How to unlock your phone from Optus

Contents

In this Optus unlocking guide:

Unlock your iPhone from Optus
Unlock your Android phone from Optus
Cheap mobile plans from Optus network resellers
Cheap mobile plans on the Vodafone and Telstra networks

Worried you need to unlock your phone from Optus? The good news is, you probably don't. Most phones sold by Optus are unlocked by default, so you often don't even need to worry about an unlock code or anything.

But if you bought your phone on a prepaid plan – or more than a decade ago on a postpaid plan – it might be a different story. In this guide, we'll cover how to find out if you phone is locked to the Optus network and, if so, what you can do about it and how much it will cost. We'll also look at some cheap phone plans from other mobile providers, both on and off the Optus network.

Unlock your iPhone from Optus

All iPhones sold by Optus after 2013 are unlocked – regardless of whether you bought it prepaid or postpaid. And all iPhones sold before that date can be unlocked for free.

However, if your iPhone is old enough to still be locked to Optus, you have bigger problems. Any iPhone this old will have stopped receiving security updates years ago and so is a big security risk to use online. We strongly advise you get a newer phone with an in-date version of iOS.

But if you do insist on using one of these relics of the modern age, here's how to unlock it:

If you have an iPhone 4 or higher and are running iOS 6 or below – all you need to do is update iOS to unlock your iPhone.
If you somehow still have an iPhone 3 or iPhone 3GS – you'll need to factory restore your phone using iTunes (possibly an older version of iTunes). Then it will be unlocked. Restoring it will wipe the storage drive, so make sure you back it up first.

Need a new phone?

Here are the winners of the 2024 WhistleOut Awards.

Unlock your Android phone from Optus

If you bought your Android phone from Optus on a postpaid plan, it should already be unlocked – unless it's a MotoBlur from around 2010, in which case you need to upgrade to a newer handset because you're using a device that is dangerously past its security use-by date.

If you bought your Android from Optus as part of a prepaid plan, it will be locked. Optus charges a fee for unlocking your phone, which depends on how long you've been with Optus prepaid.

$80 if your prepaid service has been active less than six months
$25 if your prepaid service has been active more than six months

Step by step: unlock your Android from Optus

To unlock your phone, visit the Optus unlock page and pay the fee via credit card or PayID, then wait for the network unlock code to be sent to you. You will then need to:

Note down the network unlock code sent to you by Optus
Find and record your phone's IMEI number – open your phone app and type *#06* into the dial screen. You want the number labelled IMEI 1
Switch off your phone
Insert a non-Optus SIM
Turn on your phone and enter your network unlock code
To finish, you might need to turn your phone off and on again

Cheap mobile plans from Optus network resellers

If you want a cheaper plan than Optus offers, but still want Optus mobile coverage, you can still sign up to a mobile plan on the Optus network via a reseller or Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO).

Optus MVNOs buy capacity on the Optus network for cheap, then resell it to their customers. They can keep prices down because they have lower overheads, such as smaller advertising budgets or fewer bells and whistles. Some plans are limited to 4G, and some 5G plans have speed caps, but they can both still get up to 100Mbps or more, depending on coverage in your area. That's roughly the same download speed as an NBN 100 plan.

These are some of the most popular SIM-only plans with WhistleOut visitors on the Optus network, taken from our database of 28 mobile providers over the last seven days:

#1	Dodo	Dodo $28 Mobile Plan 30GB data On the Optus 4G Plus Mobile Network Deal: 50% off for first 3 mths! Get the $28 Mobile Plan for $14/mth for the first 3 mths. New customers only. Offer ends 06.05.25 $28/mth Min. cost $14 Go to Site	$28/mth Min. cost $14	Go to Site
#2	SpinTel	SpinTel $22 Mobile Plan 25GB data at download speeds up to 100Mbps Optus 5G in selected areas with 5G devices ex. NT Deal: Enjoy $8 off for the first 6 months for new customers - $14/mth for first 6 months, then $22/mth $14/mth Min. cost $14 Go to Site	$14/mth Min. cost $14	Go to Site
#3	Catch Connect	Catch Connect 28 Day Plan - 15GB 25GB data Optus 4G Plus Mobile Network in available areas Deal: Get 25GB (15GB + 10GB bonus) for the first 12 recharges! Recharges $20/15GB. New customers only. Offer ends 30.04.25 $20 Per 28 Day Renewal Link not supplied	$20 Per 28 Day Renewal	Link not supplied
#4	SpinTel	SpinTel $29 Mobile Plan 50GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Optus 5G in selected areas with 5G devices ex. NT $29/mth Min. cost $29 Go to Site	$29/mth Min. cost $29	Go to Site
#5	Dodo	Dodo $33 Mobile Plan 40GB data at download speeds up to 100Mbps On the Optus 5G Mobile Network Deal: 50% off for first 3 mths! Get the $33 Mobile Plan for $16.50/mth for the first 3 mths. New customers only. Offer ends 06.05.25 $33/mth Min. cost $16.50 Go to Site	$33/mth Min. cost $16.50	Go to Site
#6	amaysim	amaysim 7-day UNLIMITED 10GB Plan 10GB data at download speeds up to 100Mbps Optus 5G in selected areas with 5G devices ex. NT $10 Per 7 Day Renewal Link not supplied	$10 Per 7 Day Renewal	Link not supplied
#7	Moose Mobile	Moose Mobile Moose 26.80 SIM Only 40GB data at download speeds up to 100Mbps On the Optus 5G Mobile Network Deal: Get 40GB for $12.40 – Includes $14.40 off and 13GB bonus data for first 6 months. Offer ends 31.05.25 $12.40/mth Min. cost $12.40 Link not supplied	$12.40/mth Min. cost $12.40	Link not supplied
#8	Southern Phone	Southern Phone Medium 5G SIM Plan 40GB data at download speeds up to 100Mbps Optus 5G in selected areas with 5G devices ex. NT Deal: Includes $10/mth discount for first 6 months. $19/mth first 6 months, then $29/mth. Offer ends 14.08.25 $19/mth Min. cost $19 Link not supplied	$19/mth Min. cost $19	Link not supplied
#9	Yomojo	Yomojo Unlimited Voice & SMS + 8GB 8GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps On the Optus 4G Plus Mobile Network Deal: 50% off on all Mobile Plans for the first 3 months. Ends 31.05.25. T&Cs apply. $19.90 Per 30 Day Renewal Go to Site	$19.90 Per 30 Day Renewal	Go to Site
#10	Dodo	Dodo $23 Mobile Plan 15GB data On the Optus 4G Plus Mobile Network $23/mth Min. cost $23 Go to Site	$23/mth Min. cost $23	Go to Site

Cheap mobile plans on the Vodafone and Telstra networks

If you want to get off the Optus network entirely, you can also go with a Vodafone or Telstra network reseller.

These are some of the most popular plans on the Telstra or Vodafone network, based on WhistleOut visitor activity in the last seven days:

Mobile plans on the Vodafone network
Mobile plans on the Telstra network

#1	TPG	TPG 25GB Small Plan 25GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps On the Vodafone 4G Mobile Network Deal: 50% off - $12.50/mth for first 6 months, then $25/mth ongoing. Available until withdrawn. T&Cs apply. $12.50 Per 1 Month Renewal Go to Site	$12.50 Per 1 Month Renewal	Go to Site
#2	felix mobile	felix mobile felix 50GB Mobile Plan 50GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: Get 50% off your first 3 mths when you switch to felix. $15/mth for first 3 mths, then $30/mth. Use promo code FELIX50. T&Cs apply $30 Per 1 Month Renewal Go to Site	$30 Per 1 Month Renewal	Go to Site
#3	iiNet	iiNet 25GB Small Plan 25GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps On the Vodafone 4G Mobile Network Deal: 50% off - $12.50/mth for first 6 months, then $25/mth ongoing. Available until withdrawn. T&Cs apply. $12.50 Per 1 Month Renewal Go to Site	$12.50 Per 1 Month Renewal	Go to Site
#4	Lebara Mobile	Lebara Mobile $24.90 Small Plan 40GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps On the Vodafone 4G Mobile Network Deal: Includes 15GB bonus data for first 3 recharges + 200 bonus std mins to selected countries when you activate by 11.08.25 $24.90 Per 30 Day Renewal Go to Site	$24.90 Per 30 Day Renewal	Go to Site
#5	Kogan Mobile	Kogan Mobile Medium Monthly Plan 40GB data On the Vodafone 4G Mobile Network Deal: Get 50GB for $10 for first month (includes $15 off + 10GB bonus data), then 40GB for $25 thereafter, valid until 27.04.25 $25 Per 1 Month Renewal Go to Site	$25 Per 1 Month Renewal	Go to Site
#6	Vodafone	Vodafone $49 Small SIM Only Plan 100GB data Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: Get 100GB for $39 (incl. 50GB bonus + $10/mth off) on the $49 Small plan. T&Cs apply. $39/mth Min. cost $39 Go to Site	$39/mth Min. cost $39	Go to Site
#7	Lyca Mobile	Lyca Mobile Unlimited 15 4GB data On the Vodafone 4G Mobile Network $15 Per 28 Day Renewal Link not supplied	$15 Per 28 Day Renewal	Link not supplied
#8	iiNet	iiNet 50GB Medium Plan 50GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: 50% off - $17.50/mth for first 6 months, then $35/mth ongoing. Available until withdrawn. T&Cs apply. $17.50 Per 1 Month Renewal Go to Site	$17.50 Per 1 Month Renewal	Go to Site
#9	TPG	TPG 50GB Medium Plan 50GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: 50% off - $17.50/mth for first 6 months, then $35/mth ongoing. Available until withdrawn. T&Cs apply. $17.50 Per 1 Month Renewal Go to Site	$17.50 Per 1 Month Renewal	Go to Site
#10	Lebara Mobile	Lebara Mobile $19.90 Extra Small Plan 10GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps On the Vodafone 4G Mobile Network Deal: $19.90 SIM for $8 online until 04.05.25 New customers only. T&Cs apply. $19.90 Per 30 Day Renewal Go to Site	$19.90 Per 30 Day Renewal	Go to Site

