Compare the best Internet plans from top providers in Sydney Australia

If you’re a Sydneysider, you’ve got a wide range of choices for broadband plans, such as the NBN, private networks, 5G home broadband, and mobile broadband.

For most consumers, the NBN is going to be your best option. Other options exist, but they may not cover all of Sydney like the NBN does.

Comparison isn’t just a matter of finding the cheapest price and clicking ‘buy’, either. Here’s the full list of factors you should consider when choosing the right broadband plan for you:

What speed is right for me?

The cheapest plans offer lower speeds, but for single light users, that could be an ideal way to save money.

For larger households or those who feel that classic need for speed, a higher speed tier plan could be the right choice.

To NBN or not to NBN?

NBN plans are available across all of Sydney, but you do have alternatives, including private networks such as Opticomm – if it’s available to you – or 4G or 5G home wireless, depending on your coverage area.

It's important to note, however, that you don't get to choose the type of connection you have.

Do I need a new modem?

For the NBN, most providers will sell you a modem if you need one, but it may be possible to use your existing paid for modem to save a little money.

If you’re switching to an alternative network or wireless internet, you’ll need a new modem device in nearly every instance.

Do I want or need bundled extras?

Many providers will let you bundle in other services, such as VoIP phone lines, additional streaming entertainment services or power and gas provisions.

Consider whether these bundled extras have value for you – they can be a great way to save money across multiple services if you were going to pay for them, anyway.

The vast majority of Sydney’s NBN connections use the older copper phone lines for the last hundred metres from your home to a street connection box; a technology known as Fibre to the Node (FTTN).

It’s Fibre to the Node because optical fibre has been run from an NBN exchange to the connection box or node in your street or nearby. Copper makes up the last part of the connection. 

Fibre To The Node premises can access plans up to 100Mbps. This is sometimes called NBN 100, or more formally “Home Fast”. 

In some cases, the nature of the copper connection may limit you to NBN 50 (“Home Standard”) or even NBN 25 (“Home Basic”) speeds.

A smaller number of homes and premises across Sydney are connected using Fibre to the Curb (FTTC) or Fibre To the Building (FTTB) connections. These still use copper for the connection from your home, but typically to a much closer connection point. 

For FTTB connections, for example, you’ll typically find a node inside an apartment block, with copper only used within the building itself. 

FTTC and FTTB connections are also limited to NBN 100, though the shorter copper runs they use mean that you can nearly always get those speeds if you want them.

A larger number of homes and premises in Sydney use Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) NBN connections. 

These use the same pay TV cables that Foxtel used to rely on – and that Telstra and Optus used to offer Cable-based Internet over – to deliver NBN to you. HFC NBN can go up to the current maximum NBN speeds of NBN 1000 wherever it’s available.

The current gold standard for NBN connections uses a full fibre approach called Fibre To The Premises, or FTTP. FTTP connections are the most robust and capable of all NBN speed tiers.

The important factor to know here is that you can’t choose your NBN connection type. That was decided when the NBN rollout was being decided upon, and especially when the switch was made to the “multi-technology mix” approach that used a lot of FTTN connections. 

If you’re on any of the copper-based NBN technologies – so FTTN, FTTC or FFTB – you may be able to get an upgrade to full fibre if you’re willing to take on a faster plan than your current tier at a minimum of NBN 100 speeds.

