Is Optus Affordable?" , then we would say yes, Optus is affordable .

Optus is certainly not the cheapest mobile provider out there, but it's also not the most expensive.

You can still get a great deal at Optus, as we mentioned in the section above, but it depends entirely on what you are looking for. Optus may be a great deal if you are looking to bundle all of your services into one. However, if you are looking for a cheap phone plan , then you would have more luck looking at another provider on the Optus network.

Other Providers on the Optus Network

Since Optus runs its own network , it has higher operating costs than other mobile companies making their plans a bit more expensive in the process, to cut costs, Optus sells access to its network to other mobile phone companies who then use the Optus network to provide service to their customers. These companies are referred to as MNVOs.

Plans from MNVOs are often cheaper and simpler than Optus plans , but if you’re not interested in a new phone, or a plan with all the bells and whistles, choosing an MVNO can help you save money.

Here is a list of companies (MVNOs) that run on the Optus network who may offer cheaper deals with the same coverage:

• Catch Connect
• Circles.Life
• Coles Mobile
• Moose Mobile
• Southern Phone

Is the Optus Mobile Network Any good?

Another important point to consider when comparing Optus to other providers is the network coverage in your area . Below you will find the Optus Mobile coverage map.

All MNVOs on the Optus network should have the same coverage as well.

Optus Mobile Coverage

The Optus mobile network is quite extensive and is the second largest in Australia and reaches 98.5% of the population with 3G & 4G coverage. However, it's still not as extensive as the Telstra network.

That's important to keep in mind especially if you live in a rural area as most of the Optus network coverage is concentrated in major cities along the East coast.

Optus is also rolling out 5G mobile and 5G home broadband across Australia.

Currently, Optus 5G is only available in the following capital cities:

You can read all about the new 5G coverage offered by Optus in our Complete Guide to Optus 5G .

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Optus business mobile plans review

Let’s get down to (Optus) business.

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Optus has dedicated business mobile solutions for up to 300 plans , but the main focus of this page is plans reviews for smaller businesses. Enterprise customers with more than 300 employees in need of phone plans can alternatively contact Optus Enterprise for support . While Optus tailors mobile plan solutions for between one and five employees or six to 300 staff, smaller businesses can take advantage of the value and savings found in Optus mobile plans built for everyday users.

Optus may not have as wide-reaching network as Telstra (for 4G and, particularly, 5G ), but it’s still got coverage in most parts of Australia. Basically, if you business operates in any populous part of Australia, you shouldn’t have any issues with an Optus mobile plan. Optus has good dollar-to-data value on its plans, with plenty of data and decent inclusions. It’s a shame there aren’t cheaper SIM Only plans and 1.5Mbps post-max-speed throttling isn’t ideal, but there aren’t any excess data charges.

Optus business mobile value for money

We advise small businesses to use SIM Only plans over Prepaid plans , unless you use a phone more reactively and don’t have on-the-go data needs. If that’s you, long-expiry Prepaid plans are worth considering to help keep costs down.

Note that all Optus SIM Only plans include access to the Optus 5G network (where available). Similarly, Optus SIM Only plans let users share data on eligible plans under a single account, which is a good choice for small business users. Optus SIM Only plans start with the $49 Optus Choice Plus Plan, which comes with 30GB of data.

There’s money to be saved if you go with an Optus MVNO or Vodafone MVNO , but you’ll have to pay closer to this particular Optus plan price if you want partial Telstra 5G or Vodafone 5G access. Below are some of the most popular SIM Only plans from our database with at least 30GB of data.

The dollar-to-data value increases dramatically with the next Optus plan. For not a lot more per month, the $59 Optus Choice Plus Plan comes with 100GB of data, plus unlimited calls and text messages (no MMS) to 35 selected dialling destinations.

That 70GB jump in data thins out the SIM Only competition. There are other competing telcos on the Optus, Telstra wholesale and Vodafone network with better pricing and/or more data, but international call inclusions and data sharing are rarer perks. For comparison, below is a daily updating list of SIM Only plans from our database with at least 100GB of monthly data.

The next cheapest plan is the $69 Optus Choice Plan, which has 220GB of data and the same international inclusions. Again, Optus continues the trend of paying not a lot more for a whole lot of data.

Competition is a lot thinner when you start dealing with 200GB of data. There are alternatives on the Optus 5G and Vodafone 5G network at this price point, which are worth considering if you need more than 200GB of data. Below is a daily updating list of popular SIM Only plans from our database with at least 200GB of data.

The penultimate SIM Only plan is the $89 Optus Choice Plus Plan, which ordinarily comes with 360GB of data for use on the Optus 5G network. Optus is currently running a promotion that bumps that figure up to 500GB, so the amount of bulk value here blows away most of the competition.

There’s only one other plan in our comparison engine that competes with 400GB+ of data, and that’s the $85 SIM Only Ultra+ Plan from Vodafone, which comes with unlimited max-speed data on the Vodafone 5G network. Check out these two plans side-by-side below.

If you’d prefer a dedicated Optus business plan, consider Optus Business Mobile Plus . This plan structure supports between one and 10 SIMs. There’s a 10% discount for two sims, 20% for three, 26% discount for four to seven SIMs, and a 30% discount for eight to 10. The plan starts at $55 for 80GB of data, and every SIM added boosts the shareable data pool by 80GB. Like personal Optus SIM Only plans, Optus Business Mobile Plus plans come with Optus 5G access, no excess data charges (1.5Mbps throttling after data cap) as well as unlimited calls and SMS to 35 selected destinations.

Optus business mobile features and perks

All Optus SIM Only and Prepaid plans come with unlimited calls and text messages (SMS and MMS) to Australian numbers. For Optus Prepaid monthly plans, you can roll over up to 200GB of data and up to 84 days if you recharge early. Not every Optus Prepaid plan includes Optus 5G network access, but all Optus SIM Only plans do. Optus SIM Only plans also include data sharing under a single account for eligible plans.

Except for the cheapest Optus SIM Only plan, all other options come with unlimited calls and SMS to 35 selected dialling destinations, which includes:

• China (mainland)
• New Zealand
• South Korea
• United Kingdom
• United States of America

There aren’t any excess data charges for Optus SIM Only plans, but the trade-off is a sluggish 1.5Mbps connection speed for the duration of your billing month.

Optus is one of three main telecommunications providers in Australia, which offers mobile and broadband internet services. Its mobile network has the second largest reach (behind Telstra but ahead of Vodafone) and supports 5G, 4G and 3G cellular connectivity.

