Telstra vs Origin Internet - Which is the best NBN internet provider?
Telstra is the established giant, often praised in reviews for its reliable connection and good customer service, particularly in rural areas, though many find Telstra expensive. Origin Internet, on the other hand, is a newer player in the NBN market, and while its plans can be similarly priced to Telstra's, it's often chosen by customers looking for a different kind of provider. This comparison will help you see if Telstra's premium is worth it for you, or if Origin Internet offers a better fit.
Telstra and Origin Internet 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 Origin Internet 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 | Origin Internet |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Origin Energy resells nbn and Opticomm fibre plans alongside its electricity and gas business. The pitch is bundle and save: Origin energy customers get $10 a month off their internet plan when both services are on the one bill. Plans cover nbn 25 through to nbn 1000, all unlimited, no lock in contracts, with TP Link or eero 7 modem options. Origin has won Canstar Blue Most Satisfied Customers for Bundled Energy and Telco four years running. | |
| Go to Telstra | Go to Origin Internet | |
| 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. |
Origin Internet - Everyday: 25Mbps, unlimited data for $94 per month. |
| Cost of 50Mbps NBN Plan with unlimited data |
Telstra - Essential: 50Mbps, unlimited data for $95 per month. |
Origin Internet - Experience: 50Mbps, unlimited data for $108 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 |
Origin Internet's phone number is: 13 24 61 and website is: www.originenergy.com.au/internet |
| Read Reviews | Read reviews of Telstra. | Read reviews of Origin Internet. |
| Go to Telstra | Go to Origin Internet |
Telstra and Origin Internet NBN25 plans (25Mbps download speed)
|
Basic
NBN - Fixed Line
25 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$85/mth | Go to site |
|
Everyday
NBN - Fixed Line
25 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$94/mth
$47 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
Telstra and Origin Internet NBN50 plans (50Mbps download speed)
|
|
Essential
NBN - Fixed Line
50 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$95/mth | Go to site |
|
|
Experience
NBN - Fixed Line
50 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$108/mth
$54 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
Telstra and Origin Internet Ultrafast plans (>100Mbps download speed)
|
|
Premium
NBN - Fixed Line
500 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$99/mth
$89 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Extra Fast
NBN - Fixed Line
500 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$112/mth
$56 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 Origin Internet 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 Origin Internet have pretty similiar ratings overall.
- Recommended: Telstra is more highly recommended than Origin Internet.
- Reliability: Telstra and Origin Internet have pretty similar ratings for reliability.
- Customer Service: Telstra and Origin Internet have pretty similar ratings for customer service.
- Value for Money: Telstra rates higher for value for money than Origin Internet does.
- Technical Support: Telstra and Origin Internet have pretty similar ratings in terms of technical support.
How to decide between Telstra and Origin Internet? - next steps
- Read reviews of Telstra and Origin Internet to see what people think of these companies
- Visit the website of each company and do some of your own research - Telstra and Origin Internet
- 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 Origin Internet
Is Telstra better than Origin Internet?
Telstra has 12 verified reviews on Oz Broadband Reviews and an overall rating of 4 out of 5. Origin Internet 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 Origin Internet?
Telstra's cheapest NBN50 plan is the Essential at $95/month ongoing. Origin Internet's cheapest NBN50 plan is the Experience at $54/month intro for 6 months, then $108/month. Telstra is cheaper on the ongoing price after any intro period ends.
Which has better customer service, Telstra or Origin Internet?
Telstra and Origin Internet score similarly on customer service, 4.1 vs 4.0 out of 5. Neither stands out from the other on this metric. If onshore support matters, Telstra's call centre is based in Australia, the Philippines and India and Origin Internet's is based in Australia.
What plans do Telstra and Origin Internet offer?
Telstra offers 5 NBN plans and 3 wireless plans. Origin Internet offers 3 NBN plans. See the full plan tables above for prices, speeds and data limits.
Where are Telstra and Origin Internet's call centres?
Telstra's customer support is based in Australia, the Philippines and India. Origin Internet'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 Origin Internet (or Origin Internet 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 Origin Internet
Origin’s 750/40 Mbps plan is great value at just $80 a month, offering fast and highly reliable speeds for heavy streaming and gaming. The connection…
Pretty average though have noticed less reliable service than being with Superloop directly
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