Phone Plan Price Pain: Which telcos are jacking up mobile prices?

Aussie households are set to see yet another price hike wreak havoc on their bills and budgets, with several telcos announcing cost increases across mobile phone plans. Telstra, and its subsidiary brands Belong and Boost Mobile will be raising prices in the coming months, along with Vodafone and prepaid provider Lebara — and we may see other telcos follow suit.  

Mobile price rises: What’s changing?

Telstra is introducing price rises across its suite of prepaid and postpaid mobile plans, as well as its pay-as-you-go rates and mobile broadband plans, from May 5. The 28-day prepaid plans will increase by $5 per recharge, but with the trade-off of data increases. The short-term prepaid plan will increase by $2 with more data, while the six-month and 12-month plans will also have price and data increases. As for postpaid plans, only the Basic and Essential plans will each have a price rise of $4 per month, but without the data increases.

The telco is also increasing the price of its Telstra One Number plan from $5 per month to $8 per month. Telstra One Number is an eSIM plan than can be bundled with a cellular compatible smartwatch.

Both Belong and Boost Mobile are also increasing prices on their plans from May 5. Belong customers will see price increases across all SIM-only postpaid plans with no changes to data (along with changes to data-only mobile broadband plans). However Boost Mobile has confirmed a wider range of changes not just in prices, but also data inclusions — plus the introduction of a new six-month long expiry plan.

Lebara and Vodafone — which are both part of the TPG Telecom group — are changing prices and offerings on prepaid plans from April 15. Lebara is also adjusting the expiry periods on its range of prepaid plans. It’s also worth noting that Vodafone’s price changes are only across prepaid mobile plans at this stage (although Vodafone’s postpaid customers may need to be on the look out to see if their plans are next to change).

If you want more information on these price changes, we go into further detail at the end of this article.

Will more telcos raise mobile prices this year?

While these price rises are typically only small on paper, it’s becoming an increasingly common occurrence each year for telcos to raise mobile plan prices. 

Unlike other industries like energy or health insurance, where certain times of the year are linked to industry-wide changes, mobile price changes and plan adjustments tend to happen throughout the year. Although telcos provide notice, customers never really know when to expect changes to be announced. 

ALDI Mobile, which was consistently one of the cheapest prepaid plan providers on the market, dropped its cheapest prepaid plan in September 2025, while Everyday Mobile (formerly Woolworths Mobile) disappointed customers when it removed its cheapest 365-day plan earlier this year. Optus last changed its plan prices in June 2025, so it’s possible another price rise could be on the cards later this year. 

During a tough time for many Aussie households with a range of costs going up, it’s not just the price increase, but the unpredictability of it, that can add to frustrations. 

"Unfortunately, yearly price increases have become the norm across telco. But when major providers are hiking costs twice in less than 12 months, no wonder customers are at breaking point" said Tara Donnelly, Canstar's Managing Editor — Utilities & Finance.

But just because you can’t predict the new increase to your plan fees, doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do to lower your mobile bills.

What can you do about increasing mobile prices?

If you’re sick of the cycle of annual mobile price rises, it might be time to switch mobile plans. While no provider is immune to price increases, you could find a better value for money mobile plan with another provider. 

With the ability to keep your current mobile number when switching providers, and a usually quick switching process — especially if you’re signing up to a plan with eSIM — changing mobile providers isn’t as hard as it once was.

For mobile providers offering good value-for-money plans, you can check out Canstar’s 2026 Outstanding Value mobile awards. However, if you want to compare an even wider range of plans and providers, you can use our free mobile plan comparison tool. 

Another thing to consider is switching to a smaller provider, known as a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO). These providers use parts of the three mobile networks (owned and operated by Telstra, Optus and Vodafone), but often at cheaper prices than the big three telcos. 

If you’re concerned about network coverage, MVNOs typically have access to the full network or parts of it, depending on the network (although there may be speed restrictions). However for most Aussies, especially living in cities and more populated parts of the country, coverage with an MVNO will still be as good as coverage with the big provider that owns the network. 

"Households are already stretched thin, but with most mobile plans now contract-free, there's nothing stopping customers from jumping to a better priced plan," said Ms Donnelly.

"If you know your coverage needs and how much data you use each month, that's a great place to start comparing options to find a cheaper deal. Saying goodbye to the big-name telcos can significantly reduce your monthly mobile costs, so don't write off challenger brands."

Ms Donnelly also urged customers to ask for help if they're currently in hardship.

"Ultimately, nobody should be in distress over a rising phone bill, so don't forget that extra help is available. If you've struggling due to increased mobile costs, don't be scared to speak to your telco. Mobile providers are required to work with you to help you pay that outstanding bill, so ask for an extension, fees waived or anything else you need."

