Getting great value from a service takes more than simply buying the cheapest option. Canstar Blue’s Outstanding Value Awards help consumers identify NBN, phone and electricity providers that offer more than just a good price on their plans. Seeing an Outstanding Value award logo means that our team of experts believe that brand goes above and beyond to provide serious bang for your buck.
Powershop’s market offer pricing and high feature scores made the retailer a clear winner for NSW electricity plans. The retailer’s plans often include attractive introductory offers for new customers, such as sign-up credits applied directly to your bill. Powershop also offers customers a range of extras, including the option to prepay for energy via Powerpacks and easy account monitoring through the Powershop app.
Tango EnergyTango Energy achieved consistently high scores for its electricity plans across each Victorian distribution network, with a particularly strong performance for households with medium and high usage. Tango’s market offers include low-rate options, flexible no-lock-in contracts and features such as monthly billing and direct debit.
PowershopPowershop has taken home both the NSW and QLD electricity awards in 2024, proving that the provider is equally competitive in various states. Again, Powershop’s strength is in its low pricing, combined with one of the highest feature scores for retailers in QLD. Popular plan features include monthly billing, Powerpacks, and access to the Powershop app.
Pacific Blue’s win for SA electricity plans is the provider’s first time as an Outstanding Value award winner. Pacific Blue performed strongly for single rate plans in particular, thanks to its consistently cheap pricing and high marks for customer service and support.
Origin EnergyLast year’s winner for ACT electricity, Origin takes home the award again in 2024 thanks to its strong pricing and range of features and extras. Origin’s market offers are consistently well-priced despite its status as a big retailer, with new customer incentives frequently available.
A standout retailer thanks to its consistently low pricing, 1st Energy also maintained one of the highest feature scores in the TAS market across 2024. Its market offers include competitive rates as well as extras such as guaranteed discounts and sign-up credits.
AGLAGL was a standout choice in the tough NSW solar market, offering a balance of high solar feed-in tariffs with generally lower usage and supply rates. The retailer performed strongly across all tariff types in 2024, with its Solar Saver plan offering consistently good value for NSW solar customers.
This year’s Outstanding Value winner in VIC for electricity plans, Tango also takes home the award for solar in the state. The retailer’s competitive prices and plan options saw it at the top of our leaderboard throughout the year, for both single rate and controlled load tariff types.
Alinta Energy achieved the highest price scores on all observation dates in 2024, with plan prices being around 10% lower than the next cheapest retailer. While Alinta’s features may not be as competitive, its impressively cheap rates have established the brand as a market leader for QLD solar customers.
One of several retailers to take out multiple awards in 2024, Powershop is a strong pick for solar customers in SA. While Powershop’s solar feed-in tariffs aren’t as high as its competitors, the retailer’s low rates give it an edge in an often-packed solar market. Customers can also monitor usage through the free Powershop app.
Winning the ACT solar category two years running, Origin Energy once again delivered strong pricing and high marks for its plan features, such as service and self-help options. Origin’s solar-specific plans offer generous feed-in tariffs and incentives, alongside no exit fees and extras such as Everyday Rewards points.
1st Energy1st Energy offers significantly cheap pricing for both solar and electricity in TAS, while also achieving a high score for plan features. Its 1st Solar Bonus plan delivers generous solar feed-in tariffs and lower usage rates for Tasmanian customers.
Origin EnergyOrigin Energy has scooped up three of our six new gas Outstanding Value Awards, including for NSW. The industry giant performed extremely well throughout 2024, with its pricing typically outshining other big-name retailers in the state.
PowershopPowershop performed exceptionally well in the tight VIC gas market, delivering a stellar result ahead of bigger name retailers. Powershop’s plans offer competitive usage and supply rates and may also feature conditional discounts for new sign-ups.
Origin EnergyOrigin Energy’s strong pricing and flexible plans offer plenty of incentive for QLD gas customers looking for added value. Its variable plans include no lock-in contracts and competitive rates, with Everyday Rewards points also available on selected offers.