Optus business mobile support

We understand that one person’s support experience with a telco may differ from another’s, which is why we look to quantitative support pathways. Optus offers a wide range of support via telephone, online chat, social media, self-paced online support, as well as brick-and-mortar stores for in-person support.

Optus also has dedicated business support options for authorised representatives. Chat with Optus business support via online messaging service or call them on 133 343, Monday to Friday 8:00am to 7:00pm AEST or Sat and Sunday 8:00am to 6:00pm.

How to sign up for an Optus business mobile plan

From the list of Optus plans below, pick the plan that’s best for your business needs, then click on the ‘Go’ button. You’ll be taken to the corresponding Optus mobile plans page. Have a read over the inclusions and confirm the plan you’d like, then follow the sign-up steps. Alternatively, call Optus business mobile on 1300 106 481 for sales support.

Optus business mobile plans

Below is a list of all Optus SIM Only mobile plans (sorted by popularity).

How we review mobile providers

Whether we’re evaluating personal or business mobile plans from telcos, we follow the same approach. It starts with dollar-to-data value for money. Telcos that receive high scores tend to offer more gigabytes than the cost of a plan.

Still, network coverage is also a key consideration, which is why the Telstra and Telstra wholesale networks rank favourably with us as they’re the largest. Optus and Vodafone aren’t too far behind, admittedly, but the Telstra 5G network has a clear lead over Optus which, in turn, is ahead of Vodafone.

We like to see mobile plans with meaningful inclusions, be they access to additional services or more practical features like data sharing and no excess data charges. In terms of support, we tally the number of support pathways a telco offers and use that as a guide to how much a telco has invested in helping customers with issues. For personal mobile plans, we may also take publicly available customer reviews into account.

Optus business mobile FAQs

Optus Sport used to be included with Optus SIM Only plans, but now it’s a separate subscription. Sign up for Optus Sport via the Optus SubHub for $6.99 per month.

It really depends on what you’re after. Telstra business mobile plans may offer faster speeds via the widespread Telstra 5G network. Optus business mobile plans have better dollar-to-data value, but the Optus 5G network isn’t as far-reaching as Telstra’s.

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Disclaimer: The information featured in this article is based on our best estimates of pricing, package details, contract stipulations, and service available at the time of writing. This is not a guarantee. All information is subject to change. Pricing will vary based on various factors, including, but not limited to, the customer’s location, package chosen, added features and equipment, the purchaser’s credit score, etc. For the most accurate information, please ask your customer service representative. Clarify all fees and contract details before signing a contract or finalizing your purchase. Each individual's unique needs should be considered when deciding on chosen products.

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Optus mobile plans review

How does australia's second largest telco stack up to telstra and cheaper alternatives.

Tom's Guide Verdict

While there's no denying that Telstra clearly has the lead amongst Australia's three major telcos, Optus isn't that far behind, boasting the country's second-largest network and the title for fastest 5G download speeds. It's also far more affordable than Telstra, with fairly priced plans that offer plenty of data. Of course, the telco has a long way to go to regain Australia's trust after suffering one of the worst cyberattacks in our history, alongside a nationwide outage that lasted more than half a day.

Plans offer good value

Fast 5G download speeds

Great roaming add-ons

Reputation in the toilet

Speeds capped on pre-paid plans

Still uses off-shore call centres

Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.

Since its commercial arrival on the Aussie telco scene back in 1992, Optus has maintained its position as Australia's second-largest network operator, with Telstra consistently holding onto the number one spot in terms of number of subscribers.

A subsidiary of Singaporean telecommunications giant Singtel, Optus offers a range of mobile plans which offer big data at reasonable price points. It has both pre-paid and post-paid choices, as well as plans which include a handset.

Although Optus comes in second to Telstra with regards to its overall network coverage, the telco is still able to claim that its 3G and 4G networks reach 98.5% of the Australian population. 

And while Telstra seems to have a significant lead when it comes to 5G coverage (based on nPerf's independent coverage maps ) and is claimed to now reach 85% of the Australian population, it's worth nothing that OpenSignal has awarded Optus the 5G Download Speed crown for the last 4 years running. Of course, most users probably won't reach those top speeds unless they're right next to an Optus tower, and the network is relatively uncongested.

As for customer service, Optus still uses off-shore call centres in India and the Philippines, though it does operate local call centres in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, too. 

However, the real elephant in the room is that Optus has had a rough couple of years — in 2022, Optus experienced one of the biggest cyberattacks in Australian history , resulting in the personal information of roughly 10 million customers being exposed. 

This was followed by a nationwide outage in 2023, which lasted approximately 12-13 hours, once again affecting around 10 million customers, including 400,000 businesses.

So while Optus has the second-largest network and a range of decently priced mobile plans, the question remains as to whether the telco can regain the trust of its customers — both existing, and potential.

Optus mobile plans and pricing

• Optus SIM-only plans far more reasonably priced than Telstra
• No lock-in contracts for Optus SIM-only plans

Of the three main network operators in Australia, Optus arguably sits in the sweet spot between Telstra and Vodafone when it comes to price and value. 

Telstra undoubtedly has the best coverage, but is by far the most expensive. And while Vodafone offers the most monthly data at prices which are on par with Optus, it ranks third in terms of coverage and download speeds. 

That leaves Optus with a range of plans which are well-priced and still data-generous, with coverage that's quite decent despite falling short of Telstra's reach. In other words, Optus is probably the telco that Goldilocks would choose.

Optus SIM-only plans start at AU$49 p/m for the Small Optus Choice Plus Plan , which comes with 30GB of monthly data, which means you're paying about AU$1.63 per GB. 

That's followed by the Medium Optus Choice Plan , which costs AU$59 p/m for 100GB of monthly data (a cost of AU$0.59 per GB). That's double what Telstra offers in terms of data on its entry-level Basic Upfront plan, which is more expensive at AU$62 p/m for 50GB (or AU$1.24 per GB).

Next is the Large Optus Choice Plus Plan , which costs AU$69 p/m for 220GB of monthly data, or around AU$0.31 per GB. Yes, you heard right: for a mere AU$7 extra p/m, Optus gives you 170GB more monthly data than Telstra's aforementioned 50GB Basic Upfront plan.

If that still isn't enough data for you, Optus also offers an Extra Large Optus Choice Plus Plan , which costs AU$89 p/m and includes 360GB of monthly data (about AU$0.25 per GB). 

