How to compare smartphone carriers and save

Every year, thousands of Melbournians are spending more money than they need to on their smartphone service – simply by falling into complacency and failing to shop around for the best deal.

While the price difference of Australian smartphone carriers may seem relatively small, the savings you could make by switching service providers could actually add up hundreds of dollars in one year alone.

With that in mind, it’s well worth taking the time to take another look at your current plan and find out whether there’s a better option available. Here are our tips on how to compare smartphone carriers and get a plan that suits your needs for the best possible price.

Consider the coverage you need

Our first recommendation is to make sure you understand each potential provider’s strengths and weaknesses when it comes to service coverage. In Australia, the three network owners are Telstra, Optus and Vodafone, with all other carriers leasing service from one of these companies. Currently, Telstra is the frontrunner covering 99% of the population, while Optus covering 98.5% and Vodafone covering 96%.

Although Telstra is best placed to accommodate the needs of rural Australians, it’s worth noting that their rates can be significantly higher. So, for those based in the city or in the suburbs, it’s a good idea to think about whether that additional percentage of coverage is really worth the higher price tag.

Weigh up whether you need a contract

Next, spend some time researching whether or not you really need a contract. While most offers that include a smartphone require a minimum of a twelve-month contract, those who already own their own handset outright have a wide range of options at their fingertips.

In terms of pre-paid service and month-to-month no lock in deals, a number of smaller carriers are offering a range of highly competitive prices that are certainly worth investigating. Carriers such as Kogan have even introduced new long-expiry plans in which the customer pays an annual up-front fee at a heavily discounted rate in exchange for a year’s worth of service.

Pay attention to the data

A few years back, mobile phone plans were sold largely on the basis of how many texts minutes they included each month, but nowadays, it’s all about the data – with many of us believing that the more data we receive each month the better off we will be.

However, most of these services don’t roll any unused data over to the next month. With many of us having access to our own home or workplace wifi, it’s a good idea to check your average monthly data usage first, so that you don’t end up paying for more than you need.

Always read the fine print

As always, we encourage you to do all of your homework before switching over to a new smartphone carrier, and always make sure to read the fine print.

For more information on simple everyday switches that could see you save, schedule an appointment with one of the expert financial advisers at Rising Tide Financial Services today.