Find and Compare Broadband and Phone Plans

CheapBills will find you the best deal from our preferred providers and save you money at the same time!

Whether it’s for working from home, streaming shows and movies, gaming or simply browsing social media, a reliable and fast internet connection has become essential in Australian homes.

There are a number of broadband packages on the market so choosing the right one can be tricky and time-consuming. CheapBills is here to save the day by providing you with a quality comparison service. So don’t settle for high prices and slow speeds, start saving today!

When you compare internet providers in Australia, there are a few important things you need to consider, such as how many people will be using the internet at once, will you be streaming shows or downloading large files, which types of internet are available in your area, the contract length and most importantly, your budget.

The answer to these questions will help you find the cheapest internet in Australia that will meet your needs. Every package offers a different connection type, speed and data limit, so the best deal can be tricky.

Call CheapBills and we will recommend the best high-speed internet plans from our preferred suppliers to perfectly match your needs, and at a great price!

FAQs About Broadband

How does CheapBills compare internet plans?

We will consider the following factors.

Speed.
Fast speeds cost more money, so the best advice we can give is to only pay for what you need. Read this guide below to help you decide which broadband speed tier is best for you: Your Guide To High-Speed Internet

Data.
Most plans include an unlimited data allowance, however, if you are a particularly light internet user, you could save money with a capped data plan. Use the list below to help calculate how much data you need in your home.

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

5G vs NBN.5G is a great high-speed alternative to the NBN and is being rolled out to more and more locations every day. Read our comparison of the NBN and 5G to decide which is best for you:

NBN connection typeThe connection type you can choose depends on where you live. The NBN is now available in most parts of Australia, however, the type of NBN available depends on where you live. Your home will be connected by high-speed fibre optic broadband, existing copper wires, HFC or satellite. Find out more here: What Are The Different NBN Connection Types

Bundles.Finding and comparing broadband and home phone deals can unlock some great prices and inclusions, such as free phone lines, unlimited calls and discounted international calls. You can also find mobile phone deals and electricity and gas bundles to get the best from your retailer.

Who will provide my internet?

We have carefully selected a panel of Australia’s leading retailers to find you a great quality service at an affordable price. We will compare plans from the following internet providers.

Optus

With over 10.5 million customers, Optus is one of Australia’s leading phone and internet providers. They offer a wide range of NBN, Optus 5G, mobile plans and entertainment options, so you’re sure to find the perfect plan or bundle for your home, business or enterprise. Their My Optus app 24/7 customer support model means you’ll always get help when you need it.

TPG is Australia’s second biggest broadband supplier with over 2 million customers. They offer flexible NBN plans, 5G home internet options and small business solutions to get you connected. Their unique FTTB bundle is the perfect solution for renters and apartment owners. Their world-class fibre and next-generation networks mean you’ll have access to high-speed internet at all times of the day.

Tangerine

Tangerine is 100% Australian-owned, with their head office in South Melbourne and operations in Geelong and Mudgee. Using a vast and reliable fibre network across Australia and South-East Asia, they deliver high-speed NBN plans at an affordable price. They also provide SIM-only mobile plans, MESH modem networks and business-grade Ethernet solutions, making them perfect for residential and business solutions alike!

More Telecom

More have an impressive and affordable range of residential and business offerings, including exclusive discounts for Commonwealth Bank customers who receive a 30% discount for the first 12 months of their NBN plan and then 10% ongoing when they use a CBA credit or debit card. Every More plan comes with unlimited data, a free standard connection and a no lock-in contract.

Aussie Broadband

The team at Aussie, Australia’s 5th largest NBN provider, are known for first-class customer service, state-of-the-art technology and expansive network coverage. They operate and own their own national network with direct connections to all of NBN’s infrastructure plus its own extensive fibre network, meaning you can rely on consistently high speeds even during the busiest times.

