Pay as you go mobile plans

What is a pay as you go mobile plan?

Pay as you go (PAYG) mobile plans are basically a throwback to how prepaid plans used to work: you buy credit upfront and get charged for every individual call, text and megabyte of data used.

(Fans of M.I.A's Paper Planes will doubtlessly recall the lyric: "hit me on my burner prepaid wireless". She was singing about PAYG mobile plans.)

PAYG is different to prepaid and postpaid plans, which provide unlimited calls and a data allowance for a set monthly fee.

• Example: Pay $35 upfront for Vodafone's Pay and Go plan. Calls and text cost 20c per minute/SMS, and data costs 6c per MB. This means if you make a call lasting for 5 minutes, it'll cost you $1 and you'll have $34 of credit remaining.

PAYG mobile plans are great for those who don't use their phone very often and want total control over what they spend. You only pay for what you use with credit lasting up to 365 days.

The flipside is that you need to monitor your own usage - including texts and phone calls - to avoid running out of credit.

Our expert says

"I switched from prepay to postpay mobile phone plans a few years ago and never looked back. Not only is it cheaper and more likely to include international minutes, but you also never need to worry about bill shock."

Graham Cooke

Head of Consumer Research

How to find the best PAYG mobile plan

There are two main things to consider when determining which PAYG plan is best.

Step 1: Expiry period

The expiry period is how long your credit will last - most plans give you 365 days, but some have shorter expiry periods. The longer the expiry, the less you'll need to pay for your mobile plan over a year.

If you're committing to a longer expiry period, make sure the included credit will last you for the whole period. There's no point signing up to a 12-month plan if you're going to run out of credit before then.

Step 2: Usage rates

While you can easily compare data and monthly prices when it comes to regular mobile plans, it's not as straightforward with PAYG plans.

Because PAYG plans don't come with unlimited calls and texts, usage rates matter. The higher the rate for your calls, texts and data, the faster your credit will run out. Some telcos also charge a flagfall fee which can bump up the cost of quick calls.

You can compare the PAYG usage rates from some of Australia's most popular providers in the table below.

Pay as you go plans: Pros and cons

PAYG plans are a great way to save if you don't rely on your phone very much. But otherwise, especially if you need data, they might not be such a good idea. Here are the pros and cons laid out below for PAYG plans.

Pros

• Long expiry periods: PAYG plans do not require you to pay a monthly fee - you can use your credit for up to a year without paying anything extra.
• Always have a phone number: PAYG plans are ideal if you just need a mobile number so people can contact you.
• Cost control: Only pay for what you use, with a detailed breakdown of your calls, texts and data usage.
• Great for backup: PAYG is an affordable way to keep a second SIM in case of emergencies.

Cons

• Expensive data: PAYG plans are terrible value if you intend to use mobile data regularly.
• Limited choice: PAYG have fallen from favour and subsequently aren't offered by many providers.
• Fewer inclusions: Promotional deals and bonus features are typically not offered on PAYG plans.

Cheapest pay as you go mobile plans

The cheapest PAYG plan does not necessarily provide the best bang-for-buck. You need to balance the upfront plan fee against the expiry period and usage rates. This last factor is crucial - higher usage rates will eat into your credit a lot faster.

In the table below, we break down a few of the most popular PAYG plans so you can see how they compare.

Plan name	Amaysim As You Go	ALDI Mobile Pay As You Go	Vodafone Prepaid Pay and Go
Expiry period	365 days	365 days	Choice of 180 or 365 days
Call rates	12c per minute	15c per minute	20c per minute
Text rates	12c per SMS	15c per SMS	20c per SMS
MMS rates	35c per MMS	35c per MMS	35c per MMS
Data rates	5c per MB	6c per MB	6c per MB
Minimum cost	$15	$5	$35

As you can see, ALDI Mobile has the cheapest PAYG plan, but only when it comes to the upfront cost. When you calculate data rates, Amaysim works out to be cheaper.

You will also need to top up your credit on ALDI's plan, even if you're a light user - the included $5 credit has a 60-day expiry. (Any additional PAYG credit you add lasts for 365 days.)

How much can I save with a PAYG plan?

You only save money with a PAYG plan if you don't use your phone frequently. To illustrate this, we've compared ALDI Mobile's entry-level $19 plan against various usage patterns on its PAYG plan below.

The PAYG plan works out cheaper than a regular plan for low usage amounts, but costs can spiral quickly once you're making a few calls per day or sending multiple texts. Calls are also charged per minute, not per call.

If you can limit your usage to fewer than 4 calls/texts per day (and don't engage in lengthy chats), a PAYG plan provides the best value. For everyone else, a regular mobile plan will likely be cheaper.

There's also data to consider. ALDI Mobile's entry-level $19 plan comes with 10GB data. The same amount on a PAYG plan will cost a whopping $614.40.

We highly recommend you steer clear of PAYG plans if you want to use any amount of data.

PAYG vs long expiry plans

Mobile plan providers are increasingly shifting towards long expiry plans instead of PAYG.

These work similar to monthly prepaid plans, but with a longer exiry period (usually 6 or 12 months).

Unlike PAYG plans, long expiry plans come with unlimited calls and texts, so you don't need to monitor your daily usage. They also come with a set amount of data unstead of charging per megabyte.