Additionally, Optus currently offers an Optus Plus Promo Plan , which gives you 500GB of monthly data at AU$69 (a tiny AU$0.14 a gig) for the first 12 months, after which the price goes up to AU$89 p/m (a still very-reasonable AU$0.18 per GB). Note that this is technically a special offer, and while there's no end date on it at the time of this review, it will only be available until withdrawn.

Also worth noting is that there are no lock-in contracts on any Optus SIM-only plan, and each one brings uncapped 5G network access in selected areas (excluding Northern Territory), unlimited standard talk and text within Australia, and unlimited standard international talk and text to 35 selected destinations. You can also share your data across eligible plans on the same account, and donate your unused monthly data to Australians in need.

Although there are no lock-in contracts on any of the above Choice Plus plans, Optus also offers a range of prepaid Flex Plus plans for those who don't want to risk extra charges, or only need service for a fixed period of time.

Optus Flex Plus plans with a 28-day expiry period start at AU$35 and come with fluctuating amounts of data. For instance, new customers on this plan get 40GB of data along with a bonus 20GB of data for those first 28 days. After this, the plan loses the bonus data on the second and third recharge (a total of 40GB), then drops down to 20GB from then on. That means after the introductory period you'll be paying AU$1.75 per GB.

Similarly, a AU$45 Flex Plus plan provides 60GB + 20GB of bonus data (80GB in total) during the first 28 days, losing the bonus data on the second and third recharge, before landing on 30GB after that (or $1.50 per GB ongoing). Alternatively, you can opt for a plan which costs AU$55 for 80GB on the first three recharges, which then drops down to 40GB after that (a rate of AU$1.38 per GB).

Of course, there are other long-term 186-day and 365-day options for those who don't want to think about recharging for a while, though you'll have to pay a larger sum upfront.

Note that there is one caveat with Optus's Flex Plus prepaid plans; while all will get you access to the telco's 3G, 4G and 5G networks, download speeds on these plans are capped to 150Mbps across the board. It's also worth mentioning that every Flex Plus plan includes data rollover up to 200GB, which will be applied as long as you recharge before expiry or have an active auto-recharge set up.

Optus mobile coverage

• Excellent 3G / 4G coverage, but lags behind Telstra in 5G reach
• Optus awarded fastest 5G download speeds by OpenSignal

Given that Optus operates the second-largest mobile network in Australia, it probably comes as no surprise that it also offers the second-best coverage. 

Where Optus is closest to Telstra is in its 3G and 4G reach, with a claimed 98.5% of the Aussie population covered. However, while Telstra's 5G mobile network is said to currently reach roughly 87% of Australians , Optus doesn't currently make any specific percentage claims — and if nPerf's coverage maps are any indication, it still has a lot of catching up to do.

During our rundown of the various mobile plans offered by Optus, you may have noticed that 5G network access was only available in selected areas, and excluded Northern Territory entirely. Sure enough, a closer look at nPerf's coverage map for Darwin shows a complete absence of Optus 5G network coverage, and only a small 3G and 4G presence. 

Simply put, if you live in the Top End, you're better off going with Telstra or Vodafone — both of which offer a far greater 3G, 4G and 5G presence in NT. That said, if you live in any of Australia's major cities along the east coast, you should be OK. Optus does offer 5G network access in Perth, though the rest of the west coast is fairly barren in terms of coverage.

Optus mobile plans: Extras, perks and offers

• Big discount on Optus Sport access
• Discounts on streaming subscriptions with SubHub

In terms of extras, Optus postpaid SIM-only customers receive 3 months of Amazon Prime for free when they sign up via Optus SubHub. The latter lets you manage and pay for subscriptions in one place, which are added to your regular phone bill. 

Additionally, customers can save up to 10% on streaming subscriptions when they add three or more eligible subscriptions to SubHub. Supported services include Netflix, Amazon Prime, Binge, Paramount Plus and more.

Best of all, sports-lovers who sign up to Optus Sport via SubHub get a huge discount on the service's monthly subscription cost, bringing it down from AU$24.99 p/m to just AU$6.99 p/m.

Optus also offers very competitive international roaming add-ons — for AU$5 per day, you get 1GB of data, 100 minutes of talk and 100 texts per day to use in over 90 Zone 1 destinations.

Optus mobile plans: customer service and community reviews

• Support team still has call centres in India and the Philippines
• Optus reputation at an all-time low

While Telstra has drastically decreased its use of off-shore call centres since 2021, switching over to a mostly Australia-based support team, the Singtel-owned Optus still relies on call centres located in India and the Philippines. 

Of course, Optus also has call centres in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, although you probably won't know whether you're connected to one of those or someone from an overseas branch. 

Thankfully, Optus has a huge retail presence in Australia, with over 350 branded Optus Yes outlets across the country, making it relatively easy for customers to receive face-to-face service.

Still, not everyone is happy with Optus, with the telco receiving mostly negative online reviews on sites like Product Review and Trustpilot , where it has earned overall customer satisfaction scores of 1.3 and 1.2, respectively. 

With that in mind, it's important to note that both Telstra and Vodafone have achieved similar scores, which goes to show that most customers will only bother reviewing something if they've had a bad experience.

Even with that disclaimer, there's no denying that the telco's reputation is at an all-time low, following an immense cyberattack in 2022 which left the information of over 10 million Optus customers exposed.

This was not helped at all by a nationwide outage which occurred the following year, leaving 10 million customers and 400,000 businesses without mobile or internet access for around 14 hours. Not only did the outage leave vulnerable Australians without the means to contact anyone for help, it also left business owners who rely on EFTPOS twisting in the wind for an entire working day.

Given the extreme public backlash that followed these two disasters, it's no wonder that Optus CEO Kelly Bayer Rosmarin went on to resign in November 2023.

However, the telco still has a long way to go in regaining Australia's trust — the market research company Roy Morgan named Optus as Australia's most distrusted brand in March 2024, suggesting the telco's black eye is going to linger for a while.

Optus mobile plans: Bottom line

Is an Optus mobile plan worth your money? In terms of value, Optus mobile plans are far more competitively priced than Telstra's, with SIM-only offerings that deliver big data and worthwhile perks. 

As Australia's second-largest telco, it's no surprise that Optus falls behind Telstra in terms of coverage. That said, its reach is still significant — particularly when it comes to 3G and 4G coverage.

Of course, there's no denying that Optus has made some significant blunders with regards to customer security and service over the last couple of years — some of which are hard to forgive. Optus has posted an open letter to customers that includes a commitment to "do better", but is that enough?

