Optus vs Vocal: Which is the best NBN provider?

Updated 19 August 2026. Plan prices on this page pull live from our database. Ratings are from 14 first-person reviewer ratings (Optus 13, Vocal 1).

Optus is a major player offering comprehensive NBN plans often praised for reliable communication and easy setup, though some customers report frustrating customer service and occasional dropouts. Vocal, on the other hand, positions itself as a budget-friendly option, with its cheapest NBN plan starting significantly lower than Optus. This comparison helps you weigh up whether you prioritise a full-service experience with Optus or a more affordable entry point with Vocal.

Optus and Vocal 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 Vocal 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 Vocal
About Optus broadband NBN, wireless and adsl internet reviews and plan comparisons Vocal broadband NBN, wireless and adsl internet reviews and plan comparisons
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. Vocal Internet is a 100% Australian-owned provider founded in 2003, offering nbn and mobile broadband to homes and businesses.
Go to Optus Go to Vocal
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.
Vocal - nbn 25: 25Mbps, unlimited data for $50 per month.
Cost of 50Mbps NBN Plan with unlimited data Optus - Everyday: 50Mbps, unlimited data for $97 per month.
Vocal - nbn 50: 50Mbps, unlimited data for $70 per month.
Cost of wireless broadband plan Optus - Everyday Basic 4G (4G): 14Mbps, unlimited data for $59 per month.
Vocal - Wireless 12Mbps (4G): 10Mbps, unlimited data for $55 per month.
Contact Details Optus's phone number is:
1300 300 693
and website is:
optus.com.au
Vocal's phone number is:
1300 796700
and website is:
vocal.com.au
Read Reviews Read reviews of Optus. Read reviews of Vocal.
Go to Optus Go to Vocal

Optus and Vocal NBN25 plans (25Mbps download speed)

Vocal broadband NBN reviews
nbn 25
NBN - Fixed Line
25 Mb/s
Unlimited data
$50/mth Go to site
Optus broadband NBN reviews
Basic
NBN - Fixed Line
25 Mb/s
Unlimited data
$83/mth
$73 for first 12 months
Go to site

Optus and Vocal NBN50 plans (50Mbps download speed)

Vocal broadband NBN reviews
nbn 50
NBN - Fixed Line
50 Mb/s
Unlimited data
$70/mth Go to site
Optus broadband NBN reviews
Everyday
NBN - Fixed Line
50 Mb/s
Unlimited data
$97/mth
$87 for first 12 months
Go to site

Optus and Vocal Ultrafast plans (>100Mbps download speed)

Vocal broadband NBN reviews
nbn 500
NBN - Fixed Line
500 Mb/s
Unlimited data
$90/mth Go to site
Optus broadband NBN reviews
Fast 500
NBN - Fixed Line
500 Mb/s
Unlimited data
$99/mth
$89 for first 12 months
Go to site
Vocal broadband NBN reviews
nbn 750
NBN - Fixed Line
750 Mb/s
Unlimited data
$100/mth Go to site
Vocal broadband NBN reviews
nbn 1000
NBN - Fixed Line
1000 Mb/s
Unlimited data
$110/mth Go to site
Optus broadband NBN reviews
Ultrafast
NBN - Fixed Line
820 Mb/s
Unlimited data
$129/mth
$119 for first 12 months
Go to site
Vocal broadband NBN reviews
nbn 250
NBN - Fixed Line
250 Mb/s
Unlimited data
$130/mth Go to site
Vocal broadband NBN reviews
nbn 500
NBN - Fixed Line
500 Mb/s
Unlimited data
$180/mth Go to site
Vocal broadband NBN reviews
nbn 1000
NBN - Fixed Line
1000 Mb/s
Unlimited data
$230/mth Go to site

Summary of Optus and Vocal 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: Optus rates higher overall than Vocal does.
  • Recommended: Optus is more highly recommended than Vocal.
  • Reliability: Optus rates higher for reliability than Vocal does.
  • Customer Service: Optus rates higher for customer service than Vocal does.
  • Value for Money: Optus rates higher for value for money than Vocal does.
  • Technical Support: Optus rates higher for technical support than Vocal does.

How to decide between Optus and Vocal? - next steps

  • Read reviews of Optus and Vocal to see what people think of these companies
  • Visit the website of each company and do some of your own research - Optus and Vocal
  • 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 Vocal

Is Optus better than Vocal?

Optus has 13 verified reviews on Oz Broadband Reviews and an overall rating of 4.1 out of 5. Vocal 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 Vocal?

Optus's cheapest NBN50 plan is the Everyday at $87/month intro for 12 months, then $97/month. Vocal's cheapest NBN50 plan is the nbn 50 at $70/month ongoing. Vocal is cheaper on the ongoing price after any intro period ends.

Which has better customer service, Optus or Vocal?

Optus scores 4.1 out of 5 on customer service vs Vocal's 1.0, 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 Vocal's is based in Australia.

What plans do Optus and Vocal offer?

Optus offers 5 wireless plans and 4 NBN plans. Vocal offers 9 NBN plans and 3 wireless plans. See the full plan tables above for prices, speeds and data limits.

Where are Optus and Vocal's call centres?

Optus's customer support is based in Australia, India and the Philippines. Vocal'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 Optus to Vocal (or Vocal 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

★★★☆☆ (3.3)
“Bog standard”

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…

— Verified customer (NSW), Aug 2026
★★★★☆ (4.3)
“Followup review of Optus”

Occasional drop outs quite annoying. Pricing is making us consider another provider on the telco network

— Verified customer (SA), Aug 2026

About Vocal

★½☆☆☆ (1.5)
“Terrible experience”

Home speed tests showed very poor speeds, but nothing was done about my enquiries. When I finally cancelled the service I was quickly sent a large…

— Verified customer (VIC), Jan 2022

Was this comparison useful? Please let us know how we can improve and make this page more useful? Thanks.