Best internet plans in Australia this month (December 2023)

Internet plans are never going to be one-size-fits-all, and while we do our best to bring you the best value option, our pick may not be right for you. If you're looking to compare internet plans there are four main elements to consider;

• Yearly cost
• Additional fees
• Speed
• Connection type

Yearly cost

Most internet plans come with a honeymoon price for the first few months before reverting back to its proper pricing. Some of these prices can be vastly different, so unless you're keen to jump ship every six months it pays to look at the total yearly cost of your plan.

In our search engine you can simply toggle your search to sort by yearly price, but if you like math then by all means calculate away! 

Additional fees

On top of the monthly plan fees there are a handful of other hidden costs that may just come back to bite you if you're not aware of them. Things like set-up, cancellation, and modem fees are the most common additional costs to consider when comparing internet plans.

Some of these fees are overt, while others are a bit sneakier so make sure your read the fine print before committing. Providers such as Optus for example may promote a free modem, which is actually only free if you stay on your plan for 36-months. 

To avoid the biggest pitfalls, look for BYO modem plans first and foremost and pick yourself up an NBN modem seperately that can come with you between providers.

Speed

Make sure you're picking an internet speed that can accomodate everything you need to do online. The more people in your home, doing more things online, the faster the speed you'll need. 

Pro tip: If you work from home, pay close attention to upload speeds. These have a huge effect on sending large files and video calling.

Connection type

Whether you're on the NBN, or looking for an alternative you'll need to consider what kind of connection you have access to to gauge your options. NBN 250 and NBN 1000 for example are only available to customers on Fibre to the Premises (FTTP), or Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC), while Fibre to the Node (FTTN) customers may struggle to get a solid NBN 100 connection.

It is the same if you're considering an NBN alternative like 4G or 5G. These home internet plans are only available if you're in a coverage area, and even if you are you may not be able to get a plan anyway. Telstra for example limits the number of customers able to get a 5G home internet plan in each eligible postcode. 

Home wireless internet is an internet plan that utilises a mobile network, rather than a fixed line cable. It works much the same as your phone does to connect to the internet, it will pick up a signal from a nearby tower and use that to get you online.

There are many upshots of home wireless broadband plans - they're generally cheaper than NBN, they don't require any technicians, and they have higher speed potential for many customers. However they won't be right for everyone. To have a solid wireless connection you'll need to be in a good coverage area, and preferably one with 5G. 

Speeds on 4G wireless plans are capped to around 20Mbps which is slow by any standard, while 5G plans start at 50Mbps and scale up to uncapped speeds. These are excellent value, but you'll be limited by how good the network coverage is near you. These connections are also more prone to congestion than typical fixed line technologies which could see speeds slow more substantially at peak times.

In saying that, these plans carry little to no risk. All home wireless internet plans are contract free, with almost every provider allowing you to send back your modem for no additional cost. If you're interested in exploring NBN alternatives, then these are your best bet. Just make sure you read the Customer Information Statement (CIS) closely to make sure you don't end up on the hook for a hefty modem fee.