We’re all looking for ways to cut back and save during this cost-of-living crunch, and one way to do that is to reassess your mobile and internet plan providers. The latest research by Mozo has found that you could save hundreds of dollars by shopping around for a better deal, so it really pays to compare.
It’s probably no surprise that the big players of Telstra, Optus and Vodafone dominate the mobile and internet landscape, but it’s worth looking outside the big three if you want better value for money and are keen to make the switch.
“Close to half of all Aussie mobile and broadband users opt for Telstra over other providers, but our research shows it’s the smaller players who offer consumers the biggest savings,” says Peter Marshall, Mozo Experts Choice Awards Judge.
When it comes to NBN plans, Australians could save as much as $41 a month (or up to $495 in one year) by switching to a cheaper plan. In the most-popular NBN 50 speed tier, Mozo found that $133 could be saved over 12 months by finding a better deal.
Similarly, Mozo’s analysis of 4G and 5G mobile plans found that you could save up to $142 in one year by switching telcos. The savings of up to $142 is available on mobile plans that offer between 90GB–130GB a month, while mobile users who want something smaller between 17GB–45GB could pocket up to $90 in savings by switching.
Want to see if you can get a better mobile or internet plan? You can compare phone plans and compare NBN plans on Mozo, or you can look at our dedicated guides to the best NBN plans and best mobile plans if you want recommendations to get you started.
According to data from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), close to half of all Aussie mobile and internet users choose Telstra over other telcos. Telstra owns 44% of the NBN market and 43% of the mobile market. Less than 11% of Aussies choose ‘other’ retailers and mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), but some smaller players can offer big savings.
In November 2023, the ACCC publicly urged Australian households to shop around for a better deal on their internet plans.
“It has never been more important for consumers to compare prices between retailers. There are significant price differences between retailers so it is worth seeing what other deals are available,” ACCC Commissioner Anna Brakey said.
Mozo research shows these variations in price are staggering not only for home internet, but mobile plans too. Expert analysis of hundreds of internet and mobile plans for the Mozo Experts Choice Awards showed Aussies could save hundreds of dollars a year by switching to a cheaper provider.
When it comes to NBN plans, the faster the speed, the more you’re likely to pay. It’s a similar story with 5G broadband plans too. Mozo analysed the cost of these internet plans to find the range you can expect to pay.
Mozo’s analysis found that Aussies could save up to $495 in 12 months by swapping to a more affordable NBN plan. Mozo found the biggest opportunity to save comes with NBN 1000 plans, which are currently the fastest NBN plans available to consumers.
The average monthly cost of an NBN 1000 plan is a whopping $147 a month, but among Mozo’s award winners at this top speed, the average cost is much less at $106 a month.
But it’s not just the fastest speed tiers that have opportunities for significant savings. NBN 50 plans are the most popular choice among Australians, and Mozo’s report found that you can save up to $133 in one year by changing to a cheaper provider.
So who exactly are the winners in Mozo’s Experts Choice Awards for 2024? Flip has won NBN Provider of the Year for the third year running, taking out wins across four NBN speed categories.
Other big NBN winners include Spintel, which won awards for its NBN 25, NBN 100/20 and NBN 250 plans, while Superloop also took out wins for its NBN 100/40, NBN 250 and NBN 1000 plans.
For 5G broadband, top honours went to TPG, iiNet and Spintel.
See the full winners list and view the methodology report for the Mozo Experts Choice Awards for Broadband.
The more data you need for your mobile phone, the more you’re likely to pay. But you may not have the need for large amounts of data each month.
According to a study by the ACCC in June 2023, Australians downloaded an average of 15.9GB of data each month on postpaid mobile plans.
Mozo looked at the cost of 640 mobile plans from 49 providers to find how much you can expect to pay for different data amounts and plan types.
Mozo reviewed hundreds of mobile plans in its database and compared the average monthly cost to the average cost of the Mozo award winners – and there are big savings available to those who make the jump.
The sweet spot for most people will likely be a phone plan with between 17GB to 45GB of data included each month, and Mozo found the average cost of 5G plans in this bracket is $36 a month.
Switching to a Mozo award winner in the same data bracket would see you pay $29 a month on average, which shakes out to be $7 less each month. Overall, you could save $90 over 12 months.
If you require more data, there’s the potential for even bigger savings. Mozo looked at 5G plans in the 90GB to 130GB bracket and found the average monthly cost is $53 a month, but for Mozo’s award winners, the average cost is much lower at $41.
That means you could potentially save $12 a month by switching to a more affordable Mozo winner – which equals a huge saving of $142 over one year.
Moose Mobile and Lebara Mobile were among the standout 5G winners this year, with Moose Mobile clinching victories in five 5G postpaid categories, earning the title of 5G Postpaid Mobile Plan Provider of the Year.
Lebara Mobile also secured victories in four categories across 5G Prepaid mobile plans and was crowned the 5G Prepaid Mobile Plan Provider of the Year.
Spintel was recognised as the 4G Postpaid Mobile Plan Provider of the Year, earning wins across four categories with its diverse range of plans. Additionally, Felix excelled in the 4G Prepaid category, offering two award-winning 4G prepaid plans.
“Smaller brands excelled in the 2024 Mozo Experts Choice Awards for mobile plans this year, making up 70% of all winners,” said Marshall
The Mozo Experts Choice Awards for Mobile Plans has a full list of all the winners.
If you haven’t compared your mobile or internet plan in a while, we recommend you shop around. Compare plans online to find the best value plan to avoid paying the “loyalty tax”.
Don’t want to switch providers? Compare plans online, then call your provider to negotiate a better rate. Providers often give discounts to customers who think about switching, but choose to stay.
Before you switch, make sure to look at how much data, calls and texts you actually use. That way, you can see what plans match your usage, and avoid paying extra for services you won’t need or use.
Don’t just opt for the big name brands, consider switching to a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO). MVNOs often offer competitive rates because they lease network access from the big carriers at wholesale prices, allowing them to provide more affordable plans to customers.
Sometimes, buying the cheapest mobile and internet plans from different providers can get you a better deal than bundling them together. Research the true cost of bundles by comparing them to the combined cost of the cheapest plans.
The vast majority of Australians get their mobile and internet from one of the major providers, but those who shop small can save big, according to Mozo’s personal finance expert, Rachel Wastell.
“Many consumers opt to stick with their current plans for convenience or loyalty, and close to half of Australians choose one provider over all others, but the truth is consumer loyalty can often come at a cost,” says Wastell.
If you’re ready to start looking for a better deal, the winners of the Mozo Experts Choice Awards 2024 is a good place to start. You can see our shortlist of the Experts Choice internet award winners as well as the mobile plan winners to start your comparisons.
“Mozo research shows shopping around for a new mobile or broadband plan could help Aussies pocket $100s of dollars in annual savings, as smaller providers and MVNOs offer comparable plans at a much lower price,” says Wastell.
Mozo.com.au is one of Australia’s leading financial comparison sites, comparing more than 1,800 products from over 200 banking, insurance, energy and internet providers.
With a team of data experts on hand, Mozo provides industry insights, consumer research statistics and money management tips to major media publications and national broadcast networks.
Mozo is part of Future PLC , the global platform for specialist media that connects millions of people worldwide with their passions. A key brand in the global Future Wealth portfolio, Mozo has been recognised in Australia for simplifying the money maze with award-winning calculators and comparison tools, to help Australians make their money count for more.
