Australia's best NBN provider isn't who you expect

By Anula Wiwatowska

Last updated 02 August 2021

The best internet provider WhistleOut Award

The winners of the 2021 WhistleOut Awards have been announced and the all-around best internet provider is small player, Tangerine.

Find out more about Tangerine here

When it comes to NBN providers it is easy to get caught up with the big names - Telstra, Optus, Aussie Broadband, TPG; but just being well known doesn’t win you awards. Well, not WhistleOut Awards.

Our judging criteria awards providers that offer consistently good value for money, across a range of NBN plans. So while some of the big guns may have put out some good deals throughout the year, Tangerine has earned itself the standout title by offering persistently great prices.

The juicy provider not only took out our biggest internet award, but also squeezed out wins for Best Unlimited NBN Provider, Best Fixed Wireless Provider, and Best Premium NBN Provider.

#1	Tangerine Telecom	Tangerine Telecom Value NBN nbn® 25/8.5 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $20/mth off for the first 6 mths, $47.90/month for first 6 months, then $67.90/month + 3 months BINGE. Ends 30.06.25 $47.90/mth Min. cost $47.90 Go to Site	$47.90/mth Min. cost $47.90	Go to Site
#2	Tangerine Telecom	Tangerine Telecom Value Plus NBN nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $23/mth off for the first 6 mths, $59.90/month for first 6 months, then $82.90/month + 3 months BINGE. Ends 30.06.25 $59.90/mth Min. cost $59.90 Go to Site	$59.90/mth Min. cost $59.90	Go to Site
#3	Tangerine Telecom	Tangerine Telecom Fixed Wireless Value Plus nbn® Wireless Fast Speed Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $20/mth off for the first 6 mths, $62.90/month for first 6 months, then $82.90/month + 3 months BINGE. Ends 30.06.25 $62.90/mth Min. cost $62.90 Go to Site	$62.90/mth Min. cost $62.90	Go to Site
#4	Tangerine Telecom	Tangerine Telecom Fixed Wireless Speedy nbn® Wireless Superfast Speed Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $20/mth off for the first 6 mths - $65.90/month for first 6 months, then $85.90/month + 3 months BINGE. Ends 30.06.25 $65.90/mth Min. cost $65.90 Go to Site	$65.90/mth Min. cost $65.90	Go to Site
#5	Tangerine Telecom	Tangerine Telecom Speedy NBN nbn® 100/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $20/mth off for the first 6 mths, $65.90/mth for first 6 months, then $85.90/mth + 3 months BINGE. Ends 30.06.25 $65.90/mth Min. cost $65.90 Go to Site	$65.90/mth Min. cost $65.90	Go to Site
#6	Tangerine Telecom	Tangerine Telecom Speedy Plus NBN nbn® 100/34 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $15/mth off for the first 6 mths, $74.90/month for first 6 months, then $89.90/month + 3 months BINGE. Ends 30.06.25 $74.90/mth Min. cost $74.90 Go to Site	$74.90/mth Min. cost $74.90	Go to Site
#7	Tangerine Telecom	Tangerine Telecom Fixed Wireless Superspeedy nbn® Wireless Ultrafast Speed Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $20/mth off for the first 6 mths - $84.90/month for first 6 months, then $104.90/month + 3 months BINGE. Ends 30.06.25 $84.90/mth Min. cost $84.90 Go to Site	$84.90/mth Min. cost $84.90	Go to Site
#8	Tangerine Telecom	Tangerine Telecom SuperSpeedy NBN nbn® 250/21 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $20/mth off for the first 6 mths, $84.90/month for first 6 months, then $104.90/month + 3 months BINGE. Ends 30.06.25 $84.90/mth Min. cost $84.90 Go to Site	$84.90/mth Min. cost $84.90	Go to Site
#9	Tangerine Telecom	Tangerine Telecom UltraSpeedy NBN nbn® 700/42 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $25/mth off for the first 6 mths, $99.90/month for first 6 months, then $124.90/month + 3 months BINGE. Ends 30.06.25 $99.90/mth Min. cost $99.90 Go to Site	$99.90/mth Min. cost $99.90	Go to Site

Although you may not have heard of the telco, Tangerine is well known within the industry for its ongoing promotional offers. For quite some time you’ve been able to nab a six-month discount on every single Tangerine NBN plan, and the provider is showing no signs of slowing down.

The telco also offers a 14-day satisfaction guarantee on your plan. You can try your plan for two whole weeks, and if you’re not satisfied with the service then you can cancel and have your plan fees refunded - no questions asked.

