For budget-conscious Australian mobile users, Kogan Mobile delivers the rare combination of Vodafone infrastructure at MVNO prices—365-day prepaid plans up to 300GB, 5G trial access on one monthly tier, and a straightforward path to switch from Vodafone while keeping the same network. The trade-offs are real: no data rollover on annual plans, limited 5G availability, and support leaner than major carriers.

Network Provider: Vodafone · Plan Types: Monthly & 365 Day Prepaid · Max Annual Data: 300GB (LARGE plan) · LARGE 365 Day Price: $240 · MEDIUM 365 Day Data: 200GB

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • No confirmed end date for the 5G trial period on the Large monthly plan
  • Exact roaming countries included in the $15/day add-on not publicly specified
  • Vodafone’s specific circumstances for the 12Mbps speed cap remain undefined
3Timeline signal
  • Kogan Mobile launched in 2012 on the Telstra network (Canstar provider history)
  • Transitioned to Vodafone after 2012; currently operates 4G and 5G (Canstar provider history)
  • 5G trial began before February 2026 for new Large monthly plan customers (Canstar provider history)
4What’s next
Specification Details
Plan Duration Options Monthly, 365 Days
Data Allowance Example 300GB per year (LARGE)
Calls & Texts Unlimited
SIM Type eSIM & physical
Contracts No lock-in

Which network does Kogan Mobile use?

Kogan Mobile rides on Vodafone’s infrastructure, meaning you get access to the same towers that power Vodafone’s own plans. That also means 5G is on the table — but only for certain plans. The Large Monthly Plan includes 5G access on a trial basis, with no deadline currently listed for when that trial ends. All other Kogan plans max out at 4G, subject to whatever speeds Vodafone’s network delivers in your area. Vodafone reserves the right to cap speeds at 12Mbps under some circumstances, though the specific triggers aren’t publicly disclosed (Tom’s Guide network analysis).

Network Coverage Checker – 4G & 5G Networks

Vodafone’s 4G network reaches 96% of Australia’s population, which puts it behind Telstra (99.6%) and Optus (98.5%) but still covers the vast majority of the country. If you’re in a major city or regional center, you’ll likely have solid 4G availability. For 5G, coverage is more concentrated in metro areas — and only if you’re on that Large monthly plan with a compatible phone.

The trade-off

You’re sharing a network with Vodafone’s own customers, so during peak times you may see slower speeds than you’d get on a flagship plan. For light to moderate use, it’s rarely a problem — but heavy streamers or gamers might notice the difference.

How much is the Kogan Mobile 365 day plan?

The 365-day prepaid plans let you pay upfront and forget about recharging for a full year. Data is split across 12 months at purchase time, and there’s no rollover option — use it or lose it by the end of your cycle. Here’s how the tiers stack up:

1SMALL 365 Day Prepaid Plan
  • 220GB of data over 12 months
  • No data rollover available
  • Unlimited calls & texts in Australia
  • eSIM or physical SIM available
2MEDIUM (365 Days)
  • 200GB of data over 12 months
  • No data rollover available
  • Unlimited calls & texts in Australia
  • eSIM or physical SIM available
3LARGE (365 Days)
  • 300GB of data over 12 months
  • No data rollover available
  • Unlimited calls & texts in Australia
  • eSIM or physical SIM available

The monthly prepaid plans offer more flexibility with data rollover. The Small plan costs $15 per month with 10GB, the Medium runs $25 for 40GB, and the Large is $40 monthly with 80GB — and all three let you carry up to 200GB of unused data forward if you recharge before expiry or have auto-renewal enabled.

Bottom line: Kogan Mobile 365-day plans are built for high-data users who want to pay once and walk away for a year. The LARGE plan’s 300GB is substantial, but you forfeit any unused data — a trade-off that only makes sense if you consistently burn through heavy monthly allowances.

Can I use my Kogan mobile plan overseas?

International roaming is available, but it costs more than some competitors. Kogan Mobile charges $15 per 24 hours of roaming, which gets you 1GB of data, 100 standard texts, and 30 minutes of call time to selected countries. That’s notably higher than Vodafone’s own $5 per day roaming option, though Vodafone’s plan lets you use calls, text, and data as you would at home without the metered caps.

Kogan Mobile International Roaming

The specific countries included in Kogan Mobile’s roaming add-on aren’t clearly published, which makes it hard to know upfront whether your destination is covered. Before you travel, you’ll want to check with Kogan directly or log into your account to confirm your destination is on the list. The $15/day cost can add up quickly on extended trips — a two-week holiday could run you $210 in roaming fees alone.

The catch

If you travel frequently, the math starts to favor Vodafone’s own $5/day roaming, which offers unlimited data usage rather than the 1GB cap. For occasional travelers who need just enough data to check maps and messages, Kogan’s option works — but heavy data users overseas should run the numbers carefully.

Are Vodafone and Kogan the same?

