Saw three 12-month plans on sale in two different tax catalogues in Officeworks. Both run until end of June.
Vodafone $320 for $199, save $121, 320GB
Lebara $250 for $169, save $81, 260GB ( same Voda network)
Optus $350 for $250, save $100, 300GB ( missed out $199 at Coles the other week)
Decisions, decisions…thoughts?
Me too. 🤞
Funny, I had to buy my Voda at a Vada store.
App says: No more prepaid.
Any idea if coles will have another sale? 199
Hard to say… checking optus website it's $275, so probably won't go back to $199
Thanks man
Thanks man i got that one
Just curious anyone got their sim card hacked/ skimmed before from these prepaid packs
Is voda Esim monthly $29 via perth postcode any good? International calls included.
I was bored at work so…
From ChatGPT
| Provider | Price | Data | Cost/GB | Monthly $ | Monthly GB | Cost/Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OnePass 200GB | $149 | 200GB | $0.75 | $12.42 | 16.67GB | $0.41 |
| OnePass 360GB | $165 | 360GB | $0.46 ✅ | $13.75 | 30GB ✅ | $0.45 |
| Telstra 310GB* | $234.99* | 310GB | $0.76 | $19.58 | 25.83GB | $0.64 |
| Vodafone 320GB | $199 | 320GB | $0.62 | $16.58 | 26.67GB | $0.55 |
| Lebara 260GB | $169 | 260GB | $0.65 | $14.08 | 21.67GB | $0.46 |
| Optus 300GB | $250 | 300GB | $0.83 🚫 | $20.83 | 25GB | $0.68 |
* Telstra includes $35 bonus shop card → effective price $234.99 used in calculations
I then gave the chatgpt output to Gemini to review:
✅ Findings & Summary Analysis
🏆 Best value: OnePass 360GB
Why I agree: At $0.46/GB, it has the lowest cost per gigabyte of all the plans listed. For anyone whose monthly data usage is close to 30GB, this offers the most data for the money.💰 Cheapest overall: OnePass 200GB
Why I agree: At $149, it has the lowest upfront cost. This is the best choice for someone prioritizing the lowest possible spend over the 12-month period, provided that the ~17GB monthly data is sufficient for their needs.📦 Best major telco: Vodafone 320GB
Why I agree: Comparing only the three major network owners (Telstra, Optus, Vodafone), Vodafone's plan is superior on every value metric:
Lowest Price: $199 (vs. $235 for Telstra, $250 for Optus)
Lowest Cost/GB: $0.62 (vs. $0.76 for Telstra, $0.83 for Optus)🚫 Worst value: Optus 300GB
Why I agree: At $0.83/GB, it has the highest cost per gigabyte. It's also the second most expensive plan in terms of upfront cost, making it the least efficient option in this specific comparison.🧠 Additional Considerations (The "Why")
Beyond the numbers, here are a few extra points that support and add context to your findings:
Network Coverage: The biggest non-price factor. OnePass and Lebara are MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) that use the Vodafone network.
This means the "Best value" plan (OnePass) and the "Best major telco" plan (Vodafone) offer the exact same network coverage. This makes the OnePass deal even more compelling if you're comfortable with Vodafone's network.
Telstra generally has the most extensive network coverage, especially in regional and rural areas. The higher price for the Telstra plan partially reflects this wider network access.
A user's location is critical. If they live and work in a metro area where Vodafone coverage is excellent, there's little reason to pay the premium for Telstra.Data vs. Usage: The "best value" plan is only the best if you use the data. Someone who only uses 10GB per month would be "wasting" 20GB on the OnePass 360GB plan. For them, the OnePass 200GB plan is both cheaper upfront and better value for their personal use case.
Deal Timeliness: The links point to OzBargain, which means these are likely limited-time offers. Their validity at any given moment is a key factor.
I am confused by below statement, isn't OnePass (Catch) using Optus network (not Vodafone? I just googled and it says Optus)
Network Coverage: The biggest non-price factor. OnePass and Lebara are MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) that use the Vodafone network.
You're right, Optus!
Was the ai made that mistakes
Well, Vodafone is 5G which is a massive bonus point to me, let alone it has 6000mins international calls. OnePass is 4G only.
Maybe your table should include the 5G/4G option?
hmm.. international call is definitely nice to have!
