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Best internet providers in Australia
We haven’t just rounded up the list of the top 10 internet providers. We’ve done you one better by highlighting their most popular plans on Finder too.
You want the option to bundle internet and energy and save up to $10 a month on your NBN bill.
You want reliable speeds. Dodo shared fourth position with iPrimus (out of 12 providers), in the ACCC's quarterly Broadband Performance Report for download speeds during busy hours of the day (7pm–11pm). It delivered maximum speeds 101.1% of the time.
Keep in mind: Dodo no longer offers a home phone line if that's an important feature for you to have.
2. Tangerine - Juice deals for the first 6 months
Tangerine keeps its NBN plans juicy with stunning 6-month discounts that are usually available throughout the year.
That's why it won the 2024 Finder Award for Best NBN Provider of the Year.
You're happy to sign up with a smaller provider to keep your internet bills on the lower end.
You want multiple customer support options such as giving them a call or live chatting through its website or via WhatsApp.
You'd like a home phone line. It costs an additional $10 a month to get it but the option is available.
Keep in mind: Tangerine doesn't offer any bundling discounts if you sign up for its mobile plan.
3. iiNet - Choices galore
iiNet doesn't really need an introduction. It's pretty well-established in the internet space.
What you might not know is that, in addition to NBN plans, iiNet also offers home wireless broadband and has its own fibre network, which could be available in your area.
Are keen to try home wireless broadband without paying a hefty price. There's no lock-in contract so you can leave whenever you want. The no lock-in contract applies to its NBN plans too.
Want optional add-ons such as local or international call packs or Fetch Mini 4K for your entertainment needs.
Wouldn't mind getting a $5 a month bundling discount by signing up to iiNet for internet and its medium or large mobile plan.
Keep in mind: iiNet's 5G home wireless broadband may not be available to everyone just yet as 5G is still rolling out across the country.
4. TPG - Cheaper than other big telcos
TPG offers fast internet, usually $10 to $20 per month cheaper than other big brands like Telstra and Optus.
You're looking to sign up with one of the bigger internet providers that offers good value for money. It's why TPG won Finder's 2024 Award for Best NBN Provider - Everyday Use.
You want to bundle your internet with a home phone line and mobile plan.
You want multiple customer support options. You can call at any time and on any day of the week, use the live chat feature on its website, or contact TPG via Facebook.
Keep in mind: TPG plans come with no lock-in contract, but if you'd like to switch to another provider, you'll need to provide written notice 30 days in advance.
5. Kogan - Get Qantas Frequent Flyer points on your NBN
Outside of shopping deals, Kogan also offers a set of budget-friendly NBN plans that allow you to earn a Qantas Frequent Flyer point for every $2 spent.
All you care about is fast speeds and cheap prices. Even after Kogan's sign-up discount runs its course, its prices remain favourable.
You want to purchase a cheap modem. It costs $69 and is one of the cheapest modems available from NBN providers on Finder. The average cost tends to hover around the $130 mark.
You want to sign up with a provider that was highly commended in the 2024 Finder Awards for 'NBN Provider - Everyday Use'.
Keep in mind: Kogan's customer support options are bare bones. There's no online account management so you'll need to ring its customer support team for everything.
Don't mind a digital self-service model as long as your internet bills are affordable.
Want access to Australia-based customer support through its app or website.
Would like the reliability of Aussie Broadband without the premium pricing.
Keep in mind: Aussie Broadband doesn't support all NBN speed tiers just yet. However, it offers plans on the most popular ones including NBN 25, NBN 50, NBN 100 and NBN 250.
7. Optus - A solid option for streaming perks
Optus's plans are generally more expensive than other providers on Finder, but they come with extra bells and whistles plus fast speeds.
For example, you'll get access to discount Optus Sport ($9.99 a month instead of $24.99), and up to 10% off your streaming bills if you bundle 3 or more eligible subscriptions via Optus SubHub.
Some plans also feature a standard Netflix subscription, valued at $16.99 a month.
You want fast and reliable internet. In September 2024, Optus ranked 3rd out of 12 providers for reliable download speeds in the ACCC's quarterly Broadband Performance Report. It delivered maximum typical evening speeds 101.6% of the time during the busy hours of the day (7-11pm).
