Internet and NBN plans with free modems: these six Australian providers won't charge you for hardware

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There are so many things you have to think about when it comes to getting a home internet plan and one of the more confusing parts is knowing what sort of modem or router you need. Not only is it confusing, but having to buy a suitable new modem can also be expensive.

Every provider has different requirements when it comes to modem-routers – many let you BYO, while others prefer you buy or rent one from them. And if you’re lucky, some providers even include a free modem with their plans, however there’s usually a caveat that states that you have to pay off the modem or return it if you don’t stay connected to the plan for a certain amount of time.

If you’re hunting for a home internet plan that comes with a free modem, we have rounded up all the Australian providers that offer one and spelled out the terms and conditions so you can choose the option that best works for you. We’ve included some options for 5G home internet plans that offer free modems so you can compare those if your area gets a 5G connection.

NBN plans with free models

Superloop | Amazon eero6+ modem available on all NBN plans (modem is free if you stay connected for 24 months)
NBN provider Superloop offers a range of affordable NBN plans, from NBN 25 all the way up to NBN 1000. The provider is currently offering free Amazon eero6+ modems (valued at $249.99) to all new residential NBN customers, so whether you’re after a basic NBN 25, a super fast NBN 1000 plan or something in between, you don’t have to worry about buying a compatible modem. The only caveat to this is that the modem is only free if you stay connected for 24 months. If you choose to leave the plan before the 24 months have passed, you’ll have to pay $7 for every remaining month. The other bonus is that Superloop is currently offering a $10 per month discount on all of its NBN plans for the first six months, so you can also save $60 on service costs.

TPG | Get a free TP-Link AX5400 Hybrid modem on a TPG NBN plan when you sign up for a 6 month contract
TPG offers competitively priced NBN plans from NBN 12, all the way up to NBN 1000. If you’re thinking about switching to a TPG plan, not only can you currently save $50 on all NBN plans (excluding fixed wireless), but you can also get a free TP-Link AX5400 Hybrid modem when you sign up for a 6 month contract (there’s a $10 delivery fee for the modem). Bear in mind that the $50 discount is only available until 25 February 2025 unless extended, so be sure to get in quick to secure this saving. The only downside is that you do have to commit to a 6 month contract to get the free modem. If you don’t want to be locked in, there is still the option to sign up for a month-to-month contract on any of TPG’s NBN plans and BYO compatible modem or buy one upfront for $114.95.

iPriums | Get a Kaon DG2144 modem on all NBN plans (modem is free if you stay connected for 18 months)
iPrimus is owned by Vocus Group and runs on the Optus network. While it’s a lesser known provider, it shouldn’t be overlooked due to its competitive prices and inclusions. iPrimus offers NBN plans ranging from NBN 25 to NBN 1000 and each of these comes with an included Kaon DG2144 modem (valued at $180). The cost of this modem will be covered if you stay connected for 18 months, otherwise you’ll have to pay $10 per month for the remaining months. In addition, iPrimus is currently offering discounts on its plans for new and returning customers. For the first 6 months, its NBN 25 and NBN 50 plans are discounted by $4 a month, its NBN 100 and NBN 250 plans are discounted by $10 and its NBN 1000 plan is $15 off. Be aware that this offer ends on 25 February unless extended.

Optus | Get an Ultra WiFi Modem Gen 2 on any Optus NBN plan (modem is free if you stay connected for 36 months
Optus offers a range of NBN plans from NBN 25 all the way up to NBN 1000. When you sign up for an Optus NBN plan, you can choose to BYO compatible modem or receive an Ultra WiFi Modem Gen 2 (valued at $306) which is free when you remain connected to the plan for 36 months. Otherwise, you’ll have to pay $8.50 for each month remaining. Unfortunately when you opt for an NBN plan from one of the big three providers, you will most likely end up paying a bit of a premium for the service, however Optus is currently offering a discount of between $15 and $35 per month for the first 6 months (depending on which speed tier you choose) making the plans a bit more affordable.
Optus also offers a premium NBN package deal called the Optus Family Plus Entertainer Fast Plan. Aimed at larger families, this bundle gives you the choice of any NBN speed from NBN 50 to NBN 1000 and it comes with some noteworthy inclusions – in addition to the Ultra Wi-Fi Modem, you also get an Optus Ultra WiFi Booster (valued at $216) which is free if you stay connected for 36 months (otherwise you will have to pay $6 for each remaining month) as well as a free Netflix Standard subscription through Optus SubHub (valued at $18.99 per month).

