What parents need to know when choosing a mobile plan for kids

It doesn't matter if your kids are getting their first phone, or they are getting older and demanding a bit more data – choosing a mobile plan for your kids is almost a bigger headache than choosing your own.

But, there are a few tips I can give you to ensure you're getting the best possible deal and not breaking the family budget too much.

New phone or hand-me-down?

A brand new iPhone or Samsung could cost well over $1,500 – that's a huge expense for a child who frankly, might break it, so be warned. This is why the best approach for kids is a hand-me-down phone from Mum, Dad or their older siblings. Additionally, it's critical to note there are some great handsets available brand new from brands like Motorola, Nothing, Oppo, Samsung and HMD for well under $600. As low as $200 will get you a phone perfectly ideal for an 11-12-year-old's first phone.

Owning a phone outright, either a second-hand device, or a new but affordable option, means you can choose a telco at your own whim, and that's the best way to save!

Short- vs long-term

The best way to get the most value for your kids' phones is to choose a long-term mobile pre-paid plan.

Companies like Kogan Mobile, Amaysim and Boost Mobile offer six and 12-month pre-paid deals.  Before committing to this length of time, I think the best thing to do is sign up for a month and use it for the month to check the service and speed, perhaps a second month to check how easy it is to recharge or renew.

After that, there are exceptional savings to be had. I know this for a fact because my kids are on 12-month plans that cost me either $120 or $150 upfront. That works out at $12.50 or less per month. Honestly, I can't imagine paying more.

There are larger and smaller data plans on these longer-term options, just like there are on month-to-month plans.

Big telco vs other brands

To get the best value for your kids, look at breaking the cycle of big-brand loyalty.  Don't sign your kids up to your telco just because they offer a single bill for you all, or because you can "share data" across phones.  In almost all cases, finding a second-tier mobile provider, known as an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator), will mean huge monthly savings.

Telstra MVNO plans:

These other brands don't own towers or networks; there are only three networks to choose from anyway! So if coverage is an issue, be sure to find an MVNO that uses your chosen network.

Vodafone MVNO plans:

Managing data limits

The cheapest plan will have the lowest data allowance – of course.

And choosing that might mean the kids are nagging you for more data halfway through the month. Not to offer parenting advice when talking mobile plans, but you do need to be careful providing a tap that can be turned on with ease.

Look at their data usage, and ensure your kids are aware of the cost per GB of data – it's critical kids learn early that data costs money.  We don't want them thinking adding more data or choosing a bigger data plan is easy and without cost.

Comparing your usage to theirs, or one child vs another, can ensure that you're having an open conversation as a family about the cost of data and the available allowance.

Home Wi-Fi vs mobile data

Speaking of managing data usage, make sure your kids are taking full advantage of the home Wi-Fi.

If the kids have Wi-Fi turned off, their endless scrolling on TikTok is coming off their mobile data allowance. On a mobile plan, the cost of data is far higher than a normally unlimited home internet plan.

So just check, are the kids on Wi-Fi?

Shop the cheapest 5G internet plans with speeds up to 50Mbps:

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