You want a modem with 4G backup. This can be handy during an NBN outage.
Optus Sport is important to you given it has a lock on Premier League until 2028.
Keep in mind: The cost of a modem from Optus will be $0 if you stay connected for 36 months. If you leave early, you'll need to pay off the remaining cost of the modem.
8. Southern Phone - Affordable internet plans that work for everyone
Southern Phone is a solid choice for budget-friendly internet, often sweetening the deal with frequent discounts.
These savings usually extend to its mobile plans too, making it worth keeping an eye on.
You're a savvy NBN deal hunter and want to take advantage of 6-month sign-up discounts.
You appreciate an Australia-based support team (they're in regional Victoria).
You need a fixed wireless connection. Swoop operates its own fixed wireless network which is handy if you can't connect to NBN.
Keep in mind: Swoop's ongoing price pricing doesn't have much in the way of bonus perks minus refer-a-friend discounts.
10. AGL - Bundle NBN with electricity and gas to get a discount
AGL's a solid option if you're looking to bundle energy and internet for a discount.
You can get around $15 a month off your NBN plan when you bundle. Sometimes there's a separate promo running on its internet plans which can reduce your costs even further.
You want the convenience of being with the same provider for internet and energy.
You're after multiple customer support options and a user-friendly mobile app.
Having access to AGL's rewards store for retail discounts sounds appealing.
Keep in mind: It's best to avoid buying your modem from AGL if you need one as it's quite expensive compared to costs from other providers in our database.
How do I find the best internet provider in my area?
With the NBN being the most popular type of internet connection in Australia, it's likely that if you live in a major city like Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane, the best service provider in your area will be one that offers NBN plans.
To find the best internet provider in your area, simply enter your address on our Broadband Plan Finder™ and see all the relevant plans that pop up. You can filter the results to find a price and speed that fit your needs best.
Or, take a look at the best internet plans as picked by our experts. We select 5 of the internet plans that we believe are the best each month in order to make your decision a little easier.
2024 Finder Award winners
Still unsure about which internet provider is best? Take a look at the broadband winners of our 2024 Finder Awards.
2024 Finder Awards
Winner: Provider of the Year
Tangerine shone across the most popular speed tiers for price and speed. It's always slinging 6-month signup offers and has multiple ways for people to get in touch which is handy, especially if you don't want to get on the phone directly. You can also BYO modem or bundle a home phone line for an additional $10 a month.
TPG knocked it out of the park for its competitive pricing and 50Mbps typical evening speed, which is the maximum speed available in this category. You can also sign up for its 6-month NBN 50 plan if you want a modem for $0 and use the live chat feature for support.
SpinTel's NBN 100 plan is one of the cheapest around and offers a typical speed of 100Mbps (the maximum available on this speed tier). Together with its well-priced plan, you'll get access to multiple support channels including phone, live chat and WhatsApp or Messenger.
Superloop offers Superfast speeds for just under $100 a month and close to the maximum speed available on an NBN 250 plan. It often runs 6-month signup discounts which makes it stack up extremely well on price vs typical download speed. It also offers the option to boost your internet speed 5 times a month at no extra cost.
Exetel came out on top for value. Its NBN 25 plan, also known as Exetel NBN Everyday, is the cheapest one on offer from the provider and comes with 25Mbps typical evening speeds, the maximum you can get on this speed tier. Plus, we've already established it's one of the more reliable providers around so you know you're getting your money's worth.
How do you compare internet providers in Australia?
There are a bunch of factors to consider before signing up for a new provider, including the following:
Price
If you're new to a provider, see if you can score any introductory deals. Common deals with NBN plans are a discounted price for 3–6 months, while home wireless plans often come with the first month for free.
Just remember to keep note of when the promotional period runs out, so you don't end up paying more than you want to.
Speed
The NBN speed you need will depend on how many people are in your household and how intensely you use the internet. Most 2–3 person households will find NBN 50 sufficient, though larger households or those working from home may prefer NBN 100.
Customer service
Depending on your previous experiences, customer service can be a make-it or break-it factor when comparing plans. If you're sick of playing phone tag or only having the option to live chat, you might prefer an internet provider with an Australian-based call centre.
Who's the most popular provider?
