Person comparing mobile plans on laptop and phone to avoid overpaying

How to choose the right mobile plan in Australia (without overpaying in 2026)

Choosing a mobile plan in Australia can feel confusing, but it shouldn't be. When you focus on a few simple questions – how much data you really use, where you need coverage, and how much flexibility you want – it becomes much easier to avoid paying for things you don't need. This guide covers plan selection fundamentals. For specific plan comparisons, see our mobile plans page.

ALDI Mobile's prepaid plans on the Telstra wholesale network offer one way to match your usage without the extras.

See our Mobile Plans

Step 1: Understand how you really use your phone

Most Australians overpay for mobile data they never use because they guess their usage instead of checking it. Before you change plans, check what you actually use.

Simple ways to check:

Review your phone's built-in data usage for the last few months
Look at past bills or usage summaries from your current provider
If you're already with ALDI Mobile, log in to the app or self-care to see data and call history

As a rough guide:

Light users – mostly calls, texts and messaging on Wi-Fi – often use under 10 GB per month (or per 30-day period)
Average users – social media, browsing, some streaming – might use around 20–40 GB per month (or per 30-day period)
Heavy users – regular video streaming, hotspotting, gaming – may need 40 GB or more per month (or per 30-day period)

If you're unsure, start with flexible prepaid and adjust as you learn your usage. Better than locking into an expensive 24-month contract. Check out our estimated data usage guide here.

Everything you need to know about ALDI Mobile plans

Step 2: Decide between prepaid and postpaid

Once you know your usage, the next choice is plan type.

Prepaid vs postpaid in plain language

Prepaid plans

You pay upfront for a set amount of data, calls and texts for a fixed period (e.g., 30 days)
No bill shock
No lock-in contracts
It's easy to change plans or providers

Postpaid plans

You get billed after you use your service, often with handset repayments included
Possible bill shock if you go over your inclusions
Contract terms apply – you may need to commit to a contract term and may pay extra fees if you leave early

ALDI Mobile uses a prepaid model across all products – mobile plans, family plans, data plans and long-life options – on the Telstra Wholesale Mobile Network. That means no lock-in contracts and no surprise bills, just straightforward pricing and true 30-day expiry periods on eligible plans.

Explore SIM-only mobile plans

Step 3: SIM-only, phone-on-a-plan or eSIM?

The next decision is how you want to connect your phone.

What is a SIM-only plan?

A SIM-only plan means you bring your own unlocked device and just pay for service – your data, calls and texts. This often works out cheaper over a 24-month period because you're not paying off a $1,000+ handset through monthly repayments. All ALDI Mobile offers are SIM-only, so you can pair your existing phone with a plan that suits your budget and usage.

Where does eSIM fit in?

eSIM (embedded SIM) is a digital SIM card built into compatible iPhone, Samsung and Google Pixel devices. Instead of waiting for a physical SIM to arrive, you can download your eSIM and activate your service online.

With ALDI Mobile you can:

Choose eSIM on eligible devices and plans, across mobile, family, data and long life products
Start a new service with a new number or bring your existing number over
Switch from a physical SIM to eSIM without choosing a new plan – your existing number and credit move across

Learn more about eSIM

Step 4: Check coverage before you switch

Price matters, but coverage matters just as much – especially in regional and remote Australia. Before you commit to any provider, check that the network works where you actually use your phone.

Questions to ask:

Do I get coverage at home, at work and where I travel regularly in Australia?
How does coverage perform in regional areas if I drive or holiday outside the city?
Do I need 5G access or is 4G coverage enough for what I do?

ALDI Mobile uses the Telstra Wholesale Mobile Network, which provides 4G coverage to most Australians, with 5G also available in many locations on compatible plans and devices.

Check coverage in your area

Coverage maps are a guide only. Actual performance varies with device type, local terrain and building materials, so check the specific locations where you'll use your phone most.

Step 5: Look beyond the advertised data allowance

Two plans with similar data allowances and monthly prices can offer very different value when you factor in expiry periods, rollover and network access. When comparing plans, look at:

Expiry period
Some providers use 28-day recharges, which means 13 recharges a year instead of 12. ALDI Mobile 30-day mobile plans give you a true 30-day recharge period.
Data rollover
On eligible plans, unused data can roll over when you recharge before expiry, helping you avoid waste and smoothing out months when you use less data.
Speed caps and 5G access
Some plans include speed caps or only offer 5G on higher tiers. Think about what you actually need for browsing, social media and streaming on your devices.
International calls and roaming
If you regularly call overseas, check which destinations are included. For travel, it can sometimes be more cost-effective to use local SIMs or dedicated travel solutions rather than roaming alone.

