Best Optus mobile plans

(Image credit: Optus)

A member of Australia's 'Big Three' next to Telstra and Vodafone, Optus is the second-largest telco in the country, striking a pleasant balance between coverage, cost and data. Although, with the September 2022 Optus data breach and the nationwide network outage in November 2023, Optus has seen a surge of complaints, with people understandably sceptical about whether they should switch to (or stay with) Optus.

Optus isn't the only telco with problems, though. In the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman’s (TIO) latest report covering Q1 2024, the proportion of complaints against Optus decreased from 30.7% to 22.8%, with Vodafone, Telstra, TPG and Tangerine all seeing significant increases. One of the biggest benefits of going with Optus is that it (generally) has strong network coverage across the country, and Optus is even partnering with SpaceX to bring coverage to Australia’s mobile black spots, though SMS compatibility will launch later this year, with voice and data not becoming available until late 2025.

It's worth mentioning that Optus has recently increased plan prices, with the Optus Small Choice Plus plan, which was previously AU$49p/m, is now AU$52p/m, while the Medium Choice Plus plan has increased from AU$59p/m to AU$62p/m.

Luckily, that slight price increase comes with massive data increases, jumping from 30GB to 50GB and 100GB to 180GB respectively. If you’re considering signing up or continuing your time with Optus by upgrading your phone, we've got you covered no matter what you need, with the best Optus Mobile plans for all different phones, plans and prices laid out on this page. Click the links below to skip ahead to our specific plan recommendations, or see what’s available from Telstra and Vodafone:

• Best Telstra mobile plans
• Best Vodafone mobile plans in Australia

Noteworthy Optus deals

We'll get to the best Optus plan's in a second. First, here are some awesome deals for Optus as part of their EOFY mobile deals.

Best Optus mobile plans: our picks

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Best SIM-only plan

Optus Small Choice Plus | 50GB Data | AU$52p/m

Already happy with your phone or looking to avoid lock-in phone contracts? There's no need to upgrade! You can grab yourself a tasty new SIM-only plan and continue as you were, just with a cheaper plan – or one that provides more value. Optus doesn't offer the cheapest SIM-only plans, but you do get a moderate amount of value out of them. For a touch over AU$50 per month you get 50GB of Data as well as the standard unlimited calls and texts. If you don't mind paying a little more for a lot more data, you can grab the Optus Large Choice Plus plan for just AU$69p/m for the first 12 months before it reverts to AU$89p/m.

Total minimum cost is AU$52

Best overall phone plans

Best overall iPhone + plan combo: our pick

iPhone 15 (128GB) | 50GB Data | 24 Months | AU$114.43p/m

Taking on the dynamic island of the iPhone 14 Pro, the iPhone 15 is a truly wonderful phone. If you don't need the extra size or power of the iPhone 15 Plus or iPhone 15 Pro, respectively, you'll be more than satisfied with this handset. In our iPhone 15 review we said its "versatile screen technology is paired with new materials, lovely contoured edges [and] a powerful A16 Bionic CPU" and of course – a USB-C port. Pairing it with Optus’ AU$52 Small plan gets you 50GB of data every month, unlimited calls and texts and access to Optus' huge range of coverage.

Total cost over 24 months is AU$2,746.32

Best overall Android + plan combo: our pick

Samsung Galaxy S24 (256GB) | 50GB Data | 24 Months | AU$101.95p/m

We've made it clear that Vodafone reigns supreme as the place to be for the best Samsung Galaxy S24 plans, but there’s no denying that Optus has greater 4G and 5G coverage compared to Vodafone and – thanks to the time-limited EOFY sales – you can save AU$200 on any S24 phone and claim a free Samsung Galaxy Watch6 when you sign up for a 24 or 36 month plan. Optus’ AU$52 Small plan comes with 50GB of data, and if you choose this plan for your phone you’ll pay just over AU$100 a month.

Total cost over 24 months is AU$2,446.8

Best cheap phone plans

Best cheap iPhone + plan combo: our pick

Best cheap Android phone + plan combo: our pick

Samsung Galaxy A55 | 50GB Data | 24 Months | AU$66.49p/m

While you can snag the Google Pixel 8a for just a few dollars more each month, we rate the Samsung Galaxy A55 as the best best cheap phone you can buy. It offers a beautiful 6.6-inch display, captures detailed photos at this price range and has an exceptionally stylish metal and glass design. Most people will find the Optus AU$52 Small plan sufficient, as it comes with 50GB of data a month. Act now and you can save AU$350 off RRP with a 36-month contract.

Total cost over 24 months is AU$1,595.76

Best premium phone plans

Best premium iPhone + plan combo: our pick

iPhone 15 Pro (128GB) | 50GB Data | 24 Months | AU$129.04p/m

The iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max are Apple’s most premium devices, and the one you choose will mostly come down to size and price, but we'll stick with the ‘regular’ Pro for now. Sitting atop our list of the best phones with an incredible titanium design, an all-powerful A17 Pro chip, USB-C connectivity and a wonderful action button, it's a truly awesome handset. Pairing it with Optus’ AU$49 Small plan gets you 50GB of data every month and keeps your payments as low as they can be on a 24-month contract. While it's always possible with the iPhone 16 coming later this year, we haven’t seen any big discounts on the iPhone 15 Pro at Optus yet.

Total cost over 24 months is AU$3,096.96

Best premium Android + plan combo: our pick

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (256GB) | 50GB Data | 24 Months | AU$135.28p/m

Optus and Vodafone are both offering the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra for AU$140.62 a month, but you might be swayed over to Optus if you want wider 4G and 5G coverage. Plus, you get the same AU$200 saving and a free Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 thrown in with the Ultra, as you do with the regular S24. To get this deal you will need to remain on an Optus Watch Plan for either 24 or 36 months, but we rate this phone and watch combo very highly, so this shouldn’t prove to be a problem.

Total cost over 24 months is AU$3,246.72

Looking for something cheaper, or have your own phone? Check out the best-value SIM-only plans

A Digital Content Writer for the Australian TechRadar team, Max covers all things tech and lifestyle and is keen on using tech to make life easier. A 2023 journalism graduate, Max has written across sports, entertainment and business for brands like Zero Digital Media and Valnet.Inc, but found his love for tech in his time at GadgetUser. At home when covering everything from the latest deal and coupon code to the most recent streaming service output, phone or smartwatch, Max excels at using his research, experience and writing ability give you more time to use your tech, not waste time finding it.