Prepaid mobile plans in Australia

A prepaid mobile or mobile broadband plan is one you pay for up front, rather than being billed afterwards. This page explains how prepaid plans generally work, what to check about recharge, expiry and data, how to find out which network a provider uses, the ID checks required to activate a prepaid service, how to keep your number when you switch, how to protect your number from fraud, and where to complain, with links to official Australian sources.

This is a free, non-commercial reference page. It is general information, not financial or legal advice. It does not compare, rank or recommend any plan, provider or network, and it sells nothing. Plan features, prices and rules change, so always read the provider's Critical Information Summary and terms before you buy or recharge. This page is not affiliated with any telco, industry body or government agency, and listing is not an endorsement. Check current details with the official websites linked below.

The guide

How prepaid works, what to check about recharge, expiry and data, networks and coverage, ID checks, keeping your number, protecting it from fraud, and how to complain.

What "prepaid" means

The ACCC explains that "prepaid plans require you to pay up front for your service", while most post-paid plans issue a bill at the end of the month and may be paired with a handset paid off in instalments. With prepaid you buy a recharge that gives you an allowance of calls, texts and data, or a dollar amount of credit, for a set period. When the allowance runs out or the period ends, you recharge again. Mobile broadband plans for a modem, dongle or tablet work the same way but are usually data-only.

Recharge, expiry and what happens to leftovers

Every prepaid recharge comes with its own rules: how long it lasts, whether it renews automatically from a saved card, what happens to unused allowance or credit when it expires, and how long your number stays active if you stop recharging. These rules differ between providers and between plans from the same provider. The place to find them is the plan's Critical Information Summary and terms, which the ACMA says telcos must provide for every product they offer. Read them before you buy, and again before you change plans, because a change can affect leftover credit or data.

Data rollover and data banking

The ACCC notes that "some providers allow you to 'roll over' unused data from one month to the next." Providers use different names for this, such as rollover or data banking, and attach different conditions: how much can be carried over, for how long, whether it is lost if you change plans or let a recharge lapse, and whether it is used before or after your new allowance. These are commercial features set by each provider, not legal entitlements, so check the written terms rather than relying on a headline.

Using more than your allowance

The ACCC says most mobile services come with data limits and that you may be able to "top-up" your data if you exceed your inclusion, which "can be expensive." It also notes that using your mobile overseas will usually cost more than using it in Australia, and that you can stop a premium SMS subscription immediately by replying STOP to the sender. Before you travel or buy an add-on, check how the plan charges for extra data, international calls and roaming.

Which network a provider uses

The ACMA describes Australia as having three mobile network operators, Optus, Telstra and TPG, which own and run the networks. Many other brands are Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs): partner companies that sell services using one of those networks. A smaller brand's coverage therefore depends on the network it uses, and sometimes on which parts of that network its customers can access. The reliable way to find out is the provider's own website or Critical Information Summary; this page does not list which brand uses which network.

Checking coverage

The ACCC points out that "not all providers offer the same coverage" and suggests checking each provider's coverage map, often by postcode. The ACMA has introduced rules for standardised coverage maps showing 4G and 5G coverage as good, moderate, basic or no coverage, which the three network operators had to publish by 30 June 2026 and supply to their MVNO partners. The ACMA notes that in "no coverage" areas, service may be "very limited, inconsistent or non-existent." Check coverage where you live, work and travel before you buy.

ID checks to activate a prepaid service

Australian rules prevent prepaid mobile services being used anonymously, so you must prove your identity before a new prepaid service is activated. The ACMA says this includes your name, date of birth and home address, and that more identification is needed if you do not pay by credit or debit card or if you already have more than five active prepaid services. The telco may check documents directly or use a government service such as the Document Verification Service, and must protect your information. The ACMA has also amended the rules to allow Digital ID verification.

Keeping your number when you switch

You can usually take your mobile number to a new provider; this is called porting. The ACMA says to check before you sign up that the new provider will port your number, that you only need a new SIM (not a new phone), and that the new provider organises the port. Telcos must do an extra identity check before a mobile port, such as sending a code by SMS. The ACMA says a mobile port usually takes about three hours, that your previous provider may charge a porting fee, and that you must pay any final bills. Check what happens to any leftover prepaid credit before you port.

