Compare NBN alternatives and get online faster
Can’t connect to the NBN or dealing with poor speeds and dropouts? Check out NBN alternatives such as home wireless broadband instead.
Compare NBN alternatives
We've included home wireless, mobile broadband and non-NBN fibre in our table as they're more widely available. You can scroll further down for other alternatives.Compare other products
How we picked these
How the Finder Score helps you find a better broadband plan
We designed the Finder Score to simplify your search for the best NBN and Home Wireless plans. By analysing hundreds of options from 40+ providers, we evaluate pricing, speeds, data allowances and plan features. Each factor is weighted and combined to generate a score out of 10 — helping you quickly spot the most competitive plans on the market. Read the full breakdown.
Key takeaways
- Alternatives to the NBN include home wireless and mobile broadband, Starlink, Opticomm and Gigacomm.
- 5G home wireless broadband is the closest genuine alternative to the NBN if it's available in your area.
- Starlink is a good, albeit pricier alternative for regional households. Gigacomm and Opticomm are either available in specific cities or in newer builds.
What NBN alternatives are there?
Fortunately, there are other choices if you don't think your NBN connection is doing the job or your home can't connect to the NBN.
Home wireless broadband
Home wireless broadband connects to the internet via signals from nearby mobile towers.
You can choose between a 4G or 5G home wireless plan, with typical download speeds ranging from 25Mbps to 548Mbps (or even uncapped).
Availability for a home wireless broadband plan will depend on where you live. It's not a portable internet connection as the modem you'll receive will be tied to your address.
Compare home wireless broadband plans
"I decided to get a Telstra 5G WiFi router for $85/month after rats decided to chew through our NBN cables in our apartment complex, making NBN connection not possible. Although it was great to have that option available, the results have not necessarily been optimal. I live in Kingsford, which is only 8km from Sydney CBD. However, the router more often than not has the red light on for poor signal. As a result, the speeds aren't always reliable, but it's good enough for normal, relatively low bandwidth usage like sending emails and watching videos."
Mobile broadband
Mobile broadband connects wirelessly to the internet through a mobile network.
You might also know it as data-only plans, data SIMs, pocket Wi-Fi, or dongle plans.
You can use it at home or on the go, eliminating the need to hotspot from your phone or search for a Wi-Fi network.
Choosing a mobile broadband plan is a lot like picking a SIM-only plan for your phone. You'll want to look at price, data, and network coverage to find the deal that works best for you.
Compare mobile broadband plans
Private fibre networks
The NBN isn't the only option for fibre internet in Australia.
There are a number of private companies such as Opticomm, TPG's Vision Network and Gigacomm that own separate fibre networks and sell plans on those either themselves or through various retailers.
The main caveat is that unlike the NBN, which is available to the vast majority of Australians, these private fibre networks are limited to specific areas and addresses such as housing estates.
However, you'll get speeds similar to those of the NBN.
Opticomm
Similar to the NBN, Opticomm also acts as a wholesaler. Providers such as Aussie Broadband, Telstra and Exetel are the ones to sell Opticomm plans to households.
You'll get almost the same speed structure to the NBN, with download speeds ranging between 25-1000Mbps download speed. These are good enough for all household sizes and internet needs.
Read more about OptiComm and compare plans if you're interested. Availability will depend on your address.
Vision network
TPG Telecom owns Vision Network and works as another wholesale provider offering plans via a private fibre network.
Providers that offer plans that run on the Vision Network include iiNet, TPG and MyOwn Tel.
The network is still expanding and is currently available at specific addresses in Geelong, Ballarat and Mildura in Victoria plus metro Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Canberra.
The speeds you get can vary between locations but you can expect about 25-100Mbps speeds in general.
Or, even as fast as 500Mbps if you can access iiNet's Ultra Broadband Plans for example.
Gigacomm
Gigacomm is an independent internet service provider that offers speeds between 100-2000Mbps - fast enough to match various household sizes and use cases.
The caveat is it's only available in certain areas of Sydney and Melbourne though there are plans to expand to other cities across the country.
Read more about Gigacomm and compare plans.
Starlink
Starlink is Elon Musk's satellite-based internet solution for Aussies who are struggling with access to fast and reliable internet.
It works much in the same way as NBN's Sky Muster satellite plans but because Starlink has a great number of satellites that are closer to earth, the signals being sent down ensure slightly faster speeds and less latency.
You can get between 20-100Mbps on its standard plan and higher as you move up tiers.
Of course, the hardware cost can be pricey and may not work for everyone.
Read our Starlink guide for more details and hopefully, it'll answer the majority of your questions.
Lightning Broadband
Lightning Broadband is an Australian-owned and operated internet service provider.
It's mostly focused on providing internet connections to new developments or greenfield sites via its fibre network. You can expect between 25Mbps - 1,000Mbps speeds.
It also offers fixed wireless internet to standalone homes with speeds between 50-500Mbps.
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