Best Internet and Phone Bundle Plans in Australia

Internet and Phone Bundles in Australia

In Australia, internet and phone bundles offer customers a convenient and cost-effective way to access reliable broadband connections and quality home phone services. Leading ISPs such as Aussie Broadband, Belong, Harbour ISP, Tangerine, Exetel, and Superloop provide tailored packages that cater to various data and speed requirements, budgets, and additional service needs. Bundling allows for simplified billing, potential discounts, and extra features like unlimited local and national calls, international call credits, and value-added services like caller ID, call waiting, voicemail, call forwarding, and three-way calling. Explore your options to find the perfect bundle and save on your monthly expenses.

VoIP vs. Landline: What’s the Difference?

A home phone line that uses VoIP technology is in many ways similar to landline phones you are probably more familiar with. Many internet providers that offer this service may even let you keep your old handset or number when you switch over to VoIP on the NBN.

However, whereas landline phones send voice communications over copper wires, VoIP makes and receives calls over the internet. This type of home phone service supports both traditional voice calling and video calling, and offers many benefits that give it the edge over landlines.

VoIP services are cheaper than traditional landlines. It’s because instead of paying separately for line rental, you can just use the internet you most likely already have in your home. Some internet providers also offer home phone services as a plan, inclusive of unlimited calls at competitive rates. 

Other than voice calls, most VoIP devices are also able to send and receive faxes, text messages, instant messaging, web browsing, and video streaming. 

What’s Usually Included in a Bundle?

Many home phone plans offered in Australia include unlimited standard international SMS and at least 30 minutes per month of standard international calls. When you have consumed your included calls, you can add an international calling pack to get additional call minutes to selected countries. Call packs cost an additional $10 per month on average.

Overall, the following are the usual inclusions in a home phone and broadband bundle:

• An NBN connection with your preferred speed
• Unlimited data
• Call packs with unlimited calls to standard phones in Australia
• Optional discounted rates for overseas calls
• A home phone number for your phone line or the option to transfer an old one across

Other advantages of keeping a home phone line are that it guarantees better call quality than any mobile phone, especially with long-distance and international calls. It is also sometimes required with home security systems as a backup to contact your security company. While they rely on power, some VoIP connections have a battery back-up in case of a power outage. It means you can still contact family members or call emergency services.

Having two services bundled into one means consolidating your bills into one payment. But potentially a more convincing reason to bundle your phone and internet services is the option to customize your plan and pay for only the services you need and the services you use.

Other Internet Bundles

In addition to a home phone line, many broadband providers also offer the ability to bundle your internet with entertainment add-ons — the most common of which are premium channel packs, streaming or pay TV bundles where you can get internet, a phone line, and entertainment all in one neat package.

Internet Bundles with Sports

Internet bundles with sports include high-speed internet and access to sports streaming services or sometimes a pay-TV package that includes sports channels. Telstra and Optus are some of the leading ISPs offering competitive internet bundles with sports plans.

Telstra has an ongoing promo where customers are eligible for a 12-month free Kayo Basic subscription. It brings you the best of local and world sports from the leading sports channels in Australia — Fox Sports, ESPN, and beIn Sports.

Meanwhile, Optus offers a free subscription to Optus Sports for customers on eligible broadband or mobile phone plans. This service gives you exclusive access to live and on-demand coverage of several sports leagues, as well as replays, highlights, press conferences, and interviews for a full sports experience.

Internet Bundles with TV Shows

With no lock-in contracts, reliable broadband connection, and access to TV shows and channels on-demand, internet bundles with TV shows are a great and cheaper alternative to cable TV.

Telstra, Optus, and Aussie Broadband are some of the more attractive providers of TV shows. They offer a range of TV show packages, on-demand streaming services, and streaming devices where you can access your favourite TV shows and channels at any time. But what’s more interesting is that these plans also have the option to customize your streaming TV bundles based on your interests.

Besides streaming on-demand TV shows on Netflix, Stan, and Foxtel Now among other services, households signed up for internet and entertainment plans can enjoy new-release TV shows on Foxtel, which can be added to their Telstra plans.

