Find and Compare Internet Plans

Broadband internet is a type of internet connection that allows you to browse the internet, download content and access the web on your computer and TV. There are several types of broadband connections available depending on where you live, some faster than others.

• ADSL broadband: An Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) internet connection uses your telephone line for the internet connection.
• ADSL/2+ broadband: An Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line 2+ (ADSL2+) internet connection is the upgraded, faster version of ADSL. ADSL/2+ can reach speeds of 14Mbps, compared to 8Mbps for ADSL.
• Naked DSL broadband: As with ADSL and ADSL/2+, Naked DSL uses your telephone line, but removes the ability to make or receive calls. This can save you money if you don’t use your home phone anymore.
• Fiber-optic cable broadband: Provides a faster internet connection than the ADSL copper lines by using glass and/or plastic cables instead.
• Mobile broadband: Uses transmitters and receivers used by the mobile phone network to provide wireless, fast internet via a mobile phone or portable modem such as 3G, 4G or 5G.
• Cable internet: Uses a combination of fibre and coaxial cables to connect you to the internet and Pay TV services. Cable internet isn’t available everywhere in Australia. Call us to find out if it is an option for your home.
• NBN (National Broadband Network): The NBN is replacing copper wires and cable broadband with optical fibre and other technologies to deliver more reliable, faster internet. You can read all about the different types of NBN here.

We will compare leading broadband retailers to find you the best broadband deal to suit your location, budget and family. We compare plans based on a few factors, such as:

• What you plan on using the internet for – checking emails and browsing or downloading movies and watching TV, for example.
• Your budget – how much you would prefer to spend a month. In general terms, the faster the internet is, the higher the price.
• Where you live – this is a major factor as some internet connections may not be available in all areas.

Everybody’s internet usage habits are different. To estimate how much data you will need, think about each member of the household and how much they each indulge in the following:

• Streaming services for movies and shows - approx 1GB per hour (up to 7 GB per hour for 4K)
• Music streaming services - approx 140 MB per hour
• Working from home - up to 20 GB per file download
• Social Media - approx 180 MB per hour
• Voice and Video calls - approx 36 MB per hour

These are estimated usages only to use as a guide. Many retailers offer affordable unlimited data plans, which can take away the stress of trying to work out your internet usage.

The amount of data you use to stream a show or movie depends on the quality setting you choose. There are 4 main quality settings: Low (SD), Medium (SD), High (HD) and Ultra (4K). The amount of data you use varies from 300 MB per hour for low-quality videos, up to 7 GB per hour for ultra-high-quality 4K videos. If you don’t have an unlimited data plan, make sure you check your settings to save your data.

Most internet providers have an online portal or app that you can use to see how much data you have used for your current billing cycle. It’s important to note that the balance can be time delayed, so if you’re close to your limit, proceed with caution.
If you don’t know how to track your data, contact your internet provider for advice.

How much you will be charged for exceeding your data cap depends on the terms of your plan, but the good news is that it might be nothing! There are three common scenarios that can happen when you exceed your data:

• Excess data fee: you will be charged a pre-agreed amount for every MB or GB you exceed your limit by.
• Slow down: after you exceed your limit your internet speed will slow down to a minimum, pre-agreed speed, but you won’t be charged anything.
• Connection outage: If you exceed your data cap, your internet may be cut off until the next billing cycle starts.

You do not need a phone line to access the internet anymore. In fact, if you no longer use your house phone, opting for a wireless or Naked DSL connection can save you money because you don’t need a plan that includes access to calls from your phone line.
You can read more about how to get an internet connection with a phone line here.

• Excess data fee: you will be charged a pre-agreed amount for every MB or GB you exceed your limit by.
• Slow down: after you exceed your limit your internet speed will slow down to a minimum, pre-agreed speed, but you won’t be charged anything.
• Connection outage: If you exceed your data cap, your internet may be cut off until the next billing cycle starts.

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a system that enables you to make voice calls via your internet connection, instead of a phone line. If you still need to make phone calls, VoIP can be a cost-effective alternative to paying for an additional home phone plan. Some retailers have VoIP included in their internet plans, while others have it as an optional extra, so if voice calls are an important function to you make sure you shop around for the best deal on your internet plan.

