Compare the best internet plans and providers

Why compare internet plans with Canstar Blue?

Tara Donnelly’s guide to comparing internet plans

Internet tips from our expert

If you’re looking for a deal on home internet, here are some tips for finding the best plan for your household needs:

• Decide your broadband type: While most Australians are on the NBN, you may also have access to alternatives, such as home wireless broadband, mobile broadband, or non-NBN fibre networks.
• Know your speed needs: NBN plans are priced by speed, so the faster the plan, the higher your monthly bill. Similarly, going for the cheapest plan may mean your speed is too slow for your needs.
• Don’t pay for unnecessary extras: Opting for a basic plan without bundled-in perks, such as entertainment or home phone, could save you hundreds of dollars each year.
• Be aware of modem costs: Some telcos offer a free modem, but you may need to commit to 24 or 36 months to qualify. Cancel early, and you’ll need to pay off your modem, or return it.
• Read the fine print on deals: Many providers offer discounted monthly pricing for the first 6 or 12 months. Make sure you can afford the standard price when deals expire, and that you’re free to switch providers at any time.
• Think twice about bundling: Multiple energy retailers now sell NBN plans and offer discounts for bundled internet and electricity or gas. However, that lower NBN price may be offset by higher energy rates.

Tara Donnelly, Canstar Blue Utilities Editor

National Broadband Network (NBN)

NBN plans are now the most widely-used broadband type in Australia. The best value NBN plan for you depends on factors such as your household size, how you use the internet, and your budget.

Customers can choose between seven NBN speed tiers, including:

The faster the tier, the higher the price, so to find the best plan you’ll need to figure out which NBN speed is right for you.

Home Wireless

Home wireless broadband is a popular alternative to NBN, and uses a plug-in modem to connect multiple devices to the internet wirelessly. This type of broadband uses the same 3G, 4G and 5G networks that connect your phone to the internet, and can be a good replacement for NBN or ADSL depending on where you live and the network coverage available.

Mobile Broadband

Mobile broadband uses the same mobile 3G, 4G and 5G networks as home wireless broadband, but is designed to be portable and isn’t a great replacement for your home internet connection. You can connect via a SIM card, USB dongle, or WiFi hotspot, making it a portable internet option that’s good for travel, or as an NBN backup.

What are the best internet providers in Australia?

Each year, Canstar Blue surveys thousands of internet users to determine which provider offers the best customer satisfaction across NBN, home wireless internet and more. If you want to know the best internet provider across a range of internet types, check out the winners below.

Want to find the best-value internet plans? Check out our Outstanding Value awards.

NBN provider: Most Satisfied Customers award winner

Aussie Broadband took out top spot in our 2024 Most Satisfied Customers award for NBN providers, scoring five stars across most categories, except value for money and ease of setup where it scored four stars.

NBN Providers

Home wireless broadband: Most Satisfied Customers award winner

iiNet was our winner for the 2024 Most Satisfied Customers award for home wireless internet providers, with five stars across all categories.

Home Wireless Providers

Mobile broadband: Most Satisfied Customers award winner

Amaysim was our winner for the 2024 Most Satisfied Customers award for mobile broadband providers, scoring five stars in all categories, ending ALDI Mobile’s five-year winning streak.

Mobile Broadband Providers

Internet and entertainment bundles: Most Satisfied Customers award winner

iiNet was our winner for the 2024 Most Satisfied Customers award for Internet and Entertainment bundles, with a score of five stars for overall satisfaction and entertainment inclusions, while it scored four stars in the remaining categories.

Internet & Entertainment Providers

Small business NBN providers: Most Satisfied Customers award winner

Optus won our 2024 Most Satisfied Customers award for small business NBN providers, scoring five stars in all categories, including overall satisfaction and value for money.

Business NBN Providers

Top 10 best internet providers in Australia: NBN

Here are the top 10 NBN providers as voted by Aussies in our 2024 Most Satisfied Customers rating for NBN Providers:

1. Aussie Broadband
2. Superloop
3. SpinTel
4. Exetel
5. iiNet
6. Origin
7. iPrimus
8. Foxtel
9. TPG
10. Dodo

Best internet providers for customer service

For some, finding an internet provider with a reputation for good customer service might be the most important factor when comparing plans. After all, if something goes wrong, you want to feel confident that your provider will be there to help you.

If customer service is important to you, here are the top 10 internet providers as rated by Aussies on customer service from our Most Satisfied Customers awards:

1. Aussie Broadband
2. AGL
3. Exetel
4. Foxtel
5. iiNet
6. iPrimus
7. Origin
8. SpinTel
9. Superloop
10. TPG

How to choose the best internet plan 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 work out 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 plans and providers

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.

List of Internet providers in Australia

There are over 190 internet providers in Australia offering a range of services, including NBN plans. If you’re looking for internet providers that offer internet services other than NBN, many of the providers listed below offer a range of different products.

At Canstar Blue we compare NBN plans from over 35 providers, including:

About our internet experts

Tara Donnelly, Utilities Editor

Tara Donnelly is Canstar Blue’s Utilities Editor, leading the team that focuses on energy, telecommunications and consumer technology, across news, reviews and how-tos. Tara has spent more than a decade covering these topics in Australia, the US and Canada, which means she’s written about countless product launches and industry changes, including the rise of 5G, Australia’s ongoing NBN rollout, the recent years of energy price volatility and the rise of renewable energy sources.

Tara also has long experience in writing within the comparison industry, giving her great insights into the information consumers want when determining which plan or device will best meet their needs, while time spent in the financial sector before turning her talent to content lets her crunch the numbers on price with ease. Tara leads the coverage of Canstar Blue’s ratings and awards for the internet and phone sectors and is an expert at advising consumers on how to use comparison tools to find the best power, internet or phone deal.

Her expertise has seen her appear in national media including 9 News, 7 News, Sunrise, the ABC, The New Daily and The Sydney Morning Herald.

Josh Filosi, Data Insights Analyst

Josh Filosi is a Data Insights Analyst at Canstar, where he uses his expertise in data analysis and interpretation to develop and deliver the methodology for Canstar Blue’s Value Rankings and Outstanding Value awards in the telecommunications sectors.

His double-major in Economics and Behavioral Science from Griffith University provides him with the analytical skills and understanding of consumer markets to uncover insights in complex data, as well as passion for helping consumers find genuinely good deals when faced with countless competing options for their hard-earned cash in the Internet and Phone sectors.

Josh’s real love for all things tech gives him a unique perspective, too, on the telecommunications industry and the needs of its customers – staying up-to-date with the latest developments in the field is no onerous task, and it means Josh spots small details that can add up to a big difference to customers. He recently worked on the development of a Value Ranking methodology for the growing wireless broadband sector.

Josh relishes the opportunity to dedicate his professional effort to the cause of tech and telco users and is keen to continue building his understanding of this fascinating, ever-changing industry. When Josh isn’t poring over telco data, he likes to tinker with gadgets and electronics.