If you're willing to forgive Optus, you can at least rest assured that its mobile plans are good value and will likely satisfy most customers (outside of the Northern Territory).

• Best Australian phone plans with international roaming

Stephen Lambrechts is the Managing Editor of Tom's Guide AU and has written professionally across the categories of tech, film, television and gaming for the last 15 years. Before Tom's Guide, he spent several years as a Senior Journalist at TechRadar, had a brief stint as Editor in Chief at Official Xbox Magazine Australia, and has written for such publications as APC, TechLife Australia, T3, FilmInk, AskMen, Daily Telegraph and IGN. He's an expert when it comes to smartphones, TVs, gaming and streaming. In his spare time, he enjoys watching obscure horror movies on physical media, keeping an eye on the latest retro sneaker releases and listening to vinyl. Occasionally, he also indulges in other non-hipster stuff, like hiking.

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Best Optus MVNO plans

Did you know you’ll get the same coverage with an optus mvno as you would with optus itself we’ve rounded up the 5 best mobile plans on the optus network to help you expand your options..

In this guide

Best value mobile plan on the Optus network

Best mobile plan for under $20 on the optus network, best mobile plan for under $40 on the optus network, best optus mobile plan, best 365-day plan on the optus network, best plan on the optus network for international inclusions, which mobile providers run on the optus network, how do you find the best mobile plan on the optus network, frequently asked questions.

Read our reviews of other brands

Southern Phone Finder Exclusive

Additional plan information

• Mobile network : Optus 3G/4G network
• SIM fee : $0
• Delivery fee : $0
• Total cost over first 12 months : $285

What we like about Southern Phone:

• You'll get 100GB of data for only $20 on your first 3 months - perfect for big data users.
• Plan comes with unlimited standard national calls and texts and $50 call credit for standard international calls .
• No lock-in contract so you can switch to a different plan if you change your mind.

Watch out for

• Price reverts back to $25 a month after 3 months but still remains good value for how much data you get.

How we chose the best value mobile plan on the Optus network

• Mobile network : Optus 4G network
• Total cost over first 12 months : $240

What we like about Dodo:

• You can enjoy an additional 15GB of data when you sign up to this plan. That's a total of 30GB for only $20 on your first 3 months.
• Unlimited standard national calls and texts covered plus an additional $100 call credit for standard international calls .
• You can have your SIM delivered to you for free and have it shipped on the same day.
• Your data allowance goes down to 15GB after the first 3 months.
• Dodo currently doesn't have a mobile app so you can't easily check your data usage on the go.

How we chose the best plan for under $20 on the Optus network

• Get 100GB for just $20 a month for the first 3 months - it's a great offer for big data users.
• Includes $50 credit to make standard international calls.
• VoLTE and Wi-Fi calling capabilities if you have a compatible device.
• The price reverts back to $25 a month after 3 months but it's still a good amount for how much data you're getting in return.

How we chose the best plan for under $40 on the Optus network

Optus flex plus $35.

• Mobile network : Optus 4G/5G network
• Total cost over first 12 months : $420

What we like about Optus:

• Sign up to this plan to receive an additional 20GB of data on the first month that is on top of the 40GB of data for your first 3 recharges.
• Access to Optus 5G if it's available in your area and you have a compatible phone.
• Unlimited calls and texts in Australia plus an additional 400 minutes of standard international calls to 20 selected destinations.
• After your first recharge ends, you'll have to pay $35 per recharge if you plan on sticking with this plan.
• Access to Optus's 5G coverage can vary depending on where you're located.

How we chose the best mobile plan from Optus

Catch connect 365 day plan 120gb.

• Total cost over first 12 months : $119

What we like about Catch:

• For only $119 you get to enjoy a whopping 120GB of data all for use for the whole year when you sign up with Catch. That works out as 10GB per month for only $9.92
• Comes with unlimited standard national calls and texts within Australia.
• You can switch to a different plan if you change your mind as this plan has no lock-in contract.
• The price will revert to $150 after your first recharge so make sure that you're okay with paying the hefty price if you're planning to continue with the plan.
• The Auto Recharge feature is activated by default. You can turn this off if you're not keen to use it.

How we chose the best 365-day plan on the Optus network

What we like about amaysim:

• For just $35 you can get a whopping 90GB of data to use on your first 3 months.
• 300 minutes of international calls and unlimited texts on top of your unlimited standard calls and texts.
• Don't worry about going over your data inclusion as this plan has no excess data charges, your speed will only slow to 1Mbps.
• Bank up to 500GB of data for next month.
• Despite it being a postpaid plan, you actually have to pay for your plan at the start of each month.

How we chose the best plan for international inclusions on the Optus network

Why you can trust finder's mobile plan experts.

We've done the work

We're reliable

We're here to help

There are just under 20 smaller providers or MVNOs that use Optus's network and have full access to it. We've broken down all the Optus MVNOs available on Finder below.

There are 3 key factors to consider when you're choosing a plan from either Optus itself or one of the smaller providers that use its network.

1. Price: Ask yourself how much you're willing to pay for your phone plan. Seek out sign up deals that are quite common in the telco space.

2. Data: Figure out how much data you use or need by either checking your phone, bill from your mobile provider or its app, or by using our data usage calculator . Oftentimes we pay for data we don't use. According to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, the average Aussie only uses 10.2GB of data per month .

3. Inclusions: You'll want to choose a plan that best fits your feature requirements, whether it's the option of data rollover, international calls, an app to manage your plan or having roaming available for when you travel overseas. Or keep it simple and opt for a basic plan with calls, texts and data.

Compare to find the best mobile plan on the Optus network

We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.

Learn how we maintain accuracy on our site.

To help you find a plan that best fits your needs, here's an overview of the 10 most popular providers on the Optus network.

amaysim offers lots of perks without breaking the bank. It won the 2023 Finder Award for Best Prepaid Mobile Provider (Value) for this reason.

• Access to Optus's 5G network
• Unlimited data banking
• Unlimited international calls and texts to 28 or 42 countries on some plans
• International roaming packs available to purchase

View amaysim plans

Coles Mobile

With Coles Mobile , you can get good data allowances at a reasonable price. Its long expiry plan was highly commended in the 2023 Finder Awards.

• 500GB data rollover available
• Unlimited international calls to 15 or 22 selected countries depending on the plan you choose
• Get 10% off your largest single shop (up to $30) on its month-to-month plan

View Coles mobile plans

Moose mobile

Moose Mobile offers Australian customer support and a wide range of plans to suit different data needs. It was highly commended in the 2023 Finder Awards for its postpaid plans and the value they offer.

