With the NBN rollout essentially complete, it’s safe to say that the once contentious Australia-wide internet connection is now the most common way to get online. That being said, there are some people who prefer not to use the NBN, or might not have a fixed line connection available at their home. Thankfully, alternatives exist, one of which is home wireless broadband.
Home wireless broadband uses 3G, 4G and 5G signals to connect your home to the internet – unlike the NBN, which primarily uses fixed-line wire connections. It’s worth comparing the two types if you’re struggling to choose, as each technology has its own advantages and disadvantages – and there’s no one-size-fits-all broadband plan. Read on to see if NBN or home wireless is the better pick for you.
On this page:
- Home wireless broadband vs NBN: The key points
- What’s the difference between home wireless broadband and NBN?
- Is NBN faster than home wireless broadband?
- Is home wireless broadband cheaper than NBN?
- Home wireless broadband and NBN: Pros and cons
- Should I use home wireless broadband or the NBN?
- Frequently asked questions
Home wireless broadband vs NBN: The key points
- Home wireless broadband uses the same mobile networks that connect your phone to the internet (3G, 4G and 5G).
- Most NBN connections require your home to be connected to the network via cable (the exceptions are fixed wireless and satellite NBN).
- Home wireless broadband works straight out of the box – simply insert your SIM card and plug the modem into the wall.
- Setting up NBN at a new address may require a technician to install and connect your service.
- Home wireless broadband plans can deliver download speeds of up to 1000Mbps on 5G, and around 25-30Mbps on 4G, but this will vary depending on your plan.
- NBN download speeds can reach up to 1000Mbps, but this is dependent on the type of NBN connection servicing your home.
What’s the difference between home wireless broadband and NBN?
Home wireless broadband
Home wireless broadband connects your home to the internet remotely, using the same 4G or 5G mobile networks that connect your phone. These plans use a modem/router plugged into your power outlet to connect, so your address won’t need a physical connection to fibre or cable in order to get online.
Home wireless broadband plans may come with several different speed options (depending if you’re on a 4G or 5G network plan), as well as varying data allowances. Most Australians have access to 4G plans, but residents of more populated areas may also have 5G coverage.
You can compare a range of 4G plans in the table below.
iiNet Wireless Broadband Plans
The following table shows a selection of published iiNet home wireless broadband plans from Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of their standard monthly cost, from the lowest to highest. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.
| Brand | Features | Max Data**/billing period | Advertised Cost^^/billing period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Home Wireless Broadband Limiitless Plan
min. cost $44.99 over one month |
Unlimited | $44.99 | Go To Site |
 View all internet plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
TPG Wireless Broadband Plans
The following table shows a selection of published TPG home wireless broadband plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of standard monthly cost, from the lowest to highest. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.
| Brand | Features | Max Data**/billing period | Advertised Cost^^/billing period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Home Wireless Broadband Unlimited Plan
min. cost $39.99 over first month |
Unlimited | $39.99 | Go To Site |
| View all internet plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
Optus 4G Home Internet Plans
The following table shows a selection of Optus 4G Home Internet plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. This is a selection of products with links to referral partners.
| Brand | Features | Max Data**/billing period | Advertised Cost^^/billing period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
4G Home Internet Unlimited (24 Month)
min. cost $1,357 over 24 month plan period |
Unlimited | $59 | Link to provider unavailable |
|
4G Home Internet Unlimited (Month-to-Month)
min. cost $275 (incl. $216 modem cost) over first month plan period |
Unlimited | $59 | Link to provider unavailable |
| View all internet plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
Southern Phone Wireless Broadband Plans
The following table shows a selection of published Southern Phone wireless broadband plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. This is a selection of products with links to referral partners.
| Brand | Features | Max Data**/billing period | Advertised Cost^^/billing period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Home Wireless Unlimited M2M
min. cost $270 over first month plan period |
Unlimited | $60 | Link to provider unavailable |
|
Home Wireless Unlimited 24M
min. cost $1,440 over 24 month plan period |
Unlimited | $60 | Link to provider unavailable |
| View all internet plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
Keep in mind that as 5G networks are still rolling out across the country, this type of connection isn’t as widely available as 4G-only plans. Regardless, you can check out 5G-ready plans in the table below.
The following table shows selected published 5G home internet plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest.
| Brand | Features | Max Data**/billing period | Advertised Cost^^/billing period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
5G Home Internet
min. cost $85 over one month |
1TB | $85 | Link to provider unavailable |
|
Optus Plus Entertainer Superfast 5G
min. cost $675 over first month |
Unlimited | $99 | Link to provider unavailable |
| View all NBN plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
The following table shows selected published 5G home internet plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest.
| Brand | Features | Max Data**/billing period | Advertised Cost^^/billing period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
min. cost $44.99 over one month |
Unlimited | $44.99 | Go To Site |
|
min. cost $44.99 over one month |
Unlimited | $44.99 | Go To Site |
 |
5G Home Internet Plus
min. cost $65 over one month |
Unlimited | $65 | Link to provider unavailable |
|
min. cost $49.99 over one month |
Unlimited | $49.99 | Go To Site |
|
5G Home Broadband Premium plan
min. cost $54.99 over one month |
Unlimited | $54.99 | Go To Site |
|
5G Home Internet Premium
min. cost $70 over one month |
Unlimited | $70 | Link to provider unavailable |
|
Optus Plus Everyday Fast 5G
min. cost $655 over first month |
Unlimited | $79 | Link to provider unavailable |
 |
SpinTel 5G Unlimited
min. cost $89 over one month |
Unlimited | $89 | Link to provider unavailable |
| View all NBN plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
What is the NBN?