Popular NBN plans in Sydney

Unlimited NBN50 Fixed Wireless Plus Dodo broadband plan

• Unlimited Data
• 50/6 Mbps
• Deal: $68.90 for first 12 months, then $83.90 ongoing

$68 .90/ mth

Min total cost $68.90

View breakdown

Sign Up 1300 756 460

Email Plan

Unlimited NBN50 Fixed Wireless Plus Dodo broadband plan

• Unlimited Data
• 50/6 Mbps
• Deal: $68.90 for first 12 months, then $83.90 ongoing

$68 .90/ mth

Min total cost $68.90

View breakdown

Sign Up

1300 756 460

Unlimited Belong Standard Plus broadband plan on the NBN

• Unlimited
• 50/17 Mbps

$85 .00/ mth

Min total cost $85

View breakdown

1300 652 369

Email Plan

Unlimited Belong Standard Plus broadband plan on the NBN

• Unlimited
• 50/17 Mbps

$85 .00/ mth

Min total cost $85

View breakdown

1300 652 369

Unlimited Value nbn™ Aussie Broadband plan

• Unlimited Data
• 49/16 Mbps

$89 .00/ mth

Min total cost $89

View breakdown

Sign Up 1300 730 863

Email Plan

Unlimited Value nbn™ Aussie Broadband plan

• Unlimited Data
• 49/16 Mbps

$89 .00/ mth

Min total cost $89

View breakdown

Sign Up

1300 730 863

Optus Plus Everyday NBN™ Bundle Plan

• Unlimited Data
• 50/18 Mbps

$89 .00/ mth

Min total cost $89

View breakdown

1300 790 125

Email Plan

Optus Plus Everyday NBN™ Bundle Plan

• Unlimited Data
• 50/18 Mbps

$89 .00/ mth

Min total cost $89

View breakdown

1300 790 125

Standard Plus (nbn50) Unlimited Dodo broadband plan

• Unlimited Data
• 50/17 Mbps
• Deal: $68.90 for first 12 months, then $83.90 ongoing

$68 .90/ mth

Min total cost $68.90

View breakdown

Sign Up 1300 756 460

Email Plan

Standard Plus (nbn50) Unlimited Dodo broadband plan

• Unlimited Data
• 50/17 Mbps
• Deal: $68.90 for first 12 months, then $83.90 ongoing

$68 .90/ mth

Min total cost $68.90

View breakdown

Sign Up

1300 756 460

Optus Plus Family Entertainer Bundle Plan

• Unlimited Data
• 50/18 Mbps

$110 .00/ mth

Min total cost $110

View breakdown

1300 790 125

Email Plan

Optus Plus Family Entertainer Bundle Plan

• Unlimited Data
• 50/18 Mbps

$110 .00/ mth

Min total cost $110

View breakdown

1300 790 125

Compare NBN plans and see all available in your area

The NBN is available everywhere, but it’s not your only option for a home broadband plan.

A number of providers, including the three major telcos, offer home wireless broadband plans. These use the same 4G and 5G networks that your smartphone already uses.

The big difference with home wireless Internet plans is that where your smartphone’s mobile plan typically has a data limit, many home wireless Internet plans offer unlimited data.

The telcos know that they’re competing with fixed line NBN plans, mostly with unlimited data provisions, so they’ve got to match those deals. 

The catch here is that home wireless plans are only offered where providers can identify that you’ll get a solid data connection. They’re also tied to fixed plug-in 4G and 5G modems that you can’t move around your home.

If your NBN connection isn’t up to snuff, they can be a good way to get a little extra speed, or in some cases a cheaper connection. 

However, like any wireless connection technology, there’s a range of additional environmental factors that can lead to wider speed fluctuations than on a fixed wired broadband connection.

Read more about home wireless internet plans.

Another option to consider is a true mobile broadband connection. This is a decent option if you want flexibility in where you can use your broadband connection. 

These can run from specific router devices or simply shared as a connection from an unlocked smartphone. 

They can be a great option for renters or those living in shared accommodation. This is because you only need to cover your own data needs, and you can take your broadband hotspot or other device with you as you go.

However, the catch here is that most mobile broadband plans operate on fixed data quotas. This means you have to be very careful about usage over your billing period to avoid speed limiting, excess charges or an outright stoppage of your service. 

Like home wireless broadband, you’re also likely to see a lot more speed variance depending on network conditions, environmental factors and even where you place your mobile broadband device.

