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NBN alternatives

If you can’t get access to the NBN or are just sick of slow speeds, consider these NBN alternatives.

1 - 10 of 105
Name Product AUFBB-INT Data allowance Price
TPG 4G Home Wireless
Home wireless
Vodafone network
Month-to-month
OFFER: $44.99/mth for the first 6 months, then $54.99/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply.
  • 4G network
  • Month-to-month
  • $0 modem if you stay connected for 24 months. T&Cs apply
Unlimited Data
Data
Unlimited Data
$44.99
per month
$0 setup fees, $44.99 min. total cost
Price
$44.99 per month
$0 setup fees, $44.99 min. total cost
iiNet Home Wireless Broadband
Home wireless
Vodafone network
Month-to-month
OFFER: $49.99/mth for the first 6 months, then $59.99/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply.
  • 4G network
  • Month-to-month
  • $0 premium WiFi modem. T&Cs apply
Unlimited Data
Data
Unlimited Data
$49.99
per month
$0 setup fees, $49.99 min. total cost
Price
$49.99 per month
$0 setup fees, $49.99 min. total cost
iiNet 5G Home Broadband Plus
Home wireless
Vodafone network
Month-to-month
OFFER: $49.99/mth for the first 6 months, then $59.99/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply.
  • 5G network
  • Month-to-month
  • $0 refurbished modem. T&Cs apply
Unlimited Data
Data
Unlimited Data
$49.99
per month
$0 setup fees, $49.99 min. total cost
Price
$49.99 per month
$0 setup fees, $49.99 min. total cost
TPG 5G Home Broadband Plus
Home wireless
Vodafone network
Month-to-month
OFFER: $49.99/mth for the first 6 months, then $59.99/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply.
  • 5G network
  • Month-to-month
  • $0 refurbished modem. T&Cs apply
Unlimited Data
Data
Unlimited Data
$49.99
per month
$0 setup fees, $49.99 min. total cost
Price
$49.99 per month
$0 setup fees, $49.99 min. total cost
TPG 5G Home Broadband Premium
Home wireless
Vodafone network
Month-to-month
OFFER: $54.99/mth for the first 6 months, then $64.99/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply.
  • 5G network
  • Month-to-month
  • $0 refurbished modem. T&Cs apply
Unlimited Data
Data
Unlimited Data
$54.99
per month
$0 setup fees, $54.99 min. total cost
Price
$54.99 per month
$0 setup fees, $54.99 min. total cost
Optus Plus Everyday 5G
Home wireless
Optus network
Month-to-month
OFFER: $59/mth for the first 6 months, normally $69/mth (Save $60 over 6 months). Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 20.10.24
  • 5G network
  • Month-to-month
  • $0 modem if you stay connected for 36 months. T&Cs apply
Unlimited Data
Data
Unlimited Data
$59
per month
$0 setup fees, $527 min. total cost
Price
$59 per month
$0 setup fees, $527 min. total cost
iiNet 5G Home Broadband Premium
Home wireless
Vodafone network
Month-to-month
OFFER: $59.99/mth for the first 6 months, then $69.99/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply.
  • 5G network
  • Month-to-month
  • $0 refurbished modem. T&Cs apply
Unlimited Data
Data
Unlimited Data
$59.99
per month
$0 setup fees, $59.99 min. total cost
Price
$59.99 per month
$0 setup fees, $59.99 min. total cost
Optus Plus Everyday Fast 5G
Home wireless
Optus network
Month-to-month
OFFER: $64/mth for the first 6 months, normally $79/mth (Save $90 over 6 months). Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 20.10.24
  • 5G network
  • Month-to-month
  • $0 modem if you stay connected for 36 months. T&Cs apply
Unlimited Data
Data
Unlimited Data
$64
per month
$0 setup fees, $532 min. total cost
Price
$64 per month
$0 setup fees, $532 min. total cost
Optus Plus Entertainer Superfast 5G
Home wireless
Optus network
Month-to-month
OFFER: $74/mth for the first 6 months, then $99/mth (Save $150 over 6 mths - Incl. Std. Intro Offer + 5G Epic Deal). Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 20.10.24
  • 5G network
  • Month-to-month
  • $0 modem if you stay connected for 36 months. T&Cs apply
Unlimited Data
Data
Unlimited Data
$74
per month
$0 setup fees, $542 min. total cost
Price
$74 per month
$0 setup fees, $542 min. total cost
Kogan 4G Home Internet
Home wireless
Vodafone network
90 Days contract
  • 4G network
  • 90 Days expiry
  • Modem included
Unlimited Data
Data
Unlimited Data
$149.70
per 90 days
$0 setup fees, $149.70 min. total cost
Price
$149.70 per 90 days
$0 setup fees, $149.70 min. total cost
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While the NBN rollout may be complete across Australia, there are still a fair few people left unhappy with their connection. Fortunately, there are other choices if you don't think your NBN connection is doing the job.

What's the best NBN alternative?

The two easiest alternatives to a fixed-line NBN connection are home wireless and mobile broadband. Both of them use a modem to deliver an Internet connection via the same mobile networks a mobile phone uses.