All Tangerine plans are contract-free, and you have the option to bring your own modem or buy one directly through the provider. Even if you decide to buy your modem from the telco you won’t get sucked into any payment plans, you’ll simply need to pay for it once and move on. All Tangerine modems work with other NBN providers as well so you won’t need to get yourself a new device if you decide to move on.

Best Unlimited NBN Provider

Winner: Tangerine Telecom

When it comes to the Best Unlimited NBN Provider, Tangerine’s XL Speed Boost plan has solidified the top spot for the telco. This award recognises consistent value in NBN 50 plans for fixed-line connections, with SpinTel sliding in as the runner up.

Both providers offered promotional discounts, but the yearly value of Tangerine’s offering has consistently bested Spintel enough to claim the top spot.

Similar to Tangerine, SpinTel also offers contract-free and BYO modem plans. Each of these NBN 50 plans have typical evening speeds of 50Mbps, so regardless of which provider you go with you can expect great speeds.

#1	SpinTel Editor's Pick	SpinTel Editor's Pick NBN Unlimited Premium 100 nbn® 100/18 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $16.95 off your plan for first 6 months! $65/mth for first 6 months, then $81.95/mth $65/mth Min. cost $65 Go to Site	$65/mth Min. cost $65	Go to Site
#2	Tangerine Telecom	Tangerine Telecom Speedy NBN nbn® 100/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $20/mth off for the first 6 mths, $65.90/mth for first 6 months, then $85.90/mth + 3 months BINGE. Ends 30.06.25 $65.90/mth Min. cost $65.90 Go to Site	$65.90/mth Min. cost $65.90	Go to Site
#3	Tangerine Telecom	Tangerine Telecom Speedy Plus NBN nbn® 100/34 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $15/mth off for the first 6 mths, $74.90/month for first 6 months, then $89.90/month + 3 months BINGE. Ends 30.06.25 $74.90/mth Min. cost $74.90 Go to Site	$74.90/mth Min. cost $74.90	Go to Site

Best Premium NBN Provider

Likewise, the Best Premium NBN Provider awards the telco with the best deals on NBN 100 plans. Tangerine also won this round, with SpinTel once again coming in second.

#1	SpinTel Editor's Pick	SpinTel Editor's Pick NBN Unlimited Premium 100 nbn® 100/18 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $16.95 off your plan for first 6 months! $65/mth for first 6 months, then $81.95/mth $65/mth Min. cost $65 Go to Site	$65/mth Min. cost $65	Go to Site
#2	Tangerine Telecom	Tangerine Telecom Speedy NBN nbn® 100/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $20/mth off for the first 6 mths, $65.90/mth for first 6 months, then $85.90/mth + 3 months BINGE. Ends 30.06.25 $65.90/mth Min. cost $65.90 Go to Site	$65.90/mth Min. cost $65.90	Go to Site
#3	Tangerine Telecom	Tangerine Telecom Speedy Plus NBN nbn® 100/34 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $15/mth off for the first 6 mths, $74.90/month for first 6 months, then $89.90/month + 3 months BINGE. Ends 30.06.25 $74.90/mth Min. cost $74.90 Go to Site	$74.90/mth Min. cost $74.90	Go to Site

Best Fixed Wireless NBN Provider

Winner: Tangerine Telecom

For Fixed Wireless NBN users, Tangerine is still the top of the fruit tree but the runner up is your friendly-neighbour-vibes provider MATE. MATE is quite clearly an Australian provider, spruiking low prices sans-discount year-round.

MATE’s Fixed Wireless NBN plans may not always be discounted, but the prices without the discount are competitive. All of these plans are contract-free and you have the choice to either bring your own modem or to buy one from the provider. You’ll also get a one-month risk-free guarantee, meaning that if you’re not satisfied within the first month then you’ll get a full refund of your plan fees.

You can also get a $10 per month discount with MATE if you bundle an NBN plan with a SIM-only mobile plan. MATE operates on the Telstra wholesale network.

No Dramas Wireless+

nbn® Wireless 48/8 Mbps
Unlimited Data
Deal: Includes $20/mth off for the first 6 mths (use code RIPPER20) + 1-month money back guarantee on your Internet + Bundle & Save!

$60/mth

Min. cost $60

Link not supplied

$60/mth

Min. cost $60

Link not supplied

Fixed Wireless Value Plus

nbn® Wireless Fast Speed
Unlimited Data
Deal: Includes $20/mth off for the first 6 mths, $62.90/month for first 6 months, then $82.90/month + 3 months BINGE. Ends 30.06.25