Is It Time to Switch Your Mobile Plan?

For many of us, that’s a question that can bring on cold sweats. There are so many mobile providers these days vying for our attention, and we don’t know who’s good and who isn’t. Maybe we’re already with a brand we know and love. Maybe we’re with a brand we know and just tolerate. Because we aren’t sure of the alternatives.

The thing is, in today’s competitive marketplace, there’s nearly always a better deal, even from the names you know. Here are a few great deals from the big brands, and a few from the little ones too.

Cheaper mobile plans from Telstra

If you got your mobile phone from Telstra and your contract is coming to an end, the great news is you can save around $400 a year without even switching to another provider. The secret is to hang onto the phone you already have, and change your Telstra plan.

Up until now you’ve been paying Telstra for your phone and your usage. But now that your contract is up, you can take advantage of Telstra’s “BYO phone” plans and just pay the telco for your talk, text and data. You could end up paying around $30 less every month.

Cheaper mobile plans from Optus

Right now is a great time to switch your plan to Optus, even if it’s from Optus. The telco has slashed prices on all of its “BYO phone” plans which means you could end up paying as little as $25 per month for your usage.

The promo is also running on handset contracts, so if you do need a new phone, this is a good time to get one. Here’s the promo contract paired with a new iPhone 8. Other handsets are also available.

Alternative plans

Feeling adventurous? There are plenty of smaller carriers on the market these days and they offer huge savings compared with the big carriers. And more and more of them are winning a solid reputation with customers.

amaysim, for example, was recently awarded the crown of Australia’s best-loved telco in the 2017 Roy Morgan customer satisfaction awards. Moose Mobile gets rave reviews from customers online. Belong mobile is actually owned by Telstra so you know they’ve got a trusted brand behind them. And there are plenty more offering no-contract plans which makes it a hell of a lot safer for you to take a punt.

It’s also really easy to switch your mobile plan to one of these providers AND keep your number.

Here’s how you do it:

1. Find a new plan

2. Sign up for that plan. During the sign-up process you’ll be asked if you want to port your mobile number. Say “yes” and specify your current provider.

3. Sit back and relax while your new provider does the rest. Seriously. Your new provider should take care of it.

Jacqui Dent is associate editor at WhistleOut, Australia's largest mobile phone and internet comparison site.

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