These streaming services may require separate subscriptions, but broadband providers either occasionally throw in free trials within 7-30 days or add the cost to their monthly plan. For example, Optus includes a Standard Netflix subscription via Optus SubHub on its NBN and entertainment bundle. For $79 per month, it is inclusive of unlimited data and a 50 Mbps typical evening speed.

Internet Bundles with Movies

ISPs such as Telstra, Optus, iiNet, and Aussie Broadband offer internet plans with access to a massive library of movies on-demand through subscription streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, BINGE, and Foxtel.

These services are accessible through Telstra TV, Fetch, and Telstra TV Box which can all be bundled with your broadband plan. Telstra TV box, in particular, is a great option for new releases that you can rent or buy.

Internet Bundles with Kids’ Shows

Screen time may not be the best learning situation for kids, but if you’re looking for something to keep your kids occupied on a rainy day, there are internet plans that bundle access to kids-only pay TV channels or streaming services with kid-safe viewing options.

Optus, iiNet, and Telstra are some of our recommended broadband providers that bundle NBN plans with access to streaming services like Netflix, Foxtel, Fetch, and Amazon Prime Video. Fetch has a premium Kids Pack you can add to your plan which includes many of the kid-friendly channels you will find on Foxtel — Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, and Disney.

Does Every Provider Offer Bundles?

Many ISPs have expanded their services in the past few years to offer bundles with their broadband services. These home phone bundles and entertainment add-ons have become important parameters when comparing plans.

As the bundle market gets more competitive, even the biggest internet providers in Australia are getting more creative with their internet plans. Some offer discounts and add-ons to customers who sign up for their internet bundles while some others, like Dodo, go even further by letting you bundle your electricity and gas to your internet plan or Exetel which entices customers with a free 2-month Home Secure trial.

These bundled services are usually cheaper than standalone plans — a key selling point that should encourage customers to subscribe to multiple services from the same provider. But are they actually a good deal?

A good internet bundle should have the internet speed and data allowance you require, plus the entertainment you want for a cheaper price. Internet providers may also throw in bonuses like unlimited data or free equipment add-ons or upgrades. The key is to find a plan that best matches your lifestyle at a price you are willing to pay from a provider that has a well-established reputation for delivering reliable performance and great customer service.

NBN Bundle Plans and Providers

Exetel, Harbour ISP, Uniti, Optus, Telstra, and TPG offer some of the best-rated NBN plans in Australia with optional add-ons or bundles such as entertainment, energy, or cyber security. Below is a selection of their NBN plans and bundles, highly rated for their speed, reliability, customer service, value for money, ease of setup, and inclusions.

Exetel nbn™ Family Broadband + PAYG Home Phone Bundle Plan

• Unlimited
• 100/17 Mbps
• Deal: $68.99 for first 6 months, then $84.99 ongoing

$68 .99/ mth

Min total cost $68.99

View breakdown

Sign Up 1300 138 155

Email Plan

Exetel nbn™ Family Broadband + PAYG Home Phone Bundle Plan

• Unlimited
• 100/17 Mbps
• Deal: $68.99 for first 6 months, then $84.99 ongoing

$68 .99/ mth

Min total cost $68.99

View breakdown

Sign Up Online

1300 138 155

Exetel

While Exetel has no bundled-in entertainment options as of this writing, it does offer NBN plans in six different speed tiers, all inclusive of a free 2-month Home Secure trial. It also offers VoIP home phone calling packs as an optional add-on.

The cheapest of Exetel’s plans costs a discounted rate of $53.95 per month for the first six months and includes unlimited data at NBN 25 speed on a no-lock-in contract. Exetel consistently ranks high in ACCC Measuring Broadband Australia reports for delivering fast download speeds and low latency for all hours.

Optus

Optus is a consistent top performer in the ACCC Measuring Broadband Australia reports with high customer satisfaction ratings for its consistent and reliable internet speeds. But while you do pay a premium for these speeds, Optus compensates for it by offering plenty of perks and bonuses.

