Catch Connect Plan
Review and Comparison
- Great coverage with Optus 4G Plus Network
- Long expiry plans offer great value
- Compare data pricing with key alternatives on this page
Frequently Asked Questions About Catch Connect
Who are Catch Connect?
Catch Connect are a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) owned by the Catch Group which were recently sold to Wesfarmers. Catch Connect resell the Optus 4G Plus Network on 30, 90, and 365-day mobile phone plans, along with 30-day data-only plans.
How is their coverage?
Catch Connect resell the Optus 4G Plus Network, and this means great coverage. The Optus Network covers 98.5% of the Australian population. Check out the Optus website to see how well your exact are is covered.
Will they let me keep my current number if I move over to Catch?
Yes, you can take your existing phone number with you if you switch over to Catch Connect, like most other telcos.
Are Catch Connect’s plans prepaid or postpaid?
Catch Connect offer prepaid plans only — four 30-day mobile phone plans and eight long expiry mobile phone plans (four 90-day and four 180-day offers), along with five 30-day data-only plans.
All Catch Connect mobile plans come with unlimited standard national voice, SMS, and MMS, along with some data.
What add on packs are available?
Catch Connect offer 3 add on packs:
- Data Extras — $10 for 1GB of data and $15 for 2GB. This can be added on to both mobile and data only plans (you must have an active plan), and will be used before any data on your plan is used, if you have any plan data left. Data Extras have their own independent expiry, and roll over up to 20GB if you recharge with another Data Extra before the current Data Extra expires.
- International Extras — $5 for 100 International minutes and $10 for 300 International minute. These also come with unlimited SMS and MMS to 32 countries. International Extras have their own expiry, and they roll over up to 500 minutes if you purchase another International Extra prior to your current International Extra expiring. These can only be added on to mobile plans.
- Catch Extras — $5, $10, $20, and $50 credits for both mobile and data-only plans. They can be used for international minutes as well as roaming for mobile plans, and for extra data and data roaming on both mobile and data-only plans. These will also roll over (up to $500) if you purchase more prior to their independent expiry.
Do Catch Connect offer data banking and data-free streaming?
Australians want fair treatment from their telcos, and providers are answering the call with some fair data features such as data banking and data-free streaming. Data banking rolls your unused data over to your next billing cycle and beyond, while data-free streaming allows you to stream content without spending your plan data.
Catch Connect offers you some large data inclusions, but they come up short in the data banking and data-free streaming areas. Although they offer some roll over schemes for their add-on packs, their actual plan data inclusions do not roll over
Do Catch Connect charge for excess data?
No. Because Catch Connect plans are prepaid only, your plan data stops as soon as you run out. You would have to purchase a Data Extras add on pack or Catch Extras in order to keep using data, and these add on packs have their own expiry, counting from the date they were purchased.
Are Catch Connect’s SIM and delivery free?
Yes, Catch Connect will give you a free SIM and deliver it for free.
Do they have a self-service app?
No, Catch Connect don’t have a self-service app. However, they do have an online self-service platform on their website, where you can monitor your plan usage and make adjustments on your Catch Connect dashboard.
Do they have any roaming packs?
Yes, your Catch Extras credit can be used for roaming.
Will canceling plans incur any charges?
No, you can cancel your plan without any fear of getting charged. However, you will lose all unused inclusions. Also, if you’re switching plans, you will lose your unused plan inclusions, but your purchased Extras (add-ons) will remain as long as they haven’t expired.
Do Catch Connect have entertainment content included free in their plans?
Some telcos offer mobile plans with entertainment content such as sports, shows, and music that can be streamed as inclusions. Catch Connect is not one of those telcos — they do not have any entertainment inclusions. Check out the major telcos like Telstra and Optus for this, or if you want an MVNO with entertainment then check out OVO. To compare the best mobile plans with entertainment content, click here.
What's good
- Broad range of prepaid plans
- Long expire plans offer great value
- Add on packs have their own expiry, and they roll over
What's bad
- Plan inclusions don’t roll over -- only add on packs do
- No data banking or data vault
- No entertainment content
Catch Connect Plan Review and Comparison
60-Second Summary
- Wide range of prepaid plans to choose from
- 30-day, 60-day, and 90-day plans
- Attractive long-expiry deals
- Data-only plans
- Unlimited voice, SMS, and MMS inclusions
- Add on packs for more options
- Value-driven promos
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About Catch Connect
Catch Connect entered the Australian telco market last year as an MVNO reselling the Optus 4G Plus Network. The company is owned by the Catch Group, which was recently acquired by Wesfarmers for $230 million. Catch Connect is now known for their aggressive promos and data deals.
Catch Connect offer 12 prepaid mobile phone plans with 30, 90, and 365 day cycles. They also offer five data only plans. All Catch Connect mobile phone plans come with unlimited standard national voice and SMS, as well as MMS, and they have some pretty generous data inclusions ranging from 3GB of data on their smallest 30-day plan to 375GB on their largest 365-day plan.
