Optus vs Exetel - Which is the best NBN internet provider?
Optus is a major telco offering a full suite of services, often praised by customers for reliable connections and easy setup, though price increases and customer service issues are recurring complaints. Exetel, on the other hand, is a more focused NBN provider known for its competitive pricing and straightforward plans. While Optus suits those wanting a comprehensive package, Exetel often appeals to users prioritising value and a no-frills internet experience.
NBN plans from $80.00/mth · Partner
Optus and Exetel 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 Exetel 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 | Exetel |
|---|---|---|
| About |
 |
 Partner |
| Optus is Australia's second-largest telco, owned by Singapore's Singtel. It sells nbn and 5G home internet, often bundled with mobile and entertainment, all backed by its own nationwide mobile network. | Exetel launched its first broadband service in 2004 and built a name as a low-cost, no-frills ISP. Since 2021 it has been owned by ASX-listed Superloop, which runs the network behind it, while Exetel continues as its own value-focused brand. | |
| Go to Optus | Go to Exetel | |
| Overall Rating |
3.9
Optus has a overall rating of 3.9 out of 5 based on 10 reviews. Optus is a good broadband internet provider according to our users. |
4.3
Exetel has an overall rating of 4.3 out of 5 based on 6 reviews. Exetel is a very good broadband internet provider according to our users. |
| Recommended | 70% of people who have written reviews on this site would recommend Optus to their friends as a broadband internet provider. | 83% of people who have written reviews on this site would recommend Exetel to their friends as a broadband internet provider. |
| Reliability |
4.1 Optus's reliability is rated as very good by our users. Optus has an overall rating of 4.1 out of 5 for reliability. |
4 Exetel's reliability is rated as very good by our users. Exetel has an overall rating of 4 out of 5 for reliability. |
| Customer Service |
3.8 Optus's customer service is rated as good by our users. Optus has an overall rating of 3.8 out of 5 for customer service. |
4.7 Exetel's customer service is rated as excellent by our users. Exetel has an overall rating of 4.7 out of 5 for customer service. |
| Value for Money |
3.9 Optus is rated as good for value for money by our users. Optus has an overall rating of 3.9 out of 5 for value for money. |
4 Exetel is rated as very good for value for money by our users. Exetel has an overall rating of 4 out of 5 for value for money. |
| Technical Support |
3.8 Optus's technical support is rated as good by our users. Optus has an overall rating of 3.8 out of 5 for technical support. |
4.5 Exetel's technical support is rated as excellent by our users. Exetel has an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 for technical support. |
| Australian based technical support | No, Optus uses a mix of Australian based and overseas call centres for technical support. | No, Exetel uses a mix of Australian based and overseas call centres for technical support. |
| Call Centre Location | Optus uses call centres based in Australia, India and Philippines. | Exetel uses call centres based in Australia and Sri Lanka. |
| Services Offered | Optus offers a range of broadband and internet related services including internet plans. | Exetel offers a range of broadband and internet related services including NBN and 5G internet plans. |
| Cost of 25Mbps NBN Plan with unlimited data |
Optus - Basic: 25Mbps, unlimited data for $79 per month. |
|
| Cost of 50Mbps NBN Plan with unlimited data |
Optus - Everyday: 50Mbps, unlimited data for $95 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 |
Exetel's phone number is: 13 39 38 and website is: exetel.com.au |
| Read Reviews | Read reviews of Optus. | Read reviews of Exetel. |
| Go to Optus | Go to Exetel |
Optus and Exetel NBN25 plans (25Mbps download speed)
|
Basic
NBN - Fixed Line
25 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$79/mth | Go to site |
Optus and Exetel NBN50 plans (50Mbps download speed)
|
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Everyday
NBN - Fixed Line
50 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$95/mth | Go to site |
Optus and Exetel Ultrafast plans (>100Mbps download speed)
|
One Plan
NBN - Fixed Line
500 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$80/mth | Go to site |
|
|
Fast 100
NBN - Fixed Line
100 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$99/mth
$79 for first 12 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Fast 500
NBN - Fixed Line
500 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$99/mth
$79 for first 12 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Ultrafast
NBN - Fixed Line
820 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$129/mth
$109 for first 12 months |
Go to site |
Summary of Optus and Exetel 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: Exetel rates higher overall than Optus does.
- Recommended: Exetel is more highly recommended than Optus.
- Reliability: Optus and Exetel have pretty similar ratings for reliability.
- Customer Service: Exetel rates higher for customer service than Optus does.
- Value for Money: Optus and Exetel have pretty similar ratings in terms of value for money.
- Technical Support: Exetel rates higher for technical support than Optus does.
How to decide between Optus and Exetel? - next steps
- Read reviews of Optus and Exetel to see what people think of these companies
- Visit the website of each company and do some of your own research - Optus and Exetel
- 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 Exetel
Is Optus better than Exetel?
On Oz Broadband Reviews Optus rates 3.9 out of 5 from 10 reviews and Exetel rates 4.3 from 6 reviews. On recommend-to-a-friend, 83% of Exetel reviewers said they'd recommend the provider, vs 70% for Optus. On individual metrics, Exetel wins on customer service (4.7 vs 3.8) and tech support (4.5 vs 3.8). Read the full reviews above to form your own view.
Which has better customer service, Optus or Exetel?
Exetel scores 4.7 out of 5 on customer service vs Optus's 3.8, based on verified reviews on Oz Broadband Reviews. If onshore support matters, Optus's call centre is based in Australia, India and the Philippines and Exetel's is based in Australia and Sri Lanka.
What plans do Optus and Exetel offer?
Optus offers 5 NBN plans and 4 wireless plans. Exetel offers 1 NBN plan. See the full plan tables above for prices, speeds and data limits.
Where are Optus and Exetel's call centres?
Optus's customer support is based in Australia, India and the Philippines. Exetel's customer support is based in Australia and Sri Lanka. Call centre location can affect support hours and accent comprehension if onshore support is important to you.
How do I switch from Optus to Exetel (or Exetel 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
Great deal at 50 per month promotional offer, can't fault it. But the customer service wasn't great, and sometimes the network blacks out but…
Reliable enough, but had plenty of issues with technical support throughout the years. Also never told if theres a better price on a current plan, happy…
About Exetel
I love the Exetel One NBN Plan. The value proposition is great, it's $80 a month offering 500/50 speeds. You have the ability to reduce the monthly…
Speed and reliability is good, never had any issues with service itself. One benefit that Exetel provides that I've not seen any other NBN provider…
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