• Highly-rated mobile app for easy plan management
• Strong dollar to data ratio on majority of its plans

View Moose mobile plans

• Southern Phone

Southern Phone offers 100% carbon neutral mobile plans that are competitively priced. Plus you can get select smartphones on a plan from brands such as Samsung.

• Australian-based customer support
• 5G plans available
• International credit included on majority of its plans ranging from $50 to $500

View Southern Phone mobile plans

Circles.Life

Circles.Life is well-known in the telco space for offering affordable plans to both low and high data users. It also won the 2023 Finder Award for Best Postpaid Mobile Provider (Value).

• 30-day satisfaction guarantee
• Is a great option for high data users that want to stick to a budget
• An app to help you manage your plan

View Circles.Life mobile plans

Catch Connect

Catch Connect is perfect for budget-conscious Aussies looking to save on their mobile plan.

• Has some of the best value long-expiry plans around
• Offers an app to help you manage your plan

View Catch Connect mobile plans

Dodo Mobile

Dodo Mobile is known for slinging competitively priced plans with decent data limits. Its frequent sign up deals also make its plans much more favourable.

• Data banking available up to 500GB
• Boasts a wide range of customer support options including live chat
• Offers unlimited international texts on all plans and between $100 to $300 worth of international call credit on select plans

View Dodo mobile plans

iPrimus offers a small set of plans that will suit high data users that want 40GB or more each month.

• Between 300 to 1000 international minutes to 35 selected countries depending on which plan you choose
• $5 per month discount when you bundle with its broadband plan

View iPrimus mobile plans

SpinTel's postpaid plans offer great bang for buck - it's why it was highly commended in the 2023 Finder Awards for Postpaid Mobile Provider (Value).

• Multiple ways to get in touch including live chat, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger

View SpinTel mobile plans

Methodology: how we researched the best mobile plans on the optus network.

• We looked at mobile plans for personal use on Finder that run on the Optus network.
• Other selection criteria included narrowing our list for each category by pricing and/or data brackets. We also specifically looked at international inclusions for our best plan for international calls pick.
• We then ranked the plans based on a value score weighted as: 70% cost per gigabyte over the first 12 months of the plan, 20% network coverage and 10% plan features (including data rollover 6%, Wi-Fi calling 3% and international call inclusions 1%).

To select the top pick for each category, our experts chose the highest-ranking plan according to the value score.

What is an Optus MVNO?

An Optus MVNO is a smaller mobile provider that has access to the Optus network. MVNO stands for Mobile Virtual Network Operator. They have access to the full Optus 3G or 4G network. Some even offer access to Optus's 5G network on selected plans.

What is the best mobile plan on the Optus network?

The top picks for the best mobile plans on the Optus network for March 2024 are:

• Top pick for the best value mobile plan on the Optus network: Dodo Mobile $30
• Top pick for the best Optus network mobile plan under $20: Dodo Mobile $20
• Top pick for the best high-data mobile plan on the Optus network: amaysim 120GB Plan
• Top pick for the best Optus plan: Optus Choice Plus Medium $59
• Top pick for the best Optus network mobile plan for international calls: amaysim 32GB Plan

Which Optus MVNO has 5G?

The following Optus MVNOs currently offer 5G mobile plans:

• Aussie Broadband Mobile

Does Moose use the full Optus network?

All Optus MVNOs, including Moose Mobile, have access to Optus's full network coverage and in return similar speeds as the telco giant itself.

Does amaysim use the full Optus network?

amaysim, similar to other Optus MVNOs has full access to Optus's 4G and 5G networks.

• Dodo's Critical Information Summaries
• Catch's Critical Information Summaries
• Optus' Critical Information Summaries
• Coles' Critical Information Summaries

Mariam Gabaji

Mariam Gabaji is an editor and tech and utilities expert at Finder with over 11+ years of experience in print and digital media. Her main goal is to help households cut through the industry jargon and save money on their household bills. Her expertise is often featured in media including the ABC, Yahoo Finance, 9News, 7News, A Current Affair, The Guardian, SBS and Money Magazine.

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Optus NBN plans compared: best option for every need

We take a closer look at what’s on offer from Optus

• Noteworthy deals
• Optus NBN plans

Optus NBN FAQ

1. Best NBN plans 2. Fastest NBN plans 3. Cheap NBN plans 4. Best internet deals

Optus is the third-largest NBN provider in Australia, right behind Telstra and TPG. It’s a good choice for your internet provider because it’s historically performed well in the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) broadband reporting , often achieving some of the highest average download speeds among the telcos monitored.

While its performance and reliability are great across the board, our Optus NBN review argued that its NBN 50 plans and NBN 100 plans are too expensive, as competitors such as TPG, Exetel and Superloop can offer a similar service for a cheaper monthly price.

A notable feature of Optus’ NBN plans is that most come in two variations: the 'Everyday' or 'Family Entertainer'. The 'Everyday' options are Optus’ standard plans and come with a modem with 4G backup. For AU$20 extra each month, you can choose to upgrade to a 'Family Entertainer' plan, which comes with a standard Netflix subscription, a Wi-Fi booster and McAfee security protection.

Optus’ NBN 25 plan is the only outlier, as it's the only one that comes with Optus' first-generation Ultra WiFi modem. While this does give you 4G backup, it doesn't support Wi-Fi 6, which can provide wider, stronger coverage in your home. There’s also no 'Family Entertainer' plan available on the NBN 25 tier, either.

You do get nice perks with Optus NBN plans, but they come at a steeper price than your average internet connection. Learn more about each speed using the links below:

Jump to : • <a href="#optus-nbn-50-plan" data-link-merchant="#optus-nbn-50-plan""> Optus NBN 50 plan – AU$75p/m (first 6m, then AU$85p/m) • <a href="#optus-nbn-25-plan" data-link-merchant="#optus-nbn-25-plan"" data-link-merchant="#optus-nbn-50-plan""> Optus NBN 25 plan – AU$70p/m (no discount) • <a href="#optus-nbn-100-plan" data-link-merchant="#optus-nbn-100-plan"" data-link-merchant="#optus-nbn-25-plan"" data-link-merchant="#optus-nbn-50-plan""> Optus NBN 100 plan – AU$75p/m (first 6m, then AU$99p/m ongoing) • <a href="#optus-nbn-250-plan" data-link-merchant="#optus-nbn-250-plan"" data-link-merchant="#optus-nbn-100-plan"" data-link-merchant="#optus-nbn-25-plan"" data-link-merchant="#optus-nbn-50-plan""> Optus NBN 250 plan – AU$85p/m (first 6m, then AU$119p/m ongoing) • <a href="#optus-nbn-1000-plan" data-link-merchant="#optus-nbn-1000-plan"" data-link-merchant="#optus-nbn-250-plan"" data-link-merchant="#optus-nbn-100-plan"" data-link-merchant="#optus-nbn-25-plan"" data-link-merchant="#optus-nbn-50-plan""> Optus NBN 1000 plan – AU$109p/m (first 6m, then AU$149p/m ongoing)

Noteworthy Optus NBN deals

We often see regular price fluctuations across Optus' NBN plans, as the telco may choose to hold a sale at random times throughout the year. However, at the time of writing in Februrary 2024, Optus’ high-speed NBN plans are currently available with some decent monthly discounts.

