activ8me vs Telstra - Which is the best NBN internet provider?
Telstra is the established player, known for its reliable network and customer service, particularly in regional areas, though reviews often highlight its premium pricing. On the other hand, activ8me enters the ring with significantly cheaper plans, positioning itself as a budget-friendly alternative for those prioritising cost over brand recognition. This comparison will help you weigh up whether Telstra's perceived stability justifies its higher cost, or if activ8me offers better value for your dollar.
NBN plans from $59.00/mth · Partner
activ8me and Telstra are both reputable broadband internet providers in Australia.
Deciding which NBN or wireless internet company to sign up to is not an easy task. To make this process easier we have provided a side by side comparison of activ8me and Telstra internet providers in the table below.
Disclaimer: All the data in the table is based on the opinions of people who have submitted reviews to this site over the last 24 months. We screen the reviews very thoroughly to ensure only accurate reviews get through. Please do your own research.
| Criteria | activ8me | Telstra |
|---|---|---|
| About |
 Partner |
 |
| activ8me is one of Australia's largest nbn Sky Muster satellite providers, specialising in rural, regional and remote homes. Trading since 2005 and owned by Australian Private Networks, it was the first local ISP to commercialise satellite broadband, and now also offers fixed wireless and fixed line nbn plans. | Telstra is Australia's largest telco and broadband provider, with the widest fixed and mobile network reach in the country. It charges a premium over smaller providers but offers extensive coverage and extras like Telstra TV. The old BigPond brand has long since been retired. | |
| Go to activ8me | Go to Telstra | |
| Overall Rating |
3.8
activ8me has a overall rating of 3.8 out of 5 based on 5 reviews. activ8me is a good broadband internet provider according to our users. |
3.9
Telstra has an overall rating of 3.9 out of 5 based on 9 reviews. Telstra is a good broadband internet provider according to our users. |
| Recommended | 80% of people who have written reviews on this site would recommend activ8me to their friends as a broadband internet provider. | 89% of people who have written reviews on this site would recommend Telstra to their friends as a broadband internet provider. |
| Reliability |
3.8 activ8me's reliability is rated as good by our users. activ8me has an overall rating of 3.8 out of 5 for reliability. |
4.2 Telstra's reliability is rated as very good by our users. Telstra has an overall rating of 4.2 out of 5 for reliability. |
| Customer Service |
4 activ8me's customer service is rated as very good by our users. activ8me has an overall rating of 4 out of 5 for customer service. |
4 Telstra's customer service is rated as very good by our users. Telstra has an overall rating of 4 out of 5 for customer service. |
| Value for Money |
3.6 activ8me is rated as good for value for money by our users. activ8me has an overall rating of 3.6 out of 5 for value for money. |
3.6 Telstra is rated as good for value for money by our users. Telstra has an overall rating of 3.6 out of 5 for value for money. |
| Technical Support |
3.8 activ8me's technical support is rated as good by our users. activ8me has an overall rating of 3.8 out of 5 for technical support. |
3.9 Telstra's technical support is rated as good by our users. Telstra has an overall rating of 3.9 out of 5 for technical support. |
| Australian based technical support | Yes, activ8me does have Australian based technical support. | No, Telstra uses a mix of Australian based and overseas call centres for technical support. |
| Call Centre Location | activ8me uses call centres based in Australia. | Telstra uses call centres based in Australia, Philippines and India. |
| Services Offered | activ8me offers a range of broadband and internet related services including NBN internet plans. | Telstra offers a range of broadband and internet related services including internet plans. |
| Cost of 25Mbps NBN Plan with unlimited data |
activ8me - Premium 50: 29Mbps, unlimited data for $74 per month. activ8me - Fixed Wireless (starting price): 25Mbps, unlimited data for $74.95 per month. |
Telstra - Basic: 25Mbps, unlimited data for $85 per month. |
| Cost of 50Mbps NBN Plan with unlimited data |
activ8me - Fibre (starting price): 50Mbps, unlimited data for $69.95 per month. activ8me - Premium 100: 50Mbps, unlimited data for $99 per month. |
Telstra - Essential: 50Mbps, unlimited data for $95 per month. |
| Cost of wireless broadband plan |
Telstra - Basic 5G (5G): 25Mbps, unlimited data for $70 per month. |
|
| Contact Details |
activ8me's phone number is: 13 22 88 and website is: activ8me.net.au |
Telstra's phone number is: 13 22 00 and website is: telstra.com.au |
| Read Reviews | Read reviews of activ8me. | Read reviews of Telstra. |
| Go to activ8me | Go to Telstra |
activ8me and Telstra NBN25 plans (25Mbps download speed)
|
Premium 50
NBN - Sky Muster
29 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$74/mth | Go to site |
|
|
Fixed Wireless (starting price)
NBN - Fixed Wireless
25 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$74.95/mth | Go to site |
|
Basic
NBN - Fixed Line
25 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$85/mth | Go to site |
activ8me and Telstra NBN50 plans (50Mbps download speed)
|
|
Fibre (starting price)
NBN - Fixed Line
50 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$69.95/mth | Go to site |
|
|
Essential
NBN - Fixed Line
50 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$95/mth | Go to site |
|
|
Premium 100
NBN - Sky Muster
50 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$99/mth | Go to site |
activ8me and Telstra Ultrafast plans (>100Mbps download speed)
|
|
Premium
NBN - Fixed Line
500 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$99/mth
$9100 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Ultimate
NBN - Fixed Line
750 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$119/mth
$115 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Ultrafast
NBN - Fixed Line
815 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$129/mth | Go to site |
Summary of activ8me and Telstra comparison
Please note that summary below is based on reviews submitted to this website and represents the views of the people who wrote the reviews.
