Best home wireless internet plans: April 2025

If you're looking for an NBN alternative, home wireless internet (also known as home wireless broadband) is a great option. Home wireless internet is a connection powered by the same networks as your mobile phone. As such, there are no technicians and no annoying set-up delays. It's plug-and-play. 

To help you get started, we've picked out the best home wireless internet plans available now. We've looked at both 4G internet and 5G internet plans. 5G home wireless internet plans tend to offer faster speeds, which means better value. However, not everyone in Australia has access to 5G connectivity yet. We recommend you check your coverage at home before signing up for a 5G internet plan.

When picking the best wireless internet plans, we compare cost, speed, coverage, and any perks. In addition, we prefer plans with no contract and minimal upfront costs. 

Best 5G wireless internet plan: 50Mbps speeds

---

If you're lucky enough to have 5G coverage at your home, we'd recommend choosing a 5G wireless internet plan over 4G home internet. They're faster and better value. 5G wireless internet plans with 50Mbps speed are most suited to households with two or three internet users. 

For April, our choice in this category is this plan from iiNet which has unlimited data and typical evening speeds of 50Mbps. With iiNet's intro offer you'll pay $49.99 per month for the first six months, and $59.99 per month thereafter.

This plan is contract-free, but if you leave within your first two years, you'll need to return your modem to avoid paying a fee. 

If you want to compare this pick to some other options, here are the cheapest 5G internet plans in our database with speeds up to 50Mbps:

Best 5G wireless internet plan: 100Mbps speeds

---

5G internet plans with 100Mbps speeds are best suited to households with three or four internet users - especially those with multiple users who want to stream video or game online at the same time.

Our monthly pick for April in this speed category is a plan from TPG with unlimited data and typical evening speeds of 100Mbps. With TPG's intro offer, you'll get $10 off per month for the first six months, which cuts the monthly bill to $54.99.You'll pay $64.99 per month thereafter. 

This plan is contract-free, but if you leave within your first two years, you'll need to return your modem or pay a fee.  

Alternatively, if this plan doesn't suit you, see how it compares with popular competitors. Each plan comes with a max speed of 100Mbps:

Best 5G wireless internet plan: Uncapped speeds

---

If you want to make the most of 5G's lightning-fast connectivity, we'd recommend an uncapped plan. Uncapped plans have no speed restrictions, which means downloads will happen as fast as network conditions allow. In most cases, you should easily get over 200Mbps. 

For April, Optus' 5G home wireless internet plan remains our choice in the uncapped speed category. It gets you unlimited data with typical evening speeds of 210Mbps. Thanks to an intro offer, you'll pay $74 per month for the first six months, and then $99 per month thereafter. This offer runs until April 6. 

The plan also includes a free Standard Netflix subscription via Optus' SubHub subscription management platform. This is valued at $18.99 per month and supports 1080p streaming and up to two simultaneous streams. 

If you're an existing customer, you can transfer your Netflix subscription to Optus and take advantage of the offer so you don't lose your history. You can also upgrade to the Premium 4K tier by paying the $7 per month difference. 

Optus' 5G home internet plan is contract-free, but you'll need to pay out the remaining value of your modem if you leave in your first 36 months. This is equivalent to $13 for each month left in your three-year term. 

If this plan doesn't suit you, compare it to these popular 5G home wireless internet plans. Each plan comes with uncapped speeds:

Best 4G wireless internet plan

---

If you want home wireless internet but don't have 5G coverage in your area yet, then a 4G home wireless internet plan could be for you.

TPG's 4G Home Wireless Unlimited plan is our pick for April's best 4G home wireless broadband deal. With TPG's intro offer, you'll get unlimited data for just $44.99 per month for the first six months, and $54.99 per month thereafter.

Existing TPG customers can save a further $5 per month on its 4G home internet plan. 

This plan has maximum download speeds of 20Mbps. You can expect typical download speeds of 15Mbps during busy hours.

A 4G wireless compatible modem is included with this plan, but you need to return the modem if you cancel your plan within 24 months to avoid being charged a non-return fee.

