Optus speed test
Run a quick speed test to make sure you're getting what you pay for on your Optus Internet plan.
Optus's NBN plans offer the maximum download speed available for its speed tier, which means you should be getting fast Internet all the time.
If you think your Optus connection is underperforming, a quick speed test can tell you whether or not you're right. We've broken down what speeds you can expect to get, depending on which type of Optus plan you're on. Take the speed test below to get started.
Click "Go" below to test your speed
Results in 30 seconds
Once the speed test is finished, take note of your download and upload speeds.
- Download speed is how quickly you receive data from the Internet. A low download speed translates to a slow Internet experience.
- Upload speed is how quickly you send data to the Internet. It's not as important as high download speeds, unless you upload large files regularly.
With these figures in mind, let's dive into whether your results mean you're getting a good Internet speed from Optus.
What's a good Internet speed from Optus?
Depending on what Optus connection you have, you can expect different benchmarks for what makes a good Internet speed. We've split the following sections out into Optus NBN, home wireless, mobile and ADSL2+ connections, so find the section that relates to your plan.
What Optus plan do you have?
Finder survey: How often do people conduct an internet speed test?
| Response | Female | Male |
|---|---|---|
| Never | 64.18% | 46.46% |
| Once a month | 24.52% | 38.96% |
| 2-3 times a month | 9.58% | 8.96% |
| More than 4 times a month | 1.72% | 5.63% |
Source: Finder survey by Pure Profile of 1006 Australians, December 2023
Optus NBN speed
The maximum speeds for Optus' NBN plans are:
- Optus NBN 50. Maximum 50Mbps download, 5Mbps upload. Typical evening speed of 50Mbps.
- Optus NBN 100. Maximum 100Mbps download, 20-40Mbps upload (depending on which NBN 100 plan you're on). Typical evening speed of 100Mbps.
Optus is one of the few NBN providers that offers typical evening speeds that match the maximum download speed of its plans. That means you should be getting the fastest speeds with Optus, no matter what time of day you're running your speed test.
If it turns out the results you're getting are a lot lower than the typical evening speed of your plan, you might have cause for concern.
- Example: If your download speed result was 90Mbps and you're on an Optus NBN 100 plan, we wouldn't worry too much. While it's under the typical evening speed for the plan, it doesn't vary enough for you to be worried. However, if your result was 75Mbps, then it might be worth a look as to why you're experiencing slow speeds.
Optus home wireless and mobile broadband speed
Optus' home wireless and mobile broadband uses the same mobile networks as regular Optus mobile plans, but speeds can vary based on hardware, congestion and more. Here's what Optus' mobile networks offer:
| Network | Speed range | Average speed |
|---|---|---|
| 4GX | 5-150Mbps | 41.6Mbps |
| 5G | 50-300Mbps | 170Mbps |
There's no singular number to stack your result against here. If you find your speed test result seems significantly under the average speed for the network it's connected to, consider moving your modem or yourself around as the network may have poor coverage in your physical location.
With mobile broadband especially, you may find that speeds are more variable since your modem is moving around a lot more.
Optus ADSL2+ speed
Although you can no longer get new ADSL2+ plans from Optus, in most cases, the performance of their network will be the same as all other ADSL connections: 24Mbps maximum download speed, with an average download speed of 8Mbps in Australia.
Unfortunately, there's not really anything you can do about slow ADSL2+ speeds. Either wait to get upgraded to the NBN so you have access to more choices in speed, or consider getting a home wireless or mobile broadband connection.
Is Optus a fast Internet provider?
Optus has repeatedly been the first or second fastest provider out of 10 on the ACCC's Broadband Performance speed report. This means its connections are faster and more reliable than almost all other providers on the market.
Whether Optus is a fast provider for you personally will depend on a number of factors:
- Distance to your modem. The farther away your modem is and the more obstacles in the way, the weaker your Wi-Fi signal. This may result in you experiencing slower speeds on an Optus plan.
- Old/damaged equipment. Outdated or broken equipment can significantly impact connection speed and make it seem as though your plan isn't giving you the speeds it's promised.
- Low bandwidth. This is either from a low speed cap plan, or having too many people online at the same time (inside your household).
- Too many devices. Having too many devices connected at once can not only eat up your bandwidth, but also cause interference between Wi-Fi signals, worsening your connection.
What can you do about slow Optus Internet speeds?
If you're having trouble getting your Optus Internet connection to behave, you can try these three steps:
- Try testing your speed during non-peak hours. If the results are still unsatisfactory, you may need to try a new provider or upgrade your plan. Speed tests during the peak hours of 7-11pm may not be accurate since this is usually when most people are online, so you can expect to get slower Internet.
- Basic hardware fixes might cure your slow Internet woes. Rather than your plan performing badly, it might actually be something wrong with your device/s. Try moving your modem closer to your device, or running a virus scan and closing background applications. It might just be a weak signal issue or apps you're not currently using eating too much of your bandwidth.
- Contact Optus. If you think the problem is beyond your control, you can contact the Optus technical support line and 24/7 support via the My Optus app. If technical teams can't solve your problem, it might be time to get a faster Internet plan.
Compare NBN plans for faster speeds
By adjusting the speed filter in the table below, you can discover a plan that is faster than your current one.
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