Best Phone on a Plan Providers in Australia

Canstar’s Most Satisfied Customers Awards recognise companies with the most satisfied customers overall based on consumer surveys.

Canstar surveyed 1,505 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:

• Value for money: the cost of the plan and device was reasonable for the plan’s inclusions and service.
• Customer service: the provider was easy to get in touch with and offered helpful customer service.
• Billing transparency: the phone bill was clear and easy to understand and pay.
• Network coverage: the mobile service had good mobile network coverage and connectivity.
• Plan management: managing the plan and payments was straightforward.

The Most Satisfied Customers Awards identify which categories have the most influence on customer satisfaction and weights them accordingly.

The brand with the highest indexed score is awarded the Canstar Most Satisfied Customers Award for that category.

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.

Explore Canstar’s Most Satisfied Customers awards here.

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’s 2026 research:

• The top five most important factors for Aussies choosing their phone on a plan provider are: stable and reliable network connection, good customer service, fast data speeds, wide network coverage, transparent and easy to understand bills
• 38% of survey respondents have always been with the same phone provider.
• The average monthly cost of a phone on a plan was around $75 per month, a decrease from the $82 per month average in 2025.
• 37% of respondents were able to comfortably afford their monthly plan costs.
• 21% like to compare their options to find the best deal.
• 56% of respondents claimed to never go over their data allowance.
• 21% were on 50GB to 99.99GB of data per month, followed by 19% on 100GB+.
• 48% chose to purchase their phone on a plan as they prefer to pay it by installments rather than outright, while 32% chose phone on a plan as it was the only way they could afford a new phone.
• 51% had their monthly phone bill increase in the past year.
• Of those who had seen their phone bill increase, 89% have not done anything and stayed on the same plan, despite only 28% of these respondents being locked into a contract.