Here’s what’s available when you sign up to an Optus NBN plan:

• NBN 250 : save AU$34p/m for first 6 months (then AU$119p/m ongoing)
• NBN 1000 : save AU$40p/m for first 6 months (then AU$149p/m ongoing)

Best Optus NBN plans

Optus nbn 50 plan.

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

The best option for most people

<a href="https://optus.sjv.io/c/338476/1378182/16505?subId1=hawk-custom-tracking&sharedId=hawk&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.optus.com.au%2Fbroadband-nbn%2Fhome-broadband%2Fplans%2Fshop" data-link-merchant="optus.com.au"" target="_blank"> Optus | NBN 100 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$75p/m (for 6 months, then AU$99 ongoing)

We've chosen Optus' NBN 100 plan as being the best option for most people. Not only does it advertise the maximum download speeds during the busy hours of 7pm to 11pm (and an upload speed that's 1Mbps faster than the Telstra equivalent) but its introductory cost is currently the same as the slower 50Mbps plan. 

This is likely due to the rise in wholesale cost of the slower speed tiers, which, while likely annoying for some customers, it does make a faster 100Mbps more enticing. 

As mentioned earlier, you can get Optus' 100Mbps plan either as an 'Everyday' or as a 'Family Entertainer' plan. For an extra AU$20p/m (both on top of the introductory cost and regular cost) you can get a standard Netflix subscription, a Wi-Fi booster and extras to keep all your devices secure online, included. Stick with Optus over 36 months and you won’t have to pay for the modem either (AU$306). Do note that we've seen the cost of the included Optus modem increase from AU$252 to AU$306, without any obvious changes. 

Total minimum cost (Everyday): AU$381 (includes modem) | Total cost for first year: AU$1,044

Total minimum cost (Family Entertainer): AU$617 (includes modem) | Total cost for first year: AU$1,284

• See more: <a href="https://www.techradar.com/best/best-nbn-100-plans" data-link-merchant="techradar.com"" data-link-merchant="optus.com.au""> Best NBN 100 plans

Optus NBN 25 plan

The cheapest NBN plan from Optus, but one we can’t recommend

<a href="https://optus.sjv.io/c/338476/1378182/16505?subId1=hawk-custom-tracking&sharedId=hawk&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.optus.com.au%2Fbroadband-nbn%2Fhome-broadband%2Fplans%2Fshop%23byomodem" data-link-merchant="optus.com.au""> Optus | NBN 25 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$70p/m

Optus hasn't always offered an NBN 25 plan, but launched one in 2023. At the time it was only available to those who had their own modem, but now Optus is providing its first-generation Ultra WiFi Modem as part of the package. This modem include 4G backup should anything happen to your main connection. Unlike Optus’ other NBN plans, it’s only available as an 'Everyday' plan – no entertainment extras included here. Ultimately, we can’t give this plan a strong recommendation, as cheaper options are out there with similar speed, such as <a href="https://www.flipconnect.com.au/cheap-nbn-plans?utm_source=techradar&utm_medium=cpa&utm_campaign=nbn23&utm_term=value_25?subtag=hawk-custom-tracking" data-link-merchant="flipconnect.com.au"" data-link-merchant="optus.com.au"" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Flip’s NBN 25 plan. 

Total minimum cost: AU$70 | Total cost for first year: AU$840

• See more: <a href="https://www.techradar.com/best/best-nbn-25-plans" data-link-merchant="techradar.com"" data-link-merchant="flipconnect.com.au"" data-link-merchant="optus.com.au""> Best NBN 25 plans

A popular choice, with one huge caveat

<a href="https://optus.sjv.io/c/338476/1378182/16505?subId1=hawk-custom-tracking&sharedId=hawk&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.optus.com.au%2Fbroadband-nbn%2Fhome-broadband%2Fplans%2Fshop" data-link-merchant="optus.com.au""> Optus | NBN 50 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$75p/m (for 6 months, then AU$85p/m)

The 50Mbps NBN 50 tier is popular in Australia, as it offered a good balance between enough speed for 4K streaming and other online tasks, and value. Now that prices have changed across the board, that's now not so much the case. 

Optus' NBN 50 plan is currently subject to a good saving, with the AU$75 intro cost being an attractive one, and its regular AU$85 p/m, is only AU$5 more than the average, which considering it's one of the major telcos in Australia, we don't think is too bad. Of course, right now you can also get Optus' 100Mbps plan for the same six month introductory cost, so ultimately that one would be our pick. 

All in all, this will still be a good plan to sign up for, you just need to be aware of the modem cost if you decided you wanted to leave the service within 36 months of joining. Unlike most other telcos that simply ask for you to return the modem to them, Optus will instead charge you AU$8.50 for each unused month within the first 36 months. We're not sure why this is, but it's something that's stipulated in its terms and conditions. 

If you know you won't leave, this won't be an issue, but it's something to certainly be aware of so as to avoid any nasty bill shocks.

If you fancy the Family Entertainer version of this plan, then you'll need to pay AU$85p/m for the first 6 months, then AU$105 – AU$3 more than if you were to get the Everyday plan and add on your own Netflix subscription.

