If you're ready to ditch the NBN and are looking for a new wireless internet plan, you've come to the right place
Best home wireless broadband plans
- : TPG Home Wireless Unlimited
- : iiNet 5G Home Broadband Premium
- : iiNet 5G Home Broadband Plus
- : Telstra 5G Home Internet
- : Optus Entertainer Superfast 5G
- : Vodafone 5G Home Broadband Premium Plus
If you're looking for a way to access the internet that doesn't involve the NBN, your best bet is home wireless broadband.
It's no secret that the NBN is made up of a number of different technologies and it's just as well known that some are clearly better than others. Unfortunately for most consumers, you have no choice or control over which NBN tech will connect your home to the network. That's why we call it the NBN lottery.
Should you find yourself on the losing end of that gamble and saddled by a slow NBN connection, or in a house with no NBN, your first and last resort should be a home wireless alternative like a 4G or 5G home internet plan like the ones we have rounded up below.
Best 4G home internet plan
TPG Home Wireless Unlimited
TPG takes out the crown for best overall 4G home internet plan thanks to the flexibility on offer. You'll get unlimited data at speeds of 20Mbps and save $15 per month for the first six months. After that, you'll pay $54.99 per month.
The real value comes from the fact the plan is contract-free and comes with the modem for free. If you want to leave, you can return the modem.
Best 5G home internet plan
iiNet 5G Home Broadband Premium
The iiNet 5G Home Broadband Premium plan is not the most expensive 5G home internet plan available, nor is it the cheapest or the one that makes the biggest promises when it comes to speed. Nevertheless, it won us over with its combination of faster speeds, a competitive sub-premium price-point and the generous savings that come with sign-up.
This plan is priced at $69.99 per month and comes with unlimited data and typical evening download speeds of up to 100Mbps. That's significantly faster than entry-level 5G home internet plans, though not as speedy as the unlimited home wireless internet plans available from Optus and Telstra.
iiNet is currently running an introductory offer on this plan that knocks $15 per month off the price for the first six months. If this particular NBN alternative doesn't work out, all you have to do is return the modem when you leave to avoid any additional costs.
Here's how this plan compares to other 5G home internet plans.
Best cheap wireless broadband plan
iiNet 5G Home Broadband Plus
As far as unlimited wireless internet plans go, SpinTel's 5G Unlimited Data Wireless Broadband plan is a solid pick for those after a cheap prepaid wireless internet solution.
You'll pay $49 per month for your first six months, and $59 per month thereafter. This gets with 50Mbps download speeds and unlimited data. You also pay $30 upfront in device and shipping fees. If you leave SpinTel, you'll need to return the modem.
Here's how this SpinTel plan compares to other 5G home internet plans:
Best Telstra wireless broadband plan
Telstra 5G Home Internet
Telstra's one and only 5G home internet plan is the obvious winner here for several reasons. Firstly, it's Telstra's only home wireless plan.
Secondly, Telstra has the largest 5G footprint in Australia. It covers over 80% of the population, which increases the odds of you actually being able to get 5G home internet with Telstra.
Thirdly, the plan has uncapped 5G speeds. Since it runs on the most mature of Australia's three 5G networks, we're fairly confident it can outpace most other unlimited wireless internet plans and prepaid wireless internet plans. When testing it for ourselves, we've seen speeds over 500Mbps.
And lastly, the plan is $85 per month. That's cheaper than a lot of NBN 100 plans, and more affordable than Optus' uncapped plan.
The only catch you have to consider is the plan only has a 1TB allowance. While that's effectively unlimited for most, it may not be quite enough for super heavy downloaders.
This plan is contract-free. You'll just need to return your modem if you decide to leave to avoid paying a hardware fee.
Here is how Telstra's plan compares to other plans with download speeds of at least 100Mbps:
Best Optus wireless broadband plan
Optus Entertainer Superfast 5G
If you're going to go with any Optus 5G home internet plan, the Optus Entertainer Superfast 5G is a natural choice. It's the most expensive option on the menu, but that high cost is offset by a bevy of perks and uncapped speeds.
What's more, Optus is currently running a promotion on this plan that knocks the price down to $89 per month for the first six months. After that point, the cost of keeping this plan does go up to $99 per month. However, it does come with a standard Netflix subscription (via SubHub) which is valued at $16.99 per month. If you factor that in, the case for this over Optus' cheaper 5G home internet plans becomes very easy to make.
