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

Optus store

Many existing Optus postpaid mobile customers will be hit with a larger phone bill from August. After increasing its pricing for new customers back in May, Optus is now moving some of its existing customers onto its new plans, which are more expensive in many cases. 

Customers on the $49 per month plan with 30GB of data will be bumped to a $52 plan with 50GB, while customers on the $59 per month plan will swap to a $62 plan with 180GB. While these plans include more data, the average postpaid customer uses around 16GB per month according to the ACCC. Some customers on older plans may see an increase as large as $6 per month.

When asked about the price rise, an Optus spokesperson told WhistleOut that the decision was made "due to the increasing costs to maintain and provide a great network experience". 

"We understand that unexpected events and expenses can make it difficult to keep up with regular payments," said the spokesperson. "Our team is here to help. If any of our customers are experiencing financial hardship, we encourage them to please contact us." 

Optus has started emailing affected customers. The price rises will kick in from the first bill customers receive after August 5. 

The price impact may also impact customers paying off a phone on an Optus plan. While handset repayments won't change, the plan's base fee may increase if the customer is on an affected plan. 

All Optus postpaid mobile plans still include unlimited data capped at speeds of 1.5Mbps after the primary allowance is exhausted, discounted access to Optus Sport, and $5 per day international roaming. $62 and up plans have unlimited international talk and text to select destinations. 

When Optus refreshed its plans, it cut the price of its 360GB from $89 per month to $82, and added $20 of SubHub credit. Existing customers will not be moved to the discounted plan, but can manually change to it. Customers on Optus' $69 plan with 220GB - which was discontinued - won't be moved to another plan at this stage. 

Here are Optus' postpaid SIM-only mobile plans:

#1
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
#2
Optus
Optus
$69 Optus Promo Plan
  • 360GB data
  • Deal: Get up to $10/mth SubHub credit to use on your favourite subscriptions for 12 months. T&Cs apply.
$69.00/mth
Min. cost $69
#3
Optus
Optus
$70 Optus Choice Plus Plan
  • 240GB data
$70.00/mth
Min. cost $70
#4
Optus
Optus
$90 Optus Choice Plus Plan
  • 480GB data
  • SubHub: Get up to $20/month credit to spend on subscriptions of your choice with Optus SubHub. Terms apply.
$90.00/mth
Min. cost $90

And for comparison, here's a selection of SIM-only plans powered by the Optus network with at least 20GB:

#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
Dodo
Dodo
Editor's Pick
Medium Mobile Plan
  • 40GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps
  • Deal: 50% off! Get the Medium Mobile Plan for $15/mth for first 6 mths, then $30/mth. New and returning mobile customers only. Ends 08.12
$15.00/mth
Min. cost $15
#3
Aussie Broadband
Aussie Broadband
Saver 5G SIM Plan
  • 20GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps
$30.00/mth
Min. cost $30
Link not supplied
#4
Coles Mobile
Coles Mobile
$35 Mobile Plan
  • 90GB data at download speeds up to 100Mbps
  • Deal: Get 45GB bonus data for the first 3 months. Offer ends 02.02.27
$35.00/mth
Min. cost $35
Link not supplied
#5
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

Optus' news follows Telstra announcing it won't up its mobile plan pricing in July, as it has done in the previous two years. Vodafone increased its mobile plan prices back in January.

Here is how Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone SIM-only plans compare:

#1
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
#2
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
#3
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

Update (5:30pm 13/06): Added clarification that customers on Optus' $89 mobile will not automatically be moved to the cheaper $82 plan 

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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