If the time has come to organise a mobile plan for your kids, there's no reason to panic. Many telcos offer phone plans that are designed to avoid excess charges and allow parents a degree of supervision over their family's usage. Below we've rounded up the best phone plans for kids from our database of 28 mobile providers to keep them connected at all times.
Presented by: Anula Wiwatowska - WhistleOut telco expert:
Your kids’ first phone plan doesn’t have to be good.
They don’t need mountains of data, or international calls, or international roaming, or cheap movie tickets. What they need is to be able to stay connected, and not end up in a hole because of hidden charges.
That’s why prepaid plans are your best friend.
Not only are they usually cheaper, but they also have a hard cap on inclusions like data. It is rare to find a prepaid provider that will actually charge you if you go over your data allowance. Instead, they’ll just cut you off.
Until your next recharge.
Not only is this cheaper, but it can also teach your kids how to budget.
Even if they’re not paying for their phone bill just yet.
When they’ve got say 10Gb to use across the month, they’ve got to be pretty careful with how they use it. Or at least they will be after the first time that they use all of it in the first week.
Best kids mobile phone plan
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TPG
Editor's Pick
30GB Small Plan
$15.00
Per 1 Month Renewal
Link not supplied
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What we love: TPG's 30GB Small Plan is an excellent choice to suit your kid's everyday needs. It's a prepaid plan, which includes 30GB of data for $30. With its current offer, you will get to enjoy 25GB for only $15 for the first six recharges. There's no lock-in contract, so you are free to switch to another cheap option in a month's time if you find a better-priced plan or it simply doesn't suit. Switching mobile providers is surprisingly fast and easy, and hopping between deals like this is a clever way to save money.
If you prefer to check out some alternatives, here are some other prepaid mobile plans for kids from our database:
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#1
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TPG
Editor's Pick
30GB Small Plan
$15.00
Per 1 Month Renewal
Link not supplied
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#2
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Lyca Mobile
Editor's Pick
Unlimited Plan S
$15.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
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#3
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OnePass mobile
28 Day Plan - 22GB
$12.50
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
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#4
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iiNet
50GB Medium Plan
$17.50
Per 1 Month Renewal
Link not supplied
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Best 365-day long-expiry mobile plan for kids
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#1
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Kogan Mobile
Small - 365 Day Flex Plan
$149.00
Per 365 Day Renewal
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#2
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Coles Mobile
Prepaid $220 for 365 Days
$169.00
Per 365 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
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#3
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Kogan Mobile
Large - 365 Day Flex Plan
$179.00
Per 365 Day Renewal
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#4
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Kogan Mobile
Medium - 365 Day Flex Plan
$190.00
Per 365 Day Renewal
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Long-expiry prepaid plans can be more affordable when choosing phone plans for kids. They work out slightly cheaper in the long run, and don't assume you'll have the exact same data needs every month. The downside is they require careful attention to ensure your little ones don't use a year's worth of data too early, when compared to monthly plans.
Above we have selected the cheapest 365-day prepaid plan in our database. Below you'll find a shortlist of popular 365-day long-expiry plans.
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#1
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Boost Mobile
$300 Prepaid
$300.00
Per 12 Month Renewal
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#2
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Kogan Mobile
Small - 365 Day Flex Plan
$149.00
Per 365 Day Renewal
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#3
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Boost Mobile
$365 Prepaid
$305.00
Per 12 Month Renewal
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#4
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Coles Mobile
Prepaid $220 for 365 Days
$169.00
Per 365 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
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#5
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amaysim
UNLIMITED 240GB Long Expiry
$199.00
Per 365 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
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"You can get a cheaper phone plan for your kids by going with a network reseller, rather than Optus, Vodafone or Telstra directly.
Most resellers have the same coverage as their parent networks, though not all offer 5G. And almost all Telstra resellers use the Telstra Wholesale network, which has a smaller 5G footprint but is almost identical for 4G."
Alex Angove-Plumb, Digital Content Editor at WhistleOut
Best Optus mobile phone plans for kids
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#1
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Optus
Optus Prepaid $40 SIM (AutoRecharge only)
$40.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
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#2
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Optus
Optus Prepaid $44 SIM
$44.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
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|
#3
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Optus
Optus Prepaid $50 SIM (AutoRecharge only)
$50.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
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#4
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Optus
Optus Prepaid $54 SIM
$54.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
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#5
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Optus
Optus Prepaid $64 SIM
$64.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
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Optus is an affordable middle option for kids with heaps of variety to choose from. This telco offers prepaid plans with expiries as short as one day right through to year-long expiry plans.
All Optus prepaid options also include access to the 5G network now, too. For uncapped speeds, just look for Flex plans to keep your kids clued in.
Here are some of the cheapest prepaid plans on the Optus network.
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OnePass mobile
28 Day Plan - 22GB
$12.50
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
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Yomojo
Starter 29GB Plan
$24.90
Per 30 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
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Coles Mobile
Prepaid $25 for 28 Days
$25.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
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Best Vodafone mobile phone plans for kids
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#1
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Vodafone
$40 Prepaid Plus Recharge
$40.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
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#2
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Vodafone
$50 Prepaid Plus Recharge
$50.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
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#3
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Vodafone
$60 Prepaid Plus Recharge
$60.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
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Vodafone prepaid plans tend to be no-frills, and that can be a blessing in disguise.