Here's how this plan compares to other high-end 5G and unlimited wireless internet plans that are available in Australia:
Best Vodafone wireless broadband plan
Vodafone 5G Home Broadband Premium plus
This Vodafone 5G home internet plan is only $5 more expensive than the provider's cheapest 5G home wireless offer, but those extra dollars go a long way. This plan costs $70 per month and offers unlimited data and speeds of up to 100Mpbs.
If you sign up today, Vodafone will knock $15 per month off the price for the first six months. If you're a Vodafone Mobile customer, they'll knock $5 off the monthly cost of sticking with this plan.
For comparison, here's how this plan compares to other affordable 5G options:
How to choose the best home wireless broadband plan
The key to finding a great home wireless internet plan is balancing speed and price.
Cheaper 4G home internet plans offer slower speeds than more expensive 5G home internet plans. If you're not a demanding internet user, 4G home internet may be enough for you.
However, households of three or more will want to consider at least at 50Mbps 5G home internet plan if not faster.
Pros and cons of home wireless broadband
Home wireless uses the same mobile network as mobile broadband and phone plans. The difference is, home wireless plans are designed to be used as a home broadband replacement with bigger download quotas and sturdier Wi-Fi modems to deliver a more robust internet connection to the numerous devices you will have connected. Almost every single 4G home internet plan you can get in Australia is capped to speeds of 20Mbps.
- No technician visits and delays
- Plug and play modem setup
- Can be more affordable than NBN
- Slower speeds than NBN
- Smaller range of providers to choose from
- More prone to congestion
As it is with most things, the advantages of Home Wireless Broadband are far more obvious than the drawbacks.
The fact that you can set up a brand new Home Wireless Broadband connection in minutes will come as a huge relief for anyone who has waited for weeks on an NBN technician’s visit. And we literally mean minutes; the last time we tested a Home Wireless Broadband service we timed it and it took just under three minutes.
On the flip side, home wireless broadband plans can't go as fast as NBN plans, have higher latency, and are more prone to congestion.
Best Home Wireless FAQs
Who sells home wireless broadband?
Optus, SpinTel, TPG, iiNet, Internode, Vodafone, and Telstra all sell home wireless internet.
What's the difference between home wireless broadband and mobile broadband?
The big difference between home wirelss broadband and mobile broadband is the modem you use.
Home wireless broadband plans work with large WiFi modems like you’d get with an NBN plan. These modems can connect more users to WiFi at the same time and have Ethernet ports for directly plugging in computers. But the modem needs to be plugged into the wall for power, and it doesn’t have a battery, so you can’t take it on the bus with you.
Mobile broadband modems are exactly the opposite. The best pocket WiFi and WiFi dongles are small enough to slip in your pocket and have batteries so you can keep your connection when you’re out and about, but are mostly designed for a single user.
Mobile broadband plans also tend to have smaller download allowances, but uncapped speeds.
What sort of modem do you need for home wireless broadband?
You'll need a 4G or 5G-ready modem to use home wireless internet. These modems are always included with your plan, however, so you won't need to think about which one you buy.
Can you take your modem with you when you travel?
While 4G and 5G home internet plans are powered by mobile networks, they are designed to be used at a single nominated address.
If you are moving home, you will need to contact your telco to organise an address change.
If you do not do this, you may face consequences. TPG, for example, will disconnect your service if it identifies you're using it a different location than your home address.
Is wireless broadband the same as WiFi?
Wireless broadband and WiFi are different. Wireless broadband is a way of connecting to the internet, while WiFi is the wireless network within your house that connects your devices to your modem.
Is 4G home internet any good?
Whether or not 4G (or 5G, for that matter) home internet is good really depends on network coverage where you live.
If you're in a metropolitan area with solid coverage on your phone, chances are you'll have equally good coverage for your home internet. On the other hand, if you're in a black spot (or live in a rural area), you might be better off with a fixed wireless NBN plan or satellite internet.
Will 5G replace NBN?
5G home internet an certainly replace individual NBN connections, but won't replace the need for the NBN.
Mobile networks are more prone to congestion than fixed-line networks like the NBN. Fixed-line networks simply have more capacity.
In the short term, providers like Telstra are even limiting the number of 5G connections they'll sell per post to ensure customers get reliable 5G home wireless speeds.