Telstra and Optus are two of Australia's largest NBN providers, with both sitting at the premium end of the market. Pricier NBN plans often come with perks, but if you're going to drop top dollar, which provider should you pick?
To help, we're going to look at how Telstra and Optus compare on key aspects like speed, contracts, customer service, extras, and more.
In this guide:
Telstra vs. Optus: NBN plans at a glance
|
#1
|
Optus
All Fixed Line nbn®
Optus Basic nbn®
$68/mth
Min. cost $68
Link not supplied
|
|
#2
|
Telstra
All Fixed Line nbn®
Basic Internet Only Plan
$89/mth
Min. cost $89
Link not supplied
|
|
#1
|
Optus
All Fixed Line nbn®
Optus Everyday nbn®
$82/mth
Min. cost $82
Link not supplied
|
|
#2
|
Telstra
Essential Internet Only Plan (Fixed Wireless)
$99/mth
Min. cost $99
Link not supplied
|
|
#1
|
Optus
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
Optus Fast nbn®
$84/mth
Min. cost $84
Link not supplied
|
|
#2
|
Telstra
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
Premium Internet Only Plan
$99/mth
Min. cost $99
Link not supplied
|
|
Telstra
Premium Internet Only Plan (Fixed Wireless)
$99/mth
Min. cost $99
Link not supplied
|
|
#1
|
Optus
FTTP, HFC
Optus Ultrafast nbn®
$114/mth
Min. cost $114
Link not supplied
|
|
#2
|
Telstra
FTTP, HFC
Ultrafast Internet Only Plan
$129/mth
Min. cost $129
Link not supplied
|
Telstra vs. Optus: Internet types available
Telstra
Telstra offers NBN plans on NBN 25, NBN 50, NBN 100, NBN 250, and NBN 1000 speed tiers.
Here's Telstra's range of NBN plans:
|
Telstra
All Fixed Line nbn®
Basic Internet Only Plan
$89/mth
Min. cost $89
Link not supplied
|
If you're considering an NBN 250 or NBN 1000 plan, be aware that not everyone can get these: you need an FTTP or HFC NBN connection. All FTTP customers can get both NBN 250 and NBN 1000 plans. All HFC customers can get NBN 250 plans, and over 90% are able to get an NBN 1000 plan.
Telstra also has ADSL and Cable plans for those that haven't been connected to the NBN yet, and mobile broadband options.
Telstra recently launched a 5G home internet plan. Over 75% of the population has access to Telstra's 5G network, making it the most widely available option for next-generation connectivity.
|
Telstra
Basic 5G Home Internet - 1TB
$70/mth
Min. cost $70
Link not supplied
|
Optus
Optus offers NBN plans on NBN 50, NBN 100, NBN 250, and NBN 1000 speed tiers.
Here's Optus' range of NBN plans:
|
Optus
All Fixed Line nbn®
Optus Basic nbn®
$68/mth
Min. cost $68
Link not supplied
|
Optus has three kinds of NBN plans on most speed tiers: a basic plan that just comes with a modem, a family plan that also includes a WiFi booster, and a gamer plan that comes with a gaming modem instead of the standard Optus hardware.
As aforementioned, NBN 250 and NBN 1000 plans are only available to those with FTTP and HFC NBN connection types.
Optus also has its own 5G home internet plans, and they're currently available to over 1.2 million addresses. You can pick between a plan with speeds capped to 100Mbps, or an uncapped plan that will go as fast as network conditions allow.
|
Optus
Optus Plus Everyday 5G
$54/mth
Min. cost $54
Link not supplied
|
Telstra vs. Optus: Typical evening speeds
Typical evening speeds refer to the download speeds you can expect during peak usage times on the NBN - between 7pm and 11pm.
Much in the same way that traffic on the road can slow down during peak hours, the NBN can too. NBN connections tend to slow down in the evenings, when everyone in your neighbourhood is jumping online to stream, surf, download, and more. As such, a provider's evening speeds indicate how fast your connection will be at the times you use it most.
Here is how Telstra and Optus stack up against each other in terms of typical evening speeds on the NBN.
| NBN 12 | NBN 25 | NBN 50 | NBN 100 | NBN 250 | NBN 1000 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Telstra | - | 25Mbps | 50Mbps | 100Mbps | 250Mbps | 700Mbps |
| Optus | - | - | 50Mbps | 100Mbps | 215Mbps | 250Mbps |
For comparison, here are the 10 fastest providers on NBN 100 plans.
