Are all NBN providers the same?

Fact Checked

If you’re searching for an NBN plan, you may be wondering, are all NBN providers the same? You should make sure that you’re getting everything you want from your Internet Service Provider (ISP), which involves deciding on what perks and bundles you want with your plan, as well as how much you want to pay and what speed you need.

However, despite offering a smiliar service, there can be differences between providers. In this Canstar Blue guide, we take a look at how to choose an NBN provider and explain whether all NBN providers are the same.

NBN offers your might like

• NBN Sponsored Plans
• NBN50 Plans
• NBN100 Plans

The following table shows a selection of sponsored unlimited data Standard Plus Evening Speed (NBN 50), and Premium Evening Speed (NBN 100) plans on Canstar Blue’s database with links to referral partners..

Sponsored Products

nbn50 1 Month Contract (1 month min. cost $63.90) Typical evening speed of 50Mbps Save $20/month for 12 months, plus save an extra $10/month When you bundle with Dodo Energy plans. T&Cs Apply T&C’s Apply, offer ends 28/01/25.

Unlimited Data/month

$63.90 Cost/month

Go to Site

Value 1 Month Contract (1 month min. cost $65) Typical evening speed of 50Mbps Save $60 over 6 months! Better than basic Unlimited data for a household of 2-3, suited for gaming, streaming & video chatting T&Cs apply, offer ends 03/12/24.

Unlimited Data/month

$65 Cost/month

Go to Site

Home Fast 1 Month Contract (1 month min. cost $69) Typical evening speed of 98Mbps Home Fast plan now $69 a month for 6 months when you BYO modem and have AGL energy. T&Cs apply, offer ends 3/02/25.

Unlimited Data/month

$69 Cost/month

Go to Site

View all nbn plans listed on Canstar Blue

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Unlimited Home Standard (NBN 50) Plans

The following table shows a selection of published unlimited NBN 50 plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of standard monthly cost (excluding discounts), 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 referral partners.

Unlimited Home Fast (NBN 100) Plans

The table below shows a selection of published unlimited NBN 100 plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of monthly cost, from the lowest to highest, and then by alphabetical order of provider. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to referral partners.

Are all NBN providers the same?

Every NBN provider in Australia is different. Providers such as Telstra and Optus are able to offer perks and bonuses including access to free sports streaming and entertainment add-ons, whereas providers such as Tangerine and Flip can provide cost-effective connections. Prices differ between providers and some providers can only service certain connections and speeds of NBN.

What should I be looking for?

When shopping for an NBN plan, you should keep an eye out for what’s important to you, such as:

• Price
• Speed
• Contract length
• Setup fees
• Modem options
• Home phone options
• Customer service options
• Entertainment extras

Remember that not every provider offers every speed tier. Right now, Basic NBN 12 speeds are being phased out, and are generally only offered by smaller providers such as Flip and TeleChoice.

Also, not every NBN provider offers all kinds of NBN technology types. Some service providers don’t provide satellite NBN connections, which means options are a lot more limited in regional areas.

What NBN speed do I need?

NBN plans provide a range of speed options, giving you the flexibility to select one that aligns with your household’s internet needs. Remember that opting for faster speeds almost always means a higher monthly cost. You can check out our guide on NBN speeds to find out more.

Here’s a breakdown of the NBN speed tiers, each indicating the typical evening speed in megabits per second (Mbps) to help you find the best option for your home.

• Home Basic I (NBN 12): Maximum download speed of 12Mbps, maximum upload speed of 1Mbps
• Home Basic II (NBN 25): Maximum download speed of 25Mbps, maximum upload speed of 10Mbps
• Home Standard (NBN 50): Maximum download speed of 50Mbps, maximum upload speed of 20Mbps
• Home Fast (NBN 100): Maximum download speed of 100Mbps, maximum upload speed of 20Mbps or 40Mbps
• Superfast (NBN 250): Maximum download speed of 250Mbps, maximum upload speed of 25Mbps
• Ultrafast (NBN 1000): Maximum download speed of 1000Mbps, maximum upload speed of 50Mbps

How much data do I need?

While most NBN plans tend to offer unlimited data, there are still capped options available for those who prefer not to pay for more data than necessary.

To gauge your data requirements, it’s helpful to assess your usage. You can do this by checking your bill, logging into your provider’s customer portal or roughly estimating your usage based on data consumption guides for various online activities.

When determining the right amount of data for your household, remember that NBN providers typically accommodate plan upgrades if needed. However, downgrading can be trickier, especially if you’re under contract because it would likely involve reducing your payments.

Should I get an NBN plan with or without a contract?

When it comes to choosing an NBN plan, whether you should choose a contract comes down to your preferences.

NBN with contract

NBN contracts usually span 12 or 24 months and often come with either no set-up costs or reduced fees as a reward for committing to a specific period. Additionally, providers often sweeten the deal with discounts and extra perks in return for committing to a year or two.

However, if you decide to terminate your contract before its end date, you’ll likely face an exit fee. The amount of this fee typically varies, based on how much time is left on your contract.

NBN without contract

Month-to-month NBN contracts provide flexibility, allowing you to switch providers without facing exit fees. But to kickstart your connection, you’ll typically need to cover set-up costs upfront.

Who is the best NBN provider?

It all comes down to what you think makes the best NBN provider. If you’re big on value and prefer a cheaper NBN plan, you should stick to the plans that make the most sense savings wise.

Check out our customer satisfaction ratings for NBN providers, where telcos are ranked based on the feedback we receive from paying customers, on factors like ease of set-up, speed and reliability and customer service.

NBN providers for your lifestyle

If you’re a keen gamer, you might want to check out NBN plans that cater for gamers – such as those on offer from Aussie Broadband. You’ll need decent download speeds more than anything, and you’ll absolutely need unlimited data.

For those in regional or rural areas, you might need a satellite connection through the NBN’s SkyMuster satellite. Providers like Activ8me and SkyMesh specialise in NBN satellite connections.

Smaller NBN providers

There are a lot of NBN providers in Australia and all of them have different prices and different bundles, modems and specials. When the NBN started in Australia it became a popular business venture for a lot of startups, now there are around 150 providers out there.

Some independent providers have more exclusive deals than others. Energy company Origin, for example, offers discounts on internet plans if you also use its gas and electricity services, while others like iiNet, Aussie Broadband, Telstra and iPrimus offer entertainment bundles including Fetch. You can compare a range of NBN plans and providers across different speed tiers in the below tables.

What about Telstra and Optus NBN?

Telstra and Optus offer a range of extras that smaller providers typically don’t, such as exclusive deals with companies for phones, streaming services or access to special technology including modems with 4G back-up.

Being a customer of a bigger and better-known provider can have its perks and typically you’ll find more options and extras such as bundles. But these telcos also may have more expensive plans.

The following table shows a selection of published Telstra and Optus plans including a selection of bundles 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.

Do all internet providers use the same lines?

Some of the bigger internet providers, such as Telstra, TPG and Optus, own and operate their own network infrastructure, called ‘backhaul networks’, that connect to NBN Co’s network. Smaller providers will generally lease backhaul capacity from these bigger names, although aren’t always transparent about the backhaul they use.

The backhaul network used can have some impact on your overall experience, but this backhaul experience isn’t as easy to compare between providers as advertised factors such as speeds and pricing.