Total minimum cost (Everyday): AU$381 (includes modem) | First year cost: AU$960  | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,020

Total minimum cost (Family Entertainer): AU$617 (includes modem) | Total cost for first year: AU$1,140 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,260

• See more: <a href="https://www.techradar.com/best/best-nbn-50-plans" data-link-merchant="techradar.com"" data-link-merchant="optus.com.au""> Best NBN 50 plans

Optus NBN 250 plan

Lightning-quick broadband for a high-demand household

<a href="https://optus.sjv.io/c/338476/1378182/16505?subId1=hawk-custom-tracking&sharedId=hawk&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.optus.com.au%2Fbroadband-nbn%2Fhome-broadband%2Fplans%2Fshop" data-link-merchant="optus.com.au""> Optus | NBN 250 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$85p/m (first 6 months, then AU$119p/m)

Optus has cut the cost of its NBN 250 plan by a huge AU$34 a month for your first six months, so you’ll save AU$204 over your first half-year. You can feel confident going with Optus – the plan comes with typical download speeds of 240Mbps, which is above average for the tier. You can choose between the 'Everyday' and 'Family Entertainer' options to tweak the plan to your needs, with the latter available for an extra AU$20 a month. While the plan comes with no lock-in contract, you will need to pay out the cost of your modem if you leave before a 36-month term. Only available to fibre-to-the-premise (FTTP) and select hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC) households.

Total minimum cost (Everyday): AU$391 (includes modem) | Total cost for first year: AU$1,224 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,428

Total minimum cost (Family Entertainer): AU$627 (includes modem) | Total cost for first year: AU$1,464 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,668

• See more: <a href="https://www.techradar.com/au/best/best-nbn-250-plans" data-link-merchant="techradar.com"" data-link-merchant="optus.com.au""> Best NBN 250 plans

Optus NBN 1000 plan

The fastest internet there is, if it’s available in your area

<a href="https://optus.sjv.io/c/338476/1378182/16505?subId1=hawk-custom-tracking&sharedId=hawk&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.optus.com.au%2Fbroadband-nbn%2Fhome-broadband%2Fplans%2Fshop" data-link-merchant="optus.com.au""> Optus | NBN 1000 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$109p/m (first 6 months, then AU$149p/m)

Optus’ NBN 1000 plan comes at a premium, but luckily you can get an incredible discount of AU$40p/m for your first six months on the service. 

You’ll initially pay AU$109 a month for your first six months on this plan, before it bumps up to the standard pricing of AU$149. Typical evening speeds now clock in at 600Mbps, which is a nice gain from its previous figure of 400Mbps. 

The 'Everyday' and 'Family Entertainer' options let you tweak the plan to suit your needs, with the latter giving you a standard Netflix subscription, a Wi-Fi booster and McAfee security for an extra AU$20 a month. Whichever you choose, keep in mind you’ll need to pay out the cost of your modem if you leave before a 36-month term. Available to FTTP and HFC connections.

Total minimum cost (Everyday): AU$415 (includes modem) | Total cost for first year: AU$1,548 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,788

Total minimum cost (Family Entertainer): AU$651 (includes modem) | Total cost for first year: AU$1,788 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$2,028

• See more: <a href="https://www.techradar.com/au/best/best-nbn-1000-plans" data-link-merchant="techradar.com"" data-link-merchant="optus.com.au""> Best NBN 1000 plans

What is the cheapest Optus NBN plan?

The cheapest NBN plan that Optus offers is a freshly launched NBN 25 plan, which will set you back AU$69 a month. Despite being the most affordable option from the telco, we can’t recommend it because Optus has stripped out all the perks it offers in other plans, such as its modem with 4G backup. When you also consider that this plan is more expensive than the average monthly cost of others in this tier, it’s clear to see it’s not worth your money.

Does Optus provide NBN?

Optus has a good variety of options when it comes to getting your internet. An NBN connection is the most popular, and it’s proven to be a reliable service, given its consistently good performance in the ACCC’s broadband reporting .

But there are also 4G and 5G home internet options on the table, and Optus offers some of the best wireless broadband in Australia . These could be a better option for you if the NBN cabling in your area isn’t up to scratch. If you want a portable internet option, Optus offers mobile broadband plans too.

How do I contact Optus NBN?

Optus offers help online, through its app or over the phone. Its online messaging service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, while its phone hours vary depending on what you need help with. To see a full list of numbers and support services, head to the Optus website .

Can I get Optus Sport?

We’ve got some bad news for football fans, Optus is no longer offering Optus Sport for free. As of August 2022, Optus NBN and mobile customers are now charged AU$6.99 per month for a subscription, while non-Optus users will need to pay AU$24.99 per month to access Optus Sport. The service is particularly good for football fans because it has the rights to Australia’s coverage of the Premier League, the Euros and the FIFA Women’s World Cup live and on-demand.

How to check if Optus NBN is down

If you’re experiencing an outage with your Optus NBN, you’ll first want to figure out if it’s just you, or if it’s down for everyone. Optus has a service status page you can check as your first port of call, though you’ll need to use your phone, or another device with its own connection to visit the page. If Optus’ own website is down, we’d recommend checking the independent site Down Detector . For further help, we have a dedicated guide to NBN outages .

• Telstra vs Optus NBN: Australia’s two biggest telcos go head-to-head

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Jasmine Gearie is an Ecommerce Editor at TechRadar Australia, with a primary focus on helping readers cut through the jargon to find the best mobile and internet plans for their needs. She crunches the numbers to maintain dedicated guides to the latest phones, NBN and broadband plans of all types, and covers the important telco industry news. She also hunts down tech deals on laptops, phones, gaming consoles and more, so readers know where to buy the products they want for the cheapest prices.

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Concerns for 4G phones without VoLTE, regional customers as Australia's 3G shutdowns continue

Queensland IT worker Serge didn't think his 4G phone would be impacted by the gradual shutdown of Australia's 3G networks — until one day when his device suddenly couldn't make or receive calls.

"I was sort of in a bit of a panic," he said. "I'm pulling my hair out. I'm connected to 4G. Everything seems to be working. Why can't I make phone calls?"

Serge said he was warned by his provider to upgrade his phone before telecommunications giant TPG (which now owns Vodafone) shut down its 3G network — but he ignored the warnings, believing his 4G device would not be affected.

More Australians like Serge are likely to be caught out by further 3G shutdowns this year, with millions of Telstra and Optus customers (as well as those using smaller providers on those two networks) to lose 3G coverage in the coming months.

The shutdowns are also causing concern for some people living and working in regional and rural areas.

When are Australia's 3G networks shutting down?

TPG , which merged with Vodafone in 2020, gradually shut down its 3G network between December 2023 and January 2024, impacting its mobile customers as well as smaller providers that use its network, such as Kogan, Lebrara, Internode, iiNet and Felix.

