iiNet took out Canstar Blue’s Most Satisfied Customers ratings for Home Wireless Providers in 2024, scoring five stars across all categories, including overall satisfaction, value for money and customer service.
Our ratings compare a range of home wireless broadband providers as rated by Australians. Think of it like asking a bunch of Aussies what they think about their provider and plan, but all in one place.
Canstar Blue surveyed 628 Australians with a home wireless broadband plan for feedback on their provider. Respondents had to live in Australia, have a home wireless internet account in their name, and pay the bills for their response to be eligible.
Survey respondents rate their satisfaction with their home wireless provider from zero to 10, where zero is extremely dissatisfied and 10 is extremely satisfied. Provider satisfaction was rated by respondents on the following criteria:
The winning brand is the brand that receives the highest Overall satisfaction rating. All the scores from the Overall satisfaction criteria are then combined and averaged to determine the overall winner.
To qualify in the ratings results, brands must have received at least 30 responses to be included, so not all brands available in the market have been compared in this survey. The brands rated in this survey are listed below in order of best overall satisfaction.
Find more information on our Most Satisfied Customers ratings.
iiNet took out top spot in our Home Wireless ratings with a score of five stars across all categories, including overall satisfaction, value for money and speed and coverage.
iiNet offers a few different home wireless plans, which all include a compatible modem. Its standard home wireless plan uses 4G network coverage only, with max download speeds of 20Mbps. However, if you want more speed, you’ll have a choice between two 5G home wireless plans, with the cheaper plan offering up to 50Mbps download speeds and the more expensive plan with up to 100Mbps download speeds.
The following table shows a selection of published iiNet 5G home broadband plans from Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of their standard monthly cost, from the lowest to highest. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.
| Brand | Features | Max Data**/billing period | Advertised Cost^^/billing period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
5G Home Broadband Plus plan
min. cost $44.99 over one month |
Unlimited | $44.99 | Link to provider unavailable |
|
5G Home Broadband Premium plan
min. cost $54.99 over one month |
Unlimited | $54.99 | Link to provider unavailable |
| View all NBN plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
TPG jumped up from third in 2023 into second place, scoring four stars across all categories, including overall satisfaction and customer service.
TPG caters to both 4G-only and 5G customers with a small selection of home wireless plans, all of which come with unlimited data and no activation or setup fees. 4G plans are slightly cheaper than 5G, but TPG does offer two 5G speed tiers at differing prices. All plans are month-to-month and feature an included modem, which is yours to keep if you stay connected for a minimum term. Coverage is offered on the Vodafone 4G and 5G networks.
The following table shows a selection of published TPG 5G home broadband plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of standard monthly cost, from the lowest to highest. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.
| Brand | Features | Max Data**/billing period | Advertised Cost^^/billing period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5G Home Broadband Plus plan
min. cost $59.99 over first month |
Unlimited | $59.99 | Link to provider unavailable |
|
5G Home Broadband Premium plan
min. cost $64.99 over first month |
Unlimited | $64.99 | Link to provider unavailable |
| View all NBN plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
The following table shows a selection of published TPG home wireless broadband plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of standard monthly cost, from the lowest to highest. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.
| Brand | Features | Max Data**/billing period | Advertised Cost^^/billing period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Home Wireless Broadband Unlimited Plan
min. cost $54.99 over first month |
Unlimited | $54.99 | Link to provider unavailable |
| View all NBN plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
Previous winner Vodafone jumped down to third place, scoring three stars for overall satisfaction, value for money, speed and coverage, and bill and cost clarity, while it scored four stars for customer service and ease of setup.
A typically cheaper option among big-name internet providers, Vodafone offers a range of 4G and 5G home wireless plans with no lock-contracts, competitive prices, and frequent discounts for new signups. All plans include unlimited monthly data, and simple ‘plug in and play’ modem setup with no upfront fees. Vodafone’s 5G home internet plans also come with two download speed options, so customers can tailor their plan to the speed best suited to their household.
The following table shows a selection of published Vodafone 5G home broadband plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest.
| Brand | Features | Max Data**/billing period | Advertised Cost^^/billing period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
5G Home Internet Basic plan
min. cost $60 over first month |
Unlimited | $60 | Link to provider unavailable |
|
5G Home Internet Plus plan
min. cost $65 over first month |
Unlimited | $65 | Link to provider unavailable |
|
5G Home Internet Premium plan
min. cost $70 over first month |
Unlimited | $70 | Link to provider unavailable |
| View all NBN plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
The following table shows a selection of published Vodafone 4G home broadband plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest.
| Brand | Features | Max Data**/billing period | Advertised Cost^^/billing period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4G Home Internet Plan
min. cost $240 over first month |
Unlimited | $60 | Link to provider unavailable |
| View all NBN plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
Telstra took out fourth place, scoring three stars in almost all categories, including overall satisfaction, except in speed and coverage, where it scored four stars.
Telstra’s home wireless options now only include a single 5G internet plan, designed as an alternative to other home broadband such as NBN. This plan includes one terabyte of full-speed 5G data per month, with any excess usage speed-capped to 25Mbps. Telstra’s plan is month-to-month with no lock-in contract, and includes a 5G modem, although you’ll need to return it if you cancel your plan within 24 months or be charged a non-return fee.
The following table shows a selection of published Telstra 5G internet plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. This is a selection of products with links to referral partners.
| Brand | Features | Max Data**/billing period | Advertised Cost^^/billing period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
5G Home Internet
min. cost $85 over one month |
1TB | $85 | |
| View all NBN plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
Optus rounded out our ratings, scoring three stars in all categories, including overall satisfaction and value for money.
Optus offers multiple 5G home wireless plans, with various speed limits and even an entertainment-focused option with included Netflix. Customers without 5G coverage can also sign on for a 4G-only home internet plan. All of Optus’ home wireless plans include unlimited data, as well as no lock-in contracts, and come with an Optus modem which is free when you remain connected for a minimum term.
The following table shows selected published Optus 5G home internet plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest.
| Brand | Features | Max Data**/billing period | Advertised Cost^^/billing period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Optus Plus Everyday 5G
min. cost $576 over first month |
Unlimited | $69 | Link to provider unavailable |
|
Optus Plus Everyday Fast 5G
min. cost $576 over first month |
Unlimited | $79 | Link to provider unavailable |
|
Optus Plus Entertainer Superfast 5G
min. cost $576 over first month |
Unlimited | $99 | Link to provider unavailable |
| View all NBN plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
The following table shows a selection of Optus 4G Home Internet plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. This is a selection of products with links to referral partners.
| Brand | Features | Max Data**/billing period | Advertised Cost^^/billing period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4G Home Internet Unlimited (24 Month)
min. cost $1,357 over 24 month plan period |
Unlimited | $59 | Link to provider unavailable |
|
4G Home Internet Unlimited (Month-to-Month)
min. cost $275 (incl. $216 modem cost) over first month plan period |
Unlimited | $59 | Link to provider unavailable |
| View all NBN plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
Home wireless plans aren’t nearly as widespread as NBN, but most of the major internet providers offer 4G or 5G internet options along with some smaller telcos. Here are some other providers which also offer home wireless plans:
Also known as home wireless internet or 4G/5G home internet, home wireless broadband works by delivering an internet connection to a wireless modem/router over either 4G or 5G mobile networks. Unlike the NBN, home wireless broadband doesn’t need to connect to a fixed line, and can be placed anywhere in your home where a power outlet is available.
Home wireless is typically a replacement for other home internet connections, like NBN, which means you can usually connect multiple devices to the WiFi, unlike mobile broadband, which is a portable form of internet.
Home wireless broadband is proving to be a popular alternative to other home internet connections, like NBN. While 19% of our survey respondents had opted for home wireless because NBN wasn’t available to them, 38% chose it because it was cheaper than NBN, while 31% stated it was faster and more reliable to the NBN connection available to them.
If you’re looking at home wireless internet, you’ll want to consider the following when selecting a plan or provider.
All home wireless plans operate on either the Telstra, Optus or Vodafone mobile network, which also means you need network coverage at your home to access home wireless internet. If you have a preference for one network over the other, this will limit your choice of providers.
However, access to faster 5G networks can be limited depending on where you live. While 35% of our survey respondents were already using 5G home wireless, 17% didn’t have 5G available, but planned on switching when it is available to them.
The speeds you can access will depend on if your plan includes 4G or 5G coverage, as well as your location.
Some plans will also have speed caps, which is often used as a way of adjusting the cost of the plan. You might see multiple home wireless plans offered by one provider, but with different speeds and prices.
If you want to make the most of the super-fast speeds that 5G is capable of, you might want to look at 5G home wireless plans with uncapped speeds.
According to our survey, the average price paid for home wireless was $71 per month, while 29% of respondents chose to sign up to the cheapest home wireless plan they could find.
The price of your home wireless plan will mainly depend on the provider, whether it’s 4G or 5G and if there are any speed caps. Other costs like modems and add ons can also increase your plan price. If you have a budget you need to stick to, you might need to compromise on the plan’s speed, maybe by opting for 4G rather than 5G, or choosing a plan with a speed cap.
Many home wireless plans offer an included modem — or at least, the option to add a modem on to your plan. Often included modems might require you to stay connected to your plan for a certain amount of time. You’ll also want to look out for upfront charges such as set up costs.
Some plans come with new customer discounts, but these typically expire after six or 12 months, but they can still help you save on your plan fees. From our survey, 17% had been lured to sign up to their plan because of a special offer.
Most plans are month-to-month, but some plans might be on lock-in contracts, or at least require you to stay connected for a certain period to pay off any included modem fees.
As home wireless internet relies on the same mobile data networks as your mobile phone, coverage is available across most of Australia — at least for 4G service. However, customers in regional areas will likely find their access to these plans to be very limited in comparison to city dwellers.
All home wireless service operates on Telstra, Optus, or Vodafone’s networks, with smaller telcos buying wholesale access to coverage from the ‘big three’. So if you’ve got reliable 4G or 5G coverage from at least one of these providers, you’ll likely have access to a home wireless internet plan.
You’ll be able to check if a home wireless plan is offered in your area by entering your address on a provider’s website. If you’re not eligible for 4G or 5G home internet, you may be offered an alternative service, such as NBN.
Emma Bradstock has been an authority on consumer phone, internet, technology and streaming markets in Australia for over five years, with a dedication to providing Aussies with all the information they need to make better purchasing decisions. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Media from Macquarie University and has a decade of professional writing experience in print and digital media.
Meet the Editorial Team
Samantha Howse is Canstar Blue’s Consumer Research Specialist, coordinating the consumer research program behind our customer satisfaction awards across Canstar and Canstar Blue in Australia and New Zealand. Sam has earned a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) from Griffith University and, with seven years in market research and 2 years in marketing, she is experienced in survey design, implementation and analysis, coupled with an understanding of marketing principles and best practice.
Meet the Research TeamCanstar Blue surveyed over 12,000 Australian adults across a range of categories to measure and track customer satisfaction, via ISO 26362 accredited research panels managed by Qualtrics. The outcomes reported are the results from customers within the survey group who have a home wireless broadband plan in their name and they pay the bills – in this case, 628 people.
Brands must have received at least 30 responses to be included. Results are comparative and it should be noted that brands receiving three stars have still achieved a satisfaction measure of at least six out of 10. Not all brands available in the market have been compared in this survey. The ratings table is first sorted by star ratings and then by mean overall satisfaction. A rated brand may receive a ‘N/A’ (Not Applicable) rating if it does not receive the minimum number of responses for that criteria.
Here are past winners of Canstar Blue’s Most Satisfied Customers – Home Wireless Provider ratings:
Home wireless plans tend to be slightly more expensive than NBN. Plans prices usually begin at around $59 per month for unlimited data, while NBN starts at around $50.
However, both NBN and home wireless plans are priced by speed — the faster the plan, the more you’ll pay per month. If you’re looking for very fast speeds, opting for a high-speed 5G home wireless plan may actually be cheaper than the equivalent speed on the NBN.
NBN plans are offered across six main speed tiers, with maximum download speeds available up to 1000Mbps theoretically (although average peak hour speeds tend to max out at about 600Mbps, depending on your telco). The most popular plans include peak speeds of 50Mbps, which is generally suitable for families and typical users.
In comparison, 4G home wireless plans tend to achieve download speeds of around 20Mbps or 25Mbps, but 5G internet is much faster: Optus cites typical busy hour speeds of 210Mbps, while Telstra’s 5G plan averages at 291Mbps, as of June 2024.
So overall, NBN has the potential to be faster, but opting for 5G home wireless can still get you impressive speeds, even in high-use periods.