ALDI Mobile's plan pages clearly show data allowances, true 30-day expiry periods, unlimited data rollover eligibility and Telstra Wholesale 5G network access on compatible devices, so you can quickly compare what you're getting.

Find the right ALDI Mobile plan for your usage

This simplified table shows how different usage patterns match to plan types. Always check the latest inclusions on the plan detail pages.

User type	Typical usage	What to look for	Recommendations	Price Range
Light caller	Mostly calls and texts, occasional browsing on the go	Low data, long-expiry or lower-cost 30-day plan	$23 Mobile Plan (12GB) or Long-expiry	Varies
Everyday user	Social media, maps, some streaming, messaging	Around 20–40 GB, 30-day expiry, data rollover	$29 5G Mobile Plan (29GB) or $39 5G Mobile Plan (75GB)	$29-$39
Heavy streamer	Regular video streaming, hotspot, gaming	Higher data allowance, higher speed or 5G access	$49 5G Mobile Plan (120GB) or $59 5G Mobile Plan (175GB)	$49-$59
Family	Multiple phones in one household	Mix of higher data for parents, lighter or long-expiry for kids	Family Plans or Long-expiry	Varies

See all plans

Step 6: Choose flexibility so you don't get stuck overpaying

The right mobile plan should adapt as your life changes – whether that's moving house, changing jobs, travelling more or using more data. That's where prepaid SIM-only and eSIM options stand out.

With ALDI Mobile you can:

Bring your own unlocked 4G or 5G-compatible phone and avoid handset repayments
Move between eligible ALDI Mobile plans from recharge to recharge as your needs change
Roll over unlimited unused data on eligible plans when you recharge before expiry
Switch from physical SIM to eSIM on compatible iPhone and Android devices without changing your number or plan

A quick reminder every few months to review your usage in the ALDI Mobile app and compare it with your current plan can help make sure you stay on the right fit, rather than quietly overpaying.

Find your perfect plan

Frequently asked questions

How much data do I really need?

Most light users need under 10GB per month for calls, texts and Wi-Fi messaging. Everyday users streaming social media and browsing typically use 20-40GB, while heavy streamers and gamers need 40GB or more. Check your phone's built-in usage tracker or your current provider's app to see your actual usage over the last few months.

Is ALDI Mobile on the Telstra network?

Yes, ALDI Mobile operates on the Telstra Wholesale Mobile Network, which provides 4G coverage to over 98.8% of the Australian population, with 5G available in selected areas on compatible devices and plans. For detailed coverage information and network performance, see our complete network coverage guide.

Can I keep my phone number when switching to ALDI Mobile?

Yes, you can bring your existing number to ALDI Mobile when you activate your service. The process is called porting and typically completes within a few hours during business days. You'll need your current account details and an active service to transfer from.

What's the difference between eSIM and physical SIM?

eSIM (embedded SIM) is a digital SIM card built into compatible phones, while a physical SIM is a removable chip you insert into your device. eSIM activates instantly online without waiting for delivery, and you can switch between plans or carriers without handling physical cards.

Learn more about how ALDI Mobile eSIM works.

What's the difference between 28-day and 30-day plans?

28-day plans mean you recharge 13 times per year instead of 12, effectively adding an extra month of payments annually. ALDI Mobile's 30-day plans give you a true 30-day recharge period, which means 12 recharges per year and better value over time.

Can I switch between ALDI Mobile plans?

Yes, with ALDI Mobile's prepaid model you can move between eligible plans from recharge to recharge as your needs change. There are no lock-in contracts or exit fees. Simply choose a different plan when your current recharge period expires, or change earlier if needed.

Choosing your next plan with confidence

When you break down mobile plan selection into simple steps – actual usage, budget, prepaid vs postpaid, network coverage and plan features like data rollover – choosing becomes straightforward. By pairing a SIM-only or eSIM plan with strong coverage on the Telstra Wholesale Mobile Network and features like data rollover and true 30-day expiry, ALDI Mobile gives you what you need without paying for extras you won't use.

If you're ready to compare plans, explore our current prepaid mobile plans, eSIM options and family plans on the Telstra Wholesale Mobile Network.

When will my data rollover?

If your current plan is eligible for data rollover and you renew the same plan by recharging within 24 hours of it expiring, your data will rollover (how much will depend on your specific plans rules).

What happens if I change plans?

If you are changing plans, you may be eligible to rollover your data.

