Exetel vs Telstra - Which is the best NBN internet provider?
Telstra is the big player, often chosen for its reliable network and generally good customer service, especially in regional areas, though this comes at a higher price point. Exetel, on the other hand, is a value-focused provider, typically offering more competitive pricing for NBN plans. Your choice between Telstra and Exetel often boils down to whether you prioritise top-tier reliability and support over a more budget-friendly NBN connection.
NBN plans from $80.00/mth · Partner
Exetel 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 Exetel 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 | Exetel | Telstra |
|---|---|---|
| About |
 Partner |
 |
| Exetel launched its first broadband service in 2004 and built a name as a low-cost, no-frills ISP. Since 2021 it has been owned by ASX-listed Superloop, which runs the network behind it, while Exetel continues as its own value-focused brand. | 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 Fetch TV. The old BigPond brand has long since been retired. | |
| Go to Exetel | Go to Telstra | |
| Overall Rating |
4.2
Exetel has a overall rating of 4.2 out of 5 based on 5 reviews. Exetel is a very good broadband internet provider according to our users. |
4
Telstra has an overall rating of 4 out of 5 based on 10 reviews. Telstra is a very good broadband internet provider according to our users. |
| Recommended | 80% of people who have written reviews on this site would recommend Exetel to their friends as a broadband internet provider. | 90% of people who have written reviews on this site would recommend Telstra to their friends as a broadband internet provider. |
| Reliability |
3.8 Exetel's reliability is rated as good by our users. Exetel has an overall rating of 3.8 out of 5 for reliability. |
4.3 Telstra's reliability is rated as very good by our users. Telstra has an overall rating of 4.3 out of 5 for reliability. |
| Customer Service |
4.6 Exetel's customer service is rated as excellent by our users. Exetel has an overall rating of 4.6 out of 5 for customer service. |
4.1 Telstra's customer service is rated as very good by our users. Telstra has an overall rating of 4.1 out of 5 for customer service. |
| Value for Money |
3.8 Exetel is rated as good for value for money by our users. Exetel has an overall rating of 3.8 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 |
4.4 Exetel's technical support is rated as very good by our users. Exetel has an overall rating of 4.4 out of 5 for technical support. |
4 Telstra's technical support is rated as very good by our users. Telstra has an overall rating of 4 out of 5 for technical support. |
| Australian based technical support | No, Exetel uses a mix of Australian based and overseas call centres for technical support. | No, Telstra uses a mix of Australian based and overseas call centres for technical support. |
| Call Centre Location | Exetel uses call centres based in Australia and Sri Lanka. | Telstra uses call centres based in Australia, Philippines and India. |
| Services Offered | Exetel offers a range of broadband and internet related services including NBN and 5G internet plans. | Telstra offers a range of broadband and internet related services including internet plans. |
| Cost of 25Mbps NBN Plan with unlimited data |
Telstra - Basic: 25Mbps, unlimited data for $85 per month. |
|
| Cost of 50Mbps NBN Plan with unlimited data |
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 |
Exetel's phone number is: 13 39 38 and website is: exetel.com.au |
Telstra's phone number is: 13 22 00 and website is: telstra.com.au |
| Read Reviews | Read reviews of Exetel. | Read reviews of Telstra. |
| Go to Exetel | Go to Telstra |
Exetel and Telstra NBN25 plans (25Mbps download speed)
|
Basic
NBN - Fixed Line
25 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$85/mth | Go to site |
Exetel and Telstra NBN50 plans (50Mbps download speed)
|
|
Essential
NBN - Fixed Line
50 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$95/mth | Go to site |
Exetel and Telstra Ultrafast plans (>100Mbps download speed)
|
One Plan
NBN - Fixed Line
500 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$80/mth | Go to site |
|
|
Premium
NBN - Fixed Line
500 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$99/mth
$89 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Ultimate
NBN - Fixed Line
750 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$119/mth
$89 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Ultrafast
NBN - Fixed Line
815 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$129/mth
$99 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
Summary of Exetel 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: Exetel and Telstra have pretty similiar ratings overall.
- Recommended: Telstra is more highly recommended than Exetel.
- Reliability: Telstra rates higher for reliability than Exetel does.
- Customer Service: Exetel rates higher for customer service than Telstra does.
- Value for Money: Exetel and Telstra have pretty similar ratings in terms of value for money.
- Technical Support: Exetel rates higher for technical support than Telstra does.
How to decide between Exetel and Telstra? - next steps
- Read reviews of Exetel and Telstra to see what people think of these companies
- Visit the website of each company and do some of your own research - Exetel 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 Exetel vs Telstra
Is Exetel better than Telstra?
On Oz Broadband Reviews Exetel rates 4.2 out of 5 from 5 reviews and Telstra rates 4 from 10 reviews. On recommend-to-a-friend, 90% of Telstra reviewers said they'd recommend the provider, vs 80% for Exetel. On individual metrics, Exetel wins on customer service (4.6 vs 4.1) and tech support (4.4 vs 4.0); Telstra wins on reliability (4.3 vs 3.8). Read the full reviews above to form your own view.
Which has better customer service, Exetel or Telstra?
Exetel scores 4.6 out of 5 on customer service vs Telstra's 4.1, based on verified reviews on Oz Broadband Reviews. If onshore support matters, Exetel's call centre is based in Australia and Sri Lanka and Telstra's is based in Australia, the Philippines and India.
What plans do Exetel and Telstra offer?
Exetel offers 1 NBN plan. Telstra offers 5 NBN plans and 3 wireless plans. See the full plan tables above for prices, speeds and data limits.
Where are Exetel and Telstra's call centres?
Exetel's customer support is based in Australia and Sri Lanka. 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 Exetel to Telstra (or Telstra to Exetel)?
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 Exetel
Speed and reliability is good, never had any issues with service itself. One benefit that Exetel provides that I've not seen any other NBN provider…
I switched from Optus to Exetel’s One Plan 500/50 and it has been one of the best decisions I’ve made. The entire setup process took less than two hours…
About Telstra
“Telstra is the only company to use if you live in a smaller, less populated area, as they are the only company that honestly has a reliable service,…
I have used a few cheaper services but, this one cost more but is reliable
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