Home wireless broadband vs. the NBN: What’s the difference?

Contents

In this guide:

Wireless Broadband vs. NBN: What's the difference?
Wireless Broadband vs. NBN: Cost and value
Wireless Broadband vs. NBN: Speeds
Troubleshooting the NBN at your house
Wireless Broadband FAQs

Australia's National Broadband Network is a bit of a lottery. For many homes, it's great! But for some households, the performance of the NBN can be distinctly underwhelming or certain internet types may not be available at your address at all.

The good news is that there is a viable alternative: home wireless broadband. This is a home internet connection delivered using the same mobile networks as your phone.

Before we start, here are the most popular home wireless broadband plans with WhistleOut users this week:

#1	TPG	TPG 5G Home Broadband Plus Wireless 50/16 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $10/mth off for 6 months! $49.99/mth for first 6 months, then $59.99/mth. Available until withdrawn. T&C apply. $49.99/mth Min. cost $49.99 Go to Site	$49.99/mth Min. cost $49.99	Go to Site
#2	iiNet	iiNet 5G Home Broadband Premium Wireless 100/18 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $10/mth off for first 6 months, then $69.99/mth. Offer available until withdrawn. $59.99/mth Min. cost $59.99 Go to Site	$59.99/mth Min. cost $59.99	Go to Site
#3	SpinTel	SpinTel 5G Unlimited Wireless Broadband (50Mbit) Wireless 50 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Incl. $10/mth off for 6 mths! $49/mth for the first 6 mths, then $59/mth. $25 upfront postage for rental modem also apply $49/mth Min. cost $74 Link not supplied	$49/mth Min. cost $74	Link not supplied
#4	Vodafone	Vodafone 5G Home Internet Basic Plan Wireless 20/2 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $10/mth off for first 6 mths + Save $10/mth when you already have a mobile phone plan with Vodafone $50/mth Min. cost $50 Link not supplied	$50/mth Min. cost $50	Link not supplied
#5	Yomojo	Yomojo 4G Internet 25 Wireless 16 Mbps Unlimited Data $55.90/mth Min. cost $55.90 Link not supplied	$55.90/mth Min. cost $55.90	Link not supplied

What is wireless broadband?

Wireless internet — or wireless broadband — is a mobile internet service that has been specifically designed to replace fixed-line connections, such as the NBN. Plans usually come with large data allowances and powerful modem routers that can connect dozens of devices around your home via WiFi.

You can get a wireless internet connection at any home where there's a decent mobile signal. And unlike the NBN, which may need a visit from an NBN technician when you connect, wireless broadband doesn't require any setup. You just unpack your new wireless modem, switch it on, and you should have instant internet.

4G vs. 5G

As you compare wireless internet plans, you'll notice that the cheaper plans operate on the older 4G networks, while the premium options utilise the faster 5G networks. Does this matter?

5G networks are a huge upgrade from 4G, and are capable of delivering much faster speeds. The cheapest 5G home internet plans are equivalent to NBN 50, and speed up as you pay more.

Meanwhile, 4G wireless broadband is roughly equivalent to an NBN 25 plan. It's capable of keeping one or two people online. You can still stream video, listen to music, and browse the web, but not much more.

Wireless Broadband vs. NBN: What's the difference?

You can divide home internet connections broadly into two categories: fixed-line and wireless internet. Here's how they differ:

A fixed-line connection, like the NBN, connects your home to the internet via kilometres of cable that run underneath your street
A wireless connection connects you to the internet using the same mobile networks as your phone

This makes wireless broadband a great alternative if there are physical issues with your NBN connection.

Wireless Broadband vs. NBN: Cost and value

Wireless internet plans tend to be cheaper than NBN plans when comparing services with similar upload and download speeds.

Typically, home wireless internet plans start at around $45 to $50 per month. These cheaper plans are on the 4G network, so you can expect speeds between 20 and 25Mbps depending on the coverage and congestion in your neighbourhood. 5G home internet plans start at around $50 to $60 per month with capped download speeds of 50Mbps.

