Optus SIM Only Plans

Quick answer

Optus SIM-only plans can suit Australians who want a major carrier, month-to-month flexibility, eSIM support and large data inclusions without buying a new phone. The main trap is not the headline deal itself. It is forgetting to compare the standard monthly cost after the discount ends.

Current Optus SIM-only plan types

On 18 June 2026, the public Optus SIM-only page showed a mix of standard Choice Plus plans and promotional variants. That included a 60GB standard plan at $60, a 60GB EOFY promo at $39 for 12 months then $60, a 240GB plan at $70, a 360GB promo at $69 for 12 months then $79, and a 480GB plan at $90. Optus also highlighted a tertiary-student offer with 200GB at $39 for 12 months.

Across the range, Optus is positioning direct plans around no lock-in contracts, no excess data charges, eSIM, $5 daily roaming for 5GB, and international talk and text on higher plans.

Best Optus SIM-only deals right now

The strongest-value Optus deal is not automatically the biggest data plan. For many shoppers, the 60GB EOFY offer is the most relevant because it pulls the entry price down while keeping the major-carrier experience. Heavy-data users may be more interested in the 360GB promo plan if they will actually use the data and the international-call inclusions.

The commercial question is what happens after the discount. If you expect to stay for more than a year, compare the month-thirteen rate against Telstra, Vodafone and the better Optus-network MVNOs.

Who Optus suits best

Optus usually suits metro and suburban users who want a large-carrier experience but are more price-sensitive than the typical Telstra customer. It also suits users who want eSIM activation, no lock-in flexibility and a straightforward roaming structure.

Optus is less clearly the default choice for regional users, frequent highway travellers or anyone whose first decision criterion is the widest possible national coverage footprint. Those users should still compare directly against Telstra before they switch.

When an Optus MVNO may be better value

If your main priority is saving money while staying on an Optus-backed service footprint, a smaller provider can be the better answer. amaysim, SpinTel and Southern Phone are the most practical comparisons because they compete on price, speed-capped 5G, or international-call value.

The trade-off is that major-carrier extras, premium support expectations and plan packaging can differ. A lower monthly fee does not always mean identical day-to-day service conditions.

Optus vs Telstra

Choose Telstra if regional coverage and network reach are your first filter. Choose Optus if you mostly live and work in metro or suburban areas and want larger data pools at a lower direct-carrier price point.

Telstra's current SIM-only page leans on coverage, no lock-in contracts, data sharing and included international-calling value. Optus leans harder on promotional pricing, big-data positioning, roaming simplicity and entertainment-style extras on higher plans.

Optus vs Vodafone

Vodafone is the sharper price challenger for metro users, especially while its current half-price-first-six-month offers are running. Optus usually makes more sense for shoppers who want broader confidence outside the major-city core or who prefer Optus' mix of larger direct-plan inclusions.

If your usage is city-heavy and budget-led, check Vodafone closely. If you want a stronger middle ground between price, brand scale and coverage confidence, Optus usually has the cleaner case.

FAQs

The most useful buying questions are usually about the cheapest current Optus plan, whether Optus is better than Vodafone in your area, and whether a lower-cost Optus MVNO can do the same job. The answers depend less on branding and more on where you use your phone, how much data you need, and whether the ongoing monthly rate still looks good after the promotion ends.