It's hard to decide between two Internet providers that seem pretty similar, and that's definitely the case with iiNet and TPG. We've broken down their plans and features into a few key categories to help make your decision easier.
Although TPG owns iiNet, the plans on offer aren't the same, or even that similar, so it's still worth comparing and finding out which one suits you best.
From the overview, it looks like TPG has cheaper NBN plans overall. However, keep in mind that the price of an NBN plan is mostly determined by the speed tier it occupies. Higher prices usually mean faster speeds. In the tabs below, we break down the prices from TPG and iiNet for all their plans over the different speed tiers to see if there's a consistent winner.
Here's what TPG and iiNet offer on the Basic I tier:
TPG
10GB for $29.99
100GB for $49.99
Unlimited data for $59.99
iiNet
500GB for $59.99
You can get unlimited data from TPG for the same price as iiNet's 500GB plan. Most people who choose an NBN12 plan typically aren't regular users, so the unlimited data deal isn't that attractive. For people who don't use a lot of Internet, it'd take a while to use up 500GB, so it'd be as good as unlimited data.
If your data needs are even less, you can opt for TPG's super limited 10GB plan and get the cheapest NBN deal on the market, though this will only suit a small number of people. 100GB is a much more reasonable data cap for more regular broadband users.
Looking for a plan on the Basic II-tier? Here's what's on offer:
TPG
Unlimited data for $64.99
iiNet
Unlimited data for $69.99
Standard speed plans are usually the most popular for households of two to three people. Here's what both providers have to offer:
TPG
Unlimited data for $69.99
iiNet
Unlimited data for $74.99
Fast plans are the top speed available from both TPG and iiNet. They both have one plan each:
TPG
Unlimited data for $89.99
iiNet
Unlimited data for $99.99
Besides plan pricing, you should also take into account any extra fees that you might incur when you sign up, such as modem costs and delivery fees.
Modems and contracts
We've broken down the modem options below, and whether you get a discount on your modem if you sign onto a contract.
TPG
Compulsory modem purchase – it is automatically included in your plan fees when you sign-up
Modem costs $99.95 + $10 delivery fee on a month-to-month plan
Modem price is reduced to $0 + $10 delivery fee on an 18-month contract
iiNet
Optional modem purchase – you can choose to bring your own modem if you already have one
Modem costs $99.95 + $10 delivery fee on a month-to-month plan
Modem price is reduced to $59.95 + $10 delivery fee on a 6-month contract
Of the two providers, iiNet's deal with modems and contracts is more forgiving. You can choose to bring your own modem if you'd like, and it only requires a six-month contract for a discount.
TPG does eliminate the modem fee on an 18-month contract, but this is a much longer period to lock in for. This could be risky, especially if you decide you're not happy with TPG and want to switch providers before your 18 months is over. But if you need a modem and are happy to sign up to a contract, TPG's deal does mean you get a free modem.
Winner for cheapest price: TPG Based solely on price, TPG wins in every category. However, iiNet has a wider plan range since TPG doesn't offer an NBN25 option, which means you could be forced to go on a faster speed tier than necessary if you choose TPG.
TPG vs iiNet: Speed
It really depends on what speed you're looking to get on a plan as to which provider is better for you. That being said, faster speeds on the higher plans are a little more attractive. Since you're paying more for these plans anyway, you might as well look at the best speed that's available.
Overall, though, the differences aren't huge, and iiNet's plans are more expensive (most likely because you're paying a bit extra for the bump in speed). It's up to you whether this is worth it.
Who is faster according to the industry authority, the ACCC?
Even with iiNet's better published speeds, the ACCC has ranked TPG as the better performing of the two in its report on broadband performance. The ACCC collects data from volunteers across Australia to compile its speed ratings.
Each provider is given a score based on the percentage of maximum plan speed it delivers during the busy hours of 7pm-11pm. In the May 2020 report, TPG came in at 86.7% of max plan speed, while iiNet only achieved 83.9%
Winner for fastest speed: iiNet iiNet inches ahead in the speed category to come out on top, but not by much. The two providers are fairly comparable as far as typical speeds go.
TPG vs iiNet: Data
Provider
Data offered
iiNet
500GB, unlimited
TPG
10GB, 100GB, unlimited
Most plans come with unlimited data these days, and it's not too common for a capped data plan to provide better value. Still, TPG does have an extremely cheap 10GB plan for users who only need the most basic connection possible. More reasonable is its 100GB plan, which will be enough data for low consumers or those who don't use their connection regularly.
Data caps on NBN12 plans are less of a problem than on other speed tiers since you'll be hard-pressed to use up 500GB in a month with a low download speed. This means that while TPG offers unlimited NBN12 data at the same price as iiNet's 500GB plan, the difference isn't too meaningful.
