Lightning Broadband vs Belong - Which is the best NBN internet provider?
Belong, owned by Telstra, generally earns praise for reliable speeds and straightforward setup, making it a solid choice for consistent home internet, though some recent price rises have been noted. Lightning Broadband, on the other hand, often appeals to those seeking competitive pricing and a more independent option. Reviews suggest Belong is a safe bet for performance, while Lightning Broadband might suit users prioritising affordability.
Lightning Broadband and Belong are both reputable broadband internet providers in Australia.
Deciding which NBN or wireless internet company to sign up to is not an easy task. To make this process easier we have provided a side by side comparison of Lightning Broadband and Belong internet providers in the table below.
Disclaimer: All the data in the table is based on the opinions of people who have submitted reviews to this site over the last 24 months. We screen the reviews very thoroughly to ensure only accurate reviews get through. Please do your own research.
| Criteria | Lightning Broadband | Belong |
|---|---|---|
| About |
|
 |
| Lightning Broadband runs its own fixed wireless and private fibre network across Melbourne, with plans up to 1000 Mbps for addresses inside the Lightning footprint. It sits alongside the nbn rather than reselling it, so customers in covered buildings get to bypass the FTTN/FTTB copper that would otherwise cap their speeds. Lightning is small and Melbourne specific but useful for residents of apartment blocks where its network is already wired in. | Belong is a broadband and mobile company that's owned entirely by Telstra and was founded in 2013. It recently got rid of phone support and now only offers online support. | |
| Go to Lightning Broadband | Go to Belong | |
| Overall Rating | [Not enough reviews] |
3.3
Belong has an overall rating of 3.3 out of 5 based on 9 reviews. Belong is an ok broadband internet provider according to our users. |
| Recommended | [Not enough reviews] | 67% of people who have written reviews on this site would recommend Belong to their friends as a broadband internet provider. |
| Reliability | [Not enough reviews] |
3.4 Belong's reliability is rated as ok by our users. Belong has an overall rating of 3.4 out of 5 for reliability. |
| Customer Service | [Not enough reviews] |
3.3 Belong's customer service is rated as ok by our users. Belong has an overall rating of 3.3 out of 5 for customer service. |
| Value for Money | [Not enough reviews] |
3.4 Belong is rated as ok for value for money by our users. Belong has an overall rating of 3.4 out of 5 for value for money. |
| Technical Support | [Not enough reviews] |
3.1 Belong's technical support is rated as ok by our users. Belong has an overall rating of 3.1 out of 5 for technical support. |
| Australian based technical support | [Not enough reviews] | Yes, Belong does have Australian based technical support. |
| Call Centre Location | [Not enough reviews] | Belong uses call centres based in Australia. |
| Services Offered | [Not enough reviews] | Belong offers a range of broadband and internet related services including NBN internet plans. |
| Cost of 25Mbps NBN Plan with unlimited data |
Lightning Broadband - Entry level: 25Mbps, unlimited data for $72 per month. Lightning Broadband - Entry Level: 25Mbps, unlimited data for $72 per month. Lightning Broadband - Entry Level: 25Mbps, unlimited data for $72 per month. |
Belong - Starter: 25Mbps, unlimited data for $72 per month. |
| Cost of 50Mbps NBN Plan with unlimited data |
Lightning Broadband - Everyday internet: 50Mbps, unlimited data for $85 per month. Lightning Broadband - Everyday Internet: 50Mbps, unlimited data for $85 per month. Lightning Broadband - Everyday Internet: 50Mbps, unlimited data for $85 per month. |
Belong - Standard Plus: 50Mbps, unlimited data for $88 per month. |
| Cost of wireless broadband plan |
Belong - Mobile Broadband 20GB (): 150Mbps, 20 GB for $20 per month. |
|
| Contact Details |
Lightning Broadband's phone number is: 1300 477 525 and website is: lightningbroadband.com.au |
Belong's phone number is: 1300 235 656 and website is: belong.com.au |
| Read Reviews | Read reviews of Lightning Broadband. | Read reviews of Belong. |
| Go to Lightning Broadband | Go to Belong |
Lightning Broadband and Belong NBN25 plans (25Mbps download speed)
|
|
Entry Level
NBN - Private Fibre
25 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$72/mth
$45 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
Starter
NBN - Fixed Line
25 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$72/mth
$55 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Entry level
NBN - Private Fibre
25 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$72/mth
$45 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Entry Level
NBN - Private Fibre
25 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$72/mth
$45 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Fibre Plans Entry Level
NBN - Private Fibre
25 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$79/mth | Go to site |
Lightning Broadband and Belong NBN50 plans (50Mbps download speed)
|
|
Everyday internet
NBN - Private Fibre
50 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$85/mth
$65 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Everyday Internet
NBN - Private Fibre
50 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$85/mth
$65 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Everyday Internet
NBN - Private Fibre
50 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$85/mth
$65 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Standard Plus
NBN - Fixed Line
50 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$88/mth
