Prepaid Mobiles

Selecting a prepaid mobile can be such an arduous task. But fear not - if you are a small to medium user ($25 - $45 per month) and looking for a prepaid phone then your are in the right place. Read-on for where to buy your next prepaid sim or mobile and other tips and traps your should be aware of.

thumbs upMoney Owl’s top picks

 

Amaysim

 

Good Points

  • Outstanding offer: they have incredibly low call and text rates, no flagfall, no minimum fees and they use the Optus network. This is a low cost, no fuss prepay that is taking the industry by storm.
  • Pure SIM: the Amaysim SIM card can be used in any phone, so you can keep your old phone and number.
  • Great Service: my better half switched to Amaysim after this research, and found the process from ordering, paying to receiving the SIM was quick and incredibly simple. Their customer service centre responds promptly too; a standard we hope continues as Amaysim grows in popularity.

 

Bad Points

None to mention.

 

Crazy Johns: Crazy Cap and Flat Chat

 

Good Points

  • Good for SMS: the Flat Chat product has SMS for a tiny 1c for the first 100 per day. Perfect for text fiends.
  • Loads of credit: the Crazy Cap deals give you plenty of credit to use within the expiry period. A small to medium user on the $29 plan will struggle to use up $450 call credit.
  • Free calls: free calls and texts to other users on Crazy John's mobiles. We love that. Sign up your friends and family and see your credits go much further.

 

Bad Points

  • Network: They switched from the Telstra Network to Vodafone. Despite Vodafone improving their network recently, they still aren't as reliable as telstra or optus.

 

Boost: Day to Day and Long Time

 

Good Points

  • Social Networking: Their Long Time product offers unlimited access to social networking sites, such as Facebook, Twitter and My Space, as well as ebay.
  • Great daily dollar deal: with Day to Day spend $3 p/day and you receive unlimited sms/mms + national calls + mobile calls + mobile data + free social networking.

 

Bad Points

  • Other rates: Their flag fall and voicemail rates are a bit high relative to other providers.

 

Read on for useful information about selecting your prepaid...

hotHot tips:

  • Credit expiry: if you hardly ever use your phone, or just use it to receive calls, then look for products that offer the longest credit expiry so you don't lose your call credits each month.
  • Use the same provider: it's worthwhile if you, your partner, children and friends are all with the same provider (e.g.: Tesltra, Optus, 3 Mobile) because in most cases you do get better value in terms of talk time and text. However, it doesn't mean you have to stick with the same plan, as many plans may use the same provider.

watch out Watch out for:

  • International roaming: don't get caught out with a huge bill from your overseas holiday! Data is incredibly expensive if you choose international roaming, so turn it off and only use in emergencies. Consider an international prepaid sim, or a global prepaid sim, as they will help you budget your mobile usage overseas more effectively and prevent any nasty surprises.
  • Connection Quality: make sure you choose a provider that has quality networks in your area. If you live in rural Australia or travel there often then choose Telstra. Optus is gradually improving. Many customers are still reeling from the appalling connection service from Vodafone, though they are making improvements also.