A Naked Digital Subscriber Line (Naked DSL) internet connection uses the existing phone line to your home or small business to send and receive internet data but removes the option for you to make phone calls. This is a good way to save money on your plan if you no longer use your home phone.

There are several reasons that your home internet could be running slower than usual, even if your plan is promising high maximum speeds. Some of the most common reasons for internet slowdowns are:

• Network congestion: during peak times, the capability of the network to keep up with demand can cause internet speeds to slow down. This has been an increasingly noticeable problem as more and more people are working from home and putting large demands on the network during office hours.
• Exceeded data limit: some internet providers offer cost-effective internet plans by having a cap on the amount of data you can use. If you have exceeded your cap for the month, then your internet speed will be limited until the next billing cycle. Take a look at the plan you are currently on to see if this applies to you. If you are regularly exceeding your data limit, it might be time to consider a new internet plan.
• Too much strain on your plan: If these issues aren’t relevant to your slow speeds, try contacting your internet provider to see if there are any maintenance issues with their network.
  You can run a speed test on your internet here and read our Ultimate Guide to Internet speed here.

It can be highly frustrating when you’re trying to work or watch your favourite movie and the internet keeps dropping out. The most likely reasons for your internet to drop out are:

• Power outage: your modem needs to be connected to a stable power supply to provide your internet. If there is a blackout or brownout in your area you will lose access to the internet until the power is back up and running. Read more about power outages here.
• Network outage: occasionally the network may suffer an outage because of extreme weather or an unforeseen technical issue. There may also be planned outages for maintenance, although these usually happen during the night and for very brief periods of time.
• Unpaid bill: if you have fallen behind on your payments, your provider might cut off internet access until the amount owing is paid.
• Technical fault: the wires, utility box or modem in your home are all susceptible to faults, and even a minor fault in any of them will cause you to lose internet access. Most internet providers have troubleshooting guides on their website or in the instruction manual of your modem. Alternatively, give your provider a call and they will walk you through the most common fixes, or arrange for a technician to visit your property.

We know it can be hard to trust a new retailer with your private information, but you have no need to worry with CheapBills. CheapBills is an Australian owned and run company that has helped over 100,000 families save money on their bills.

We have been established as a comparison website since 2013 and our mother company, Integral Resource Group, has been helping Australian companies since 2011. All your private business information is only shared with your chosen providers.

The speed of your internet depends firstly on the plan you choose, and also on a variety of other factors including:

• Congestion
• Location of the modem in the home
• Location of your home to the tower (4G and 5G)
• Type of NBN connection - your speed will vary depending on the infrastructure used to connect to the NBN: Fibre-to-the-home, fibre-to-the-curb or fibre-to-the-node.

Some plans have a maximum download speed, for example, the Optus 5G Internet Everyday Plan has a maximum download speed of 100Mbps. Choosing a plan with a maximum speed can be a great way to save money if you don’t require super-fast speeds for your home wireless internet. If you do need faster internet speeds, you can find a plan with uncapped speeds that will be better suited to you.

To access the internet in your home you will require a modem. Many retailers offer a new modem as part of a bundle with new internet plans compare, or as an added extra. It is also common for providers to offer the option to ‘bring your own modem, as a way to save money and waste.

If you do choose to bring your own modem, make sure that the modem you have is suitable for the speed of your compared internet plan. Many older versions of modems cannot provide high speeds, so you could be paying for speeds that you cannot use.

You do not need a router to access the internet, however, it can be useful if you need to share a single internet connection across multiple computers in your home or small business. You can choose a wired or wireless router to suit your needs.

In most cases, you will be able to set up your modem without the help of a technician (unless you are installing NBN). Your new modem will arrive with step-by-step installation instructions, which will vary depending on the model of the modem that is included in your plan.

There are some universal tips that you should follow when setting up your modem for the first time:

• Find the best position in your home - you may need to get a WiFi extender for a two-story or large home
• Choose a spot with good ventilation
• Choose a place where the modem won’t be easily knocked or damage