Or compare this plan to some other popular 4G home wireless internet plans from our database:

Optus wireless internet plans

---

Optus offers both 4G and 5G home wireless broadband plans. Its 4G plans include:

• Optus 4G network coverage with download speeds capped to 25Mbps
• Unlimited data
• Home wireless modem

Optus' 5G plans include:

• 50Mbps, 100Mbps, or uncapped 5G speeds 
• Unlimited data
• Home wireless modem 

Optus' 4G home wireless internet plan is contract-free, however, you will need to pay a modem fee if you leave in your first 24 months. This is equivalent to $9 multiplied by the number of months left in your two-year period.

Similarly, Optus' 5G home internet plans are contract-free, but you'll need to pay a modem fee if you leave in your first 36 months. This is equivalent to $13 multiplied by the number of months left in your three-year term.

As of September 2024, over 3.6 million homes and businesses can get Optus 5G home internet. Customers who signed up from August 26 last year onward and have the Ultra WiFi 5G modem get access to Optus' 5G standalone network. As the name might suggest, standalone 5G doesn't rely on 4G, and as such, has improved latency. 

Older Optus 5G internet customers with the Ultra WiFi modem will get 5G standalone access before the end of the year. 

Telstra wireless internet plans

---

Telstra currently has just one home wireless internet plan, powered by its 5G network. 

Telstra's 5G network has the widest reach, covering 89% of the population. While not everyone can get Telstra 5G yet, it's the most widely available option if you're trying to get a 5G internet connection. 

It's also worth noting that Telstra will only sell a limited number of 5G home internet plans per postcode, to avoid congestion. Even if you're in a Telstra 5G area, there's a chance you might not be able to get a plan if there are too many other customers in your neighbourhood. 

Telstra 5G home wireless internet is contract-free, so if you're not happy with the service, you can always leave. If you leave within the first 24 months, return your 5G modem within 21 days to avoid a non-return fee. 

Telstra also sells a WiFi Booster that extends the range of its 5G modem if you live in a larger house. This will add $12 per month onto your monthly bill for 24 months, or cost you $288 outright. If a single WiFi Booster doesn't fix your connectivity issues, Telstra will send you up to three additional WiFi Boosters at no extra charge. 

You'll just need to ensure you return your modem if you leave within your first 24 months, to avoid paying an exit fee. 

TPG wireless internet plans

---

TPG has 4G and 5G home broadband plans. On a 4G plan, you'll get:

• Vodafone 4G network coverage with download speeds capped to 20Mbps 
• Unlimited data
• Home wireless modem

Its 5G internet plans include:

• Vodafone 5G network connectivity, with speeds either capped at 50Mbps or 100Mbps
• Unlimited data
• Home wireless modem

TPG home wireless broadband plans are contract-free. If you want to leave, you'll just need to return your modem to avoid paying a non-return fee. 

The Vodafone 5G network is now in more than 3,000 suburbs across Australia

iiNet wireless internet plans

---

iiNet offers both 4G and 5G home wireless broadband plans. On a 4G plan, you'll get:

• Vodafone 4G network coverage with download speeds capped to 20Mbps 
• Unlimited data
• Home wireless modem

iiNet's 5G home wireless broadband plans include:

• Vodafone 5G network connectivity, with speeds either capped at 50Mbps or 100Mbps
• Unlimited data
• Home wireless modem

All of iiNet's home wireless broadband plans are contract-free. If you want to leave, you'll just need to return your modem within 21 days of cancelling. 

The Vodafone 5G network is now in more than 3,000 suburbs across Australia

Vodafone wireless internet plans

---

Vodafone offers both 4G and 5G home wireless internet plans. The provider's 4G options include:

• Vodafone 4G network coverage with download speeds capped to 20Mbps 
• Unlimited data
• Home wireless modem

Vodafone's 5G home wireless broadband plans include:

• Vodafone 5G network connectivity, with speeds either capped at 20Mbps, 50Mbps, or 100Mbps
• Unlimited data
• Home wireless modem

If you opt for Vodafone's 4G home wireless internet plan, you'll need to pay out a modem fee if you leave within your first 24 months. This is equivalent to $7.50 per month left in your two-year term. Existing Vodafone mobile customers can save $10 per month on the telco's 4G home internet plans. 