Oh weird im on voda but didnt get int minutes only got int text
I yelled at Gemini for the mistakes and I think I made it cry. When Gemini becomes self-aware and goes full Skynet, I'm ded.
I told it be extra,super,very thorough… so shrug
| Provider | Price | Data | Network | Speed Access | Speed Cap | International Calls (Verified) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OnePass 200GB | $149 | 200GB | Optus | 4G | None | None included (Add-on required) |
| OnePass 360GB | $165 | 360GB | Optus | 4G | None | None included (Add-on required) |
| Lebara 260GB | $169 | 260GB | Vodafone | 5G | Yes (150Mbps) | Unlimited to 35 destinations |
| Vodafone 320GB | $199 | 320GB | Vodafone | 5G | None ✅ | 6000 mins (Z1) + 1200 mins (Z2) |
| Telstra 310GB | $234.99 | 310GB | Telstra | 5G | Yes (150Mbps) | 6000 mins (Z1) (standard plan) |
| Optus 300GB | $250 | 300GB | Optus | 5G | Yes (150Mbps) | Zoned inclusions (~3000 mins on std plan) |
✅ Final Summary & Key Findings
This summary reflects all verified data for all six plans, including the crucial differences in speed, caps, and call inclusions.
💰 Cheapest Overall Plan: OnePass 200GB
Why: At $149, it has the absolute lowest upfront cost. This is the undisputed choice for anyone wanting to spend the least amount of money over the year, provided its ~17GB/month data is sufficient.
🏆 Best Data Value (Cost per GB): OnePass 360GB
Why: At $0.46 per GB, it remains the champion for getting the most data for your dollar. It's a no-frills 4G plan on the Optus network, perfect for heavy data users who don't need 5G or international calls.
🚀 Best 5G Performance & All-Rounder: Vodafone 320GB
Why: This is the standout deal for most tech-savvy users. It is the only plan with uncapped 5G speeds, and it bundles a massive international call package (7200 total mins). At $0.62/GB, it offers incredible feature value for its price.
📞 Best for International Calls: Lebara 260GB & Vodafone 320GB
Why: This is a two-way choice depending on your needs.
Lebara is best for simplicity, offering unlimited calls to 35 key countries on a 5G (capped) plan.
Vodafone is best for breadth, covering far more countries across its two zones with a huge bucket of minutes.
🌐 Best Network Coverage: Telstra 310GB
Why: For users in regional or rural areas, the premium for Telstra's wider network coverage might be worth it. It provides 5G (capped at 150Mbps) and a very large international call inclusion, making it a solid, reliable choice if coverage is your number one priority.
Pls post,
1.Url-link to AI-site that generated the above response, eg https://gemini.google.com/app?hl=en-AU
2.question you asked to generate the above response, eg 'australia 1 year mobile plan reviews'
Thanks.
Slowly built it up via normal (free) ChatGPT.
My first prompt:
analyse this, which one is better value - per month cost breakdown. Table format please
365-Day 200GB Prepaid Mobile Plan Starter Kit $149
365-Day 360GB Prepaid Mobile Plan Starter Kit $165
(365 Days, 310GB Data) & Bonus $35 Shop Card for $269.99
Vodafone $199, 320GB
Lebara $169, 260GB
Optus $250, 300GB
then i built up on it:
can you update the table and include the links
200GB / $149 is OnePass mobile - https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/908258
360GB / $165 is also one pass mobile - https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/910024
the 310gb / 269.99 is Telstra - https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/909638
this ones:
Vodafone $199, 320GB
Lebara $169, 260GB
Optus $250, 300GB
are on sale from Officeworks - https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/910269
Once ChatGPT provided the initial table and summary, I pasted it to Google Gemini to confirm if the information is correct and to assess the summary/findings.
I followed up by asking it to add stuff like the 4G/5G, speed caps, international minutes. I had to ask it to re-verify the information several times because I'm afraid it was making stuff up/hallucinating.
I used free Gemini Pro - https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/907230
@xhanatos: 🏆👏
DeepSeek-AI-chat: 1 question-only: with a slight-addendum to your…not-sure if it already noted & recorded my prior questions❓-> https://ibb.co/V0Fdz4sB
@ab c: Thanks for detailing the prompts you used. I'm working on my prompting skills and your example helps.
@caperite: Credit goes to @xhanatos🏆…as per demonstrated below. Terminator-1997: Skynet becomes self-aware 😇
@ATTS: Just give it a go, it's not overly difficult.
