Module 6: Power up – energy and broadband for less

Don't overpay for power and internet! Here's how to save.

Hey there! To get the most from the Financial Fitness Challenge you need to be a Finder member. It's free and easy to sign up, so do it now!

Why you need a better deal on energy

As part of your 5-minute budget, you already know how much you spend on power.

But to recap, Finder's research shows the average Australian's quarterly electricity bill is around $385.

Since electricity prices have changed once again as of 1 July 2024, it's more important than ever to review your energy plan.

We also collectively paid $1.1 billion in loyalty tax for energy in 2023 by not seeking out a better deal so don't let the new financial year get away from you too.

The average Australian can save up to $660* on their energy bill over 12 months by switching to a cheaper provider.

It's even likelier that you're paying more than necessary if you haven't compared or negotiated a new plan since the energy price hikes started up in 2022.

How to get a better energy deal

Energy providers want your business so you'll always find sign-up deals floating around.

For example, AGL is offering new customers in some states up to $100 for signing up with them for electricity. Powershop is doing one better with a $150 bill credit for electricity and $50 for gas depending on where you live.

The good news is you can switch providers multiple times a year in search of a better deal as no-lock-in contracts are usually the norm and most providers don't charge an exit fee either.

What should I look out for with an energy deal?

The main caveat with any energy deal is how much you're being charged for electricity itself.

When you're comparing energy plans, have a look at the annual estimate for your household and then see if the sign-up deal is even worth it. Providers advertise the annual estimates in their quotes and you can compare them on Finder.

There's always a chance that another energy provider may not have a deal but its annual estimate is much lower and will save you money in the long run.

In some states or territories such as NSW, VIC, SA, QLD and the ACT, you'll be able to easily compare plans by looking at the reference price. (In Victoria, this is also known as the Victorian Default Offer (VDO).

Always aim for a plan that's lower than the reference price or VDO. The lower the better.

Lastly, take into account any extra costs such as credit card fees, late payment fees and disconnection costs as they can vary between providers.

You can read our guide to switching energy providers to see just how easy it is to compare plans online and make the switch. Most of the heavy lifting is done by the provider.

Why you need a better deal on internet

We're going to see another round of NBN price hikes from July 2024 from the likes of Telstra, Optus, Aussie Broadband and more, with lower speed tiers becoming more expensive, and faster speeds getting cheaper.

NBN 50, which has historically been the most popular speed tier among Aussies, has been hit the hardest. It's a good speed for everyday use or a 2-3 person household.

NBN 100 is slowly gaining momentum and is also being favoured by providers and NBN itself. We've been seeing price cuts since last year.

Given all the movements, it's never been a better time to compare internet plans to find a better deal, more so if you've been eyeing a speed upgrade.

To encourage you some more, our research found Aussies collectively paid $1.2 billion in loyalty tax in 2023 for internet by not moving to a cheaper plan.

We compared the prices of the cheapest and most expensive fixed-line unlimited data NBN plans in our database across 5 speed tiers (NBN 12 to NBN 250) and found:

The average Australian can save up to $277** on their internet bill over 12 months by switching to a cheaper provider.

How to get a better internet deal

Internet providers are known to sling 6-month sign-up discounts. Sometimes you can get the first month or 2 free.

For example, Dodo's current offer will give you access to NBN 50 for $64.90 a month for the first 6 months. The price will revert to $83.90 a month thereafter.

The discounted price will save you $123 over the year.

Or, you can sign up for its NBN 100 plan which is currently discounted to $69.90 a month for the first 6 months. The price will revert to $88.90 a month ongoing. That's a saving of $114 over 6 months.

You can always maximise the savings by switching to another provider offering a similar deal after 6 months.

No-lock-in contracts and the option to BYO modem are common features among NBN providers, making the switching process quite seamless.

