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Optus business mobile plans review

Let’s get down to (Optus) business.

Optus has dedicated business mobile solutions for up to 300 plans , but the main focus of this page is plans reviews for smaller businesses. Enterprise customers with more than 300 employees in need of phone plans can alternatively contact Optus Enterprise for support . While Optus tailors mobile plan solutions for between one and five employees or six to 300 staff, smaller businesses can take advantage of the value and savings found in Optus mobile plans built for everyday users.

Optus may not have as wide-reaching network as Telstra (for 4G and, particularly, 5G ), but it’s still got coverage in most parts of Australia. Basically, if you business operates in any populous part of Australia, you shouldn’t have any issues with an Optus mobile plan. Optus has good dollar-to-data value on its plans, with plenty of data and decent inclusions. It’s a shame there aren’t cheaper SIM Only plans and 1.5Mbps post-max-speed throttling isn’t ideal, but there aren’t any excess data charges.

Optus business mobile value for money

We advise small businesses to use SIM Only plans over Prepaid plans , unless you use a phone more reactively and don’t have on-the-go data needs. If that’s you, long-expiry Prepaid plans are worth considering to help keep costs down.

Note that all Optus SIM Only plans include access to the Optus 5G network (where available). Similarly, Optus SIM Only plans let users share data on eligible plans under a single account, which is a good choice for small business users. Optus SIM Only plans start with the $49 Optus Choice Plus Plan, which comes with 30GB of data.

There’s money to be saved if you go with an Optus MVNO or Vodafone MVNO , but you’ll have to pay closer to this particular Optus plan price if you want partial Telstra 5G or Vodafone 5G access. Below are some of the most popular SIM Only plans from our database with at least 30GB of data.

The dollar-to-data value increases dramatically with the next Optus plan. For not a lot more per month, the $59 Optus Choice Plus Plan comes with 100GB of data, plus unlimited calls and text messages (no MMS) to 35 selected dialling destinations.

That 70GB jump in data thins out the SIM Only competition. There are other competing telcos on the Optus, Telstra wholesale and Vodafone network with better pricing and/or more data, but international call inclusions and data sharing are rarer perks. For comparison, below is a daily updating list of SIM Only plans from our database with at least 100GB of monthly data.

The next cheapest plan is the $69 Optus Choice Plan, which has 220GB of data and the same international inclusions. Again, Optus continues the trend of paying not a lot more for a whole lot of data.

Competition is a lot thinner when you start dealing with 200GB of data. There are alternatives on the Optus 5G and Vodafone 5G network at this price point, which are worth considering if you need more than 200GB of data. Below is a daily updating list of popular SIM Only plans from our database with at least 200GB of data.

The penultimate SIM Only plan is the $89 Optus Choice Plus Plan, which ordinarily comes with 360GB of data for use on the Optus 5G network. Optus is currently running a promotion that bumps that figure up to 500GB, so the amount of bulk value here blows away most of the competition.

There’s only one other plan in our comparison engine that competes with 400GB+ of data, and that’s the $85 SIM Only Ultra+ Plan from Vodafone, which comes with unlimited max-speed data on the Vodafone 5G network. Check out these two plans side-by-side below.

If you’d prefer a dedicated Optus business plan, consider Optus Business Mobile Plus . This plan structure supports between one and 10 SIMs. There’s a 10% discount for two sims, 20% for three, 26% discount for four to seven SIMs, and a 30% discount for eight to 10. The plan starts at $55 for 80GB of data, and every SIM added boosts the shareable data pool by 80GB. Like personal Optus SIM Only plans, Optus Business Mobile Plus plans come with Optus 5G access, no excess data charges (1.5Mbps throttling after data cap) as well as unlimited calls and SMS to 35 selected destinations.

Telstra Business Mobile plans

Not sure who to choose from between Optus and Telstra for your business mobile plan needs?

Optus business mobile features and perks

All Optus SIM Only and Prepaid plans come with unlimited calls and text messages (SMS and MMS) to Australian numbers. For Optus Prepaid monthly plans, you can roll over up to 200GB of data and up to 84 days if you recharge early. Not every Optus Prepaid plan includes Optus 5G network access, but all Optus SIM Only plans do. Optus SIM Only plans also include data sharing under a single account for eligible plans.

Except for the cheapest Optus SIM Only plan, all other options come with unlimited calls and SMS to 35 selected dialling destinations, which includes:

China (mainland)
New Zealand
South Korea
United Kingdom
United States of America

There aren’t any excess data charges for Optus SIM Only plans, but the trade-off is a sluggish 1.5Mbps connection speed for the duration of your billing month.