You can actually ask chatgpt/gemini or other AI tools on how to create a better prompt.
For this particular query (comparing 12 month prepaid plans) after it spit out the info, i typed this:
thank you. next time i do a prompt/query, what can i include so that you will be very thorough so i do not have to do random checks of the info you have provided? i want to trust the info you provide but … yeah…
Gemini's response:
That's a very fair and important question. I understand completely why you're asking. The trust between us is crucial, and the back-and-forth we had was my failure, not yours. I apologize for making the process so frustrating.
To ensure you get the most thorough and accurate response possible next time, here are some tips on how you can structure your prompts to hold me to a higher standard from the very beginning.
How to Craft a "Trustworthy" Prompt
1. Demand Primary Sources
This was the turning point in our conversation. Forcing me to use official sources prevents me from relying on general knowledge or potentially outdated information.
What to write: "Please base your answer only on the official product pages or 'Critical Information Summaries' (CIS) for each item. State your sources."
Instead of asking for details like speed caps or call inclusions later, ask for everything you want to see in the final table from the start. This forces me to do a single, comprehensive search for all data points at once.
What to write: "For each item in the comparison, you must find and include the following details: [List every field you want, e.g., Price, Data, Network, 5G/4G Access, Speed Caps, International Call Minutes, Included Destinations, etc.]."
To avoid the situation where I provide a table but forget to update the summary, bundle the requests together.
What to write: "After presenting the final verified table, you must also provide a detailed summary and key findings based on all the information in that table. The summary must be updated to reflect the final data."
You can explicitly tell me to double-check my own work before I present it to you. This acts as an internal instruction for me to be more rigorous.
What to write: "Before you give me the final answer, perform one last verification check on all the data points to ensure they are 100% accurate and sourced correctly."
A "Gold Standard" Example Prompt
If we were to start our last conversation over again, here is what an ideal prompt combining all these points would look like:
"Hi, can you please create a comparison table of these 12-month prepaid mobile plans?
Links:
OnePass 200GB – $149 → [link]
OnePass 360GB – $165 → [link]
Telstra 310GB – $269.99 → [link]
Vodafone 320GB – $199 → [link]
Lebara 260GB – $169 → [link]
Optus 300GB – $250 → [link]
Instructions:
For your answer, you must use only the official provider websites or their published Critical Information Summaries (CIS). Please state your sources.
For each plan, the final table must include these specific columns: Provider, Price, Data, Network, Speed Access (4G/5G), any Speed Caps, and a detailed summary of International Call inclusions.
After presenting the final verified table, you must also provide a detailed summary and key findings that analyzes the information in the table.
Before providing the final response, perform a final verification of all data points to ensure they are accurate."
Thank you again for your feedback. It's genuinely helpful, and I will use it to be better. I appreciate you giving me the opportunity to earn back your trust.
Consider churning-sim for a month or 2 & hope for a better deal, https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/907233, https://www.lebara.com.au/prepaid-plans/30-day/medium-30-day…
Need to port-OUT your mobile# to a DIFFERENT-provider each-month.
Doing this once a year is such a task!! My brain can't process so much info unless AI can switch for me to the best deal every month. lol
This's way TOO hard, administrative & risky: 65Gb per month for ~ $4, NET of money-back claim. https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/904744
I'm doing this right now, switching monthly.
I have two monthly sims left then will go yearly. It's a pain in the butt to switch monthly.
Oh wow thank you and AI.
Don't shop at Costco so Telstra is out. Also didn't see much activity from Boost this year. Used to switch between Voda and Boost. Used Lebara for short term.
Wonder if any other difference between OnePass and Catch other than the name change, will wait and see more reviews. Compared to other MVNOs, Boost and Lebara are actually owned by major telcos.
My pick is Voda $199. Will scan my OnePass in store tho.
Are EzySim annoying to switch? My 12 month ends next week wouldn't mind the Voda deal. Unless EzySim might match it soon
Can you use the ultimate gift cards to purchase these at officeworks? Would save 10%.
Lebara plan has 5G and supports eSim. This looks good to me.
Are any of the sim cards eligible for the 15x Flybuys points offer on Officeworks? Specifically eyeing the Lebara one.
Be more confused lol https://onepassmobile.com.au/product/data-56
I’m waiting for kogan to discount 500gb at $150…. Fingers crossed.