Best cheap home WiFi in Australia
Australians tend to use the terms WiFi, broadband, internet, modem, and router interchangeably. While each is technically an apt description for the mysterious box where glorious internet emits from, there are still plenty of differences and caveats between WiFi connection types.
In this guide, we’re rounding up the best cheap WiFi plans available, covering everything from the NBN to the increasingly popular home wireless broadband.
The best WiFi plans for NBN Internet
If you live in a house or apartment building that’s already switched over to the NBN, it will be your most likely choice for a home internet connection. It suits most users as pretty much every NBN plan comes with unlimited data.
There are different types of NBN connections depending on where you live and your type of dwelling (e.g., apartment, house), but for most Australians, the popular plans below will be your best option for getting hooked up.
The best
Here’s our top pick this month for the best NBN plan in Australia.
The rest
If that doesn’t suit your needs, we’ve rounded up the most popular unlimited NBN 50 home wifi plans this week.
The best home wireless Internet plans
If you’re not eligible for the NBN or you’re just not happy with your service, there are some excellent alternatives available. Dubbed home wireless broadband, this new connection type utilises 4G and 5G mobile networks to deliver super-fast speeds and reliable broadband without the need for an NBN installation.
Typically, data-only plans are too expensive to fathom relying on them for your home broadband needs, but home wireless WiFi modems are used in the home, exclusively. Home wireless data pricing also tends to be more generous than what you find with mobile broadband.
Here’s what’s on offer.
The best
Here’s this month’s top pick for home wireless broadband. Read on for more recommendations.
The rest
There are only a few providers currently offering home wireless but if you’re considering it, these telcos will hook you up.
The best mobile broadband and pocket WiFi plans
Lastly, there’s the trusty mobile broadband solution. People who tend to use most of their data on the go, away from home WiFi, need a portable solution for their mobile lifestyle. The best option for travelling broadband users is typically a reliable pocket WiFi hotspot or WiFi dongle (a USB with SIM-card slot).
Like mobile phone plans, mobile broadband plans use the 4G network (some lucky customers can also get 5G) and tend to have pricier data caps. Here are a few popular plans that’ll get you connected on the road.
The best
Here’s our top pick this month for the best mobile broadband plan.
The rest
And here are the most popular mobile broadband plans on the market this month.
FAWQs (or, frequently asked WiFi questions)
Don’t know what to pick between the NBN, home wireless broadband and pocket WiFi? We’ve got the answers to all your home WiFi questions.
What is WiFi?
Let’s start simple, shall we? WiFi stands for ‘Wireless Fidelity’ and essentially refers to any wireless internet connection. It’s basically what pretty much every modern device runs on, since multiple users can access a single WiFi point instead of huddling around the one computer hogging the ethernet cable (ahh, the days of dial-up).
How do I create a WiFi network?
Setting up a WiFi network is relatively easy, regardless of what setup you have. If you’re an NBN user, it’s a simple matter of plugging a WiFi modem or WiFi mesh system into your NBN box and following the modem manufacturer’s instructions to set up a wireless network.
For home wireless broadband connections, you’ll need a dedicated home wireless modem. These can be purchased separately, but your internet provider should also offer their preferred modem.
Pocket WiFi is the easiest of all to set up. Since it comes as a SIM, you can either pop it in a rechargeable, portable wireless dongle or modem provided by your internet company, or you can insert it into any SIM-compatible device (like a laptop or tablet). From there, you can create a WiFi hotspot for easy connecting on the go.
What if my WiFi doesn’t cover my whole home?
WiFi black spots are pretty common, especially in large spaces. While small apartments may do just fine with one single WiFi router, larger houses may benefit from a WiFi extender or booster. These devices basically piggy-back off your main connection, giving it enough of a boost to cover those areas missing out on Internet.