Mobile broadband vs home wireless: the key points
- Home wireless and mobile broadband both use mobile networks to connect you to the internet.
- Home wireless requires a modem that needs to be plugged into a power outlet, while mobile broadband is portable.
- Both broadband types work as an alternative to NBN, but may come with data or speed caps.
If you’re looking for an alternative to the National Broadband Network (NBN), two of the most widely-available options are home wireless broadband and mobile broadband. But what are the differences between the two?
In this article Canstar Blue explores home wireless broadband vs mobile broadband.
In this guide:
Home wireless broadband vs mobile broadband explained
Mobile broadband and home wireless broadband are both ways that you can connect your home or devices to the internet. This is done by connecting to the same 4G or 5G mobile networks that your phone uses to access the internet and send and receive data.
Unlike fixed-line NBN, ADSL, or fibre connections, neither home wireless or mobile broadband require you to physically connect to the network through cables. This makes them flexible and (in the case of mobile broadband) portable alternatives to other types of home broadband.
While mobile broadband and home wireless broadband connect you to the internet via the same technology, there are key differences in their intended use. Mobile broadband offers a portable internet connection you can take with you, while wireless broadband is designed for home use, as an alternative to NBN or fixed-line connections.
Home wireless broadband is ideal if you can’t access the NBN, prefer a wireless alternative to fixed-line internet, or want to connect multiple devices at once. In comparison, mobile broadband is a great solution if you need a data-only plan for a device, or reliable internet while away from your home or office.
Mobile broadband vs home wireless at a glance
| Mobile broadband | Home wireless | |
|---|---|---|
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Price range per month |
$15 – $95 |
$45 – $90 |
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Main power required |
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Modem required |
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Portable |
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Unlimited data |
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5G available |
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General guide only
What types of home wireless and mobile broadband are available?
Depending on the coverage available at your address, your budget, and your choice of provider, you may have the following wireless/mobile internet options to choose from:
- 5G home wireless broadband (also known as 5G home internet)
- 5G mobile broadband
- 4G home wireless broadband (also known as 4G home internet)
- 4G mobile broadband
5G broadband includes access to both 5G and 4G coverage, and offers faster maximum speeds. The downside is these plans tend to be more expensive and may not be as widely available, as 5G is still rolling out nationwide.
4G broadband is limited to 4G coverage only. It’s still a reliable option for mobile or wireless internet, but isn’t as fast as broadband with 5G access.
We’ve compiled some of the most popular 5G home wireless broadband plans below.
5G home wireless broadband plans
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
5G Home Broadband Plus
min. cost $44.99 over one month |
Unlimited | $44.99 | Link to provider unavailable |
 |
5G Home Broadband Plus plan
min. cost $44.99 over one month |
Unlimited | $44.99 | Link to provider unavailable |
 |
5G Home Internet Plus
min. cost $65 over one month |
Unlimited | $65 | Link to provider unavailable |
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5G Home Broadband Premium
min. cost $49.99 over one month |
Unlimited | $49.99 | Link to provider unavailable |
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5G Home Broadband Premium plan
min. cost $54.99 over one month |
Unlimited | $54.99 | Link to provider unavailable |
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5G Home Internet Premium
min. cost $70 over one month |
Unlimited | $70 | Link to provider unavailable |
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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 | |||
Is home wireless more expensive than mobile broadband?
Home wireless broadband is typically more expensive than mobile broadband, likely because of its intended use as a total home internet solution.
Home wireless plan prices usually range between $45 and $90 per month, depending on the available maximum speeds. Plans with speed caps are cheaper, as are plans that offer 4G-only coverage.
Mobile broadband plans are usually priced by data inclusion; unlike home wireless, these plans tend to come with a limited monthly data inclusion, rather than unlimited gigabytes. Plan prices range from around $15 per month for small data amounts, up to $90 or more for larger allowances.
You can compare a range of prices for both broadband types below.