Protecting your number from fraud

Scammers who take control of your mobile number can use it to receive verification codes and reset passwords for banking, myGov and other accounts. The ACMA and Scamwatch warn that signs include unexpected alerts about account changes, codes you did not request, and your phone suddenly showing no signal or "SOS only". Telcos must use stronger identity checks, such as one-time codes, for high-risk requests like SIM swaps and account changes. Do not share ID documents or codes with unexpected callers, and contact your telco only through the number on its official website, app or bill.

If your number is taken or you are scammed

The ACMA and Scamwatch advise contacting your bank immediately to stop payments, then your telco. Report the scam to Scamwatch, which is run by the ACCC and used by the National Anti-Scam Centre to warn others. If your identity has been compromised, the ACMA and Scamwatch refer people to IDCARE for support, and the ACMA also advises reporting suspected porting fraud to police. If you are in immediate danger, call 000.

Your rights and the TCP Code

The Telecommunications Consumer Protections (TCP) Code sets rules for how telcos advertise, sell, give information, handle complaints and help customers switch. The ACMA says the 2019 TCP Code remains in force until it is replaced by an enforceable industry standard the ACMA is making. Separately, under the Australian Consumer Law, services come with automatic consumer guarantees, including that they are provided with due care and skill. If you are struggling to pay, the ACMA's financial hardship standard requires telcos to have hardship policies, and free financial counselling is available through Moneysmart.

How to complain

Complain to your provider first. The ACMA says telcos have up to 10 working days to suggest a fix for a non-urgent complaint and 2 business days to resolve an urgent one, and that a telco cannot force you to accept a resolution. If you are not satisfied, you can take the complaint to the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO), which the ACMA describes as an independent organisation offering a free service. Keep records of recharges, receipts, dates and who you spoke to.

Directory

Official Australian sources on telco rules, prepaid ID checks, porting, complaints, scams and money help, instead of a list of telcos or plans. Each entry was checked against its official page, except where noted.

What is listed. Only regulators, the industry ombudsman, the national consumer body and government services are included, and each link goes to that body's own page. The list is not complete and is in no particular order. No telcos, plans or comparison sites are listed.

Not an endorsement. Listing is not a recommendation. This page is not affiliated with any organisation below and does not review, rank or recommend any provider, plan or network.

Inclusion in this directory is not an endorsement. Links are to official websites as published at the time of checking.

Questions to ask before you buy or recharge

Plain questions to put to a provider, and to check against its Critical Information Summary and terms, before you choose a prepaid plan, recharge or switch.

Can I see the Critical Information Summary for this exact plan?

The ACMA says telcos must provide one for every product. It sets out inclusions and prices in a standard form, so you can compare plans like for like.

How long does each recharge last, and does it renew automatically?

Check the expiry period, whether a saved card is charged automatically, and how to switch auto-recharge off.

What happens to unused data or credit when a recharge ends?

Ask whether leftovers roll over or are banked, any limit and how long they last, and whether they are lost if you change plans or let a recharge lapse.

Which network does the service use, and what is coverage like where I need it?

Coverage depends on the network the provider uses. Check the provider's coverage map for your home, work and regular travel.

How much will extra data, international calls and roaming cost?

Top-ups and overseas use can cost much more than the base plan. Check the rates before you need them.

Can I keep my number, and what happens to my current credit if I port?

Confirm the new provider will port your number, and check whether your old provider charges a porting fee or keeps any leftover credit.

What extra security can I put on my account?

Ask about account PINs, passwords and alerts for SIM swaps or porting requests, and never share codes or ID with unexpected callers.

How do I make a complaint, and what help is there if I cannot pay?

Ask for the complaints process and financial hardship policy. If a complaint is not resolved, you can go to the TIO.

About this page

prepaidplans.com.au is a free, non-commercial reference page published by Radiant Life Distributors Pty Ltd, Adelaide. It is general information about prepaid mobile and mobile broadband plans and the rules that apply, not financial or legal advice. It sells nothing and does not compare, rank or recommend any plan, provider or network. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, any organisation listed; listing is not an endorsement. Information was checked against official websites in November 2026; rules, plans and prices change, so confirm current details with the organisations linked above and with your provider.