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Compare the best unlimited internet plans in Australia

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Data demands for Australian households are at an all-time high, leading to internet service providers now offering unlimited data as standard on the majority of broadband plans. And while some households could comfortably get by with just 100GB of data or less each month, it’s important to understand your data usage, and find the internet plan that best matches your needs.

With most NBN plans now including unlimited data as standard, finding an all-you-can-surf broadband plan is more affordable than ever. Canstar Blue looks at some of the best unlimited internet plans for homes, depending on which type of broadband connection you have – whether its fixed-line NBN and fibre, wireless internet such as 5G internet or mobile broadband, or even ADSL.

NBN offers you might like

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..

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.

What are unlimited internet plans?

Unlimited internet plans typically refer to plans with unlimited data included. While internet plans used to have data caps, these days, unlimited internet plans are widely available and usually offered by default from most providers. You might find that some internet providers restrict your internet plan’s speed, rather than capping how much data you can use.

Unlimited internet plans are available across NBN, home wireless broadband and a range of other internet connections. Finding the best unlimited internet plans will largely depend on what type of internet plan you want. It’s important to compare unlimited internet plans to make sure you’re getting the right plan for your needs.

Unlimited NBN plans

If you’re looking for the best unlimited internet plans in Australia, chances are, you’re after an NBN plan. There’s hundreds of NBN plans on offer to Australian households, with a range of speeds, prices, and bundles available. Fortunately, most of these plans include unlimited data by default, so concerns about reaching your data cap and suffering from throttled speeds are now a thing of the past.

The best unlimited internet plans will depend on a variety of factors, including your budget, the NBN technology available at your address, the way you use your internet, and if you need extras such as a new modem, home phone or entertainment inclusions. But even if you’re looking for a basic plan for a low monthly cost, unlimited data options are readily available.

Basic I unlimited NBN plans

The cheapest unlimited internet plans in Australia using the NBN network, are offered on the Basic NBN 12 speed tier, which comes with a maximum download speed of 12Mbps. These plans are better suited to light users and individuals, so aren’t ideal for families; however, they’re fast enough for most everyday web browsing, as well as standard definition streaming. They’re also available from as little as $45 per month, so are some of the most affordable unlimited internet options available.

The following table shows a selection of published unlimited NBN 12 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 a referral partner.

Basic II unlimited NBN plans

For something a little faster, but still at a reasonable price, NBN 25 offers download speeds up to 25Mbps. This is fast enough for video and music streaming, social media use, and supporting 2 to 3 people online at once, so may be a good option for couples or singles with heavier usage needs.

The following table shows a selection of published unlimited NBN 25 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 a referral partner.

Standard unlimited NBN plans

Heavier users and small to medium-sized families may want to consider NBN 50 ,which is suitable for high-definition streaming, online gaming, video calling and heavier downloads and uploads. This tier offers download speeds up to 50Mbps, and for many homes is the ‘just right’ speed in terms of performance and affordability.

The following table shows a selection of published unlimited NBN 50 plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of monthly cost, from 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 a referral partner.

Fast unlimited NBN plans

NBN 100 is the most widely available fast-speed NBN plan, with advertised download speeds of up to 100Mbps. This is most ideal for serious internet users who desire the most from their internet plan, as well as bigger households with multiple heavier users. However, pricing tends to fall between $80 and $100 per month, so these are far from the cheapest unlimited data options – but if you’re happy to spend extra, you can find some great deals by shopping around.

The following table 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 a referral partner.

Superfast unlimited NBN plans

While there are faster NBN speeds available, not every provider offers them – and not every household can access them. NBN 250 and NBN 1000 plans can offer lightning-fast speeds for even the largest households, but are only available to homes with FTTP and selected HFC NBN connections. They’re also expensive – costing upwards of $110 per month – so aren’t suitable if you’re looking to tighten your purse strings.

The following tables show a selection of unlimited Home Superfast (NBN 250) plans on Canstar Blue’s database listed in order of standard monthly cost, from lowest to highest. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.

Ultrafast unlimited NBN plans

The following tables show a selection of unlimited Home Ultrafast (NBN 1000) plans on Canstar Blue’s database listed in order of standard monthly cost, from lowest to highest. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.

Unlimited wireless internet plans

For anyone waiting for an NBN connection to their home, or just an alternative to the NBN, home wireless broadband and mobile broadband can be popular home internet solutions. Previously it it was difficult to find unlimited data plans these plans with unlimited data on offer, and it was mostly offered on 5G home internet plans. However now it is much easier to find a home wireless broadband unlimited data plans. Providers like Optus, TPG, Vodafone, iiNet and SpinTel, all tend to offer unlimited data on 4G and 5G home internet plans. Of course, access to these plans also depends on what kind of network coverage you get at your home.

