Smart savings or ‘lock-in shock’? The truth about ALDI Mobile, Superloop, and TPG’s new deals

With many household expenses rising in cost, some providers have gone for a ‘price lock-in’ message as a way of staving off the bad will some customers may feel after years of constant price increases. 

Providers are essentially saying to customers that price rises are inevitable, but stay put and we’ll keep you on the same price — for a set amount of time.

At least, that’s what the messaging feels like. 

Is ALDI Mobile’s Price Promise a way to scrap its cheap plans?

ALDI Mobile has long been one of the cheapest prepaid providers in Canstar’s database. Even when it scrapped its $19 plan in September 2025, the $23 plan was still cheaper than many of its competitors. 

However, ALDI Mobile’s new ‘price promise’ brushes over the fact that new customers won’t be able to purchase the $23 (with 12GB data) or $29 (with 29GB data) plans after September 29. Sign up or stay on those plans before the cut-off, and you’ll get the same locked-in price until August 31, 2027.

This also means if ALDI Mobile is scrapping its two lowest-priced plans, the $39 plan will take over as the ‘cheapest’ plan being offered — which is significantly more expensive than the starting price point of other providers, such as Amaysim, Felix, TPG and Superloop. However, future plan changes are currently unconfirmed.

ALDI Mobile uses the Telstra wholesale mobile network, and has long been a strong competitor against the big telco, offering more affordable options with that same focus on low costs as its supermarket products.

“ALDI Mobile is focused on delivering great value. Our $23 and $29 Mobile Plans are among the best value in market, and new customers who sign up by 29 September 2026 can lock in today’s pricing until 31 August 2027. We regularly review our plans to make sure they continue to deliver completive value, and any future changes will be communicated to customers in advance.” an ALDI spokesperson said.

While the price lock will benefit existing customers, and anyone signing up before the September 29 cut off, how much more customers will be paying for their ALDI Mobile service after the price lock ends, remains to be seen.

How does ALDI Mobile compare without its lower priced plans?

When ALDI Mobile’s two cheaper plans are no longer available to new customers, other providers that have plans available for less than ALDI Mobile’s $39 plan, could offer better lower-cost alternatives. Keep in mind that ALDI Mobile uses a 30-day expiry period while other prepaid providers may operate on a 28-day or monthly expiry period.

The below table shows a range of prepaid mobile plans on Canstar’s database using standard cost (excludes discounts). Keep in mind that expiry periods, data inclusions and mobile networks will differ between providers.

Note: Felix and TPG use the Vodafone network, Everyday Mobile uses the Telstra wholesale network and Yomojo uses the Optus network.

For customers looking for more data than ALDI Mobile was offering on the $23 and $29, comparing plans can still result in some savings, while those looking for smaller data inclusions like the cheaper ALDI Mobile plans, can find some bigger savings by switching providers.

If you’re happy with ALDI Mobile’s service and want to stick to the $23 or $29 plan, locking in the price now can help mitigate any potential price changes, however you may want to look at switching providers after your price lock period ends.

Superloop’s internet price lock comes at a, well, price

It’s not just mobile providers offering a price lock-in. Superloop has launched its internet Superloop PriceLock — a feature which was offered to customers via email communications early in June, ahead of the July 1 NBN price changes. Superloop has stated that close to 10,000 customers have already signed up to PriceLock.

Superloop’s PriceLock is simple enough. Customers can lock in their current price and speed tier for the next 24 months. However, you’ll need to pay an upfront fee of $25 for the feature. This seems to be a way to keep customers happy, and loyal, for a longer term as annual NBN price rises are likely to continue each July.

Considering that Superloop increased its NBN prices from between $3 and $6 per month across its range of NBN speeds, that $25 fee might have paid for itself if you locked in before the July 1 price changes. 

If you spread that $25 over the 24 months that your price is locked in, it’s only going to cost about $1 per month. Compared to the smallest price rise of $3 per month, that $25 looks like small change next to that minimum 24-month cost increase of $72. 

For customers on the NBN 25 speed tier that saw the biggest price rise, not locking in your pre-July 1 price can cost an additional $144 over those 24 months. And this is without any future price increases taken into account.

How does a Superloop NBN price lock compare?

If you’re happy with your Superloop service, locking in your current price and speed tier may pay off over the next couple of years. However, if you shop around, you may be able to shave some of the cost off your NBN bill. 

The below table compares standard NBN pricing from providers listed on Canstar’s database. Keep in mind that some NBN providers have recently increased prices while others have not, so prices may change. 

While Superloop offers fairly average priced plans, there are some providers offering plans for a little less. Looking at the price differences, if you compare a range of NBN plans, you can save more than the Superloop $25 price lock fee over 12 months if you make the switch to a lower cost provider.

TPG locks-in NBN 100 and NBN 500 prices for a limited time

TPG has also introduced what it calls a ‘price lock’ on NBN 500 (or NBN 100 for customers on slower NBN connections), but it’s really more of a 12-month discounted price. 

This deal drops the $94.99 price down to $69.99 over the first 12 months, with a saving of $25 per month, or $300 over that whole year. This is available to new customers until September 8.  

So what really makes this more of a ‘price lock’ rather than a deal? Not much really. Many NBN providers offer new customer discounts, however these are usually over the first six months of your plan. 

Price lock or price hit? How much does loyalty really cost? 

Opting for a price lock-in can be a double edged sword. On one hand, any saving (or locking in a cheaper price for an extended period) is better than nothing, especially if prices rise. On the other hand, that provider is essentially locking you into being loyal for a set period — where you might as well be locked into a contract, much like the mobile and internet plans from several years ago.

Although you aren’t technically locked in with ALDI Mobile or Superloop’s offers, you’ll simply lose any benefit you may have had with the price lock. TPG’s deal has conditions for cancelling, such as returning the modem.

“Internet and mobile costs are on a seemingly never-ending climb, and it’s unlikely that standard prices will magically drop any time soon. ALDI Mobile and Superloop’s price lock offers could help households avoid unexpected bill hikes, but customers should weigh up the pros and cons first,” Canstar’s Managing Editor — Utilities & Finance, Tara Donnelly, said.

“You may end up stuck with lock-in shock if the price you’ve agreed to pay now is substantially higher than what your telco may be offering new sign-ups in the future. This is an especially bitter pill to swallow for Superloop customers, who need to pay an upfront fee to guarantee their plan pricing.”

Loyalty and being locked into a plan long term can be incredibly limiting, especially as that locked-in price may no longer be as competitive as it initially was. Staying on top of what you pay for your mobile and internet services, and regularly comparing plans and providers, can give you a good picture of what’s available to you and if your current service is competitive.

“Flexibility could be your best weapon when it comes to grabbing a telco deal. Most retailers save their cheapest prices to attract new customers through introductory discounts, so keeping your options open leaves you free to switch plans and providers at any time,” Ms Donnelly said.

“There’s nothing wrong with jumping on a price-lock plan now, and it could be a good move for current ALDI Mobile users who don’t want to part with the telco’s cheapest plans. Just don’t get complacent - the lowest price today, may not be the best value plan tomorrow.”