If you’re looking at Internet providers and pondering the differences, it’s worth knowing which factors are worth building into your comparison.

That’s especially true if you’re looking at NBN plans, because all NBN services operate off the same network, though providers may offer better or worse services depending on their bandwidth allocation in your area. 

Here’s what to consider when comparing top Sydney Internet providers:

How much will it cost me to sign up?

This isn’t just the monthly access price, but also any connection fees, and whether a modem is bundled in, sold outright or provided on monthly terms. 

How much will it cost me to switch?

Many broadband providers in Sydney offer month-to-month (or “no contract”) terms, but in some cases, you may have to sign up for a longer term. That’s not a terrible deal if you’re saving money, but it’s smart to check if there are early exit fees or cancellation costs that come into play if you want to change providers later on.

What speeds are being advertised?

While NBN plans (for example) are typically sold at fixed speed tiers, that’s not the same as the “typical evening speeds” that you’ll see NBN ISPs advertise. These are still estimates, but they also act as a bit of a guideline to how much NBN bandwidth an NBN ISP is purchasing to sell onto you.

The further away from the peak, the less bandwidth they’re guaranteeing, which often goes hand-in-hand with lower monthly costs. It’s a balancing act, and one you should keep as a key comparison point.

What bundled extras are available?

That might be as simple as a phone line or two, possibly the inclusion of email addresses (though many ISPs have dropped those entirely), streaming media bundles or the ability to put your gas or electricity on the same bill.

What support options are available?

Nobody wants problems, including your broadband ISPs. But problems happen, and it’s worth considering what the support options are if you’re stuck without the Internet. Do you prefer phone calls, automated web agents, social media contacts? Check what support types your ISP provides before signing up to avoid stress down the line.

How green is your ISP?

For many consumers, the environmental impact of the provision of internet services is a key consideration. Many ISPs now promote their green credentials, from carbon neutral offices to the use of green power where available. 

Living in Sydney gives you access to some of the nation’s best food, entertainment and living spaces… and a lot of choices for Internet providers as well. This list isn’t exhaustive, but it should give you a good starting point when selecting your next broadband plan.

Telstra Internet plans

Telstra’s the biggest player in the Internet space across the nation, which makes it for many the effective “default” choice when considering an Internet plan in Sydney.  

Telstra’s NBN plans can suit different users and budgets, with no lock-in contracts or set-up fees. Telstra also offers home mobile and fixed wireless options over its 4G and 5G networks. 

Telstra typically charges something of a premium for its services, but it also includes bundled extras such as its Telstra Plus loyalty scheme.

Optus Internet plans

Optus leverages its position in telecommunications to provide premium broadband services across Sydney. It offers both NBN connections and fixed wireless 4G/5G and mobile broadband services. 

Like Telstra it’s a premium player with premium price points. But it also has a variety of additional bundling features, such as its unique SubHub subscription service. Optus NBN plans come with simple month-to-month terms and zero setup fees, making them an attractive option if you’re after home broadband in Sydney.

Belong Internet plans

Belong’s a subsidiary of Telstra that specialises in affordable, relatively no-frills broadband plans. 

Where Telstra goes relatively wide with its plan provision, Belong keeps it quite simple, with a smaller range of plans covering the most popular NBN speed tiers. 

If you wanted to stay under the umbrella of the nation’s biggest telco without paying its big telco prices, it’s worth considering the value proposition of a Belong broadband plan in Sydney.

Aussie Broadband Internet plans

Aussie Broadband is well-regarded for its Australian-based support options and range of good value NBN plans at all speed tiers across Sydney – subject to your NBN technology type, of course. 

It also offers a wide variety of self diagnosis tools and online support options, making it a good choice both for those who need a little setup or fixing help, as well as those who want to configure their systems themselves. 

As a smaller competitor brand, Aussie Broadband often offers Sydney-based broadband buyers attractive deals to lure them away from the bigger telcos – which is money you could save with an affordable Aussie Broadband plan.