Go large with unlimited mobile data
Get no excess data charges on these unlimited data mobile plans.
Telstra, Optus or Vodafone: Which provider offers the most consistent speeds?
We've looked at a few metrics to determine which network delivers the best results in major metro areas.
We’re reader-supported and may be paid when you visit links to partner sites. We don’t compare all products in the market, but we’re working on it!
Telstra, Optus and Vodafone all invest billions of dollars in their networks each year, improving everything from coverage in rural areas to download speeds and capacity.
However, just because a telco says it's throwing big dollars at the network, doesn't necessarily mean you as a customer are going to see better results in day-to-day usage.
Luckily, there are a few metrics we can look at to help us work out what sort of performance you're likely to achieve and why you're achieving that.
Optus speed test results
| P3 average download speed (drivetest) | Ookla speed score | OpenSignal average download speed |
|---|---|---|
| 92.85Mbps | 39.85 | 36.4Mbps |
Telstra speed test results
| P3 average download speed (drivetest) | Ookla speed score | OpenSignal average download speed |
|---|---|---|
| 97.86Mbps | 47.27 | 41.1Mbps |
Vodafone speed test results
| P3 average download speed (drivetest) | Ookla speed score | OpenSignal average download speed |
|---|---|---|
| 86.18Mbps | 42.07 | 32.8Mbps |
Compare speed results
Unsurprisingly, it's Telstra that takes the lead across all three tests. Its network infrastructure is both the oldest and the largest of all Australian telcos, which gives it an advantage in delivering higher speeds across a wider portion of the country.
That said, Telstra's lead isn't as commanding as it once was. Vodafone and Optus have spent considerable time and money in recent years shoring up their own networks and the test results reflect that. Yes, if you want the fastest speeds possible, Telstra is likely your best choice, but you're not going to be left in the dust if you go with Vodafone or Optus.
One point worth noting is how different the P3 speeds are to the crowd-sourced OpenSignal and Ookla results. The speeds recorded by P3 are far higher than those from Ookla and OpenSignal, which is largely due to the controlled nature of the P3 tests.
For its 2018 report, P3 conducted all its tests with Samsung Galaxy S8 handsets. The Galaxy S8 supports Category 16 network speeds and can take advantage of a technique called "carrier aggregation" (also referred to as LTE-A or LTE Advanced) where it receives data across three different frequencies at the same time. This allows for far higher speeds than are possible across a single frequency.
In reality, a lot of Aussie phones don't support carrier aggregation and this is likely why the OpenSignal and Ookla results are considerably lower than P3's.
As data limits continue to rise, handling congestion and consistent network speeds will become a challenge for carriers as they start to roll out their 5G networks.
For now though, it's important when you're signing up to a new plan to seek results like these to show what the network you're signing up to is like. There's no point buying a 50GB plan if you can barely use it because of sub-par speeds.
It's also wise to consider signing up to a month-to-month plan, either SIM-only or on a prepaid basis.
A lot can change in a network in just a couple of years, so not locking yourself into a service that could be dramatically different halfway through your contract is wise. That's if you don't need a new handset to go with your service, of course.
Also remember it's incredibly easy to change carriers if yours isn't fast enough, as is keeping your own number when you move, which in most cases is transferred within the hour of signing up.
Compare plans from the big 3 providers below
Compare services
| Telstra | Optus | Vodafone | |
| 4G coverage | Covers 1,600 Australian towns and communities | Covers 98.5% of the Australian population | Covers over 22 million Australians |
| 5G launch | 2019 | Early 2019 | 2020 |
| Mobile app | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Customer/chat support | 24x7 | 24x7 | Yes |
Latest mobile plans headlines
- Optus buying amaysim – what does this mean for customers?
- Optus is launching Gomo in Australia – will this shake up the mobile market?
- Optus is offering the new iPhone 12 for under $100 a month
- Will amaysim dump Optus?
- Optus freezes mobile plan prices: Is it now better value than Telstra and Vodafone?
Image: Shutterstock
More guides on Finder
-
Amazon eero mesh 6 review: Simple mesh with good speeds
Amazon’s eero mesh 6 is beautifully simple to set up and keep running, but it’s not a system for those who want to tweak network variables.
-
Optus now has the fastest 5G in Australia, so where’s Telstra?
Optus has beat out Telstra to take the crown for having the fastest 5G speed in Australia, doubling its results since August 2020.
-
Samsung Galaxy S21 Review: Pocket rocket (with a few misfires)
Samsung’s Galaxy S21 delivers a more affordable flagship experience in a very nice form, although the lack of a charger, microSD expansion and Qualcomm’s best chips do mean it’s not quite the perfect smaller flagship phone Samsung says it is.
-
Oppo Find X2 Neo review
Oppo’s more affordable 5G handset doesn’t just rest on fast network access, providing great battery life and solid all-round performance too.
-
Netgear Orbi RBK13 Mesh Wi-Fi System review
Netgear's lower-priced Mesh Wi-Fi system doesn't reach the heights of fancier models, but if you're after a basic mesh extension it's a solid choice.
-
Telstra 5G Wi-Fi Pro review
Telstra's updated 5G Wi-Fi hub is capable of decent speeds on existing 5G networks. The promise of mmWave compatibility means it could soon get much faster.
-
NBN upload speeds
With upload speeds usually lagging behind download speeds, read our tips on how to improve your service.
-
How fast is Telstra’s 5G network?
We've put Telstra's 5G network to the test across multiple states to separate the speed hype from the somewhat more variable reality.
-
Which of Telstra’s Galaxy S10 5G plans are good value?
You can get ultra-fast 5G speeds on the Galaxy S10 5G through Telstra now, but not all the plans are great value.
-
Optus speed test
Are you getting slow speeds with Optus? Test your Optus NBN, ADSL or 4G plan to see if your connection is up to scratch.
Latest mobile plan deals on Finder
This month’s best SIM-only mobile plans
Save money with these top no-contract deals.
Save with a prepaid phone plan
Avoid bill shock and control your spending with the best-value offers.
Find the latest iPhone plan deals
Easily compare every Australian iPhone plan.
Ask an Expert