By comparison, NBN plans tend to start at around $55 per month for a 25Mbps plan, when you factor in promotional offers. At full price, you'll pay a minimum of $65 per month. NBN 50 plans start at around $65 per month with promos, but at full price, you'll typically spend at least $75 per month.

Here's a comparison of the cheapest 4G, 5G capped at 50Mbps, 5G capped at 100Mbps, and uncapped 5G wireless broadband plans in our database:

#1	TPG	TPG Home Wireless Broadband Wireless 16/1.9 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $10/mth off for 6 months! $44.99/mth for first 6 months, then $54.99/mth. Available until withdrawn. T&C apply. $44.99/mth Min. cost $44.99 Go to Site	$44.99/mth Min. cost $44.99	Go to Site
#2	iiNet	iiNet Home Wireless Broadband Wireless 16/1.9 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $10/mth off for first 6 months, then $59.99/mth + $10 off for existing iiNet customers. Offer available until withdrawn. $49.99/mth Min. cost $49.99 Go to Site	$49.99/mth Min. cost $49.99	Go to Site
#3	Vodafone	Vodafone 4G Home Internet Unlimited Wireless 16/1.9 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $10/mth off for first 6 mths + Save $10/mth when you already have a mobile phone plan with Vodafone $50/mth Min. cost $50 Link not supplied	$50/mth Min. cost $50	Link not supplied
#4	SpinTel	SpinTel 4G Unlimited Wireless Broadband (25Mbit) Wireless 25/2 Mbps Unlimited Data $53.95/mth Min. cost $69.95 Link not supplied	$53.95/mth (plan + modem) Min. cost $69.95	Link not supplied
#5	Optus	Optus Optus Plus Everyday Basic 4G Wireless Unlimited Data $59/mth Min. cost $59 Link not supplied	$59/mth Min. cost $59	Link not supplied
#6	Kogan Internet	Kogan Internet 4G Home Internet Plan Wireless 16/1.9 Mbps Unlimited Data Prepaid (90 Days) Deal: Free modem included on the Kogan 90-day 4G Internet Plan! Average cost $49.90/mth (based on total once-off cost $149.70) $149.70 Link not supplied	$149.70	Link not supplied

#1	SpinTel	SpinTel 5G Unlimited Wireless Broadband (50Mbit) Wireless 50 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Incl. $10/mth off for 6 mths! $49/mth for the first 6 mths, then $59/mth. $25 upfront postage for rental modem also apply $49/mth Min. cost $74 Link not supplied	$49/mth Min. cost $74	Link not supplied
#2	iiNet	iiNet 5G Home Broadband Plus Wireless 50/16 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $10/mth off for first 6 months, then $59.99/mth. Offer available until withdrawn. $49.99/mth Min. cost $49.99 Go to Site	$49.99/mth Min. cost $49.99	Go to Site
#3	TPG	TPG 5G Home Broadband Plus Wireless 50/16 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $10/mth off for 6 months! $49.99/mth for first 6 months, then $59.99/mth. Available until withdrawn. T&C apply. $49.99/mth Min. cost $49.99 Go to Site	$49.99/mth Min. cost $49.99	Go to Site
#4	Vodafone	Vodafone 5G Home Internet Plus Plan Wireless 50/16 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $10/mth off for first 6 mths + Save $5/mth when you already have a mobile phone plan with Vodafone $55/mth Min. cost $55 Link not supplied	$55/mth Min. cost $55	Link not supplied
#5	Optus	Optus Optus Plus Everyday 5G Wireless 45/11 Mbps Unlimited Data $69/mth Min. cost $69 Link not supplied	$69/mth Min. cost $69	Link not supplied
#6	Yomojo	Yomojo 5G Internet 50 Wireless 43 Mbps Unlimited Data $69.90/mth Min. cost $69.90 Link not supplied	$69.90/mth Min. cost $69.90	Link not supplied