$65 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Everyday Internet
NBN - Private Fibre
50 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$89/mth | Go to site |
Lightning Broadband and Belong Ultrafast plans (>100Mbps download speed)
|
|
Most Popular Plan
NBN - Private Fibre
500 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$95/mth
$69 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Fast
NBN - Fixed Line
500 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$95/mth
$65 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Most Popular Plan
NBN - Private Fibre
500 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$95/mth
$69 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Premium
NBN - Fixed Line
100 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$95/mth
$65 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
most popular plan
NBN - Private Fibre
500 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$95/mth
$69 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Entertainment Plus
NBN - Private Fibre
750 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$104/mth
$75 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Entertainment Plus
NBN - Private Fibre
750 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$104/mth
$75 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Entertainment plus
NBN - Private Fibre
750 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$104/mth
$75 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
speed
NBN - Private Fibre
1000 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$109/mth
$85 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Speed
NBN - Private Fibre
1000 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$109/mth
$85 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Most Popular Plan
NBN - Private Fibre
100 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$109/mth | Go to site |
|
|
Speed
NBN - Private Fibre
1000 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$109/mth
$85 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Ultrafast
NBN - Fixed Line
815 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$110/mth
$80 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Business Plus
NBN - Private Fibre
200 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$129/mth | Go to site |
|
|
Speed
NBN - Private Fibre
500 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$169/mth | Go to site |
Summary of Lightning Broadband and Belong comparison
Please note that summary below is based on reviews submitted to this website and represents the views of the people who wrote the reviews.
- Overall: Belong rates higher overall than Lightning Broadband does.
- Recommended: Belong is more highly recommended than Lightning Broadband.
- Reliability: Belong rates higher for reliability than Lightning Broadband does.
- Customer Service: Belong rates higher for customer service than Lightning Broadband does.
- Value for Money: Belong rates higher for value for money than Lightning Broadband does.
- Technical Support: Belong rates higher for technical support than Lightning Broadband does.
How to decide between Lightning Broadband and Belong? - next steps
- Read reviews of Lightning Broadband and Belong to see what people think of these companies
- Visit the website of each company and do some of your own research - Lightning Broadband and Belong
- Decide how fast your connection need to be and how much data you need then use our broadband plan finder to narrow down the list of plans and find the best plan that suits your budget
- Choose the plan that best suits your needs and budget. Remember, that you can easily change plans but changing broadband internet providers is more difficult so it is really important that you choose a solid internet provider.
Frequently asked questions about Lightning Broadband vs Belong
Is Lightning Broadband better than Belong?
Belong has 9 verified reviews on Oz Broadband Reviews and an overall rating of 3.3 out of 5. Lightning Broadband has fewer than 5 reviews so we don't yet show an aggregate rating. Read the individual reviews above to form your own view.
Which is cheaper for NBN50, Lightning Broadband or Belong?
Lightning Broadband's cheapest NBN50 plan is the Everyday Internet at $65/month intro for 6 months, then $85/month. Belong's cheapest NBN50 plan is the Standard Plus at $65/month intro for 6 months, then $88/month. Lightning Broadband is cheaper on the ongoing price after any intro period ends.
What plans do Lightning Broadband and Belong offer?
Lightning Broadband offers 20 NBN plans. Belong offers 5 NBN plans and 3 wireless plans. See the full plan tables above for prices, speeds and data limits.
Where are Lightning Broadband and Belong's call centres?
Lightning Broadband's customer support is based in Melbourne. Belong's customer support is based in Australia. Call centre location can affect support hours and accent comprehension if onshore support is important to you.
How do I switch from Lightning Broadband to Belong (or Belong to Lightning Broadband)?
Switching NBN providers in Australia is straightforward. The new provider handles the transfer once you sign up and provide your address. There's usually no contract overlap if your current plan is month-to-month, but check for early termination fees on contracted plans. Phone numbers can usually be ported, and the service typically continues uninterrupted on the same NBN line.
What customers say
About Belong
I’ve used Belong for several months and found the service reliable with consistent speeds suitable for streaming and work from home needs. Setup was…
it is a great company with relatively reasonable price
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