Compare Internet Providers

Why compare internet plans with Canstar Blue?

Who is the best internet provider in Australia?

While everyone wants to sign up to the ‘best’ internet plan or provider, unfortunately that is very rarely a reality. Every home has different needs to consider when comparing broadband plans, so what’s best for you may not be best for your neighbour. 

Finding the right provider means finding the right combination of factors such as price, performance, customer service, and features. Big names like Telstra, TPG, Optus and Dodo dominate the market, but that doesn’t mean that they offer the ‘best’ service or plans. 

Likewise, the smallest and cheapest providers (aka MVNOs) may not be the best option for customers who want extra features or faster speeds.

Internet Provider Customer Satisfaction Awards

Best NBN providers

Each year Canstar Blue asks thousands of Aussies to rate their provider on criteria such as value for money, customer service, speed and reliability. These providers are then rated on ‘overall satisfaction’ and ranked from there.

Origin won our 2022 Most Satisfied Customers Award for NBN, achieving five stars for overall satisfaction and bill and cost clarity. The top 5 rated NBN providers in our 2022 survey are: Origin, Aussie Broadband, Spintel, Mate and Tangerine.

Best mobile broadband providers

Canstar Blue surveys thousands of mobile broadband customers annually to determine which provider is offering the best customer satisfaction. 

ALDI Mobile won our 2022 Most Satisfied Customers Award for Mobile Broadband, achieving five stars for overall satisfaction, value for money, ease of setup and bill and cost clarity. With 5G home internet now a reality, it’s an exciting time to check out a new mobile broadband plan – especially if your NBN speed isn’t up to scratch. The top 5 rated mobile broadband providers in our 2022 survey are: Aldi Mobile, Amaysim, Vodafone, Optus and Telstra.

Best home wireless routers

If you’re got a home wireless broadband plan, there’s a good chance you’ll also have a wireless router/modem to get you online and set up your household’s WiFi network.

Netgear won our 2021 Most Satisfied Customers Award for Wireless Routers & Modems, rated five stars for overall satisfaction, with an additional five stars for reliability, range of reception, speed, design and ease of use. The top 5 rated wireless router providers in our 2021 survey are: Netgear, Telstra, iiNet, TP Link and D-Link.

How to choose the best internet provider for you

Choosing an internet provider and plan doesn’t have to be complicated. But with hundreds of plans from close to 200 providers available, it can be hard to narrow down the best choice for your home.

Canstar Blue recommends the following steps when picking the perfect internet provider.

1. Which internet providers are available at my address?

Knowing the type of connection offered at your home can help guide you to the best internet provider. If your address is NBN-ready and connected to fibre technology, you’ll have a huge number of plans to choose from, but if you’re only eligible for fixed wireless or satellite NBN your choices are more limited. Similarly, you may also have access to non-NBN fibre networks such as Opticomm or Gigacomm. And if 4G or 5G coverage is strong in your area, you may prefer a home wireless plan instead. 

2. What are my internet needs?

Working out how you use your home internet will help you workout how much data you will need and most importantly, speed. Light users may be better suited to lower download speeds, but if you’re a heavy streamer, downloader or gamer – or have multiple people in your home online at the same time – you’ll probably want something faster, with speeds of 50Mbps or higher. You may also want to consider the upload speed if you’re working from home, video calling or sharing large files. 

Most NBN and fibre plans include unlimited data as standard, but very light users may want to look for cheaper plans with capped data to find a better deal. Home wireless plans may also come with a monthly data limit, but 5G internet is generally unlimited.

3. Does my internet provider offer extras?

While no-frills plans are available, some customers prefer an internet provider that offers extras such as a home phone line, and included modem, or bundling options such as mobile plans or electricity and gas. 

Several providers also offer entertainment add-ons like Netflix, Fetch TV or Binge, and free trials may also be available. Bigger names like Telstra and Optus also offer gaming optimisation add-ons, with features such as static IP address and lower latency. 

4. Which internet provider meets my budget?

Of course, finding the best internet provider will also depend on what you’re willing to spend each month. Going in with a budget will help you narrow down the best providers and plans, but you should also check for extra fees such as start-up or activation costs, and look out for early termination charges if you opt for a plan with a contract. 

5. Compare internet providers and plans

Once you know the kind of internet plan you’re looking for, then it’s worth comparing plans from a range of providers to see what’s available. Don’t be afraid to check out smaller or lesser-known brands alongside the big telcos, as these providers often sell competitive speeds for lower prices. 

If you’re looking at NBN plans, at Canstar Blue, our free NBN comparison table compares plans from a range of internet providers, from the big ISPs to some of the popular smaller telcos. You might also want to consider the customer satisfaction ratings of providers to get a general idea of what other Aussies think about their internet provider.

About the author

As Canstar Blue’s Telco Editor, Tara Donnelly covers the internet and mobile sectors – topics she’s spent a decade focused on, alongside consumer technology, within the comparison industry. Her telco expertise has seen her appear in national media including 9 News, 7 News, Sunrise, the ABC and The Sydney Morning Herald. You can follow Tara on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Learn more about Canstar Blue’s Editorial Team.