Contrary to what you might hear, the NBN is not the be-all-and-end-all of Australian internet. Not everyone needs or wants to sign up to the National Broadband Network (NBN) for various reasons and if you’re one of them, there are several other options out there to get you online.
Two of your best picks would be home wireless broadband and mobile broadband, which are types of internet connections that use wireless 3G, 4G and in some cases 5G signals to get you on the web. Both are similar and use the same mobile networks to connect you to the internet, but how do they compare to each other? Read on to find out.
Mobile Broadband vs Home Wireless: The key points
- They both use mobile networks to get you online
- Both involve inserting a SIM card into a compatible device
- Home wireless is delivered solely via a dedicated modem
- Mobile broadband can be used in various devices
- Your home wireless modem will need to be plugged into the wall
- Mobile broadband is definitely more ‘mobile’ because you can charge and take your tablet or device anywhere
What’s the difference between home wireless and mobile broadband?
Home wireless broadband is intended to be a non-portable, in-home solution for getting onto the internet. While you can technically take the modem with you on your travels, provided you have a power source to plug the device into and good mobile network coverage, it’s designed to function more as a home wireless connection that can support multiple devices at once.
In comparison, mobile broadband is very portable, and can be used through a dongle, portable modem, or as a SIM card inserted in your phone or tablet.
Both types of broadband offer virtually the same speeds when on the same mobile network, but have different applications. Flexibility of contracts varies from plan-to-plan between internet types.
You might use home wireless broadband in your home if you can’t access the NBN or just want a wireless alternative to fixed line internet, whereas mobile broadband can be a good solution if you want a data-only device plan, or reliable internet on the go.
Is home wireless more expensive than mobile broadband?
Generally, home wireless broadband is more expensive than mobile broadband, but that’s only because the scope is different between the two technologies. You’ll find that home wireless plans cost between $50 and $100 per month, while mobile broadband plans cost anywhere between $15 and $75. If you’d like to compare the two types of internet, check out the table below to see home wireless plans.
Home Wireless 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 $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 | |||
Mobile Broadband Plans
Telstra Mobile Broadband Plans
The following table shows a selection of published Telstra 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Small
min. cost $25 over one month |
30GB | $25 | |
|
Medium
min. cost $58 over one month |
75GB | $58 | |
|
Large
min. cost $90 over one month |
400GB | $90 | |
| View all NBN plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
Vodafone Mobile Broadband Plans
The following table shows a selection of published Vodafone 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Small Data SIM Only Plan
min. cost $20 over first month |
30GB | $20 | Link to provider unavailable |
|
Large Data SIM Only Plan
min. cost $40 over first month |
70GB | $40 | Link to provider unavailable |
| View all NBN plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
Amaysim Mobile Broadband Plans
The following table shows a selection of published Amaysim 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Sim Only 7GB
min. cost $15 over 28 day billing period |
7GB | $15 | |
|
Sim Only 50GB
min. cost $40 over 28 day billing period |
50GB | $40 | |
|
Sim Only 90GB
min. cost $60 over 28 day billing period |
90GB | $60 | |
| View all NBN plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
Southern Phone Mobile Broadband Plans
The following table shows a selection of published Southern Phone 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 $180 over 12 month plan period |
7GB | $15 | Go to Site |
|
min. cost $300 over 12 month plan period |
15GB | $25 | Go to Site |
|
min. cost $480 over 12 month plan period |
50GB | $40 | Go to Site |
|
min. cost $780 over 12 month plan period |
100GB | $65 | Go to Site |
| View all NBN plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
Tangerine Mobile Broadband Plans
The following table shows a selection of published Tangerine 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 |
|
min. cost $49.90 over first month |
200GB | $49.90 | Go to Site |
|
min. cost $64.90 over first month |
400GB | $64.90 | Go to Site |
| View all NBN plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
The following table shows selected published Belong 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.
| Brand | Features | Max Data**/billing period | Advertised Cost^^/billing period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
min. cost $15 over one month billing period |
20GB | $15 | Go to Site |
|
min. cost $35 over one month billing period |
100GB | $35 | Go to Site |
|
min. cost $70 over one month billing period |
400GB | $70 | Go to Site |
| View all NBN plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
Mobile Broadband vs Home Wireless: A summary
| Mobile Broadband | Home Wireless | |
|---|---|---|
|
Price range |
$15 – $75/mth |
$50 – $100/mth |
|
Power point required? |
|
|
|
Modem required? |
|
|
|
Portable? |
|
|
|
1000GB data |
|
|
|
5G options? |
|
|
General guide only
Essentially, the big difference between mobile broadband and home wireless broadband is that the former is portable and the latter is more for use in the home or non-portable setting. This is countered by the fact that mobile broadband typically has less data than home wireless broadband plans, and overall is less of an NBN replacement.
Is 5G an NBN replacement?
5G is the new wireless technology being rolled out across Australia and other developed parts of the world, set to replace 4G. It’s a lot faster than 3G and 4G, and in a lot of ways can rival the NBN, with some providers now offering 5G network access on selected home wireless broadband and mobile broadband plans. While 5G coverage can theoretically reach speeds of more than a gigabit per second, real-world performance is usually in the 200Mbps-300Mbps area on broadband plans.
If you’re weighing up the two, remember that the NBN does offer faster speeds on its highest tiers (up to 1000Mbps on gigabit-speed plans) and at this time, Telstra, Optus and Vodafone 5G networks are still being rolled out across Australia. However, ultra-fast NBN plans are on the expensive side, and aren’t available to all homes and connection types. Keep in mind that 5G plans need dedicated hardware, as 4G-focused technology can’t access 5G signals, so you’ll need to upgrade to a 5G-capable modem on these plans.
You can check out 5G plans for home wireless broadband in the table below. 5G home internet is now offered by many of the biggest providers in Australia, including Telstra, Optus, TPG, Vodafone, and iiNet, and most plans also include unlimited data. Telcos may also give customers the choice of a cheaper 5G internet plan with speeds capped at 100Mbps — we’ve separated those plans from the full-speed options so you can easily compare prices.
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 | |||
Is 4G better than the NBN?
As of 2022, 4G is still the main network used by home wireless and mobile broadband plans, and unfortunately it’s not as good as the NBN in some respects. While it can be used anywhere your provider offers network coverage — and doesn’t require a wired connection — it’s not as consistently fast as most fixed-line NBN plans.
Although 4G connections can theoretically reach download speeds up to 100Mbps, it’s more reasonable to expect speeds around 12Mbps to 50Mbps. 4G speeds and experiences will also differ, depending on the telco that owns the network (be it Telstra, Vodafone or Optus), your location, plus other factors such as network congestion.
When 5G mobile and home wireless broadband becomes more widely available, it may prove to be a serious contender to the NBN. But for now, mobile broadband and home wireless act as complementary internet options, rather than ‘NBN killers’ and exist as convenient and flexible alternatives for when NBN isn’t your best option.
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