Is Boost Mobile More Reliable than Vodafone?

Hey guys, I'm with Kogan mobile, I signed up a few years ago, on the small 365 day plan, I'm now thinking of trying out Boost mobile, is the Telstra network more reliable? I know Kogan is based off the Vodafone network, I have one problem though, I'm based in Townsville, and living in the topics is great but the fact of the weather events we're forced to deal with isn't very good, I'm surrounded by family so it's not so bad yet but it could be. I know it's out of my hands either way so I just have to hope for the best. I've been noticing the Vodafone network has been terribly slow these past few weeks, I'm hoping boost is better, being the Telstra network. Thanks for reading.

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Comments

  • +2

    In my experience yes it has been great.

    I used Kogan on 30 day plans without issue. Once I started the 365 day plan I had a horrible experience. No to low reception in various places like the gym I go to, calls dropping all the time..

    Changed to Boost after the year with Kogan was over, its great. Would not go back. I am on a 365 day plan with boost.

    I live in suburban brisbane for context

  • +4

    Yes

  • +2

    Sydney - In my experience, yes. I do Boost -> Vodafone -> Boost each year.

    With my most recent Vodafone usage about 6 months ago:

    • less reliable on public transport
    • driving around Sydney, Google Assistant frequently had connection issues
    • Speed tests in some key areas were slower, though, my testing was far from ideal
  • +1

    Even against optus, my boost is better. Id lose reception going under a train ststion with optus, but fine with boost.

    Will be doing more hikes and camping, so itll be good to test boost.

    Alao has woolies mobile, im looking to compare both out there.

  • My Kogan plan expires 09/12/24, do I have to stay with Kogan for the whole time? Generally asking.

    • No, you can port out at any time. But don't expect a pro-rata refund from Kogan.

      • Okay, fair enough. Kogan is unusable for me now, I restart my phone daily and it is still slow, should I just buy a $2 sim and go from there?

        • Yeah or if your phone is eSIM compatible you can order an eSIM plan through the boost mobile app and port your existing number to boost without having to buy a physical sim.

  • yes

    • optus?
      .

  • I'm on Boost and wife is on Vodafone. Many a time Vodafone has lost reception but Boost is still going.

    Never experienced a case where Boost has lost reception and the Vodafone has stayed connected.

  • +1

    Just moved over to Boost from Kogan after experiencing daily issues with Kogan (Voda) service along the rail corridor that I travel on each day, among other places. After moving over I no longer experience any issues whatsoever.

    For context I live in the southern suburbs of Adelaide.

  • +1 on advocating to others to never use kogan mobile. I started with optus, switched to kogan for a year, switched again to boost for 5 years, and went back to kogan now because I figured I should save some money since the boost prepaid plans have been getting more expensive. But now I don't care if the cheapest annual boost plan cost $200-250, it is worth the price. It hasn't even been a month since I switched to kogan and I already want to switch out.

    Just yesterday, melbourne/victoria got hit by a massive storm that resulted in statewide power outages. With no power and no internet, I thought my phone and mobile data would be my saving grace… nope. My kogan connection was completely dead. Thankfully, I was already in the safety of my home when it happened but what if I was out and about. Then I learned that others on the telstra/boost network still had working connections during this time. In times of emergency, I do not want to be caught with kogan mobile

    • Unrelated but I went through a few days of no power as well, from the cyclone, I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy, it was brutal.

      • +1

        Couldn't imagine surviving a few days with no power. Mine was only out for 8 hours and even that was unbearable. Honestly don't know how to survive past 1 day of no power. Never realized how reliant on electricity I was until now.

        • forget power idk how to survive 1 day with no internet

  • My wife says it is for Brisbane southside.

    She was on Boost. I changed her to Kogan for the larger data but she said that reception was worse both at home and at all the locations she does to for work.

    After her year with Kogan was over, I put her back on Boost. She's happy now.

    FWIW, I'm on Kogan mobile's Small plan and have no issues with the service.

  • Been on boost for 2.5 years now, even paid full price for the last 2 recharges (somebody shoot me), it's been great, except sometimes MMS pic sms do not send, not sure if that's phone or boost?

  • Im wondering whether or not there's any difference in quality of the Kogan/Vodafone network vs the Boost/Telstra one. I understand that Telstra has better coverage, but is the quality of that coverage better than what Vodafone offers where the coverage overlaps?

    Im on Boost too but their latest price hikes are starting to get ridiculous so am looking at other options. Noticed the Kogan Small 365 day plan is pretty sweet. Issue with me is that even with Boost, there are times and areas where congestion is so bad that I'll have 5 bars of 5G but speeds of 0.1Mpbs due to congestion and have had web pages time out on me. This is particularly true in areas like Sydney CBD (I live in the Sydney metro area) which makes my Boost sim basically useless and highly frustrating. I'd presume that since Voda has significantly less customers than Telstra that the traffic on their network would also be significantly less so would the quality of the Kogan/Voda network be better than Boost/Telstra regardless of the fact that the latter have better coverage?

    • I've had the same problems with Boost in Melbourne CBD and outer suburbs. Sometimes sites will just time out. I know its not the phone, because when im at home, when it times out on 5G, i switch to Wifi and it loads immediately. Thinking of trying Kogan too, since i dont think Boost's price hikes are worth it if I get cut-out issues

    • Had same experience of congestion on Boost in a shopping mall located in Ringwood, VIC, which wasn’t even close to the demand of a CBD area during peak hours. Then switched to Telstra Prepaid and was able to catch up with unlimited 5G speed, and that was so good. Since then I don’t buy the words like “Boost=Telstra” as my experience has told otherwise.

      • Eastland Telstra congestion been going on forever.

        Reported Telstra a few times over years but they are like yeah talk to my hand lol.

      • Yea I think it actually has to do with Boost customers getting speed throttled vs Telstra customers since Telstra does speed cap Boost users. Maybe this speed cap is what causes the congestion/time out?

        I'm pretty sure Vodafone dont speed cap their MVNOs from what I see on the relevant websites so I'm thinking of switching to Voda or one of their MVNOs. Have noticed that Kogan is running a Buy 1 get 1 free 365 day plan atm so definitely worth checking out. Kogan also offer you the choice to receive all the included data upfront or receive pro rata data month to month which is pretty neat if you want to limit how much data you use each month.

        • Technically it isn’t “speed cap” but a design of access priority during network congestion. On Whirlpool I remember one said Telstra did not implement such practice to differentiate Boost from its own, but my experience has told otherwise. It is possible that newly implemented tele tower sites work differently, but I have no solid evidence, only speak for myself.

          • @DevilsInDetails: Yea I would agree with you. Telstra obviously can differentiate who's a Tesltra customer and who's a Boost customer otherwise they wouldnt be able to determine which SIMs to cap speeds. So it's very likely that while "officially" Telstra doesnt deprioritise Boost customers, I can see them "temporarily" deprioritising them in hot spots areas/during peak congestion

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