Best home wireless broadband plans

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.

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 your first month is free. 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.

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 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 gives you the first month for free. 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.

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 three 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:

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:

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 $79 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: 

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 throw in the first month for free. 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: 

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. 

The following telcos currently offer home wireless internet plans: 

• Telstra (5G)
• Optus (4G and 5G)
• Vodafone (4G and 5G)
• TPG (4G and 5G)
• iiNet (4G and 5G)
• Internode (4G and 5G)
• SpinTel (4G and 5G)
• Yomojo (4G and 5G)

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.