Will postpaid plans still work in Malaysia in 2023? We all know that prepaid plans are much cheaper than postpaid plans in Malaysia. But are there any other advantages to using postpaid?
For those new to purchasing a mobile plan in Malaysia, here are prepaid and postpaid plans.
What are prepaid and postpaid plans?
Prepaid plans mean users have to pay first Before you start using services such as calls, SMS, mobile data. And most importantly, no contract is required.
A postpaid plan means that users receive an invoice at the end of each month. Deferred payment is usually associated with contracts of 12-24 months in Malaysia. If a user exceeds their call, SMS, or data limits, the service will continue, but at a significant cost.
Prepaid Plan vs Postpaid Plan
Prepaid and postpaid each have their advantages and disadvantages. Let’s see the difference between prepaid and postpaid plans.
| advance payment | deferred payment | |
| price | It’s cheap | Mahal |
| agreement | No | of |
| Service interruption for redundancy | of | No |
| SST | Exclusion | 6% |
| Early cancellation penalty | No | of |
| flexible | of | No |
| switch carrier | Simple | difficult |
| speed | Varies depending on contract plan | Unlimited |
| coverage | same | same |
| family plan | No | of |
| bundle smartphone | No | of |
| perfect for | General user | business user |
5 Because prepaid plans are more profitable than postpaid plans
1 Prepaid plan is cheaper
In general, Prepaid plans are cheaper than postpaid plans in malaysia.
Based on 2023 data, The median prepaid plan in Malaysia is only RM37.06.which is equivalent to RM1.20+ per day.
Depending on the carrier, almost everyone can afford this and enjoy unlimited internet (with or without speed limits).
For example, Umobile U25 is RM25 per month and speed limit is 3Mbps. It’s enough for searching for information, reading the news, and watching 480p-quality videos on your smartphone.
vice versa, Postpaid plan median is RM113.91Calculated based on the latest postpaid plans offered by , Celcom, Maxis and Digi in January 2023. That’s almost three times the median price for postpaid plans.
In addition to it, Prepaid reloads are exempt from 6% service tax However, postpaid plans are subject to 6% service tax (SST).
Additionally, you can reload from Lazada and Shopee apps. Sometimes the discounts given are almost 5% to 10% cheaper. And maybe you can earn Shopee or Lazada coins.
2 No contract
The second advantage of using a prepaid plan is that there is no contract period. User is not bound by any contract and is free to upgrade or downgrade his plan prepaid monthly.
Also, there are no monthly commitments to worry about.
For example, if you travel abroad for a month, you can defer your prepaid plan. Your number is usually valid for another 30-60 days.
3 No surprise charges
With a prepaid plan, there are no surprise charges. Users must subscribe to a plan before making calls or using data. Additionally, credits are immediately deducted when you exceed the set limit. So it’s very clear.
There are many cases where postpaid customers mistakenly use more than the amount of data communication or call time. The worst part is that you don’t realize it until you get your phone bill. And have to pay exorbitant bills.
#4 Easy to port
Easy to port or switch to another carrier for prepaid plansIn many cases the entire process can be done online.
Postpaid plans, on the other hand, are typically more difficult to change or terminate. First, the contract period must be fulfilled to avoid penalties. And usually users need to make a phone call or visit their local customer service center to create an application for the port out process.
#5 No late fees
Prepaid plans are pay-as-you-go. If you do not pay first, you will not receive the service. That’s all. Don’t worry about late payments.
For postpaid plans, each invoice has a due date. Late charges will apply if you forget to pay. For example, Maxis may charge late payment interest of 1.5% per month on unpaid amounts.
3 Advantages of Postpaid over Prepaid Plans
#1 No Service Interruption
Compared to prepaid plans, the advantage of postpaid plans is that you don’t have to worry about the service running out even if you exceed the plan limit. However, please note that additional charges will apply.
Consistent service is always available. This is a very important factor for companies and business users.
#2 Family plan
Celcom, Maxis and Digi all offer attractive family postpaid plans. In some cases, there are family plans that are more economical than each person subscribing to their own prepaid plan.
#3 Bundle smartphone
If you want to buy a smartphone, especially an iPhone, at a low price, why not consider subscribing to a postpaid plan along with your smartphone? However, it’s important to explore and compare all iPhone plans before deciding which plan is right for you.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the prepaid plan is cheaper and there is no contract, so general users are more advantageous.
Postpaid plans, on the other hand, are more suitable for businesses because the service will not be interrupted even if the limit is exceeded.