If you take out a 5G home internet plan with Vodafone and then leave, you'll need to return the modem within 30 days or pay a $612 fee. Existing Vodafone mobile customers can save $5 per month on its 5G home internet plans. 

The Vodafone 5G network is now in more than 3,000 suburbs across Australia

SpinTel wireless internet plans

---

SpinTel offers both 4G and 5G home wireless broadband plans. On a 4G plan, you'll get:

• Optus 4G network coverage with download speeds capped to 25Mbps
• Unlimited Data
• Home wireless modem

On a 5G home wireless broadband plan, you'll get:

• Optus 5G network connectivity with 50Mbps, 100Mbps, or uncapped download speeds
• Unlimited Data
• Home wireless modem

SpinTel is powered by the Optus network and is a well-known name in home broadband. Its 4G home wireless internet plans tend to represent great value, undercutting the competition. Its 5G plans are also a bit cheaper than what you'd get on Optus. You miss out on perks like a bonus Netflix subscription, however. 

Note that with SpinTel home wireless internet plans, your modem will remain the property of SpinTel. If you cancel your plan, you will be required to return it in good working order within 21 days. 

Yomojo wireless internet plans

---

Yomojo's 4G home wireless internet plan includes:

• Optus 4G network coverage with download speeds capped to 20Mbps
• Unlimited data

Yomojo's 5G home wireless broadband plans include:

• Optus 5G network coverage with 50Mbps, 100Mbps or uncapped download speeds
• Unlimited data

Yomojo's plans are contract-free, but you'll pay a modem fee if you leave in your first 24 months. This is equivalent to $19 for each month left in your two-year term. 

How do I compare wireless internet plans?

---

When comparing wireless internet plans, these are the key factors you should consider. 

Speed

There are four core wireless internet speeds to pick from. 4G internet is the slowest type of wireless internet, with speeds maxing out at either 20Mbps or 25Mbps, depending on the provider. 

5G internet plans have three main unofficial speed tiers: 50Mbps, 100Mbps, and uncapped. 50Mbps and 100Mbps are the equivalent to NBN 50 and NBN 100, while uncapped plans can go as fast as network conditions allow. In our testing, we've seen speeds over 600Mbps on an uncapped plan. Typical evening speeds tend to sit between 200Mbps and 300Mbps, however, making them similar to an NBN 250 plan.  

As with NBN, your speed determines how much your wireless internet plan costs each month. 4G plans will also be cheaper than faster 5G plans. Most households should comfortably get by with a 50Mbps or 100Mbps 5G internet plan. These plans also tend to represent the best value. 

Typical evening speeds

While wireless internet plans can be grouped by speeds, performance varies from provider to provider - especially during peak hours. As such, wireless internet providers disclose what kind of download speeds you can expect from your connection during busy hours. These are known as typical evening speeds. The faster your plan's typical evening speeds, the more reliable it will be during the busiest hours of the day. 

Data allowance

Most wireless internet plans have unlimited data, regardless of whether you're looking at 4G or 5G. Telstra is the one exception; its 5G home internet plan has a 1TB allowance. If you go over this, you'll be capped to speeds of 20Mbps. While 1TB should be more than enough for the average internet user, heavy downloaders will need to consider if a 1TB allowance is right for them. 

If you still need a home phone

If you still need a home phone, wireless internet isn't the best choice for you. At this time, no wireless internet plans support a home phone. This means you'll only be able to use a mobile phone to make calls. 

Contract length

Wireless internet plans with a contract are very rare, but in some cases, you may need to return your modem or pay a hardware fee if you leave within your first two or three years. 

Coverage

Unlike the NBN, wireless internet isn't available to everyone. You need to have either 4G or 5G coverage at your premises to ensure a connection. Most Australians should be able to get 4G home internet, but not everyone can get 5G home internet yet. In addition, some telcos will only sell a certain number of 5G plans in each suburb, to ensure that every customer gets a reliably fast connection.  

The good news is most 5G internet providers offer a free trial for the first month (or a coverage guarantee). As such, if 5G home internet doesn't work well in your house or location for whatever reason, you're not trapped with a poor connection. 

What is wireless internet?

