Optus vs Lightning Broadband: Which is the best NBN provider?
Updated 29 August 2026. Plan prices on this page pull live from our database. Ratings are from 13 first-person reviewer ratings (Optus 13, Lightning Broadband 0).
Lightning Broadband, on the other hand, is a smaller provider that is the cheaper of the two on entry level NBN plans. While Optus customers appreciate its stability, some have noted frustrations with customer service response times and plan price increases.
Optus and Lightning Broadband 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 Optus and Lightning Broadband 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 | Optus | Lightning Broadband |
|---|---|---|
| About |
 |
|
| Go to Optus | Go to Lightning Broadband | |
| Overall Rating |
4.1
Optus has a overall rating of 4.1 out of 5 based on 13 reviews. Optus is a very good broadband internet provider according to our users. |
[Not enough reviews] |
| Recommended | 77% of people who have written reviews on this site would recommend Optus to their friends as a broadband internet provider. | [Not enough reviews] |
| Reliability |
4.2 Optus's reliability is rated as very good by our users. Optus has an overall rating of 4.2 out of 5 for reliability. |
[Not enough reviews] |
| Customer Service |
4.1 Optus's customer service is rated as very good by our users. Optus has an overall rating of 4.1 out of 5 for customer service. |
[Not enough reviews] |
| Value for Money |
3.8 Optus is rated as good for value for money by our users. Optus has an overall rating of 3.8 out of 5 for value for money. |
[Not enough reviews] |
| Technical Support |
4.1 Optus's technical support is rated as very good by our users. Optus has an overall rating of 4.1 out of 5 for technical support. |
[Not enough reviews] |
| Australian based technical support | No, Optus uses a mix of Australian based and overseas call centres for technical support. | [Not enough reviews] |
| Call Centre Location | Optus uses call centres based in Australia, India and Philippines. | [Not enough reviews] |
| Services Offered | Optus offers a range of broadband and internet related services including internet plans. | [Not enough reviews] |
| Cost of 25Mbps NBN Plan with unlimited data |
Optus - Basic: 25Mbps, unlimited data for $83 per month. |
Lightning Broadband - Entry Level: 25Mbps, unlimited data for $72 per month. |
| Cost of 50Mbps NBN Plan with unlimited data |
Optus - Everyday: 50Mbps, unlimited data for $97 per month. |
Lightning Broadband - Everyday Internet: 50Mbps, unlimited data for $85 per month. |
| Cost of wireless broadband plan |
Optus - Everyday Basic 4G (4G): 14Mbps, unlimited data for $59 per month. |
|
| Contact Details |
Optus's phone number is: 1300 300 693 and website is: optus.com.au |
Lightning Broadband's phone number is: 1300 477 525 and website is: lightningbroadband.com.au |
| Read Reviews | Read reviews of Optus. | Read reviews of Lightning Broadband. |
| Go to Optus | Go to Lightning Broadband |
Optus and Lightning Broadband 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 |
|
Basic
NBN - Fixed Line
25 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$83/mth
$73 for first 12 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Entry Level
NBN - Private Fibre
25 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$86.90/mth
Setup Fee: $110 |
Go to site |
Optus and Lightning Broadband 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
NBN - Fixed Line
50 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$97/mth
$87 for first 12 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Everyday Internet
NBN - Private Fibre
50 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$97.90/mth
Setup Fee: $110 |
Go to site |
Optus and Lightning Broadband 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 500
NBN - Fixed Line
500 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$99/mth
$89 for first 12 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 |
|
|
Most Popular Plan
NBN - Private Fibre
100 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$119.90/mth
Setup Fee: $110 |
Go to site |
|
|
Ultrafast
NBN - Fixed Line
820 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$129/mth
$119 for first 12 months |
Go to site |
|
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Business Plus
NBN - Private Fibre
200 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$141.90/mth
Setup Fee: $110 |
Go to site |
|
|
Lightning Speed
NBN - Private Fibre
500 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$185.90/mth
Setup Fee: $110 |
Go to site |
|
|
Lightning Plus
NBN - Private Fibre
1000 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$218.90/mth
Setup Fee: $110 |
Go to site |
|
|
Ultra Fast
NBN - Private Fibre
2000 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$395/mth
Setup Fee: $499 |
Go to site |
|
|
Ultra Fast
NBN - Private Fibre
2000 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$478.50/mth
Setup Fee: $550 |
Go to site |
|
|
Ludicrous Speed
NBN - Private Fibre
5000 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$695/mth
Setup Fee: $499 |
Go to site |
|
|
Ludicrous Speed
NBN - Private Fibre
5000 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$808.50/mth
Setup Fee: $550 |
Go to site |
Summary of Optus and Lightning Broadband 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.
Lightning Broadband doesn't have enough reviews yet for a published rating, so we cannot compare it against Optus (4.1 out of 5 from 13 reviews). Compare their plans above, and if you are a Lightning Broadband customer we would love to hear how it is going.
How to decide between Optus and Lightning Broadband? - next steps
- Read reviews of Optus and Lightning Broadband to see what people think of these companies
- Visit the website of each company and do some of your own research - Optus and Lightning Broadband
- 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 Optus vs Lightning Broadband
Is Optus better than Lightning Broadband?
Optus has 13 verified reviews on Oz Broadband Reviews and an overall rating of 4.1 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, Optus or Lightning Broadband?
Optus's cheapest NBN50 plan is the Everyday at $87/month intro for 12 months, then $97/month. Lightning Broadband's cheapest NBN50 plan is the Everyday Internet at $65/month intro for 6 months, then $85/month. Lightning Broadband is cheaper on the ongoing price after any intro period ends.
What plans do Optus and Lightning Broadband offer?
Optus offers 5 wireless plans and 4 NBN plans. Lightning Broadband offers 15 NBN plans. See the full plan tables above for prices, speeds and data limits.
Where are Optus and Lightning Broadband's call centres?
Optus's customer support is based in Australia, India and the Philippines. Lightning Broadband's customer support is based in Melbourne. Call centre location can affect support hours and accent comprehension if onshore support is important to you.
How do I switch from Optus to Lightning Broadband (or Lightning Broadband to Optus)?
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 Optus
When reaching out for actual tech support, they'll treat you like you know nothing and make you go through the whole rigmarole of rudimentary…
Occasional drop outs quite annoying. Pricing is making us consider another provider on the telco network
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