Canstar Blue’s annual review of NBN providers compares 18 brands on their speed and reliability, customer service, value for money, bill & cost clarity, ease of setup, and overall satisfaction. The ratings are formed from a survey of more than 6,200 Aussie consumers.
See our Ratings Methodology.
Aussie-owned telco MATE has taken home the gold in Canstar Blue’s 2021 NBN provider ratings, beating out big names in its first year of inclusion. It achieved five stars for speed and reliability, customer service, ease of setup, bill clarity and overall satisfaction in our NBN provider comparison.
With the National Broadband Network (NBN) rollout essentially complete, your door is now opened to close to 200 different service providers. They include all the big names you’ve already heard of, as well as dozens of others you probably haven’t. Your challenge as a customer is to find the internet plans and NBN providers that best meet your high speed broadband needs. It’s no easy task.
Our mission as a review and comparison website is to help you along the way. We do this by surveying thousands of households across the country that are already connected to the NBN. The feedback we receive is reflected by the star ratings table you see above. If you’re wondering why we haven’t rated every NBN provider, it’s because we have strict minimum sample requirements to be included. If a small NBN provider only has 10 customers, we don’t include them. We think we need to hear from at least 30 customers of each brand to get a good, balanced view of its service and how it compares to the competition.
Our ratings do, however, include some of the biggest and best NBN providers out there, as well as several up-and-coming challenger brands — giving you lots to think about when the time comes to make the switch, or if you’re just sick of your current provider and want a better deal. Providers have been compared on factors including their speed and reliability, customer service, ease of activation and value for money. The idea is to give you as much information as possible to help you pick the best broadband provider for your needs. So, what did we find this year?
Here are the best-rated NBN providers in Australia, as rated by customers in Canstar Blue’s 2021 Customer Satisfaction survey of over 6,200 households:
Here are the best NBN providers in Australia, as rated by customers in Canstar Blue’s 2021 satisfaction survey of over 6,200 households:
In its first year in our NBN ratings, Australian-owned provider MATE has landed squarely in the top spot — achieving a five-star score for overall customer satisfaction, and five stars in almost all other categories rated in our survey.
It’s a massive achievement for the Sydney-based telco, especially in its first-ever year as a Canstar Blue-rated provider. Five-star scores for speed and reliability, customer service, ease of setup, and bill clarity saw MATE eclipse most of this year’s competition, including former winner Aussie Broadband and industry leaders such as Telstra, TPG and Optus.
Second-place winner SpinTel also performed exceptionally, earning five stars for value for money and for bill and cost clarity. And showing that it’s once again a great year for Australian-owned providers, Aussie Broadband rounded out our top three for 2021, scoring five stars for speed and reliability.
Ultimately, finding the best NBN provider for your needs means finding the right balance between price, speed performance and customer service. That’s what our review aims to deliver – based on the real-world experiences of consumers just like you. If you’re only interested in the cheapest NBN plans on offer, this will be a fairly short review. But if you’re more interested in finding the best value, then keep reading as we compare the big and small NBN providers to help you find the right deal for you and your family.
The following table shows a selection of sponsored unlimited data Standard Plus Evening Speed (NBN 50) plans on Canstar Blue’s database with links to referral partners.
 |
1 Month Contract (1 month min. cost $227.90) Premium Evening Speed
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Unlimited Data/month |
$69.95 Cost/month |
Go to site |
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1 Month Contract (1 month min. cost $84.00) Standard Plus Evening Speed
|
Unlimited Data/month |
$84.00 Cost/month |
Go to site |
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1 Month Contract (1 month min. cost $179.94) Standard Plus Evening Speed
|
Unlimited Data/month |
$69.99 Cost/month |
Go to site |
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 (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 Premium Evening Speed (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.
MATE has made a stellar debut in our Most Satisfied Customers ratings, beating out tough competition from both big-name telcos and rival smaller providers to take home our 2021 award. The Australian telco offers a selection of no-contract, no-fuss NBN plans across five speed tiers, all featuring unlimited data and no setup or activation fees.
As both a home internet and mobile provider, MATE also offers customers incentive for bundling phone and NBN. Add a MATE mobile plan to your account, and you’ll save $10 per month on your broadband bill. MATE’s one month risk-free guarantee also offers a refund of your full NBN plan fee if you’re unhappy with your service after activation.
MATE was awarded an outstanding five stars for overall customer satisfaction in our 2021 NBN ratings. The telco also received five stars for speed and reliability, customer service, ease of setup and for bill clarity, plus four stars for value for money.
Another new entrant in our 2021 ratings, SpinTel’s range of customisable NBN plans give users their choice of contract, speed and data allowance, making the provider a great option for customers wanting a simple but tailored broadband service. Prices begin at $49.95 per month for 100GB of data at NBN 25 speeds, or $59.95 for unlimited data.
SpinTel achieved four stars for overall satisfaction in this year’s ratings, as well as five-star scores for value for money and for bill and cost clarity.
