Belong Mobile Plans Review: The Verdict
Belong Mobile is a cheaper option for those looking to stick with the Telstra network, however it has limited extras, support options, and sits relatively middle of the pack to other Telstra MVNOs.
What we love
- Affordable option on the Telstra network
- No additional charges when data runs out
- Carbon neutral
What could be improved
- Limited extras
- Limited support options
Overall:
We affectionately call Belong, Telstra Lite or Little T. The provider is owned and operated by Telstra and is significantly cheaper than its major telco counterpart, however, it also offers significantly less.
Belong doesn't use the whole Telstra network, doesn't have too many extras and support options are limited. In saying that, they're surprisingly affordable. Especially when compared to Telstra. But are they a good deal? In this review, we'll look at value, support options, and the extras you get if you opt for Belong for your next mobile service.
Before we start, here is Belong's current range of SIM-only mobile plans:
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#1
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Belong
25GB Mobile Plan
$30/mth
Min. cost $30
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#2
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Belong
40GB Mobile Plan
$35/mth
Min. cost $35
|
|
#3
|
Belong
100GB Mobile Plan
$45/mth
Min. cost $45
|
|
#4
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Belong
160GB Mobile Plan
$55/mth
Min. cost $55
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Belong mobile plans: Value
Picking a mobile plan isn't exactly straightforward. The data-to-dollar value for providers changes all the time, and depending on which plan you go with. More expensive plans tend to give you more data per dollar spent, but there is no need to pay for data that you aren't using.
Based on extrapolated data from the ACCC, average Australians use about 30GB of mobile data each month. With these numbers in mind, we base our value score on the cheapest plan a telco offers that meets this criteria. We don't take into account discounts, promos, or bonus data.
Here is how Belong's cheapest SIM-only plan with at least 30GB compares to the competition:
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#1
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Moose Mobile
Editor's Pick
Moose 26.80 SIM Only
$12.40/mth
Min. cost $12.40
Link not supplied
|
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#2
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Coles Mobile
$35 Mobile Plan
$35/mth
Min. cost $35
Link not supplied
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#3
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Belong
40GB Mobile Plan
$35/mth
Min. cost $35
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#4
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Vodafone
$49 Small SIM Only Plan
$39/mth
Min. cost $39
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#5
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Everyday Mobile
$40 SIM Only
$40/mth
Min. cost $40
Link not supplied
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#6
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Optus
$55 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$55/mth
Min. cost $55
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#7
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Telstra
$65 Basic Upfront SIM Plan
$65/mth
Min. cost $65
Link not supplied
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Belong's cheapest plan that covers the 30GB threshold will set you back $35 per month for 40GB. It isn't the cheapest option available, but is relatively on par with other Telstra powered telcos such as Woolworths Mobile.
Belong Mobile coverage
Belong uses the Telstra Wholesale network which covers 98.8% of the Australian population. Telstra's wholesale network is smaller than Telstra proper, but it still covers a higher percentage of the population than either Vodafone or Optus.
Above you can see how the Telstra MVNO network compares to the full network. Note that we are only comparing 3G and 4G coverage as Telstra doesn't currently offer 5G access to its MVNO providers.
Due to the wide access, Belong Mobile is likely to be suitable for most Australians, however, if you live in remote or rural towns then it is worth checking to see which provider offers the best service.
If you want to check if a certain address has Telstra coverage, you can use our coverage checker tool to do so.
All you need to do is punch in your address when searching for a new phone plan. After you've done so and hit Search, you can jump straight to the coverage map by tapping See Coverage Map and then tapping Click To Activate Interactive Map.This map will show you what kind of coverage you have in your area. 5G coverage is highlighted using the darkest shade of purple, 4G in the medium shade, and 3G in the lightest.
Coverage maps are only approximate, only show outdoor coverage, and may be impacted by local conditions such as buildings.
Belong mobile plans: Support
Judging support fairly can be difficult, there are a range of factors that contribute to each person's support experience. While one person may have a query seen to, and solved quickly, others might encounter the opposite.
Considering this, instead of rating telcos based on experiential customer service we look at how many avenues they have for customers to seek support. If a provider invests more into customer support, then we can assume that it is valued more highly within the organisation.
Here is how Belong's support options compare to the competition:
Belong Support Options Compared
| Provider | In-store | Call | Chat | Social | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belong | - | - | - | ||
| Telstra | - | ||||
| Optus | - | ||||
| Vodafone | - | - | |||
| amaysim | - | ||||
| Woolworths Mobile | - | - | - | ||
| ALDI | - | - | - | - | |
| Boost | - | - | |||
| TPG | - | ||||
| Circles.Life | - |
Belong only has two ways to get in touch with their support team; social media or email.
Belong mobile plans: Extras
Belong doesn't have many extras, but there are some perks worth mentioning. Here's how that compares to what other mobile providers offer:
Belong Extras Compared
| Provider | Perks Program | International Calls | 5G | Discount Bundles | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belong | - | - | - | - | |
| Telstra | - | ||||
| Optus | - | ||||
| Vodafone | - | ||||
| amaysim | - | - | - | - | |
| Woolworths Mobile | - | - | - | ||
| ALDI | - | - | - | - | |
| Boost | - | - | - | - | |
| TPG | - | - | - | ||
| Circles.Life | - | - | - | - | - |
Although Belong doesn't offer international calls as standard, you can pay an additional $5 per month to add on unlimited talk and text to 30 destinations.
In addition to this, Belong customers do get a couple of data-centric perks as well. Any unused data at the end of the month will automatically be banked, which you can access whenever you need.
Alternatively, Belong customers can gift data to one another in chunks of 1GB.
If you happen to run out of data, your data bank, and no other Belong user will gift you data to get through the month, you can also buy additional data at a rate of 5GB for $10. In saying that, these top ups aren't automatic. If you don't want to spend the extra money then your internet speeds will simply be slowed to 64kbps.
No hidden charges is a big plus.
It is also worth noting that Belong Mobile is entirely carbon neutral. So if you're interested in backing a more sustainable telco then this is one to keep in mind.
Belong mobile plans: Devices
Belong does not sell phones. All of its plans are SIM-only.
Belong mobile FAQ
Is Belong mobile Telstra?
Belong Mobile is owned and operated by Telstra, and uses the Telstra 3G and 4G wholesale network.
Is Belong's $10 plan still available?
Belong no longer has a $10 SIM-only plan available. The cheapest option is the 20GB plan for $25 per month.
Will Belong get 5G?
For now Telstra isn't offering access to its 5G network to any MVNOs, Belong included. Considering that Telstra doesn't even offer its full network to most MVNOs, we anticipate that it will be quite some time until we see 5G available for smaller telcos.
What about a different Telstra-powered provider?
Belong mobile plans are powered by the Telstra network, but there are a whole host of other small telcos where the same is true. Read our guide to smaller providers - also known as MVNOs - here.
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