Optus is one of three main telecommunications providers in Australia, which offers mobile and broadband internet services. Its mobile network has the second largest reach (behind Telstra but ahead of Vodafone) and supports 5G, 4G and 3G cellular connectivity.

Optus business mobile support

We understand that one person’s support experience with a telco may differ from another’s, which is why we look to quantitative support pathways. Optus offers a wide range of support via telephone, online chat, social media, self-paced online support, as well as brick-and-mortar stores for in-person support.

Optus also has dedicated business support options for authorised representatives. Chat with Optus business support via online messaging service or call them on 133 343, Monday to Friday 8:00am to 7:00pm AEST or Sat and Sunday 8:00am to 6:00pm.

How to sign up for an Optus business mobile plan

From the list of Optus plans below, pick the plan that’s best for your business needs, then click on the ‘Go’ button. You’ll be taken to the corresponding Optus mobile plans page. Have a read over the inclusions and confirm the plan you’d like, then follow the sign-up steps. Alternatively, call Optus business mobile on 1300 106 481 for sales support.

Optus business mobile plans

Below is a list of all Optus SIM Only mobile plans (sorted by popularity).

How we review mobile providers

Whether we’re evaluating personal or business mobile plans from telcos, we follow the same approach. It starts with dollar-to-data value for money. Telcos that receive high scores tend to offer more gigabytes than the cost of a plan.

Still, network coverage is also a key consideration, which is why the Telstra and Telstra wholesale networks rank favourably with us as they’re the largest. Optus and Vodafone aren’t too far behind, admittedly, but the Telstra 5G network has a clear lead over Optus which, in turn, is ahead of Vodafone.

We like to see mobile plans with meaningful inclusions, be they access to additional services or more practical features like data sharing and no excess data charges. In terms of support, we tally the number of support pathways a telco offers and use that as a guide to how much a telco has invested in helping customers with issues. For personal mobile plans, we may also take publicly available customer reviews into account.

Optus business mobile FAQs

Optus Sport used to be included with Optus SIM Only plans, but now it’s a separate subscription. Sign up for Optus Sport via the Optus SubHub for $6.99 per month.

It really depends on what you’re after. Telstra business mobile plans may offer faster speeds via the widespread Telstra 5G network. Optus business mobile plans have better dollar-to-data value, but the Optus 5G network isn’t as far-reaching as Telstra’s.

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Disclaimer: The information featured in this article is based on our best estimates of pricing, package details, contract stipulations, and service available at the time of writing. This is not a guarantee. All information is subject to change. Pricing will vary based on various factors, including, but not limited to, the customer’s location, package chosen, added features and equipment, the purchaser’s credit score, etc. For the most accurate information, please ask your customer service representative. Clarify all fees and contract details before signing a contract or finalizing your purchase. Each individual's unique needs should be considered when deciding on chosen products.

Optus mobile plans review

How does australia's second largest telco stack up to telstra and cheaper alternatives.

Tom's Guide Verdict

While there's no denying that Telstra clearly has the lead amongst Australia's three major telcos, Optus isn't that far behind, boasting the country's second-largest network and the title for fastest 5G download speeds. It's also far more affordable than Telstra, with fairly priced plans that offer plenty of data. Of course, the telco has a long way to go to regain Australia's trust after suffering one of the worst cyberattacks in our history, alongside a nationwide outage that lasted more than half a day.

Plans offer good value

Fast 5G download speeds

Great roaming add-ons

Reputation in the toilet

Speeds capped on pre-paid plans

Still uses off-shore call centres

Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.

Since its commercial arrival on the Aussie telco scene back in 1992, Optus has maintained its position as Australia's second-largest network operator, with Telstra consistently holding onto the number one spot in terms of number of subscribers.

A subsidiary of Singaporean telecommunications giant Singtel, Optus offers a range of mobile plans which offer big data at reasonable price points. It has both pre-paid and post-paid choices, as well as plans which include a handset.

Although Optus comes in second to Telstra with regards to its overall network coverage, the telco is still able to claim that its 3G and 4G networks reach 98.5% of the Australian population.

And while Telstra seems to have a significant lead when it comes to 5G coverage (based on nPerf's independent coverage maps ) and is claimed to now reach 85% of the Australian population, it's worth nothing that OpenSignal has awarded Optus the 5G Download Speed crown for the last 4 years running. Of course, most users probably won't reach those top speeds unless they're right next to an Optus tower, and the network is relatively uncongested.

As for customer service, Optus still uses off-shore call centres in India and the Philippines, though it does operate local call centres in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, too.