Home wireless broadband plans
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 $59.99 over one month |
Unlimited | $59.99 | 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 $54.99 over first month |
Unlimited | $54.99 | 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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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 |
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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 | |||
Mobile broadband plans
Mobile broadband plans compared: 100GB+
The following table shows a selection of published 100GB and over mobile 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
min. cost $34.90 over first month |
100GB | $34.90 | Go to Site |
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Medium 100GB
min. cost $35 over one month billing period |
100GB | $35 | |
|
min. cost $49.90 over first month |
200GB | $49.90 | Go to Site |
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min. cost $60 over one month billing period |
120GB | $60 | Go to Site |
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min. cost $64.90 over first month |
400GB | $64.90 | Go to Site |
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min. cost $780 over 12 month plan period |
100GB | $65 | Go to Site |
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Large 400GB
min. cost $70 over one month billing period |
400GB | $70 | |
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min. cost $70 over one month billing period |
220GB | $70 | Go to Site |
| View all NBN plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
Mobile broadband plans compared: Over 50GB
The following table shows a selection of published mobile broadband plans with 50GB – 100GB of data 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
min. cost $40 over first month |
70GB | $40 | Go to Site |
|
min. cost $480 over 12 month plan period |
50GB | $40 | Go To Site |
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SIM only 50GB
min. cost $40 over 28 day billing period |
50GB | $40 | |
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Medium
min. cost $58 over one month |
75GB | $58 | |
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SIM only 90GB
min. cost $60 over 28 day billing period |
90GB | $60 | |
| View all NBN plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
Mobile broadband plans compared: Under 50GB
The following table shows a selection of published mobile broadband plans with less than 50GB of data 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Small 20GB
min. cost $15 over one month billing period |
20GB | $15 | |
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min. cost $180 over 12 month plan period |
7GB | $15 | Go To Site |
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SIM Only 7GB
min. cost $15 over 28 day billing period |
7GB | $15 | |
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min. cost $20 over first month |
30GB | $20 | Go to Site |
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Small
min. cost $25 over one month |
30GB | $25 | |
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min. cost $300 over 12 month plan period |
15GB | $25 | Go To Site |
|
min. cost $35 over one month billing period |
45GB | $35 | Go to Site |
| View all NBN plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
Which is faster: home wireless broadband or mobile broadband?
Although both broadband types access the same mobile networks, home wireless internet is often sold by speed tier, meaning that you’ll pay more for faster maximum download speeds. Entry-level plans tend to offer maximum speeds of up to 20 megabits per second (Mbps), while mid-range options include 50Mbps or 100Mbps.
Currently, Telstra and Optus each offer 5G home wireless plans with no speed caps, so customers can expect speeds of around 200Mbps – 600Mbps during the busy evening hours. These plans offer speeds comparable to the faster NBN tiers, for a competitive price.
While some mobile broadband plans do come with speed caps, the limits tend to be much higher when compared to similarly-priced home wireless plans (e.g. 100Mbps or 200Mbps). However, the trade-off is you won’t get unlimited data, so may need to keep a close eye on your usage.
Are home wireless and mobile broadband better than the NBN?
Home wireless broadband and mobile broadband offer both advantages and disadvantages when compared to the NBN. Some pros of home wireless broadband and mobile broadband include:
- Home wireless broadband and mobile broadband don’t require installation, and are quick and easy to set up at home.
- Mobile broadband can be used in various devices, as well as on the go – you can connect anywhere your provider’s network is available.
- Home wireless broadband includes unlimited data, and tends to be cheaper than NBN plans with comparable speeds.
- 5G plans can offer maximum speeds on par with the NBN’s fastest tiers, although access will depend on your choice of plan, location and other factors.
Some downsides of mobile broadband and home wireless broadband include:
- 5G coverage isn’t as widely available as the NBN network, even in regional areas.
- The fastest speeds are offered on 5G plans, so areas limited to 4G networks won’t have access to super-fast downloads.
- Mobile broadband plans usually don’t include unlimited data.
- While home wireless broadband is marketed as an NBN replacement, mobile broadband works best as a complement to your home internet.
While 5G is the fastest option for mobile or home wireless broadband customers, 4G will continue to operate in areas where 5G can’t reach or isn’t yet live. Even if your town or suburb isn’t covered by 5G, you may see improvements in your current 4G connection. This is thanks to the 5G-ready upgrades your telco makes to its existing towers and network infrastructure.
If you’re weighing a move to home wireless or mobile broadband, remember that you can get consistently fast performance on the highest NBN speed tiers (up to 1000Mbps on gigabit-speed plans). However, ultra-fast NBN plans are on the expensive side, and aren’t available to all homes and connection types.
Original author: Emma Bradstock
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