---

Home wireless internet is a broadband connection that uses the same networks as your mobile phone to connect your home to the web. A modem supplied by your provider then shares this connection with devices inside your house over WiFi. Every home wireless internet plan comes with the modem you'll need to get online.

So wireless internet is just mobile broadband, right?

A basic home wireless internet connection works like the mobile broadband plans you might be familiar with, but home wireless broadband plans are designed to replace your home internet, and there are some key differences.

Firstly, you get more data each month. These days, almost every home wireless internet plan on the market comes with unlimited data. Meanwhile, the largest mobile broadband plans max out at 400GB, while most don't offer more than 200GB. 

Secondly, home wireless broadband plans come with a full-sized modem router, rather than a pocket-sized internet dongle or WiFi hotspot. These modem routers can support more devices over their robust WiFi and also have ethernet ports for connecting your computer directly to the modem.

One of the downsides of home wireless broadband is that many plans have speed caps. 4G plans are limited to a max speed of 20Mbps. 5G plans tend to be capped at either 50Mbps or 100Mbps. 

A few 5G plans offer uncapped speeds, which means the plan will be as fast as the network and real-world conditions allow. In many cases, you can expect speeds over 200Mbps on uncapped 5G home internet plans. The faster the home wireless broadband plan, the more you are likely to pay for it.

Read more about home wireless internet speeds here.

Some mobile broadband plans also have speed caps now, but these tend to start at 100Mbps, rather than 50Mbps or 20Mbps. 

What are the advantages of home wireless internet?

---

• Home wireless broadband works as soon as you plug your modem into the power.
• Home wireless broadband can be more reliable than a poor NBN connection.
• Home wireless broadband doesn't require professional installation.
• Home wireless broadband modems have ethernet ports so that you can create a direct connection for your most important devices.
• Home wireless broadband plans can be cheaper than the same speed NBN equivalents, especially in terms of long-term pricing.

What are the disadvantages of home wireless internet?

---

• Because home wireless broadband relies on a strong mobile signal, it isn't available in all areas. Providers need to check your address before signing you up, to make sure you fall within their coverage footprint.
• Most wireless internet modems need a power supply to work, and can't be moved from address to address without transferring your service (unlike mobile broadband). 
• Most 4G and 5G home wireless internet plans have capped speeds.
• Home wireless internet plans have higher latency than typical NBN plans, which can make them worse for online gaming.

Is home wireless internet right for me?

---

If you're struggling with an NBN connection that is slow or unreliable, then home wireless broadband might be the solution. It's simple to set up and use, and offers most of the same features that you would expect to get from a traditional internet service like NBN. 

Whether you get home wireless internet will depend on where you live (or work if you plan on using it in an office). While 5G network coverage has grown a lot in recent years, it's far from ubiquitous. And even if you're looking at 4G home wireless internet, there's a chance you might not get reliable connectivity at your home or office. 

The good news is most telcos will let you cancel your home wireless internet without penalty if you're having coverage issues, so trying 4G or 5G home internet tends to be risk-free. Many providers even offer the first month free. 

What are the alternatives to wireless internet?

---

If you're considering wireless broadband, it's likely your NBN plan isn't up to snuff. Wireless internet is the main NBN alternative, after all. You do have other options, however. 

Another option is mobile broadband. Mobile broadband tends to be a better temporary internet solution, but some plans include as much as 400GB of data each month. That should be more than enough for a home internet connection. 

Here's a look at the mobile broadband plans with the highest data allowances: 

Just note that these plans are SIM-only. You'll need your own modem (typically known as a Pocket WiFi or dongle) to use them, or alternatively, you could turn an old phone or tablet into a dedicated hotspot. 

If you don't have reliable mobile coverage, you could consider Starlink, Elon Musk's satellite internet. Starlink is available Australia-wide, and promises speeds of up to 100Mbps. Starlink plans have unlimited data and start at $139 per month.

View Starlink's Residential plans

Starlink has pretty hefty upfront hardware fees, however. You'll typically spend $549 on the hardware needed for a Starlink connection, but the provider often runs promotions on this. 

Telstra also sells satellite internet powered by Starlink. The plans are cheaper at $125 per month, but the speeds are capped at a slower 50Mbps. You'll still pay the same $549 for a Starlink kit, but you'll also get a Telstra modem. If you leave in your first two years, you'll need to return the modem or pay a $200 non-return fee.  

