Switching to 4G home internet could be a reliable and affordable alternative if you're unhappy with your NBN connection. That said, performance is usually a bit slower than NBN 25, so it's only advisable if that's not a good option for you. In this guide, we compare the major 4G broadband plans available in Australia, as well as other NBN alternatives like 5G home internet and mobile broadband plans.
Compare 4G home internet plans
While not common, there are still a few providers offering 4G home internet plans in Australia (also called 4G home wireless and 4G home broadband). Most offer services on the Vodafone network, with a few on the Optus network. Unlike mobile broadband, the only home wireless plans on the Telstra network come from Telstra itself.
Here's a look at plans from the 4G home internet providers in our database, which you can order by popularity, starting price, or reported typical speed:
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#1
|
Kogan Internet
4G Home Internet Plan
$149.70
Link not supplied
|
|
#2
|
TPG
Home Wireless Broadband
$49.99/mth
Min. cost $49.99
Link not supplied
|
|
#3
|
Yomojo
4G Internet 25
$55.90/mth
Min. cost $55.90
Link not supplied
|
|
#4
|
SpinTel
4G Unlimited Wireless Broadband (25Mbit)
$49.95/mth
+ $20 Upfront
Min. cost $69.95
Link not supplied
|
|
#5
|
Vodafone
4G Home Internet Unlimited
$60/mth
Min. cost $60
Link not supplied
|
|
#6
|
Optus
Optus Plus Everyday Basic 4G
$44/mth
Min. cost $44
Link not supplied
|
|
#7
|
iiNet
Home Wireless Broadband
$49.99/mth
Min. cost $49.99
Link not supplied
|
|
#1
|
Optus
Optus Plus Everyday Basic 4G
$44/mth
Min. cost $44
Link not supplied
|
|
#2
|
SpinTel
4G Unlimited Wireless Broadband (25Mbit)
$49.95/mth
+ $20 Upfront
Min. cost $69.95
Link not supplied
|
|
#3
|
iiNet
Home Wireless Broadband
$49.99/mth
Min. cost $49.99
Link not supplied
|
|
#4
|
TPG
Home Wireless Broadband
$49.99/mth
Min. cost $49.99
Link not supplied
|
|
#5
|
Yomojo
4G Internet 25
$55.90/mth
Min. cost $55.90
Link not supplied
|
|
#6
|
Vodafone
4G Home Internet Unlimited
$60/mth
Min. cost $60
Link not supplied
|
|
#7
|
Kogan Internet
4G Home Internet Plan
$149.70
Link not supplied
|
|
#1
|
SpinTel
4G Unlimited Wireless Broadband (25Mbit)
$49.95/mth
+ $20 Upfront
Min. cost $69.95
Link not supplied
|
|
#2
|
Kogan Internet
4G Home Internet Plan
$149.70
Link not supplied
|
|
#3
|
Yomojo
4G Internet 25
$55.90/mth
Min. cost $55.90
Link not supplied
|
|
#4
|
Optus
Optus Plus Everyday Basic 4G
$44/mth
Min. cost $44
Link not supplied
|
|
#5
|
iiNet
Home Wireless Broadband
$49.99/mth
Min. cost $49.99
Link not supplied
|
|
#6
|
TPG
Home Wireless Broadband
$49.99/mth
Min. cost $49.99
Link not supplied
|
|
#7
|
Vodafone
4G Home Internet Unlimited
$60/mth
Min. cost $60
Link not supplied
|
With each of the 4G broadband plans above, you’ll receive a wireless modem capable of connecting the WiFi devices around your home.
As for data allowance, you'll find almost all 4G home internet plans above come with unlimited data, so you'll never have to worry about maxing out your plan with a Netflix binge.
Pros and cons of 4G home internet
Curious about the benefits and drawbacks of switching to a 4G home internet plan? We've broken them down for you below:
- 4G home internet plans are pretty cheap
- Many 4G plans offer unlimited data
- A workable alternative if you're unable to get a fixed NBN connection type
- It doesn't cost too much more to choose a faster 5G plan
- Your area may not have the best coverage
- Network congestion can affect speeds
Are 4G home internet speeds right for you?
