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As of 3 October 2026, the clearest documented offers below $12 are introductory deals, not ongoing prices: Kogan Mobile advertises $10 for the first month before its Small plan rises to $23, while Lebara lists $12 for the first 28 days on an eligible $35 starter plan. Both have limited offer windows. Compare the renewal price and recharge period before choosing; a low first payment does not mean a plan stays under $12.
Which Australian SIM plans are under $12?
The offers below are a time-sensitive snapshot, not a definitive ranking of every Australian carrier. Prices and terms were checked on 3 October 2026; confirm the live offer before buying.
| Provider and plan | Offer price and duration | Price after the offer | Eligibility and offer end |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kogan Mobile Small monthly | $10 for the first month | $23 per month thereafter | New customers; listed offer expiry 4 October 2026 |
| Lebara $35 SIM plan | $12 for the first 28 days | Subsequent recharges are at the standard price; the current source does not state that price here | New customers buying eligible starter packs online from 8 September to 5 October 2026 |
| Kogan Mobile Medium monthly | $12 offer shown; the source terms describe 20GB bonus data for the first three months | $29 per month after three recharges for 40GB base data | Offer end date listed as 4 October 2026; verify the exact initial price and inclusions at checkout |
| Pivotel Mobile Swift | A comparison page reports $11.45 per month for six months, with 25GB on 4G | The comparison page reports $22.90 per month thereafter | Not verified against Pivotel’s current official critical information summary; treat as provisional |
Lebara’s plan inclusions expire after 28 days or on the next recharge, whichever comes first. Its offer page describes a $35 SIM plan, but confirm the exact plan and data allowance in the live terms. Kogan’s $10 Small offer is the clearest recurring-price comparison: the first month costs less than $12, but later months do not.
How to compare the real cost
Separate the promotion from the standard price
Write down the first payment, how many renewals receive the discount, and the standard price afterward. A temporary price is useful for estimating the initial outlay, but not for deciding whether a plan remains affordable. Kogan Small, for example, changes from $10 for month one to $23 per month after that.
#1 Best Overall
- WHAT YOU GET: Three (3) months of unlimited talk, text, and data delivered on the nation's largest 5G network. Data speeds may slow after 50GB when network is busy but data is unlimited. Videos stream at 480p.
- OH, YOU GET THIS TOO: 5G for Free + free mobile hotspot + Wi-Fi calling and text + free international calls to Mexico and Canada
- HOW YOU GET IT: The SIM Kit comes with a 3-in-1 SIM card that includes standard/micro/nano sizes, insert the SIM into your device, and activate on the Mint Mobile website or app. You can activate service on your own unlocked device with our Bring Your Own Phone (BYOP) program. Check your coverage and phone compatibility on the Mint Mobile website.
- WHO SHOULD GET IT: Anyone who hates their phone bill
- WHY YOU SHOULD GET IT: Mint Mobile took what’s wrong with wireless and made it right. We re-imagined the wireless shopping experience and made it easy and online.
Account for 28-day renewals
A 28-day recharge is not a calendar-month plan. Thirteen 28-day periods span 364 days, so multiplying a 28-day price by 12 understates the cost of a year of continuous service. Compare recharge prices on the same time basis, and check whether inclusions expire at the next recharge.
Keep annual upfront cost visible
An annual prepaid plan bills upfront for a fixed expiry period. A monthly equivalent can help compare plans, but it is not the amount charged each month. For example, amaysim lists a first-renewal offer of $199 for 240GB over 365 days, then $320 for the same 240GB/365-day option. The first-year equivalent is about $16.58 per month ($199 divided by 12), so it is not an under-$12 plan. Its other listed long-expiry options are 200GB for $270/365 days and 350GB for $350/365 days.
Rank #2
- STAY CONNECTED WORLDWIDE: Unlimited calling from the U.S. to 90+ international destinations including India, Mexico, Canada, China, the U.K. and more.
- RELIABLE NATIONWIDE COVERAGE: Enjoy 8GB of high-speed 5G/4G LTE data on the T-Mobile 5G Network.
- TRAVEL ACROSS NORTH AMERICA: Unlimited talk and text in Mexico and Canada plus international roaming credit.
- BRING YOUR OWN PHONE: Activate your compatible unlocked phone with the included 3-in-1 SIM card or eSIM. Keep your number or get a new one.
- NO CONTRACTS: Prepaid wireless with no annual contracts, no credit checks, and no hidden fees.
Offers that look cheap but exceed $12 or have different terms
- amaysim 80GB: $13 for the first renewal, then $40 per 28 days. The offer is for new online services and ends 11 October 2026.
- Boost Mobile 28-day offer: $13 for a $39 SIM with a 28-day expiry; subsequent recharges are $39. It is for new online activations bought online and ends 5 October 2026.
- Boost Mobile annual offer: $305 upfront for a $365 SIM with a 12-month expiry, then $365 for ongoing recharges. The sale ends 12 October 2026; $305 divided by 12 is about $25.42 per month, not under $12.
