What are 365-day prepaid plans?
A 365-day mobile plan, sometimes referred to as a 12-month plan, allows you to pay for a years’ worth of calls, texts and data upfront. These plans may work out cheaper in the long run compared to monthly mobile plans and avoid the hassle of having to top up or renew your plan each month.
Some providers may offer slightly shorter plans over a 360-day expiry period, so you’ll be recharging the plan just short of a full year.
How to compare the best 365-day mobile plans
Finding the best 365-day prepaid mobile plan that suits your needs really comes down to value for money. When comparing plans, break down how much money your plan will cost each month with how much monthly data you’ll get.
Then, check the plan’s other features — such as data banking, whether the plan has 5G access and if there are any data speed caps — to get a clearer picture of what the provider is offering for the price. The features that one provider is offering compared to another could be the difference between a good plan and a great plan for your needs.
Keep in mind that while the plans below are some of the cheapest 365-day prepaid plans available now, the cheapest plan may not actually be the best for your needs. Look at price, data, coverage and other features to find the right deal for you.
What are the cheapest 365-day prepaid mobile plans?
Some of the cheapest 365-day prepaid mobile plans on Canstar’s database include:
- Kogan Mobile Small 365-day plan: $179.90 with 140GB data (around $14.99 with 11GB data per month)
- Kogan Mobile Medium 365-day plan: $190 with 200GB data (around $15.83 with 16GB data per month)
- Coles Mobile Prepaid $220 365-day plan: $220 with 145GB data (around $18.33 with 12GB data per month)
- Kogan Mobile Large 365-day plan: $240 with 300GB data (around $20 with 25GB data per month)
- OnePass Mobile 280GB 365-day plan: $240 with 280GB data (around $20 with 23GB data per month)
Which providers offer 365-day prepaid plans?
Not all prepaid providers offer long-term plans. Here is a list of some prepaid providers currently offering 365-day (or 12-month) prepaid mobile plans:
- ALDI Mobile
- Amaysim
- Boost Mobile
- Coles Mobile
- Everyday Mobile
- Kogan Mobile
- Konec
- OnePass Mobile
- Optus
- TeleChoice
- Telstra
- Vodafone
Keep in mind that the smaller providers, known as Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs), will offer plans using one of the three mobile networks, which are owned and operated by Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. Before signing up to any plan, check the provider’s website to find out if there is mobile network coverage in your area and any areas you frequently visit.
Pros and cons of a 365-day prepaid mobile plan
A 360-day or 365-day prepaid plan isn’t right for everyone, so you’ll need to consider whether having the convenience of a ‘set and forget’ plan is worth the large upfront cost. Of course, there are other factors that might make or break the deal so it is important to look at the pros and cons before making the commitment.
Pros to 365-day prepaid plans
- Set and forget: Paying in advance for a year’s worth of inclusions is great for anyone who doesn’t want to worry about frequent recharges or paying bills.
- Control your data usage: If your data usage differs from month-to-month (using more data one month, less data the next month), having the whole amount of data upfront gives you more flexibility with your usage and puts you in control. Lighter data users might find this easier to manage than heavier data users.
Cons to 365-day prepaid plans
- Can be expensive: Paying for a year’s worth of a phone plan upfront can be expensive, costing anywhere between $100 and $400, depending on inclusions. The amount of data included on the plan is typically what will determine how much you pay.
- Data needs to be rationed: If you chew through your data before those 365 days are over, you’ll need to recharge your plan early. So you’ll need to keep an eye on your usage and ration your data each month. Considering how you use your mobile data could help you to determine whether one of these plans will suit you.
Should I get a 365-day prepaid plan?
Overall, if you can afford that larger upfront bill, these plans might be worth considering. It also helps to work out roughly how that price breaks down each month to see if you can get better value for money on a monthly, 28-day or 30-day plan instead.
