Canstar Blue’s annual review of mobile broadband providers compares Optus, Telstra, Vodafone and ALDI Mobile on their value for money, customer service, bill and cost clarity, speed and coverage, ease of sign-up and overall customer satisfaction.
See our Ratings Methodology.
ALDI Mobile has proved a surprise winner of our mobile broadband ratings in 2019. Leading the way from Optus, Telstra and Vodafone, ALDI scored five stars across all research categories, including value for money and speed & coverage.
Gone are the days of dialup and measly data allowances that cost an arm and a leg – nowadays, even mobile broadband plans come with good amounts of data relatively cheaply. Mobile data is the ultimate for flexibility and browsing on the move, so get the lowdown on which providers offer the best bang for your buck with Canstar Blue’s 2019 mobile broadband review and ratings.
This year, we’ve surveyed more than 600 mobile broadband customers to provide some guidance. While everyone wants a bargain, it should be noted that the cheapest plans may not necessarily mean the best value. That’s something to keep in mind when we mention smaller service providers later. Our ratings have put Australia’s big three telcos to the test in Vodafone, Optus and Telstra, while highlighting the surprise in the pack, ALDI Mobile. The idea is to give you as much information as possible about the compared providers, and more, to help you make an informed decision about which mobile broadband plan to go with. Brands must have received a minimum of 30 survey responses to be included in this review. So, what did we find?
Canstar Blue’s 2019 review of mobile broadband providers saw these four brands compared and rated in the following order for overall customer satisfaction:
ALDI Mobile received five stars for customer service, value for money, bill and cost clarity, ease of set-up and speed & coverage, in addition to overall satisfaction. Vodafone came second with four stars overall, with Optus and Telstra behind on three stars overall.
When shopping for a mobile broadband plan, you are presented with several options – do you go the SIM-only route or purchase it with a dongle or pocket Wi-Fi device. SIM-only plans can be great for your tablet or mobile device, while dongles can be plugged into laptops and pocket Wi-Fi can even be used to replace your home internet. And with 5G data now a reality, it’s an exciting time to check out a mobile broadband plan – it could even replace the NBN in the future! So, what are the best mobile broadband deals around? Read on for specifics about the brands in our review, but first, here is a quick comparison of mobile broadband plans.
The following table shows a selection of comparable published 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 $480 over 12 month plan period |
50GB | $40 | Go To Site |
 |
min. cost $540Â over 12Â months |
60GB | $45 | Go To Site |
 |
min. cost $50 over one month |
50GB | $50 | Go To Site |
 |
min. cost $60 over 28 day billing period |
50GB | $60 | Go To Site |
| View all NBN plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
Operating on the Telstra 3G and 4G networks, ALDI Mobile offers a range of data-only SIM packs that are ideal for on-the-go tablet and device use. Data packs begin at $95 for 24GB of data with a 365-day expiry.
ALDI Mobile received an outstanding score of five stars overall in our 2019 ratings, with an additional five-star review for every other category.
| Brand | Features | Max Data**/billing period | Advertised Cost^^/billing period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
$95 Data Pack
min. cost $95 over 365 days |
24GB | $95 | |
|
$240 Data Pack
min. cost $240 over 365 days |
185GB | $240 | |
|
$365 Data Pack
min. cost $365Â over 365 days |
365GB | $365 | |
| View all mobile plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
Vodafone offers plenty of choice for mobile broadband users. Customers can select from a plan with a bundled-in modem, prepaid mobile broadband plans, or SIM-only modem or tablet options. Red Mobile Broadband plans begin at $15 per month for 5GB of data, with modems available from an extra $2.50 per month over 36 months.
Vodafone’s range of plans may be confusing for some customers, but the telco achieved an overall satisfaction rating of four stars in our review, as well as four stars for almost all other categories.
| Brand | Features | Max Data**/billing period | Advertised Cost^^/billing period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
min. cost $180Â over 12Â months |
5GB | $15 | Go To Site |
|
min. cost $360Â over 12Â months |
25GB | $30 | Go To Site |
|
min. cost $540Â over 12Â months |
60GB | $45 | Go To Site |
|
min. cost $720Â over 12Â months |
100GB | $60 | Go To Site |
| View all NBN plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
Optus offers both SIM-only and wireless modem broadband plans, with prices beginning at only $15 per month for 5GB of data on a 24-month SIM plan. Month-to-month SIM options are also available, but you will pay around $10 per month more for the same amount of data.