- TPG Small plan: the cited offer terms specify $12.50 off a $25, 25GB plan for the first six months, making the discounted plan fee $12.50 per month. The undiscounted price applies after six months. TPG also says some Small plans are being updated, including a $5 monthly increase for affected customers, so check which offer and plan a new customer can order.
ALDI Mobile’s documented double-data promotion applied to selected new services activated from 22 July through 29 September 2026, so it had expired by the date these prices were checked. Its plan collection describes standard call and SMS rates and plan-dependent speed caps of 100–250Mbps; those details do not make the expired promotion current.
Check network fit and switching terms
Boost says its service uses the full Telstra Prepaid Mobile Network. The cited TPG and Pivotel materials associate their relevant services with Vodafone. Network branding alone does not establish reception at your home, workplace or usual travel locations. Check each provider’s coverage information for the places you use your phone, and consider your handset and local conditions.
Rank #3
- We recently increased high-speed data allotments on every plan (but kept the same low pricing)! You may see a 5GB sticker on the front of your 6GB SIM Kit, rest assured your plan will have all 6GB of data loaded each month.
- WHAT YOU GET: Three (3) months of unlimited talk and text + 6GB of 5G-4G LTE data each month delivered on the nation's largest 5G network.
- OH, YOU GET THIS TOO: 5G for Free + free mobile hotspot + Wi-Fi calling and text + free international calls to Mexico and Canada
- HOW YOU GET IT: The SIM Kit comes with a 3-in-1 SIM card that includes standard/micro/nano sizes, insert the SIM into your device, and activate on the Mint Mobile website or app. You can activate service on your own unlocked device with our Bring Your Own Phone (BYOP) program. Check your coverage and phone compatibility on the Mint Mobile website.
- WHO SHOULD GET IT: Anyone who hates their phone bill
Before ordering, confirm whether the deal requires a new service, online purchase or activation by a deadline. Boost says customers can bring an existing number or obtain a new one; check the provider’s current number-porting instructions and timing before switching.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to verify before you buy
- The price after the promotion and the number of discounted renewals.
- Whether the recharge is monthly, every 28 days or annual, plus the plan’s expiry rules.
- The data allowance that is permanent versus promotional bonus data, and any speed cap or other inclusions that matter to you.
- Eligibility, purchase channel, activation deadline and the offer’s current end date.
- Coverage in your regular locations and whether your phone supports the service.
Promotion dates in this snapshot fall between 4 and 12 October 2026, so availability can change immediately. Pivotel’s reported $11.45 offer is especially uncertain: the comparison listing is not corroborated by the official 2026 critical information summary described for its service. Treat it as unconfirmed until Pivotel verifies the price, data allowance and eligibility.
Rank #4
- NO CONTRACT: Pay $5 - $25/month for a fully customizable phone plan - choose your talk, text, and data with no strings attached; upgrade, downgrade or cancel your plan anytime with no penalties
- UNIVERSAL SIM CARD INCLUDED: The kit contains one three-in-one SIM card (nano, micro, and standard sizes) to fit most unlocked GSM-compatible smartphones
- NATIONWIDE 5G COVERAGE: Stay connected coast to coast with nationwide coverage on America's largest 5G network
- INTERNATIONAL CALLS TO 60+ COUNTRIES: All Tello plans include international calling to over 60 countries
- EASY ACTIVATION: Bring your own phone and activate your SIM on the Tello website; check your phone compatibility and coverage maps before purchasing to confirm service in your area
These documented offers do not establish a neutral, exhaustive ranking of Australia’s cheapest SIM plans. Use them as a shortlist of prices to verify, rather than a guarantee that no cheaper plan is available.
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Quick Recap
Best Value
- Cellular Service for Just $5: One of the lowest and most affordable subscription plans! Includes 100 talk minutes, 100 texts, and 100MB of ultra-fast data with your prepaid SIM card. No contracts!
- Easy Activation: A valid credit card is required for activation. No contracts, Cancel anytime. SpeedTalk Mobile offers its services through subscription plans. You can also call us for assistance 7 days a week with live technical support when you contact our toll-free number.
- Universal Compatibility: Bring your own phone and use any compatible device on the SpeedTalk Mobile network. The SIM card can be used to activate any unlocked 5G, 4G LTE, and VoLTE-compatible phone, including iPhones, Android devices (Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, LG), Windows phones, and non-smartphones. Our triple-cut SIM card is designed in three sizes (Mini/Micro/Nano) to ensure compatibility with a wide variety of devices. Simply punch out the size that fits your device and insert it.
- How does it work: The SIM Kit includes a 3-in-1 SIM card (standard, micro, and nano sim card) to fit all SIM Devices. Also it supports eSIM activation on Apple, Google, Samsung devices.
- eSIM: During activation, you can choose to use your physical SIM or switch to eSIM. The eSIM is available on iPhone 11 and newer models, Google Pixel 2 and higher, and compatible Samsung devices.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