1 - 20 of 484
Name Product AUFBB-INT Data allowance Typical download speed Price Hid Compare Box!
Dodo NBN100
NBN
Month-to-month
$68.90/mth for the first 12 months, then $88.90/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 28.1.25
  • Month-to-month
  • BYO modem or purchase for $99.90. Option to pay in monthly instalments. T&Cs apply
Unlimited Data
Data
Unlimited Data
100Mbps
nbnâ„¢100
Speed
100Mbps
nbnâ„¢100
$68.90
per month
$0 setup fees, $68.90 min. total cost
Price
$68.90 per month
$0 setup fees, $68.90 min. total cost
Swoop NBN Home Fast Finder Exclusive
NBN
Month-to-month
EXCLUSIVE OFFER: $69/mth for the first 6 months, then $94/mth. Use promo code FINDER25. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 1.1.25
Exclusive
  • Month-to-month
  • BYO modem or purchase for $130
Unlimited Data
Data
Unlimited Data
100Mbps
nbnâ„¢100
Speed
100Mbps
nbnâ„¢100
$69
per month
$0 setup fees, $69 min. total cost
Price
$69 per month
$0 setup fees, $69 min. total cost
Buddy Telco NBN Speedy
NBN
Month-to-month
  • Month-to-month
  • BYO modem
Unlimited Data
Data
Unlimited Data
98Mbps
nbnâ„¢100
Speed
98Mbps
nbnâ„¢100
$85
per month
$0 setup fees, $85 min. total cost
Price
$85 per month
$0 setup fees, $85 min. total cost
TPG NBN50
NBN
Month-to-month
Get $10/mth off for 3 months starting from your second bill. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 10.12.24
Finder Award
  • Month-to-month
  • BYO modem or purchase for $114.95
Unlimited Data
Data
Unlimited Data
50Mbps
nbnâ„¢50
Speed
50Mbps
nbnâ„¢50
$79.99
per month
$0 setup fees, $79.99 min. total cost
Price
$79.99 per month
$0 setup fees, $79.99 min. total cost
Superloop NBN Family
NBN
Month-to-month
Black Friday Deal: $69/mth for the first 12 months, then $89/mth. Use promo code BLACK-FRIDAY. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 8.12.24
  • Month-to-month
  • BYO modem or $0 modem if you stay connected for 24 months. T&Cs apply
Unlimited Data
Data
Unlimited Data
98Mbps
nbnâ„¢100
Speed
98Mbps
nbnâ„¢100
$69
per month
$0 setup fees, $69 min. total cost
Price
$69 per month
$0 setup fees, $69 min. total cost
Optus Plus Everyday Fast nbn®
NBN
Month-to-month
Black Friday Deal: Save $120 over 6 months (includes std. intro offer) - $79/mth for 6 mths, normally $99/mth. Add a WiFi Booster for half price. Ends 4.12.24
  • Month-to-month
  • Optus Ultra WiFi Modem Gen 2 included for $0 if you stay connected for 36 mths. T&Cs apply
Unlimited Data
Data
Unlimited Data
100Mbps
nbnâ„¢100
Speed
100Mbps
nbnâ„¢100
$79
per month
$0 setup fees, $385 min. total cost
Price
$79 per month
$0 setup fees, $385 min. total cost
Belong NBN Premium Broadband
NBN
Month-to-month
  • Month-to-month
  • BYO modem or purchase for $132 T&Cs apply
Unlimited Data
Data
Unlimited Data
100Mbps
nbnâ„¢100
Speed
100Mbps
nbnâ„¢100
$95
per month
$0 setup fees, $95 min. total cost
Price
$95 per month
$0 setup fees, $95 min. total cost
Swoop NBN Home Fast Plus Finder Exclusive
NBN
Month-to-month
EXCLUSIVE OFFER: $79/mth for the first 6 months, then $104/mth. Use promo code FINDER25. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 1.1.25
Exclusive
  • Month-to-month
  • BYO modem or purchase for $130
Unlimited Data
Data
Unlimited Data
100Mbps
nbnâ„¢100
Speed
100Mbps
nbnâ„¢100
$79
per month
$0 setup fees, $79 min. total cost
Price
$79 per month
$0 setup fees, $79 min. total cost
Southern Phone NBN Fast
NBN
Month-to-month
Black Friday Deal: $65/mth for the first 12 months, then $89/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 10.12.24
  • Month-to-month
  • BYO modem or purchase for $156
Unlimited Data
Data
Unlimited Data
100Mbps
nbnâ„¢100
Speed
100Mbps
nbnâ„¢100
$65
per month
$0 setup fees, $65 min. total cost
Price
$65 per month
$0 setup fees, $65 min. total cost
iiNet NBN100 Liimitless
NBN
Month-to-month
Black Friday Deal: $79.99/mth for the first 6 months, then $89.99/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 10.12.24
  • Month-to-month
  • BYO modem or $0 modem if you stay connected for 24 months. T&Cs apply
Unlimited Data
Data
Unlimited Data
100Mbps
nbnâ„¢100
Speed
100Mbps
nbnâ„¢100
$79.99
per month
