Compare NBN plans with 4G backup

Worried about NBN outages and being disconnected from the online world? There are 3 providers that can help you out.

Mariam Gabaji's headshot

By

Mariam Gabaji

Updated

Fact checked

Key takeaways

  • If your NBN connection goes down but you still have power, the modem will switch to a 4G backup to keep you online.
  • Download speeds can reach up to 25Mbps, which is suitable for browsing, social media, and HD streaming.
  • Only Telstra, Optus and Vodafone offer modems with 4G backup, which may cost you extra depending on the provider's T&Cs.
10 of 19 results
Updated regularly
Features Data allowance Typical download speed Price Rewards
  • Month-to-month
  • BYO modem or Powerful Wi-Fi Modem for $0 when you stay for 24 months. T&Cs apply
Unlimited Data
Unlimited Data
100Mbps
nbnâ„¢100
100Mbps
nbnâ„¢100
$84
per month
$0 setup fees, $390 min. total cost
$84 per month
$0 setup fees, $390 min. total cost
ENDS SOON!
 $200
$200
VISA CARD REWARD
1
Join Finder
2
Buy an Optus NBN plan
3
Get card from Finder
Ends by31 Oct 2025. T&Cs apply.
Go to siteView details
Compare product selection
Optus logo
Optus Fast nbn® (NBN 500)
NBN
Month-to-month
Online Only Deal: Save $180 over 12 months - $84/mth for the first 12 months, normally $99/mth. New services only, T&Cs apply. Ends 12.10.25
  • Month-to-month
  • BYO modem or Powerful Wi-Fi Modem for $0 when you stay for 24 months. T&Cs apply
Unlimited Data
Unlimited Data
500Mbps
nbnâ„¢500
500Mbps
nbnâ„¢500
$84
per month
$0 setup fees, $390 min. total cost
$84 per month
$0 setup fees, $390 min. total cost
ENDS SOON!
 $200
$200
VISA CARD REWARD
1
Join Finder
2
Buy an Optus NBN plan
3
Get card from Finder
Ends by31 Oct 2025. T&Cs apply.
Go to siteView details
Compare product selection
Optus logo
Optus Promo nbn® Plan (NBN 500)
NBN
Month-to-month
$109/mth for first 12 mths, then $119/mth or as notified + $15/mth for 12 mths when you add to your existing eligible Optus Service. T&Cs apply.
  • Month-to-month
  • BYO modem or Powerful Wi-Fi Modem for $0 when you stay for 24 months. T&Cs apply
Unlimited Data
Unlimited Data
500Mbps
nbnâ„¢500
500Mbps
nbnâ„¢500
$109
per month
$0 setup fees, $415 min. total cost
$109 per month
$0 setup fees, $415 min. total cost
ENDS SOON!
 $200
$200
VISA CARD REWARD
1
Join Finder
2
Buy an Optus NBN plan
3
Get card from Finder
Ends by31 Oct 2025. T&Cs apply.
Go to siteView details
Compare product selection
Optus logo
Optus Promo nbn® Plan
NBN
Month-to-month
$109/mth for first 12 mths, then $119/mth or as notified + $15/mth for 12 mths when you add to your existing eligible Optus Service. T&Cs apply.
  • Month-to-month
  • BYO modem or Powerful Wi-Fi Modem for $0 when you stay for 24 months. T&Cs apply
Unlimited Data
Unlimited Data
100Mbps
nbnâ„¢100
100Mbps
nbnâ„¢100
$109
per month
$0 setup fees, $415 min. total cost
$109 per month
$0 setup fees, $415 min. total cost
ENDS SOON!
 $200
$200
VISA CARD REWARD
1
Join Finder
2
Buy an Optus NBN plan
3
Get card from Finder
Ends by31 Oct 2025. T&Cs apply.
Go to siteView details
Compare product selection
Optus logo
Optus Everyday nbn®
NBN
Month-to-month
  • Month-to-month
  • BYO modem or Powerful Wi-Fi Modem for $0 when you stay for 24 months. T&Cs apply
Unlimited Data
Unlimited Data
50Mbps
nbnâ„¢50
50Mbps
nbnâ„¢50
$95
per month
$0 setup fees, $401 min. total cost
$95 per month
$0 setup fees, $401 min. total cost
ENDS SOON!
 $200
$200
VISA CARD REWARD
1
Join Finder
2
Buy an Optus NBN plan
3
Get card from Finder
Ends by31 Oct 2025. T&Cs apply.
Go to siteView details
Compare product selection
Optus logo
Optus Ultrafast nbn®
NBN
Month-to-month
Online Only Deal: Save $180 over 12 months - $114/mth for the first 12 months, normally $129/mth. New services only, T&Cs apply. Ends 12.10.25
  • Month-to-month
  • BYO modem or Powerful Wi-Fi Modem for $0 when you stay for 24 months. T&Cs apply
Unlimited Data
Unlimited Data
800Mbps
nbnâ„¢1000
800Mbps
nbnâ„¢1000
$114
per month
$0 setup fees, $420 min. total cost
$114 per month
$0 setup fees, $420 min. total cost
ENDS SOON!
 $200
$200
VISA CARD REWARD
1
Join Finder
2
Buy an Optus NBN plan
3
Get card from Finder
Ends by31 Oct 2025. T&Cs apply.
Go to siteView details
Compare product selection
Optus logo
Optus Basic nbn®
NBN
Month-to-month
  • Month-to-month
  • BYO modem or Powerful Wi-Fi Modem for $0 when you stay for 24 months. T&Cs apply
Unlimited Data
Unlimited Data
25Mbps
nbnâ„¢25
25Mbps
nbnâ„¢25
$79
per month
$0 setup fees, $385 min. total cost
$79 per month
$0 setup fees, $385 min. total cost
Go to siteView details
Compare product selection
Vodafone logo
Vodafone Essential
NBN
Month-to-month
Speed upgrade at no extra cost when bundled with Vodafone's mobile plan. T&Cs apply.
  • Month-to-month
  • BYO modem or $0 modem if you stay connected for 24 months. T&Cs apply
Unlimited Data
Unlimited Data
25Mbps
nbnâ„¢25
25Mbps
nbnâ„¢25
$84
per month
$0 setup fees, $84 min. total cost
$84 per month
$0 setup fees, $84 min. total cost
View details
Compare product selection
Vodafone logo
Vodafone Essential+
NBN
Month-to-month
$69/mth for the first 6 months when bundled with Vodafone mobile. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Ends 20.10.25
  • Month-to-month
  • BYO modem or $0 modem if you stay connected for 24 months. T&Cs apply
Unlimited Data
Unlimited Data
50Mbps
nbnâ„¢50
50Mbps
nbnâ„¢50
$89
per month
$0 setup fees, $89 min. total cost
$89 per month
$0 setup fees, $89 min. total cost
View details
Compare product selection
Telstra logo
Telstra Upfront Internet Basic
NBN
Month-to-month
  • Month-to-month
  • $0 modem if you stay connected for 24 months. T&Cs apply
Unlimited Data
Unlimited Data
25Mbps
nbnâ„¢25
25Mbps
nbnâ„¢25
$93
per month
$0 setup fees, $93 min. total cost
$93 per month
$0 setup fees, $93 min. total cost
View details
Compare product selection
loading
Showing 10 of 19 results