However, the real elephant in the room is that Optus has had a rough couple of years — in 2022, Optus experienced one of the biggest cyberattacks in Australian history , resulting in the personal information of roughly 10 million customers being exposed.

This was followed by a nationwide outage in 2023, which lasted approximately 12-13 hours, once again affecting around 10 million customers, including 400,000 businesses.

So while Optus has the second-largest network and a range of decently priced mobile plans, the question remains as to whether the telco can regain the trust of its customers — both existing, and potential.

Optus mobile plans and pricing

Optus SIM-only plans far more reasonably priced than Telstra
No lock-in contracts for Optus SIM-only plans

Of the three main network operators in Australia, Optus arguably sits in the sweet spot between Telstra and Vodafone when it comes to price and value.

Telstra undoubtedly has the best coverage, but is by far the most expensive. And while Vodafone offers the most monthly data at prices which are on par with Optus, it ranks third in terms of coverage and download speeds.

That leaves Optus with a range of plans which are well-priced and still data-generous, with coverage that's quite decent despite falling short of Telstra's reach. In other words, Optus is probably the telco that Goldilocks would choose.

Recently, Optus made the decision to streamline its SIM-only offering to just three standard plans and one promo plan. While the plans are slightly more expensive than they were before, they now provide significantly more data.

Optus SIM-only plans start at AU$52 p/m for the Small Optus Choice Plus Plan , which comes with 50GB of monthly data, which means you're paying about AU$1.04 per GB.

That's followed by the Medium Optus Choice Plan , which now costs AU$62 p/m for 180GB of monthly data (a cost of AU$0.34 per GB). That's almost three times what Telstra offers in terms of data on its entry-level Basic Upfront plan, which costs the same at AU$62 p/m but only gets you 50GB (or AU$1.24 per GB).

Next is the Large Optus Choice Plus Plan , which costs AU$82 p/m for 360GB of monthly data, or around AU$0.22 per GB, which is outrageously good value if you're willing to pay that much.

Additionally, Optus currently offers an Optus Plus Promo Plan , which gives you 500GB of monthly data at AU$69 (a tiny AU$0.14 a gig) for the first 12 months, after which the price goes up to AU$89 p/m (a still very-reasonable AU$0.18 per GB). Note that this offer will be withdrawn on August 4, 2024.

Also worth noting is that there are no lock-in contracts on any Optus SIM-only plan, and each one brings uncapped 5G network access in selected areas (excluding Northern Territory), unlimited standard talk and text within Australia, and unlimited standard international talk and text to 35 selected destinations. You can also share your data across eligible plans on the same account, and donate your unused monthly data to Australians in need.

Although there are no lock-in contracts on any of the above Choice Plus plans, Optus also offers a range of prepaid Flex Plus plans for those who don't want to risk extra charges, or only need service for a fixed period of time.

Optus Flex Plus plans with a 28-day expiry period start at AU$35 and come with fluctuating amounts of data. For instance, new customers on this plan get 40GB of data along with a bonus 20GB of data for those first 28 days. After this, the plan loses the bonus data on the second and third recharge (a total of 40GB), then drops down to 20GB from then on. That means after the introductory period you'll be paying AU$1.75 per GB.

Similarly, a AU$45 Flex Plus plan provides 60GB + 20GB of bonus data (80GB in total) during the first 28 days, losing the bonus data on the second and third recharge, before landing on 30GB after that (or $1.50 per GB ongoing). Alternatively, you can opt for a plan which costs AU$55 for 80GB on the first three recharges, which then drops down to 40GB after that (a rate of AU$1.38 per GB).

Of course, there are other long-term 186-day and 365-day options for those who don't want to think about recharging for a while, though you'll have to pay a larger sum upfront.

Note that there is one caveat with Optus's Flex Plus prepaid plans; while all will get you access to the telco's 3G, 4G and 5G networks, download speeds on these plans are capped to 150Mbps across the board. It's also worth mentioning that every Flex Plus plan includes data rollover up to 200GB, which will be applied as long as you recharge before expiry or have an active auto-recharge set up.

Optus mobile coverage

Excellent 3G / 4G coverage, but lags behind Telstra in 5G reach
Optus awarded fastest 5G download speeds by OpenSignal

Given that Optus operates the second-largest mobile network in Australia, it probably comes as no surprise that it also offers the second-best coverage.

Where Optus is closest to Telstra is in its 3G and 4G reach, with a claimed 98.5% of the Aussie population covered. However, while Telstra's 5G mobile network is said to currently reach roughly 87% of Australians , Optus doesn't currently make any specific percentage claims — and if nPerf's coverage maps are any indication, it still has a lot of catching up to do.