$0 setup fees, $79.99 min. total cost
Price
$79.99 per month
$0 setup fees, $79.99 min. total cost
Dodo NBN50
NBN
Month-to-month
$63.90/mth for the first 12 months, then $83.90/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 28.1.25
  • Month-to-month
  • BYO modem or purchase for $99.90. Option to pay in monthly instalments. T&Cs apply
Unlimited Data
Data
Unlimited Data
50Mbps
nbnâ„¢50
Speed
50Mbps
nbnâ„¢50
$63.90
per month
$0 setup fees, $63.90 min. total cost
Price
$63.90 per month
$0 setup fees, $63.90 min. total cost
iPrimus Premium
NBN
Month-to-month
$84/mth for the first 6 months, then $94/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply.
  • Month-to-month
  • $0 modem if you stay connected for 18 months T&Cs apply
Unlimited Data
Data
Unlimited Data
100Mbps
nbnâ„¢100
Speed
100Mbps
nbnâ„¢100
$84
per month
$0 setup fees, $264 min. total cost
Price
$84 per month
$0 setup fees, $264 min. total cost
Tangerine NBN Speedy
NBN
Month-to-month
$65.90/mth for the first 6 months, then $85.90/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 28.2.25
Finder Award
  • Month-to-month
  • BYO modem or purchase from $129.90
Unlimited Data
Data
Unlimited Data
100Mbps
nbnâ„¢100
Speed
100Mbps
nbnâ„¢100
$65.90
per month
$0 setup fees, $65.90 min. total cost
Price
$65.90 per month
$0 setup fees, $65.90 min. total cost
More Value Plus NBN
NBN
Month-to-month
$73.60/mth for the first 12 months for CommBank customers, then $82.80/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 28.2.25
  • Month-to-month
  • BYO modem or purchase from $99.90
Unlimited Data
Data
Unlimited Data
50Mbps
nbnâ„¢50
Speed
50Mbps
nbnâ„¢50
$92
per month
$0 setup fees, $92 min. total cost
Price
$92 per month
$0 setup fees, $92 min. total cost
Swoop NBN Home Superfast Finder Exclusive
NBN
Month-to-month
EXCLUSIVE OFFER: $79/mth for the first 6 months, then $119/mth. Use promo code FINDER40. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 1.1.25
Exclusive
  • Month-to-month
  • BYO modem or purchase for $130
Unlimited Data
Data
Unlimited Data
246Mbps
nbnâ„¢250
Speed
246Mbps
nbnâ„¢250
$79
per month
$0 setup fees, $79 min. total cost
Price
$79 per month
$0 setup fees, $79 min. total cost
Tangerine NBN Value
NBN
Month-to-month
$47.90/mth for the first 6 months, then $67.90/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 28.2.25
Finder Award
  • Month-to-month
  • BYO modem or purchase from $129.90
Unlimited Data
Data
Unlimited Data
25Mbps
nbnâ„¢25
Speed
25Mbps
nbnâ„¢25
$47.90
per month
$0 setup fees, $47.90 min. total cost
Price
$47.90 per month
$0 setup fees, $47.90 min. total cost
Buddy Telco NBN Value
NBN
Month-to-month
  • Month-to-month
  • BYO modem
Unlimited Data
Data
Unlimited Data
49Mbps
nbnâ„¢50
Speed
49Mbps
nbnâ„¢50
$75
per month
$0 setup fees, $75 min. total cost
Price
$75 per month
$0 setup fees, $75 min. total cost
AGL NBN Home Basic
NBN
Month-to-month
$49/mth for the first 6 months, then $59/mth when bundled with AGL Energy. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 3.2.25
  • Month-to-month
  • BYO modem or purchase for $210
Unlimited Data
Data
Unlimited Data
25Mbps
nbnâ„¢25
Speed
25Mbps
nbnâ„¢25
$74
per month
$0 setup fees, $74 min. total cost
Price
$74 per month
$0 setup fees, $74 min. total cost
TPG NBN100
NBN
Month-to-month
$79.99/mth for the first 6 months then $89.99/mth. Extra $10 off discount from second bill, for 3 months. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 10.12.24
  • Month-to-month
  • BYO modem or purchase for $114.95
Unlimited Data
Data
Unlimited Data
100Mbps
nbnâ„¢100
Speed
100Mbps
nbnâ„¢100
$79.99
per month
$0 setup fees, $79.99 min. total cost
Price
$79.99 per month
$0 setup fees, $79.99 min. total cost
Dodo NBN25
NBN
Month-to-month
$48.90/mth for the first 12 months, then $68.90/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 28.1.25
  • Month-to-month
  • BYO modem or purchase for $99.90. Option to pay in monthly instalments. T&Cs apply
Unlimited Data
Data
Unlimited Data
25Mbps
nbnâ„¢25
Speed
25Mbps
nbnâ„¢25
$48.90
per month
$0 setup fees, $48.90 min. total cost
Price
$48.90 per month
$0 setup fees, $48.90 min. total cost
loading

