Optus has raised prices again
If you’re an Optus postpaid customer, you’re likely paying more than you did a year ago. On 18 July, the telco announced their second price hike in 2 years. The announcement follows Telstra’s price hike, which kicked in on 1 July.
However, the price increase is not the only thing Optus customers have to worry about. Sports fans who accessed Optus Sport free of charge as part of their postpaid plans now have to pay extra for the app.
It’s not all bad news, however. Optus has also increased their data inclusions across the affected plans, so customers who are heavy data users have gotten a welcome upgrade to their phone plans.
This article will discuss Optus’ latest price hikes and what Optus Sport now costs. We’ll also cover alternatives from other telcos to get you the best value for your money.
Optus postpaid plans now cost more
Optus has increased prices across its postpaid plans. So whether you’re an existing or new customer, you’re likely paying more for your Optus plan than you did a month ago.
But Optus’ SIM-only plans revamp doesn’t end at just price hikes. The telco has also removed free access to Optus Sport, but each plan now includes more data. Here’s a quick look at the details.
- Each postpaid plan now costs at least $4 more
All Optus Choice Plus plans now cost customers an additional $4 across the board, while Optus Family Plan has been hiked by $16. This adds up to an extra $48 per year for Optus Choice Plus customers and an additional $192 per year for customers on Optus’ family plan. - More data
But Optus’ recent price increase also comes with more data than ever. Optus Choice Plus plans now include 10GB to 60GB more data than before the price hike, and family plans include more data as well. - Optus Sport is no longer free
Sports fans will no longer enjoy Optus Sport for free as part of their postpaid plans. From 1 August, Optus Sport will cost an extra $6.99 per month for eligible customers on postpaid plans. If you’re not an eligible customer, Optus Sport will cost you $24.99.
Optus Sport now costs extra
Optus’ latest price hike isn’t the first – the telco has raised prices on its Optus Choice Plus plans twice in less than two years. Last year, Optus raised prices by $6 across all Choice Plus plans before this year’s $4 hike.
But last year, Optus Sport remained included in postpaid plans so customers could view live sports for free. This time, however, Optus Sport has been removed as an inclusion so that postpaid customers must pay an additional $6.99 for the app.
Optus Sport is Australia’s exclusive broadcaster for the English Premier League. The streaming service also owns the rights to FIFA women’s world cup 2023 and live streams many other football leagues, such as the J League (Japanese League), UEFA European Championship, LaLiga, UEFA Nations League, European Qualifiers, and more.
For footy fans, losing free access to Optus Sport means losing free access to the many football leagues and sports shows provided by the streaming service. This is the hardest blow to Optus customers seeking postpaid plans for live sports.
However, while your Optus Choice Plus plan no longer includes Optus Sport, you will still get a better deal than others. Optus Sport costs the telco’s customers $6.99, while non-customers have to pay $24.99 monthly.
Final words – Alternatives to Optus
Paying an additional $4 monthly for a phone plan doesn’t sound so bad, but you don’t have to if you really don’t want to. That’s because there are many options for purchasing a SIM-only plan in Australia, and many of them are cheaper than Optus’ phone plans.
If you’re in the market for a cheap phone plan that only covers the basics, then you should shop for SIM plans offered by Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO). MVNOs resell the major telcos’ networks to you in the form of cheap and simple, straightforward plans. While the major telcos like Telstra and Optus offer the bells and whistles like entertainment in a phone plan, MVNOs typically offer the bare minimum – talk, text, and data.
If you’re interested in affordable phone plans, review our list of the best cheap phone plans in Australia before making a decision. You’ll find offers from telcos that are more affordable than Optus, including telcos like Amaysim and Moose Mobile that use the same Optus network so you won’t have to compromise on quality.