Which providers offer 4G and 5G wireless internet plans?

---

While almost every internet provider offers NBN, that's not true for home wireless internet. There's a much smaller set of providers to pick from. That being said, you've still got a decent number of options. Here's a list of the providers with 4G and 5G home wireless internet plans: 

• Telstra (5G home wireless internet) 
• Optus (4G and 5G home wireless internet) 
• Vodafone (4G and 5G home wireless internet)
• TPG (4G and 5G home wireless internet)
• iiNet (4G and 5G home wireless internet)
• Kogan (4G home wireless internet)
• SpinTel (4G and 5G home wireless internet)
• Yomojo (4G and 5G home wireless internet)

How we pick the best 4G and 5G home internet plans

---

At WhistleOut, we take the job of recommending our monthly winners for the best 4G and 5G home wireless broadband plans very seriously. That's why we have a dedicated team that reads over a thousand plan documents each week and spots hundreds of changes each month to keep our database up to date. 

When it comes to picking the best 4G home internet plan, we consider the monthly price and are looking for no-contract plans with no or minimal upfront cost. We also take download speeds and network coverage into consideration.

For our winning 5G home internet plan, we're looking for a plan with uncapped download speeds to help customers enjoy the speed benefits the new network allows. We also consider upfront costs, coverage, and any other included perks. 

Meet our wireless internet plan experts

---

Alex Choros

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

Throughout his career as a journalist, Alex has covered international trade shows, spent three years co-hosting a tech show on community radio, and was awarded a highly commended in the Best Reviewer category of the 2018 IT Journalism awards and the 2021 IT Journalism awards. His work contributed to WhistleOut Australia winning the Best Consumer Technology Coverage award in the 2023 IT Journalism Awards.

He has regularly contributed to Gizmodo and Lifehacker, and he often pops up on 2GB and the Money Magazine podcast to talk telco. On weekends, you'll find Alex at a wine bar, on a hike, or in the middle of a mosh pit.

Alex Choros - Managing Editor + Group Reviews Editor | Twitter | Instagram | Threads

Christie Graham

Christie Graham is a tech industry expert and former head copywriter for Harvey Norman's Computers and Tech category. She won a national Newscorp writing competition to review TV shows on Binge, and keeps busy juggling her many hobbies including baking, painting, archery, stargazing, tending to her chickens, training her Border Collie, expanding her Harry Potter replica collection, and making lists (much like this one).

Christie Graham - Digital Content Editor

Dylan Crismale

Dylan Crismale has been writing for over six years working across a variety of Australian publications. He previously worked as a writer at Finder covering energy, internet and mobile plans, and is passionate about finding the best deals to save people money. When he's not behind a desk Dylan loves drawing, working out, and spending time with friends and family.

Dylan Crismale - Digital Content Editor

Alex Angove-Plumb

Alex Angove-Plumb has been in the tech publishing industry since 2010, putting him only a couple of years away from the title of Grizzled Ancient in his chosen profession. He was an original WhistleOut-er before running NBN Co's corporate blog for two years, then moving on to a lengthy stint at CHOICE. Now he's come home to act as a Digital Content Editor.

Over his career, Alex has learned more about phones, telcos, and the NBN than he'd like to admit, and is happy to put his expertise to good use by helping our readers navigate the often-confusing morass of buzzwords that tech marketing can throw your way.

When not shaking his fist at kids these days, you might find Alex tinkering about the house doing arguably destructive DIY, messing with one or both of his cats, or trying just-one-more-run in whatever roguelite he's recently become obsessed with.

Alex Angove-Plumb - Digital Content Editor

Joseph Hanlon

Joe Hanlon has been immersed in mobile phones, plans and the internet for well over a decade, having written for publications like CNET, Tech Radar, Gizmodo, and Lifehacker. He steers the editorial ship and makes sure that we are always serving up the most useful guides and recommendations. If you ever bump into Joe on the street, don't be afraid to ask for a phone recommendation. It's embarrassing how much he enjoys talking about this stuff. He also loves listening to podcasts, so feel free to email Joe with recommendations.

Joseph Hanlon - Editorial Director | Twitter