#1	TPG	TPG 5G Home Broadband Premium Wireless 100/18 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $10/mth off for 6 months! $54.99/mth for first 6 months, then $64.99/mth. Available until withdrawn. T&C apply. $54.99/mth Min. cost $54.99 Go to Site	$54.99/mth Min. cost $54.99	Go to Site
#2	SpinTel	SpinTel 5G Unlimited Wireless Broadband (100Mbit) Wireless 100 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Incl. $10/mth off for 6 mths! $59/mth for the first 6 mths, then $69/mth. $25 upfront postage for rental modem also apply $59/mth Min. cost $84 Link not supplied	$59/mth Min. cost $84	Link not supplied
#3	iiNet	iiNet 5G Home Broadband Premium Wireless 100/18 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $10/mth off for first 6 months, then $69.99/mth. Offer available until withdrawn. $59.99/mth Min. cost $59.99 Go to Site	$59.99/mth Min. cost $59.99	Go to Site
#4	Vodafone	Vodafone 5G Home Internet Premium Plan Wireless 100/18 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $10/mth off for first 6 mths + Save $5/mth when you already have a mobile phone plan with Vodafone $60/mth Min. cost $60 Link not supplied	$60/mth Min. cost $60	Link not supplied
#5	Yomojo	Yomojo 5G Internet 100 Wireless 75 Mbps Unlimited Data $75.90/mth Min. cost $75.90 Link not supplied	$75.90/mth Min. cost $75.90	Link not supplied
#6	Optus	Optus Optus Plus Everyday Fast 5G Wireless 87/15 Mbps Unlimited Data $79/mth Min. cost $79 Link not supplied	$79/mth Min. cost $79	Link not supplied

#1	SpinTel	SpinTel 5G Unlimited Wireless Broadband Wireless 240 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Incl. $10/mth off for 6 mths! $79/mth for the first 6 mths, then $89/mth. $25 upfront postage for rental modem also apply $79/mth Min. cost $104 Link not supplied	$79/mth Min. cost $104	Link not supplied
#2	Telstra	Telstra 5G Home Internet - 1TB Wireless 300/30 Mbps 1000GB Data $85/mth Min. cost $85 Link not supplied	$85/mth Min. cost $85	Link not supplied
#3	Optus	Optus Optus Plus Entertainer Superfast 5G Wireless 210/20 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Intro Offer - $89/mth for 6 mths on this plan (normally $99/mth). T&Cs apply. $89/mth Min. cost $89 Link not supplied	$89/mth Min. cost $89	Link not supplied
#4	Yomojo	Yomojo 5G Internet Max Wireless 225 Mbps Unlimited Data $95.90/mth Min. cost $95.90 Link not supplied	$95.90/mth Min. cost $95.90	Link not supplied

And here's how these compare to various plans on NBN 25, NBN 50, NBN 100, and NBN 250 speed tiers in our database:

If you just need a basic connection, it could be worth considering an NBN 25 plan. You can expect download speeds of up to 25Mbps and upload speeds of up to 5Mbps. Most online activities can still be done on an NBN 25 plan, but it will start to buckle if you have too many people using your connection.

