Telstra's mobile plans just got more expensive - how do they compare?

Alex Choros - Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor

Last updated 05 May 2026

Telstra's latest price increase is now in effect, with prices going up by $4 per month on its "Basic" and "Essential" postpaid Upfront plans. Pricing hasn't changed for its $99 per month "Premium" plan. Data allowances haven't increased with prices, either.

Here's the new range of Upfront plans:

$74 Basic Upfront SIM Plan

50GB data
Telstra 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices

$74.00/mth

Min. cost $74

Link not supplied

$74.00/mth

Min. cost $74

Link not supplied

$84 Essential Upfront SIM Plan

180GB data
Telstra 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices

$84.00/mth

Min. cost $84

Link not supplied

$84.00/mth

Min. cost $84

Link not supplied

$99 Premium Upfront SIM Plan

300GB data
Telstra 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices

$99.00/mth

Min. cost $99

Link not supplied

$99.00/mth

Min. cost $99

Link not supplied

These mobile plans can also be paired with a new phone.

In addition to changes to the mainline plans, customers who have a bundle plan will pay $61 per month, up from $57 per month. Customers on Telstra's "Starter" plan will pay $55 per month, up from $50 per month. The Starter plan is no longer available to new customers.

Telstra's price increases kick in from today for new customers. Existing Telstra customers will pay the new price from their first bill issued after. All Telstra Upfront plans are contract-free, and customers can change their plan month-to-month, even if they are paying off a new phone.

Just note that customers paying off a new phone who want to leave Telstra will need pay out the remaining value of the phone in one lump sum to do so.

So with that in mind, how do Telstra's new plans compare? Out of the Big Three, Telstra is unsurprisingly still the most expensive option:

$60 Optus Choice Plus Plan

100GB data
Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device
Deal: $39/mth and 100GB/mth for first 12 months, then 60GB/mth and $60/mth or as notified. New services. Ends 12.11.26. Terms apply.

$39.00/mth

Min. cost $39

Go to Site

$39.00/mth

Min. cost $39

Go to Site

$58 Small SIM Only Plan

65GB data
Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices
Deal: Includes $13/mth off plan fees for first 12 months when you stay connected to this plan. Ends 29.10.26. T&Cs apply.

$45.00/mth

Min. cost $45

Go to Site

$45.00/mth

Min. cost $45

Go to Site

$74 Basic Upfront SIM Plan

50GB data
Telstra 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices

$74.00/mth

Min. cost $74

Link not supplied

$74.00/mth

Min. cost $74

Link not supplied

Looking at entry-level plans, Vodafone has the cheapest SIM-only option. The plan is $53 per month for 60GB at full price, but Vodafone is currently offering new customers the plan for half price for the first six months. This offer runs until May 19. Customers who want to pair this plan with a new phone will get a $14 per month discount instead, with the discount lasting the length of the phone repayment.

Optus charges $55 per month for its 50GB plan at full price, but also has a deal at the moment. New customers can get a 100GB allowance and a $20 per month discount for the first year. This offer runs until May 17. This promo plan gets customers around Optus' upcoming price increases that will see its standard $55 per month plan become a $60 plan with 60GB from May 18.

Even at $60 per month, Optus' cheapest postpaid plan is still $14 per month more affordable than Telstra's.

If you compare Big T to Telstra powered providers, you have plenty of cheaper options. Here's how Telstra's cheapest Upfront plan compares to postpaid plans with at least 40GB:

#1	Belong	Belong 25GB Mobile Plan 85GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Uses parts of Telstra’s 5G and 4G mobile networks Deal: Includes 60GB monthly bonus data for first 12 months when you activate your new service by 04.11.26. T&Cs apply. $34.00/mth Min. cost $34 Link not supplied	$34.00/mth Min. cost $34	Link not supplied
#2	ALDI mobile	ALDI mobile $34 Mobile Plan 45GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Uses parts of Telstra’s 5G and 4G mobile networks $34.00 Per 30 Day Renewal Link not supplied	$34.00 Per 30 Day Renewal	Link not supplied
#3	Everyday Mobile	Everyday Mobile Pre-paid Mobile $35 Recharge 50GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Uses parts of Telstra’s 5G and 4G mobile networks Deal: Get 10% off an eligible Woolworths shop in store every month when you link your Everyday Rewards card. T&Cs apply $35.00 Per 30 Day Renewal Link not supplied	$35.00 Per 30 Day Renewal	Link not supplied
#4	Tangerine Telecom	Tangerine Telecom 50GB 5G Mobile SIM 50GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Uses parts of Telstra’s 5G and 4G mobile networks Deal: 50% off plan fees for 4 months - $18/mth for 4 months then $36/mth. Offer available until withdrawn. $36.00/mth Min. cost $18 Go to Site	$36.00/mth Min. cost $18	Go to Site
#5	Boost Mobile	Boost Mobile $39 Prepaid 60GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Telstra 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: Get 60GB data on first 6 recharges, then 30GB from 7th recharge. New customers only. Activate by 02.11.26 $39.00 Per 28 Day Renewal Go to Site	$39.00 Per 28 Day Renewal	Go to Site
#6	Exetel	Exetel Plus One eSIM Plan 130GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Uses parts of Telstra’s 5G and 4G mobile networks $40.00 Per 30 Day Renewal Go to Site	$40.00 Per 30 Day Renewal	Go to Site
#7	Superloop	Superloop SuperSim Choice 5G Plan 75GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Uses parts of Telstra’s 5G and 4G mobile networks Deal: FREE 2nd recharge for existing Superloop broadband customers or new customers signing up for a mobile & broadband service $40.00 Per 30 Day Renewal Go to Site	$40.00 Per 30 Day Renewal	Go to Site
#8	More	More 50GB 5G Mobile SIM 50GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Uses Telstra Wholesale 4G/5G mobile networks Deal: Get $10/mth off new mobile plans for 36mths, then $4/mth ongoing when you sign up with a CommBank debit or credit card. Ends 31.3.27 $40.00/mth Min. cost $40 Link not supplied	$40.00/mth Min. cost $40	Link not supplied
#9	Telstra	Telstra $44 Pre-Paid Mobile 50GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Telstra 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: Includes 30GB activation bonus for first 3 recharges, 20GB from your fourth. Ends 01.01.2027 $44.00 Per 28 Day Renewal Link not supplied	$44.00 Per 28 Day Renewal	Link not supplied