Winner for data: TPG When it comes to saving with a data-capped plan, TPG wins out, since 500GB from iiNet may as well be unlimited on an NBN12 plan. In particular, TPG's 100GB plan could be a reasonable choice to save a little money per month.
TPG vs iiNet: Home phone bundles
Both TPG and iiNet offer home phone lines with PAYG calls by default across all their NBN plans, although iiNet's rates are cheaper by a good 10 cents per call per minute. Each provider also gives you the choice of adding unlimited local calls or international calls for an additional fee.
For $10, TPG will give you unlimited local and national calls, plus a choice between unlimited calls to Australian mobiles or 100 international minutes. $20 will get you unlimited local, standard and mobile calls as well as unlimited international calls to 15 countries.
iiNet has unlimited mobile and standard calls in Australia for $5 extra or unlimited calls to landlines in 20 countries for $10 extra per month.
Winner for home phone bundles: iiNet While you can get a home phone line from either provider, calls on iiNet are cheaper both for PAYG rates and for unlimited calls. Both providers use Voice over IP (VoIP) for their voice lines.
TPG vs iiNet: Extra features
Some NBN plans come with extra features or deals beyond just a connection to the Internet. TPG doesn't have any on its plans, but iiNet has Fetch entertainment bundles available.
If you sign up for a six-month contract on iiNet's NBN50 or NBN100 plans, you can add on a Fetch TV box. You'll have to pay a $59.99 set-up fee, and you'll get Fetch Mini for free for 24 months. Channel packs are an extra $6 each to add on, but you can otherwise use your Fetch TV box to watch your favourite streaming platforms plus 30 free movies a month.
Winner for extra features: iiNet iiNet wins by default since it's the only one that has entertainment options. If you're not interested in Fetch, you can simply skip out on the optional Fetch offer when subscribing to your plan.
TPG vs iiNet: Customer satisfaction
If you need customer service or support, TPG has a phone line available from 8am-midnight weekdays and 9am-9pm weekends. iiNet's customer support line is open 24/7.
Customer service and satisfaction can be quite a tricky thing to judge, so we've consulted a more official ranking of customer satisfaction for this section. According to the 2020 Roy Morgan Internet Service Provider Satisfaction Ratings, TPG and iiNet aren't too far apart when it comes to happy customers. TPG scored a 79% satisfaction rating, while iiNet scored 77%. Both trailed far behind the top scorer, Aussie Broadband, at 92%.
Winner for customer satisfaction: TPG The two are about the same. TPG scored slightly higher on the Roy Morgan ratings, and while iiNet has 24/7 customer support, that's only better than TPG if you're looking for help between midnight and 8am
TPG vs iiNet: Other types of plans
While most people are looking for traditional fixed-line NBN, there are other plans out there for those that are looking for a different connection. While ADSL is starting to be phased out due to the NBN rollout coming to completion, both providers still sell ADSL plans for those who need it.
In the table below, we've broken down different types of Internet plans that TPG and iiNet offer.
Type of plan
Does TPG offer it?
Does iiNet offer it?
Fixed-line NBN
✅
✅
ADSL
✅
✅
Fixed wireless
❌
✅
Satellite
❌
✅
Who has the wider range of plans?: iiNet It's hard to proclaim a winner here since it comes down to what NBN technology type your house has. However, if you're on fixed wireless or satellite, only iiNet will sell you an appropriate plan.
If you're not sure what technology type you have, enter your address into our NBN tracker to find out.
So, which provider comes out on top?
When it comes down to it, there's not a whole lot of difference between iiNet and TPG. They vary a little in what they offer and how much they charge, but there's no clear overall winner – the two are about the same. The better choice will depend on what you need out of your plan. We've come up with a couple of scenarios below and which provider might be best for you depending on your circumstances. Click the headings to see which provider we recommend.
I just want a straightforward NBN plan for a good price
We recommend: TPG. TPG has lower prices on the whole and doesn't have any fancy extra features or complicated parts to its plans. All of its plans are competitively priced compared to other providers on the market.
I want reliable and fast speeds
We recommend: Both TPG and iiNet. This is a toss-up. iiNet has slightly higher published typical evening speeds, but the last few ACCC reports have rated TPG as the faster of the pair. You likely won't notice too much difference in speed between a TPG plan and one from iiNet.
I don't use much Internet. I just want a cheap, low data NBN plans
We recommend: TPG. TPG has two limited data plans available in the NBN12 tier, with 10GB and 100GB caps. These are cheaper than unlimited plans in the same tier.
I want to bundle my NBN plan with an entertainment pack
We recommend: iiNet. Only iiNet offers Fetch TV bundled with some of its plans, so you'll have to turn to them if you want entertainment packs.
I want an NBN bundle with my home phone
We recommend: iiNet. Both TPG and iiNet will give you a bundled home phone line with unlimited and international call options, but iiNet has the better value.
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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Winner for cheapest price: TPG