Compare Aussie Broadband vs Telstra NBN plans

Aussie Broadband vs Telstra NBN plans and prices

Telstra may be the biggest telco in Australia, however, in the crowded NBN space, smaller providers like Aussie Broadband are able to really compete with big brands.

When considering Aussie Broadband vs Telstra for NBN plans, both providers have a lot to offer and there are some key differences in what each provider has to offer.

Telstra is one of a few telcos to offer a full range of mobile and internet plans and is a dominant player in both markets. However, Telstra — the largest NBN provider — has seen a market share drop of around 10% since June 2019 to March 2024, from 49% down to 39.9%.

As for its NBN plans, Telstra offers a range of NBN plans across most speed tiers, starting at NBN 25 and going up to NBN 1000. Its NBN plans also tend to be some of the most expensive NBN plans when compared to other providers, however Telstra does add on a few extras as a default offering that many providers will charge extra for.

A Telstra modem is included for $0 on all NBN plans, however you will need to stay connected for 24 months. If you cancel your plan before then, you’ll need to return the modem or pay a modem non-return fee. There is also a basic home phone package included on all plans for no extra cost.

Unlike Telstra, Aussie Broadband has seen its popularity increase with a major jump in NBN market share over the past several years. In 2019 it was still considered part of the broad ‘other’ providers category with only 7% NBN market share split among well over a hundred providers, while it now has an 8.5% market share on its own, as of March 2024.

Aussie Broadband offers a much wider range of NBN plans, with plans available across all the speed tiers: NBN 12, NBN 25, NBN 50, NBN 100/20, NBN 100/40, NBN 250 and NBN 1000. There is also an NBN 100 speed-capped plan offering a maximum download speed of 75Mbps if you’re looking for something between NBN 50 and NBN 100 speeds.

While you won’t get a free modem included with your plan, you’ll have the option to either BYO modem or add on your preferred modem for an additional upfront cost. Aussie Broadband also offers a range of home phone packs to add on, including a basic pay-as-you-go plan for $0, an everyday call pack for $10 per month or an international call pack for $20 per month.

In addition to its standard range of NBN plans, Aussie Broadband also offers seniors NBN plans on the NBN 12 speed tier, either with a limited data inclusion or unlimited data, along with a plan which has a call pack included. Aussie Broadband also optimises its NBN service for gamers, so while there aren’t gamer-specific plans, there is plenty of information and tools available to help optimise your online gaming experience.

Telstra vs Aussie Broadband cheapest NBN plans

Perhaps the biggest point of difference between Telstra vs Aussie Broadband NBN is the pricing. While Aussie Broadband isn’t the cheapest provider on the market, its plans are still cheaper than what Telstra offers. Telstra’s cheapest NBN plan is around $10 more than the same speed tier with Aussie Broadband, while NBN 1000 will cost around $20 more each month with Telstra compared to Aussie Broadband.

Aussie Broadband vs Telstra NBN speeds

Both Aussie Broadband and Telstra offer a wide range of speed tiers. While Telstra offers most speed tiers, Aussie Broadband offers all NBN speed tiers, in addition to its own speed tier, positioning it as a provider with plans to suit a wider range of user needs.

As for real-world performance, both Aussie Broadband and Telstra list the typical evening speed to give you an idea of what sort of speeds you can expect during the busy evening peak between 7pm and 11pm. Telstra does tend to have faster typical evening speeds than Aussie Broadband, but these speeds may change. You can check out our guide on typical evening speeds to find out more about Telstra and Aussie Broadband speeds.

Aussie Broadband vs Telstra bundles and extras

While Telstra’s NBN plans might be more expensive than Aussie Broadband’s plans — and indeed more expensive than many other popular providers on the market — it does offer a lot of extras and bundles that many other providers don’t offer.

Telstra offers a wide range of entertainment add ons, such as Kayo, Spotify, BINGE and Disney+ subscriptions along with Fetch. You can also add on game consoles from PlayStation, Nintendo and Xbox for an additional monthly cost. However, you’ll still need to pay for these subscriptions and extras.

In addition to entertainment extras, Telstra also offers its own rewards program, Telstra Plus, which allows eligible customers to earn points simply by paying their bill. Customers will get access to concert pre-sales, discounts on movie and sporting tickets, and the option to spend points in the Telstra Plus rewards store on items such as smartphones, tablets, speakers and more.

Aussie Broadband no longer offers entertainment add ons, however you will be able to bundle a mobile phone service with your NBN plan with a discount on your plan fees.

If you’re after entertainment add ons and the option to bundle services on the one bill, Telstra is a clear front runner, as one of the few NBN providers to offer a range of entertainment and bundling options.

What do customers think of Aussie Broadband vs Telstra?

If you want to know what customers think about Telstra or Aussie Broadband, at Canstar Blue, our Most Satisfied Customers ratings for NBN providers offers insight to how Aussies feel about their NBN provider and plan.

Aussie Broadband won our 2024 ratings, scoring five stars for both overall satisfaction and customer service, however it scored four stars for value for money. Telstra on the other hand, came in twelfth place in our ratings, scoring four stars for overall satisfaction and three stars for both value for money and customer service.

Aussie Broadband vs Telstra: Which NBN provider should you sign up to?

Despite offering a similar selection of NBN speed plans, when comparing Aussie Broadband vs Telstra, there are a lot of big differences.

While Aussie Broadband is on the more expensive end of the market compared to other NBN providers, it’s still rather cheap compared to the more expensive plans from Telstra. While Telstra does offer a bit more on its NBN plans by default, such as a modem and home phone package, if you don’t need either of these extras, Telstra’s plans might not be worth the extra cost.

Aussie Broadband also offers a wider range of NBN speed tiers — starting at NBN 12 and going up to NBN 1000 and even including its own NBN 75 speed — so it will appeal to a wider range of user needs. Seniors might also find the tailored plans better suit their usage needs and budget compared to what’s on offer from Telstra.

However, Telstra does offer a lot of extras, such as Telstra Plus rewards and entertainment add ons, that could entice you if you want more than just a basic NBN plan.

Ultimately, you’ll want to consider what you want from your NBN plan, your budget and what your internet needs are. It also helps to compare NBN plans from a wider range of providers to give you an idea of what kind of value for money is available to help you find the best plan to suit your needs.