Unlimited data mobile broadband plans are much harder to come by as these plans are typically meant to be a portable internet and not for regular at-home usage. This can also be in the form of a data-only SIM card for a tablet device, such as an iPad.

Other unlimited internet plans

Unlimited fibre internet plans

Depending on your address, you may be eligible for non-NBN high-speed fibre plans, such as those offered by TPG, iiNet, Aussie Broadband, and networks such as Opticomm. These plans typically also include unlimited data, and offer similar price and speed structures as those available on the NBN.

How do I find the best unlimited internet plans?

Regardless of which type of broadband you’re looking for, once you’ve narrowed down a few unlimited internet plans that tickle your fancy, it’s worth diving into the small print to compare unlimited internet plans so you can make sure that you know exactly what you’re going to be getting for your money.

As we’ve covered in this guide, costs can increase significantly if you don’t have the required hardware for your new plan, or simply because some providers charge higher set-up fees. Finding the cheapest unlimited internet plans Australia can be tricky if you need extras added to your plan, or if that provider’s cheap unlimited internet plan is only at that price because of discounts.

If you need a modem supplied, make sure you’re comparing plans from providers that offer modems and take a look at the upfront costs related to this, such as setup and postage fees. Some providers waive these fees if you sign up on a contract, with some plans available over 6, 12, 18 or 24 months — weigh up whether the contract commitment is worth it to avoid upfront fees.

Overall, there’s a lot to consider before deciding on the best unlimited internet plans, and cheapest doesn’t always equal ‘best’. It pays to do your research and compare a range of unlimited internet plans. This isn’t just about cost – the right provider could leave you much happier when it comes to all things internet.

Frequently asked questions

Unlimited NBN plans usually start at around $50 per month, however promo offers and discounts may be available for new customers. The most affordable plans are on the Basic NBN 12 speed tier, but if you’re after something a little faster or suitable for more than one person, you’ll be looking at a starting point of about $65 monthly for NBN 50.

Overall, depending on your plan’s speed, your location and your choice of provider, an unlimited NBN plan can cost you anywhere from $40 to $180 per month. So be sure to shop around and compare what’s on offer before you sign on the dotted line.

Every NBN provider on the market offers unlimited data options, although plans with capped data inclusions may still be available. You’ll find the same for telcos offering other connection types, such as ADSL, cable, or non-NBN fibre.

Home wireless broadband is also available with unlimited data, although not all telcos will offer this as an option. If you’re considering 5G wireless internet, most providers include unlimited data across most plans, with the exception of Telstra who caps data at one terabyte per month.

If you see a plan advertised as ‘ unlimited’, you can safely assume this means there’s no restrictions on your data use – within reason.

Just about every telco will have a Fair Use policy to cover how customers can use their plans. This policy will outline things you can’t use your internet connection for, such as illegal activity, business use (if you’re on a residential plans), or resupplying the service to others.

Some telcos will also outline what they consider to be ‘excessive use’, and may terminate your service if you exceed this. Generally, this is usage that negatively disrupts the network for other customers, but the specific data amount may vary between providers. In general, even heavy usage won’t come anywhere near what your NBN provider would deem as excessive, so feel free to stream and download to your heart’s content.

The more time you spend online, and the more you do while you’re connected, the more data you’re likely to need. Light users who don’t spend time on social media, don’t stream or download videos or music, and don’t use their service for gaming can probably get by with a capped data plan, but if you engage in these activities, you’ll likely need an unlimited plan for peace of mind.

Downloading a high-definition movie can use up 3GB of data or more, while streaming in HD from Netflix or Stan will burn up at least 1GB per hour (and up to 7GB if you’re viewing in 4K). If you’re downloading large files such as games or software, you’ll also need to keep your gigabyte use in check, particularly if you’re using programs that auto-update.

For an in-depth look at how much data everyday activities use, read our guide to how much internet data you really need.

The cheapest NBN plans tend to fall on the slower NBN speed tiers, so you’ll want to make sure your plan includes a good internet speed that’s fast enough for your usage needs. Understanding how the six main NBN speed tiers work can help you find the best NBN deal, and ensure you’re not stuck on a plan that’s too slow for your household.

Once you know which speed tier you’ll most likely need, your best bet for finding a plan that suits your budget is to compare NBN plans with Canstar Blue. You can use our free, easy NBN comparison tool to search through hundreds of plans from dozens of providers, and filter results by price, data inclusions, contract length, and bundled extras.

Our tool will also show you results that include introductory or new customer discounts, which is a great way to save some extra cash in your first six or 12 months on a new plan.

 

Tara Donnelly
Utilities Editor
Tara Donnelly is an internet and mobile expert - sectors she’s spent a decade covering - and also oversees energy and consumer technology content. She holds a Bachelor of Communications from the University of Canberra and has shared her expertise on national media including 9 News, 7 News, Sunrise and the ABC.

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