Catch Connect plans are also cheap, especially when you factor in their frequent promos and deals. Currently, they offer an amazing deal that we’ll get into later in the article — more than amazing, in fact. It also helps that they resell the Optus 4G Plus Network, which covers 98.5% of the Australian population.
Catch Connect Plan Features
Catch Connect have value for everyone. They offer unlimited voice, SMS, and MMS inclusions on every plan, along with some great data deals. Here’s where the value lies.
Many, many options to choose from
- 12 mobile phone plans.
These plans are all prepaid with a range of recharge cycles to choose from. For the typical user, a 30-day category is available with four plans to choose from; for those looking for a longer term arrangement, you can opt for their 90 or 365-day offers, each with four plans to choose from as well. - And 5 Data Only plans available.
Catch Connect’s offer 5 data only plans ranging from $30 to $90 for 10GB to 150GB. Just in case your plan data isn’t enough, you can tag on one of these. - Extras help you add on to your plan.
Catch Connect also offer add on packs, making for one of the widest offers amongst MVNOs.- Data Extras
To avoid running out of plan data before expiry, you can top off with data extras of 1GB for $10, or 2GB for $15. This add on is available for all plans, including data only plans. - International Extras
You can purchase 100 international call minutes for $5, or 300 for $10. International Extras come with unlimited calls, SMS, and MMS to 32 countries. They can only be added on to mobile phone plans, not data only plans. - Catch Extras
If the above Extras aren’t enough, you can purchase Catch Extras credit of $5, $10, $20, and $50. These credits can be used for international calls, SMS, MMS, and roaming, as well as data within Australia and data roaming overseas. Catch Extras can be added on to all pans, including data plans. - Extras will roll over
Both International Extras and Catch Extras roll over to the next cycle if you purchase the respective extras again before expiry.
- Data Extras
Current promo is just too attractive to ignore — as much as 40GB for as low as $4.90!
Catch Connect’s four 30-day plans range from $15 to $49.90, with data inclusions ranging from 3GB to 40GB. However, with their current promo, you you can get any of their 30-day plans for $4.90 for the first month — including the $49.90 40GB plan. For those data-hungry users, 40GB for $4.90 is just more than a great deal.
There are even more deals as you go through their plans. Catch Connect’s 90-day plans range from $39 to a $119, with data inclusions of 8GB to 102GB. But right now, three of these plans ($39 to $89 with 8GB to 54GB of data) are being offered for $15 for the first 90 days. That means you can get a 90-day plan with 54GB of data for $15.
No contract
Despite their aggressive promo deals, Catch Connect plans aren’t contract plans — they are prepaid plans. This means you can take advantage of their promo and choose not to recharge. This shows how confident they are in their service, to offer up to 40GB for $4.99 for the first month without locking you in for more recharges. Prepaid plans are currently the most popular types of mobile phone plans in Australia, making up 45% of all connections in the country.
Optus 4G Plus Network means great coverage
Catch Connect resell the Optus 4G Plus Network, which means you’ll find coverage almost anywhere. The Optus Network covers 98.5% of the population. You can use the coverage checker on the Optus website to make sure your specific area is covered.
What’s The Catch?
There isn’t much of a catch, but a few details should be noted.
- Plan data doesn’t roll over, but some Extras do
Nothing in your mobile or data plan will roll over. However, add on credits from International Extras and Catch Extras will roll over if you purchase more extras before they expire. - Extras have their own expiry dates
Your Extras expiry are different from your plan expiry. This is actually a good thing because even if your plan expires, you can continue using any purchased Extras until their independent expiry date kicks in. - Recharge is automatic, and actual plan price kicks in after the first month
Obviously, that massive promo can’t last forever. Your 30-day plans will go back to their normal rates after the first month, while 90-day plans go back to their normal rates after 90 days. That means, for example, that your 40GB for $4.90 plan will jump back to $49.90 on your next recharge — 30 days after activation.
Further, that next recharge is automatic — you’ll have to turn it off yourself to avoid getting charged, if you think you might not want to recharge. - You can switch plans whenever you want and keep your Extras, but you’ll lose any existing plan inclusions
Catch Connect don’t penalise you for switching plans at any time, but you’ll lose any remaining inclusions if you do. However, any purchased Extras can’t be lost when you switch plans — they remain intact. - Only one 30-day plan, one 90-day plan, and one 365-day plan have international calls included
- The $49.90 mobile phone plan is the only 30-day plan that comes with International minutes — 200 minutes to 32 selected countries.
- The $119 mobile phone plan is the only 90-day plan that comes with International minutes — 400 standard international minutes to 32 selected countries.
- The $410 mobile phone plan is the only 365-day plan that comes with International minutes — 500 standard international minutes to 32 selected countries.