Data will rollover when you change plans within 24 hours of your previous plans expiry when the following occurs:

Your new plan is within the same plan group (e.g. Mobile Plan to Mobile Plan), and;
The new plan is of a higher value than your current plan (e.g. $25 Mobile Plan to $35 Mobile Plan).

If you are on a Family Plan, please note that you are not able to change to another Family Plan.

How much data can I rollover?

If your eligible recharge is on a Mobile Plan, Family Plan or 1 Year Super Pack, all you unused data will rollover.

If your eligible recharge is on Data Plan, the amount you can rollover is determined by your Data Plan, if you have more data that your plans rollover allowance the additional data will not rollover and will be forfeited.

How does data rollover work?

If your recharge is eligible and you are able to rollover unused data, your plan will have a data balance linked to your current plans allowanced and a data rollover balance which contains the data you have rolled over.

When using data, your plans allowance is used first and if this has been exhausted you will then consume data from your data rollover balance.

If you have data rollover and your next recharge is not eligible for data rollover, all unused data on your service will be forfeited.

When will my data not rollover?

Your data will not rollover when the following occurs:

Your recharge occurs 24 hours or more after your current plans expiry;
If you move to a different type of plan (e.g. a Mobile Plan to a Super Pack), your data will not rollover, even if the new plan value is higher.
If you move to a lower value plan (e.g. $35 Mobile Plan to $25 Mobile Plan), you data will not rollover, even though you are changing plans within the same plan group.

Some of our Plans are eligible to rollover unused data allowance to your next recharge period. Check our Critical Information Summaries to confirm eligibility.

When will my data rollover?

What happens if I change plans?

If you are changing plans, you may be eligible to rollover your data.

Data will rollover when you change plans within 24 hours of your previous plan's expiry when both the following conditions occur:

Your new plan is within the same plan group (e.g. Mobile Plan to Mobile Plan), and;
The new plan is of a higher value than your current plan (e.g. $29 5G Mobile Plan to $39 5G Mobile Plan).

If you are on a Family Plan, please note that you are not able to change to another Family Plan.

How much data can I rollover?

If your eligible recharge is on a Mobile Plan, Family Plan or 1 Year Super Pack, all you unused data will rollover.

How does data rollover work?

If your recharge is eligible and you are able to rollover unused data, your plan will have a data balance linked to your current plans allowance and a data rollover balance which contains the data you have rolled over.

When using data, your plans allowance is used first and if this has been exhausted you will then consume data from your data rollover balance.

If you have data rollover and your next recharge is not eligible for data rollover, all unused data on your service will be forfeited.

When will my data not rollover?

You data will not rollover when the following occurs:

Your recharge occurs 24 hours or more after your current plans expiry;
If you move to a different type of plan (e.g. a Mobile Plan to a Super Pack), your data will not rollover, even if the new plan value is higher.
If you move to a lower value plan (e.g. $39 5G Mobile Plan to $29 5G Mobile Plan), you data will not rollover, even though you are changing plans within the same plan group.

Services activated on 30-day 5G plans between 12 November 2025 and 3 February 2026 will receive double data on their first 6 eligible recharges. This double data will appear in your data rollover balance.

Who is eligible?

Any new ALDI mobile service that was activated from 12 November 2025 to 3 February 2026.

Which plans are eligible?

Customer Plan	Plan Data Allowance	Bonus Data
$29 5G Mobile Plan	29GB	29GB
$39 5G Mobile Plan	75GB	75GB
$49 5G Mobile Plan	120GB	120GB
$59 5G Mobile Plan	175GB	175GB
$55 5G Family Plan	50GB	50GB
$95 5G Family Plan	100GB	100GB
$125 5G Family Plan	150GB	150GB

How do I claim my double data?

When you perform an eligible recharge, your double data will be automatically added to your data rollover balance.

What is an eligible recharge?

An eligible recharge is a recharge that meets the following criteria:

Is a recharge for an eligible plan
Is performed within 24 hours of the expiration of any previous recharge
Must occur consecutively
Can only occur a maximum of 6 times

Do I need to perform an eligible recharge on the same plan to continue to get the double data?

You can perform an eligible recharge to any of the eligible plans above and you will receive the double data associated with that plan.

However, if you ever perform a recharge to a lower value plan than your current plan, you will lose your current data rollover balance.

Also, if you move from an eligible plan to an ineligible plan, you will no longer receive the double data - even if you eventually move back to an eligible plan.

What do I do if I didn't get my double data?

If you believe you should be eligible for this offer, but cannot see that double data has been added to your rollover balance, send us an eSupport message from your online account and we'll get right back to you.

