Optus review
Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 30, 2026
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Our verdict
Optus is a network seller running sim only plans on 5G, so it suits households that want a direct contract with a carrier and a rolling monthly term. Entry prices in the sim only list run €3.43 at the low end, and its offer score reads 9.
Key facts
- Best for
- Sim only plans with 5G from the carrier itself, on a term you can leave early.
- Seller type
- Network (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- SIM-only
- Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- 5G
- Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Legal entity
- Singtel Optus Pty Limited (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Headquarters
- Australia (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Founded
- 1981 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Official website
- optus.com.au
Pros and cons
Pros
- Sells sim only plans directly as a network, with no reseller layer between the list price and the bill, unlike Astound, which sells as a reseller.
- 5G comes with the range rather than as a paid upgrade, and 92.7% of network listings include it, so it reads as a baseline feature on this page.
- Sim only entry prices in this listing run €0 to €99.49, so the cheap end of the market is well represented.
- Rolling monthly terms cover 82.4% of the plans in the sim only list, which suits anyone who does not want to be tied to a yearly deal.
- Unlimited plans in the sim only list run €23.24, just under the €24.30 seen for unlimited plans across network listings.
Cons
- Network sellers lean towards contract billing, with 73.9% of the mobile networks list sold on a contract, so a rolling SIM is the exception rather than the norm there.
- Renewal prices in that list run €44.63 a month once a contract ends, well above the €6.99 entry figure, so budget the higher number for the later months.
- Anyone set on an MVNO tariff will want congstar, which sells as a mvno, because Optus is a network and is the network rather than a guest on one.
Ready to try Optus?
Who it suits
- Households in AU that want a direct contract with a carrier rather than an MVNO tariff.
- Sim only buyers who already have a handset and want 5G included instead of added later.
- Shoppers who prefer a month to month term, which covers 82.4% of the plans in the sim only list.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who want a host network tariff: congstar sells as a mvno, while Optus is a network.
- Shoppers who prefer mobile sold alongside a broadband deal: Astound is a reseller.
- Buyers in Mexico, where Virgin Mobile Mexico is a mvno and Optus is headquartered in Australia.
Core features
Sim only is part of the Optus offer, so the SIM carries the whole monthly cost and the handset stays outside the contract. Every plan in the range includes 5G, which is what carries speed where an older band is congested. That pairing suits anyone who already owns a handset and wants the current generation of radio on a small bill.
The company behind it
Optus trades as Singtel Optus Pty Limited, is headquartered in Australia and has been operating since 1981. A record that long in one home market usually means a wide in-house catalogue, so the sim only plans and 5G here read as steady product lines rather than a short promotional push. Buyers weighing this against a newer MVNO are comparing an established operator with a recent entrant.
How Optus compares
Budget Thuis Mobile
Exetel is also on the sim-only deals list and sells in the same markets, with prices from 40 AUD.
More Telecom is also on the sim-only deals list and sells in the same markets, with prices from 33 AUD.
Frequently asked questions
Is Optus a network operator or a reseller?+
Optus is a network seller rather than a reseller. Astound is a reseller, so its mobile arrives through a broadband provider, while Virgin Mobile Mexico and congstar are mvnos sitting on a host network. The difference decides who sets the plan price and who handles the account.
Can you buy a sim only plan from Optus?+
Sim only is available, so the SIM carries the whole monthly cost and any handset sits outside the contract. That makes it the lower cost option for anyone who already owns a phone. The same plans include 5G, so a sim only SIM starts on the current generation of radio.
How much do sim only plans cost at the start?+
In the sim only list this brand sits in, entry prices run €0 to €99.49, with €6.99 at the middle and €3.43 at the lower end. Unlimited plans in the same list run €23.24.
What do I pay once the introductory price is over?+
Post-contract prices in the mobile networks list run €39.07 at the lower end to €60.77 at the upper, with €44.63 in between. Entry prices in that same list sit at €6.99, so the opening figure is the cheaper of the two.
Do I have to sign a long contract?+
Short terms lead: 82.4% of plans in the sim only list bill month to month, against 26.6% on a yearly term. Longer commitments cover 35.3% of the list. Check the exit terms on the plan you pick before it starts.
Is Optus prepaid or sold on a contract?+
Network sellers lean towards contract billing: 73.9% of the mobile networks list run a contract, while 92.3% are prepaid. Optus is a network, so the plans on this page read as plan terms rather than a top-up balance.
Does a sim only plan include 5G?+
Yes, 5G is included on the range. That is normal here rather than an upgrade: 92.7% of network listings include 5G. A sim only plan on a carrier network therefore starts on the current generation of radio, not an older fallback.
Who runs Optus and where is it based?+
Optus trades as Singtel Optus Pty Limited, is headquartered in Australia and has been operating since 1981. That background explains the rest of this page: Virgin Mobile Mexico and congstar are mvnos, so each sits on a host network, while Optus is the network itself.
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optus checked September 30, 2026
Backs: 5G, Founded, Headquarters, Legal entity, Seller type
“5G provided on 900 / 2300 / 3500 MHz”
- optus.com.au/mobile/plans checked September 30, 2026
Backs: SIM-only
“Mobile SIM Plans - Get 100GB for $39 per month”
Compiled from 2 source pages, checked September 30, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Billing, Price from, Reference plan prices, Unlimited plan price, Contract length.
Related by the facts
Optus
Sim only plans with 5G from the carrier itself, on a term you can leave early.