Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team
Exetel vs Sakura Mobile
Where Exetel and Sakura Mobile differ
| Compare | Exetel ReviewVisitVisit |  Sakura Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Host network | Telstra Wholesale | docomo |
| Price from | A$40 | ¥2,480 |
| Reference plan prices | Plus One: $40 per month, 130GB, no lock-in | Data Only 5GB: 2480 JPY/month, 5GB, month-to-month | Data Only 30GB: 3480 JPY/month, 30GB, month-to-month | Voice+Data 30GB: 3980 JPY/month, 30GB, month-to-month |
| Markets | AU | JP |
| Hotspot sharing | Not confirmed | Yes |
Same on both: Seller type (Mvno), SIM-only (Yes), 5G (Yes), eSIM (Yes), Data rollover (Yes).
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Key differences
- Sakura Mobile scores higher overall: 8.7 vs 8.6.
- Support channels: only Exetel offers Chat.
- Billing: only Sakura Mobile offers Rolling.
- Markets: only Exetel offers AU.
- Markets: only Sakura Mobile offers JP.
Our verdict on each
Exetel
Exetel suits Australian households that want Telstra Wholesale coverage on a prepaid sim-only line and prefer monthly terms. The trade-off is price: Plus One sits at AUD 40 a month, well above the field, so this is a value pick for readers who want rollover and a real support desk rather than a cheap headline.
Sakura Mobile
Sakura Mobile is a mobile virtual network operator selling sim only plans on the docomo network, aimed at people in Japan who want short terms and rollover data. Entry pricing starts at ¥2,480 a month, and every tier is month to month, so the price you start on is the one you renew.
Score breakdown
| Area | Exetel | Sakura Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.1Plus One is the entry point at AUD 40 a month, and it sits high on the cheap-plan field at 249 of 258. | 8.4HigherEntry pricing of ¥2,480 a month on rolling and prepaid billing, ranking 205 of 258 brands on price. |
| Offer | 9.2HigherOffer centres on a reference plan (Plus One: $40 per month, 130GB, no lock-in) on 1-month terms, with prepaid billing and rollover included. | 9.1Sim only, eSIM, data rollover and hotspot sharing come as standard, with 1 month terms rather than a long tie in. |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 8.4Operated by Og inc. in JP, trading since 2014, with help on email, phone and help centre. |
Licences and countries
| Country | Exetel | Sakura Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Australia | Japan |
Additional countries for Exetel: 1. Additional countries for Sakura Mobile: 1.
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Exetel | Sakura Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| SIM-only deals | 32 of 416 | 30 of 416 |
| Cheap cell phone plans (MVNOs) | 17 of 137 | 16 of 137 |
| Prepaid phone plans | 25 of 367 | 23 of 367 |
| Phone plans with eSIM | 41 of 389 | 40 of 389 |
Where these facts come from
Exetel
- exetel.com.au: 14 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Sakura Mobile
- sakuramobile.jp: 16 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Exetel | Sakura Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | Prepaid | Rolling, PrepaidCovers more |
| Contract length | 1 | 1 |
| Legal entity | Exetel Pty Ltd | Og inc. |
| Headquarters | Australia | Japan |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2014 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more | Email, Phone, Help centre |
Pros and cons
Exetel
Pros
- Coverage is delivered over Telstra Wholesale, so subscribers get the host's reach without buying the line from the network operator itself.
- Unused data rolls over, so a light month does not wipe the allowance outright.
- Sim only plans, 5G and an eSIM are all available, and plans run on 1-month contract terms, so there is no long lock-in to serve out.
Cons
- Exetel is an mvno that buys wholesale access on Telstra Wholesale, so it does not own the network the way Getesa (network) and yesss! (network) do.
- Billing is prepaid and the range is sim only, so there is no device or handset to bundle the cost of a new phone with.
- The service runs in AU only, so the plans are written for a single home market and nothing wider.
Sakura Mobile
Pros
- Every plan is sim only and sold on 1 month terms, so there is no long contract to escape.
- Data rollover carries unused data forward, and billing covers rolling and prepaid, which includes rolling and prepaid.
- Support runs on email, phone and help centre, so email, phone and a help centre are all available.
Cons
- Sakura Mobile is a mobile virtual network operator, while GETESA, Lonestar Cell MTN and yesss! all sell as networks, so the seller type differs from every alternative listed here.
- Entry pricing of ¥2,480 ranks 205 of 258 brands on price, which is mid table rather than a standout figure.
- A single market is listed, JP, so anyone wanting service in another country has nothing here to weigh up.
Who each suits
Exetel
Who it suits
- Australian households that want Telstra Wholesale coverage on a prepaid sim-only line and already have a handset they like.
- Anyone who wants unused data to carry into the next cycle instead of expiring, since rollover is offered.
- Readers who want a phone line as well as written help, since support runs through email, chat and phone.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who wants the retailer and the network to be the same company, such as Getesa (network) or yesss! (network), both of which sell as a network.
- Shoppers whose only filter is the entry price, since Exetel sits 249 of 258 listed brands on that measure, and Lonestar Cell MTN (network) is another seller to put side by side.
Sakura Mobile
Who it suits
- People in Japan who want a sim only line on the docomo network and can stop at short notice.
- Newcomers and travellers who want an eSIM set up before a physical card arrives.
- Households that want voice and data together without a long contract term.
Who should look elsewhere
- GETESA, if you would rather buy from a network operation, as it sells as a network where Sakura Mobile is a mobile virtual network operator.
- Lonestar Cell MTN, for readers who want a network seller instead of a virtual one running on the docomo network.
Country by country
| Country | Exetel | Sakura Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Yes | No |
| Japan | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Exetel
What does Exetel cost to start with?+
The Plus One plan is listed at AUD 40 a month, and it is the plan Exetel uses for its entry point. That is not the smallest figure among brands here: Exetel ranks 249 of 258 listed brands on price from, so anyone shopping purely on the headline number will find cheaper sellers further down the list.
Is there a contract or a lock-in period?+
Plans run on 1-month contract terms, which at Exetel means rolling monthly rather than a fixed commitment, and the published plan list (Plus One: $40 per month, 130GB, no lock-in) shows Plus One without a lock-in. Billing runs on prepaid terms, so there is no long contract to serve out before leaving.
Sakura Mobile
What does Sakura Mobile cost to start?+
Entry pricing is ¥2,480 a month on the smallest data allowance listed. A larger data only tier and a voice and data tier sit above it on the same price page, and each one is published as month to month, so the rate shown is the rate that carries on month after month rather than a welcome price that lapses.
How long am I tied in?+
Plans are sold on 1 month terms, and the billing options are rolling and prepaid, which covers rolling and prepaid billing. A long contract period is not part of the plan range, so the commitment you take on is as short as the billing cycle you choose.