Phone plan price increases breakdown

Telstra price rises

As the largest telco in the country, Telstra’s announced mobile plan price changes are no doubt going to disappoint a lot of Aussies, especially with changes for both postpaid and prepaid. Here is what’s changing for Telstra’s postpaid plans (both SIM-only and bundled with a plan):

• Basic plan (50GB): Was $70 per month, new price $74
• Essential plan (180GB): Was $80 per month, new price $84
• Premium plan (300GB): $99 per month - no change

It’s worth noting that the postpaid plans (which are offered SIM-only and bundled with a new phone) don’t have any increased data allowance. Telcos will typically use an increased data allowance as a kind of compromise for the increased price costs. For Telstra to raise prices on its two ‘cheaper’ postpaid plans by $4 each ($48 over 12 months) with no extra value added, might be a hard cost to bear for some customers. 

Here is what’s changing for Telstra’s prepaid plans range:

• Seven-day plan: Was $13 with 3GB, new price $15 with 4GB
• $39 28-day plan: Was $39 with 15GB, new price $44 with 20GB
• $49 28 -day plan: Was $49 with 25GB, new price $54 with 35GB
• $59 28-day plan: Was $59 with 35GB, new price $64 with 45GB
• $69 28-day plan: Was $69 with 70GB, new price $74 with 80GB
• Long-expiry six-month plan: Was $180 with 70GB, new price $200 with 80GB
• Long-expiry 12-month plan: Was $350 with 165GB, new price $395 with 180GB

Belong price rises

Belong, which is the more budget-friendly provider owned by Telstra, offers a simple range of postpaid SIM-only mobile plans. All of these plans, along with Belong’s small range of data-only mobile broadband plans, will have a price increase but with no adjustments to data allowance included. Here is what’s changing for Belong’s mobile plans from May 5:

• 25GB SIM only plan: Was $30 per month, new price $34
• 40GB SIM only plan: Was $35 per month, new price $39
• 100GB SIM only plan: Was $45 per month, new price $49
• 160GB SIM only plan: Was $55 per month, new price $59

Boost Mobile plan changes

Boost Mobile, which is now owned by Telstra (and is the only MVNO to offer access to the full Telstra mobile network), is introducing sweeping changes across its range of prepaid mobile plans, but fortunately only a small selection of plans will see price increases. These changes will come into effect from May 5:

• Seven-day plan: Was $13 with 5GB, new price $14 with 6GB
• $26 28-day plan: Was $26 with 7GB, new price $28 with 8GB
• $39 28-day plan: Was $39 with 25GB, still $39 but with 30GB
• $49 28-day plan: Was $49 with 35GB, still $49 but with 45GB
• $59 28-day plan: Was $59 with 45GB, still $59 but with 55GB
• $74 28-day plan: Was $74 with 90GB, still $74 but with 100GB
• New six-month plan: $180 with 100GB
• $300 12-month plan: $300 with 240GB - no change
• $365 12-month plan: $365 with 365GB - no change except new international call and text inclusions

Vodafone prepaid price rises

Vodafone is introducing price rises across its range of prepaid phone plans — changes to postpaid plan prices have not been announced yet. This is what’s changing from April 15:

• $12 Prepaid Plus seven-day plan: Was $12 with 5GB, new price $13 with 5GB
• $35 Prepaid Plus 28-day plan: Was $35 with 25GB, new price $40 with 30GB
• $45 Prepaid Plus 28-day plan: Was $45 with 35GB, new price $50 with 40GB
• $55 Prepaid Plus 28-day plan: Was $55 with 50GB, new price $60 with 55GB
• $160 Prepaid Plus 185-day plan: Was $160 with 90GB, new price $180 with 100GB
• $250 Prepaid Plus 365-day plan: Was $250 with 150GB - no change
• $320 Prepaid Plus 365-day plan: Was $320 with 220GB, new price $350 with 250GB

Lebara price rises

Lebara isn’t just increasing its prepaid plan prices, but it’s also adjusting the recharge expiry period. In the case of its 30-day plans, these will drop down to 28-day expiry periods, while the 360-day long expiry plans will increase to 365 days. This means that for that almost monthly prepaid plan, you’ll now be paying more for less time. It’s also worth noting that the Extra Small 30-day and Extra Small 360-day plans will no longer be offered after these plan changes. Here is what’s changing with Lebara’s plans from April 15:

• Small 30 Day for $24.90 with 25GB over 30 days - now $25 SIM plan with 25GB over 28 days
• Medium 30 Day for $29.90 with 35GB - now $30 SIM plan with 35GB over 28 days
• New plan: $35 SIM plan with 55GB over 28 days
• Large 30 Day for $39.90 with 50GB - now $40 SIM plan with 85GB over 28 days
• Extra Large 30 Day for $49.90 with 100GB - now $50 SIM plan with 125GB over 28 days
• Small 360 Day for $200 with 180GB over 360 days - now $200 SIM plan with 180GB over 365 days
• Medium 360 Day for $250 with 260GB over 360 days - now $250 SIM plan with 260GB over 365 days 
• Large 360 Day for $300 with 425GB over 360 days - now $300 SIM plan with 425GB over 365 days