Telstra vs Escapenet - Which is the best NBN internet provider?
Telstra is the big name, known for reliable connections and good customer service, especially in rural areas, though many find it expensive. Escapenet, on the other hand, is a smaller player focusing on affordability, with its cheapest NBN plan coming in significantly lower than Telstra's. Ultimately, Telstra suits those prioritising stability and support, while Escapenet is for budget-conscious users.
Telstra and Escapenet 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 Telstra and Escapenet 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 | Telstra | Escapenet |
|---|---|---|
| About |
 |
 |
| Telstra is Australia's largest telco and broadband provider, with the widest fixed and mobile network reach in the country. It charges a premium over smaller providers but offers extensive coverage and extras like Fetch TV. The old BigPond brand has long since been retired. | Escapenet is an Australian provider offering simple, no fuss broadband plans. | |
| Go to Telstra | Go to Escapenet | |
| Overall Rating |
4
Telstra has a overall rating of 4 out of 5 based on 12 reviews. Telstra is a very good broadband internet provider according to our users. |
[Not enough reviews] |
| Recommended | 92% of people who have written reviews on this site would recommend Telstra to their friends as a broadband internet provider. | [Not enough reviews] |
| Reliability |
4.3 Telstra's reliability is rated as very good by our users. Telstra has an overall rating of 4.3 out of 5 for reliability. |
[Not enough reviews] |
| Customer Service |
4.1 Telstra's customer service is rated as very good by our users. Telstra has an overall rating of 4.1 out of 5 for customer service. |
[Not enough reviews] |
| Value for Money |
3.4 Telstra is rated as ok for value for money by our users. Telstra has an overall rating of 3.4 out of 5 for value for money. |
[Not enough reviews] |
| Technical Support |
4 Telstra's technical support is rated as very good by our users. Telstra has an overall rating of 4 out of 5 for technical support. |
[Not enough reviews] |
| Australian based technical support | No, Telstra uses a mix of Australian based and overseas call centres for technical support. | [Not enough reviews] |
| Call Centre Location | Telstra uses call centres based in Australia, Philippines and India. | [Not enough reviews] |
| Services Offered | Telstra offers a range of broadband and internet related services including internet plans. | [Not enough reviews] |
| Cost of 25Mbps NBN Plan with unlimited data |
Telstra - Basic: 25Mbps, unlimited data for $85 per month. |
Escapenet - Casual: 23Mbps, unlimited data for $65 per month. |
| Cost of 50Mbps NBN Plan with unlimited data |
Telstra - Essential: 50Mbps, unlimited data for $95 per month. |
Escapenet - Basic: 48Mbps, unlimited data for $80 per month. |
| Cost of wireless broadband plan |
Telstra - Basic 5G (5G): 25Mbps, unlimited data for $70 per month. |
|
| Contact Details |
Telstra's phone number is: 13 22 00 and website is: telstra.com.au |
Escapenet's phone number is: 1300 023 354 and website is: esc.net.au |
| Read Reviews | Read reviews of Telstra. | Read reviews of Escapenet. |
| Go to Telstra | Go to Escapenet |
Telstra and Escapenet NBN25 plans (25Mbps download speed)
|
Casual
NBN - Fixed Line
23 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$65/mth | Go to site |
|
Basic
NBN - Fixed Line
25 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$85/mth | Go to site |
Telstra and Escapenet NBN50 plans (50Mbps download speed)
|
|
Basic
NBN - Fixed Line
48 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$80/mth | Go to site |
|
|
Essential
NBN - Fixed Line
50 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$95/mth | Go to site |
Telstra and Escapenet Ultrafast plans (>100Mbps download speed)
|
|
Homefast
NBN - Fixed Line
95 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$90/mth | Go to site |
|
|
Premium
NBN - Fixed Line
500 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$99/mth
$89 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Ultimate
NBN - Fixed Line
750 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$119/mth
$89 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Ultrafast
NBN - Fixed Line
815 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$129/mth
$99 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
Summary of Telstra and Escapenet 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: Escapenet rates higher overall than Telstra does.
- Recommended: Escapenet is more highly recommended than Telstra.
- Reliability: Telstra rates higher for reliability than Escapenet does.
- Customer Service: Escapenet rates higher for customer service than Telstra does.
- Value for Money: Escapenet rates higher for value for money than Telstra does.
- Technical Support: Telstra and Escapenet have pretty similar ratings in terms of technical support.
How to decide between Telstra and Escapenet? - next steps
- Read reviews of Telstra and Escapenet to see what people think of these companies
- Visit the website of each company and do some of your own research - Telstra and Escapenet
- 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 Telstra vs Escapenet
Is Telstra better than Escapenet?
Telstra has 12 verified reviews on Oz Broadband Reviews and an overall rating of 4 out of 5. Escapenet 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, Telstra or Escapenet?
Telstra's cheapest NBN50 plan is the Essential at $95/month ongoing. Escapenet's cheapest NBN50 plan is the Basic at $80/month ongoing. Escapenet is cheaper on the ongoing price after any intro period ends.
Which has better customer service, Telstra or Escapenet?
Escapenet scores 5.0 out of 5 on customer service vs Telstra's 4.1, based on verified reviews on Oz Broadband Reviews. If onshore support matters, Telstra's call centre is based in Australia, the Philippines and India and Escapenet's is based in Australia.
What plans do Telstra and Escapenet offer?
Telstra offers 5 NBN plans and 3 wireless plans. Escapenet offers 4 NBN plans. See the full plan tables above for prices, speeds and data limits.
Where are Telstra and Escapenet's call centres?
Telstra's customer support is based in Australia, the Philippines and India. Escapenet'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 Telstra to Escapenet (or Escapenet to Telstra)?
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 Telstra
I would rate Telstra broadband as very average. 99% of the time it is reliable and fast, however there is that 1% of the time when the it will not…
In all I am satisfied with this service
About Escapenet
stable connection, good router provided - no TV subscription available
aussie call centre that offers fast speeds. would like it to be cheaper
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