The price gap between the cheapest and priciest broadband providers can top $600 a year, but with so many broadband plans and speed tiers out there, it can be hard to know which one's right for you, especially if all the jargon sounds confusing.
Hi, I'm Mariam, Finder’s tech and utilities expert, and I'm here to help you figure out how to compare internet plans and pick the one that works best for your home and won't break the bank.
Let's start with the basics. In Australia, there are a few main ways to get internet at home. Most people use the NBN, which is the National Broadband Network. That includes fixed line NBN, which most of us have, plus satellite and fixed wireless NBN, which are mainly used in regional and rural areas.
If you can't get NBN, you might have access to a private fibre network like those offered by TPG or GigaComm. Another option is home wireless or mobile broadband, which run on 4G or 5G mobile networks. What's actually available to you will depend on where you live. So, it's worth checking which options are available at your address before comparing. You can use the address tracker on Finder to see what plans you can get. If it's not NBN, we'll show you alternatives.
Once you know the type of connection you can get, the next step is to look at speed. For fixed line NBN, speeds are grouped into tiers like NBN 25, NBN 50, NBN 100 and higher. These help you work out what suits your household.
For example, NBN 25 can be fine for light users or smaller households, while NBN 100 is better for busier homes with three or four people online at once. Your address also determines the type of fixed line NBN connection you have, which will in turn affect what speeds you can get. Some connection types can't go beyond NBN 100, while fibre to the premises, for example, can reach the fastest speeds available all the way up to NBN 2000.
If you're not happy with your NBN connection or you just can't get access to it, home wireless broadband plans have become a really popular alternative, especially on the 5G network as it can hit speeds similar to some NBN plans. The main catch is that not every provider offers it yet and coverage still depends on where you live.
If you want something more portable or your internet needs are pretty light, you could go for a mobile broadband plan. It works similar to your phone plan minus the calls and texts.
Once you've decided on the type of plan, the next thing to look at is data and price. Most internet plans now come with unlimited data, which gives you peace of mind, but with mobile broadband or NBN satellite, data caps are more common. So, make sure your allowance actually fits how you use the internet.
And finally, price. Always, always look out for a deal. Most broadband providers have sign-up offers, think six or even 12-month discounts. Plus, most plans don't have lock-in contracts anymore, so it's easy to switch when a better deal comes along.
And remember to factor in modem costs, too. If you can't bring your own modem or don't already have a compatible one, you might need to get it from your provider. Some will even give you one for free if you stay connected for a certain period or return it after cancelling your plan.
And that's a wrap. Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of how to compare internet plans. Check out the link in the description to shop around for a deal or leave a comment if you have any questions. Bye.
Our NBN is FTTN, what does it use to get from the Node to the property? is this wireless or will it still be the old copper network?
Hi Anne,
Thanks for your question.
Fiber to the node (FTTN) provide broadband connection and other data services through a common network box, which is often called a node. Existing copper network will be used to make the final part of the nbn™ network connection.
Cheers,
Anndy
how do you know the type of NBN connection you are getting?
Hi Steve,
Thanks for your question.
You can enter your address on our NBN tracker to track the type of connection and status of NBN in your area.
Cheers,
Anndy
We building rental unit. As landlords is there a nbn product we can install and tenants then organise there preferred plan?
I have a physical connection to a rental property which the tenant is not using. Fibre to the premises is available now. The “disconnection date” is looming. Will it cost more for a tenant to connect to the NBN after the disconnection date?
Hi Jamie,
Thanks for your inquiry.
Usually, all internet service providers have a disconnection fee plus when you apply again you’ll have to pay the new connection fees, activation fees, etc. all over again. So it wouldn’t be practical to connect after the disconnection date. Of course, it would ultimately depend on your tenant’s circumstances. If possible, get in touch with your current provider and the new provider you’re interested in to compare expenses.
If you wish to compare broadband plans, please feel free to do so by using our comparison table found on this page.
Hope this information helped.
Cheers,
Arnold
Hi Melinda,
Thank you for your inquiry.
There are several options where you can choose from. With you current circumstance you may want to consider a broadband plans for business.
I hope this information has helped.
Cheers,
Harold
I have an existing plan with Telstra and have ADSL2, I have been getting many phone calls about NBN, I usually hang up. I’m happy with what I have. Do I have to switch over to the NBN?
Hi Edwin,
Thank you for your enquiry.
It would be advisable to migrate to NBN if NBN is already available and your ISP is advising you to do so, since they might migrate the whole connection or network to NBN and might discontinue or phase out the old connection soon. Please get in touch with your ISP for assistance in migrating to NBN.
Kind regards,
Jason
Why do some plans have download speeds of NBN 12 and others NBN 100? Is NBN 100 the fastest speed available?
Hi Val,
Thank you for your enquiry.
NBN connection has been categorized into 5 NBN speed tiers with downloads ranging from 12 Mbps to 100 Mbps. NBN tier 1 offers speeds of up to 12 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload while NBN tier 5 offers speeds of up to 100 Mbps download and 40 Mbps upload. Compared to the other NBN tier, NBN tier 5 offers the fastest connection speed.
I hope this helps.
Kind regards,
Jason