If like me, you’ve received the dreaded “You’ve used over 100% of your data limit” 10 days out from the start of your next billing cycle, it might be time to consider an unlimited data mobile plan.
It’s not a fun spot to be in. My telco wants me to pay $12.50 for another 3GB of data which definitely won’t get me through to the end of the month and is more than half of what I pay for my plan in the first place.
As far as last-minute top-ups go that’s pretty good. Some telcos charge $10 for just 1GB and a few will automatically charge you as soon as you go over.
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Thankfully, there are a few providers who do offer unlimited data. Rather than asking (or charging) you for extra data they slow down your plan speeds instead. It’s usually slowed to around 1-2Mbps which is barely enough to do some basic browsing and music streaming but at least you’re not completely stuck.
Here’s a comparison of the Australian telcos offering unlimited data mobile plans.
felix unlimited data mobile plans
felix is the odd one out. It’s the only mobile provider that has a truly unlimited data mobile plan with a fixed cap speed no matter how much data you end up using. The speed is fairly low at 20Mbps – slightly slower than the maximum on an NBN 25 plan. 20Mbps is perfectly good for browsing and streaming.
Felix’s other plans offer speeds capped at 150Mbps while you still have remaining data allowance but they’re slowed to 1.5Mbps once that’s used up.
Here are felix’s unlimited data plans:
Dodo unlimited data mobile plans
Dodo’s capped speeds once you use up your data allowance are the worst of the bunch at just 256Kbps – too slow for you to do much. Its 5G plans are capped at 100Mbps while the rest have no cap on your mobile speeds. Dodo is one of the cheaper options for a plan with unlimited data.
Here are Dodo’s unlimited data plans:
Optus unlimited data mobile plans
Like Dodo, Optus’s postpaid plans don’t have a cap on full-speed data. After your monthly data allowance is used up, plan speeds are slowed to 1.5Mbps.
Here are Optus’ unlimited data plans:
An Optus plan also comes with a range of bonuses including discounted Optus Sport ($9.99 instead of $24.99 for non-Optus customers) and subscription savings through SubHub. With SubHub you can save 5% if you subscribe to two services or 10% for three or more services. There’s a range of eligible services including streaming, fitness, education and more.
Vodafone unlimited data mobile plans
Vodafone is the only major telco that offers unlimited data on both prepaid and postpaid plans. Neither plan type has a cap on full-speed data.
Vodafone has no speed caps on full-speed data and offers unlimited data on it’s prepaid and postpaid plans.
When your data allowance is used up speeds are slowed to 2Mbps on its postpaid plans and 1.5Mbps on its prepaid plans.
Here are Vodafone’s unlimited data postpaid plans:
Vodafone is currently offering new sign-ups to its postpaid plans three free months of Binge.
Here are Vodafone’s unlimited data prepaid plans:
Belong unlimited data mobile plans
Belongs most expensive plan has speeds capped at 250Mbps while the rest are capped at 150Mbps. After you’ve used up your data allowance your plan speeds are capped at 1Mbps.
Here are Belong’s unlimited data plans:
Telstra unlimited data mobile plans
Telstra’s Upfront plans have no capped download speeds. Once you use up your data allowance your download speeds will be capped at 1.5Mbps.
Here are Telstra’s unlimited data plans:
Telstra’s plans come with a couple of special offers including four months of free Spotify Premium, two months of free Binge subscription and the opportunity to earn Telstra Plus which you can redeem for rewards.
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Thinking about switching mobile plans? Here are the most popular plans with readers this week:
Dylan Crismale is Digital Content Editor at WhistleOut, Australia’s mobile and internet comparison site.