Balancing speed, reliability, and the cost is the best way to make sure you get the most value for your money, no matter what internet plan you end up choosing. To give you a better idea of how much you’ll be spending, on average, a plan with speeds of up to 50Mbps will cost anywhere from $69.95 to $79.95 per month, while a plan with speeds of up to 100Mbps a month will cost between $79.99 and $99 each month.
Of course, each ISP has its own positives and negatives that can affect your customer experience.
If you’re after waived setup costs, or you need an ISP that’s renter-friendly - or both - then Belong is your best bet. This ISP allows you to pay in installments, even if you have no choice but to pay through direct debit. Their customer support is online only, however, so get ready for some difficulty if you run into connection issues but still need to reach a technician.
Optus is a great option for those who want access to other products centred around entertainment or security. Besides access to Optus Sport, you can get a VoIP phone if you need one. Just be prepared to spend a little more on your internet plan; Optus’s plans tend to be a little more expensive than those of other ISPs, and if you want a no-contract plan, you have to choose a plan at the NBN100 speed tier. Otherwise, you’re in for a long-term contract.
If you want to bundle gas and electricity with your internet plan, there’s no question about choosing Dodo. However, like Belong, Dodo doesn’t accept modes of payment besides direct debit. Also, their network support is offshore-based. That means contacting them doesn’t mean you’ll get to speak with the representative or technician you first dealt with
Choosing Tangerine will give you access to phone support for connectivity or network issues, not to mention a discounted rate during the first six months you stay with this ISP. VoIP phone plans are available, too. If you don’t have an NBN-compatible modem, you’ll have to pay $149.95 to get one.
If you do have an NBN-compatible modem, TPG and Uniti Wireless are your best choices; neither ISP minds if customers bring their own modems. Like Tangerine, these two ISPs offer phone support, so it’s easy to reach someone if you encounter any issues with your network. As for drawbacks, Uniti Wireless doesn’t give discounts to anyone but their long-term customers, which means it will be some time before you see any kind of discount. As for TPG, you’ll need to pay $10 on top of the price of the modem if you need one delivered, and $20 for a home phone.