Last year’s winner Aussie Broadband is one of the few NBN providers to offer plans at every available speed tier – from entry-level NBN 12 and average speed NBN 50, to ultra-fast NBN 1000. Aussie Broadband also offers specialised plans for gamers and seniors, and boasts an Australian-based support team and an award-winning self-serve app.
Aussie Broadband scored four stars for overall satisfaction in our 2021 ratings, with five stars for speed and reliability, and four stars in all other categories.
Beating out bigger brother iiNet in this year’s ratings, Internode remains a well-loved provider offering a large range of NBN services. Plans start from $49.99 monthly for 100GB data, with unlimited plans available from $69.99 per month at NBN 25 speeds.
Internode scored four stars for overall satisfaction in our 2021 review, and achieved four-star results for speed and reliability, customer service, ease of setup and for bill and cost clarity
Another small provider offering big discounts, Tangerine’s unlimited data NBN plans feature no lock-in contracts and no setup fees. Plans are offered across NBN 25, NBN 50, NBN 100 and NBN 250 speeds where available, with prices beginning at $59.90 for the NBN 25 tier.
Tangerine received a four-star score for overall satisfaction in 2021, with four stars in almost all categories including value for money and speed and reliability.
Despite being one Australia’s ‘big three’ telcos, Vodafone is still a relative newcomer to the NBN game. The telco offers unlimited data across five NBN speed tiers, with prices beginning at $75 a month for NBN 25 speeds and up to $150 for NBN 1000.
Vodafone achieved three stars for overall satisfaction in our 2021 ratings, but scored four stars for value for money, customer service, speed and reliability, ease of setup and for bill clarity.
iiNet remains a hit with Aussie customers thanks to its range of customisable NBN plans, which offer plenty of extras such as voice calls and entertainment. iiNet’s NBN 12 plans begin from $59.99 for 500GB of monthly data, with NBN 25 available from $69.99 per month for unlimited gigabytes.
iiNet scored three stars for overall satisfaction in this year’s ratings, with four-star results for customer service, value for money and bill and cost clarity.
One of Australia’s biggest and best-known home internet providers, TPG’s NBN plans begin at just $29.99 per month, but you receive a very modest 10GB in return. For unlimited data, you’ll pay a minimum of $59.99 for NBN 12 speeds, with a smaller 100GB per month option available for $49.99.
TPG achieved three stars for overall satisfaction in this year’s report, with four stars for customer service, value for money and for ease of setup.
Dodo’s simple range of NBN plans include three speed options, with prices starting at $65 a month for unlimited data on the NBN 25 tier. Unlimited data at NBN 50 speeds begins at $75 per month, with NBN 100 available from $85.
Dodo scored three stars for overall satisfaction in our 2021 ratings, but did achieve four stars for value for money.
A subsidiary of Telstra, Belong offers a simple and hassle-free approach to NBN.
Belong achieved an overall satisfaction rating of three stars, with a four-star result for value for money, ease of setup and for bill and cost clarity.
Part of the iiNet family since 2008, Westnet remains an independent brand, but offers a similar range of NBN plans to both iiNet and sister provider Internode. Prices begin from $69.99 monthly for unlimited data at NBN 25 speeds, although an NBN 12 option with 500GB is available for $59.99 per month.
Westnet received an overall satisfaction result of three stars, and scored four stars for customer service, value for money, ease of setup and bill cost.
Known primarily as one of Australia’s biggest energy providers, AGL has recently expanded into telco, offering both mobile phone and broadband plans alongside gas and electricity. AGL’s biggest perk is the $15 per month discount it offers on NBN plans when combined with AGL energy, as well as no lock-in contracts on broadband.
AGL scored three stars for overall satisfaction in our 2021 report, but earned four stars for speed and reliability, value for money and ease of setup.
MyRepublic’s NBN plan range covers six speed tiers, and caters to both everyday users and serious gamers. Plans are offered on NBN 50, NBN 100/20, NBN 100/40, NBN 250 and NBN 1000 speed tiers where available, and all feature unlimited data and no lock-in contracts.
MyRepublic received three stars for overall satisfaction in this year’s ratings, but was awarded four stars for speed and reliability, value for money, ease of setup and for bill and cost clarity.
Update 6/8/21: Optus’ Internet Gamer plans are currently unavailable. However, customers can still sign up for a standard Optus NBN plan, and add Game Path for $10 per month.
Optus’ NBN range includes standard, family and gaming-specific plans, with your choice of NBN 50 and NBN 100 speeds (plus NBN 250 and NBN 1000 where available). A standard NBN 50 plan is available from $79 per month, the Internet Gamer plan is also $79 per month, while the Family Internet Ultimate plan is priced from $89 and includes home network security and WiFi Booster.
Like main competitor Telstra, Optus achieved an overall rating of three stars in 2021, and three stars across all other categories.
