- You may have heard about TPG and Belong as the preferred NBN providers of many internet users. They are relatively some of the “newer” ones compared to their competitors.
- TPG has established its reputation as a provider that can offer the cheapest ADSL plans. Now, transitioning into the NBN, the telco seems to live up to its promise, still offering its consumers the best-priced NBN plans in the market.
- Belong is owned by Telstra but it operates as a different entity. The good thing about Belong is that even if it is a subsidiary of Telstra, its NBN plans are significantly cheaper.
There are various NBN providers in the market today. Some have already been in the industry for several decades, while others are new in the playing field. You may have heard about TPG and Belong as the preferred NBN providers of many internet users. They are relatively some of the “newer” ones compared to their competitors. But which of them is better? Read on to find out.
TPG NBN Plans
In the telecom industry, TPG has established its reputation as a provider that can offer the cheapest ADSL plans. Now, transitioning into the NBN, the telco seems to live up to its promise, still offering its consumers the best-priced NBN plans in the market. Apart from the most cost-effective plan pricing, it also takes pride in making it up to the top list of providers offering the best speeds according to the ACCC's NBN speed test program. Reports from the regulator even highlight solid and reliable speeds.
Fast Plan: nbn™Home Fast Unlimited Plan, $79.99/month
TPG has an ongoing promotion: if you signup for their fast speed tier plans, for the first six months you will only need to pay $79.99 per month. After the sixth month, the price of the plan will revert to the original, which is $89.99 per month. Rest assured that you can switch anytime you wish because this plan also offers a no-contract term. Just keep in mind that the promotion is for new subscribers of the telco only.
Standard Plan: nbn™50 Unlimited Plan, $69.99/month
For most households with no more than three moderate internet users, going for an NBN plan under the standard speed tier will often prove to be sufficient. This means that you will already enjoy streaming simultaneously on two to three different devices. The great thing about TPG’s offering is that it is a congestion-free plan, which means that you get to enjoy the 50Mbps standard speed as advertised even during peak hours.
Cheapest Plan: nbn™12 10GB Plan, $29.99/month
If you are already happy with your ADSL plan before, then perhaps going for this plan from TPG when you switch to the NBN will already prove to be beneficial for you. For only $29.99 per month, you will already get to enjoy a typical evening speed of 12Mbps with 10GB of data included. The best part is that you can change your plan anytime without being charged any other fees.
Nevertheless, if you want unlimited data, then prepare to shell out $59.99 a month.
Belong NBN Plans
Belong is owned by Telstra but it operates as a different entity. The good thing about Belong is that even if it is a subsidiary of Telstra, its NBN plans are significantly cheaper. The simple structure of their plans also makes it easy for subscribers to understand what they are dealing with. This means that all Belong plans come with unlimited data, offering no contract terms. There’s just one catch though. In case you need a new modem when you sign up, you would have to pay $60 upfront.
Fast Plan: NBN Premium – Unlimited, $90/month
TPG seems to offer a cheaper NBN plan under the fast-speed tier. For Belong, you would have to pay about $10 more to be able to enjoy a typical evening speed of 95Mbps. Perhaps, with unlimited data as well as a no-contract term, it is still worth giving this plan from Belong a try.
Standard Plan: NBN Standard Plus – Unlimited, $70/month
While TPG can promise a typical evening speed of 50Mbps with its NBN standard speed plan offering, Belong only advertises a typical evening speed of 48Mbps in its NBN standard speed plan offering. The price of the plans offered by TPG and Belong in this speed tier are also almost the same. However, with Belong, you get to set up, connect, and manage your service all online.
Cheapest Plan: NBN Starter – Unlimited, $60/month
The cheapest plan offered by Belong advertises a typical evening speed of 25Mbps. Compared to TPG’s plan with the same speed, the price is almost the same. Only with Belong, you may receive a free SIM loaded with $80 credit with this plan. The best part is that if you are a new subscriber, you may even get a free WiFi modem.
So, is TPG better than Belong? The answer to this is it still depends on your specific needs and preferences.
There are several things to take into consideration when you are looking for the best internet plan, especially if your needs are more specific. We will now compare TPG and Belong in terms of speeds, data usage, caps, contract lengths and whether or not each provider allows unlimited downloads.
Speed
If you use a lot of data, having a fast internet connection is going to be your number one priority when choosing a plan. The speed in which a user can transfer data is measured using "Mbps," or megabits per second. This refers to the volume of data that can be transmitted every second.
Belong does have a slight edge over TPG in terms of speed, with speeds ranging from 100 Mbps to 500 Mbps for its premium plan. In comparison, TPG only offers up to 100Mbps. However, a difference of 50Mbps may be negligible to you depending on your internet needs.
Data Usage
Belong is slightly more flexible in this regard, as it offers two options for data caps - 10GB per month or unlimited data. TPG only has one plan with a 100GB monthly limit. Both providers offer unlimited downloads, so this is not an issue that should affect your decision.
Contract Length
Belong also has packages with shorter contract periods than TPG, including 3-month and 12-month plans at a reduced price of $15 per month.
Unlimited Downloads
Belong offers unlimited downloads for free, whereas TPG charges an extra $20 per month to protect its speed limits. This option might be something you find attractive, but remember that if you are downloading a lot of material it might not be practical to pay $20 extra each month.
The Bottomline
In the end, the best NBN provider is the one that will be able to suit your internet connection requirements without charging you an excessive sum for it. It all boils down to your specific needs and preferences as a baseline of the features that you need to compare between the plans offered by different providers. Keep in mind that the best provider for one consumer may not be the perfect one for you and vice versa.
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