#1	MATE	MATE Crikey nbn 25/10 nbn® 25/10 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $30/mth off for the first 6 mths (code MATE30) + 1-month money back guarantee + Bundle & Save $40/mth Min. cost $40 Link not supplied	$40/mth Min. cost $40	Link not supplied
#2	Southern Phone	Southern Phone nbn Basic nbn® 25/8 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $14/mth off for 12 months! $45/mth for 12 months, then $59/mth. Offer ends 05.08.25 $45/mth Min. cost $45 Link not supplied	$45/mth Min. cost $45	Link not supplied
#3	Moose NBN	Moose NBN nbn 25/10 Value nbn® 25/10 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $14/mth off for first 6 months, then $60.80/month. Ends 30.06.25 $46.80/mth Min. cost $46.80 Link not supplied	$46.80/mth Min. cost $46.80	Link not supplied
#4	Kogan Internet	Kogan Internet Bronze Unlimited nbn® 25/8 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: $46.90/mth for first 6 months and revert back to $68.90/mth thereafter. Offer ends 30.05.25 $46.90/mth Min. cost $46.90 Go to Site	$46.90/mth Min. cost $46.90	Go to Site
#5	SpinTel	SpinTel NBN Unlimited Entry 25 nbn® 25/8 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $12.95 off your plan for first 6 months! $47/mth for first 6 months, then $59.95/mth $47/mth Min. cost $47 Go to Site	$47/mth Min. cost $47	Go to Site
#6	Tangerine Telecom	Tangerine Telecom Value NBN nbn® 25/8.5 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $20/mth off for the first 6 mths, $47.90/month for first 6 months, then $67.90/month + 3 months BINGE. Ends 30.06.25 $47.90/mth Min. cost $47.90 Go to Site	$47.90/mth Min. cost $47.90	Go to Site
#7	amaysim	amaysim Unlimited nbn Quick As nbn® 25/8 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $20/mth off for first 6 months (Incl. Standard Intro Offer), $50/mth for first 6 months, then $70/mth. Ends 30.04.25 $50/mth Min. cost $50 Link not supplied	$50/mth Min. cost $50	Link not supplied
#8	Exetel	Exetel Everyday nbn25 nbn® 25/8.5 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $13/mth off for first 6 months - $50.99/mth for first 6 months, then $63.99/mth. $50.99/mth Min. cost $50.99 Go to Site	$50.99/mth Min. cost $50.99	Go to Site
#9	Buddy Telco	Buddy Telco Standard nbn - Unlimited nbn® 24/8 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: $53/month for first 6 months, then $65/month. Use promo code BUDDY25. Offer ends 18.05.25 $53/mth Min. cost $53 Go to Site	$53/mth Min. cost $53	Go to Site
#10	Dodo	Dodo nbn25 Unlimited Plan nbn® 25/4 Mbps Unlimited Data 12mths Deal: Incl. $15/mth discount for 12 months based on the standard price $68.90/mth. Ends 29.04.25. T&Cs apply. $53.90/mth Min. cost $53.90 Go to Site*	$53.90/mth Min. cost $53.90	Go to Site

NBN 50 plans are your best bang for your buck option when it comes to the NBN. They are affordable and are a good option for households with between two and four people. An NBN 50 plan will ensure everyone in your household is able to partake in their favourite online activities, whether it's streaming movies and music, online gaming or video calling with overseas friends and family.

#1	Kogan Internet	Kogan Internet Silver Unlimited nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: $59.90/mth for first 6 months and revert back to $78.90/mth thereafter. Offer ends 30.05.25 $59.90/mth Min. cost $59.90 Go to Site	$59.90/mth Min. cost $59.90	Go to Site
#2	Tangerine Telecom	Tangerine Telecom Value Plus NBN nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $23/mth off for the first 6 mths, $59.90/month for first 6 months, then $82.90/month + 3 months BINGE. Ends 30.06.25 $59.90/mth Min. cost $59.90 Go to Site	$59.90/mth Min. cost $59.90	Go to Site
#3	MATE	MATE Ripper nbn 50/20 nbn® 49/19 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $20/mth off for the first 6 mths (code RIPPER20) + 1-month money back guarantee + Bundle & Save $60/mth Min. cost $60 Link not supplied	$60/mth Min. cost $60	Link not supplied
#4	Exetel	Exetel Extra-value nbn50 nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $19/mth off for first 6 months - $60.99/mth for first 6 months, then $79.99/mth. $60.99/mth Min. cost $60.99 Go to Site	$60.99/mth Min. cost $60.99	Go to Site
#5	Buddy Telco	Buddy Telco Value nbn - Unlimited nbn® 49/16 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: $63/month for first 6 months, then $75/month. Use promo code BUDDY50. Offer ends 18.05.25 $63/mth Min. cost $63 Go to Site	$63/mth Min. cost $63	Go to Site
#6	Moose NBN	Moose NBN nbn 50/20 Premium nbn® 50/20 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $16/mth off for first 6 months, then $79.80/month. Ends 30.06.25 $63.80/mth Min. cost $63.80 Link not supplied	$63.80/mth Min. cost $63.80	Link not supplied
#7	Superloop	Superloop Extra-value nbn50/20 nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Incl. $14/mth off for 6 months! $67/mth for 6 mths, then $81/mth + Free Amazon eero 6+ if you stay connected for 24 mths $67/mth Min. cost $67 Go to Site	$67/mth Min. cost $67	Go to Site
#8	Dodo	Dodo nbn50 Unlimited Plan nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data 12mths Deal: Incl. $15/mth discount for 12 months based on the standard price $83.90/mth. Ends 29.04.25. T&Cs apply. $68.90/mth Min. cost $68.90 Go to Site*	$68.90/mth Min. cost $68.90	Go to Site
#9	Swoop	Swoop nbn® Home Everyday nbn® 50/20 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $15/mth off for 6 months with code LOVE15, $69/mth for first 6 months then $84/mth. Offer ends 30.04.25 $69/mth Min. cost $69 Link not supplied	$69/mth Min. cost $69	Link not supplied
#10	iiNet	iiNet nbn50 Liimitless nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $15/mth off for 6 mths – $69.99/mth for first 6 months, then $84.99/mth. Use code SAVE15FOR6. Ends 06.05.25 $69.99/mth Min. cost $69.99 Go to Site	$69.99/mth Min. cost $69.99	Go to Site