The next major provider to close its 3G network is the country's largest telecommunications company, Telstra , which will switch off 3G on June 30, 2024. This will impact smaller providers on the Telstra network such as ALDI Mobile, Belong, Boost, Exetel, Tangerine and Woolworths Mobile.

Lastly, Optus plans to shut down its 3G service in September 2024, impacting smaller providers including amaysim, Aussie Broadband, Coles Mobile, Dodo, iPrimus and Moose Mobile.

All three major telcos have been warning customers to make sure they upgrade from 3G-only devices, but also to check if their 4G and 5G devices have something called Voice over LTE (VoLTE), so that they don't get caught out when 3G networks shut down.

So what is VoLTE?

VoLTE (short for voice over long term evolution) is what most modern phones use to send voice calls over the same 4G and 5G channels that also carry other mobile data.

Essentially, VoLTE allows 4G and 5G phones to usually have better call quality, faster connection times, and the ability to use voice and data at the same time.

After doing some research, Serge said he discovered his Android phone did have VoLTE capability, but the toggle to enable it was in a hidden menu he could only access by putting a specific code into his phone's dialler.

Serge said he also checked the phones of some family members and found some of their devices also didn't have VoLTE enabled by default, which caused issues when their 3G network disappeared.

How do I check if my phone has VoLTE?

Mark Gregory from the School of Engineering at RMIT University said it was "generally not normal" for someone to need to find a hidden menu to enable VoLTE, and you could usually find it in your phone's network settings.

He said if customers were unsure whether their device had VoLTE or if it needed to be manually enabled, they could check with their carrier or their phone's user manual.

The Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA), which represents Australia's mobile telecommunications industry, said 3G-only phones and some older 4G phones that don't have VoLTE capabilities would be impacted by 3G network shutdowns.

Mr Gregory said while many of the phones likely to be affected were older devices, some of them were very popular.

"These are not just small brands, these are some of the larger brands such as Apple and Samsung, so people need to check," he said.

The AMTA said people should also check if their devices support VoLTE Emergency Calling, as "a very small proportion of 4G phones that support voice calls over 4G (VoLTE) do not support voice calls to emergency services over 4G and it is highly recommended that these be replaced".

"Devices that are not able to be used to make emergency calls are really no longer fit for purpose," Mr Gregory said.

Concerns over 3G in regional areas

The major telcos say their 3G networks will be repurposed to expand the reach of their 4G and 5G networks. But that will take time, which is concerning for some customers in regional areas.

The AMTA did not provide a time frame for those network upgrades when contacted by ABC News, but it said telcos had "committed to equivalent, or better, coverage with 4G, or 5G, in advance of closing 3G".

Mr Gregory said there were going to be "a lot of people affected" when Telstra turned off its 3G services at the end of June — even though they might have appropriate 4G and 5G devices — because 4G and 5G networks don't usually reach as far.

Some farmers have already reported significant drops in 3G service .

Mr Gregory said the telcos were not required to ensure their customers did not lose service as they upgraded their infrastructure to 4G and 5G systems, which he said was unfortunate.

"There's nothing to stop that from happening, other than the customer has the option to complain to the ombudsman, and I strongly recommend that people do that because I'm already hearing that this is happening in some places," he said.

However, Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman Cynthia Gebert said telcos were not required by law to continue to offer 3G services, which is why her office could not refer complaints it received about the decision to shut down 3G networks to any regulator.

The ombudsman's office said it would "not be able to handle complaints about having no coverage as a result of the shutdown, requests for the 3G network to stay connected, or handsets and devices that are no longer working and were not supplied as part of a current contract".

Ms Gebert told ABC News that her office might be able to help with problems such as "how the transition from 3G services is being managed by a telco, detriment that has occurred because of not being notified of the network closure, contractual disputes, or paying for a service that cannot be used".

She has previously called for greater government regulation of the telecommunications industry.

Mr Gregory from RMIT said people in the regions who were likely to be impacted might consider switching telcos, trying a signal booster, or using a satellite communications provider.

'It doesn't need to be this hard'

Angus Witherby lives in the northern New South Wales town of Moree, which has a population of around 7,000 people.

He said he had not had consistent mobile coverage in the nine years he has lived there, and he is concerned about the closure of 3G networks because he relies on them for his work travelling through the regions as a town planning consultant.

"In terms of being on the road and in terms of being in smaller communities, I will have a significant loss of coverage," he said.

Mr Witherby said he might need to purchase a satellite internet solution, which would cost him thousands of dollars.

"In the last three weeks I've [punctured] three tyres on our lovely rural roads around here … Welcome to regional Australia," he said.

"Now, if I lose that fortuitous 3G coverage, unless I'm willing to fork the money for a [satellite] solution, how do I get help when I'm maybe 10 kilometres from the nearest dwelling? What do I do if I haven't seen a car for three hours?"

Mr Witherby believes the telcos "don't care" about people in the regions, and he wants the government to ensure affordable internet access for every citizen, especially "in an era where government expects every citizen to interact with them over the internet".

"This is critical hardware to underpin the functioning of our society, both socially and economically," he said.

"It doesn't need to be this hard, where we are continually fighting against a diminution of service availability in the bush."

What's more, a 2023 report by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) found that many remote Indigenous communities were still relying on 3G networks, and already had poor or no coverage.

Are the telcos doing enough to prepare us?

Serge believes telecommunications companies need to better explain to customers how 3G shutdowns might affect them.

"With my case, they just said they were switching off 3G and I would not be able to make a phone call. Well, that's not entirely the whole story," he said.

"They should have explained it and said, 'Well, even if you have 4G, you might not have VoLTE, or not have it enabled.'"

Serge is worried other Australians will be caught out as more 3G networks are shut down later this year.

"[The telcos] need to have a different strategy because you will have at least two more waves of people panicking, and going out and buying new phones," he said.

The AMTA said telcos and the wider industry had been "preparing customers for the network closure by providing clear and consistent communications for over two years".

Mr Gregory from RMIT said the major telcos had been communicating the change with customers "reasonably well", but smaller providers — also known as Mobile Virtual Network Operators, or MVNOs — appeared to be less proactive.

"The problem is that when you get the changeover of people moving from one vendor to another, and also with the smaller companies that people are utilising, that there may not be as much information being made available," he said.

"The smaller tiers — the companies that are utilising the Telstra, Optus and Vodafone networks — may not be providing as much information as those big companies. So really it's very important that everyone takes some time to look at the website of the network they're using."

The AMTA said the major telcos were working with their MVNOs "to ensure they are sharing consistent, clear information with their customers as we transition off the 3G networks".

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