Before you make plans to change internet providers, it's a good idea to take stock of your existing plan and hardware. Here are 3 questions to find an answer to:
Let's break these down one-by-one.
Most Aussies are on fixed-line NBN, but there are a few other internet technologies available, including:
You'll need to know what technology you're on to switch. Learn about each internet technology here.
If you're moving house or want to switch technology, you can use our internet address checker to learn what's available at your place.
If you want to reuse your current modem, you'll need to check if it's locked to your current provider. If you're on home wireless, it's likely the modem won't be reusable on a new network. If you're using fixed-line NBN it's probably not completely 'locked', but you might need to change some settings. Your current provider will be able to tell you for sure if it's network locked, and may be able to unlock it for you.
If this sounds too technical, skip this step by getting a plan with an included modem.
If you're not happy with the speed of your current plan, then switching is a perfect time to fix that. You'll be able to find your current speed tier on your bill, or by calling your current provider. Then when you compare plans, start with one or two speed tiers up from what you're on now. Learn more about internet speed tiers here.
"It's important to remember when switching internet providers to review the terms and conditions of your current retailer. Even if you aren't in a lock in contract some like Exetel can have a 30-day cancellation policy. So if you don't cancel beforehand you might get stuck paying for 2 plans at once for a month like I did."
This is the fun bit. Head over to our internet comparison tool to see providers with a tonne of different price points and speeds. Use the filters to narrow down your choices to exactly what you want.
On the subject of what you want, what do you want?
If you've been with your current internet provider a while, chances are there are cheaper options out there. Prices often move about, and there are some great offers and sign-up deals to knock a few dollars off your monthly bill.
Whether it's switching to a more reliable technology, a more provider with better peak speeds or a provider with better customer service, switching can make your internet experience better overall.
Yeah, you wanna go fast. Filter your results for speed tier to make sure you get a plan that's at least as fast as your current connection. It's also important to check the typical evening speeds of any new provider - we list this in the comparison tables.
Who's the most popular provider?
Telstra is the most popular broadband provider, according to our consumer sentiment tracker data (November 2023). The top providers were Telstra (39%), Optus (19%), TPG (9%), iinet (7%), Belong (5%), Vodafone (4%), Aussie Broadband (4%) and Tangerine (2%).
Once you've considered all your options and made a choice that's right for you, it's time to sign up to your new provider. If you're staying at the same address and choosing to BYO modem, it could be as fast as a few hours or the next business day.
If you're moving home, try to sign up a week or so before you need your plan. That way, there's time for delivery or set-up issues. If you're moving to a new development that's not already connected to the NBN, there may be some additional charges to get the initial connection done.
Breaking up is hard to do...but ditching your old internet provider is super simple. You new provider should sort it all out in the background, and you'll just receive a cancellation notice and final bill from your old provider.
If that doesn't happen in the first week after switching, give them a quick call to confirm.
If you have a phone number with your current provider that you'd like to keep, that shouldn't be a problem. You'll typically arrange for your landline phone number to be ported during the sign-up process. There are sometimes restrictions - you may need to get an included modem for example.
If your new provider doesn't ask about a phone number service during the sign up process, you have done something wrong. It might be worth giving them a call at that point.
If you've got an email with your old NBN provider that you'd like to keep, you'll need to transfer these before you close your account. Call your current provider for help transferring your emails and contacts to a new service like Google Gmail or Microsoft Outlook.
Do this before you switch providers. Any data you don't transfer may be lost when you close your account.
| Response | WA | VIC | SA | QLD | NSW |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Somewhat difficult | 50% | 39.26% | 44% | 49.75% | 44.73% |
| Easy | 38.68% | 47.78% | 34.67% | 38.07% | 42.81% |
| Very difficult | 11.32% | 12.96% | 21.33% | 12.18% | 12.46% |
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iiNet is a household Internet name, offering decent speeds with the option of adding Fetch entertainment on your plan.
How I want to use a different internet provider with my iiNet modem but only has iiNet or sister companies in the set up wizard. How else do I configure please?
Hi Lana,
Thank you for reaching out.
The set up wizard will not allow you to choose other providers aside from iiNet and its sister company. You may need to do manual configuration. You have to contact your incoming NBN provider to assist you with manual configuration of your iiNet modem that will match with their settings.
Hope this helps! 😊
Kind Regards,
Mai