Most 4G home internet plans have maximum speed limits no faster than 20Mbps for downloads (usually slower).
If your household has only one to two people and you don't care about online gaming or downloading lots of large files quickly, 15 to 20Mbps could be all you need. Though, depending on the quality of your connection, you might fall just short of Netflix's minimum recommendation of 15Mbps for 4K streaming.
If you want a Home Wireless plan with faster speeds than 4G broadband can provide, you'll need 5G. But the speed of your connection will depend on several other factors, including coverage at your address and the amount of congestion on the network.
While usually reliable, 5G and 4G home broadband plans can sometimes be less stable than a fixed-line connection like the NBN. It's normally not noticeable, but online gamers in your house might need to get used to a less stable ping.
Compare 5G home internet plans
If 4G home internet won't cut it, you might consider 5G. It's faster than 4G home internet, with the cheapest options offering a max download speeds of 50Mbps – similar to NBN 50 plan.
If you need more speed, some 5G plans offer a max speed of 100Mbps (like NBN 100) or even faster – often uncapped – which usually average at least 200Mbps, but can reach over 500Mbps, depending on your coverage and congestion. Here's a look at all the 5G home internet plans on the Australian market right now:
If you choose a plan with speeds up to 25Mbps, you'll get the equivalent of an NBN 25 plan. Speeds may be slower during peak hours. These plans may not be the best value in the long term as they're quite expensive for the speeds you get. It is worth noting Vodafone's plan has a maximum speed of 20Mbps.
Here's pricing for 5G home internet plans with speeds up to 25Mbps:
If you decide to choose a plan capped at 50Mbps, this means it's the equivalent of NBN 50, however, you may experience slightly slower speeds during peak hours. This is a great option if you're either conscious of the price or you know you won't use over 50Mbps.
Here's pricing for 5G home internet plans capped at 50Mbps:
If you choose a plan capped at 100Mbps, this means it's the equivalent of an NBN 100 plan, however, you may experience slightly slower speeds during peak hours. This is a great option for households with multiple members who regularly connect to the internet at the same time.
Here's pricing for 5G home internet plans capped at 100Mbps:
|
TPG
Editor's Pick
5G Home Broadband Premium
$34.99/mth
Min. cost $34.99
Link not supplied
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iiNet
5G Home Broadband Premium
$49.99/mth
Min. cost $49.99
Link not supplied
|
|
Vodafone
5G Home Internet Premium Plan
$60/mth
Min. cost $60
Link not supplied
|
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Optus
Optus Plus Everyday Fast 5G
$64/mth
Min. cost $64
Link not supplied
|
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Yomojo
5G Internet 100
$75.90/mth
Min. cost $75.90
Link not supplied
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Three telcos currently offer uncapped plans. These can go as fast as network conditions allow but exact speeds will depend on your coverage and congestion. Generally, though we have found 200Mbps is a pretty safe average.
|
Optus
Editor's Pick
Optus Plus Entertainer Superfast 5G
$84/mth
Min. cost $84
Link not supplied
|
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SpinTel
5G Unlimited Wireless Broadband (240Mbit)
$89/mth
+ $25 Upfront
Min. cost $114
Link not supplied
|
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Telstra
Premium 5G Home Internet - 1TB
$95/mth
Min. cost $95
Link not supplied
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Yomojo
5G Internet Max
$95.90/mth
Min. cost $95.90
Link not supplied
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Of course, whether you can get a 5G home internet plan will depend on 5G coverage at your address. Telstra has the widest 5G network, followed by Optus, then Vodafone.
SpinTel and Yomojo's 5G home internet plans are powered by the Optus network, while TPG, iiNet, and Internode are powered by Vodafone.
4G home internet isn't as fast as the 4G mobile internet on your phone. It's intended for households that have low internet demands, but still need affordable and reliable access.
"In terms of speed, think of 4G home internet as a bit slower than an NBN 25 plan. You might also find your connection fluctuates in bad weather, but usually not too much (besides, NBN technologies can also suffer from poor conditions).
As with any wireless broadband, the performance of a 4G internet plan will depend on network coverage in your area and other factors, such as congestion."
