Best Mobile Broadband Plans and Providers

Canstar’s Most Satisfied Customers Awards recognise companies with the most satisfied customers overall based on consumer surveys.

Canstar surveyed 259 Australians with a current mobile broadband service for their feedback on providers they’ve been signed up to. Respondents had to have an active mobile broadband service in their name and pay the bills.

Market research company PureProfile manages the survey on Canstar’s behalf.

Survey respondents are asked to rate their satisfaction with their mobile broadband provider from zero to 10, with zero meaning extremely dissatisfied and 10 meaning extremely satisfied. Mobile broadband provider satisfaction is rated on the following criteria:

• Value for money: the plan cost was reasonably priced for the quality performance and service provided.
• Customer service: the mobile broadband provider had multiple service options for customers and was relatively easy to get in contact with.
• Billing transparency: the bill supplied by the provider was easy to understand.
• Speed and reliability: there was good mobile network coverage and the internet speed met expectations.
• Ease of setup: the sign up and setup process was rather quick and simple.

The Most Satisfied Customers Awards identify which categories have the most influence on customer satisfaction and weights them accordingly.

The brand with the highest indexed score is awarded the Canstar Most Satisfied Customers Award for that category.

Canstar also gives Star Ratings to top performing financial products, and Outstanding Value Awards to providers with a range of high-performing products. Canstar’s Innovation Excellence Awards also showcase products and services that break new ground when it comes to helping customers.

Canstar rates products and services over a range of consumer categories, in addition to financial services.

Explore Canstar’s Most Satisfied Customers awards here.

Mobile broadband uses mobile networks to connect your device to the internet when you’re away from WiFi. It's ideal for connecting not just phones, but also tablets and laptops, and can be used anywhere where your provider's mobile network is available.

Mobile broadband plans are sometimes called ‘data only’ or ‘data SIM’ plans. They can come as SIM only plans, or paired with a mobile broadband dongle or device which can be plugged into your computer or used as a modem to connect devices to a WiFi network.

When you’re looking for the best mobile broadband plan, consider the following:

• Data allowance: How much data in gigabytes do you need each month or recharge? 
• Price: What is your budget per month or recharge period?
• Network and coverage: Do you have a preferred mobile network (Telstra, Optus or Vodafone) and do you want 4G or 5G coverage? 
• Prepaid or postpaid: Do you prefer to pay in advance or receive a monthly bill? 
• SIM-only or device bundle: Do you want a data only SIM, or a WiFi hotspot, modem or WiFi dongle?

Both home wireless broadband and mobile broadband rely on mobile networks to access the internet; however, mobile broadband is designed for on-the-go use. It’s suitable for use with tablets or portable hotspots and devices, and is often available as a data-only SIM. Home wireless broadband is designed as a home internet service to use instead of other connections, such as NBN.

You’ll find mobile broadband plans are typically more expensive than home wireless, and may not be ideal for heavy data users or larger households.

Mobile broadband speeds are similar to the speeds of a mobile phone plan, as they use the same mobile networks to connect you to the internet. 

4G only mobile broadband plans offer download speeds of up to 25 megabits per second (Mbps). This is equal to NBN 25 speeds, and should be more than fast enough for everyday internet use and even high-definition video streaming.

In comparison, mobile broadband plans with 5G and 4G network access can potentially reach download speeds of 200Mbps or faster, although some plans may have speed caps in place. 

No matter your mobile broadband plan, your speed may vary due to your choice of plan and provider, your mobile network, your location, how many devices are connected and how busy the network is.

5G mobile broadband uses both 4G and 5G technology to connect a device to the internet, rather than just 4G. Mobile broadband plans with 5G are typically much faster than 5G-only plans, capable of hitting download speeds of well over 100Mbps. 

Most telcos who offer mobile broadband offer 5G network access to customers with compatible devices, provided you have 5G coverage.

Prepaid mobile broadband plans allow you to pay in advance for your data, rather than receiving a monthly bill for your usage. If your prepaid service runs out of data, you won’t be at risk of paying heavy excess data fees; instead, you can pay for a data top-up, or simply wait for your billing cycle to reset.

Most prepaid mobile broadband plans are offered as data-only SIMs, although you may find some telcos allow you to bundle in a modem or hotspot.

A WiFi dongle is a small device that can be plugged into the USB port on your laptop or computer for easy mobile broadband access. Basically, a dongle is a tiny, unpowered modem that uses your computer’s power to access the internet. Dongles may come pre-packaged with mobile broadband plans, but can also be bought outright and used with a data-only SIM card.

A pocket WiFi hotspot, sometimes called a WiFi modem, is somewhat of a hybrid between a wireless router and a WiFi dongle. It accesses the internet through a mobile broadband or data-only SIM card, creating a portable WiFi network you can connect devices to. Most pocket WiFi hotspots are wireless and can be recharged via microUSB.

The best mobile broadband for you will depend on your budget, your location, and your mobile internet usage needs. When comparing plans, look at factors such as speed, data inclusions, the type of equipment needed, and the monthly cost.

In addition to the providers shortlisted for our award, there are many other telcos out there offering mobile broadband products, however some providers may refer to these as ‘mobile internet’, ‘data plans’ or ‘data-only SIMs’. Some other providers offering mobile broadband include:

• ALDI Mobile
• Amaysim
• Aussie Broadband
• Belong
• More
• SpinTel
• Tangerine
• Yomojo

Mobile broadband is simple to set up — once you've purchased your plan, your provider will send you a SIM card, along with a USB/WiFi dongle, modem or hotspot (if you've purchased a device add on). Setup will vary depending on the product you buy, but follow your telco's instructions and you should be up and running ASAP.