5G home internet plans with free modems

If your area has access to 5G and you want an internet plan with fast speeds, a 5G home internet plan can be a good alternative to an NBN plan. Not only do 5G home internet plans start at cheaper prices, in many cases they also deliver faster speeds for less. Many internet providers offer 5G home internet plans, but only some offer free modems with their plans.

Here’s a rundown of those that do.

TPG | Get a Nokia FastMile 3.2 5G modem on any of TPGs 5G home internet plans (modem is free if you stay connected for 36 months)
TPG offers two 5G home internet plans, its Broadband Plus Plan ($59.99p/m) and its Broadband Premium Plan ($64.99p/m). With both of these options, customers receive a Nokia FastMile 3.2 5G modem for free if you stay connected for 36 months, otherwise you will have to return it or pay a non-return fee of $17 multiplied by the remaining months left in your 36 month period. To make this even more appealing, new customers can currently also save $10 per month for the first 6 months on both of TPG’s 5G home internet plans, making them even more affordable.

iiNet | Get a Nokia FastMile 3.2 5G modem on any of iiNet’s 5G home internet plans (modem is free if you stay connected for 36 months)
As iiNet is actually owned by TPG, it’s perhaps no surprise that it offers the same 5G internet plans and also has the same offer when it comes to modems. So to recap, if you opt for one of iiNet’s two 5G home internet plans, you’ll receive a Nokia FastMile 3.2 5G modem for free if you stay connected for 36 months, otherwise you will have to return it or pay a non-return fee of $17 times the remaining months left in the 36 month period. These two plans are also discounted by $10 per month for the first 6 months so you can save $60 in total.

Optus | Get an Optus WiFi 5G Modem on any of Optus’s 5G home internet plans (modem is free when you stay connected for 36 months)
Optus has three options for 5G home internet plans, starting from $69 per month. Each of these plans comes with an Optus WiFi 5G modem (valued at $468) which is free if you stay connected for 36 months, however if you cancel before the 36 months is over, you will have to pay a fee of $13 per remaining month. In addition, Optus’s 5G plans are currently discounted by between $15 and $25 per month for the first 6 months (depending on which plan you pick), making them a little more affordable. Bear in mind that this discount ends 6 April 2025, so get in quick if you want to secure this deal.

FAQs

How can you buy your own modem?

While lots of internet providers sell modems with their plans, you can also buy your own from a third party. This option may end up being cheaper, especially if you do your research and compare prices. Just make sure that you know exactly what sort of modem you need to be compatible with the internet connection type and plan you’ve chosen!

Is it cheaper to buy your own modem, or get one through a telco provider?

If you’re happy to sign up to an internet plan that offers a free modem and stay connected for the minimum amount of time so that you end up getting it for free (usually 24 or 36 months) then yes, it is probably cheaper to do this, however it does mean that you will be stuck with that provider for a set amount of time and if a better internet deal comes up, you won’t be able to switch to a cheaper plan without having to pay off the cost of the modem. The other way around this is to go for a provider (such as iPrimus or Telstra NBN) which allows you to send the modem back for no extra charge if you leave the plan before the allocated time period has ended. This way, you won’t have to pay any money and you can switch plans if you see a better deal (as long as the modem is still in good condition).

Amelia is an Ecommerce Editor at Getprice who specialises in hunting down great bargains and useful discount codes across a wide variety of products and retailers, curating gift guides for all occasions, and doing the maths to calculate the top-value mobile and internet plans for a variety of needs. Her goal is to help make finding the best online discounts as easy as possible. She loves writing about major deals and sales events to help you get the most bang for you buck at sales time.

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