Alex Angove-Plumb, Digital Content Editor at WhistleOut
Is mobile broadband a good option?
Mobile broadband and mobile phone plans aren't designed to replace your home internet connection entirely, but they can do so during NBN outages or disruptions. Hotspotting can be done from almost any smartphone, but you can also get a dedicated pocket WiFi or dongle modem to handle the job.
Despite their faster speed, they have much smaller data limits and are more of a short-term solution, in terms of supporting a household.
In the table below, we've looked at mobile broadband plans with at least 50GB of data, as these plans are more suited to the task of home internet replacement. We've looked at plans that come with pocket WiFi modems.
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#1
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SpinTel
Mobile Broadband 50GB
$38/mth
($28 plan + $10 modem)
+ $20 Upfront
Min. cost $58
Link not supplied
|
|
#2
|
SpinTel
Mobile Broadband Unlimited
$49.95/mth
+ $20 Upfront
Min. cost $69.95
Link not supplied
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#3
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Telstra
Upfront Data Plan Medium
$74/mth
($68 plan + $6 modem)
Min. cost $212
Link not supplied
|
|
#4
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Vodafone
Pocket WiFi 4 4G Starter Pack
$99
Link not supplied
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|
#1
|
Telstra
Upfront Data Plan Small
$54.83/mth
($33 plan + $21.83 modem)
Min. cost $556.92
Link not supplied
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|
#2
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Telstra
Upfront Data Plan Medium
$89.83/mth
($68 plan + $21.83 modem)
Min. cost $591.92
Link not supplied
|
Pocket WiFi modems are pocket-sized devices that allow you to connect to the internet via a SIM card. Usually no bigger than a deck of cards, these mobile hotspots enable users to take their internet connection wherever they go. Powered by rechargeable batteries, these modems can provide wireless internet to multiple devices at once, making them ideal for road trips and holidays.
4G and 5G home broadband vs. mobile broadband
Mobile broadband plans are generally designed for on-the-go usage or for when a temporary internet connection is required for multiple WiFi devices. If you want something to support your home long-term, 5G and 4G home broadband plans are the ideal solution for this purpose.
Here are the essential facts about Home Wireless and mobile broadband in Australia:
- Both are provided via mobile networks
- 4G mobile broadband connections tend to be faster than 4G home broadband (the same goes for 5G mobile broadband versus 5G home internet), but include less data
- 5G and 4G home broadband plans often come with unlimited data, though sometimes with limited speeds after a certain amount has been used
- Home Wireless WiFi modems require mains power and are similar to those used on the NBN
- Mobile broadband pocket WiFi devices are battery-powered, but highly portable and have shorter coverage than Home Wireless versions
- Neither option requires a technician to set up
We’ve outlined the pros and cons of each wireless internet type below:
| Connection type | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| 4G home internet |
|
|
| 5G home internet |
|
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| Mobile broadband |
|
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See our full guides on Home Wireless vs. mobile broadband or Home Wireless vs. the NBN for more information.
Hardware
Where 4G broadband uses a dedicated WiFi modem router, similar to one you might use for the NBN, mobile broadband plans can come with either a portable WiFi modem (AKA dongle) or merely as a SIM card with no additional hardware.
The dedicated modem routers of Home Wireless plans are more powerful than pocket WiFi, and so are much more likely to provide good coverage in your home.
Data allowances
5G and 4G broadband plans have much larger data caps – often unlimited, whereas most households would find it hard to stick within the confines of a mobile broadband plan's monthly data allowance.
4G home internet vs. mobile broadband: speed
Standard 4G mobile plans can get up to around 100Mbps, which is similar to an NBN 100 plan. In contrast, 4G home internet is limited to 20Mbps (25Mbps for the Optus network), but you can expect performance to be less than this.
5G home internet vs. mobile broadband: speed
5G mobile broadband can get extremely fast, depending on your area and local congestion. We've seen speeds as high as 1Gbps on 5G mobile plans in Sydney, though 200 to 300Mbps is more common.
5G home internet is available in three speed tiers, with download limits of 50Mbps, 100Mbps, and uncapped speeds. The uncapped plans tend to report around 200 to 290Mbps typical evening download speeds, which is roughly comparable to an NBN 250 plan.
