Compare home wireless broadband deals
Home wireless broadband can be a good alternative to the NBN for some households, offering fast setup and similar speeds through the mobile network. Prices start at under $50 a month.
What is home wireless broadband?
Home wireless broadband allows you to connect to the internet remotely using signals from nearby mobile towers.
The speed and reliability of your connection will depend on whether you're using 4G or 5G technology plus the signal strength in your area. 5G generally provides faster speeds and lower latency compared to 4G.
Lower latency improves your connection's performance, making activities like online gaming smoother and more responsive.
What is the difference between home wireless broadband, mobile broadband and NBN?
Home wireless broadband differs from mobile broadband in that it uses a stationary modem linked to your home address, rather than a portable device.
If you move, you'll need to contact your provider to check if your plan and modem can be used at your new address.
The NBN use fixed lines, like fibre or copper cables, to connect to the internet.
Home wireless broadband, on the other hand, relies on mobile networks (4G or 5G) which makes it a bit more prone to internet congestion.
However, it can be a great alternative if you're having trouble with your existing NBN connection.
Can I get home wireless internet?
It really depends on where you live. The easiest way to check availability is by entering your address on a provider's website to see if you can sign up for one of their home wireless plans.
Keep in mind, that availability can vary between providers. Just because Telstra offers home wireless broadband in your area doesn't necessarily mean Optus will.
The same goes for 4G or 5G plans. Since 5G is still being rolled out across Australia, it might not be available where you are yet.
Either way, the provider will let you know as soon as you enter your address in their search bar.
Is home wireless broadband reliable?
Yes, home wireless broadband is generally reliable because you'll only be able to sign up for a plan if the provider is happy with the coverage at your home.
Here's a quick rundown of its pros and cons:
Pros
- Easy setup with no installation required. All you have to do is plug in your modem and that's it.
- It can be a good alternative to NBN if you're struggling with your internet connection.
- You can get typical download speeds from 25Mbps to 548Mbps (or even uncapped) depending on the provider and whether it's a 4G or 5G connection.
- The majority of plans come with unlimited data
Cons
- Access will depend on your address and whether your property gets good signals from nearby mobile towers.
- There are fewer providers to choose from compared to NBN. You also can't BYO modem and will need to get one from the provider which may or may not be baked into the cost of your plan.
- Download speeds may be capped depending on the provider.
- 5G home internet - and the faster speeds it offers - aren't available to everyone just yet.
Our expert says
"I'm living in an apartment in Sydney that doesn't have access to NBN (shocker, right!). My choices on the Opticomm network are ridiculously limited so I can't really switch providers. But that's where 5G home internet has opened a few doors for me, especially since mobile network receptions have drastically improved at my address in the last year and I now also get 5G coverage. I've taken Optus 5G home internet for a spin and had zero issues with download speeds or poor reception. Plus, it was so easy to set up. I just had to pop in a SIM, plug in the modem and voilà , all good to go."
How do I compare home wireless internet plans?
Speed
When comparing home wireless broadband plans, check if it's 4G or 5G.
4G speeds usually cap out at 25Mbps while 5G plans tend to go up to 50Mbps to 100Mbps. Some providers like Telstra can clock up to 633Mbps on 5G and Optus offers a 5G home internet plan with uncapped speeds.
That's why you need to look at the max speeds offered. Keep in mind though actual speeds can vary due to signal strength and congestion.
It's why you'll see typical download speeds displayed on most plans to show you what speeds it can achieve during the busy hours of the day (7-11pm).
Data allowance
The good news is that the majority of plans come with unlimited data. The exception is Telstra.
Its 5G home internet plan comes with 1TB of data allowance which should be good enough for the average household. However, you may want to reconsider if you're a heavy internet user running heavy downloads.
Luckily, going over the data allowance will simply cap your speeds to 25Mbps and you won't be charged extra.
Coverage
As we've mentioned, home wireless broadband isn't available everywhere, especially 5G. If you see a plan you like based on the speed, simply check your address on the provider's website to see if it's available to you.
Contract length and modem costs
In most instances, you won't ever be locked into a contract but sometimes you may need to pay off the cost of the modem if you leave before a certain time frame.
Or, you'll simply have to return it free of charge in good condition right after you cancel your plan. It's rare but one or two providers may ask you to pay for the modem upfront.
Regardless of the scenario, make sure to read the terms and conditions and compare the cost of the modems too especially if you have to pay for it.
What is the best home wireless broadband plan?
There's no single "best" plan because everyone's need for speed is different.
Instead, we've gathered all the details on all 7 home wireless broadband providers in our database to help you easily find the perfect fit for your needs.
- 4G home internet: Single plan available. Max download speed 25Mbps, max upload speed 8Mbps. Typical evening speeds are not advertised.
- 5G home internet: 3 plans available with max download speeds of 50Mbps, 100Mbps or uncapped. Typical evening speeds are advertised. Based on these, download and upload speeds can reach 45/11Mbps, 87/15Mbps or 210/20Mbps depending on the plan. The uncapped 5G plan also includes a Netflix Standard subscription.
- Data allowance: Unlimited data across all plans
- Monthly cost: $59 to $99 per month
- Modem: $0 if you stay connected for 36 months. You'll need to pay off the remaining cost of the device if you leave early.
Learn more in our full Optus broadband review.
