It’s safe to say that internet providers generally favour customers who are in it for the long term, as opposed to those who are renting or always on the move. With long contracts, hefty exit fees and sometimes general inflexibility, providers evidently want you to stick around for a while. However, with a housing market that’s becoming increasingly unaffordable for some families, more than two million Australians now live in rented accommodation – often on a short lease of a year or less.
As a result of this ‘housing affordability crisis’ and rental boom, some internet service providers have jumped on board with broadband plans tailored specifically for renters. These include plans with short contracts and easy relocation options, no home phone line rental and no set-up fees, amongst other features. So what are the best deals available for renters? Read on to find out about some great internet plans for renters.
Internet plans for renters: What should I look out for?
There are a few things you need to look out for in a broadband plan if you’re renting – especially short-term (i.e. a year or less). These include:
- Short-term or no contracts
- NBN Plans without line rental
- Low or no set-up fees
While these three may seem arbitrary if you just want the ‘cheapest’ internet plan, what you may need to consider is the fact that if and when it comes time to move on, will you be able to just up and leave without worrying about contracts? Will you have to worry about home phone numbers and associated costs? Not to mention, various cheap plans also incur hefty set-up fees. After all, you’re dealing with moving costs and paying a bond, so getting away with no set-up fees may be easier on the budget.
Chances are, if you find a plan with all three features, and at your desired price, you’re onto a winner. These days, most NBN providers deliver all three of these on plans, with some coupled to a six-month or 12-month discount.
Internet plans with short-term or no contracts
There are definitely many reasons why you might not want to be locked into a contract. Even in today’s fast-paced world, internet providers still love to tie you in for at least 12 months, with most plans on 24 month contracts. Some providers may offer ‘no contract’ plans but could get you somewhere else later down the track, whether it’s with home phone establishment fees, installation fees, expensive modem costs or any other hidden costs they can think of. However, most providers offer plans with no contracts, with setup fees and installation fees often being waived. In fact, some providers have started offering six-month discounts on plans, in an effort to keep you sticking around.
Broadband plans with low or no set-up fees
If you’re in the process of moving into your new home and having to contend with the extra costs like your bond, moving costs and any new furniture or appliances, having a broadband plan with hefty set-up fees is probably the last thing you need. Despite most providers completely doing away with set-up fees, the setup costs that are still around can greatly vary from provider to provider, with some charging up to $200 in setup fees. This money could be the difference between TV models or whether you go with a two or three-seater sofa…
NBN plans compared
Unlimited NBN 100 Plans
The following table shows a selection of published unlimited 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 referral partners.
Unlimited 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, from 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 NBN 25 Plans
The following table shows a selection of published unlimited 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 referral partners.
Unlimited NBN 12 Plans
The following table shows a selection of published unlimited NBN 12 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 referral partners.
NBN plans without line rental
It’s quite common now to pick up an NBN plan without line rental – that is without a home phone or the ability to use a home phone in your house. These days mobile plans are so cheap that it often makes sense to not have a home phone, as everything your home phone can do, your mobile can do as well – without the added cost.
The good news is that most providers will give you the choice of having line rental included in your plan or not there at all. Some providers offer line rental included in plans at no extra cost, however, these plans often cost more than plans excluding line rental. Regardless, keep your eye out for these plans, and make sure you’re not spending too much on unnecessary features!
Want ultimate flexibility? Go mobile!
SIM-only mobile broadband plans
If you already have a modem or device and you simply want the SIM-only plan to go with it, several telcos offer SIM-only mobile broadband plans. The advantage to going with one of these plans is that your choice is based on value for money and not based on the modem available from the providers. It’s also handy if you already have a modem or if you prefer to select and buy a modem yourself.
Some of these SIM-only mobile broadband plans are available as month-to-month plans, which is handy if this is only an interim solution before you get connected to an NBN plan. Other plans are available on contracts and since it’s a mobile broadband plan, you’ll be able to take your internet with you when you move, so you probably won’t need to cancel if you do relocate mid-contract.
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 | |||
Home wireless broadband
We’re not talking about using your mobile phone’s data allowance all the time, but several providers do offer wireless broadband plans with generous amounts of data and an included modem. Home wireless broadband can differ between providers as some only offer a SIM card (to use either with a tablet or your own modem), whereas others offer wireless broadband with modems which are either portable or a modem that needs to be plugged in to be used.
With these plans you get a SIM card like any old mobile phone plan, and an included modem you can simply plug it into. These options are great for if you’re in a share house and want your own internet connection, or if you want something that’s truly mobile – able to go where you go with no fuss. You’ll also be able to take the modem with you if you decide to move, so you might decide to sign on for a 24-month contract.
Generally, contracts matter less here as you can freely move the plan around (i.e. if you move home you can just take the modem with you), but if you’re buying one of these plans as a temporary solution, then finding a no contract deal may be the way to go. As you can see, you’re probably going to be paying more by the month than with an NBN plan, but you may find the flexibility to be truly worth it.
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 | |||
Modems and wireless routers when renting
Probably the last thing you will consider when moving out – but an important thing nonetheless – is buying a modem or router, or whether your new provider will include one.
A lot of providers include a modem-router as standard, although most providers will give you the choice to come with your own modem. Buying your own router can be a blessing in disguise, as you can find some pretty cheap ones that do the job well, or if you want to have the best possible internet experience, you can choose a higher-end one. In any case, it’s worth looking into the finer detail of a plan you’re after to see if it includes a router. If not, our buying guide may be able to help.
If you’re transitioning to an NBN connection, you’ll also have to see if your router is ready for it. Chances are that if your router is less than a few years old it will be, but if it’s older you may want to think about quickly upgrading. This is because with the NBN you’ll likely experience faster speeds, so to get the best experience you’ll want to get a compatible router. Luckily many providers offer a free ‘NBN transition’ package, which may include an upgrade of your wireless router. If not, most routers available in-store that provide 300Mbps ‘link speeds’ or better are viable contenders for your money.
Internet for renters — which is the best option?
All in all, renters are pretty well covered when it comes to home internet plans, but whether you rent or own your own home, the most important message is that it’s good to shop around and keep an eye out for the best deal. When you’re shopping around, make sure you keep an eye out for the following things:
- Short or no contracts
- Low set-up fees
- No line rental
Overall, the message is that finding the ideal plan is a juggling act, and while there are certainly some cheap plans out there, keep in mind that some plans might catch you off guard. The best bet is to shop around at a price that’s comfortable for you and go from there. As always, it’s best to see what service is available in your area and compare your options to find the right deal for you.
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