What should I look out for with an internet deal?

Besides the deal itself and the monthly cost of the NBN plan, consider which NBN speed tier is best suited to your needs.

Then look at the typical evening speed advertised on each plan. These are speeds you can expect during the busy hours of the day (7–11pm). For example, the maximum typical evening speed for an NBN 50 plan will be 50Mbps.

Lastly, consider any additional costs you may incur:

  • Modem: If you're switching to a provider that offers a BYO modem option, just make sure your hardware is compatible before signing up. If you need a new modem, compare modem fees between providers as these can vary.
  • Contracts: Switching providers can be costly if you are tied to a contract for 12, 24 or 36 months. Make sure it's worth the break fees and extra value – perhaps you'll get a free modem in return or some sort of entertainment package.
  • Hidden fees: These can include non-direct debit fees or a surcharge on credit card payments. Always read the plan's critical information summary before signing up.

*12-month energy saving calculation based on taking the average of the most expensive single rate electricity plans estimates across each state per quarter, compared to the average quarterly bill from Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker.

**$277 per year saving based on the average spend of $912 per year compared to the cheapest cheapest fixed line NBN plan in our database of $634.80 per year.

Module 6 quiz

Mariam Gabaji's headshot
Written by

Editor I Tech and utilities expert

Mariam Gabaji is an editor and tech and utilities expert at Finder with 12+ years of experience as a journalist. She's committed to helping households cut through the industry jargon and save money on their bills. Her expertise is often featured in media including the ABC, Yahoo Finance, 9News, 7News, A Current Affair, The Guardian, SBS and Money Magazine. See full bio

Mariam's expertise
Mariam has written 303 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Energy
  • Mobile
  • Broadband
  • Consumer tech

More guides on Finder

Ask a question

You are about to post a question on finder.com.au:

  • Do not enter personal information (eg. surname, phone number, bank details) as your question will be made public
  • finder.com.au is a financial comparison and information service, not a bank or product provider
  • We cannot provide you with personal advice or recommendations
  • Your answer might already be waiting – check previous questions below to see if yours has already been asked

Finder only provides general advice and factual information, so consider your own circumstances, or seek advice before you decide to act on our content. By submitting a question, you're accepting our Terms Of Service and Finder Group Privacy & Cookies Policy.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Go to site