TPG
TPG mobile runs entirely on the Vodafone network as an MVNO, so coverage matches Vodafone's exactly: solid in cities and major regional centres, thinner once you're well outside them. Check Vodafone's coverage map, not TPG's own marketing, before deciding.
- Aggressive promo pricing for the first six months
- No lock-in contract, month-to-month prepaid
- A further $5/month off for existing TPG internet customers
- Simple three-tier lineup, easy to compare
- Price effectively doubles once the six-month promo period ends
- Prepaid only, no postpaid or family plans
- Same coverage as Vodafone, so the same regional weak spots
TPG's consumer mobile brand is easy to mix up with TPG Telecom the corporate entity, which mostly does infrastructure and business services. The plans reviewed here are what you actually get if you sign up for a TPG mobile SIM as a regular customer at tpg.com.au.
It's a Vodafone SIM with a different name
TPG mobile runs entirely on the Vodafone network. There's no separate TPG infrastructure involved for consumer plans, so coverage is exactly what you'd get from a Vodafone SIM: solid in metro areas, weaker once you're outside a major town. If you're deciding between TPG and Vodafone directly, coverage isn't the differentiator, price and billing structure are.
Current plans
Three prepaid SIM-only tiers, no lock-in contract, calendar-month expiry:
Plan | Data | First 6 months | Ongoing |
|---|---|---|---|
Small | 25GB | $12.50/month | $25/month |
Medium | 50GB | $17.50/month | $35/month ($30 with linked TPG internet) |
Large | 100GB | $22.50/month | $45/month ($40 with linked TPG internet) |
All three include unlimited calls, SMS and MMS to standard Australian numbers. The promo price is 50% off for the first six months, then jumps to the ongoing rate, which is effectively what you should budget for if you're planning to stay past the introductory window. Excess data costs $10 per 2GB if you go over your allowance. Existing TPG internet customers get a further $5/month off the Medium or Large plan once the promo period ends.
Compare these against every other current plan, including Vodafone's own lineup on the same network, in the full comparison table.
APN settings
TPG mobile uses the same APN profile as Vodafone, since it's the same network underneath. TPG's APN settings has the exact values.
The honest verdict
TPG is genuinely sharp value for the first six months and average value after that, once the promo pricing lapses and you're paying close to what a comparable Vodafone or Optus plan costs anyway. It suits someone happy to switch providers every six months to keep chasing promo pricing, or someone who's already a TPG internet customer and gets the extra discount. Anyone planning to stay put long-term should compare the ongoing price against Vodafone and Optus directly before committing.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is TPG the same as TPG Telecom?
- No, and they're easy to mix up. TPG Telecom is the corporate parent, which also owns Vodafone, iiNet, Internode and felix. "TPG" is the specific consumer mobile and internet brand people actually sign up for, at tpg.com.au.
- Does TPG have its own mobile network?
- No. TPG mobile plans run entirely on the Vodafone network as an MVNO. Coverage is identical to a Vodafone SIM, not a separate footprint.
- Why is TPG's advertised price so much cheaper than what I end up paying?
- TPG's SIM-only plans run 50% off for the first six months. The advertised price is that promo rate, and after six months it reverts to double, which is the real ongoing cost. Budget for the higher number, not the headline one.
- Does TPG mobile get cheaper if I have TPG internet?
- Yes. Linking an eligible TPG mobile plan to an eligible TPG internet plan takes a further $5/month off the Medium and Large plans once you're past the introductory period.