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#1
|
amaysim 
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|
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#2
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Belong 
|
|
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#3
|
Tangerine Telecom 
|
|
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#4
|
Dodo 
|
|
|
#5
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SpinTel 
|
|
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#6
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Kogan Internet 
|
|
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#7
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iiNet 
|
Link not supplied
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#8
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Superloop 
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|
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#9
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TPG 
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Link not supplied
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#10
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Aussie Broadband 
|
Link not supplied
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Telstra vs. Optus: Data limits
Telstra
All Telstra NBN plans also have unlimited data.
Optus
All Optus NBN plans have unlimited data.
Telstra vs. Optus: Contracts
Telstra
All of Telstra's NBN plans are contract-free. However, if you leave in your first 24 months, you'll need to pay a prorated modem fee. This is equivalent to $9 multiplied by the number of months left in your two-year term. If you've taken on any extras like a Telstra TV, you will also need to pay out its remaining value.
Telstra also has new Upfront NBN plans where instead of paying a modem fee if you leave within two years, you can just return your modem. The other key difference is you're automatically billed at the start of a month, rather than being sent an invoice to pay. Otherwise, Telstra Upfront NBN plans are priced the same as Telstra's standard NBN plans. You can check out Telstra's Upfront NBN plans here.
Optus
Optus NBN plans are also contract-free, but have a similar catch: if you leave in your first 36 months, you'll pay a prorated modem fee. The exact fee depends on your type of plan.
If you're on a standard plan, you're looking at $7 per month left in your term. If you're on a family plan, you'll pay $13 per month left in your term. And on a gamer plan, you'll pay $14 per month left in your term.
Telstra vs. Optus: Customer service
Telstra
Telstra support is available over the phone between 8am and 9pm AEDT, seven days a week. You can call 13 2000 to reach Telstra. Telstra also has web chat, and maintains an active and helpful social media presence on Facebook and Twitter.
If you need to, you can visit a Telstra store for support.
Optus
Optus support is available over the phone between 9am and 6pm AEDT, Monday to Friday. On Saturday, these hours shorten to 9am to 5pm. You can't call Optus on Sunday. Optus' support number is 133 937.
Optus also has web chat, an active social media presence, and in-store support.
Telstra vs. Optus: Extras
Telstra
Telstra NBN plans are packed with a few bonuses that might make them more appealing.
To start, all Telstra NBN plans come with the telco's second-generation Smart Modem with 4G backup. 4G connectivity can be called up before your NBN plan is connected and whenever there's a problem with your home internet connection. Backup connectivity is limited to maximum speeds of 25Mbps down.
If you're a gamer, you can add Xbox All Access onto your Telstra NBN plan. Xbox All Access lets you pay off an Xbox Series S or Xbox Series X over a 24-month period rather than upfront, and includes Game Pass Ultimate.
Telstra is also currently offering customers a free three-month subscription to Binge.
Lastly, all Telstra customers get access to Telstra Plus, Telstra's perks program. Every dollar you spend with Telstra earns you points, which then be redeemed for gadgets or discounts on more expensive tech.
Telstra Plus members can also get discounted movie tickets for Event and BCC cinemas.
Optus
Optus customers also get a handful of extras. First up, there's 4G backup through the Optus Ultra WiFi Modem. If your NBN carks it, you'll be able to stay online via the Optus 4G network. As with Telstra, you'll be limited to download speeds of 25Mbps.
Optus has its own cheap movie tickets offer, but with Hoyts cinemas.
Optus also has a couple of streaming extras. To start, all Optus NBN customers get an Optus Sport subscription at no extra cost. As the name suggests, Optus Sport is Optus' streaming service for sport, but it now also includes fitness workouts.
Optus NBN customers can also add on Fetch TV to their plan. You can pick between the Fetch Mighty and Fetch Mini set-top box, billed at $15 per month and $5 per month respectively. The boxes themselves can be used to access your streaming services, and in the case of the Mighty, record TV. You won't be able to access Fetch TV content without paying for premium channel packs. These start at $6 per month, or you can get all four for $20 per month.
Note that Optus customers don't save on channel pack pricing, and you'll need to return your Fetch set-top box if you leave Optus.
Where Optus customers can save money on streaming however is with SubHub. SubHub lets you get your subscription services through Optus, in exchange for a discount. If you've got two services, you'll save 5% on your total services bill, which rises to 10% with three.
Alex Choros
Find a better internet plan
Thousands of internet plans unpacked. All the facts. No surprises.
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