#1	Everyday Mobile	Everyday Mobile Pre-paid Mobile $25 Recharge 22GB data at download speeds up to 100Mbps Uses part of the Telstra 4G Mobile Network Deal: $25 SIM Starter Pack discounted to $12.50 + 10% off your grocery shop once a month $25 Per 30 Day Renewal Link not supplied	$25 Per 30 Day Renewal	Link not supplied
#2	Boost Mobile	Boost Mobile $13 Prepaid 7GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Telstra 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: Get 7GB data for the first 3 recharges, then 5GB from 4th recharge. New customers only. Activate by 07.07.25 $13 Per 7 Day Renewal Go to Site	$13 Per 7 Day Renewal	Go to Site
#3	ALDI mobile	ALDI mobile $19 Mobile Plan 10GB data at download speeds up to 100Mbps Uses part of the Telstra 4G Mobile Network $19 Per 30 Day Renewal Link not supplied	$19 Per 30 Day Renewal	Link not supplied
#4	Exetel	Exetel ExeSim Saver 4G Plan 10GB data at download speeds up to 100Mbps Uses part of the Telstra 4G Mobile Network $20 Per 30 Day Renewal Link not supplied	$20 Per 30 Day Renewal	Link not supplied
#5	Tangerine Telecom	Tangerine Telecom 12GB Mobile SIM 12GB data at download speeds up to 100Mbps Uses part of the Telstra 4G Mobile Network Deal: Bundle your mobile and nbn plans on the same account to get 10% off your mobile SIM-only plan fees. T&Cs apply. $23/mth Min. cost $23 Go to Site	$23/mth Min. cost $23	Go to Site
#6	Superloop	Superloop SuperSim Saver 4G Plan 15GB data at download speeds up to 100Mbps Uses part of the Telstra 4G Mobile Network $25 Per 30 Day Renewal Go to Site	$25 Per 30 Day Renewal	Go to Site
#7	Boost Mobile	Boost Mobile $26 Prepaid 17GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Telstra 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: Get 17GB data for the first 3 recharges, then 7GB from 4th recharge. New customers only. Activate by 07.07.25 $26 Per 28 Day Renewal Go to Site	$26 Per 28 Day Renewal	Go to Site
#8	More	More 12GB Mobile SIM 12GB data at download speeds up to 100Mbps Uses Telstra Wholesale 4G mobile network Deal: $5/mth off mobile plan fees for 12 mths then 10% off ongoing if you are a CommBank customer - $19/mth for 12 mths, then $21.60/mth $26/mth Min. cost $26 Go to Site	$26/mth Min. cost $26	Go to Site
#9	Tangerine Telecom	Tangerine Telecom 25GB 5G Mobile SIM 25GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Uses parts of Telstra’s 5G and 4G mobile networks Deal: Bundle your mobile and nbn plans on the same account to get 10% off your mobile SIM-only plan fees. T&Cs apply. $29/mth Min. cost $29 Go to Site	$29/mth Min. cost $29	Go to Site
#10	Belong	Belong 25GB Mobile Plan 25GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Uses parts of Telstra’s 5G and 4G mobile networks $30/mth Min. cost $30 Go to Site	$30/mth Min. cost $30	Go to Site

Popularity is based on visitors who click a "Go to site" button or who click to check the T&Cs of a plan. If we don't have an active affiliate relationship with a given provider, there's no button for users to click and so we're unable to include "Go to site" clicks for these providers in our popularity data.

Get the best telco deals first