Lightning Broadband vs Leaptel - Which is the best NBN internet provider?
Lightning Broadband is a smaller, independent Australian provider often praised in reviews for its personalised customer service and a more premium, high-speed focus. Leaptel, on the other hand, is a larger, more established player known for its competitive pricing and a broader range of plans, making it a popular choice for those prioritising budget and reliability. Ultimately, your choice between Lightning Broadband and Leaptel comes down to whether you value a bespoke experience or a more mainstream, cost-effective option.
Lightning Broadband and Leaptel 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 Leaptel 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 | Leaptel |
|---|---|---|
| About |
|
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| 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. | Leaptel is a Melbourne-based ISP that sells NBN and Opticomm fibre plans with no lock-in contracts and unlimited data on every tier. The ACCC Measuring Broadband Australia reports 27 through 32 ranked Leaptel as the country's fastest 1Gbps NBN provider. Leaptel won the 2025 Telecommunications Industry Excellence Award for customer service and runs a Melbourne-based support team seven days a week. | |
| Go to Lightning Broadband | Go to Leaptel | |
| Overall Rating | [Not enough reviews] | [Not enough reviews] |
| Recommended | [Not enough reviews] | [Not enough reviews] |
| Reliability | [Not enough reviews] | [Not enough reviews] |
| Customer Service | [Not enough reviews] | [Not enough reviews] |
| Value for Money | [Not enough reviews] | [Not enough reviews] |
| Technical Support | [Not enough reviews] | [Not enough reviews] |
| Australian based technical support | [Not enough reviews] | [Not enough reviews] |
| Call Centre Location | [Not enough reviews] | [Not enough reviews] |
| Services Offered | [Not enough reviews] | [Not enough reviews] |
| 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. |
|
| 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. |
|
| Cost of wireless broadband plan | ||
| Contact Details |
Lightning Broadband's phone number is: 1300 477 525 and website is: lightningbroadband.com.au |
Leaptel's phone number is: 1300 205 327 and website is: leaptel.com.au |
| Read Reviews | Read reviews of Lightning Broadband. | Read reviews of Leaptel. |
| Go to Lightning Broadband | Go to Leaptel |
Lightning Broadband and Leaptel NBN25 plans (25Mbps download speed)
|
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Entry Level
NBN - Private Fibre
25 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$72/mth
$45 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
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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 Leaptel 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 |
|
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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
|
$89/mth | Go to site |
Lightning Broadband and Leaptel 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 |
|
|
Most Popular Plan
NBN - Private Fibre
500 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$95/mth
$69 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 |
|
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Entertainment Plus
NBN - Private Fibre
750 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$104/mth
$75 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
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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 |
|
|
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 Leaptel 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: Leaptel rates higher overall than Lightning Broadband does.
- Recommended: Leaptel is more highly recommended than Lightning Broadband.
- Reliability: Leaptel rates higher for reliability than Lightning Broadband does.
- Customer Service: Leaptel rates higher for customer service than Lightning Broadband does.
- Value for Money: Leaptel rates higher for value for money than Lightning Broadband does.
- Technical Support: Leaptel rates higher for technical support than Lightning Broadband does.
How to decide between Lightning Broadband and Leaptel? - next steps
- Read reviews of Lightning Broadband and Leaptel to see what people think of these companies
- Visit the website of each company and do some of your own research - Lightning Broadband and Leaptel
- 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 Leaptel
Is Lightning Broadband better than Leaptel?
Both Lightning Broadband and Leaptel have fewer than 5 verified reviews on Oz Broadband Reviews, so we don't yet show aggregate ratings. Compare plans and prices in the tables above, or read the individual reviews on each company's page.
What plans do Lightning Broadband and Leaptel offer?
Lightning Broadband offers 20 NBN plans. Leaptel offers no plans currently listed on Oz Broadband Reviews. See the full plan tables above for prices, speeds and data limits.
Where are Lightning Broadband and Leaptel's call centres?
Lightning Broadband's customer support is based in Melbourne. Leaptel's customer support is based in Melbourne and 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 Leaptel (or Leaptel 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 Leaptel
Clear understandable language, polite and dont faff about
Easy to connect and speeds as advertised.
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