Lightning Broadband vs Mate - Which is the best NBN internet provider?
Mate is a well-known Australian owned NBN provider, generally reviewed as a reliable choice for everyday users who appreciate local support. Lightning Broadband, on the other hand, operates its own fibre network in selected areas alongside NBN, offering a potentially faster and more specialised service for those within their footprint. Mate typically suits those after straightforward NBN, while Lightning Broadband appeals to users seeking high performance alternatives and are willing to pay a little more for it.
Lightning Broadband and Mate 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 Mate 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 | Mate |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Mate is a 100% Australian-owned nbn and mobile provider with locally based support, known for simple, competitively priced unlimited plans. | |
| Go to Lightning Broadband | Go to Mate | |
| 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. Lightning Broadband - Entry Level: 25Mbps, unlimited data for $72 per month. |
Mate - Crikey: 25Mbps, unlimited data for $80 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. Lightning Broadband - Everyday Internet: 50Mbps, unlimited data for $85 per month. |
Mate - Ripper: 49Mbps, unlimited data for $90 per month. Mate - No Dramas Wireless: 48Mbps, unlimited data for $90 per month. |
| Cost of wireless broadband plan | ||
| Contact Details |
Lightning Broadband's phone number is: 1300 477 525 and website is: lightningbroadband.com.au |
Mate's phone number is: 13 14 13 and website is: letsbemates.com.au |
| Read Reviews | Read reviews of Lightning Broadband. | Read reviews of Mate. |
| Go to Lightning Broadband | Go to Mate |
Lightning Broadband and Mate 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 |
|
|
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 |
|
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Crikey
NBN - Fixed Line
25 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$80/mth
$55 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
Lightning Broadband and Mate NBN50 plans (50Mbps download speed)
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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 |
|
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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
|
$89/mth | Go to site |
|
|
Ripper
NBN - Fixed Line
49 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$90/mth
$70 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
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No Dramas Wireless
NBN - Fixed Wireless
48 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$90/mth
$70 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
Lightning Broadband and Mate Ultrafast plans (>100Mbps download speed)
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|
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 |
|
|
most popular plan
NBN - Private Fibre
500 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$95/mth
$69 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
No Worries
NBN - Fixed Line
97 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$100/mth
$75 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
No Worries Wireless
NBN - Fixed Wireless
90 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$100/mth
$75 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
No Worries
NBN - Fixed Line
485 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$100/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 |
|
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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 |
|
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Entertainment plus
NBN - Private Fibre
750 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$104/mth
$75 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Most Popular Plan
NBN - Private Fibre
100 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$109/mth | Go to site |
|
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Speed
NBN - Private Fibre
1000 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$109/mth
$85 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
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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 |
|
|
speed
NBN - Private Fibre
1000 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$109/mth
$85 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
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You Beaut
NBN - Fixed Line
97 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$110/mth
$85 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
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Fair Dinkum Wireless
NBN - Fixed Wireless
95 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$125/mth
$100 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
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Fair Dinkum
NBN - Fixed Line
713 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$125/mth
$100 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
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Flamin' Fast
NBN - Fixed Line
913 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$126/mth
$101 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
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Business Plus
NBN - Private Fibre
200 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$129/mth | Go to site |
|
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Scorchin' Fast
NBN - Fixed Line
1831 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$166/mth
$141 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
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Scorchin' Fast 2000/200
NBN - Fixed Line
1831 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$166/mth
$141 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
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Speed
NBN - Private Fibre
500 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$169/mth | Go to site |
|
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Plus
NBN - Private Fibre
1000 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$199/mth | Go to site |
|
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Ultra Fast
NBN - Private Fibre
2000 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$395/mth | Go to site |
|
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Ultra Fast
NBN - Private Fibre
2000 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$435/mth | Go to site |
|
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Ludicrous Speed
NBN - Private Fibre
5000 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$695/mth
Setup Fee: $499 |
Go to site |
|
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Ludicrous Speed
NBN - Private Fibre
5000 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$735/mth | Go to site |
Summary of Lightning Broadband and Mate 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: Mate rates higher overall than Lightning Broadband does.
- Recommended: Mate is more highly recommended than Lightning Broadband.
- Reliability: Mate rates higher for reliability than Lightning Broadband does.
- Customer Service: Mate rates higher for customer service than Lightning Broadband does.
- Value for Money: Mate rates higher for value for money than Lightning Broadband does.
- Technical Support: Mate rates higher for technical support than Lightning Broadband does.
How to decide between Lightning Broadband and Mate? - next steps
- Read reviews of Lightning Broadband and Mate to see what people think of these companies
- Visit the website of each company and do some of your own research - Lightning Broadband and Mate
- 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 Mate
Is Lightning Broadband better than Mate?
Both Lightning Broadband and Mate 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.
Which is cheaper for NBN50, Lightning Broadband or Mate?
Lightning Broadband's cheapest NBN50 plan is the Everyday Internet at $65/month intro for 6 months, then $85/month. Mate's cheapest NBN50 plan is the Ripper at $70/month intro for 6 months, then $90/month. Lightning Broadband is cheaper on the ongoing price after any intro period ends.
What plans do Lightning Broadband and Mate offer?
Lightning Broadband offers 30 NBN plans. Mate offers 12 NBN plans. See the full plan tables above for prices, speeds and data limits.
Where are Lightning Broadband and Mate's call centres?
Lightning Broadband's customer support is based in Melbourne. Mate'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 Mate (or Mate 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 Mate
They're generally okay and pretty stable. They aren't great at notifications about planned outages u til they've already started half the time.
My internet keeps dropping out so I wanted to change to nbn to the house rather than the curb. When you try to call this company you are on hold for…
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