In Australia it’s commonly accepted that there are three major telcos, Telstra, Optus and Vodafone, and that all other telcos fall under the umbrella of mobile virtual network operators (or MVNOs).
However, TPG is harder to categorise — having merged with Vodafone Hutchison Australia in 2020 to become TPG Telecom, it’s now considered the owner and operator of Vodafone’s network. In fact, TPG Telecom is currently the second-largest telecommunications company listed on the Australian stock exchange.
Of course, the TPG being reviewed here isn’t the whole company, but the mobile service provider it operates under the TPG brand alongside other TPG Telecom-owned telcos, such as iiNet, Felix and Lebara. Can TPG really be considered an MVNO if it isn’t reselling someone else’s network? It’s enough to make your head spin.
You may like
Regardless, TPG distinguishes itself from Vodafone by prioritising affordability over additional perks and features in its mobile plans, with a streamlined offering of just three prepaid SIM-only options. These plans are typically even cheaper for new customers, as TPG is known to offer reduced rates during the first six months of connection.
Thanks to a recent network-sharing deal between TPG Telecom and Optus, TPG’s mobile coverage is now significantly better than it was before, reaching well beyond the major cities into regional Australia. It even offers 5G network access on select plans.
Unfortunately, TPG doesn’t have a great reputation when it comes to customer service, with many online user reviews complaining of long wait times and almost non-existent support.
If you can overlook the lack of extras and underwhelming customer service, TPG is still a good option for those in the market for an affordable prepaid plan with no lock-in contracts.
TPG mobile plans and pricing
- Pricing options more reasonable than Telstra
- Plans strictly prepaid only
TPG keeps things simple by offering only three prepaid plans that will renew every month until you opt out. Starting at AU$25 p/m is the Small plan, which provides 4G network access and comes with 25GB of monthly data, working out to AU$1.00 per GB.
That’s followed by the Medium plan, which is priced at AU$35 p/m and comes with 50GB of data p/m (AU$0.70 per GB), and the Large plan, which will set you back AU$45 p/m for 100GB of monthly data (AU$0.46 per GB). Both the Medium and Large plans have a leg up on their Small counterpart, in that they offer 5G network access.
Clearly, TPG’s Large mobile plan offers the best value in terms of dollars to data, though it has one other benefit that’s worth celebrating: TPG’s Large plan has a 250Mbps download speed cap, while its Small and Medium plans are capped at 150Mbps.
However, new TPG customers get an even better deal by paying only half price for the first six months, bringing the cost of TPG’s Small, Medium and Large plans down to just AU$12.50 p/m, AU$17.50 p/m and AU$22.50 p/m, respectively.
Even without promotional pricing, these plans are resoundingly budget friendly. When compared directly with Vodafone’s standard pricing across its prepaid plans, TPG’s plans offer twice the data at equivalent price points.
TPG mobile coverage
- Access to Vodafone’s expanded network
- Top plan capped at 250Mbps
Thanks to a network-sharing deal between TPG Telecom and Optus that kicked off in February 2025, the Vodafone network has significantly expanded its reach — particularly throughout regional Australia.
Whereas the network was previously only able to reach 96% of Australia’s metropolitan population, its coverage has jumped by 150% from 400,000 square kilometres to over 1,000,000 square kilometres. That puts TPG’s reach at 98.4% of the Australian population — a smidge behind Optus, which covers 98.5% of Aussies.
It’s worth keeping in mind that TPG customers in metropolitan areas will predominantly be using Vodafone’s network. Additionally, its 5G rollout has progressed at a slower pace compared to Optus and Telstra.
In other words, even with 5G access available on TPG’s Medium and Large plans, customers will likely be on 4G for a significant portion of the time.
TPG mobile plans: Extras, perks and offers
- Standard international calls and text included
- Small discounts when linked to TPG Internet
If you’re looking for perks and inclusions on your prepaid plan, TPG won’t be your best option. There’s no rewards program, you won’t get data rollover, and access to additional services is non-existent.
That said, TPG’s prepaid plans do include standard international calls and texts to 31 destinations — the Small plan provides just 100 minutes of international calls, whereas you’ll get unlimited minutes on the Medium and Large plans, which is quite decent.
Outside of this, the only other perk involves a AU$5 monthly discount on your prepaid plan when you link it to one of TPG’s Internet plans, which isn’t too exciting, but we suppose it’s better than nothing.
TPG mobile plans: customer service and community reviews
- Overwhelmingly negative online user reviews
- Offshore call centres
For the most part, TPG is happy to point users to the Support Hub on its website or the My TPG mobile app for technical support. However, those who’d prefer their issue get sorted out by a human can call 1300 997 273 for mobile-specific problems or 13 14 23 for general enquiries.
TPG’s online reputation for customer service is far from ideal, with overwhelmingly negative feedback posted on sites like Product Review, where it holds a score of 1.7 out of 5, and Trustpilot, where it holds a 1.3 out of 5 rating.
To put those scores into perspective, competing MVNOs like SpinTel and Moose Mobile hold Product Review scores of 4.8 and 4.6, respectively.
Disgruntled TPG mobile users point to long wait times, unresolved problems, offshore call centres and poor service overall. As always, it’s important to remember that happy customers are far less likely to post positive feedback than those who are upset about something.
Still, it’s not a great look when the vast majority of a company’s online customer reviews are telling people to avoid it like the plague.
TPG mobile plans: Bottom line
TPG presents a compelling value proposition with its affordable plans and large data inclusions, further enhanced by its near-nationwide coverage rivalling Optus. However, its prepaid offerings lack extra benefits, and some users have reported significant issues with its customer service. For budget-conscious Aussies who are not overly concerned about customer support or bonus inclusions, TPG remains a strong contender. That said, those after a more robust service should consider other options.