4G and 5G home broadband vs. the NBN
Many factors can impact the internet speeds you get at home, including network congestion, hardware issues, and coverage, though the last of these is more of a factor with 5G and 4G home internet.
Some Home Wireless plans can be faster than NBN connections, but this is unlikely with 4G home internet. Most plans have typical evening speeds under 20Mbps, making them somewhere in between NBN 12 and NBN 25. But some are faster – 4G home internet plans on the Optus network often report around 25Mbps typical evening download speeds, which is bang on NBN 25.
If you want a Home Wireless connection as fast or faster than the NBN, 4G home internet probably won't cut it. You'll need to go with a 5G alternative. These can go up to 200Mbps – sometimes even 500Mbps, though this is unusual.
In general, Fixed-Line NBN connections are a bit more stable than Home Wireless connections. Most get close to or equal their maximum download and upload bandwidth, and don't fluctuate as much as other technologies due to congestion or weather – unless you live in an area where the network regularly breaks due to poor waterproofing.
Ultimately, you can think of 5G home internet as usually offering more speed for the price, but at the potential cost of stability and with a smaller national footprint.
You can expect the average speeds shown below for these NBN speed tiers and Home Wireless internet plans:
Home Wireless includes 5G and 4G home internet. It's powered by telco-run mobile networks and all you need is mobile coverage. As with the NBN, 5G home internet plans come in a range of speeds, but this isn't the case for 4G home internet.
Fixed Wireless NBN plans are only available to certain rural and regional areas of Australia and offer plans based on NBN Fixed Wireless speed tiers. Fixed Wireless NBN plans don't rely on telco mobile networks (though the technology is similar). Instead, they use a network of towers built and operated by NBN Co. This network transmits the signal from the nearest tower to your home, and you receive the signal via an antenna installed on your roof.
4G home internet FAQs
What is 4G home internet?
4G home internet is a form of Home Wireless internet that connects your home via the same mobile networks used by your smartphone. A WiFi modem provided by your carrier then shares this connection with devices inside your house. It's cheaper than 5G, but not as fast (depending on where you live). You also won't get the same speeds on 4G home broadband as you might on a 4G mobile plan – 4G on mobile can hit 100Mbps or more, while 4G broadband is limited to 20Mbps or 25Mbps, though is often slower in reality. If you're looking for a fast alternative to the NBN, 4G broadband isn't as viable an option as its 5G sibling.
Is 4G home internet good enough?
4G home internet can be a viable alternative to your NBN if you've got an under-performing connection, but we don't recommend most plans if you think you need more than 15Mbps or so.
If you're having trouble getting good speeds or are experiencing regular dropouts – and troubleshooting hasn't helped – you might want to consider a 4G home internet plan. Otherwise, you'll likely want something faster.
How fast is 4G home internet?
4G home internet plans in Australia are typically capped at a maximum speed of 20Mbps, which can be fast enough for a household of two light-to-moderate internet users. 4G internet plans on the Optus network have a maximum download speed of 25Mbps.
Is 4G home internet faster than the NBN?
4G home internet is usually slower than the NBN, with the exception of NBN 12 plans and sometimes (but rarely) NBN 25, depending on congestion and the 4G plan in question.
Do 4G home internet plans come with a phone line?
4G home internet plans don't include a phone line. You'll need to use your mobile for calls.
How much do 4G home internet plans cost?
4G home internet plans tend to cost between $45 and $55 per month, and are usually cheaper than 5G home internet.
Is there an installation fee for 4G home internet?
4G home internet doesn't have an installation fee. But in some cases, you might need to buy a modem upfront or pay a rental fee to your provider.
How do I check my 4G and 5G coverage?
WhistleOut's coverage checker tool includes 5G coverage maps, making it easy to see whether you can get 4G or 5G at your location with a given provider. Whether you live in metro, regional, rural or remote Australia, this map will show what mobile coverage is available in your area.
All you need to do is punch in your address when searching for a new phone plan. The GIF below will show you what you need to do next:
Note that coverage maps are only approximate, only show outdoor coverage, and might be impacted by local conditions such as buildings.
Jacqui Dent
Editorial Strategist
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