A stablemate of Dodo under the Vocus Communications umbrella, iPrimus offers customisable unlimited data NBN plans from just $70 per month for NBN 25 speeds. Unlimited NBN 50 data is available from $75 monthly, while NBN 100 is $90 per month.
iPrimus received an overall score of three stars for satisfaction in our 2021 ratings, and three stars for all other categories.
Known primarily for its pay TV and streaming channels, Foxtel offers combined internet and entertainment plans, featuring unlimited monthly data. Broadband prices begin at $65 per month for Premium customers, and $75 monthly on all other packages (in addition to your monthly Foxtel fee).
Foxtel NBN received an overall rating of three stars for satisfaction in our 2021 ratings, and three stars in all other categories.
Telstra’s range of contract-free NBN options are comparatively expensive, but the telco giant does offer an extensive range of extras and perks. Prices begin at $80 per month for unlimited data and NBN 25 speeds, $90 per month for NBN 50 speeds, and for NBN 100 you’ll pay $110 per month. NBN 250 is also available for $140 monthly for selected connections, and NBN 1000 from $180 per month.
Telstra was rated three stars for overall satisfaction in our 2021 report, with three-star ratings in all other categories.
Exetel offers a small but competitive NBN range, with plans starting at $60 per month for unlimited data at NBN 12 speeds. NBN 50 is available from $75 per month, while premium NBN 100 is priced at $95 monthly.
Exetel took home an overall satisfaction rating of three stars in this year’s ratings, and three stars across all categories.
In addition to the big-name telcos, there are several ‘second tier’ NBN providers around that should be equally capable of supplying your internet service. These include some familiar names from the world of mobile phone plans, plus NBN-only challenger brands.
These smaller telcos may even offer superior value than their bigger counterparts, but what you save in price you may lose when it comes to customer service and other features. Or you may not. The point is, it’s hard to know for sure.
Big providers will generally have the most comprehensive customer service and will likely pick up the phone a little bit quicker if you call. This will not always be the case, but it’s worth keeping in mind when it comes to deciding which provider to go with. And just because someone picks up the phone, doesn’t mean they’ll be able to help. Also consider that the big providers often offer more in the way of extra entertainment features, or other sign-up incentives.
While some of these NBN providers will offer cheap alternatives to their bigger counterparts, it would be hard to really judge their customer service credentials until you have actually signed up. It could mean taking something of a gamble with your NBN service. With that in mind, you may want to avoid lengthy contracts with a no contract NBN plan, rather keeping your options open just in case things don’t work out as planned.
The NBN rollout is now technically complete, with most suburbs already connected or now on track to connect soon. And while there are around 200 NBN providers in Australia, the majority of households are still connected with one of the big telcos featured above. Is that a good move? Maybe. We’ll come to that shortly.
If you’re really not sure about the NBN actually offering the best internet service for you, you may want to consider the NBN alternatives, such as 5G vs NBN. The launch of 5G broadband plans in 2019 has also added an extra element to the NBN conversation. Maybe, one day, you won’t need a fixed-line internet connection at all.
As you will have gathered, choosing the best NBN provider for your specific needs can be a real challenge, which will help explain why a majority of Aussie households stick with one of the big guys as a seemingly ‘safe bet’. While this is perfectly understandable, try to keep an open mind and judge every provider on its own merits. Try not to be sucked in by marketing campaigns or other gimmicks, rather focusing on the products and service being offered.
Our research shows that in 2021, households connected to the NBN are paying an average of about $71 a month for their new service. While the opportunity to upgrade your internet service is tempting, make sure you consider exactly what you need in terms of speed levels and data allowance.
NBN speeds remain a major political issue, with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) compiling its own independent research each quarter into Australia’s fastest NBN providers. It is worth remembering that all download and upload speeds reported are the maximum speeds that can be achieved with a particular plan, and to look at data such as typical evening speeds for a more accurate real-world performance .
While it’s tempting to go for a cheap NBN plan, keep in mind that doing so will likely mean that you are sacrificing either speed or data allowance. You might find there is better value in paying a little extra but think carefully about what you’re getting if your new NBN plan is more expensive than your old service. The last thing you’ll want is to end up paying more for a service that is no better than your old one!
When it comes to picking an NBN provider or plan, the most important message is to keep your options open – you certainly have plenty of them!
This page was written and is regularly updated by Canstar Blue’s Telco Editor, Tara Donnelly. Having spent more around a decade writing for and editing telco comparison websites, she’s an expert in all things phone & internet, including NBN plans and how to find the best deal for your family. She loves to highlight the next best NBN deals, while also flagging the things you need to be aware of. Tara also acts as a spokesperson for Canstar Blue.
Here are the best NBN providers in 2021:
While only a handful of NBN providers dominate the market, the wholesale nature of the National Broadband Network means it is relatively easy for smaller telcos to start up and compete for customers. In fact, there are more than 200 NBN providers recognised by NBN Co. Here is a complete list of registered NBN providers available to residential customers in Australia:
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
X
Other
Canstar Blue surveyed 12,316 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 currently have an NBN plan in their name and they pay the bills – in this case, 6,285 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 – NBN Providers ratings:
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