The best wireless internet plans in Australia have improved massively in recent years and now provide a genuine alternative to a fixed-line connection. When you think of wireless internet, the most common types that will likely come to mind include NBN fixed wireless and 5G home internet.
And while these certainly are the two of the best internet plan options in Australia, there is increasing competition from Starlink, Tesla founder Elon Musk's satellite internet service that has slowly but surely been attracting new customers.
So, if you think your home wireless internet plan could do with improving, or you want to find out if there’s a potentially better internet option out there to rival your fixed-line NBN connection, we’re here to help. We’ve compared the best wireless internet plans, in partnership with WhistleOut, including NBN's own fixed wireless service, 4G and 5G home internet and even 4G and 5G mobile broadband.
Current Wireless Internet Plan Deals
Looking for some quick recommendations for the best wireless broadband options in Australia? We’ve picked out some of the standout deals currently available, which you can check out below.
- NBN Fixed Wireless - Swoop | AU$69p/m (for 6 months, then AU$79p/m)
- 4G Home Internet - TPG Home Wireless Unlimited from AU$44.99p/m
- 5G Home Internet - TPG 5G Home Broadband Premium from AU$54.99p/m
Best NBN Fixed Wireless Plans
If your home isn't able to connect to one of the best NBN plans, instead having to rely on a fixed wireless connection, then there is still good news to report. The latest data from the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) found the average download speed on fixed wireless plans was 57Mbps during all hours, putting it on par with NBN 50 plans.
To put this into greater context, average download speeds during all hours were 109.7% of advertised plan speeds, i.e. users experienced faster download speeds than those they were technically paying for. This figure decreased to 87.5% during the busy evening hours of 7pm to 11pm.
This is to be expected, however, not only because more users will be connecting to the internet during the this time, but also because of the inherent limitations of fixed wireless technology.
Best NBN Fixed Wireless plan: our pick
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More NBN Fixed Wireless deals
Best Home Wireless Internet Plans
Australia’s 4G and 5G network coverage has been steadily improving in recent years and is now a genuine internet option for people looking for a fast, reliable connection.
5G home internet, in particular, has the potential to offer download speeds that far exceed those offered on a fixed-line NBN connection.
4G home internet speeds may be slower in comparison, but they offer an easier and more convenient way of getting online for people in more remote areas.
Best 5G home wireless plan: our pick
When 5G home internet first became available in Australia, it was only Telstra and Optus that could offer it. And Telstra was by invitation only. But now Vodafone has joined the party, Telstra has dropped its invitation policy and overall 5G coverage has increased considerably.
This means 5G home internet is a genuine option for Australians wanting to get online and experience (potentially) superfast download speeds. And, with increased competition, the telco providers are starting to offer better deals to help entice you. We’ve picked out our favourite plan for most people below, but check out the best 5G home internet plans for more deals.
More 5G home wireless plans
Best 4G home wireless plan: our pick
More 4G home wireless plans
Best Mobile Broadband Plans
Mobile broadband can be useful if you spend a lot of your time away from home but still require an internet connection. Both 4G and 5G speeds are possible and perhaps the greatest benefit of mobile broadband is that it can serve as an alternative to using your smartphone as a personal hotspot. But, mobile broadband can get expensive if you need to buy a compatible modem, as telcos tend to charge a monthly fee for them.
You can get SIM-only mobile broadband plans, but these require you to have your own modem. You could, for example, put a SIM card in an old phone and use it as a personal hotspot. The key thing to remember with mobile broadband is that there is usually a limit on the amount of data included.
The plans we’ve selected below are based on the assumption that you need to pay for the compatible modem.
Best 5G mobile broadband plans: our pick
More 5G mobile broadband plans
Best 4G mobile broadband plans: our pick
More 4G mobile broadband plans
Home wireless internet FAQ
What is fixed wireless internet?
Fixed wireless internet is a connection type predominantly used by people in rural and regional areas of Australia. The ACCC estimates that 4% of NBN customers are served by an NBN fixed wireless connection.
Fixed wireless broadband is served to home via base towers emitting radio waves that are received by an antenna installed on the roof of your property. The antenna connects to an NBN device inside your property, which connects to a modem to emit a Wi-Fi signal which your devices connect to.
Is wireless broadband better than the NBN?
Yes and no. For some Australians, wireless broadband is the only option for connecting to the internet, as their property isn’t served by a fixed-line NBN connection. Some others may find they live in an area with good 5G network coverage and so can achieve faster download speeds than what is possible from their fixed-line connection.
However, wireless internet options can be affected by network congestion, interference to the wireless signal and the distance between the property and the base tower. While the ACCC has found NBN fixed-wireless providers deliver 110% of download speeds across all hours, this isn’t a guarantee that you will experience the same. A fixed-line NBN connection is more likely to offer consistent speeds.