What are unlimited internet plans?
Unlimited internet plans typically refer to plans with unlimited data included. While internet plans used to have data caps, these days unlimited internet plans are widely available and usually offered by default from most providers. You might find that some internet providers restrict your internet plan’s speed, rather than capping how much data you can use.
Unlimited internet plans in Australia are available across NBN, home wireless broadband and a range of other internet connections. The best unlimited internet plan for you will depend on your usage, budget and location, so it’s important to compare a range of internet plans to make sure you’re getting the best deal.
Unlimited NBN plans
If you’re looking for the best unlimited internet plans in Australia, chances are, you’re after an NBN plan. There’s hundreds of NBN plans on offer to Australian households, with a range of speeds, prices, and bundles available. Fortunately, most of these plans include unlimited data by default, so concerns about using up your data and dealing with throttled speeds are now a thing of the past.
The best unlimited NBN plans will depend on a variety of factors, including your budget, the NBN technology available at your address, the way you use your internet, and if you need extras such as a new modem or home phone. But even if you’re looking for a basic plan with a low monthly cost, unlimited data options are readily available.
Keep in mind that the speed tier will be the biggest determining factor for the price of NBN plans. Faster plans are more expensive, while the slowest speed tiers are the cheapest — although the plans available to you will depend on your home’s NBN connection type. You’ll also find unlimited data is almost always standard across all the different speed tiers.
Unlimited NBN plans with full-speed data caps
There’s a small handful of NBN plans that offer a monthly full-speed gigabyte (GB) allowance (e.g. 100 or 500GB per month). Once you’ve used up that monthly data allowance, you can still access the internet, just at greatly reduced download and upload speeds (usually around 256 kilobits per second).
Because these plans don’t cut off your data use, they’re technically ‘unlimited’: however, make sure you’re aware how much data use you have before speeds drop off. Keep in mind that data allowances include both the data downloaded and uploaded each month.
Unlimited 4G and 5G wireless internet plans
Both 4G home internet and 5G home internet — also known as home wireless broadband — are a good alternative home internet service if you don’t have access to NBN, or you prefer a wireless internet service. Previously it was difficult to find home wireless broadband with unlimited data inclusions, however unlimited data is now the standard for most plans.
Providers like Optus, TPG, Telstra, iiNet and SpinTel all tend to offer unlimited data on 4G and 5G home internet plans. Of course, access to these plans also depends on what kind of network coverage you get at your home.
Unlimited mobile broadband plans
Mobile broadband uses the same 4G and 5G technology as home wireless internet, however mobile broadband (or data-only SIM plans) are designed as a portable internet service and not for regular at-home use. This means that unlimited data mobile broadband plans aren’t typically offered, although you can find plans with a 100GB data allowance or more.
Other unlimited internet plans
Depending on your address, you may be eligible for non-NBN high-speed fibre plans, such as those offered by TPG, iiNet and networks such as Opticomm. These plans typically also include unlimited data, and offer similar price and speed structures as those available on the NBN.
How do I find the best unlimited internet plans?
Finding the best unlimited internet plan for your needs means striking the right balance between internet type, speed, budget and inclusions.
Speed
Once you’ve chosen your preferred internet type, you’ll need to decide which speed works for you — whether that’s selecting an NBN speed tier, or if you’d rather 4G or 5G speeds for home wireless. Keep in mind that not all speeds will be available at your address. The NBN speed tiers available at your home depend on what NBN connection type you have, while home wireless speeds are dependent on your mobile network coverage — which might differ between the mobile networks.
Price
Speed is usually what determines how much an internet plan will cost, although similar speeds with different providers can vary greatly. For example, an NBN plan on the same speed tier from two different providers could have as much as a $30 per month price difference!
It’s the same for home wireless plans, where a 4G plan with slower speeds will usually be cheaper than a 5G plan with faster speeds. 5G home internet plans also often have speed caps which can cut the plan price, while an uncapped 5G home internet plan will be more expensive.
Setting a realistic budget can help you compare unlimited internet plans that also meet your speed needs, to find the best value-for-money plan for you.
Inclusions
Some internet plans can come with extras or add-ons, such as a modem, home phone or entertainment bundles. Consider if you’ll need a modem (although in the case of some plans like home wireless, a modem is usually included) and anything else you’ll need with your plan.
What are the cheapest unlimited internet plans in Australia?
The cheapest NBN plans tend to fall on the slower NBN speed tiers — NBN 12 and NBN 25 — with standard prices starting from around $60 per month. However, these speed tiers are only suited to smaller households with lighter internet usage needs, so these plans aren’t ideal for larger households or anyone with high internet usage.
Cheap unlimited home wireless plans are usually available with 4G speeds (around 25 megabits per second) and prices start around $50 per month.
When comparing cheap unlimited internet plans, you’ll want to make sure your plan has a good internet speed that’s fast enough for your usage needs. After all, compromising on slower speeds for that cheaper price, might have an impact on how you use your internet — and how happy you are with your plan.