Optus scored four stars for value for money, bill clarity, and ease of setup, with an overall satisfaction rating of three stars.
| Brand | Features | Max Data**/billing period | Advertised Cost^^/billing period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
$15 Mobile Data Plan
min. cost $360Â over 12 months |
5GB | $15 | |
|
$25Â Mobile Data Plan
min. cost $600Â over 24 months |
25GB | $25 | |
|
$50 Mobile Data Plan
min. cost $1,200Â over 24 months |
75GB | $50 | |
| View all NBN plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
Telstra’s mobile broadband range includes both BYO and device-on-a-plan options, with four main plans available. Prices start at $15 per month for 5GB, up to $75 for 100GB of monthly data.
Telstra came in fourth in our 2019 ratings, scoring three stars overall and a four-star result for speed and coverage.
| Brand | Features | Max Data**/billing period | Advertised Cost^^/billing period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
min. cost $15 over one month |
5GB | $15 | Go To Site |
|
min. cost $25 over one month |
10GB | $25 | Go To Site |
|
min. cost $50 over one month |
50GB | $50 | Go To Site |
|
min. cost $75 over one month |
100GB | $75 | Go To Site |
| View all NBN plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
While our ratings cover four major mobile broadband providers, there are many more out there just as capable of offering you a good deal. Here is a quick guide to some of them.
Amaysim is another Optus network reseller and has five dead-simple mobile broadband plans to choose from, with the choice of either a prepaid or postpaid plan.
Plans start at $15 for 2GB data, and all are SIM-only by default. Data is counted by the kilobyte and expiry periods last for 28 days, not a month. At the upper end of the scale, Amaysim offers 150GB data for $90 a month, which is one of the more competitive deals out there.
| Brand | Features | Max Data**/billing period | Advertised Cost^^/billing period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
min. cost $15 over 28 day billing period |
2GB | $15 | Go To Site |
|
min. cost $25 over 28 day billing period |
5GB | $25 | Go To Site |
|
min. cost $45 over 28 day billing period |
20GB | $45 | Go To Site |
|
min. cost $60 over 28 day billing period |
50GB | $60 | Go To Site |
|
min. cost $70 over 28 day billing period |
100GB | $70 | Go To Site |
|
min. cost $90 over 28 day billing period |
150GB | $90 | Go To Site |
| View all NBN plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
Southern Phone also operates on the Optus network and offers a range of five mobile broadband SIM-only plans on 12-month contracts.
Plans start at $15 with 7GB of data per month and go up to $110 per month with 250GB of data. Data is charged in 1MB increments and if you go over your included data amount, you’ll be charged for excess data usage.
| 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 |
|
min. cost $1,320 over 12 month plan period |
250GB | $110 | Go To Site |
| View all NBN plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
Optus reseller OVO Mobile offers four prepaid OVO Boom mobile broadband plans to customers, featuring plenty of data and great unlimited extras.
Plans start at $49.95 for 50GB of data, and each option features a 30-day expiry. All OVO ‘Boom’ plans are BYO modem, although you can purchase one from OVO at sign-up. All plans are contract-free and month-to-month.
| Brand | Features | Max Data**/billing period | Advertised Cost^^/billing period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
OVOBoom Small
min. cost $49.95 over 30 day billing period |
50GB | $49.95 | |
|
OVOBoom Large
min. cost $64.95 over 30 day billing period |
100GB | $64.95 | |
|
OVOBoom XL
min. cost $79.95 over 30 day billing period |
250GB | $79.95 | |
|
OVOBoom XXL
min. cost $109.95 over 30 day billing period |
500GB | $109.95 | |
| View all NBN plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
Another reseller offering mobile broadband on the Optus 4G Plus network, Yomojo’s plans are available at 2GB, 7GB, 15GB, 50GB or 100GB tiers, with prices beginning at $14.90.