Telstra

Telstra is one of the leading NBN providers in Australia with plenty of entertainment options to bundle with your broadband plan. It used to include its Telstra TV streaming device as standard. But today adding it to your plan is optional for an additional $9 per month. Telstra TV offers easy access to on-demand movies and shows on Netflix, Stan, Foxtel Now, and more, as well as new releases via Telstra TV Box Office.

NBN plans from Telstra start from $80 for unlimited data and 25 Mbps speeds. Besides Telstra TV, you can also bundle in Xbox consoles to your plan as well as other subscription services like Kayo Sports, Disney+, and Flash.

TPG

TPG is another broadband provider that consistently receives high ratings in the ACCC broadband speed testing program. It offers straightforward NBN plans across a comprehensive range of technologies with top speeds, unlimited data, and $0 set-up fees or no lock-in contracts. It provides an optional modem for $109.95, but you can also BYO modem to avoid any upfront costs.

The provider previously bundled IPTV extras with its broadband plans, but as of this writing, it doesn’t offer any bundled-in entertainment options for new customers. All TPG's NBN plans include $0 pay-as-you-go calls, with call packs available from $10-$20 per month.

Can I Get a Call Pack with My NBN Plan?

Most NBN plans today support VoIP technology, which means you can make and receive calls from anywhere using any device connected to the internet instead of a traditional landline. NBN providers including Telstra, Optus, and TPG offer a home phone line and call packages as an optional add-on service to your NBN plan. Call packs usually cost an additional $10 per month, which you can add to your broadband plan upon signing up or your existing plan if it is not already included. Telstra’s call packs start at $10 per month, which includes 30 minutes per month of standard international calls from Australia to all countries.

What Should I Know Before I Commit?

Before signing up for any internet bundle, consider your home phone needs. If you are making international and national calls regularly, some providers offer standalone home phone services which might be a better and more affordable option.

While bundling schemes can save you more money than paying the regular price for each service, think about how you are going to use the services included in the bundle. Consider as well the flexibility — whether you are allowed to scale your internet as necessary.  Some providers will require you to sign a contract to get the promotional price. With this in mind, you will want to compare home phone and internet plan offerings from different internet providers to see which offers the best fit for your situation.

How to Choose the Best Internet and Phone Bundle Plans

Internet plans are never one-size-fits-all. Households have different requirements for speed and factors to consider in their choice. So, assess what you need from your internet bundle. Do you need faster internet speeds, a large data allowance, a home phone connection, or access to particular TV channels or streaming services?

Once you have identified those factors, research providers and plans that offer them. Compare Broadband is a great resource for this. We maintain an extensive database of internet plans and bundles from different providers where you can check what is available in your area and compare them based on pricing, features, reliability, and customer reviews.

We make it easy for you to compare internet bundles side-by-side to see which ones offer the best value for money. We take into account the total cost, including any setup or installation fees, and keep an eye out for any special deals or discounts for more value for money.

Is It Worth Getting A Home Phone Bundle?

The problem with a home phone bundle is that will you actually use it? It is always wonderful to score a great deal. However, as attractive as bundles are, bundles are only worth the price if you will use the services you get.

For example, you could sign up for an internet plan with a home phone service and access to over 100 channels. But if you prefer Netflix over cable, you could be paying for a service you rarely use — or may not even want. ISPs intentionally make each bundle too good to pass up. Each upgrade costs a little more but gives you substantially more than what you pay for (e.g. more data speeds, free equipment, more features, etc.). But again, if you will not use the bundled services you are paying for, then it may just not be worth getting a home phone bundle.

Compare Internet and Phone Bundles with Compare Broadband

Bundling your Internet with a home phone service can be a great way to get more value for your money. With a little research, you can find the best internet and phone bundle for your needs.

Compare Broadband is a trusted resource for the best internet and phone bundle deals in Australia. We rank our picks based on who offers greater savings based on their pricing and perks included in their bundles. The bigger the discount and the more inclusions, the better. We also think about other factors like the number of bundle options providers offer to consumers.

If you’re still not sure about how to choose a broadband provider, check out this guide to compare the best NBN plans.