Plan selection

This page contains general information on rates and inclusions for this plan. If you are considering or already have this plan, scroll down to find out what's included.
To activate a new service on this plan for a SIM that you have already purchased, visit our activations page.
To purchase a new SIM with this plan visit the $95 Family Plan product page.
To move to this plan from another plan on an already activated service, log into My ALDI Mobile and select this plan when you next recharge.

Plan details

The ALDI Mobile $95 5G Family Plan can have up to 4 services on the same account and will offer all services unlimited standard national calls and SMS¹ and 6,000 MMS (including Video MMS) to Australian numbers over 30 days.

Also included are unlimited standard calls and SMS to 20 countries plus 400 shared minutes and 200 shared SMS to 30 countries. View the eligible countries here.

All relevant rates are shown in the table below.

This plan also comes with 100GB data to use within 30 days;

Plan data is shared across all the services on the Family Plan. You can set data limits for an User services in a Family Plan which enables you to control the amount of data an User can access from the shared data. If no limits are set, or maximum limits are set then data will be shared on a first come, first served basis.

This plan comes with unlimited data rollover which means that all your unused data allowance may be rolled over but only if you recharge with the same Family Plan within 24 hours of expiry of the previous Family Plan. Otherwise, unused data is forfeited.

Standard data that is included with your plan is depleted first, and then any available rollover data is consumed.

If you want to make any calls to numbers not shown in the rate table below (e.g. international numbers) you will need to have adequate PAYG credit on your Pay As You Go plan. Each service on the Family Plan will require its own PAYG balance. PAYG credit is not shared by the services on the Family Plan. Please refer to the Pay As You Go plan information for full rate details.

Data Top Up: You can add a Data Top Up to your Family Plan if you need additional data. You can purchase an additional 3GB of data for an extra $15 and you can add it to your Family Plan at any time as long as the maximum additional data doesn’t exceed 40GB above your included data allowance at any one time. Extra data you purchase will expire at the same time as your Family Plan but may be eligible for rollover.

The Data Top Up can only be purchased through the website or by calling us. Please take care when you are adding a 3GB Data Top Up to ensure you are adding the correct data product to your Family Plan.

Data is charged per 1KB which means the minimum amount of data you'll consume in each data session is 1KB.

Any charges you incur that are not included as part of your ALDI Mobile Family Plan or Data Top Up (if any) will be deducted from your Pay As You Go credit. Please refer to the Pay As You Go plan information for full rate details.

Standard Services All in Australia	Rate
Standard calls to Australian fixed lines and standard Australian Mobiles (to other networks) including to 13xx, 1300xx numbers	Unlimited¹
Calls to some eligible international numbers and international SMS	Unlimited standard calls and SMS to 20 countries plus 400 shared minutes and 200 shared SMS to 30 countries. View the eligible countries here. Calls and SMS to ineligible numbers and countries are charged from the individual PAYG credit of the service making the call/SMS.
Calls to 1800 numbers	$0 no charge
Standard SMS to Australian numbers	Unlimited²
Standard MMS (including video MMS) to Australian numbers	6,000 After using the 6,000 MMS the rate will be $0.35/MMS If you renew your plan before expiry, unused MMS will be forfeited.
Data	100GB standard data is included for use at any time $15 for 3GB (where you have a Data Add-on) 6c / MB, charged from your PAYG credit if available, if you have no included data credit or Data Top Up credit
Call connection fee (national calls)	No charge
Voicemail retrieval	0c/min
Voicemail deposit	0c/min

Excludes all use overseas. For personal use only, acceptable use policy applies, visit our legals page for more details. ¹Excludes some use such as: calls to international numbers, satellite numbers, and premium numbers (eg. 19xx numbers) and call forwarding. ²Excludes some use such as: SMS to international or satellite numbers, and premium numbers (eg. 19xx numbers).

International calls and SMS

To make international calls/SMS once the included allowance has been depleted or to make calls and SMS to countries outside of the eligible countries list or call types, the Owner and or User will need to have Pay As You Go credit on their individual service. You can view all the International Calling and SMS Rates here.

International roaming is available in selected locations, you can find out more on our roaming page.

Important information about your plan

ALDI Mobile offers Mobile Plans, Data Plans, Super Packs and a Family Plan. You can only have one of these types of plans or packs added to your ALDI Mobile service at any one time. This means you cannot have a Family Plan and a Mobile or Data Plan at the same time. Whilst your service is part of a Family Plan, you will not see the option to recharge with any other type of Plan, however you will be able to add PAYG credit to a service.

You should be aware that access to 19xx numbers are not available on ALDI Mobile plans.

You can view the Critical Information Summary for this plan by clicking here.