For most users, a long expiry plan provides better overall value, especially if you plan to use mobile data.

The exception is very light users who basically need a phone for occassional texts and incoming calls. The upfront costs are cheaper and you'll only be charged for what you actually use.

Compare PAYG plans

1 - 5 of 5

Updated regularly

Name	Product	Data	Price	Apply	Price
amaysim As You Go PrepaidNo lock-in contract amaysim As You Go Prepaid	$15 included standard national credit Optus 4G network	0GB	$15 per 365 day recharge	View details	amaysim As You Go $15 included standard national credit 0 GB Data $15 per 365 days expiry View details	loading Fetching your data...
ALDI Pay As You Go Starter Pack PrepaidNo lock-in contract ALDI Pay As You Go Starter Pack Prepaid	$5 included standard national credit Wholesale Telstra 4G network	0GB	$5 per 60 day recharge	View details	ALDI Pay As You Go Starter Pack $5 included standard national credit 0 GB Data $5 per 60 days expiry View details	loading Fetching your data...
Vodafone $55 Pay and Go Starter Pack PrepaidNo lock-in contract Vodafone $55 Pay and Go Starter Pack Prepaid	$55 included standard national credit Vodafone 4G/5G network	0GB	$55 per 365 day recharge	View details	Vodafone $55 Pay and Go Starter Pack $55 included standard national credit 0 GB Data $55 per 365 days expiry View details	loading Fetching your data...
Vodafone $45 Pay and Go Starter Pack PrepaidNo lock-in contract Vodafone $45 Pay and Go Starter Pack Prepaid	$45 included standard national credit Vodafone 4G/5G network	0GB	$45 per 365 day recharge	View details	Vodafone $45 Pay and Go Starter Pack $45 included standard national credit 0 GB Data $45 per 365 days expiry View details	loading Fetching your data...
Vodafone $35 Pay and Go Starter Pack PrepaidNo lock-in contract Vodafone $35 Pay and Go Starter Pack Prepaid	$35 included standard national credit Vodafone 4G/5G network	0GB	$35 per 180 day recharge	View details	Vodafone $35 Pay and Go Starter Pack $35 included standard national credit 0 GB Data $35 per 180 days expiry View details	loading Fetching your data...

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Frequently asked questions

• Is a PAYG mobile plan right for me?

  PAYG mobile plans are great for those who don't use their phones regularly. They're particularly worth it if you:

  • Average about one short text and a phone call of no more than two minutes per day
  • Never use mobile data
  • Usually receive calls rather than making them
  • Don't need voicemail often and don't call premium or 13/1300 numbers

• What's the difference between prepaid and pay as you go?

  PAYG mobile plans let you pay only for what you use, making them ideal for light or occasional users who want full control without contracts. The included credit typically lasts for 12 months. Prepaid plans offer fixed bundles (such as unlimited calls and a fixed amount of data) for a set period, usually 28–30 days.

• Is Pay As You Go cheaper than paying monthly?

  It depends on how frequently you use your phone. PAYG allows you to stretch a single credit charge over an entire year, but you will need to carefully moderate your usage. Monthly plans provide a lot more usage for a flat rate but they require you to pay month to month. If you only use your phone ocassionally (a few calls and texts per week) PAYG is more cost effective.

• Will I get bill shock with pay as you go?

  No. PAYG mobile plans come with a set amount of credit which you pay upfront. When your credit runs out, the plan will stop working until you top it up with additional credit.

• Do PAYG plans support international calls?

  Yes. Most PAYG plans allow you to make international calls, but you will need to pay for each call out of your credit. Depending on the destination and your provider, this can cost north of $1.50 per minute.

• Does Telstra offer Pay As You Go plans?

  No. Like many providers, Telstra has replaced PAYG with long expiry SIM-only plans which provide unlimited calls and text and a set data allowance over 12 months. If you exceed your data allowance, your speed will be slowed to 1.5Mbps for the duration of the plan.

• Are Pay As You Go phones being phased out?

  PAYG plans are a declining breed. Today, most providers favour prepaid long-expiry plans with unlimited calls and text. With that said, some Australian telcos will continue to sell PAYG plans as long as there's a market for it.

• How do I add credit to my PAYG plan?

  If you need to top up your credit, head to your provider's website and follow the prompts. Some providers allow you to do this over the phone or in-store. (For example, you can purchase ALDI Mobile PAYG recharge vouchers direct from the cashier.)

Written by

Chris Jager

Lead Shopping Editor

Chris Jager is a seasoned journalist with over 15 years of experience in the Australian tech industry. He has contributed his expertise to top tech publications like PC World, Gizmodo, Business Insider, and Lifehacker Australia, where he also served as editor for five years. Chris holds a Bachelor of Communications in Journalism from the University of Western Sydney and is widely regarded as a trusted voice in the tech space. See full bio

Chris's expertise

Chris has written 34 Finder guides across topics including:

• Consumer technology
• Home entertainment
• Online shopping
• Video games
• Seasonal sales events
• Money saving hacks

Co-written by

Sam Baran

Writer

Sam Baran is a writer for Finder, covering topics across the tech, telco and utilities sectors. They enjoy decrypting technical jargon and helping people compare complex products easily. When they aren't writing, you'll find Sam's head buried in a book or working on their latest short story. Sam has a Bachelor of Advanced Science from the University of Sydney. See full bio