- Overall: activ8me and Telstra have pretty similiar ratings overall.
- Recommended: Telstra is more highly recommended than activ8me.
- Reliability: Telstra rates higher for reliability than activ8me does.
- Customer Service: activ8me and Telstra have pretty similar ratings for customer service.
- Value for Money: activ8me and Telstra have pretty similar ratings in terms of value for money.
- Technical Support: activ8me and Telstra have pretty similar ratings in terms of technical support.
How to decide between activ8me and Telstra? - next steps
- Read reviews of activ8me and Telstra to see what people think of these companies
- Visit the website of each company and do some of your own research - activ8me and Telstra
- Decide how fast your connection need to be and how much data you need then use our broadband plan finder to narrow down the list of plans and find the best plan that suits your budget
- Choose the plan that best suits your needs and budget. Remember, that you can easily change plans but changing broadband internet providers is more difficult so it is really important that you choose a solid internet provider.
Frequently asked questions about activ8me vs Telstra
Is activ8me better than Telstra?
On Oz Broadband Reviews activ8me rates 3.8 out of 5 from 5 reviews and Telstra rates 3.9 from 9 reviews. On recommend-to-a-friend, 89% of Telstra reviewers said they'd recommend the provider, vs 80% for activ8me. On individual metrics, Telstra wins on reliability (4.2 vs 3.8). Read the full reviews above to form your own view.
Which is cheaper for NBN50, activ8me or Telstra?
activ8me's cheapest NBN50 plan is the Fibre (starting price) at $69.95/month ongoing. Telstra's cheapest NBN50 plan is the Essential at $95/month ongoing. activ8me is cheaper on the ongoing price after any intro period ends.
Which has better customer service, activ8me or Telstra?
activ8me and Telstra score similarly on customer service, 4.0 vs 4.0 out of 5. Neither stands out from the other on this metric. If onshore support matters, activ8me's call centre is based in Australia and Telstra's is based in Australia, the Philippines and India.
What plans do activ8me and Telstra offer?
activ8me offers 5 NBN plans. Telstra offers 5 NBN plans and 3 wireless plans. See the full plan tables above for prices, speeds and data limits.
Where are activ8me and Telstra's call centres?
activ8me's customer support is based in Australia. Telstra's customer support is based in Australia, the Philippines and India. Call centre location can affect support hours and accent comprehension if onshore support is important to you.
How do I switch from activ8me to Telstra (or Telstra to activ8me)?
Switching NBN providers in Australia is straightforward. The new provider handles the transfer once you sign up and provide your address. There's usually no contract overlap if your current plan is month-to-month, but check for early termination fees on contracted plans. Phone numbers can usually be ported, and the service typically continues uninterrupted on the same NBN line.
What customers say
About activ8me
Overall, very happy with spintel and don't plan to go anywhere. Really good value for money, and the support is there if needed.
Internet access was patchy, always dropping out at anytime day or night? Was unable to complete respondus lockdown browser for class exams due to unstable…
About Telstra
I have used a few cheaper services but, this one cost more but is reliable
Customer service is good since they are easy to contact Connection is reliable especially during thunderstorms Value for money is average since it is…
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