Switching phone providers is easy as long as you’re not on a contract. Just find the plan you like and follow the instructions.
If you’ve paid for your phone and you’re not on a contract with Vodafone, Optus or Telstra, you can switch providers each time it’s up for renewal. For most people, that’s every month.
To switch plans, you can:
- Compare plans to find one that you like.
- Buy the plan online and have the SIM shipped to you, or buy an eSIM and wait for the instructions by text or email.
- Install the SIM in your phone and follow the instructions on the card, or click the link in the eSIM instructions to activate your SIM.
Since we see phone plans every day, we see how many great deals are out there. We encourage shopping around because brands are always doing 50% off deals or throwing in bonus data.
Changing your phone plan doesn’t take a lot of time, but it can save you a lot of money every year.
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FAQs
Can I keep my number if I move from Vodafone to Telstra?
Yes! Transferring your existing phone number is called ‘porting’ ( from ‘Transporting’ ) and it happens automatically when you sign up to a new brand of plan. Telstra and Vodafone use a common system which stores all the phone numbers in Australia. Porting is generally quick but can take up to 3 days in a worst-case scenario.
You can find out more about porting here.
How do I know if I’m on a contract?
If you got a new phone and a phone plan, it’s likely you’re on a contract. Most contracts are 2 to 3 years, after which you’ve paid off your phone and you’re free to switch.
You can cancel your contract, but you might face early termination fees or have to pay out the remaining phone costs.
What if my phone is locked?
Locking a device to a network rarely happens anymore, but you can unlock it if you’re one of the unlucky few. It’s safe and legal to ask to unlock your phone at any stage of your contract.
If you’re towards the end of your 2 year contract, it’s unlikely that there will be a charge for unlocking your phone from the Vodafone network. However, unlocking early can cost a few dollars.
We’ve covered unlocking your phone extensively here so you can see how to do it and what fees might apply.
How do I find a good phone plan?
There are over 50 different phone plan providers in Australia, and they all use one of the Big 3 networks (Telstra, Optus or Vodafone). So, you’ll get great coverage no matter what brand you choose.
That means you’re free to search for plans outside of the big brands you’re familiar with. Smaller brands often have much cheaper prices (they don’t have to pay for the network infrastructure, maintenance and expansion) and better data deals.
Don’t believe us? Check out some deals from Vodafone and Telstra’s competitors:
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This Month’s Hot Offers