Optus vs iinet - Which is the best NBN internet provider?
iinet and Optus are two big names in Australian broadband, but they’re playing different games. iinet, now part of TPG Telecom, often appeals to those wanting a no-frills internet connection, while Optus, a major telco, bundles its NBN with mobile and entertainment options. Real reviews suggest Optus delivers reliable service and easy setup, though customers frequently mention price hikes and frustrating customer service experiences. On the other hand, iinet’s strength is often its straightforward approach, with less focus on the extras.
Optus and iinet 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 Optus and iinet 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 | Optus | iinet |
|---|---|---|
| About |
 |
 |
| Optus is Australia's second-largest telco, owned by Singapore's Singtel. It sells nbn and 5G home internet, often bundled with mobile and entertainment, all backed by its own nationwide mobile network. | iiNet was founded in Perth in 1993 and became one of Australia's best-known broadband brands. It has been owned by TPG Telecom since 2015, so it is no longer independently listed, but still runs as its own brand with a long-standing reputation for customer service. | |
| Go to Optus | Go to iinet | |
| Overall Rating |
3.9
Optus has a overall rating of 3.9 out of 5 based on 9 reviews. Optus is a good broadband internet provider according to our users. |
3.8
iinet has an overall rating of 3.8 out of 5 based on 5 reviews. iinet is a good broadband internet provider according to our users. |
| Recommended | 67% of people who have written reviews on this site would recommend Optus to their friends as a broadband internet provider. | 80% of people who have written reviews on this site would recommend iinet to their friends as a broadband internet provider. |
| Reliability |
4.1 Optus's reliability is rated as very good by our users. Optus has an overall rating of 4.1 out of 5 for reliability. |
4 iinet's reliability is rated as very good by our users. iinet has an overall rating of 4 out of 5 for reliability. |
| Customer Service |
3.8 Optus's customer service is rated as good by our users. Optus has an overall rating of 3.8 out of 5 for customer service. |
3.6 iinet's customer service is rated as good by our users. iinet has an overall rating of 3.6 out of 5 for customer service. |
| Value for Money |
3.8 Optus is rated as good for value for money by our users. Optus has an overall rating of 3.8 out of 5 for value for money. |
4 iinet is rated as very good for value for money by our users. iinet has an overall rating of 4 out of 5 for value for money. |
| Technical Support |
3.7 Optus's technical support is rated as good by our users. Optus has an overall rating of 3.7 out of 5 for technical support. |
3.6 iinet's technical support is rated as good by our users. iinet has an overall rating of 3.6 out of 5 for technical support. |
| Australian based technical support | No, Optus uses a mix of Australian based and overseas call centres for technical support. | No, iinet uses a mix of Australian based and overseas call centres for technical support. |
| Call Centre Location | Optus uses call centres based in Australia, India and Philippines. | iinet uses call centres based in Australia, Philippines and South Africa. |
| Services Offered | Optus offers a range of broadband and internet related services including internet plans. | iinet offers a range of broadband and internet related services including NBN and 5G internet plans. |
| Cost of 25Mbps NBN Plan with unlimited data |
Optus - Basic: 25Mbps, unlimited data for $79 per month. |
iinet - NBN25: 25Mbps, unlimited data for $79.99 per month. |
| Cost of 50Mbps NBN Plan with unlimited data |
Optus - Everyday: 50Mbps, unlimited data for $95 per month. |
iinet - NBN50: 50Mbps, unlimited data for $89.99 per month. |
| Cost of wireless broadband plan |
Optus - Everyday Basic 4G (4G): 14Mbps, unlimited data for $59 per month. |
iinet - Home Wireless (4G): 15Mbps, unlimited data for $59.99 per month. |
| Contact Details |
Optus's phone number is: 1300 300 693 and website is: optus.com.au |
iinet's phone number is: 13 19 17 and website is: iinet.net.au |
| Read Reviews | Read reviews of Optus. | Read reviews of iinet. |
| Go to Optus | Go to iinet |
Optus and iinet NBN25 plans (25Mbps download speed)
|
Basic
NBN - Fixed Line
25 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$79/mth | Go to site |
|
NBN25
NBN - Fixed Line
25 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$79.99/mth
$59.99 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
Optus and iinet NBN50 plans (50Mbps download speed)
|
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NBN50
NBN - Fixed Line
50 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$89.99/mth
$69.99 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
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Everyday
NBN - Fixed Line
50 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$95/mth | Go to site |
Optus and iinet Ultrafast plans (>100Mbps download speed)
|
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NBN500
NBN - Fixed Line
500 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$94.99/mth
$69.99 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
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Fast 100
NBN - Fixed Line
100 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$99/mth
$79 for first 12 months |
Go to site |
|
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Fast 500
NBN - Fixed Line
500 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$99/mth
$79 for first 12 months |
Go to site |
|
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NBN Superfast
NBN - Fixed Line
740 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$104.99/mth
$74.99 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
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NBN Ultrafast
NBN - Fixed Line
820 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$114.99/mth
$84.99 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
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Ultrafast
NBN - Fixed Line
820 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$129/mth
$109 for first 12 months |
Go to site |
Summary of Optus and iinet 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: Optus and iinet have pretty similiar ratings overall.
- Recommended: iinet is more highly recommended than Optus.
- Reliability: Optus and iinet have pretty similar ratings for reliability.
- Customer Service: Optus and iinet have pretty similar ratings for customer service.
- Value for Money: Optus and iinet have pretty similar ratings in terms of value for money.
- Technical Support: Optus and iinet have pretty similar ratings in terms of technical support.
How to decide between Optus and iinet? - next steps
- Read reviews of Optus and iinet to see what people think of these companies
- Visit the website of each company and do some of your own research - Optus and iinet
- 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 Optus vs iinet
Is Optus better than iinet?
On Oz Broadband Reviews Optus rates 3.9 out of 5 from 9 reviews and iinet rates 3.8 from 5 reviews. On recommend-to-a-friend, 80% of iinet reviewers said they'd recommend the provider, vs 67% for Optus. Read the full reviews above to form your own view.
Which is cheaper for NBN50, Optus or iinet?
Optus's cheapest NBN50 plan is the Everyday at $95/month ongoing. iinet's cheapest NBN50 plan is the NBN50 at $69.99/month intro for 6 months, then $89.99/month. iinet is cheaper on the ongoing price after any intro period ends.
Which has better customer service, Optus or iinet?
Optus and iinet score similarly on customer service, 3.8 vs 3.6 out of 5. Neither stands out from the other on this metric. If onshore support matters, Optus's call centre is based in Australia, India and the Philippines and iinet's is based in Australia, the Philippines and South Africa.
What plans do Optus and iinet offer?
Optus offers 5 NBN plans and 4 wireless plans. iinet offers 5 NBN plans and 1 wireless plan. See the full plan tables above for prices, speeds and data limits.
Where are Optus and iinet's call centres?
Optus's customer support is based in Australia, India and the Philippines. iinet's customer support is based in Australia, the Philippines and South Africa. Call centre location can affect support hours and accent comprehension if onshore support is important to you.
How do I switch from Optus to iinet (or iinet to Optus)?
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 Optus
Reliable enough, but had plenty of issues with technical support throughout the years. Also never told if theres a better price on a current plan, happy…
Optus is a well oiled machine, they have reliable communication, setting up was easy, though there has been a price increase while having it, it is reliable.
About iinet
All is still good No complaints
Stable connection with little drop outs. Whenever i need help its always some one who doesnt know and you get bounced around on the phone for 1 hour
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