Foxtel

Foxtel gives you access to a wide range of sports, documentaries, news, music, movies, entertainment and kids channels. You can also stream on-demand content through Kayo, Foxtel Now and Netflix to watch your favourite content anywhere at any time. With a variety of channel packs and bundles to choose from, including affordable, high-speed NBN plans, you are sure to find the perfect home entertainment solution with Foxtel.

How do I know which internet speed is right for me?

Finding the right speed for your internet plan is a combination of your internet needs and your budget. High speed plans are more expensive, and often unnecessary, so don’t get caught out paying for a fast internet connection that you don’t need.

Use the lists below as a guide to internet speed.

Guide to internet speed by activity

When you do a 5G and NBN comparison, you will see the typical evening speeds are 225Mbps and 50Mbps respectively. However, you might be surprised to find out how little speed you actually need for some of the most common activities.

0 – 5 Mbps.
5 – 40 Mbps.
40 – 100 Mbps.
100 – 500 Mbps.
500 – 1,000 Mbps.

Guide to internet speed by household size

If you live in a large household, or run a small business, you might have noticed that when more people log on, your internet experience suffers. While the type of activity each user is partaking in is a major factor, the list below gives you a guide to the internet speed required to meet your household’s needs.

1 user – 0 – 5 Mbps
1 – 2 users – 5 – 40 Mbps
3 – 4 users – 40 – 100 Mbps
3 – 6 users – 100 – 500 Mbps
6 – 9 users – 500 – 1,000 Mbps

How do I run an internet speed test?

If you want to check your new broadband speed, or if you are experiencing internet issues, running an internet speed test is easy.

Simply scroll to the Find Out Your Network Speed section of our internet page and click the Run Speed Test button.

In a few seconds you will have the results showing your download speed and upload speed.

Download speed

Download speed is the speed at which information is received from the internet. For example, the amount of time an image takes to load on a webpage is determined by the download speed.

Upload speed

Upload speed is the speed at which information travels from your devices to the internet. For example, the amount of time it takes to upload an image to social media is determined by the upload speed.

If your speed is slower than expected, test again at a different time of day and different day of the week. Factors such as network congestion or lag could be causing a temporary slow down. If you receive consistently slow speeds, contact your retailer to report the issue.

How do I know how much data I need?

It can be very tricky to accurately calculate how much data you will need to use. The below list gives an estimate of the amount of data used per hour for some of the most common internet uses and can be used to give you a guide of how much data your home or small business uses:

Streaming services for movies and shows – approx 1GB per hour (up to 7 GB per hour for 4K)
Music streaming services – approx 120 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

How can I track how much data I have used?

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.

Should I go for a contract or no lock-in broadband plan?

Signing up to a contract can offer you discounts on modems and ensure the cheapest NBN plan. The downside is that these contracts don’t offer you much flexibility. You should consider if your internet needs are likely to change, if you plan to move house or if your financial situation might change before signing up to any contracts. You should also carefully read the information your provider gives you about exit fees so you understand the risks involved in committing to a contract.

A CheapBills expert can help you identify your unique needs for the NBN, compare broadband plans and find the best contract or month-to-month plan to save you money.

Why is my internet so slow?

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: some cheap internet plans have a limit on how many users can be connected at one time and how much data can be downloaded simultaneously. If you are at the limit of your plan’s capacity, you may experience slower speeds.

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.

Why does my internet keep dropping out?

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.

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.

What is the NBN?

NBN stands for the National Broadband Network – it is a specific type of high-speed broadband that is being rolled out across Australia. The NBN is powered by copper wires, cable broadband and optical fibres to deliver speeds faster than ADSL and 4G/5G connections, with speeds of up to 1000Mbps. The purpose of the NBN is to make high-speed internet activities viable for Australians, such as online gaming or even remote medical procedures and surgeries and put the Australian internet on par with the best in the world.

Is NBN the same as broadband?

Broadband is a wide term used to describe many different types of internet connections. The types of broadband available are:

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 12Mbps, 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.

Fibre-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

Choosing the right type of broadband for your home or small business will depend on the connection type available in your area, as well as your speed requirement, data usage habits and budget.

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