Winner: Best NBN Provider - Everyday Use & Fast Speeds
From streaming to social media to browsing and gaming, if you want to do it reliably and cheaply, then Exetel comes out on top for everyday use and fast speeds.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
Most of Exetel's NBN plans are affordable. It offers some of the most reliable speeds as per its high-ranking results in the ACCC broadband performance reports. These reports are carried out quarterly and measure the reliability of advertised typical evening speeds for Australia's major NBN providers.
In April 2023, Exetel was second in the report by only a small margin, but it delivered an average download performance that was above the advertised plan speed. It has been in the top 3 providers since June 2021 and has been number 1 in 4 of those 8 reports in that time.
Exetel NBN is right for you if:
You want plans that deliver on the maximum typical evening speeds as promised. Based on Exetel's results in the ACCC broadband performance reports since August 2021, the provider has managed to deliver its advertised speeds at all times during busy hours. It also allows you to temporarily boost your speed 5 times a month on selected NBN plans for that extra push.
You're interested in a 2-month free trial of Exetel's Home Secure that offers cybersecurity and parental control.
You're shopping for multiple connections such as a mobile SIM plan and would like to bundle and save a few bucks.
While Exetel has a lot going for it, consider:
If you decide to move on from Exetel, you need to give them 30 days notice to cancel. Some other providers allow you to cancel immediately and without the need of a notice period.
All of Exetel's NBN plan prices are slightly cheaper than the average cost of NBN plans on Finder. Its highly reliable speeds and promotional discounts of up to $25 a month for the first 6 months make Exetel a strong contender.
Either bring your own modem or purchase the one that Exetel offers. Exetel's modem is slightly more expensive than the Finder average, but gives you the advantage of getting remote diagnosis and support for any network issues.
Things to watch out for:
Exetel requires you to give a 30-day notice for service cancellations. This isn't common for most NBN providers, so make sure you give it a month's heads up if you're planning to switch providers.
Performance
Exetel was ranked second for download speeds during busy hours of the day (7pm–11pm) in the ACCC broadband performance reports for April 2023. It hit 102.9% of maximum plan speeds meaning it always delivered the advertised download speed during busy hours.
Why this matters: The ACCC report allows customers to see which NBN providers are delivering the speeds they've advertised, as a measure of reliability.
Exetel has routinely surpassed 100% on these reports, meaning it always delivers the advertised speeds on its plans during busy hours of the day.
Customer service
You can get in touch with Exetel in the following ways.
Call the team between 8:30am and 10pm AEST Monday to Sunday.
Send them an email for a reply within 48 hours.
Use the ExeFix app to fix any network issues (when using an Exetel modem).
Keep in mind: Exetel doesn't offer any live chat support, so you'll need to be content with ringing or waiting for an email response.
Bonus features
Exetel not only boasts fast, reliable speeds, but its plans also come with some extra features:
💰 Referral program
Get 10% off your internet bill (up to $10) for every friend you successfully refer to Exetel. These discounts can be stacked to equal a maximum of 100% off.
💵 Bundling discount
Get up to $15 a month off your monthly Exetel internet bill when you get an additional Exetel services such as a home phone or mobile plan.
âš¡ My Speed Boost
Selected Exetel NBN plans come with 5 days of My Speed Boost a month, allowing you to temporarily boost your NBN speed.
Unused days roll over for a maximum of 30 "saved" days. Additional Speed Boost days can be purchased for $2 a day.
🆓 Home Secure free trial
Enjoy a 2-month free trial of Home Secure which helps prevent viruses, malware, phishing and bots. It also comes with parental controls to help keep your family safe from inappropriate content or use "focus time" to block distractions.
If you subscribe to Home Secure before the trial ends, you will receive another month of free service. Home Secure costs $6 a month after, with no lock-in contract.
📱 ExeFix app for network issues
Diagnose and fix network issues with the ExeFix app to solve speed issues, problems with video buffering and more.
Which rivals are giving Exetel NBN a run for its money?
For better customer support:
Tangerine has better customer support options with live chat and WhatsApp along with a call centre. It also has some of the cheapest plans on Finder.
For a cheaper option:
SpinTel is a budget-friendly broadband provider with plans that are cheaper than Exetel's. Like with Exetel, you can enjoy discounts on your plan for the first 6 months.
For a more well-known brand: If you're more comfortable with a familiar brand, Telstra is Australia's largest telco. It offers fast speeds on plans too, but at a higher price than Exetel.
Ready to sign up to Exetel NBN?
Signing up to Exetel NBN is easy once you've worked out which plan is right for you. Input your address on Exetel's website to make sure you're able to sign up to the plan you've chosen.
What if I'm moving house? You can select a date during the sign-up process for when you'd like your new Exetel plan to be activated. It could take up to 5 business days to get connected.
Make sure to give your current provider a heads-up in case there's a notice period to account for. You don't want to be stuck paying for 2 internet services.
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Saakshi Gupta is a writer for Finder. She has written for startups and other organisations. Her work has been published on Time Out Melbourne. Saakshi has a Master’s Degree in Media Communication from the University of Melbourne.
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Pay-as-you-go VoIP service included
Can you let me know the call charges for
Local
National
International
Mobile
Do you pre configure a modem for customers?
Exetel has three separate home phone call packs. National: Unlimited local, national and 13/1300 calls at $10/month. Mobile: Unlimited local, national, 13/1300 and Australian mobile calls for $20 per month. Global: Unlimited local, national, 13/1300, Australian mobile calls and calls to selected international landlines.
If you’re ordering NBN, your modem will arrive pre-configured.
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Pay-as-you-go VoIP service included
Can you let me know the call charges for
Local
National
International
Mobile
Do you pre configure a modem for customers?
Hi SL,
Exetel has three separate home phone call packs.
National: Unlimited local, national and 13/1300 calls at $10/month.
Mobile: Unlimited local, national, 13/1300 and Australian mobile calls for $20 per month.
Global: Unlimited local, national, 13/1300, Australian mobile calls and calls to selected international landlines.
If you’re ordering NBN, your modem will arrive pre-configured.
Cheers,
Brodie