r/AskAnAustralian • u/Trelawny-Wells • 1d ago

Why are mobile plans confusing and expensive in Australia?

I am visiting Australia from New Zealand and surprised by how confusing and expensive the plans are here. In NZ I can get unlimited calls and texts to Australia for around $21 per month. Here its around $35 for 50 international texts per 28 days. I joined Vodafone but my texts to NZ numbers are not being delivered. I contacted them and they were useless and could not figure out what the issue was preventing the texts getting through. I don't need a lot of data but I do want to be able to call and text NZ. Not sure what to do or what service to get?

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19

u/JeerReee 1d ago

You must be joking - there are plenty of low cost plans.

1

u/Trelawny-Wells 1d ago

Where?

8

u/Straight_Smoke3661 1d ago

Woolworths Mobile ALDI Mobile Felix Mobile Boost Mobile Coles Mobile JB Hi-Fi Mobile

16

u/Blue2194 1d ago

"I went with the worst provider in Australia, why bad?"

1

u/Trelawny-Wells 1d ago

I have been with Vodafone NZ (Now called One NZ) for years and no issues so it made sense to me to go with it in Australia too.

3

u/Fluffy-duckies Sydney 1d ago

They're trash here

1

u/Blue2194 18h ago

My reply was actually pretty snarky and not helpful on reflection, sorry dude

10

u/HistoricalHorse1093 1d ago

Woolworths mobile. $25 per month prepaid SIM, plus you get 10% off one shop per month. So that saves you even more. Use Woolworths digital rewards card and link your Woolworths mobile account to your rewards account. So when you shop at Woolworths, then scan your digital card, it automatically comes up with the benefits like $10 off, or tap to choose 10% off etc. I wait until I have a lot to buy, then choose the 10% off, and I save myself $15 or something. 

I guess this is only useful if you shop at Woolworths 

17

u/HistoricalHorse1093 1d ago

WhatsApp has free texting worldwide 

4

u/Trelawny-Wells 1d ago

Not everyone I know uses whatsapp, facebook or other online messaging services. And there are times when I need to send a text.

2

u/HistoricalHorse1093 1d ago

Sorry was a suggestion in case you did not already use it.

1

u/antnyau 1d ago

It's also owned by Meta, and its feature set is overkill as an SMS replacement. Signal is a better alternative to SMS but still a proprietary platform. Google has been trying to push RCS as a 'sort of open' alternative, but Apple, being Apple, is the main roadblock with that.

3

u/snrub742 1d ago

Who the hell is texting international?

3

u/ibaeknam 1d ago

How else was I s'posed to let my family know I had arrived in Laos.

In 2007.

7

u/Very-very-sleepy 1d ago

cos most people in Australia use WhatsApp or Facebook for international messages.

Aldi. $29 a month. expire is every 30 days. not 28 days. unlimited calls and texts to new Zealand.

https://www.aldimobile.com.au/products/29-5g-mobile-plan

3

u/Quillo_Manar 1d ago

Felix Mobile - $40/mo, unlimited 5G, unlimited international calls/texts can be added for $5/mo extra.

2

u/Trelawny-Wells 1d ago

Thanks. I will check it out.

1

u/blissvicious91 1d ago

use my referral code and get 50% off for the first 4 months: SB00289

3

u/Embarrassed_Sun_7807 1d ago

You need a MNVO not one of the 'big 3'. E.g. boost gives you full Telstra coverage and unlimited intl calls and text to select countries for 29 a month (it has been getting pricier over the years but still better than main Telstra)

1

u/Trelawny-Wells 1d ago

Thanks. I will check out Boost.

3

u/notractionau 1d ago

Are you adding the country code to people’s numbers when you text them? That could be why it’s not working.

1

u/Trelawny-Wells 1d ago

Yes. Country code is added.

2

u/Brilliant-Novel-785 1d ago

Phone plans way cheaper in Aus.

2

u/j0shman 1d ago

WhatsApp, everyone around the world uses it

2

u/Trelawny-Wells 1d ago

Not everyone

1

u/SteamySpectacles 1d ago

Everyone I know including my Asian community of 60-80 year olds use it, and if they don’t they get indoctrinated to using it hahaha

1

u/j0shman 1d ago

Well you can start now

1

u/antnyau 1d ago

It's also owned by Meta, and its feature set is overkill as an SMS replacement. Signal is a better alternative to SMS but still a proprietary platform. Google has been trying to push RCS as a 'sort of open' alternative, but Apple, being Apple, is the main roadblock with that.

1

u/Ornery-Practice9772 NSW 1d ago

Aldi. 28$ 22gb 5g 28 days (standard here) unlimited everything in australia

1

u/Great-Squirrel5837 1d ago

Boost - Cheap and Great

1

u/Wotmate01 1d ago

I'm thinking about porting to TPG at the moment. They've got a deal going for $12.50 per month for 6 months with unlimited calls and texts, and 100 minutes of international calls and texts.

Dunno why you think it's expensive and confusing.

1

u/Snorfl_Snort 1d ago

Hey so you can do a few things.

Like other people are saying you can try using WhatsApp and messenger etc. This doesn’t use much data except for video calls.

If you require actual phone calls and sms you can go to ur closest Vodafone and try getting them to do a sim swap and trouble shoot your service. A few things you can do is a network reset, try in another device (if available) to see if it’s the service or your phone. If they can’t fix it usually they’ll refer you to customer service or the original shop you bought it from for a refund. (Usually need to complain more but you’ll get a refund…usually).

Lastly you can try going to Woolworths, Coles, post office or any shop and buy a $2 SIM or starter pack for another provider.

Whistleout and Finder website lets you enter your requirements and it will show you a bunch of plans. Based on how long you’re staying etc.

Just remember in Aus it is a legal requirement to have some sort of ID to activate* SIM (you can buy SIM card but retail agent is not meant to activate without valid ID). Hopefully this helps and enjoy your stay :)

1

u/Muzz124 Tropical North Queensland 1d ago

Why would you pay for international texts when you can just get WhatsApp or facebook messenger, if you’ve got an iPhone iMessage is free.

1

u/antnyau 1d ago

There is also email, which has the advantage of being universal and doesn't require anything to do with Meta or being inside Apple's walled garden.

1

u/Muzz124 Tropical North Queensland 23h ago

I mean yea you can do but it’s not quite as convenient as a text.

1

u/Toowoombaloompa 1d ago

Firstly ditch Vodafone because they have the worst coverage of the big 3 by a country mile.

Aldi's $29 plan gives unlimited calls and SMS to NZ and a heap of other countries as is currently half price at $14.50.

Boost Mobile is the only company (other than Telstra) to get full access to the Telstra network and their prices aren't too bad. Not as good as Aldi, Woolworths or the other budget brands, but still reasonable.

1

u/Simply_charmingMan 1d ago

Social media like WhatsApp and messenger and the like, and yes phone plans are half the price where I am now living...my home internet is like 1/3 it was in AU as well..

1

u/ZequineZ 1d ago

Check kogan, it's around $16 per month with decent data, you just pay a year at a time, and they have Flexi plans so you don't have to worry about remaining data rolling over or running out a week early in the month cause you have all year to use it and can just get another plan if you use it up early

The big 3 are just a ripoff and very few even compare to kogans pricin

2

u/Trelawny-Wells 1d ago

Thanks. Will check them out.