NBN 100 plans are the next logical step if you don't think NBN 50 will cut it for you. You get twice the download speed, meaning your connection will go as fast as 100Mbps. Most NBN 100 plans have upload speeds of 20Mbps, which is the same as what you get on NBN 50. We'd say NBN 100 plans are best for larger households, households with plenty of devices, or anyone who regularly downloads large files, such as new-release video games.

#1	MATE	MATE No Worries nbn 100/20 nbn® 97/19 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $30/mth off for the first 6 mths (code MATE30) + 1-month money back guarantee + Bundle & Save $60/mth Min. cost $60 Link not supplied	$60/mth Min. cost $60	Link not supplied
#2	Southern Phone	Southern Phone nbn Fast nbn® 100/19 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $24/mth off for 12 months! $65/mth for 12 months, then $89/mth. Offer ends 05.08.25 $65/mth Min. cost $65 Link not supplied	$65/mth Min. cost $65	Link not supplied
#3	SpinTel	SpinTel NBN Unlimited Premium 100 nbn® 100/18 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $16.95 off your plan for first 6 months! $65/mth for first 6 months, then $81.95/mth $65/mth Min. cost $65 Go to Site	$65/mth Min. cost $65	Go to Site
#4	Moose NBN	Moose NBN nbn 100/20 Elite nbn® 100/20 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $19/mth off for first 6 months, then $84.80/month. Ends 30.06.25 $65.80/mth Min. cost $65.80 Link not supplied	$65.80/mth Min. cost $65.80	Link not supplied
#5	Kogan Internet	Kogan Internet Gold Unlimited nbn® 100/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: $65.90/mth for first 6 months and revert back to $83.90/mth thereafter. Offer ends 30.05.25 $65.90/mth Min. cost $65.90 Go to Site	$65.90/mth Min. cost $65.90	Go to Site
#6	Tangerine Telecom	Tangerine Telecom Speedy NBN nbn® 100/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $20/mth off for the first 6 mths, $65.90/mth for first 6 months, then $85.90/mth + 3 months BINGE. Ends 30.06.25 $65.90/mth Min. cost $65.90 Go to Site	$65.90/mth Min. cost $65.90	Go to Site
#7	Exetel	Exetel Family nbn100/20 nbn® 100/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $19/mth off for first 6 months - $65.99/mth for first 6 months, then $84.99/mth $65.99/mth Min. cost $65.99 Go to Site	$65.99/mth Min. cost $65.99	Go to Site
#8	amaysim	amaysim Unlimited nbn Fast As nbn® 100/18 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $20/mth off for first 6 months (Incl. Standard Intro Offer), $70/mth for first 6 months, then $90/mth. Ends 30.04.25 $70/mth Min. cost $70 Link not supplied	$70/mth Min. cost $70	Link not supplied
#9	Swoop	Swoop nbn® Home Fast nbn® 100/20 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $22/mth off for 6 months with code LOVE22, $72/mth for first 6 mths then $94/mth. Ends 30.04.25 $72/mth Min. cost $72 Link not supplied	$72/mth Min. cost $72	Link not supplied
#10	Buddy Telco	Buddy Telco Speedy nbn - Unlimited nbn® 99/16 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: $73/month for first 6 months, then $85/month. Use promo code BUDDY100. Offer ends 18.05.25 $73/mth Min. cost $73 Go to Site	$73/mth Min. cost $73	Go to Site

NBN 250 plans are faster yet again, and a great option for internet lovers. Their peak hour speeds are similar to uncapped 5G internet plans, but they can be more expensive, however.