- Network: Vodafone
- 4G home wireless broadband: Single plan available. Max download speed 20Mbps, max upload speed 2Mbps. Typical evening speeds are advertised as 15/2Mbps.
- 5G home broadband: 2 plans available with max download speeds of 50Mbps and 100Mbps and max upload speed of 15Mbps. Typical evening speeds advertised are roughly the same though upload speeds go a bit higher to 20Mbps.
- Data allowance: Unlimited data across all plans
- Monthly cost: $59.99 to $69.99 per month
- Modem: Different T&Cs for 4G and 5G plans though the similarity is you can return the modem and avoid incurring a charge for the hardware.
Learn more in our full iiNet broadband review.
- Network: Vodafone
- 4G home wireless broadband: Single plan available. Max download speed 20Mbps, max upload speed 2Mbps. Typical evening speeds are advertised as 15/2Mbps.
- 5G home broadband: 2 plans available with max download speeds of 50Mbps and 100Mbps and max upload speed of 15Mbps. Typical evening speeds advertised are roughly the same though upload speeds go a bit higher to 20Mbps.
- Data allowance: Unlimited data across all plans
- Monthly cost: $54.99 to $64.99 per month
- Modem: Different T&Cs for 4G and 5G plans though the similarity is you can return the modem and avoid incurring a charge for the hardware.
Learn more in our full TPG broadband review.
- 5G home internet: Single plan with download speeds ranging from 30-633Mbps and upload speeds from 4-86Mbps. Typical evening speeds are 317Mbps download and 36Mbps upload.
- Data allowance: 1000GB per month. Download speeds get capped at 25Mbps if you exhaust your data limit for the month.
- Monthly cost: $85 per month
- Modem: Included with the plan if you stay connected for 24 months. If you cancel early, simply return it back in good working condition to avoid a charge.
Learn more in our full Telstra broadband review.
- Network: Optus
- 4G home wireless broadband: Single plan available. Max download speed 25Mbps, max upload speed 2Mbps. Typical evening speeds are advertised as 15/2Mbps.
- 5G home broadband: 3 plans available with only typical evening download speeds advertised in the main plan details. These range from 50Mbps and 100Mbps to 240Mbps.
- Data allowance: Unlimited data across all plans
- Monthly cost: $49.95 to $89 per month
- Modem: Rental modem is provided when you sign up. You will need to return it within 21 days of cancelling your plan.
Learn more in our full SpinTel broadband review.
- Network: Optus
- 4G home wireless broadband: Single plan available. Max download speed 20Mbps, max upload speed 1Mbps. Typical evening download speeds are advertised as 16Mbps.
- 5G home broadband: 3 plans available with max download speeds of 50Mbps, 100Mbps and uncapped with upload speeds of 40Mbps, 50Mbps and 100Mbps. Typical evening download speeds are clocked at 43Mbps, 75Mbps and 225Mbps.
- Data allowance: Unlimited data across all plans
- Monthly cost: $55.90 to $95.90 per month
- Modem: You'll need to pay upfront. $179 for a 4G modem and $820 for 5G.
Learn more in our full Yomojo broadband review.
- Network: Optus
- 4G home wireless broadband: Single plan available. Max download speed 20Mbps, max upload speed 1Mbps. Typical evening speeds are not advertised.
- Data allowance: Unlimited data
- Monthly cost: $60 per month
- Modem: $0 if you stay connected for 24 months otherwise you'll need to pay off the cost of the device.
Learn more in our full Southern Phone broadband review.
Frequently asked questions
More resources on Finder
More guides on Finder
-
Unlimited internet with no upfront costs
Keep your costs low when signing up to a new NBN plan.
-
Compare 5G home internet plans
Get lightning-fast speeds on a 5G home internet plan.
-
How much data does online gaming use?
Online gaming gets a bad rep for needing fast speeds and using up your data, but it doesn't use as much as you think.
-
How much data does zoom use?
Figure out how much your Zoom calls are eating up and how you can use less data.
-
Why is my internet so slow?
If you're suffering from slow download speeds or choppy Netflix streams, Internet congestion may be to blame.
-
Best internet providers in Australia
See the top 10 internet providers on Finder over the last month.
-
Cheap internet plans
You don't have to cheap out to save money on your broadband.
-
Compare unlimited internet plans
Unlimited internet plans are everywhere and fit every budget, so you’d have to go out of your way to find anything else.
-
Best internet deals for November 2024
Our team of experts has narrowed down the best internet deals this month to help you find the right one.
-
iiNet internet review
iiNet is a household Internet name, offering decent speeds with the option of adding Fetch entertainment on your plan.
Ask a question
Why do I need this
Hi Jenny, home wireless broadband plans are an alternative to the NBN in case your address can’t connect to the NBN or you’re having problems with your internet connection. Do let me know if you have any other questions on the topic and I’ll be happy to help out :)
What your suggestion for Seniors/Single person/Pensioner. Bundle,internet,mobile. Thx.
Hi Robert, if it’s just yourself using the internet, you can look at our guide to cheap internet plans: https://www.finder.com.au/broadband-plans/cheap-broadband-plans or, we have a guide to NBN plans for seniors that could also help you out: https://www.finder.com.au/broadband-plans/nbn/nbn-plans-for-seniors. Cheers!