During our rundown of the various mobile plans offered by Optus, you may have noticed that 5G network access was only available in selected areas, and excluded Northern Territory entirely. Sure enough, a closer look at nPerf's coverage map for Darwin shows a complete absence of Optus 5G network coverage, and only a small 3G and 4G presence.

Simply put, if you live in the Top End, you're better off going with Telstra or Vodafone — both of which offer a far greater 3G, 4G and 5G presence in NT. That said, if you live in any of Australia's major cities along the east coast, you should be OK. Optus does offer 5G network access in Perth, though the rest of the west coast is fairly barren in terms of coverage.

Optus mobile plans: Extras, perks and offers

Big discount on Optus Sport access
Discounts on streaming subscriptions with SubHub

In terms of extras, Optus postpaid SIM-only customers receive 3 months of Amazon Prime for free when they sign up via Optus SubHub. The latter lets you manage and pay for subscriptions in one place, which are added to your regular phone bill.

Additionally, customers can save up to 10% on streaming subscriptions when they add three or more eligible subscriptions to SubHub. Supported services include Netflix, Amazon Prime, Binge, Paramount Plus and more.

Best of all, sports-lovers who sign up to Optus Sport via SubHub get a huge discount on the service's monthly subscription cost, bringing it down from AU$24.99 p/m to just AU$6.99 p/m.

Optus also offers very competitive international roaming add-ons — for AU$5 per day, you get 1GB of data, 100 minutes of talk and 100 texts per day to use in over 90 Zone 1 destinations.

Optus mobile plans: customer service and community reviews

Support team still has call centres in India and the Philippines
Optus reputation at an all-time low

While Telstra has drastically decreased its use of off-shore call centres since 2021, switching over to a mostly Australia-based support team, the Singtel-owned Optus still relies on call centres located in India and the Philippines.

Of course, Optus also has call centres in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, although you probably won't know whether you're connected to one of those or someone from an overseas branch.

Thankfully, Optus has a huge retail presence in Australia, with over 350 branded Optus Yes outlets across the country, making it relatively easy for customers to receive face-to-face service.

Still, not everyone is happy with Optus, with the telco receiving mostly negative online reviews on sites like Product Review and Trustpilot , where it has earned overall customer satisfaction scores of 1.3 and 1.2, respectively.

With that in mind, it's important to note that both Telstra and Vodafone have achieved similar scores, which goes to show that most customers will only bother reviewing something if they've had a bad experience.

Even with that disclaimer, there's no denying that the telco's reputation is at an all-time low, following an immense cyberattack in 2022 which left the information of over 10 million Optus customers exposed.

This was not helped at all by a nationwide outage which occurred the following year, leaving 10 million customers and 400,000 businesses without mobile or internet access for around 14 hours. Not only did the outage leave vulnerable Australians without the means to contact anyone for help, it also left business owners who rely on EFTPOS twisting in the wind for an entire working day.

Given the extreme public backlash that followed these two disasters, it's no wonder that Optus CEO Kelly Bayer Rosmarin went on to resign in November 2023.

However, the telco still has a long way to go in regaining Australia's trust — the market research company Roy Morgan named Optus as Australia's most distrusted brand in March 2024, suggesting the telco's black eye is going to linger for a while.

Optus mobile plans: Bottom line

Is an Optus mobile plan worth your money? In terms of value, Optus mobile plans are far more competitively priced than Telstra's, with SIM-only offerings that deliver big data and worthwhile perks.

As Australia's second-largest telco, it's no surprise that Optus falls behind Telstra in terms of coverage. That said, its reach is still significant — particularly when it comes to 3G and 4G coverage.

Of course, there's no denying that Optus has made some significant blunders with regards to customer security and service over the last couple of years — some of which are hard to forgive. Optus has posted an open letter to customers that includes a commitment to "do better", but is that enough?

If you're willing to forgive Optus, you can at least rest assured that its mobile plans are good value and will likely satisfy most customers (outside of the Northern Territory).

Best Australian phone plans with international roaming

Stephen Lambrechts is the Managing Editor of Tom's Guide AU and has written professionally across the categories of tech, film, television and gaming for the last 15 years. Before Tom's Guide, he spent several years as a Senior Journalist at TechRadar, had a brief stint as Editor in Chief at Official Xbox Magazine Australia, and has written for such publications as APC, TechLife Australia, T3, FilmInk, AskMen, Daily Telegraph and IGN. He's an expert when it comes to smartphones, TVs, gaming and streaming. In his spare time, he enjoys watching obscure horror movies on physical media, keeping an eye on the latest retro sneaker releases and listening to vinyl. Occasionally, he also indulges in other non-hipster stuff, like hiking.

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