Telstra vs iinet - Which is the best NBN internet provider?
Telstra is often seen as the premium option, delivering reliable connections even in trickier areas, though many customers find its plans expensive. On the other hand, iinet offers more budget-friendly NBN, appealing to those who prioritise cost savings. Reviews suggest Telstra suits users wanting consistent performance and dedicated support, while iinet is a solid choice for value.
Telstra and iinet 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 iinet 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 | iinet |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | iiNet was founded in Perth in 1993 and became one of Australia's best-known broadband brands. It has been owned by TPG Telecom since 2015, so it is no longer independently listed, but still runs as its own brand with a long-standing reputation for customer service. | |
| Go to Telstra | Go to iinet | |
| 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. |
3.8
iinet has an overall rating of 3.8 out of 5 based on 5 reviews. iinet is a good broadband internet provider according to our users. |
| Recommended | 92% of people who have written reviews on this site would recommend Telstra to their friends as a broadband internet provider. | 80% of people who have written reviews on this site would recommend iinet to their friends as a broadband internet provider. |
| 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. |
4 iinet's reliability is rated as very good by our users. iinet has an overall rating of 4 out of 5 for reliability. |
| 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. |
3.6 iinet's customer service is rated as good by our users. iinet has an overall rating of 3.6 out of 5 for customer service. |
| 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. |
4 iinet is rated as very good for value for money by our users. iinet has an overall rating of 4 out of 5 for value for money. |
| 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. |
3.6 iinet's technical support is rated as good by our users. iinet has an overall rating of 3.6 out of 5 for technical support. |
| Australian based technical support | No, Telstra uses a mix of Australian based and overseas call centres for technical support. | No, iinet uses a mix of Australian based and overseas call centres for technical support. |
| Call Centre Location | Telstra uses call centres based in Australia, Philippines and India. | iinet uses call centres based in Australia, Philippines and South Africa. |
| Services Offered | Telstra offers a range of broadband and internet related services including internet plans. | iinet offers a range of broadband and internet related services including NBN and 5G internet plans. |
| Cost of 25Mbps NBN Plan with unlimited data |
Telstra - Basic: 25Mbps, unlimited data for $85 per month. |
iinet - NBN25: 25Mbps, unlimited data for $79.99 per month. |
| Cost of 50Mbps NBN Plan with unlimited data |
Telstra - Essential: 50Mbps, unlimited data for $95 per month. |
iinet - NBN50: 50Mbps, unlimited data for $89.99 per month. |
| Cost of wireless broadband plan |
Telstra - Basic 5G (5G): 25Mbps, unlimited data for $70 per month. |
iinet - Home Wireless (4G): 15Mbps, unlimited data for $59.99 per month. |
| Contact Details |
Telstra's phone number is: 13 22 00 and website is: telstra.com.au |
iinet's phone number is: 13 19 17 and website is: iinet.net.au |
| Read Reviews | Read reviews of Telstra. | Read reviews of iinet. |
| Go to Telstra | Go to iinet |
Telstra and iinet NBN25 plans (25Mbps download speed)
|
NBN25
NBN - Fixed Line
25 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$79.99/mth
$59.99 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
Basic
NBN - Fixed Line
25 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$85/mth | Go to site |
Telstra and iinet NBN50 plans (50Mbps download speed)
|
|
NBN50
NBN - Fixed Line
50 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$89.99/mth
$69.99 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Essential
NBN - Fixed Line
50 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$95/mth | Go to site |
Telstra and iinet Ultrafast plans (>100Mbps download speed)
|
|
NBN500
NBN - Fixed Line
500 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$94.99/mth
$69.99 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Premium
NBN - Fixed Line
500 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$99/mth
$89 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
NBN Superfast
NBN - Fixed Line
740 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$104.99/mth
$74.99 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
NBN Ultrafast
NBN - Fixed Line
820 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$114.99/mth
$84.99 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 iinet 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: Telstra and iinet have pretty similiar ratings overall.
- Recommended: Telstra is more highly recommended than iinet.
- Reliability: Telstra rates higher for reliability than iinet does.
- Customer Service: Telstra rates higher for customer service than iinet does.
- Value for Money: Telstra rates higher for value for money than iinet does.
- Technical Support: Telstra rates higher for technical support than iinet does.
How to decide between Telstra and iinet? - next steps
- Read reviews of Telstra and iinet to see what people think of these companies
- Visit the website of each company and do some of your own research - Telstra and iinet
- 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 iinet
Is Telstra better than iinet?
On Oz Broadband Reviews Telstra rates 4 out of 5 from 12 reviews and iinet rates 3.8 from 5 reviews. On recommend-to-a-friend, 92% of Telstra reviewers said they'd recommend the provider, vs 80% for iinet. On individual metrics, Telstra wins on customer service (4.1 vs 3.6) and tech support (4.0 vs 3.6); iinet wins on value for money (4.0 vs 3.4). Read the full reviews above to form your own view.
Which is cheaper for NBN50, Telstra or iinet?
Telstra's cheapest NBN50 plan is the Essential at $95/month ongoing. iinet's cheapest NBN50 plan is the NBN50 at $69.99/month intro for 6 months, then $89.99/month. iinet is cheaper on the ongoing price after any intro period ends.
Which has better customer service, Telstra or iinet?
Telstra scores 4.1 out of 5 on customer service vs iinet's 3.6, 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 iinet's is based in Australia, the Philippines and South Africa.
What plans do Telstra and iinet offer?
Telstra offers 5 NBN plans and 3 wireless plans. iinet offers 5 NBN plans and 1 wireless plan. See the full plan tables above for prices, speeds and data limits.
Where are Telstra and iinet's call centres?
Telstra's customer support is based in Australia, the Philippines and India. iinet's customer support is based in Australia, the Philippines and South Africa. Call centre location can affect support hours and accent comprehension if onshore support is important to you.
How do I switch from Telstra to iinet (or iinet 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 iinet
All is still good No complaints
Stable connection with little drop outs. Whenever i need help its always some one who doesnt know and you get bounced around on the phone for 1 hour
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