Telstra is the most popular broadband provider, according to our consumer sentiment tracker data (August 2024). The top 5 providers were Telstra (32%), Optus (18%), TPG (9%), iiNet (8%) and Aussie Broadband (5%).
How many internet providers are there in Australia?
There are dozens of internet service providers offering NBN, satellite, home wireless and mobile broadband plans in Australia. While we try our best to compare as many internet providers as possible, we may not cover some of the smaller regional operators.
We compare over 60 internet providers across Australia.
Keep in mind: Some smaller providers may operate in certain states or cities only. We do not compare these providers as they aren't as accessible for those living outside of these areas.
Methodology: How we researched the best internet providers
To calculate the top 10 best internet service providers, we look at the total number of clicks by Finder users over the last month. This includes plans on multiple connection types including NBN, home wireless and mobile broadband.
Keep in mind that the providers on this list are Finder partners, which means we may be paid if you click links to partner websites. Find out more about how we make money.
We're still editorially independent, and in our breakdown of these providers and their plans, we'll be upfront about any sneaky terms and conditions we think you should know about.
Frequently asked questions
The best internet in Australia will depend on what you value most. That could be speed, extra features or price.
The best internet in Sydney will depend on your location. Because it's a large metropolitan city, home wireless could be an option. 5G home wireless can achieve faster speeds than most NBN connections, but it's only available in certain locations depending on each provider's 5G mobile network.
Similarly, the best internet in Melbourne will depend on your location. Home wireless could be an option for those in metropolitan areas. Otherwise, it's likely that the NBN is the best fixed-line option for most people.
You can use our Broadband Plan Finder™ to find which internet plans are available in your area.
Mariam Gabaji is an editor and tech and utilities expert at Finder with 12+ years of experience as a journalist. She's committed to helping households cut through the industry jargon and save money on their bills. Her expertise is often featured in media including the ABC, Yahoo Finance, 9News, 7News, A Current Affair, The Guardian, SBS and Money Magazine. See full bio
Mariam's expertise
Mariam has written 295 Finder guides across topics including:
Hi John,
You can enter your address here to see if you can get the NBN and what plans are available to you: https://www.finder.com.au/broadband-plans/nbn-tracker
From there, you can select the one that best suits your needs.
Hope this helps.
JohnOctober 19, 2023
We bought a building block which did not have the nbn connected. Can I now get it connected and how much would it cost.
Finder
MarkOctober 23, 2023Finder
Hi John,
As you don’t have the NBN connected at your block, you would likely face a $300 one-off new development fee. This would be passed on to you by the NBN provider that you choose.
You can compare NBN plans here to see what suits your needs: https://www.finder.com.au/broadband-plans/nbn
And when you’ve contacted the provider of your choice, they will inform you if you can get the NBN connected at your block and if any additional work is required and how much this would cost on top of the regular monthly NBN plan.
Hope this helps.
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finder.com.au is one of Australia's leading comparison websites. We are committed to our readers and stands by our editorial principles
We try to take an open and transparent approach and provide a broad-based comparison service. However, you should be aware that while we are an independently owned service, our comparison service does not include all providers or all products available in the market.
Some product issuers may provide products or offer services through multiple brands, associated companies or different labeling arrangements. This can make it difficult for consumers to compare alternatives or identify the companies behind the products. However, we aim to provide information to enable consumers to understand these issues.
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need to compare opticom broadband can someone help pls?
Hi Noel, you can compare Opticomm broadband plans here: https://www.finder.com.au/broadband-plans/what-is-opticomm. Hope this helps.
I’d like to get the nbn on
Hi John,
You can enter your address here to see if you can get the NBN and what plans are available to you: https://www.finder.com.au/broadband-plans/nbn-tracker
From there, you can select the one that best suits your needs.
Hope this helps.
We bought a building block which did not have the nbn connected. Can I now get it connected and how much would it cost.
Hi John,
As you don’t have the NBN connected at your block, you would likely face a $300 one-off new development fee. This would be passed on to you by the NBN provider that you choose.
You can compare NBN plans here to see what suits your needs: https://www.finder.com.au/broadband-plans/nbn
And when you’ve contacted the provider of your choice, they will inform you if you can get the NBN connected at your block and if any additional work is required and how much this would cost on top of the regular monthly NBN plan.
Hope this helps.