Most prepaid promotional data in Australia is not a discount on the whole plan. It is extra data on the first several recharges, after which the plan reverts to its ordinary allowance. The trap is comparing the promotional allowance to another provider ordinary allowance.
The published promotional pattern
| Recharge | Promotional data | Data from the next recharge |
|---|---|---|
| $39 | 60GB on the first 6 recharges | 30GB from the 7th |
| $49 | 75GB on the first 6 recharges | 45GB from the 7th |
| $59 | 105GB on the first 6 recharges | 55GB from the 7th |
| $74 | 150GB on the first 6 recharges | 100GB from the 7th |
| $180 | 160GB on the first recharge | 100GB from the next |
| $300 | 290GB on the first recharge | 240GB from the next |
Why the split matters
- A six-recharge promotion covers about 168 days, so it applies to a new customer and not to a renewal.
- The single-recharge promotions are not discounts at all. They are larger data blocks at that one price, followed by a smaller ongoing allowance on the same money.
- Every one of these is stated for new activations, so a returning customer sees the ongoing column immediately.
The honest way to use these numbers is to price the plan as if the promotion never applied, then treat the bonus as a discount on the first half year. If the ongoing price only works for you because of the bonus, the plan does not work for you.
What we could not verify. Where a provider has not published a figure we mark it unknown rather than estimate it. Re-read the provider page linked below on the day you decide.