Telstra's budget brand Belong is one of the best bets right now, thanks to a double data deal. $34 per month gets customers 50GB for the first year, after which it drops down to 25GB. This deal runs until June 15.

Tangerine has a similar deal where customers pay $26 per month for a 50GB plan for the first three months, and then $36 per month onward. Bundling this with a Tangerine NBN plan adds a 10% discount to the mobile component of the bill.

Lastly, Boost Mobile is worth considering. Also owned by Telstra, Boost Mobile is the only Telstra-powered provider with access to the full Telstra network. Others have access to a slightly smaller footprint in remote and rural areas.

Boost customers will pay $39 per 28-day recharge with a 30GB allowance, which is more expensive than other options. Customers do get 80GB of data on their first three recharges, however.

Looking for a new mobile plan?

These are the most popular SIM-only mobile plans with WhistleOut users this week:

#1	SpinTel Editor's Pick	SpinTel Editor's Pick $23 Mobile Plan 25GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Optus 5G in selected areas with 5G devices ex. NT WhistleOut Special: Enjoy $11 off for the first 6 months for new customers - $12/mth for first 6 months, then $23/mth $12.00/mth Min. cost $12 Go to Site	$12.00/mth Min. cost $12	Go to Site
#2	Boost Mobile	Boost Mobile $39 Prepaid 60GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Telstra 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: Get 60GB data on first 6 recharges, then 30GB from 7th recharge. New customers only. Activate by 02.11.26 $39.00 Per 28 Day Renewal Go to Site	$39.00 Per 28 Day Renewal	Go to Site
#3	Tangerine Telecom	Tangerine Telecom 30GB 5G Mobile SIM 30GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Uses parts of Telstra’s 5G and 4G mobile networks Deal: 50% off plan fees for 4 months - $15/mth for 4 months then $30/mth. Offer available until withdrawn. $30.00/mth Min. cost $15 Go to Site	$30.00/mth Min. cost $15	Go to Site
#4	Pivotel	Pivotel 25GB Mobile Swift Plan 25GB data On the Vodafone 4G Mobile Network Deal: Incl. 50% off - $11.45/mth for first 6 months, then $22.90/mth ongoing. Offer ends 31.10.2026. T&Cs apply. $11.45/mth Min. cost $11.45 Go to Site	$11.45/mth Min. cost $11.45	Go to Site
#5	Dodo	Dodo Medium Mobile Plan 40GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device Deal: 50% off for first 4 mths! Get the Medium Mobile Plan for $15/mth for first 4 mths. New and returning mobile customers only. Ends 27.10 $30.00/mth Min. cost $15 Go to Site	$30.00/mth Min. cost $15	Go to Site
#6	Swoop	Swoop 30GB SIM Only 5G 30GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: Includes $11 off for first 6 months - $14/mth for first 6 months then $25/mth after that. Offer ends 30.06.27 $14.00/mth Min. cost $14 Go to Site	$14.00/mth Min. cost $14	Go to Site
#7	Optus	Optus $60 Optus Choice Plus Plan 100GB data Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device Deal: $39/mth and 100GB/mth for first 12 months, then 60GB/mth and $60/mth or as notified. New services. Ends 12.11.26. Terms apply. $39.00/mth Min. cost $39 Go to Site	$39.00/mth Min. cost $39	Go to Site
#8	TPG	TPG 30GB Small Plan 30GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: 50% off - $15/mth for first 6 months, then $30/mth ongoing. Available until withdrawn. T&Cs apply. $15.00 Per 1 Month Renewal Link not supplied	$15.00 Per 1 Month Renewal	Link not supplied
#9	felix mobile	felix mobile felix 25GB Mobile Plan 25GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps On the Vodafone 5G/4G Mobile Network Deal: Get 50% off your first 3 mths when you switch to felix. $15/mth for first 3 mths, then $30/mth. Use promo code FELIX50. T+Cs apply $30.00 Per 1 Month Renewal Go to Site	$30.00 Per 1 Month Renewal	Go to Site
#10	Yomojo	Yomojo Starter 29GB Plan 29GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps On the Optus 4G Plus Mobile Network $24.90 Per 30 Day Renewal Link not supplied	$24.90 Per 30 Day Renewal	Link not supplied

Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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