{"id":348,"date":"2026-10-17T18:38:02","date_gmt":"2026-10-17T07:38:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uxrobot.ai\/ux-audits\/?p=348"},"modified":"2026-10-17T18:53:14","modified_gmt":"2026-10-17T07:53:14","slug":"telstra-vs-optus-vs-vodafone-sim-only-plan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uxrobot.ai\/ux-audits\/telstra-vs-optus-vs-vodafone-sim-only-plan\/","title":{"rendered":"We tried to buy a SIM-only plan from Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. Telstra made it the hardest."},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Independent outside-in audit<\/p>\n \n \n

UX Robot followed one customer journey on Telstra\u2019s website on a phone, then ran the same journey on Optus and Vodafone, on 17 October 2026. We are not affiliated with any of them, and we did not use their analytics. This is a review of one public journey on one day, not a judgement on their networks or their plans.<\/p>\n \n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\n 14 s<\/span>\n Telstra\u2019s cart stayed blank for about 14 seconds after we chose a plan.<\/span>\n <\/div>\n
\n $120<\/span>\n More over a year if you miss the promo code Telstra advertises but does not apply.<\/span>\n <\/div>\n
\n 5\/5<\/span>\n Stages where Optus did the same journey better.<\/span>\n <\/div>\n
\n 27,340<\/span>\n Google searches a month find Telstra\u2019s plans page on the first page of results.<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The test<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\n 01 \/ User story<\/span>\n

As someone switching mobile providers, I want to choose a SIM-only mobile plan with enough data and continue to checkout, so that I get the data I need at a monthly price I am happy with.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n 02 \/ Test task<\/span>\n

Starting from each provider\u2019s SIM-only plans page, as if arriving from Google with a phone already in hand: compare the plans, choose one, add it to the cart and continue until checkout shows the plan, its data and its monthly price, or asks for personal details.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n 03 \/ Start pages<\/span>\n

Telstra<\/a>, Optus<\/a> and Vodafone<\/a> SIM-only plans pages.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n 04 \/ Safe stopping point<\/span>\n

Before entering personal details, signing in, checking eligibility with personal information or paying.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n 05 \/ Conditions<\/span>\n

Australian websites in Chrome, on a 390 \u00d7 844 phone screen, with no stored site data. Telstra\u2019s journey also tested its menu and its own search.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n 06 \/ Tested<\/span>\n

17 October 2026, by a UX Robot run: the journey on all three websites, WCAG 2.2 A and AA checks and usability checks on every Telstra page reached, Chrome UX Report speed data and Google search results.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The 30-second result<\/p>\n \n \n

Optus and Vodafone sell the plan. Telstra sells the promo code.<\/h2>\n \n \n

Both competitors put a plan, its data and its monthly price in front of you early, apply their offers for you and keep your order in view at checkout. Telstra opens with a code to copy, hides its cheapest plan in a carousel, makes you wait for a blank cart that has not applied the offer, then asks for an email before it shows your order again. Telstra still leads in places: its plan cards show data and price clearly, choosing a plan is easier than on Vodafone, and its website is the fastest of the three.<\/p>\n \n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\n Stage by stage<\/span>\n \n \n \n
Who did each stage of the journey best<\/caption>\n
Stage<\/th>Telstra<\/th>Optus<\/th>Vodafone<\/th><\/tr>\n <\/thead>\n
01 First screen<\/th>Behind<\/span><\/td>Better<\/span><\/td>Better<\/span><\/td><\/tr>\n
02 Comparing plans<\/th>Behind<\/span><\/td>Better<\/span><\/td>Better<\/span><\/td><\/tr>\n
03 Choosing a plan<\/th>Mixed<\/span><\/td>Better<\/span><\/td>Behind Telstra<\/span><\/td><\/tr>\n
04 Cart and offer<\/th>Behind<\/span><\/td>Better<\/span><\/td>Better<\/span><\/td><\/tr>\n
05 Checkout<\/th>Behind<\/span><\/td>Better<\/span><\/td>Better<\/span><\/td><\/tr>\n
Whole-website speed<\/th>Fastest<\/span><\/td>Slowest<\/span><\/td>Close<\/span><\/td><\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n <\/table>\n <\/div>\n \n<\/div>\n\n\n\n