As far as life admin goes, comparing phone plans to find the cheapest and best value deals often lands in the too-hard basket. The same goes for NBN plans. But we’re here to tell you that spending a few extra minutes tracking down a good mobile plan is worth it.
Gone are the days of simply signing up for the best-known or traditionally best-connected provider (or the one you’ve been with since getting your first phone in high school), because these days, we have options when it comes to choosing who we choosing our mobile phone network.
More often than not, you can save some serious cash by switching plans and, thankfully, you no longer need to call your phone provider to have a long and drawn-out conversation to switch plans. These days, most of the work can be done online, and once your new sim card and/or phone arrives in the mail, you can transfer your old number over and move on with your life.
If you’ve decided it’s time to look into a new phone plan, there are a few key things you need to consider.
Do You Need Your Plan to Include a New Phone?
The easiest way to upgrade your phone every couple of years is to sign up for a plan that comes with a new phone. Unfortunately, these days, our phones have become too sophisticated and fancy to be covered by the plan (remember when a Nokia 5100 came free with a plan?) and will cost you a small — or not so small — monthly fee.
My usual strategy is to save up to buy a new phone outright and then sign up for a budget monthly plan with no lock-in because I find that I average out better over the two-year period. Obviously, this isn’t an option for everyone, so comparing all the different contracts (like you can below) to see how much extra it’ll cost you a month with various phones and phone providers is the best way to figure out what you can afford.
How Much Monthly Data Do You Realistically Need?
To figure out how much data you need for important things like Google Maps and Instagram, it’s best to take a look at how much of your data you’re currently using. If you’re the type of person who uses every last drop of data every month, then you probably already know it’s time to up your monthly allowance when you sign up for a new contract.
If you’re unsure, then you’ve got a little bit of light digging to do. Most networks have an app or online portal where you can simply log in and check exactly how much data you use currently. Once you know the average amount you use, you’ll also know the average amount you need to get with your new monthly plan — this is one place you can save quite a bit of money.
Where Do You Live?
At some point, we’ve all lived in a house or apartment that’s just a big black spot in our mobile phone coverage. It’s annoying, to say the least. With the Whistleout comparison tool below, you can add your address when searching for the best phone plan options for you and it’ll factor in the coverage in your area, recommending only the providers who offer a strong service at your place. This is super important because even though it’s rarely considered (guilty), it’s one of the most annoying things to not have a working phone connection in your own home.
Compare the best mobile phone plans below, or for a fully customised search tailored to your personal needs, head over here.
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