As far as getting the most value for money is concerned, this often means having to balance speed, reliability, and cost, as well as other factors you may deem important, depending on your needs. If your household has at least one heavy internet user, for example, you’ll have to weigh costs against bandwidth and speed, especially if each user has multiple devices connected at any given time.
On average, however, it’s worth noting that you can expect to pay between $69.95 and $79.95 a month for a plan at the NBN50 speed tier. Meanwhile, for a plan at the NBN100 speed tier, plan on shelling out between $79.99 and $99 a month.
As already mentioned, cost isn’t the only factor to consider, and each ISP has their own positive and negative points.
Belong is your best choice if you don’t want to have to worry about setup costs. If you want to be able to pay in installments and don’t see yourself staying at your current premises for very long, then you’ll definitely want to choose this ISP, as it’s renter-friendly. The tradeoff is, you’ll have no choice but to pay through direct debit. Also, Belong’s customer support is online only, which can mean trouble if you can’t connect at all and need to reach a technician.
Dodo is the best choice for those who want to bundle an internet plan with gas and electricity. Like Belong, however, you can only pay through direct debit. Also, their network support is only offshore-based. This means whenever you reach out to them for help with your connection, don’t wait for a representative or technician from the company itself, since you’ll be dealing with an offshore team member each time.
If you’re looking for auxiliary products, such as those that involve mobile phones or security, then Optus is a good choice. Besides aforementioned products, you can get access to Optus Sport as well as a VoIP phone, if you’re looking for one. If you’re on a budget, though, be prepared to shell out a little more than you may have been expecting, since this ISP’s plans tend to be more expensive than others. This is particularly true if you want a no-contract plan, which is available only at the NBN100 speed tier.
Choosing Tangerine means you can look forward to phone support for any network or connectivity issues, as well as a discounted rate during the first six months. Tangerine also offers VoIP phone plans you can bundle with your internet, so that takes care of your phone. That contract, however, will mean an extra $149.95 for a modem, unless you already have an NBN-compatible one.
Speaking of NBN-compatible modems, if you do have one, consider Uniti Wireless or TPG. Both ISPs allow customers to bring their own modems, so that’s one less thing to worry about when it comes to setting up your connection. Both also offer phone support, which means you should have no trouble reaching someone if your internet isn’t working somehow. The downside is, Uniti Wireless gives discounts only to their long-term customers. TPG, meanwhile, requires a prepayment of $20 if you’re getting a home phone as well. Plus, if you need a modem delivered, you’ll have to pay another $10.
If you’re planning to stay with a single provider for at least a year, however, then you can certainly go with Optus. You can also choose Uniti Wireless, since their 24-month plan doesn’t cost extra compared to their no-contract (or month-to-month) plan. For a plan with speeds of up to 50Mbps, one with Optus will cost $79 a month while one with Uniti Wireless will cost $79.95. Meanwhile, a plan with speeds of up to 100Mbps will cost $89 with Optus and $89.95 a month with Uniti Wireless.