Vocal vs Telstra - Which is the best NBN internet provider?
Telstra is Australia's biggest telco, known for its reliable network and generally good customer service, particularly in regional areas, though reviewers often mention its higher price point. On the other hand, Vocal is a smaller provider focused on offering some of the cheapest NBN plans available, making it a strong contender for those prioritising budget over brand recognition.
Vocal and Telstra 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 Vocal and Telstra 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 | Vocal | Telstra |
|---|---|---|
| About |
 |
 |
| Vocal Internet is a 100% Australian-owned provider founded in 2003, offering nbn and mobile broadband to homes and businesses. | 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. | |
| Go to Vocal | Go to Telstra | |
| Overall Rating | [Not enough reviews] |
4
Telstra has an overall rating of 4 out of 5 based on 12 reviews. Telstra is a very good broadband internet provider according to our users. |
| Recommended | [Not enough reviews] | 92% of people who have written reviews on this site would recommend Telstra to their friends as a broadband internet provider. |
| Reliability | [Not enough reviews] |
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. |
| Customer Service | [Not enough reviews] |
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. |
| Value for Money | [Not enough reviews] |
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. |
| Technical Support | [Not enough reviews] |
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. |
| Australian based technical support | [Not enough reviews] | No, Telstra uses a mix of Australian based and overseas call centres for technical support. |
| Call Centre Location | [Not enough reviews] | Telstra uses call centres based in Australia, Philippines and India. |
| Services Offered | [Not enough reviews] | Telstra offers a range of broadband and internet related services including internet plans. |
| Cost of 25Mbps NBN Plan with unlimited data |
Vocal - nbn 25: 25Mbps, unlimited data for $53 per month. |
Telstra - Basic: 25Mbps, unlimited data for $85 per month. |
| Cost of 50Mbps NBN Plan with unlimited data |
Vocal - nbn 50: 50Mbps, unlimited data for $63 per month. |
Telstra - Essential: 50Mbps, unlimited data for $95 per month. |
| Cost of wireless broadband plan |
Vocal - Wireless 12Mbps (4G): 10Mbps, unlimited data for $55 per month. |
Telstra - Basic 5G (5G): 25Mbps, unlimited data for $70 per month. |
| Contact Details |
Vocal's phone number is: 1300 796700 and website is: vocal.com.au |
Telstra's phone number is: 13 22 00 and website is: telstra.com.au |
| Read Reviews | Read reviews of Vocal. | Read reviews of Telstra. |
| Go to Vocal | Go to Telstra |
Vocal and Telstra NBN25 plans (25Mbps download speed)
|
nbn 25
NBN - Fixed Line
25 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$53/mth | Go to site |
|
Basic
NBN - Fixed Line
25 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$85/mth | Go to site |
Vocal and Telstra NBN50 plans (50Mbps download speed)
|
|
nbn 50
NBN - Fixed Line
50 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$63/mth | Go to site |
|
|
Essential
NBN - Fixed Line
50 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$95/mth | Go to site |
Vocal and Telstra Ultrafast plans (>100Mbps download speed)
|
|
nbn 100
NBN - Fixed Line
100 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$73/mth | Go to site |
|
|
nbn 100
NBN - Fixed Line
100 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$73/mth | Go to site |
|
|
Premium
NBN - Fixed Line
500 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$99/mth
$89 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
nbn 250
NBN - Fixed Line
250 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$103/mth | Go to site |
|
|
nbn 250
NBN - Fixed Line
250 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$103/mth | Go to site |
|
|
Ultimate
NBN - Fixed Line
750 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$119/mth
$89 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
nbn 1000
NBN - Fixed Line
1000 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$128/mth | Go to site |
|
|
nbn 1000
NBN - Fixed Line
1000 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$128/mth | Go to site |
|
|
Ultrafast
NBN - Fixed Line
815 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$129/mth
$99 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
Summary of Vocal and Telstra 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 rates higher overall than Vocal does.
- Recommended: Telstra is more highly recommended than Vocal.
- Reliability: Telstra rates higher for reliability than Vocal does.
- Customer Service: Telstra rates higher for customer service than Vocal does.
- Value for Money: Telstra rates higher for value for money than Vocal does.
- Technical Support: Telstra rates higher for technical support than Vocal does.
How to decide between Vocal and Telstra? - next steps
- Read reviews of Vocal and Telstra to see what people think of these companies
- Visit the website of each company and do some of your own research - Vocal and Telstra
- 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 Vocal vs Telstra
Is Vocal better than Telstra?
Telstra has 12 verified reviews on Oz Broadband Reviews and an overall rating of 4 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, Vocal or Telstra?
Vocal's cheapest NBN50 plan is the nbn 50 at $63/month ongoing. Telstra's cheapest NBN50 plan is the Essential at $95/month ongoing. Vocal is cheaper on the ongoing price after any intro period ends.
Which has better customer service, Vocal or Telstra?
Telstra 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, Vocal's call centre is based in Australia and Telstra's is based in Australia, the Philippines and India.
What plans do Vocal and Telstra offer?
Vocal offers 9 NBN plans and 6 wireless plans. Telstra offers 5 NBN plans and 3 wireless plans. See the full plan tables above for prices, speeds and data limits.
Where are Vocal and Telstra's call centres?
Vocal's customer support is based in Australia. Telstra's customer support is based in Australia, the Philippines and India. Call centre location can affect support hours and accent comprehension if onshore support is important to you.
How do I switch from Vocal to Telstra (or Telstra to Vocal)?
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 Vocal
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…
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
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