All plans are contract-free and offered on a 30-day basis. You’ll need to bring your own device, and plans will automatically renew every 30 days. Excess data is available to add at a rate of $11 per gigabyte.
| Brand | Features | Max Data**/billing period | Advertised Cost^^/billing period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
2GB Mobile Broadband Plan
min. cost $14.90 over 30 day billing period |
2GB | $14.90 | |
|
7GB Mobile Broadband Plan
min. cost $19.90 over 30 day billing period |
7GB | $19.90 | |
|
15GB Mobile Broadband Plan
min. cost $34.90 over 30 day billing period |
15GB | $34.90 | |
|
50GB Mobile Broadband Plan
min. cost $54.90 over 30 day billing period |
50GB | $54.90 | |
|
100GB Mobile Broadband Plan
min. cost $79.90 over 30 day billing period |
100GB | $79.90 | |
| View all NBN plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
Exetel offers a wide range of mobile broadband products, on both month-to-month and 12-month plans. Customers willing to sign up for a full year will receive better plan value, with the entry-level $19.99 option including 5GB of data each month contract-free, and 8GB on a 12-month plan.
Price tiers go up to the $79.99 plan, which includes either 70GB per month (on a no lock-in plan), or 90GB per month (on a one-year deal). All plans are powered by Optus’ 4G Plus and 3G networks, and customers can either buy a compatible USB modem from Exetel, or bring their own.
| Brand | Features | Max Data**/billing period | Advertised Cost^^/billing period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
1.5GB Mobile Broadband Plan
min. cost $9.99 over one month |
1.5GB | $9.99 | |
|
8GB Mobile Broadband Plan
min. cost $19.99 over one month |
8GB | $19.99 | |
|
15GB Mobile Broadband Plan
min. cost $29.99 over one month |
15GB | $29.99 | |
|
60GB Mobile Broadband Plan
min. cost $59.99 over one month |
60GB | $59.99 | |
|
90GB Mobile Broadband Plan
min. cost $79.99 over one month |
90GB | $79.99 | |
| View all NBN plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
If you’re after unlimited data mobile broadband – and let’s face it, who isn’t – then there is a burgeoning market for it. It’s called ‘home wireless’ and can theoretically replace your home internet. In most cases, you set up your 4G modem and use it like normal internet – no wires, no installation, and setup can take less than five minutes.
Home wireless differs from mobile broadband in that it comes packaged with a router, and is intended for use as a replacement for a fixed line connection. It’s worth considering if you’re renting or have no fixed address, or if you’re unable to access an ADSL or NBN connection.
Major players on the home wireless scene include Optus, Exetel, and SpinTel, and plans usually come with a 4G WiFi modem. Most 24-month contracts will include a pre-configured modem, but those on month-to-month plans may need to pay an upfront fee.
Prices usually begin at around $40 per month for 250GB of data, but selected Optus customers can access unlimited 5G home broadband for $70. However, this is only available to a small number of subscribers in 5G-enabled areas, and then only by invitation from Optus.
If you’re interested in home wireless broadband, you can find more information in our guide.
Aside from the few mentioned above, there are around 30 providers out there, and many phone plan providers also double up to offer mobile broadband. After all, mobile broadband is essentially a phone plan without the calls and texts. Other providers worth keeping an eye out for include:
Smaller service providers tend to operate with lower overheads and can therefore deliver more data often at a cheaper price. However, in terms of ‘extra stuff’, such as data-free streaming, they may lack behind. It’s important to consult Critical Information Summaries here to see what you’re getting.
4G theoretical speeds can exceed 100Mbps, which is fast enough to stream TV shows and sports. However, in real-world scenarios, mobile broadband speeds typically only reach around 30Mbps to 50Mbps, and even slower in congested areas or times.
4G is still reasonably quick for internet on the go, but 5G will be a gamechanger. There are some factors that can affect your mobile broadband speeds, however.
Australians are spending an average of just over $68 per month on mobile broadband, which is a fairly large amount considering average spending on fixed-line internet connections is between $73 and $77 per month, our research shows. Though, for most, a mobile broadband plan would simply compliment an existing fixed-line connection for when you’re out and about, rather than replacing it. At least, at this stage.
No matter what type of broadband plan you need, it’s important to do your research to find a data limit that’s appropriate and at a price you’re happy to pay. Although they may not necessarily make or break a plan, consider other bonuses such as data-free streaming and other perks. Happy browsing!
Canstar Blue surveyed 9,000 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 mobile broadband plan in their name and they pay the bills – in this case, 692 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.
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