- Note that, unlike the International Extras add-ons, international minutes that are included in these mobile plans don’t roll over. Also, for all other mobile plans, you’ll have to purchase International Extras if you want some international minutes.
Comparing Catch Connect to Other Telcos
- Even without promos, Catch Connect’s data inclusions stack up well against the competition
Catch Connect plans are very competitive, even after the first month. Let’s use the 30-day plans examples:
Catch Connect offer some generous data inclusions on their 30-day plans that are either more than, or on par with, other telcos. Only OVO offer a better deal at the $15 price point — they offer 4GB of data, where Catch Connect offer 3GB. Catch Connect offer some good value with their $25 for 11GB plan, when compared to others. For example, Belong Mobile will only give you 10GB for that same price point. Catch Connect’s $35 with 20GB plan faces stiffer competition, however. You can get 30GB for $30 from Amaysim, Amaysim also gives Catch Connect some stiff competition with their 45GB for $40 plan — Catch Connect offer 40GB for $49.90.
- With the current promos, Catch Connect simply can’t be beat on the first month
All 30-day plans become $4.90 for the first month, including their 40GB plan. Compare that to other promos and Catch Connect simply can’t be beat. Let’s use the 30-day plans as an example again:
Boost Mobile offer 45GB for $40, based on a promo which gifts the customer 15GB on the actual 30GB of plan data. With Catch Connect’s promo, you get 40GB for $4.90. A current promo knocks down Circles.Life’s 20GB for $28 plan down to $18, and you can tag on an additional 20GB for $10 to make a 40GB for $28 plan. As generous as that sounds, Catch Connect still beats it with their 40GB for $4.90 plan.
- Catch Connect’s 90 and 365-day plans have even more value, with or without promos
Long expiry plans generally deduct your usage from the cost of the plan. For example, Optus charge 7c per MB, 25c per voice minute, SMS, and MMS on their long expire plans. That means that they have no actual data, voice, or SMS inclusion — you’re charged per usage until your $ is exhausted.
Catch Connect have a better idea — they actually offer data inclusions and unlimited voice, SMS, and MMS, so these don’t affect your $ credit (or what you paid for the plan). Further, their data inclusions dwarf the competition when you do the math. Take their $39 90-day plan, for example. It includes 54GB of data, which is 54,000MB. If you divide $89 by 54,000MB, you realise that Catch Connect charges less than half a cent per MB on this plan (approximately 0.002c per MB). This is an amazing deal, and even more amazing during the first 90 days, when you will be charged only $15.
- However, other telcos have longer lasting promos
Although Catch Connect have an unbeatable promo right now, it just doesn’t last long enough. Their price cut is only good for your first month, and the original prices kick back after that. Other telcos have longer promos — Circles.Life’s promo, for example, lasts for 12 months before reverting to original prices.
- They don’t have enough fairness features
Australians are big on fairness when it comes to their telcos — they want to be treated fairly. Telcos have been responding to this with more data and fair data features. Some fair data features include data banking and data-free streaming. Data banking allows you keep your unused data, which rolls over to your next billing cycle or recharge; data-free streaming allows you stream entertainment content for free — without spending any of your plan data.
Catch Connect have the more data part figured out, but they don’t offer any data banking or data-free streaming. To be fair, though, their International Extra and Catch Extra add-ons roll over any excess credits to the next recharge cycle. If you want plans with data banking features, check out Telstra and Belong Mobile. For data-free streaming, check out Telstra, Belong Mobile, and Optus.
- No entertainment content
You won’t get any entertainment inclusions with Catch Connect. We’ve compiled a list of the best plans with entertainment content; check them out here. You can also check out Telstra and Optus, and if you’d like an MVNO with entertainment content instead, check out OVO.
- No self-service app, but online self-service is available
Self-service apps allow you to monitor your plan and make adjustments without having to contact the call center or go to the telco’s website. These apps make things a lot easier, especially when it comes to controlling your data usage.
Catch Connect don’t have a self-service app. However, they offer online self-service, where you can make the same adjustments as you would via an app — the only difference is that you actually have to go online and log into your account.
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Conclusion
Catch Connect have a plan for everyone. If you use a lot of data, they offer data heavy plans. If you just want cheap plans with unlimited talk, SMS, and MMS, they have those too. They also have international and roaming options, as well as data-only plans. And if you’re looking for long expire plans, Catch Connect also have some of the best 90 and 365-day plans for you to choose from. These are a lot of options for an MVNO.
Where Catch Connect are limited is in the kinds of plans they offer — they’re all prepaid. So if you’re looking for postpaid plans, check out other telcos. This isn’t a negative though — after all, prepaid plans make up 45% of mobile connections in Australia. They also lack entertainment content and fair data features. But their plans offer enough plan data to make up for the shortcomings in this area, and with the significant price cuts in their current promos, their data deals are more than fair.
