What Mobile Plans Should International Students Choose?

Whether born and raised Australians or international, all students want the same thing: an excellent and affordable mobile phone plan. However, choosing a phone plan can be an absolute nightmare, especially when you’re not familiar with the ins and outs of Australian carriers.

So, if you’re an international student, here’s what you need to know!

For The Student That Needs a Lot of Data

Postpaid:

Some providers offer great mobile plans which will give you 10GB monthly, but the costs can be astronomical for a student at $50. If you need a lot of data, look at a plan that meets your data needs but doesn’t break the bank. We constantly offer specials for 18GB at Catch Connect that starts at $12 for the first month and $15 per month thereafter.

Prepaid:

You can either do a weekly plan or a monthly plan. Weekly plans sound great but quickly become a nuisance. Think about sticking with a monthly plan, especially if you’re the forgetful type. A monthly plan might offer a low amount of GBs, unlimited local calls and texts, and perhaps some international calls for a fee of $40 or $50.

For The Student That Wants a Cheap Plan For Basic Connection

Postpaid:

Vodafone has offers for $45, which give free international calls for ten countries, including the UK, USA, China, India, Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, and Malaysia. There’s even the ability to request additional countries for $6 a country.

Prepaid:

Some carriers, like Optus, offer a plan where you pay $10 for 186 days and get 500MB of data, unlimited calls and text messages. So if you’re not interested in data, this could be great for you.

We offer data extras for $10 per GB and $15 per 2GB.

What An International Student Should Be Looking For In a Mobile Plan

If you’re an international student who’s studying in Australia, you might not be looking for a heavy commitment. For that reason, here’s what you might need to know.

1. Get an unlocked phone.

If you’re not going to be in Australia all year round, you want a phone that can work in your home country too. A locked phone means that once you leave, it’s basically a brick. A shiny brick, sure, but a brick nonetheless.

2. Find Good Deals on Data

If your main need is data, then you’re better off getting great deals for data beyond the typical phone plan. So if you’ve opted to purchase a phone once-off, you can take advantage of some great deals from several carriers in the country. This means you’ve got more data during your stay for a far more reasonable price than you’d pay if you went with a straight-up mobile plan.

3. Coverage

You want a network that truly keeps you connected. Most available carriers supply other carriers, so in most cases, you can find great coverage between the various available carriers. For example, Telstra supplies Boost, and Optus provides Coles and Catch Connect.

4. International Call Offers

The biggest thing an international student needs is the ability to make calls beyond the borders of Australia with ease. International calls can be expensive, and you want a plan that makes it easy to connect to your family and friends back home. This is the most significant component of any mobile plan that you should be looking for.

At Catch Connect, we offer 100 minutes for $5 or 300 minutes for $10, which lasts for a month. This is a great way to stay in touch with your loved ones across the ocean.

Discounts

A lot of providers offer discounts for students. If you’re a cash-strapped student, this is what you need to be looking for. Sometimes they offer other specials as well, and while they’re not student-specific, they’re still great specials.

For example, at Catch Connect, we offer a special for new customers that provide 120GB over 365 days for $120, which works out to $10 a month. So while yes, it’s a once-off payment, it’s still well worth it, considering what you’re receiving.

Conclusion

Being a student is expensive, and sometimes you need the data, calls, texts, and international call features but can’t afford them. So be smart, and find a provider that makes it easy for you to stay connected.

Do you need data, talk, and text, for a reasonable price? Catch Connect is ready to provide your mobile device with the best connection in the country. Powered by Optus and featuring insane prices, we’re here to connect you like no other provider can. Check out our package deals for new and existing customers on our website!