The NBN uses a combination of fibre, fixed wireless and satellite connections to deliver an internet connection to your home or business, and is the most commonly-used broadband type in Australia. NBN plans are widely available, offer a range of speeds, and generally include unlimited data. You can connect to the NBN if it’s available at your address using a compatible modem.
NBN plans are sold by speed tiers, which we’ve sorted in the table below, selecting plans from across the market. Alternatively, you can use our comparison tool to search for plans yourself.
Unlimited 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 above to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.
Unlimited 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 above to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.
Unlimited Standard Evening Speed (NBN 25) Plans
The following table shows a selection of published unlimited Standard Evening Speed (NBN 25) 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 above to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.
Is NBN faster than home wireless broadband?
NBN plans are sold by the speed tiers offered:
- NBN 12 (also known as Home Basic I)
- NBN 25 (also known as Home Basic II)
- NBN 50 (also known as Home Standard)
- NBN 100 (also known as Home Fast)
- NBN 250 (also known as Home Superfast)
- NBN 1000 (also known as Home Ultrafast)
The numbers refer to the maximum download speed, in megabits per second (Mbps), available with each tier; so for example, NBN 100 plans come with a peak download speed of 100Mbps.
The fastest speed tier is NBN 1000, which offers a potential maximum download speed of 1000Mbps, or one gigabit. However, real-world speeds are unlikely to be quite that fast, with retailers reporting typical busy-hour speeds of between 400-700Mbps.
Customers should also be aware that not all speed tiers are available at every home. Your NBN connection type will determine which plans you’re eligible for, with NBN 100, NBN 250, and NBN 1000 plans generally only available to homes with Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) and some Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) connections.
In comparison, 4G home wireless broadband plans can comfortably reach 12Mbps download speeds, although theoretically can hit between 20Mbps and 100Mbps. However, 5G home wireless broadband can reach speeds rivalling the NBN, with Optus citing an average download speed of up to 240Mbps on 5G plans, and Telstra listing typical speeds of around 330Mbps.
If you’re considering 5G, keep in mind that most telcos offer speed-capped 5G home wireless broadband plans. This means your download speeds will be limited to 50Mbps,100Mbps, or even 250Mbps, depending on your plan. Telstra and Optus each sell uncapped 5G home internet, but plans from Vodafone, iiNet, TPG, Internode and SpinTel all come with speed restrictions.
Is home wireless broadband cheaper than NBN?
Generally, home wireless broadband plans are priced similarly to NBN plans, albeit with data caps on almost every plan (excluding most 5G plans). A home wireless broadband plan costs between $50 and $100 per month, whereas an NBN plan can cost you anywhere between $35 and $180 monthly, depending on your speed tier of choice.
However, if you’d like to compare plans based solely on speed, you can see the general costs for unlimited NBN, 4G and 5G home wireless broadband plans in the table below.
| Speed | NBN price | Home wireless broadband price |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 25Mbps |
|
|
| Up to 50Mbps |
|
|
| Up to 100Mbps |
|
|
| Over 100Mbps |
|
|
Home wireless broadband and NBN: Pros and cons compared
While home wireless broadband and NBN each can offer fast connections at competitive prices, there’s definite pros and cons to each technology type. So we’ve listed the good and bad for each broadband product below.
Home wireless pros and cons
Pros:
- Available anywhere you have 4G or 5G network coverage.
- Simple ‘plug in and play’ set-up, no installation required.
- Good alternative for homes who can’t access the NBN.
- Plans can be cheaper than equivalent speeds on the NBN.
- Relies on mobile network connections, so will struggle in areas with poor reception.
- Much smaller range of plans and providers available when compared to the NBN.
- 5G coverage is not as widely available, and 4G speeds may not be suitable for big households or heavy users.
- Not always as reliable as fixed-line NBN.
NBN pros and cons
- Widely available across Australia.
- 6+ speed tiers available, from more than 100 providers.
- Offers download speeds up to 1000Mbps, depending on your plan.
- Designed to support big households and all-day internet use.
- May require installation or a technician visit to solve issues.
- Availability of speeds and plans depends on the connection type at your address.
- Faster plans can be quite expensive.
- Speeds and performance can drop during the peak 7pm-11pm evening period.
Should I use home wireless broadband or the NBN?
Deciding which option is better for your home comes down to how you use the internet and whether you can access the NBN. If you’re not in an NBN-ready suburb, home wireless broadband is a good alternative, especially if you have access to 5G coverage. For anything that sucks up bandwidth and data, you’d be best going with an NBN plan if possible, as they are generally unlimited and have more reliable, consistent speeds.
Think of it this way – if the NBN is available in your area, it’s probably going to be the best and most convenient internet option for your home in the long-term.
Generally, you may want to consider home wireless broadband if:
- NBN isn’t available at your home, or your current NBN performance is underwhelming.
- You rent or move frequently and want a portable and flexible option.
- You don’t need super-fast speeds and you’re happy with a 4G plan.
- You have 5G access, and want a fast plan that’s cheaper than NBN 250 or NBN 1000.
NBN may be the better pick for you if:
- Your home is already NBN-ready.
- You have an existing NBN connection and have no performance issues.
- You want a bigger selection of plans, prices and speeds to choose from.
- You have a bigger household with large data and bandwidth needs.
Frequently asked questions
- iiNet
- Internode
- Optus
- Southern Phone
- SpinTel
- Telstra
- TPG
- Vodafone
- Yomojo
5G home wireless broadband might reach similar speeds to the NBN, but it’s far from being better at this time. 5G networks are still under construction across Australia, and theoretically the NBN can reach higher speeds than widespread 5G in Australia.
However, prices for 5G internet plans are now quite cheap, and the standard is that they are unlimited, so this type of wireless broadband may satisfy you if you’re looking for a fast NBN alternative. But keep in mind that 5G coverage is not yet available to all Australians.
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