These days, almost everyone has access to the internet at home and whether that be via an NBN plan, 5G home internet or hotspotting from your phone, the costs can add up. If you’re sick of paying too much and want to get the most bang for your buck without sacrificing on good quality internet, we have five easy ways that you can save on your internet plan.
1. Know what internet speed your household needs
So that you’re not spending more than you need to be, we recommend knowing what speed tier best suits the needs of your household before committing to an internet plan. As a general guide, an NBN 25 plan is best suited for single member households or 1-2 people who only use the internet for basic tasks. NBN 50 is the most popular speed tier in Australia and it’s generally suitable for households with 2-4 people. NBN 100 is good for larger households or internet users who regularly download large files or use the internet for gaming.
NBN 250 is the second-fastest NBN speed tier currently available in Australia. While the superfast speeds it offers will likely be overkill for most households, it can benefit larger households with multiple devices connected at once. NBN 250 can even be suitable for some small businesses.
NBN 1000 is the fastest NBN speed and, as a result, is (usually) the most expensive. We say usually, because there are some gigabit NBN plans that cost less than plans that are 10 times slower, depending on the provider. In the case of saving money on your monthly internet bill, we wouldn’t recommend an NBN 1000 plan, but if you know you will benefit from the blazingly fast speeds, it will pay to shop around.
2. Switch every six months to take advantage of discount periods
Internet providers often offer introductory discounts where new customers can save for a short duration of their plan. Most of the time, the discount period is 6 months but sometimes you can find offers that last up to 12 months. Discounts tend to hover around $10 per month, but we have seen discounts of $20 or $30 per month also offered.
In order to keep the cost of your internet plan down, we recommend shopping around for a new deal every six months or whenever the initial discount period ends. If you’re keen to find out which providers are having deals, we have an internet deals hub that may help.
3. Look into providers who offer discounts when you bundle an NBN and mobile plan
Some providers offer discounts when you bundle an NBN and mobile plan together so if you’re willing to also switch your mobile plan, you may be able to save. Some examples of providers who offer discounts on bundles include Flip (save up to $10 per month on a Flip prepaid mobile plan when you bundle with a Flip NBN plan), Tangerine Telecom (save 10% on your SIM only mobile plan when you bundle with a Tangerine NBN plan) and Superloop (bundle a mobile plan with a Superloop NBN plan and save $5 per month).
4. Opt for 5G home internet if you can get coverage
Not all areas can get access to 5G but if your home does get coverage, we recommend looking into a 5G home internet plan rather than an NBN plan because they tend to be on the cheaper side, while potentially offering near-gigabit speeds. A faster connection for less than an NBN plan? Sounds like a great way to save to us.
Compare 5G home internet plans:
5. Buy your own modem so you don’t have to pay for a new one if/when you switch providers
If you don’t already own a modem, you will have to buy one when you sign up for an internet plan. Most providers will happily sell you a modem, but we’re seeing an increasing number offering the option to bring your own (BYO). Alternatively, some providers even offer free modems when you stay connected for a certain amount of time (usually 24 or 36 months), however if you want to switch plans before this, you will have to pay it off.
To avoid these extra charges, we suggest buying your own compatible modem so that you don’t have to worry about buying one from a provider and potentially paying more than necessary, or borrowing one and having to pay it off if you want to switch providers. If you’re interested in a plan that comes for a free modem, we have a guide on providers who offer free modems with internet plans.
Compare some of the most popular internet plans on the market:
