For its fifth year in a row, ALDI Mobile has taken out top spot for Canstar Blue’s ratings for Mobile Broadband Provider. ALDI managed a five-star clean sweep across all categories including overall satisfaction.
Our Customer Satisfaction ratings compare a range of mobile broadband providers as rated by Australians. It’s like asking a bunch of Aussies what they think about their provider and plan, but all in the one place.
Canstar Blue surveyed 766 Australians with a current mobile broadband service for their feedback on their mobile broadband provider. Respondents had to have a current internet service in their name, and be the bill payer.
Survey respondents are asked to rate their satisfaction with their mobile broadband provider from zero to 10, with zero meaning extremely dissatisfied and 10 meaning extremely satisfied. Mobile broadband provider satisfaction is rated 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 a minimum of 30 responses to be included. Therefore, not all mobile broadband providers will be compared in this survey. Brands rated in this survey are listed below in order of best overall satisfaction.
Find more information on our Most Satisfied Customers ratings.
ALDI Mobile has come out on top for our mobile broadband ratings for the fifth year in a row. It scored an impressive five stars across all categories including overall satisfaction, customer service, value for money and speed and coverage.
ALDI Mobile offers a simple selection of mobile broadband plans which it refers to as ‘data plans’. These plans can be paired with a tablet or dongle and all three plans carry a 365 day expiry period, along with data rollover. Plans start at $95 for 30GB of data and go up to $365 with 365GB of data.
The following table shows a selection of published ALDI Mobile mobile 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. This is a selection of products with links to referral partners.
| Brand | Features | Max Data**/billing period | Advertised Cost^^/billing period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
$95 Data Pack
min. cost $95 over 365 days |
30GB | $95 | Link to provider unavailable |
|
$240 Data Pack
min. cost $240 over 365 days |
185GB | $240 | Link to provider unavailable |
|
$365 Data Pack
min. cost $365 over 365 days |
365GB | $365 | Link to provider unavailable |
| View all mobile plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
Telstra scored second place in our ratings with a four star score in overall satisfaction, bill and cost clarity, speed and coverage and ease of setup. It scored three stars for customer service and value for money.
Telstra offers a wide range of mobile broadband products to suit a variety of users. You can choose from a data-only SIM, or plans bundled with USB dongles and other mobile broadband devices, plus prepaid mobile broadband plans.
The following table shows a selection of published Telstra mobile 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. This is a selection of products with links to referral partners.
| Brand | Features | Max Data**/billing period | Advertised Cost^^/billing period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Small
min. cost $25 over one month |
30GB | $25 | |
|
Medium
min. cost $58 over one month |
75GB | $58 | |
|
Large
min. cost $90 over one month |
400GB | $90 | |
| View all NBN plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
Optus took out third place, scoring four stars for bill and cost clarity along with ease of setup. It scored four stars for overall satisfaction along with customer service, value for money and speed and coverage.
Optus offers a range of data-only plans which can be used with a device — such as a tablet — along with a simple selection of portable modems, perfect for on-the-go internet use.
The following table shows a selection of Optus mobile broadband plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of monthly cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest.
| Brand | Features | Max Data/billing period | Advertised Cost^^/billing period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Choice Plus Data Plan
min. cost $20 month to month |
20GB | $20 | Link to provider unavailable |
|
^^View important information | |||
Vodafone rounded out our ratings, scoring four stars for customer service, value for money and ease of setup. It scored three stars for overall satisfaction, bill and cost clarity along with speed and coverage.
Vodafone, much like Telstra and Optus, offers a range of mobile broadband products, including modems, data-only SIM plans and prepaid mobile broadband. If you choose a mobile broadband device, you can pay it off over 12, 24 or 36 months and bundle it with a data-only plan.
The following table shows a selection of published Vodafone mobile 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. This is a selection of products with links to referral partners.
| Brand | Features | Max Data**/billing period | Advertised Cost^^/billing period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Small Data SIM Only Plan
min. cost $20 over first month |
30GB | $20 | Link to provider unavailable |
|
Large Data SIM Only Plan
min. cost $40 over first month |
70GB | $40 | Link to provider unavailable |
| View all NBN plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
There are many other telcos out there offering mobile broadband products, however some providers may refer to these as ‘data plans’ or ‘data-only SIMs’. Some other providers offering mobile broadband include:
The following table shows a selection of published Amaysim mobile 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. This is a selection of products with links to referral partners.
| Brand | Features | Max Data**/billing period | Advertised Cost^^/billing period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
min. cost $15 over 28 day billing period |
7GB | $15 | Go to Site |
|
min. cost $40 over 28 day billing period |
50GB | $40 | Go to Site |
|
min. cost $60 over 28 day billing period |
90GB | $60 | Go to Site |
| View all NBN plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
The following table shows selected published Aussie Broadband mobile 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
min. cost $15 over one month billing period |
5GB | $15 | Go to Site |
|
min. cost $25 over one month billing period |
25GB | $25 | Go to Site |
|
min. cost $35 over one month billing period |
40GB | $35 | Go to Site |
|
min. cost $45 over one month billing period |
60GB | $45 | Go to Site |
|
min. cost $65 over one month billing period |
100GB | $65 | Go to Site |
| View all NBN plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
The following table shows selected published Belong mobile 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
min. cost $15 over one month billing period |
20GB | $15 | Go to Site |
|
min. cost $35 over one month billing period |
100GB | $35 | Go to Site |
|
min. cost $70 over one month billing period |
400GB | $70 | Go to Site |
| View all NBN plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
The following table shows a selection of published Southern Phone mobile 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. This is a selection of products with links to referral partners.
| Brand | Features | Max Data**/billing period | Advertised Cost^^/billing period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
min. cost $180 over 12 month plan period |
7GB | $15 | Go to Site |
|
min. cost $300 over 12 month plan period |
15GB | $25 | Go to Site |
|
min. cost $480 over 12 month plan period |
50GB | $40 | Go to Site |
|
min. cost $780 over 12 month plan period |
100GB | $65 | Go to Site |
| View all NBN plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
Mobile broadband can be one of the more confusing internet services available (and is often mislabelled as home wireless broadband, which we will expand on further down). Some providers refer to their mobile broadband plans as ‘data only’ plans, but they’re essentially the same thing. A mobile broadband plan relies on a mobile network (like your smartphone does) in order to access the internet, whether that is using a 4G network or 5G network.
Sometimes these plans come in the form of a SIM card only, which can be used with your smartphone or tablet device. This SIM will usually only include access to mobile data, and be unable to make calls or send SMS. Alternatively these plans could be paired with a mobile broadband dongle or device, which can be plugged into your computer or used as a modem to connect devices to a WiFi network.
Typically mobile broadband is useful for accessing the internet while travelling or as an additional internet service in the home if you need a separate connection, or your home internet experiences frequent dropouts.
With so many telcos out there offering mobile broadband plans, and some carrying the ‘data only SIM’ label, it can be hard to know what to look for if you’re considering a mobile broadband plan.
Out of those surveyed, 30% of the respondents used their mobile internet around the home, finding it more reliable or faster than other internet services, while 22% used it alongside their other internet connection. 25% used it at home because there wasn’t another internet option available, while 15% purchased their plan primarily to work while travelling.
When you consider how you’ll be using your mobile broadband plan, you can then look at cost, data inclusions and more to help you compare a range of plans and providers to find the best deal for your needs.
When you consider how you plan on using your mobile broadband (whether that’s for internet access when travelling, for a backup service at home, etc), you’ll have a clearer idea of what kind of plan you’ll need.
If you’re looking primarily for a plan so you can use your tablet device without a nearby WiFi connection, you’ll need a data-only SIM. For travelling, or use at home with a computer, you’ll most likely need a plan with a modem (or to buy your data-only SIM and modem separately) or dongle. A USB dongle plugs directly in a computer, while a modem (much like home wireless and NBN modems) will allow multiple devices to connect to a WiFi network powered by a 4G or 5G mobile network.
Once you’ve got a clearer idea of what kind of plan you want, you’ll then need to consider how much data you’ll need. If you’re only using your plan for lighter activities (web browsing, emails and social media browsing) and for short periods, you might find a cheaper plan with small data inclusions will suit.
If you plan on using your mobile broadband for longer periods, such working from home or as a substitute for other internet services (NBN, etc), you’ll likely need a bigger data inclusion. Keep in mind that, like a phone plan, the more data a plan has, the more expensive it will be. If you’re unsure about how much data you’ll need, you can read our mobile data guide for more information.
If you’re using mobile internet as your primary internet at home for high intensity activities (video calls, streaming video, playing online games, etc) you might want to consider home wireless broadband instead. We’ll go into more detail on this further down the page.
As mobile broadband uses a mobile network to access the internet, you’ll need to have good network coverage to get the most from these plans.
Mobile broadband plans operate on one of three mobile networks — Telstra, Optus and Vodafone — although smaller providers are able to access these networks to also offer plans. When signing up to a mobile broadband plan, it’s best to use the network coverage map on the telco’s website to ensure you have coverage in the places you’ll need it (home, work, travel destinations, etc).
Cost may be the deciding factor if you’re comparing plans from several providers. Once you’ve got an idea of how much data you need, which networks you’re after and what kind of plan you’ll need, you might then want to compare plans based on price to find the best value for money.
Mobile broadband and home wireless broadband (sometimes referred to as ‘home wireless internet’, ‘4G home internet’ or 5G home internet’) both use a mobile network to deliver internet access. However, the uses for these services vary.
Mobile broadband (including data-only SIMs) is focused on portability of the service. The data-only SIM can be used in a tablet (or even a smartphone) to be used away from a WiFi network. When paired with a USB dongle or modem, you can often take these devices with you when travelling, around the home, etc. The modems will usually have a battery inside the device, which allows you to take it with you, and dongles will typically be plugged into a computer. These services aren’t meant to be a full time replacement to a home internet service, such as NBN, which is why data inclusions are generally smaller and plans may be more expensive for bigger data inclusions.
Home wireless broadband is designed as a home internet service to use instead of other connections (such as NBN, satellite, etc). That’s why it’s more common to find larger data inclusions or unlimited data on these plans. You might also find more 5G home wireless services are available, as 5G offers faster speeds to keep up with activities such as video streaming and online gaming. Home wireless plans will often include a modem, and this modem will typically need to be plugged into a powerpoint to keep it powered.
If you’re comparing mobile broadband plans as your primary in-home internet service, you might look into home wireless to see if these plan prices and data inclusions are better suited to your needs.
Emma Bradstock has been an authority on consumer phone, internet, technology and streaming markets in Australia for the last 4 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 12,200 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 mobile broadband plan in their name and they pay the bills – in this case, 766 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 overalls 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 – Mobile Broadband ratings:
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Australia’s Best-Rated Business NBN Providers & Plans - November 14th
Ever had moments where you find your WiFi has dropped out when moving from one room to another? While WiFi can be convenient, there is a limit to how far it can reach, not to …
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Best Rated Mobile Broadband Plans & Providers - October 17th
5G has been touted as a possible ‘NBN killer’, promising speeds that can easily outstrip the fastest available residential NBN plans. The new network isn’t quite there yet: but for lucky Australians living in areas …
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Australia’s Best-Rated Business NBN Providers & Plans - March 22nd
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