Kogan Mobile and Vodafone share network infrastructure, but they’re not the same company. Kogan is a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) — it leases access to Vodafone’s towers rather than owning them. That means you get the same coverage map, but your service experience depends partly on how Kogan handles customer support, billing, and plan management.

Can I switch from Vodafone to Kogan?

Switching is straightforward: Kogan offers both physical SIM and eSIM options, so you can port your existing number over without waiting for a new card to arrive in the mail. The process is similar to switching between any other carriers — contact Kogan with your current account details, and they’ll handle the port. You won’t lose Vodafone coverage; you’ll just be paying Kogan’s rates instead.

Kogan Mobile – eSIM

For those who want instant activation, the eSIM option lets you download Kogan’s network profile directly to a compatible phone. This is particularly useful if you’re upgrading from another provider and don’t want to wait for delivery. Not all phones support eSIM, so check your device’s compatibility before committing.

Editor’s note

Kogan Mobile launched in 2012 using the Telstra network before transitioning to Vodafone. The switch happened after 2012, giving Kogan access to a broader 4G and 5G footprint that better competes with Australia’s other major carriers.

Why is Kogan so cheap?

Kogan’s business model relies on direct import and streamlined operations — the same approach behind Kogan.com’s wider retail business. By keeping overhead low and passing savings to customers, Kogan can offer MVNO plans at significantly lower price points than the carriers who own the underlying infrastructure. The trade-off is thinner customer support options and fewer frills like international roaming benefits.

Direct Import Products | Kogan.com

Kogan.com built its reputation on selling electronics and home goods directly sourced from manufacturers, cutting out middlemen. That philosophy extends to its mobile service — fewer physical stores, leaner customer service teams, and online-first operations translate to lower costs that get passed to subscribers.

Can Kogan be trusted?

Kogan has operated since 2006 as an online retailer and entered mobile services in 2012, giving it over a decade of track record in Australia. Customer reviews are mixed — some praise the value, while others note occasional service hiccups or difficulty reaching support. As with any budget provider, the key is understanding what you’re signing up for: cheaper plans mean trade-offs in support depth and premium features.

Comparison Table

Three prepaid MVNOs compete head-to-head on Vodafone’s network, each with distinct pricing and data strategies.

Provider Plan Type Data Allowance Price Network
Kogan Mobile Large 365 Day Prepaid 300GB $240/year Vodafone 4G/5G
Lyca Mobile 360 Day Prepaid 600GB $360/year Vodafone 4G/5G
iiNet Large Plan Monthly Prepaid 100GB $45/month ($22.50 first 6 months) Vodafone 4G/5G
TPG Small Prepaid Monthly Prepaid 25GB $25/month ($12.50 first 6 months) Vodafone 4G
Kogan Mobile Large Monthly Prepaid 80GB + 5G trial $40/month Vodafone 4G/5G

The pattern here is clear: Kogan’s 365-day plans offer more raw data per dollar than monthly competitors, but Lyca Mobile’s 600GB beats Kogan’s 300GB if sheer volume is your priority. For flexibility, the monthly plans let you adjust or cancel without committing to a year upfront.

Plan Specifications

Five core plan tiers span both monthly and 365-day formats, each with distinct data allocations and pricing structures.

Plan Data Price Network 5G Access Rollover Cap
Small Monthly 10GB $15/month Vodafone 4G No 200GB
Medium Monthly 40GB $25/month Vodafone 4G No 200GB
Large Monthly 80GB $40/month Vodafone 4G/5G Trial 200GB
SMALL 365 Day 220GB (annual) Single payment Vodafone 4G No None
MEDIUM 365 Day 200GB (annual) Single payment Vodafone 4G No None
LARGE 365 Day 300GB (annual) Single payment Vodafone 4G No None

Upsides

  • Massive data allocations on 365-day plans
  • No lock-in contracts on monthly prepaid
  • Free 5G trial on Large monthly plan for new customers
  • Physical SIM and eSIM options available
  • Data rollover up to 200GB on monthly plans
  • Qantas Points earned on all spending

Downsides

  • No data rollover on 365-day plans
  • 5G limited to one monthly plan only
  • International roaming costs higher than Vodafone direct
  • Vodafone can cap speeds to 12Mbps under unspecified conditions
  • Customer support less robust than major carriers
  • Rollover data lost if you don’t recharge before expiry

Related reading: Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max · Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

While Kogan’s 365-day prepaid shines on Vodafone’s network, Aldi Mobile plans deliver strong Telstra-backed alternatives with data rollover perks.

Frequently asked questions

How does Kogan compare to other budget MVNOs?

Kogan Mobile’s 365-day plans offer competitive data volumes against rivals like Lyca Mobile, though Lyca edges ahead with 600GB versus Kogan’s 300GB on annual plans. For monthly flexibility, Kogan’s rollover feature up to 200GB is a strong differentiator among budget providers, though competitors like iiNet and TPG also compete on price with promotional rates.