About Canstar’s Most Satisfied Customers Phone-On-A-Plan Awards
Canstar’s Most Satisfied Customers Awards showcase the phone-on-a-plan providers with the happiest customers across Australia. We ask customers to rate their satisfaction with their current phone-on-a-plan provider by overall satisfaction, as well as other criteria including value for money, customer service, network coverage, billing, plan flexibility and sign up and activation.
Numbers crunched by Canstar’s researchers
- 1,752 customers surveyed
- Four providers assessed
- Three providers shortlisted
- One award winner
The best phone-on-a-plan providers
The brands rated are listed below in order of best overall satisfaction according to customers like you.
1. Vodafone
Vodafone took out top spot in our phone-on-a-plan provider ratings for the second year running, scoring five stars in almost all categories including overall satisfaction, value for money and customer service. Network coverage scored a lower three stars.
Vodafone offers a wide range of phones to bundle with a plan, including the most recent iPhone, Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel devices along with some devices from other manufacturers such as Motorola and OPPO. Phones can be paid off over 12, 24 or 36 months and bundled with one of Vodafone’s postpaid phone plans.
2. Telstra
Telstra came in second place, scoring four stars for overall satisfaction, customer service and plan flexibility. Telstra also scored five stars for network coverage, billing and sign up and activation, and three stars for value for money.
Telstra offers a wide range of devices on plans, including the latest from Samsung, Apple and Google and a small selection of devices from other brands. Phones are available on a 12, 24 or 36-month payment period or outright, which will need to then be bundled with a Telstra Upfront phone plan.
3. Optus
Rounding out our ratings was Optus, which scored four stars in most categories including overall satisfaction and value for money, however it scored three stars for customer service.
Optus offers a wide range of phones to bundle with a postpaid plan, mostly from Apple, Google and Samsung, although devices from other brands, including Nothing, are also often available. Devices can be bundled with a postpaid phone plan and paid off over 12, 24 or 36 months, while some devices may be available outright.
Previous phone-on-a-plan provider winners
Here are past winners of Canstar Blue’s Most Satisfied Customers – Phone on a Plan ratings:
- 2024: Vodafone
- 2023: Southern Phone
- 2022: Southern Phone
- 2021: Southern Phone
- 2020: Vodafone
- 2019: Vodafone
- 2018: Vodafone
- 2017: Virgin Mobile
- 2016: Virgin Mobile
- 2015: iiNet
FAQs about Canstar’s Phone on a Plan Providers Awards
Canstar’s Most Satisfied Customers Awards recognise companies with the most satisfied customers overall based on consumer surveys.
Canstar Blue surveyed 1,752 Australians with a current phone bundled with a plan for their feedback on phone on a plan providers they’ve used. Respondents had to have an active mobile phone on a plan service in their name and pay the bills on that account.
Market research company PureProfile manages the survey on Canstar’s behalf.
Survey respondents are asked to rate their satisfaction with their handset and phone plan provider from zero to 10, with zero meaning extremely dissatisfied and 10 meaning extremely satisfied. Phone on a plan provider satisfaction is rated on the following criteria:
- Overall satisfaction with their phone-on-a-plan provider
- Value for money
- Customer service: e.g. online chat, telephone service, etc.
- Network coverage: i.e. the mobile network had good coverage and reception
- Billing: i.e. do you understand your bill?
- Plan flexibility: i.e. there is some flexibility to change plans when needed
- Sign-up and activation: i.e. signing up to and activating the plan and phone was easy
The winning brand receives the highest overall rating once all the scores from each category are combined and averaged.
Canstar also gives Star Ratings to top performing financial products, and Outstanding Value Awards to providers with a range of high-performing products. Canstar’s Innovation Excellence Awards also showcase products and services that break new ground when it comes to helping customers.
Canstar rates products and services over a range of consumer categories, in addition to financial services.
When you’re choosing a phone on a plan, the phone will likely be the deciding factor. Telstra, Optus and Vodafone offer a wide range of phones, including popular devices from Apple and Samsung. Smaller providers like Southern Phone and TeleChoice may have a much more limited selection of phones to choose from.
Consider the following:
- Phone type: What phone do you want and which provider offers it? A cheaper phone might not even be available on a plan, so in some cases, a phone-on-a-plan might not be an option and you’ll need to buy your phone outright instead.
- Plan length: Most telcos offer their phone-on-a-plan over a set device payment period — usually 12, 24 or 36 months (although some may offer the option to buy outright). You might be free to switch between the phone plan each month as your data/usage needs change, but cancelling your plan will require you to pay off your remaining device costs.
- Cost: The price of your plan will largely depend on which phone you choose, the storage size of the device, the payment period and the plan you choose to bundle your phone with. This can add up to an expensive plan, so setting a budget, waiting for sales periods or choosing an older phone model can help cut costs.
- Data, coverage and other inclusions: In addition to your phone preference, consider your mobile plan needs such as data allowance, network coverage and any extras you want such as international call inclusions.
According to Canstar Blue’s 2025 research:
- The top five most important factors for Aussies choosing their phone on a plan provider are: network availability, network speed, cost of plan, data allowance and the ability to manage their account online.
- 39% of survey respondents have always been with the same phone provider.
- The average monthly cost of a phone on a plan was around $82 per month, an increase from the $78 per month average in 2024.
- 38% of respondents were able to comfortably afford their monthly plan costs.
- 18% like to shop around for the next best deal.
- 57% of respondents claimed to never go over their data allowance.
- 22% were on 50GB to 99.99GB of data per month/billing period, while 19% were on 20GB to 49.99GB of data, followed by and 17% on over 100GB.
- Most respondents (43%) were on a 23-month contract, followed by 22% on 24 months and just 4% were on a 12-month contract.
- 47% had their monthly phone bill increase in the past year.
- Of those who had seen their phone bill increase, 88% have not done anything and stayed on the same plan, despite only 31% of these respondents being locked into a contract.
