The best wireless home internet plans are ones that offer a great service at a reasonable price, and are worth considering if the NBN servicing your home is either prone to dropouts or is simply non-existent.
You've got plenty of choice when it comes to wireless home internet in Australia: the best 5G internet plans typically offer the most attractive cost-to-speed ratio, but if you live in an area unserviced by 5G, you could also consider the best 4G broadband plans (which are slower, but are available more widely). If you don't want either, and you don't have a fixed-line connection to your home, you may live in an area with NBN fixed wireless, which offers NBN plans over wireless signals. Mobile broadband is also an option if you want portable internet.
Just keep in mind that the best NBN plans still offer quite competitive pricing and a greater variety of options from dozens of providers against these alternatives. A reliable fixed-line connection will also offer lower latency, leading to better performance when it comes to online games and things that require quick data streaming (like video calls).
Let’s get into the best wireless broadband options in Australia.
Best 5G home internet plans
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Let’s start with 5G home internet. Adoption of 5G plans across mobile and internet categories is still ongoing, with many telcos not currently offering access to 5G networks, however there's nothing stopping you from picking up a fairly nice 5G home internet plan quite cheaply.
5G plans leverage networks operated by Telstra, Optus and Vodafone to beam internet into your home. If your area is unserviced by a 5G network, you may be interested in 4G broadband, which we'll discuss further down.
Just keep in mind that 5G home broadband isn’t meant to be portable. For internet on-the-go, scroll down to the mobile broadband section.
Best 5G home internet plan
Best 4G home internet plans
It may be slower than other options, but 4G home internet plans are still an attractive option if your home exists outside of 5G coverage range.
4G broadband plans are offered by internet providers which leverage the networks serviced by Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. They're fairly cheap and accessible, but they're nowhere near as fast as 5G or the NBN.
Keep in mind that these plans, while wireless, must stay at your home address. If you want portable internet, then you should consider a mobile broadband option as outlined below.
Best 4G home internet plan
Best NBN fixed wireless plans
Across a lot of regional and rural Australia, the NBN leverages wireless radio bands to service homes with accessible broadband. This is called NBN fixed wireless, and it's comparable to both 5G and 4G in service, but is ultimately part of the larger national broadband network.
Best NBN fixed wireless plan
Best mobile broadband plans
While none of these other plans allow for portability and internet on the go, mobile broadband plans do. Think of mobile broadband as an internet plan, like the internet available on your phone via your phone plan provider, without having a phone number attached. These plans leverage 4G and 5G networks serviced by Telstra, Optus and Vodafone.
The world of mobile broadband can get a bit complicated. Some providers will offer mobile broadband as coupled to a specific device or a dongle, while others will offer simply the SIM card, or offer a specialty device as an optional extra. You might want a special, portable modem-router if you’re looking to provide internet to several devices at once, or you might want a SIM if you want on-the-go internet access for your tablet or SIM-capable laptop.
Best cheap mobile broadband plan: our pick
