Aldi Mobile To Raise Phone Plan Prices By Up To 28 Per Cent As Budget Options Dwindle Across Australia

Aldi Mobile is set to increase prices across its plan range by up to 28 per cent and discontinue its cheapest offerings, in a move that Canstar research suggests will leave budget-conscious Australian mobile customers with few affordable options remaining in the market.

The changes take effect on 30 September, the same day that Optus will also raise prepaid plan costs by up to $5.

Canstar analysis has found that once both sets of increases come into force, only one plan on its database will remain at $20 or less per monthly renewal, while just 14 plans will cost $25 or less.

Aldi Mobile’s Entry-Level Plans Disappearing

Aldi Mobile’s $23 plan and $29 plan are both being scrapped for new customers, following announcements in July. The provider is offering a “Price Promise” that allows existing customers to lock in current rates on those plans until August next year, but the plans will no longer be available to sign up to.

The $25 plan is also being discontinued and replaced with a new $28 tier.

Family plans are bearing some of the steepest increases. The six-service family plan is jumping from $125 to $160, a $35 increase representing a 28 per cent rise. The four-service family plan climbs from $95 to $118, up $23 or 24 per cent, while the two-service plan moves from $55 to $60.

One-year super packs are also going up. The entry-level annual pack rises from $139 to $159, the mid-tier from $189 to $209 and the top-tier from $229 to $249, each increasing by $20.

A Market-Wide Squeeze On Cheap Plans

Aldi Mobile is not alone in raising prices. Canstar’s research paints a picture of widespread cost increases across the Australian mobile market in 2026, with hikes from Telstra, Optus, Vodafone, Amaysim, Aussie Broadband, AGL, Belong, Boost Mobile, Felix and Yomojo all either announced or already in effect.

Only two providers have bucked the trend. Moose Mobile and Swoop reduced prices when they switched to the Vodafone network this year, cutting costs by up to $6 and $5 respectively.

Among the larger providers, maximum increases of $5 have been applied by Telstra, Optus, Amaysim, AGL, Aussie Broadband and Felix. Belong has raised prices by up to $4, Boost Mobile by up to $2 and Yomojo by $1.

Extra Data That Many Customers Will Not Use

Providers have sought to justify price rises by bundling in additional data. Aldi Mobile is adding up to 20GB more per person on family packs and 35GB on one-year super packs.

However, Canstar’s research questions the value of this approach. ACCC data shows the average Australian uses just 14.5GB of data per month, suggesting many customers will see little tangible benefit from the larger allowances.

Canstar’s Utilities and Finance Managing Editor, Tara Donnelly, was direct in her assessment.

“Telcos like to soften the blow of price hikes by bundling in more data, but for the average Aussie, that extra data goes completely untouched,” Donnelly remarked. “Paying more for extra gigabytes you won’t use isn’t added value, it’s just an added expense on your monthly bill.”

Sub-$25 Plans Under Threat

Donnelly highlighted the broader shift away from affordable entry-level mobile plans, warning that budget options are being phased out across the market.

“Sub-$25 mobile plans were once the standard for budget-conscious Australians, but they are rapidly becoming phased out, especially by big-name telcos,” she explained. “Customers are being pushed away from simple, cheap mobile deals, towards pricier plans with additional features.”

“Aldi Mobile’s upcoming changes highlight why it’s important to keep an eye on your mobile plan, even if you’re with a value-focused provider. Annual price rises are now typical in the telco space, and the lowest price today may not be the best deal in one, six or 12 months’ time.”

“With Aldi Mobile scrapping its entry-level options and raising rates across the board, finding a cheap plan with decent inclusions is going to take more from the budget than ever before.”

Alternatives Still Exist At $25

Despite the shrinking pool of budget options, Canstar’s analysis found that five providers still offer plans with at least 25GB of monthly data for $25 or less.

Kogan leads on raw data, offering 40GB on the Vodafone network for $25 as a prepaid plan. Moose Mobile and Swoop both provide 30GB postpaid plans on the Vodafone network at the same price point. Yomojo offers 29GB on the Optus network as a prepaid option, while Bendigo Telco provides 28GB on the Optus network as a postpaid plan.

Canstar’s research shows the average price of a prepaid plan with at least 25GB of data and a monthly renewal sits at $41. A customer switching from that average to the lowest-cost plan on its database at $25 could save $16 per month, translating to $192 in annual savings.

New Coverage Maps Make Switching Easier

Donnelly pointed to new standardised coverage maps as a tool that should make customers more confident about switching providers.

New standards now require Telstra, Optus and Vodafone to display signal availability at any given location using a four-tier scale of “no coverage”, “basic”, “moderate” and “good”. Customers can check their home address and other frequently visited locations before committing to a new plan.

“If your mobile plan is going up, don’t just accept it,” Donnelly urged. “Smaller providers offer competitive rates, and with standardised coverage maps now live across the major networks, it’s much easier to confirm you’ll actually get coverage where you live and work before making the switch.”

“Compare options outside of the brands you know to see how much you could save.”

Last Updated on September 7, 2026 by Nick Ross