- Prepaid plans by country at a glance
- Ten prepaid brands, US and Australian
- US or Australia: two different shopping lists
- The network under the brand
- How long a recharge lasts
- Keeping your phone, or switching to eSIM
- Questions before you move to prepaid
- My advice for picking a prepaid plan
- Frequently asked questions
The best prepaid phone plan depends on your country, the network underneath it and how long each recharge lasts. In the US, three of the five brands here say which network their plans use, and one of them lets you choose from all three. In Australia, plans differ by expiry, from 7 days to a year, and by data rollover or banking. Pick your country first.
Prepaid and SIM-only plans look alike from a distance. The details that decide whether one suits you sit further down the page: the network underneath, how long a recharge lasts, and whether you can keep your own phone.
This list covers ten prepaid brands, five in the US and five in Australia, using what each one's own website says, read on 1 Nov 2026 (as of Nov 2026). It's alphabetical and in no particular order, and every row says which country the brand serves. Plans can change, so check the brand's own page for today's details.
Prepaid plans by country at a glance
| Tool | Type | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| ALDI Mobile | Australia: prepaid plans with 30 day expiry | Data rollover, eSIM or physical SIM |
| amaysim | Australia: SIM plans in several lengths | 7 day, 28 day and long expiry plans |
| Cricket Wireless | US: plans on the AT&T network | Multi-month plans and bring your own phone |
| felix mobile | Australia: SIM plans with data banking | Unlimited data banking, no lock-in contract |
| Lebara | Australia: prepaid SIM plans | 28 day or 365 day expiry |
| Mint Mobile | US: wireless plans bought online | No stores, no salespeople |
| Moose Mobile | Australia: SIMs on the Vodafone 5G network | Australian owned, no lock-in contracts |
| US Mobile | US: plans across all three networks | Unlimited or by-the-gig plans |
| Verizon Prepaid | US: prepaid plans from Verizon | Phone, watch, tablet and hotspot plans |
| Visible | US: plans on Verizon's network | Sign up with eSIM |
Ten prepaid brands, US and Australian
ALDI Mobile
Best for: Taking a 5G prepaid plan in Australia with 30 day expiry, unlimited data rollover, a physical SIM or eSIM, and auto recharge available.
amaysim
Best for: Picking a recharge length in Australia, from 7 day and 28 day SIM plans to long expiry SIM plans, with data plans listed too.
Cricket Wireless
Best for: Getting nationwide 5G on the AT&T network in the US, with multi-month phone plans on its menu and a bring-your-own-phone option.
felix mobile
Best for: Banking unused data in Australia, with no lock-in contract and, by the maker's account, a tree planted for every month you're with it.
Lebara
Best for: Choosing between 28 day and 365 day expiry plans in Australia, with every plan usable with an eSIM, as its page says.
Mint Mobile
Best for: Buying a US plan online, with no stores and no salespeople by its own account, bring your own everything, and a ZIP code check to get started.
Moose Mobile
Best for: Taking an Australian owned and operated SIM with no lock-in contracts, ever, by its own account, powered by the Vodafone 5G network.
US Mobile
Best for: Choosing a US plan across all three networks, unlimited or by the gig, with its page saying you can use your US number in 180+ countries.
Verizon Prepaid
Best for: Covering a phone, smartwatch, tablet or hotspot with a US prepaid plan, with international plans and bring your own device on the same menu.
Visible
Best for: Signing up with eSIM in the US for unlimited 5G plans on Verizon's network, or bringing your own phone.
US or Australia: two different shopping lists
These two lists don't overlap. Each row above says which country a brand serves, so start by reading only your half. US Mobile is the one brand here whose page says you can use your US number in 180+ countries, and that's its own claim.
- US brands: five, three of them naming the network or networks their plans use.
- Australian brands: five, three of them selling plans by how long a recharge lasts.
- Both: eSIM appears on pages in both countries; US pages mention bringing your own phone and Australian ones bringing your own number.
The network under the brand
Here's what's easy to miss: the network a prepaid plan rides on can matter more than the name on the SIM. Visible runs 'unlimited 5G plans on Verizon's network'. Cricket Wireless offers 'nationwide 5G on the AT&T network'. In Australia, Moose Mobile is 'powered by the Vodafone 5G network'.
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If you know which network gets a good signal where you spend your days, start with the brands that ride on it. Mint Mobile, for one, asks you to enter your ZIP code to get started.
How long a recharge lasts
In Australia, the recharge length is the big split. ALDI Mobile lists '30 day expiry' with 'unlimited data rollover'. Lebara has a '28 day expiry' and a '365 day expiry'. amaysim lists 'long expiry SIM plans' beside 28 day and 7 day plans, and felix mobile offers 'unlimited data banking'.
- Short recharges: 7 day, 28 day and 30 day plans on the Australian pages here.
- Long expiry: 365 day and long expiry plans, for a phone you don't use much.
- Rollover and banking: plans that keep unused data, in the brands' own words.
Keeping your phone, or switching to eSIM
Pages on this list mention bringing your own phone or device, signing up with eSIM, and choosing a physical SIM or eSIM. Check with the brand that your phone is unlocked and works on its network before you switch.
Questions before you move to prepaid
- Am I shopping in the US or in Australia?
- Which network gets a good signal where I spend my time?
- How long do I want each recharge to last?
- Do I want unused data to roll over or bank?
- Will I keep my phone, and does it take an eSIM?
- Will I travel, and does the brand say my number works abroad?
Do you make or sell prepaid phone plans? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My advice for picking a prepaid plan
Pick your country, then your network, then your recharge length. In the US, choose the network that works where you spend your days and look at the brands that ride on it. In Australia, decide whether you'd rather recharge monthly or once a year, and whether you want unused data kept. Then check the brand's own page for today's plans, since they can change.
For more on weighing up plans, see my hints for deciding on the best mobile plan. And if the plan is for a child, my guide on what to consider before buying a phone for your teenager is a good next stop.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
Which prepaid plans on this list are for the US?
Five of the ten: the rows marked US in the table. Three of them name a network on their pages, and one of those says its plans run on all three networks.
Which prepaid plans here are for Australia?
The other five, marked Australia in the table. Their pages list 7 day, 28 day, 30 day, 365 day and long expiry plans, with data rollover or data banking on several.
Can I keep my phone on a prepaid plan?
Several brands here say so. Pages on this list mention bringing your own phone, bringing your own device and bringing your own everything. Check that your phone works on the brand's network before you switch.
Do these prepaid plans work with eSIM?
Some do. One US brand lets you sign up with eSIM, one Australian brand says all its plans can be used with an eSIM, and another offers a physical SIM or eSIM.
Can I use a US prepaid number abroad?
One US brand on this list says you can use your US number in 180+ countries, and another lists international plans on its menu. Check the brand's own terms for the country you're visiting.
Are there prepaid plans with no lock-in contract?
Three Australian brands on this list say so in their own words: one says no lock-in contracts, ever, and the other two list no lock-in contracts on their plans.