#1	Southern Phone	Southern Phone nbn Superfast nbn® 250/23 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $20/mth off for 12 months! $75/mth for 12 months, then $95/mth. Offer ends 05.08.25 $75/mth Min. cost $75 Link not supplied	$75/mth Min. cost $75	Link not supplied
#2	SpinTel	SpinTel NBN Unlimited 250 nbn® 240/22 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $9.95/mth off for the life of the plan while you stay connected to this plan. T&Cs apply $80/mth Min. cost $80 Go to Site	$80/mth Min. cost $80	Go to Site
#3	Exetel	Exetel Superfast nbn250 nbn® 220/21 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $18/mth off for first 6 months - $80.99/mth for first 6 months, then $98.99/mth. $80.99/mth Min. cost $80.99 Go to Site	$80.99/mth Min. cost $80.99	Go to Site
#4	Swoop	Swoop nbn® Home Superfast nbn® 241/25 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $37/mth off for 6 months with code LOVE37, $82/mth for first 6 mths then $119/mth. Ends 30.04.25 $82/mth Min. cost $82 Link not supplied	$82/mth Min. cost $82	Link not supplied
#5	Dodo	Dodo nbn Home Superfast Plan nbn® 250/21 Mbps Unlimited Data 12mths Deal: Incl. $15/mth discount for 12 months based on the standard price $98.90/mth. Ends 29.04.25. T&Cs apply $83.90/mth Min. cost $83.90 Go to Site*	$83.90/mth Min. cost $83.90	Go to Site
#6	Vodafone	Vodafone Home Superfast nbn® nbn® 250/21 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Save $10/mth for 6 mths + Speed upgrade at no extra cost if you have a mobile phone plan with Vodafone $84/mth Min. cost $84 Link not supplied	$84/mth Min. cost $84	Link not supplied
#7	Kogan Internet	Kogan Internet nbn250 Platinum Unlimited nbn® 250/21 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: $84.90/mth for first 6 months and revert back to $94.90/mth thereafter. Offer ends 30.05.25 $84.90/mth Min. cost $84.90 Go to Site	$84.90/mth Min. cost $84.90	Go to Site
#8	Tangerine Telecom	Tangerine Telecom SuperSpeedy NBN nbn® 250/21 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $20/mth off for the first 6 mths, $84.90/month for first 6 months, then $104.90/month + 3 months BINGE. Ends 30.06.25 $84.90/mth Min. cost $84.90 Go to Site	$84.90/mth Min. cost $84.90	Go to Site
#9	iiNet	iiNet nbn Home Superfast Liimitless nbn® 250/21 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $15/mth off for 6 mths - $84.99/mth for first 6 months, then $99.99/mth. Use code SAVE15FOR6. Ends 06.05.25 $84.99/mth Min. cost $84.99 Go to Site	$84.99/mth Min. cost $84.99	Go to Site
#10	TPG	TPG nbn Home Superfast Unlimited Plan nbn® 250/21 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Get Price Beat Guarantee + $84.99/mth for first 6 months, then $99.99/mth. T&Cs apply. $84.99/mth Min. cost $84.99 Go to Site	$84.99/mth Min. cost $84.99	Go to Site

Wireless Broadband vs. NBN: Speed

Wireless internet plans and NBN plans are both capable of very fast speeds, but actual speeds depend on what plan you subscribe to.

NBN speeds

If you're shopping for a plan, NBN providers will offer a choice of up to six NBN speed tiers.

There are a few factors that will determine which speed tier is best suited to you. But as a rule of thumb, the more people or devices in your household, the faster your NBN plan should be.

This is because your internet speed is a shared resource. The download speed of your plan also indicates the capacity, or bandwidth, of your service.