Alinta EnergyAlinta Energy offered generally market leading prices in SA throughout 2024, along with a good feature offering when compared to other gas providers. The retailer’s plans include low daily supply charges and variable rates, along with no contracts or exit fees.
Origin EnergyOrigin outpaces other gas retailers in the ACT, and as with its NSW and QLD awards can thank a combination of competitive prices and feature-packed plans. Origin’s ACT plans include low usage charges and no lock-in contracts, plus extras such as Everyday Rewards points.
AGLAGL’s WA gas plans were consistently the cheapest in the state across the year. The retailer’s competitive pricing and simple plans offer value for price-conscious customers, with extras such as guaranteed discounts also available on some products.
TomiIt might not be a familiar name, but Tomi has taken out Canstar Blue’s Outstanding Value Award for NBN plans for 2024. The telco has proven to offer a range of competitively-priced NBN plans for the speeds it offers, with added value such as the free modem when customers stay connected for 24 months. Its frequently lower price positions it as a provider offering great value for a range of different household needs and budgets. Tomi has previously won the Outstanding Value award for high-speed NBN plans in 2023.
SuperloopA new addition to our Outstanding Value awards is Superloop, which won our 2024 Outstanding Value Award for High Speed NBN Plans. This fast-growing NBN provider offers cheap pricing for its high download speeds, along with competitive features: customers can take advantage of free speed boosts, refer-a-friend discounts, and internet and mobile bundles. These perks, along with extras such as new customer discounts, position Superloop as a top pick for customers interested in fast, reliable NBN plans that offer good value.
iiNet & TPGWhen Aussies are looking for alternative home internet options, home wireless broadband plans, especially using faster 5G speeds, can be a stand-out choice. iiNet and TPG (which are both part of TPG Telecom) share our inaugural Outstanding Value award for Wireless Broadband. Both brands perform well when it comes to plan prices and features, especially for 5G home internet, and the 4G home internet plans offer a competitive option for customers looking for great value home wireless plans.
The Outstanding Value Award for Wireless Broadband Plans is a new award with no previous winners.
Moose MobileFor the fifth year in a row, Moose Mobile is our Outstanding Value Award winner for SIM-only Mobile Plans. The smaller telco has again beaten out bigger name providers thanks to its wide range of plans at market-leading prices. Moose’s wallet-friendly plan fees and higher data allowances offer great value at a range of price points, catering to customers with various usage needs.
TPGWith back-to-back wins now, TPG grabs top spot for our Outstanding Value Award for Prepaid Mobile Plans in 2024. TPG remains competitive thanks to its cost-effective monthly plans with the flexibility that longer plans lack, combined with larger data allowances to provide all-round great value.
VodafoneVodafone has made it four in a row, winning our Outstanding Value Award for Phone on a Plan for 2024. It offers competitive pricing and great value when compared to the other major players thanks to larger data inclusions for the price. Vodafone also offers a wide range of phone options, payment periods and flexible plans to bundle your device with.
Canstar Blue offers a range of commercial and organic opportunities for winning brands that want to let the world know they’re the best in their field. Our Commercial Team is ready to help you maximise your win!
Got some questions about how the Canstar Blue Awards work, or want to get your brand involved? Check out the questions below, or head to our FAQ page.
Our Outstanding Value Awards are based on a rating scale of 0 to 10 (with 10 being the highest), with each brand, product or service rated by our team of research experts, who use a catered methodology that looks at both price and feature scores to determine the best overall value offered. You can find out more about the Outstanding Value Methodology here.
Canstar Blue’s Outstanding Value Award considers offerings that are available to purchase in Australia, with each award covering select areas and offerings (i.e. phone plans when considering the Phone on a Plan Outstanding Value Award). Canstar Blue endeavours to include the majority of providers and products in the market and to compare product features relevant to most consumers, although this process may not always be possible.