Since they both use the same mobile network, there really isn't one alternative that's better than the other. Consider it this way:

  • If you're looking for an alternative to the NBN to use at home, home wireless offers a more stable connection and better-priced plans
  • If you're looking for an alternative to the NBN to use while you're moving around or out of the house, mobile broadband is a lot more portable
telstra smart modem

Home wireless

  • Connects via 4G or 5G mobile networks depending on the plan
  • High data caps available (up to 500GB+)
  • Plans start at around $70 and up
  • Larger modem offers stable connection in the home
telstra mobile broadband modem

Mobile broadband

  • Connects via 4G or 5G mobile networks depending on the plan
  • Low to medium data caps available (generally up to 200GB)
  • Variable plan prices, not as competitively priced as home wireless
  • Portable, small modem for easy use on the go

If you're looking for the best value, we'd recommend going for home wireless over mobile broadband as a home Internet connection. Not only do you get more data with home wireless, but the plans are also priced much more competitively.

  • Telstra's Large Upfront mobile broadband plan costs $75 a month for 200GB with access to 3G/4G/5G networks
  • Optus's Home Internet Everyday home wireless plan also costs $75 a month but has unlimited data with guaranteed speeds of at least 50Mbps

Other options: Private fibre networks

The NBN is not the only provider of fibre Internet in Australia. There are a number of private companies, such as OptiComm or LBN Co, that own separate fibre networks and sell plans on those either themselves or through various retailers.

  • Unlike the NBN, which is available to the vast majority of Australians, these private fibre networks are limited to specific areas and addresses (often housing estates). Your ability to access them will depend on where you live.

Plans on private fibre networks don't follow the same pricing structure as most NBN plans, so they can vary quite a bit.

Finder survey: How many Australians are looking for a home wireless plan?

ResponseWAVICSAQLDNSW
Looking for cheaper home internet9.43%3.7%6.67%5.58%7.67%
None of the above2.83%2.22%3.05%3.19%
Can't get any other internet connection1.89%1.48%4.06%1.6%
Not happy with the NBN1.89%2.22%2.03%1.6%
Other0.94%0.37%
Source: Finder survey by Pure Profile of 1006 Australians, December 2023
Data for ACT, NT, TAS not shown due to insufficient sample size. Some other states may also be excluded for this reason.

Region-specific NBN alternatives

Besides home wireless and mobile broadband plans, which are available to use across the country, there are also NBN alternatives available in specific states.

While the list below doesn't name every fibre network available in your state, we've done our best to collect as much information as possible.

Remember to compare your options in order to find the best plan for your needs.

Victoria (Melbourne) NBN alternatives

  • Lightning Broadband. Residential fibre speeds up to 500Mbps. The cheapest plan is $75 a month for a download speed of 25Mbps.
  • OptiComm. Residential fibre speeds up to 1Gbps. The cheapest plan depends upon your chosen service provider.
  • Spirit Broadband. Residential fibre speeds up to 400Mbps. The cheapest plan is $55 a month for a download/upload speed of 50Mbps.
  • Uniti Wireless. Residential fixed wireless speeds up to 100Mbps. The cheapest plan is $69.95 a month plus a $99 set-up fee (no contract) for a download speed of 25Mbps.

South Australia (Adelaide) NBN alternatives

  • Kern Wi-Fi. Residential fixed wireless speeds up to 25Mbps. The cheapest plan is $40 a month plus a $298 set-up fee (no contract) for a download speed of 12Mbps and a 20GB data cap.
  • OptiComm. Residential fibre speeds up to 1Gbps. The cheapest plan depends upon your chosen service provider.
  • Uniti Wireless. Residential fixed wireless speeds up to 100Mbps. The cheapest plan is $69.95 a month plus a $99 set-up fee (no contract) for a download speed of 25Mbps.

Queensland (Brisbane) NBN alternatives

  • Open Cloud Broadband. Residential fibre speeds up to 1Gbps. The cheapest plan is $49 a month plus a $260 set-up fee (no contract) for a download/upload speed of 50Mbps.
  • OptiComm. Residential fibre speeds up to 1Gbps. The cheapest plan depends upon your chosen service provider.

  • Spirit Broadband. Residential fibre speeds up to 400Mbps. The cheapest plan is $55 a month for a download/upload speed of 50Mbps.

New South Wales (Sydney) NBN alternatives

  • OptiComm. Residential fibre speeds up to 1Gbps. The cheapest plan depends upon your chosen service provider.
  • Spirit Broadband. Residential fibre speeds up to 400Mbps. The cheapest plan is $55 a month for a download/upload speed of 50Mbps.

Western Australia (Perth) NBN alternatives

  • OptiComm. Residential fibre speeds up to 1Gbps. The cheapest plan depends upon your chosen service provider.
  • Pentanet. Residential fixed wireless speeds up to 120Mbps. The cheapest plan is $59 a month plus a $299 set-up fee (no contract) for a download speed of 30Mbps and a 100GB data cap.
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Written by

Writer

Sam Baran is a writer for Finder, covering topics across the tech, telco and utilities sectors. They enjoy decrypting technical jargon and helping people compare complex products easily. When they aren't writing, you'll find Sam's head buried in a book or working on their latest short story. Sam has a Bachelor of Advanced Science from the University of Sydney. See full bio

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