Westnet Broadband Plans Review

Westnet Broadband is no longer accepting new customers, with existing customers to be transferred to an iiNet service from early 2024. Please treat the information on this page as historical only. Use our comparison tool to see plans from other providers.

Westnet’s acquisition by iiNet in 2008 saw the merger of two seemingly like-minded service providers, with a similar focus on customer support and consumer advocacy. Following iiNet’s takeover by TPG, Westnet remains an independent brand, offering either ADSL2+ or Naked DSL connections, as well as plans on the National Broadband Network (NBN). Canstar Blue has reviewed Westnet’s broadband plans across all connection types to see where you could find the best deal.

Westnet Internet Plans

Westnet’s broadband offerings are similar to those of iiNet, so no matter which company you go with, you’re likely to get good value. There are quite a few broadband plans on offer, spread across ADSL, Naked DSL and NBN connection types. And you don’t necessarily need to be from Perth to benefit!

Westnet NBN Plans

Westnet’s lineup consists of seven NBN plans. Choosing what NBN speed Tier to go with is an important decision as it affects your broadband speed! So, while you might be attracted by the low price of Basic plans, you’ll have to ask yourself if a 12Mbps download speed is worth it (as well as settling for 500GB of monthly data).

For only a little extra per month, you can jump into a Standard Plus plan that offers 50Mbps max download speeds. If you’re willing to splash out more, Premium speeds will afford you a massive 100Mbps max download speed instead. So for heavy broadband users requiring the best performance, you may find it worth your money to go for a Premium plan from Westnet.

As usual, Westnet also offers a $10 international calling pack. The NBN contracts are also much the same as the ADSL 2+plans above.

• You’ll pay no activation fee for no lock-in contract, but you’ll have to front for a  modem or BYO

Below is how the plans look on a variety of speed tiers, keeping in mind that iiNet’s plans may differ slightly, especially as activation and modem costs rise and fall.

Westnet ADSL Plans

Westnet’s most popular plans are its ADSL2+ broadband plans, taken up by over 800,000 subscribers nationally. ADSL speeds offer fast broadband at reasonable prices, with all plans including line rental built into the price.

The ADSL2+ plans also come with a couple of extras if you so wish. You can add on an international call pack. This covers 20 different countries, including all the favourites like the US, New Zealand, the UK and many European and Asian countries. Westnet also has two ways to ‘buy-in’ to the broadband plan:

• No lock-in contract: Commands a activation fee and you are to either buy a modem from iiNet/Westnet, or supply your own
• 24 month contract: No activation fee and included Wi-Fi modem

It’s evident that Westnet is trying to get you to commit, and if you are willing to, you’ll save a few bucks.

Westnet Naked DSL Plans

Westnet’s naked DSL plans couldn’t be simpler – a big compliment for a plan range which is now just a plain old internet connection. Westnet offers three plans. The only difference between these is that with the dearer plan you’ll get included local and national calls to landlines and mobiles. You can again add an international call pack on.

Like the ADSL2+ bundles, Westnet offers better value if you’re willing to commit to a 24 month contract:

• No lock-in contract: activation fee, pay upfront for iiNet modem, or BYO modem
• 24-month contract cheaper activation fee, included modem or BYO

Westnet Fetch Packages

Westnet – like many providers in the iiNet family – has partnered with Fetch, a pay TV streaming service and set top box provider all in one. With Fetch you can record shows, choose from a library of free movies, purchase movies and TV shows on demand, stream Netflix and add entertainment channel packs.

• With selected broadband plans, Westnet offers Fetch for an additional fee.
• This price comprises of the ‘Premium TV Bundle’ on no lock-in contract, and this includes a Fetch TV ‘Mini’ box plus one channel pack of your choice (ordinarily worth $6 a month).
• This accrues an upfront set-up fee

Fetch is the latest streaming service and entertainment provider to directly compete alongside the likes of Foxtel.

How does Westnet compare to other internet providers?

Westnet compares pretty well across the board, including with its parent companies iiNet and TPG. As mentioned earlier, Westnet is owned by iiNet (iiNet is then owned by TPG) and you’ll find their plans to be exactly the same. However, they may differ in availability to your home, so it pays to check. Either way, you are not losing out by going with one or the other.

Is Westnet broadband good value?

Westnet is a pretty attractive provider with the backing afforded by iiNet and TPG. These providers consistently rate as some of the best for Netflix and streaming speed. However, away from that and comparing Westnet to other providers reveals that there are cheaper deals to be found on a monthly basis that offer the same or more data. Although there is more to it than that, you’ll have to determine things like:

• Installation costs
• Activation fees
• After sales service

Unfortunately, for the most part you won’t come to realise how a broadband provider is right for you until you’ve already committed to a few months. This is why opting for a no-contract option might be better for those unsure – you’ll likely incur higher activation fees, but you’ll get the flexibility to move around. This is the case with Westnet and its no-contract options. All in all, with Westnet drawing much of its current customer service and plan structure from the award-winning setup of iiNet, you can’t really go wrong. It doesn’t hurt to have a look at other providers though.

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What do customers think about Westnet NBN plans?

In 2020, Australians gave Westnet 4 out of 5 stars for Overall Customer Satisfaction in NBN plans.