With some big name providers and many smaller providers to choose from, one of the biggest questions may be how to choose an NBN provider. It may seem like a daunting task, but once you know what to look out for, comparing NBN plans can be rather simple. In this guide, we’ll cover that burning question: are all NBN providers the same? Read on to find out.
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NBN Plans & Providers
Thinking of a new NBN provider or plan? Check out some of the deals and plans available below. The table below contains affiliate links.
The following table shows a selection of sponsored unlimited data Standard Plus Evening Speed (NBN 50), and Premium Evening Speed (NBN 100) plans on Canstar Blue’s database with links to referral partners. 1 Month Contract (1 month min. cost $79.99) Typical evening speed of 97Mbps 1 Month Contract (1 month min. cost $85) Typical evening speed of 50Mbps 1 Month Contract (1 month min. cost $99.99) Typical evening speed of 97Mbps The following table shows a selection of published unlimited NBN 50 plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of standard monthly cost (excluding discounts), from the lowest to highest, and then by alphabetical order of provider. Use our comparison tool above to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to referral partners. The table below shows a selection of published unlimited NBN 100 plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of monthly cost, from the lowest to highest, and then by alphabetical order of provider. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to referral partners.
Unlimited
Data/month
$79.99
Cost/month
Go to Site
Unlimited
Data/month
$85.00
Cost/month
Go to Site
Unlimited
Data/month
$89.99
Cost/month
Go to Site
Unlimited Home Standard (NBN 50) Plans
Unlimited Home Fast (NBN 100) Plans
Are All NBN Providers The Same?
Every NBN provider in Australia is different. Some providers like Telstra and Optus are able to offer perks and bonuses like access to free sports streaming and entertainment add ons, whereas others can provide cost effective connections, like Tangerine and Flip. Prices range massively across providers, and some providers can only service certain connections and speed grades of NBN.
What should I be looking for?
When shopping for an NBN plan, you should keep an eye out for the things that matter to you, such as:
- Price
- Speed
- Contract length
- Setup fees
- Modem options
- Home phone options
- Customer service options
- Entertainment extras
Speeds, price, perks and bundles all differ from plan to plan, and from provider to provider. Providers will also offer different contract lengths, setup fees, home phone options, customer service and entertainment extras, along with technology types depending on the connection needed.
Remember – not every provider offers every speed tier. Right now, Basic NBN 12 speeds are being phased out, and are only offered by smaller providers such as Flip and TeleChoice. We’ve done a great explainer on NBN speeds here.
Also, not every NBN provider offers all kinds of NBN technology types. Some service providers don’t provide satellite NBN connections, which means options are a lot more limited in regional areas.
Who is the best NBN provider?
It all comes down to what you think is the best NBN provider! If you’re big on value, you should stick to the plans that make the most sense savings wise.
You should check out our customer satisfaction ratings for NBN providers, where telcos are ranked based on the feedback we receive from paying customers, on factors like ease of setup, speed & reliability and customer service. That’s why ‘what is the best NBN provider’ is a very subjective question.
NBN providers for your lifestyle
If you’re big on gaming, you should check out plans that cater for gamers – MyRepublic and Aussie Broadband are both great for these plans. You’ll be needing decent download speeds more than anything else, and you’ll absolutely need unlimited downloads.
If you live in regional or rural areas, you might need a satellite connection through the NBN’s SkyMuster satellite. Thankfully, Activ8me and SkyMesh specialise in those connections – we’d absolutely recommend checking them out.
Smaller NBN Providers
There are a lot of NBN providers in Australia, and all of them have different set prices with different bundles, modems and specials. No two are the same and they’re all typically run by different companies and people.
When the NBN started in Australia it became a great business venture for a lot of startups – now there’s a tonne of great providers out there. We’ve listed off some of the best-value entry-level plans below.
Some independents have more exclusive deals than others. Origin for example has discounts for if you also use its gas and electricity services, and iiNet, Internode, Aussie Broadband, Dodo and iPrimus have bundles including Fetch, a subscription service giving you access to TV channels.
NBN 25 plans
The following table shows a selection of published unlimited NBN 25 plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of standard monthly cost (excluding discounts), from the lowest to highest, and then by alphabetical order of provider. Use our comparison tool above to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.
If you’re big on streaming videos and movies, or playing online games, it’s worth checking out the plans in this table below.
Standard Plus Evening Speed (NBN 50) plans
The following table shows a selection of published unlimited Standard Plus Evening Speed (NBN 50) plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of standard monthly cost, from the lowest to highest, and then by alphabetical order of provider. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.
Premium Evening Speed (NBN 100) plans
The following table shows a selection of published unlimited Premium Evening Speed (NBN 100) plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of standard monthly cost, from the lowest to highest, and then by alphabetical order of provider. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.
Telstra and Optus NBN explained
Telstra and Optus get access to a whole range of things that the smaller providers do not, like exclusive deals with companies for phones, streaming services or access to special technology like 5G modems. They’re more established companies that also dominate Australia’s phone lines, where smaller companies have to run their mobile businesses off of the Telstra, Optus, or Vodafone networks. Being a bigger and more well-know provider can have its perks and typically you’ll find more options and extras such as bundles. But, with an established name and an established expectation of service, cost becomes an issue, as these telcos typically have more expensive plans.
The following table shows a selection of published Telstra and Optus plans including a selection of bundles on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of standard monthly cost, from the lowest to highest, and then by alphabetical order of provider. Use our comparison tool above to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.
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