Mate vs Telstra - Which is the best NBN internet provider?
Telstra is Australia's biggest telco, known for its reliable network and generally good customer service, particularly for those in regional areas, though this comes at a higher price. Mate, on the other hand, positions itself as a more budget-friendly option, often appealing to those looking for a simpler, no-frills NBN connection. Ultimately, Telstra suits those who prioritise stability and support and are willing to pay for it, while Mate targets the cost-conscious consumer.
Mate 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 Mate 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 | Mate | Telstra |
|---|---|---|
| About |
|
 |
| Mate is a 100% Australian-owned nbn and mobile provider with locally based support, known for simple, competitively priced unlimited 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 Fetch TV. The old BigPond brand has long since been retired. | |
| Go to Mate | Go to Telstra | |
| Overall Rating | [Not enough reviews] |
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 | [Not enough reviews] | 89% of people who have written reviews on this site would recommend Telstra to their friends as a broadband internet provider. |
| Reliability | [Not enough reviews] |
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 | [Not enough reviews] |
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 | [Not enough reviews] |
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 | [Not enough reviews] |
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 | [Not enough reviews] | No, Telstra uses a mix of Australian based and overseas call centres for technical support. |
| Call Centre Location | [Not enough reviews] | Telstra uses call centres based in Australia, Philippines and India. |
| Services Offered | [Not enough reviews] | Telstra offers a range of broadband and internet related services including internet plans. |
| Cost of 25Mbps NBN Plan with unlimited data |
Mate - Crikey: 25Mbps, unlimited data for $76 per month. |
Telstra - Basic: 25Mbps, unlimited data for $85 per month. |
| Cost of 50Mbps NBN Plan with unlimited data |
Mate - Ripper: 49Mbps, unlimited data for $86 per month. Mate - No Dramas Wireless: 48Mbps, unlimited data for $86 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 |
Mate's phone number is: 13 14 13 and website is: letsbemates.com.au |
Telstra's phone number is: 13 22 00 and website is: telstra.com.au |
| Read Reviews | Read reviews of Mate. | Read reviews of Telstra. |
| Go to Mate | Go to Telstra |
Mate and Telstra NBN25 plans (25Mbps download speed)
|
|
Crikey
NBN - Fixed Line
25 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$76/mth
$51 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
Basic
NBN - Fixed Line
25 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$85/mth | Go to site |
Mate and Telstra NBN50 plans (50Mbps download speed)
|
|
No Dramas Wireless
NBN - Fixed Wireless
48 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$86/mth
$66 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Ripper
NBN - Fixed Line
49 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$86/mth
$66 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Essential
NBN - Fixed Line
50 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$95/mth | Go to site |
Mate and Telstra Ultrafast plans (>100Mbps download speed)
|
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No Worries
NBN - Fixed Line
97 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$96/mth
$71 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
No Worries Wireless
NBN - Fixed Wireless
90 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$96/mth
$71 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
No Worries
NBN - Fixed Line
485 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$96/mth
$71 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Premium
NBN - Fixed Line
500 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$99/mth
$89 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
You Beaut
NBN - Fixed Line
97 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$106/mth
$81 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 |
|
|
Fair Dinkum Wireless
NBN - Fixed Wireless
95 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$121/mth
$96 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Fair Dinkum
NBN - Fixed Line
713 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$121/mth
$96 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Flamin' Fast
NBN - Fixed Line
913 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$126/mth
$101 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 |
|
|
Scorchin' Fast
NBN - Fixed Line
1831 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$166/mth
$141 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
Summary of Mate 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: Telstra rates higher overall than Mate does.
- Recommended: Telstra is more highly recommended than Mate.
- Reliability: Telstra rates higher for reliability than Mate does.
- Customer Service: Telstra rates higher for customer service than Mate does.
- Value for Money: Telstra rates higher for value for money than Mate does.
- Technical Support: Telstra rates higher for technical support than Mate does.
How to decide between Mate and Telstra? - next steps
- Read reviews of Mate and Telstra to see what people think of these companies
- Visit the website of each company and do some of your own research - Mate 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 Mate vs Telstra
Is Mate better than Telstra?
Telstra has 9 verified reviews on Oz Broadband Reviews and an overall rating of 3.9 out of 5. Mate has fewer than 5 reviews so we don't yet show an aggregate rating. Read the individual reviews above to form your own view.
Which is cheaper for NBN50, Mate or Telstra?
Mate's cheapest NBN50 plan is the Ripper at $66/month intro for 6 months, then $86/month. Telstra's cheapest NBN50 plan is the Essential at $95/month ongoing. Mate is cheaper on the ongoing price after any intro period ends.
Which has better customer service, Mate or Telstra?
Telstra scores 4.0 out of 5 on customer service vs Mate's 2.3, based on verified reviews on Oz Broadband Reviews. If onshore support matters, Mate's call centre is based in Australia and Telstra's is based in Australia, the Philippines and India.
What plans do Mate and Telstra offer?
Mate offers 11 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 Mate and Telstra's call centres?
Mate'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 Mate to Telstra (or Telstra to Mate)?
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 Mate
They're generally okay and pretty stable. They aren't great at notifications about planned outages u til they've already started half the time.
My internet keeps dropping out so I wanted to change to nbn to the house rather than the curb. When you try to call this company you are on hold for…
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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