Start comparing

What is NBN 4G backup and how does it work?

4G backup is the spare tyre of the internet world.

It's not quite as fast as your regular connection, but you'll be glad it's there when there's an NBN outage (assuming you still have power).

Your modem with 4G backup will kick in using its 4G mobile connection to get you online until the NBN outage ends.

Which providers offer NBN plans with 4G backup?

Only 3 providers in our database offer an NBN plan with 4G backup.

These include Telstra, Optus and Vodafone.

You will need to use their modem to access the 4G backup feature and won't be able to BYO.

How fast is NBN 4G backup?

While the regular 4G connection on your phone is capable of around 100Mbps download speeds, 4G speeds on a backup modem are capped at up to 25Mbps.

Here's a breakdown of max download and upload speeds you can get from each provider:

Provider
Max download speed
Max upload speed
Telstra
25Mbps
5Mbps
Optus
25Mbps
2Mbps
Vodafone
20Mbps
2Mbps

The actual speed you get may vary depending on factors like network congestion and the weather.

Does 4G backup cost extra?

It might, depending on the provider and what caveats they've thrown in. To make it easier, we've broken down their costs and T&Cs.

Telstra modem with 4G backup

Telstra doesn't let you BYO modem but you can get a 4G-backed one from the telco giant for $0 if you stay connected for 24 months.

If you cancel your NBN plan early, all you have to do is return the modem in good working condition to avoid a non-return fee.

Optus modem with 4G backup

You can get an Optus modem for $0 if you stay connected for 24 months.

There's no lock-in contract so you can always cancel the plan at any time. However, you will need to pay off the remaining cost of the modem.

This works out to $12.75 x the number of months left.

Vodafone modem with 4G backup

You will need to stay connected for 24 months to get a Vodafone modem with 4G backup for $0.

You can cancel your plan whenever but you will need to pay off the remaining cost of the hardware if you leave before the 2-year mark.

This works out to $7.50 x the number of months left.

Is it worth getting a modem with 4G backup?

If you've experienced NBN outages and get strong mobile signals at your property, getting a modem with 4G backup could be handy.

However, you're limited to just three providers, and they might not always meet your budget or have the best deals.

If your mobile plan includes enough data, you could use it to hotspot during an NBN outage.

Alternatively, you could even consider signing up for a mobile broadband plan to avoid being tied down by either Telstra, Optus or Vodafone.

Mariam Gabaji's headshot
Written by

Senior Utilities Editor & Tech Expert

Mariam Gabaji is a journalist with 13 years of experience, specialising in consumer topics like mobile services and energy costs. Her work appears in the ABC, Yahoo Finance, 9News, The Guardian, SBS, 7News, A Current Affair and Money Magazine. Mariam holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and was a finalist for the 2024 and 2025 IT Journalism Award for Best Telecommunications Journalist. See full bio

Mariam's expertise
Mariam has written 407 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Energy
  • Mobile
  • Broadband
  • Consumer tech
More resources 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.

More guides on Finder

Go to site