All prepaid plans from Vodafone come with unlimited talk and text and, as a bonus, have 'endless data' capped at speeds of 1.5Mbps. This means even if your little one uses up all their monthly data allowance, they can still get online in an emergency. Plus if data usage is inconsistent each month, your kids can rollover up to 200GB of data each time a recharge is made before expiry.
As a bonus, all 28-day prepaid plans will take $5 off with every automatic recharge. And all long-expiry prepaid plans of 185-days or more also come with at least 30GB of extra data when you opt into automatic recharges.
Best Telstra mobile phone plans for kids
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#1
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Telstra
$44 Pre-Paid Mobile
$44.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
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#2
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Telstra
$54 Pre-Paid Mobile
$54.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
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#3
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Telstra
$64 Pre-Paid Mobile
$64.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
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#4
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Telstra
$74 Pre-Paid Mobile
$74.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
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Regardless of which provider you go with, we always recommend a prepaid phone plan for kids. This is no different with Telstra.
Telstra is a great prepaid option because it has the widest coverage in Australia, so you can rest assured your child can reach you from more locations. Of course, if cost is your next main concern, you could alternatively consider a Telstra MVNO that uses a similar network for a fraction of the price.
Here is a selection of prepaid mobile plans from Telstra MVNOs that are a great starting point for kids and cost a little bit less:
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Everyday Mobile
Pre-paid Mobile $25 Recharge
$25.00
Per 30 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
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EZEE Mobile
29GB Mobile SIM Plan
$29.00
Per 30 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
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Telstra MVNOs use the Telstra Wholesale network, which has a slightly smaller 4G footprint than the full Telstra network, with the exception of Boost Mobile, which has full access.
If the rest of your family are already on the Telstra network and you'd like to keep it that way, it could be worth investing in a family mobile plan through Telstra. However, it's worth noting that Telstra family plans can be pricey. You're looking at a minimum of $74 per month for an Upfront plan.
How we choose the best mobile plans for kids
Mobile phone plans are our focus at WhistleOut, so we put a lot of thought into how we pick the best kids phone plans each month.
If you're wondering what to look for when choosing the best mobile plan for kids, here are the specific factors we consider when we recommend phone plans for kids and teens:
- Prepaid plans: We know that as a parent you might be concerned about how your children will use mobile phones, and what this might end up costing you. This is why we consider prepaid mobile plans over postpaid plans because of the boundaries and peace of mind they offer. Prepaid phone plans have a hard limit on what can be spent each month, and you need to manually top up the account with extra data, so there's no risk of bill shock.
- No-contract plans: We also recommend a no-contract plan that allows you to cap the data usage. This way you don't have to worry about bill shock since the data will be capped unless you top up.
- Unlimited talk and text: In our opinion, this is essential for kids' plans. After all, you're probably choosing to give your children mobile phones to stay in touch with them, not so they can play Fortnite on the bus.
With these considerations front and centre, our editorial team sift through the available plans looking for bargains.
Questions to ask before choosing a kids mobile plan
Before you go rushing out to buy the latest and most expensive smartphone on a top-tier plan, there are several things to consider:
What will they be using it for?
Younger children will just need a way of contacting parents in an emergency, but don't necessarily need a lot of data. Older kids often want data to keep in touch with friends online, but might not be great at sticking within a data allowance. Prepaid plans are great for both — they have unlimited talk and text for the little ones plus they can cut off data once you reach the limit, instead of charging for excess usage.
Who will be paying for it?
Prepaid plans can help teach teens the value of money if they pay for it themselves. The biggest benefit of prepaid is no nasty bill shock at the end of the month. This makes it perfect for youngsters learning how to budget, or parents wanting to avoid bill-related heart attacks.
Can you change your mind later?
Unless you buy a new phone on a contract, most prepaid phone plans are on monthly recharges. This means you're free to leave any time you like. Switching providers is super easy to do, and you can always take your number with you.
What charges apply if your child exceeds their data cap?
Before you let them loose with a shiny new phone, make sure you understand what charges might be involved if they exceed their limits.
FAQs about kids mobile plans
Are PAYG plans good for kids?
Pay As You Go (PAYG) plans are technically prepaid plans, and can be a great option for kids. Standard prepaid plans charge an upfront fee for a certain amount of data, and more often than not include unlimited texts and calls.
PAYG phone plans require an upfront payment for a certain amount of credit, with every GB of data, text, or call coming out of your credit. Once you’re out, you’ll need to buy more. While PAYG phone plans are often worse value than their prepaid counterparts, they can be a solid option for kids that mostly use their phones for infrequent texts or calls to family members.
PAYG phone plans are best suited for dumb phones where it's much harder to burn through mobile data, and as scuh, your credit.
What about long-expiry plans?
Long-expiry plans can be a good way to save money, but they do require more restraint to not burn through the entire data allowance early.
What is the best phone for kids?
Whether it’s a hand-me-down or a brand new phone, your kid will need a device to communicate with. The good news is, you don’t have to fork out for the latest iPhone or equivalent. There are plenty of smartphones on the market that you can snag for under $500, like the Samsung Galaxy A26, the OPPO A6, or the Motorola G57 if your budget is under $300.
If you only want your child to be able to make calls and texts, dumb phones are also an option.
When a plan wins the golden Editor's Pick ribbon, it means that as well as being the best plan for this month, the provider has gone into the running for our WhistleOut Awards, judged annually.
Our Editor's Picks are selected by our team of data experts. We may earn a commission if you click on one of the products listed, but a service provider isn't required to have a commercial relationship with us to be eligible for consideration. See here for more information about how we work.
Joseph Hanlon
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