By
Alex Choros - Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor
Last updated

Belong mascot with phone

Telstra's budget brand Belong is "aiming" to launch eSIM mobile plans later this year, a Telstra spokesperson told WhistleOut. There's no fixed timeline for this yet, but the Belong website says the feature will be ready "in the not-too-distant future". 

While many Telstra network providers now offer eSIM - including Boost Mobile, which is also owned by Telstra - Belong has lagged behind on this front. Tangerine, More, Superloop, and Exetel all started offering eSIM as an option for their Telstra-powered mobile plans in 2023. Telstra itself first started offering eSIM mobile plans in 2019. 

As of this week, Tangerine and More also offer smartwatch eSIM support. 

eSIM - an electronic SIM or embedded SIM - is a rewritable SIM card that’s built into a cellular device like a smartphone or smartwatch. Unlike a physical SIM, there's no need to pop open a slot or pry off a case to put it in; an eSIM never leaves your phone. Instead, you simply download a "software SIM" from your provider of choice.

eSIM-compatible handsets have been available for several years now, with Apple introducing the tech in 2018 and Samsung in 2020. It is still, however, more common in premium devices, which historically was a reason why value-focused providers didn't rush to implement it. We have now seen it in cheaper phones, like Samsung's new $549 Galaxy A36.

Outside of the Telstra network, many smaller providers including iiNet, TPG, Kogan Mobile, SpinTel, and amaysim all support eSIM now. Here's a look at the most popular SIM-only plans from providers that offer eSIM:

#1
SpinTel
SpinTel
Editor's Pick
$23 Mobile Plan
  • 25GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps
  • 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
#2
felix mobile
felix mobile
felix Unlimited Mobile Plan
  • Unlimited data at download speeds up to 40Mbps
  • Deal: $20/mth for first 6 mths. Reverts to $40/month. Use promo code UNL40. Ends 30.11.26. T&Cs apply
$20.00
Per 1 Month Renewal
#3
Boost Mobile
Boost Mobile
$39 Prepaid
  • 80GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps
  • Deal: Grab a $39 SIM for $12 – save $27. Hurry! Offer ends 30.11.26. Terms Apply
$39.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
#4
Tangerine Telecom
Tangerine Telecom
15GB 5G Mobile SIM
  • 15GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps
  • Deal: Bundle your mobile and nbn plans on the same account to get 10% off your mobile SIM-only plan fees. T&Cs apply.
$30.00/mth
Min. cost $30
#5
Exetel
Exetel
Plus One eSIM Plan
  • 130GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps
$40.00
Per 30 Day Renewal
#6
Optus
Optus
$60 Optus Choice Plus Plan
  • 100GB data
  • 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
#7
amaysim
amaysim
UNLIMITED 15GB Plan
  • 15GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps
  • Deal: Save $19 for first renewal when you sign up by 11.12.26. New online services only.
$30.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
#8
Telstra
Telstra
$74 Basic Upfront SIM Plan
  • 50GB data
  • Deal: Get $37/mth off your first 4 months on a new Upfront Mobile Plan. New services only. Ends 30.11.26. T&Cs apply
$74.00/mth
Min. cost $24
Link not supplied
#9
Superloop
Superloop
SuperSim Plus 5G Plan
  • 130GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps
  • Deal: FREE 2nd recharge for existing Superloop broadband customers or new customers signing up for a mobile & broadband service
$50.00
Per 30 Day Renewal
#10
Vodafone
Vodafone
$58 Small SIM Only Plan
  • 65GB data
  • Deal: Includes $13/mth off plan fees for first 12 months when you stay connected to this plan. Ends 16.11.26. T&Cs apply.
$45.00/mth
Min. cost $45
Link not supplied

Looking for a new NBN plan?

These are the most popular NBN 50 plans with WhistleOut users this week:

#1
Dodo
Dodo
All Fixed Line nbn®
nbn50 Unlimited Plan
  • nbn® 50/17 Mbps
  • Unlimited Data
  • Deal: Incl. $30/mth discount for 6 months based on the standard price $87.99/mth*. Ends 08.12.26. T&Cs apply.
$57.99/mth
Min. cost $57.99
#2
amaysim
amaysim
All Fixed Line nbn®
Editor's Pick
NBN50
  • nbn® 50/17 Mbps
  • Unlimited Data
  • Deal: Includes $40/mth off for the first 6 months ($30 NBN Black Friday Offer + $10 Standard Intro offer), then $85/mth. Ends 30.11
$45/mth
Min. cost $45
#3
Belong
Belong
All Fixed Line nbn®
NBN Standard Plus – Unlimited
  • nbn® 50/17 Mbps
  • Unlimited Data
  • Deal: Includes $22 off for 12 months - $69/mth for first 12 mths, then $91/mth (Offer ends 30.11.26) + Free $80 Mobile SIM
$69/mth
Min. cost $69
Link not supplied
#4
Superloop
Superloop
All Fixed Line nbn®
Extra-value nbn50/20
  • nbn® 50/17 Mbps
  • Unlimited Data
  • Deal: Incl. $20/mth off for 6 months! $69/mth for 6 mths, then $89/mth + Bundle & Save
$69/mth
Min. cost $69
#5
Tangerine Telecom
Tangerine Telecom
All Fixed Line nbn®
Value Plus NBN 50/20
  • nbn® 50/17 Mbps
  • Unlimited Data
  • Deal: Includes $25/mth off for the first 6 mths, $64.90/month for first 6 months, then $89.90/month.
$64.90/mth
Min. cost $64.90
#6
TPG
TPG
All Fixed Line nbn®
nbn50 Unlimited Plan
  • nbn® 50/17 Mbps
  • Unlimited Data
  • Deal: $69.99/mth for first 6 months, then $89.99/mth. T&Cs apply.
$69.99/mth
Min. cost $69.99
Link not supplied
#7
Aussie Broadband
Aussie Broadband
All Fixed Line nbn®
Value nbn - Unlimited
  • nbn® 47/18 Mbps
  • Unlimited Data
  • Deal: Includes $25 off for the first 6 months. Promo code SPRING25. $95/mth after promo ends 15.11.26
$70/mth
Min. cost $70
Link not supplied
#8
Flip
Flip
All Fixed Line nbn®
Unlimited Family nbn50
  • nbn® 50/17 Mbps
  • Unlimited Data
  • Deal: Incl. $16.90/mth off for 6 months - $68/mth for first 6mths then $84.90/mth. New customers only. Ends 30.11.26. T&Cs apply.
$68/mth
Min. cost $68
#9
iiNet
iiNet
All Fixed Line nbn®
nbn50 Liimitless
  • nbn® 50/17 Mbps
  • Unlimited Data
  • Deal: Includes $20/mth off for 6 mths – $69.99/mth for first 6 months, then $89.99/mth. Use code SAVE20FOR6
$69.99/mth
+ $10 Upfront
Min. cost $79.99
Link not supplied
#10
Kogan Internet
Kogan Internet
All Fixed Line nbn®
Silver Unlimited
  • nbn® 50/17 Mbps
  • Unlimited Data
  • Deal: Incl. $11/mth off for 12mths. $69.90/mth for first 12 months then revert back to $80.90/mth. Offer available until withdrawn.
$69.90/mth
Min. cost $69.90

Alex Choros

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

Alex Choros
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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