For example, if you're streaming a movie on Netflix, you will need about 20Mbps for a crystal-clear 4K stream. If you have an NBN 50 connection, this leaves plenty of bandwidth for others in your house to jump on YouTube or play online games, without the internet slowing down for everyone.

NBN speed tier	Best for	Good speed	Avg speeds
NBN 12 (Basic I)	Lone, low internet users	12Mbps	10-12Mbps
NBN 25 (Basic II)	Budget pick for 1-2 people	25Mbps	19-25Mbps
NBN 50 (Standard)	A great all-rounder for 2-4 people	50Mbps	42-50Mbps
NBN 100 (Fast)	Internet lovers and big households	100Mbps	90-100Mbps
NBN 250 (Superfast)	Got the need for speed	248Mbps	200-230Mbps
NBN 1000 (Ultrafast)	Fastest you can get if you can get it	800Mbps	200-700Mbps

Also note that while each NBN speed tier comes with a maximum download speed, providers also specify a plan's typical evening speed. This is the speed you can expect during busy periods (usually in the evenings) when the network may become congested. The higher the typical evening speed, the better.

Also, different types of NBN connections are capable of different maximum speeds. For example, only Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) and Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) connections can get super-fast NBN 250 and NBN 1000 plans. Conversely, some Fibre to the Node (FTTN) connections can't even get NBN 100 speeds due to physical limitations, like the distance of your home from the NBN connection node or the condition of the copper lines running from the node to your house.

Wireless Broadband speeds

Wireless internet speeds are more difficult to predict as performance can be affected by:

The strength of your mobile signal
Congestion on the mobile networks throughout the day

Like NBN plans, wireless internet plans also have speed tiers that determine the maximum download speeds you can get. For 5G, you can typically pick between 50Mbps, 100Mbps, or uncapped speeds.

If you pick a 50Mbps or 100Mbps speed cap, these will be the fastest download speeds achievable on your plan. If you pick an uncapped 5G internet plan, your speeds will go as fast as network conditions allow. In our testing, we've seen speeds over 400Mbps.

With that in mind, here's a rough breakdown of speed options across wireless internet plans and the providers who offer them:

Wireless Broadband Plan	Download Speed Estimate	Wireless Broadband Providers
4G speed capped	20Mbps to 25Mbps	iiNet, Kogan Internet, Optus, SpinTel, TPG, Vodafone
5G speed capped	50Mbps or 100Mbps	iiNet, Optus, SpinTel, TPG, Vodafone, Yomojo
5G speed uncapped	50Mbps to 1,000Mbps	Optus, SpinTel, Telstra, Yomojo

Wireless Broadband or NBN — which is better?

We often get asked whether wireless internet or NBN is better, but there's no easy answer. It depends on your individual circumstances. If you've got a reliable NBN connection and you're happy with it, NBN is the simplest option and should deliver more consistent speeds.

However, if you're unhappy with your NBN, 4G and 5G wireless broadband are viable alternatives and could vastly improve your experience. However, speeds can be less consistent as home wireless is more prone to congestion.

Troubleshooting the NBN at your house

If your NBN connection is too slow or unreliable, there are a number of possible causes. It could be that you are paying for a plan on a slower speed tier, or your provider's typical evening speeds might be low. Home equipment like your modem or router could also be at fault.

See our guide on what to do about slow NBN for more information.

Wireless Broadband FAQs

Does NBN offer a more stable connection than wireless broadband?

NBN internet connections are often more stable than wireless broadband. Wireless internet plans can have more variance in speed and latency due to network congestion.

Is wireless broadband cheaper than the NBN?

Wireless internet plans tend to be cheaper than their equivalent NBN plan. For example, a wireless internet plan with a 50Mbps speed cap tends to be more affordable than NBN 50. The same holds true for 100Mbps 5G wireless internet plans when compared to NBN 100 plans, and uncapped 5G wireless internet plans when compared to NBN 250 plans.

Are there data usage limits for wireless broadband and NBN internet connections?

The majority of NBN and wireless broadband plans include unlimited data for downloads. All telcos include a 'fair use policy' in the terms and conditions, but this isn't a clearly defined limit, and shouldn't be of concern for most Aussie households. Telstra is the one wireless internet provider that doesn't have an unlimited plan.

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